Echofone, a super-tweeter for headphone users or the hearing impaired

Pity the poor headphone audiophile. He doesn’t have as much to play with when it comes time to tweak. He can’t put in bass traps or corner pillows to adjust room acoustics. It doesn’t do him as much good to isolate his components from vibration as there are no sound waves in the room generated by his system disturbing his electronics. And of course he can’t use a super-tweeter to super-charge his system, or compensate for any high frequency hearing loss from his misspent youth.

Or can he?

I just received in the mail yesterday an Echofone from Andy at Tools & Techniques (sound therapy, accelerated learning, hearing loss and attention deficit relief.) and I have been blissing out in the higher realms…er… frequencies ever since. This is a little box with separate walwart power supply, source input cables for hooking up headphone or line level sources, headphone output (a cheap pair of headphones is included) and an ouput for a pair of included sound transducers that you wear on your forehead with a cloth headband holding them in place.

Instead of thinking outside the box, this is a case of thinking outside the ear. These transducers deliver their signal (400 Hz up to 100+ KHz) through the skin and bones. So unless you have nerve damage, the sound gets to your brain even if your hearing ain’t what it used to be. You can test this by playing the Echofone transducers alone and plugging your ears with your fingers resulting in no reduction in the sound level. Of course the sound of the Echofone by itself makes a cheap telephone sound good… it is all tinny with absolutely no bass, but a bit of the mid frequencies.

And so what about the sound with headphones?

I have been discovering more and more how much of a detail junkie I am. I love to hear everything in the music. And somehow when I can hear every little detail, I can then just relax and get into the music. If that is not happening, I find myself turning up the volume (not always a good idea if you value the hearing you have left) to hear more of the details.

Well, with the Echofone, I am in detail heaven. You can insert any of your favorite overused metaphors for improvement to the sound here, but it really is like a camera lens coming into focus, or a veil being lifted. I hear everything without straining and without a sense of a tipped up treble or sibilance (unless I over do it on an overly bright recording in which case I can just turn down the level of the Echofone’s output). It is easy to do A/B testing as you just turn down the Echofone output to hear the sound without enhancement, and then turn it back up to hear the sound of clouds parting and the sun shining through.

One criticism is that maybe it could use a little more power as output is only 3 watts although that is only powering two very small transducers with no bass output. I find most of the time I have the Echofone cranked 75-100% of the way up, only turning it down when a particular song has too much treble in the mix, or if the source is recorded at a very high level overall. But it does seem to keep up even when I am listening with the headphone volume cranked up high, unless the source material has a very low level to start with in which case I sometimes can not get enough useful output from the Echofone. This is a new gadget for me, and I sense that I may find over time that I generally moderate the level of enhancement I use to experience a more subtle effect overall, but again that is as easy as turning the dial down. I can still usually hear a definite difference in the sound at about 50% of maximum volume on the sound transducers.

While generally the effect of the Echofone is subtle, in my case there is a very dynamic interplay going on. I listen to a computer music server that acts like a juke box playing my music in a random shuffle mode. Because each song loaded on my computer was ripped from the original CD with the recording level of that CD intact, the level of each song can vary a lot (my Windows media Player has an auto volume leveling feature, but it does not seem to work with the WAV files I ripped using EAC software). With a very few songs it is hard to get any useful output out of the Echofone because the source has such a low overall level to start with. And on a very few songs the source level is high enough to allow me to drive the transducers to the point of distortion, a kind of tizzing noise. And then there is the relationship of the level of the Echofone with the volume of my headphones which is adjusted separately. I am already used to having to adjust the volume of my regular headphones when a new song comes on much louder or softer than the previous song, and for me it does not seem to be a problem to then adjust the Echofone for ideal output with each new song. But some people might not want to fiddle that much. I find it worth the effort, and overall a great advantage as the recorded sound of different CDs varies so much to start with. I like adjusting my system moment to moment to bring out the best sound for that particular recording. And as a bit of a gadget freak, I generally like fiddling with things anyways. However, if you listened to a whole CD or album at a time, you would probably just need to adjust the levels at the beginning of the first song.

There are some other limitations. This is not a portable contraption by any means, and it is awkward having more wires running to your head. Also to use it with a typical headphone rig, you have to run your headphone output through the Echofone. I was loath to take the output of my $1000 Yamamoto amplifier and run it through the electronics and volume control in the Echofone (note to manufacturer: maybe make an audiophile version with better power supply, more powerful amp, better connections and a loop through output at line level?), Fortunately, I use a Trends UD10 USB converter to connect my music server computer to my external Monica DAC, and the UD10 has a headphone/line-out output that I was not using. So I was able to hook up the Echofone there, leaving my headphones jacked directly into the Yamamoto.

Like any spice, it is a matter of taste how much of this effect you like. Again, you can adjust the output of the Echofone independently of the volume of the headphones. I also use an Aura Cushion bass vibration transducer behind my head and shoulders, which when used with a bit of discretion adds a nice visceral bass effect to listening through headphones, sort of like a subwoofer for headphones. Using both the Aura Cushion (hooked up to the regular headphone out of the Echofone) and the Echofone means I have a kind of EQ I can easily adjust depending on the source material, adding a little bass oomph or adding overall clarity and a bit more treble as needed. As I said, I like to fiddle, and it does seem to increase the odds of getting into that magic zone where the system falls away and the music is there in all of its glory. A few seconds of fiddling at the beginning of the song for several moments of musical bliss seems like a good trade off to me.

But let’s be clear about one thing: the Echofone does not really seem to excessively tip up the treble, as long as you don’t overdo it on very bright or loud recordings. As many have noted with using regular super-tweeters in a speaker system, the benefits are to the whole spectrum of frequencies. Strangely, even the bass tightens up when the Echofone is added to the mix. And the midrange takes on a sense of fullness and depth. Remember the output frequency range of the transducers starts at 400 Hz.

Another little side effect is that the soundstage with headphones shifts more to the front, especially if you move the transducers to the front of your forehead instead of over your temples. This is a bit more natural an arrangement with the band arrayed out in front of you instead of wrapping around the back of your head, as is typical with headphones alone. It is kind of trippy to gradually turn up the transducers and hear instruments gradually move from the sides or back to their new location in front of me. This side effect is also more pronounced on some recordings than others. The increased detail and focus also means that instruments are highly localized in space compared to my headphones alone, and there is more space or air around each instrument.

By the way, you can use the Echofone with regular speakers. I listen almost exclusively through headphones to maximize my marital bliss, and the return on my audio dollar. However I did try out the Echofone on my living room system which is a pretty basic two channel system I use mostly for TV and movies. It consist of a 12 year old Onkyo receiver and those little Bose speakers with a subwoofer (I got the speakers for free as they were left behind in a house we lived in). The speaker placement is pretty bad as they are about three feet apart and on top of the tall TV cabinet. About all you can say for it is that it does sound better than the built in TV speakers! Adding the Echofone to this system has very similar effects as with the headphones. However it was much easier to drive the Echofone to levels of distortion because I hooked it up to the headphone out of the receiver, so the level was much higher than the output on my UD10 and also the Echofone volume went up with the volume of the speakers (alternatively, you can hook it up to any pre-out RCAs if your system has some unused outputs). If I again used proper discretion with the level control I could get that same clearing up and focusing of the sound I hear with headphones. And in the case of speakers the Echofone seems to bring the sound much closer, sort of like moving from the middle of the hall to the front row. Especially with the poor placement of my speakers, this was a very nice effect. The sound really leapt up into a 3D field and the sense of listening to speakers disappeared.

Finally, I just turned 50 this month and while I have not had my hearing tested, I bet there are some missing frequencies up top. I was not too much of a rock concert aficionado, but I have heard my share of loud music. Hearing loss is cumulative and so anyone who has lasted half a century will lose a bit of the treble anyways. And this is what is truly unique about the Echofone….it can put back those missing frequencies whether you listen on headphones or speakers. Again, as long as there isn’t hearing loss due to nerve damage, the high frequency sounds will still get to the brain bypassing the ear’s limitations. The designer of the Echofone was a former Cobra pilot who lost a lot of hearing above 10 KHz from his exposure to jet noise, and this was his solution to be able to hear high frequencies in music again. Any perceived boost in treble with the Echofone may be due in large part to these previously unheard frequencies being added back into the sound.

In conclusion: This is my new favorite toy. It is already hard to go back to listening without the Echofone as I love the added detail, focus, depth, and clarity which just happen to be my favorite things musically. When it gets to be a bit too much (only on about 1 in 20 recordings so far) I just turn it down to a level where any sibilance or distortion is replaced with smoothness and clarity. While such a toy-like gadget will probably turn off a purist, if you are also a detail junkie, and/or if you have moderate or severe high frequency hearing loss, then this might be just the ticket.

At $399 this is not the cheapest gizmo to buy, but there is a 45 day return policy (minus 15% restocking fee). Reliability is still to be determined. I already need to send mine back for a problem with the headphone output cutting in and out and distorting on one channel, although fortunately it does have a 1-year warranty, and Andy at Tools & Techniques has already sent out a new unit even before I returned the old one, which suggests a high level of service. For me it is worth every penny, and quite a revelation to use.

My current setup from source to ears (and now skin!):

Dedicated Dell music server computer with Vista basic and Burwen Bobcat using a special preset (Analog 14) that Dick Burwen sent me when the others sounded a bit artificial with headphones.
Trends UD10 USB converter (I have the Echofone and an Aura cushion hooked up to the headphone out of this unit)
DIY Paradise Monica II DAC
Burson Audio Buffer (works especially well with the Monica DAC)
Signal Cable Silver Reference ICs
Yamamoto HA02
Audio Technica ATH-W1000 headphones

Extras: Graham-Stetzer Filters and Blue Circle Noisehounds for quieter power, Quantum Symphony Pro, Extra Heavy Z-Sleeve on my headphone cord, Dakiom stabilizer,



Link to Echofone's website:

sound therapy, accelerated learning, hearing loss and attention deficit relief.

Anybody else ever hear of or use one of these?

It's way too long for me to read fully right now.

Why not use an equalizer to turn up the frequencies you can't hear? Or you could attenuate the ones you do hear well, to effectively increase the higher frequencies.

I don't like mixing drivers, especially something that cuts in at 400Hz. That effectively replaces the headphone you are using. If the product were full range, then it might make sense to use it alone.

I have used an equalizer, but the effect is not the same. And you would have to boost everything from 400 up or maybe reduce the lower frequencies. And that would still not help if your ears were unable to hear the higher frequencies. They could go in the ear, but still not be translated into perceived sound. Whereas with the Echofone they are picked up by the skin and bone structure and translated to sound without involving the ear. It's a weird concept, but as I mentioned the sound volume does not change on the Echophone even if you thoroughly plug your ears with your fingers.

And again the effects are a lot like what I read about people's experience with a super-tweeter used with speakers where the improvements are across the entire frequency range.

If you listen to the Echofone by itself the volume is probably less than 10% of that of the headphones, so it does not replace the headphone sound at all. It just seems to fill in with a fullness and detail added to the sound. And as to mixing drivers, I was also wondering if there would be timing issues, but the sound just gets much more focused so it seems to help in that regard also.

Thanks for your questions!

As I suspected, I have settled down to using a slightly lower level of enhancement usually between 50 and 75 % of maximum which is enough for a very definite effect. And I am still loving it. I totally get lost in the music!

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No, bone conduction still depends on the inner ear. It affects your inner ear or you don't hear it.

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I stand corrected, and I should know better as my mom is an audiologist.

The Echophone bypasses the outer ear and does help anyone suffering from partial hearing loss by boosting the higher frequencies, which are often the first to go.

I am also very pleased that I find with the Echophone I tend to listen at lower volumes as I do not need to turn it up to hear further into the music. So it should help preserve my hearing going forward.

Interesting review. Long, but worth reading. Between the Echofone and your bass cushion you must look like a future soldier with all that gear.

I'm glad you are enjoying it, but to me it sounds much more like a gimmick than a "high-fidelity" additive. When I was a teenager I preferred the sound of DSP settings as they added ambience to the music. I had one of the first Dolby Pro-Logic for headphones units on the market (also made by a company called Aura, but I don't know if it's the same one that makes your bass cushion. Later, Sennheiser ripped off their design.) Now I realize that my equipment back then was just crappy and the DSP effects were compensating for what my system really lacked, which was natural tonality and depth. It seems like you have good equipment already and I imagine that you will eventually grow out of this Echofone phase. But in the meanwhile if it's making you happy, go with it.

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Yeah it might just be a phase, but in the meantime I am really enjoying it.

And as long as I use the Aura bass cushion and Echophone very sparingly, they do add to the fullness and detail of the sound. I think the Aura Cushion is similar to a subwoofer in a speaker system where you should not really be able to tell whether it is there or not, except when you turn it off and something is suddenly missing. And as I mentioned the Echophone seems to act like a super-tweeter, which are probably best used similarly in their application.

I have used signal processors of various sorts which is easy to do when your source is a computer, but I also get tired of them after a while with the exception so far of the Burwen Bobcat software (although even that I use with either a special preset that Dick Burwen sent me or the almost identical Basic Bobcat---both are very minimal in their processing.)

However, both subwoofers and supertweeters are not messing with the signal but instead are presenting additional sonic material that is naturally there in the signal all along, hopefully filling in the limitations of your equipment, or possibly of your hearing. So at least so far, my gimmicks feel much more natural than any signal processing I have used, again as long as I don't overdo it.

And another thing which I am discovering is that since both of these devices involve the transmission of sound through the skin and bones, they seem to add back a portion of the visceral effects of listening to music that are so limited with headphones. I get to listen again with my whole body so to speak.

As I was enjoying the new sound of my system today with the Echofone, it suddenly dawned on me that the sound transducers on my forehead were also creating a natural crossfeed effect. Just as speakers do this naturally because the sound from both channels reaches both ears, so do the vibrations from the left and right transducers travel through my bone structure to reach both inner ears.

This probably explains how the Echofone helps with focusing the sound. There is also more of a 3D soundstage.

And this is all accomplished without manipulating the signal. I have used crossfeed add ons for my music player software, but after a while I get tired of the slight distortions in the sound and go back to listening without. There is none of that with the Echofone.

As I am trying to grasp what an incredible difference the Echofone has made to my system, I thought of a metaphor from my own experience. For the past few weeks I was going back and forth between my Audio Technica ATH-W1000 headphones and a pair of Etymotic ER4Ps. And each time I would switch, I was sure that I was happier with the phones I was listening to. The Audio Technicas have a fullness and warmth that the Etys can not touch. But the Etys have a detail and jump factor that would make the music come alive; especially with simple guitar or solo instruments the Ety would create the illusion of a live event. But then the thinness of their tone would wear on me and I would go back to loving the ATs.

Now with the Echofone combined with the ATH-W1000s, I have the best of both worlds. A fullness of tone and a hyper-real focus and sense of space. It is like I am using both the Ety and AT headphones at once. The Echofone adds in an incredible 3D soundstage that not only lets me hear each instrument clearly but also I can "hear" the room where the musicians were playing. If I turn down the Echofone to listen with just the ATs, the whole sense of the illusion of a live event collapses. Add in the Aura cushion for just a touch of visceral bass and the combination is complete.

Maybe there is no perfect headphone by itself, but this combination has it all.

^^^

I recently ordered a simple tube preamp to use with my Echofone (I got it on ebay for $145 from Design). It is a very basic preamp with a volume control that allows me to boost the signal going into the Echofone, and it seems to accomplish just what I wanted: to have a wider usable range with the Echofone.

On very low level material (a lot of classical music seems to have been mastered at low levels) I can now boost the output enough to still be able to hear an effect with the Echofone, whereas before I would not hear anything even with the Echofone volume maxed out. And of course as would be expected, on material with a higher recording level I can now more easily drive the Echofone to the point of distortion. As I mentioned in my review, because I use a computer as a kind of jukebox, I am used to having to adjust the volume once in a while to accommodate the different recording levels of the music on my hard drive. So it is not really a big deal to then adjust the Echofone to boost or reduce the effect. It turns out that I only have to adjust the output every once in a while as there is a lot of music in my collection that is roughly at the same level. It is only when a song comes on very soft or very loud that I end up fiddling for a few seconds with the dials, before settling back down to enjoy the beautiful sound of music. Much of the time, I can just set it and forget it.

Andy has also told me there is a new version coming out with slightly higher output power, and he is going to upgrade my unit for free. I look forward to hearing the new version with a little more output to see if that helps also. Anytime you have more power on tap, the level at which distortion begins tends to be higher, and in general the sound quality even at lower volumes is better. That is why I suggested an audiophile version to Andy, although I am not so sure there really is enough of a market to make it worth his while to completely redesign the unit. I was surprised at how little response I have had so far to the review I posted. But I probably should not have been surprised. As someone who likes to try lots of new things, I am always amazed at how most people are much more resistant to new ideas or approaches. If it is too weird or different, they automatically tend to reject it.

But of course I am just as automatic in my embrace of the latest greatest thing! Thanks to the Echofone for keeping my faith in " the newest thing" alive. I am really enjoying the Echofone.

^