[chimney189]

Can't believe I am just now seeing this. It has been awhile, but we have had that discussion about weight before. A major reason I sold both the Audeze pairs I owned. Just hurt my neck. I was able to build up some tolerance, but still, anything over 45 minutes or so the discomfort in my neck started to outweigh my listening enjoyment. (Sorry for the pun!)

Gotta get a listen to these. I have fallen head over heels for my Focal Clear Professional 'phones, but I am still a planar guy down deep. Probably

The weight of an Audeze headphone was also my reason for selling them. It's a shame. I also adored the Final Audio D8000 sound signature, but then again the weight got to me.

 

[Law87]

Sorry. I have not heard either for an A/B comparison.

E2 and Utopia is polar opposite. E2 is very laid back. the Utopia mids are very forward, almost in your face type. The meze is the best out of those three, the meze are laid back but not as much as the E2. My preference is the mezz, Sennheiser hd800s, the Utopia and then the Ether. D meds and Sennheiser have much better comfort than the other two.

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

I’ve been listening to my ETHER 2 almost nonstop since I first got mine in our office last month. Brilliant sound, love the tuning. Only complaint is they are very tight against my ears (I have a huge head). The suspension wings on the Empyrean are great for big-headed people like me. But I can still say without a doubt that the ETHER 2 are the best planar magnetics on the market under two grand at this point.

 

[LCMusicLover]

E2 and Utopia is polar opposite. E2 is very laid back. the Utopia mids are very forward, almost in your face type. The meze is the best out of those three, the meze are laid back but not as much as the E2. My preference is the mezz, Sennheiser hd800s, the Utopia and then the Ether. D meds and Sennheiser have much better comfort than the other two.

And that's why the run the horse race (differences of opinion)

 

[chimney189]

I must have tried out the Empyrean with a bad amplifier or something because it sounded like a hot mess to me, especially for its price point.

 

[betula]

I must have tried out the Empyrean with a bad amplifier or something because it sounded like a hot mess to me, especially for its price point.

You must have. I heard it on TT2/MScaler and it was pretty awesome.

 

[JSA23]

Has anyone tried ETHER 2 with Bakoon HPA-21? Or Ether Flow with the same headphone amp? What are your impressions?

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

I went ahead and placed my palms over the ear-cups and I was pleasantly surprised at how much better the sound was to my tastes. The treble seemed more refined and there was less resonance -- everything felt more in control and in its proper place.

Maybe there will be an Ether 2 closed in the works? I hope so!

It’s impossible for you to cover the cups with your hands and end up with LESS resonance. That would violate the laws of physics.

 

[chimney189]

It’s impossible for you to cover the cups with your hands and end up with LESS resonance. That would violate the laws of physics.

I just tried it again and you’re definitely right on this.

 

[Bastianpp]

You must have. I heard it on TT2/MScaler and it was pretty awesome.

For 10k “ awesome “ its not a big deal.

 

[chimney189]

Check out Imon Zur's Fallout 4 OST. The Ether 2 brings a somewhat dull soundtrack to life.

 

[JM1979]

Just purchased some of the suede pads. A little extra smoothness sounds good but more than anything I always loved the Beyerdynamics with suede pads and hoping comfort level is similar.

Also, what solid state amps are y’all finding pair well with E2?

 

[Steve Wilcox]

I'm really enjoying my E2s soundwise (via Chord Qutest and Rupert Neve RNHP) but I am struggling with comfort. I've tried Dan's suggestions posted earlier in the thread but with limited success. Clamping force, particularly behind my ears is high. I think the high general clamping force is exacerbated by the headband only being attached to the headphones at the rear so the clamping force is not spread to front and rear but focussed to the rear only.

I think I have a pretty average shaped/sized head and haven't had any particular problems with other headphones, other than those that have been widely reported e.g. re LCD2s.

I have a few questions.

Is there anyway to stretch out the Nitonol headband. I've tried leaving it stretched out overnight but no apparent change. If it was left stretched out for a week, a month, a year, would it just spring back to exactly the same shape?

Are the new ear pads likely to help in any way? I can't really see it as they won't change the underlying cause. I'll be very interested to hear about experiences as these start rolling out.

Would there be any possibility of a replacement headband with a lighter clamp for those of us who are experiencing this? It appears that it would be possible to easily remove the nitonol wires from the homes so the right tool?

I'm sorry to focus on the negative. They're a wonderful sounding headphone, very nicely balanced across the whole frequency range.

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

Took the words right outta my mouth, Steve!

 

[Bern2]

I'm really enjoying my E2s soundwise (via Chord Qutest and Rupert Neve RNHP) but I am struggling with comfort. I've tried Dan's suggestions posted earlier in the thread but with limited success. Clamping force, particularly behind my ears is high. I think the high general clamping force is exacerbated by the headband only being attached to the headphones at the rear so the clamping force is not spread to front and rear but focussed to the rear only.

I think I have a pretty average shaped/sized head and haven't had any particular problems with other headphones, other than those that have been widely reported e.g. re LCD2s.

I have a few questions.

Is there anyway to stretch out the Nitonol headband. I've tried leaving it stretched out overnight but no apparent change. If it was left stretched out for a week, a month, a year, would it just spring back to exactly the same shape?

Are the new ear pads likely to help in any way? I can't really see it as they won't change the underlying cause. I'll be very interested to hear about experiences as these start rolling out.

Would there be any possibility of a replacement headband with a lighter clamp for those of us who are experiencing this? It appears that it would be possible to easily remove the nitonol wires from the homes so the right tool?

I'm sorry to focus on the negative. They're a wonderful sounding headphone, very nicely balanced across the whole frequency range.

You bring up a valid concern. Comfort is right up there with sound for me. (I don't own the E2's btw). Not sure if/what the next phone will be.

Bern