Nice. 
I was undecided between the SPL Phonitor X or V281, until i read this review of the Ether 2 here:
https://www.fairaudio.de/test/mrspeakers-ether-2-magnetostatischer-kopfhoerer/
The interesting part about the 2 amps roughly translates to :
"It was practicall, that at the same time I still had to test the bearish 3-watt transistor SPL Phonitor XE , which would have been the ideal cast with its neutral authoritarian gait and in particular its unperturbed analytical presence in the midrange and treble. Had not a hifi-colleague paired the Ether 2 for fun with the Violectric V281 (price: 1.999 Euro). Voilá: Just a bit more resolving and more concise in the high tone, without robbing the elegant sound of Ether 2 analytically of his charm, the MrSpeakers had found in the power cube of Lake Constance his perfect counterpart. Everything there what you need, no false effects, no discoloration, no bugs in frequency, only music, music, music. Quite clear: This cloud filled with wonderfully "real" music around the listener's head, to which the MrSpeakers Ether 2 is capable, clearly carries the number 7 with carefully seasoned electronics."
...which in the end helped me with my decision to buy the V281.
It should arrive tomorrow and ill post some initial impressions compared to my NFB-28.18, WA7d and IFI xCAN/LG G7 Fit combo.
So far, after a month of owning it, the Ether 2 is still my favorite headphone, compared to HE1000, HD800 SD, LCD2 Classic(Dekoni Hybrid) and Aeon Flow Open.
It sounds just right as someone here mentioned before and the faults of the other headphones become glaringly obvious when i listen to them after i listened to the Ether 2 for a few days.
And even the sound stage which many people believe to be only medium sized is basically reproducing the recording "as is" and adjusts with the recording (and can get huge) which finally made me understand
what people mean when they describe the HD800`s and HE1000`s sound stage as artificially enlarged since they are always large on those cans.
I simply have not heard a better reproduction of instruments on any other headphone - which becomes glaringly obvious in Stevie Ray Vaughans`s rendition of Little Wing.
Audiophile bull/marketing terms like "involving" and "engaging" become the only way i can describe what i feel when i listen to this song on the Ether 2.
You owe it to yourself to have a listen if you got these cans.
Phew, this got way longer than i intended...
More will follow in the coming months when i feel more confident to write up a coherent review.
P.s.: Dan (if i may call you so) - have you heard the Ether 2 on Violectrics V281 while you were in Munich?
And if so what were your impressions compared to other pairings? Thanks!
I was undecided between the SPL Phonitor X or V281, until i read this review of the Ether 2 here:
https://www.fairaudio.de/test/mrspeakers-ether-2-magnetostatischer-kopfhoerer/
The interesting part about the 2 amps roughly translates to :
"It was practicall, that at the same time I still had to test the bearish 3-watt transistor SPL Phonitor XE , which would have been the ideal cast with its neutral authoritarian gait and in particular its unperturbed analytical presence in the midrange and treble. Had not a hifi-colleague paired the Ether 2 for fun with the Violectric V281 (price: 1.999 Euro). Voilá: Just a bit more resolving and more concise in the high tone, without robbing the elegant sound of Ether 2 analytically of his charm, the MrSpeakers had found in the power cube of Lake Constance his perfect counterpart. Everything there what you need, no false effects, no discoloration, no bugs in frequency, only music, music, music. Quite clear: This cloud filled with wonderfully "real" music around the listener's head, to which the MrSpeakers Ether 2 is capable, clearly carries the number 7 with carefully seasoned electronics."
...which in the end helped me with my decision to buy the V281.
It should arrive tomorrow and ill post some initial impressions compared to my NFB-28.18, WA7d and IFI xCAN/LG G7 Fit combo.
So far, after a month of owning it, the Ether 2 is still my favorite headphone, compared to HE1000, HD800 SD, LCD2 Classic(Dekoni Hybrid) and Aeon Flow Open.
It sounds just right as someone here mentioned before and the faults of the other headphones become glaringly obvious when i listen to them after i listened to the Ether 2 for a few days.
And even the sound stage which many people believe to be only medium sized is basically reproducing the recording "as is" and adjusts with the recording (and can get huge) which finally made me understand
what people mean when they describe the HD800`s and HE1000`s sound stage as artificially enlarged since they are always large on those cans.
I simply have not heard a better reproduction of instruments on any other headphone - which becomes glaringly obvious in Stevie Ray Vaughans`s rendition of Little Wing.
Audiophile bull/marketing terms like "involving" and "engaging" become the only way i can describe what i feel when i listen to this song on the Ether 2.
You owe it to yourself to have a listen if you got these cans.
Phew, this got way longer than i intended...
More will follow in the coming months when i feel more confident to write up a coherent review.
P.s.: Dan (if i may call you so) - have you heard the Ether 2 on Violectrics V281 while you were in Munich?
And if so what were your impressions compared to other pairings? Thanks!
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My solution was just to place the E2's on the included MrSpeakers case overnight. Little stretch reduced the clamp force enough and it's super comfortable now.
