[Maelob]

Do anybody here encountered an issue with cracking sounds on the Ether 2- I had the issue on the Abyss Diana and it was really annoying. I think the reviewer here had some issues with it.

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

/\ nope, not at all.

 

[mrspeakers]

Our headphones are given a "shake test" to identify crinkles as a final QA step. While planars will crinkle under pressure, they have to as the diaphragm stretches then contacts the motor, we build our headphones to be crinkle-free for sitting and moving your head and for walking. We would take care of a driver that was noisy with routine movement.

Gym rats and runners, you're SOL.

 

[mrspeakers]

Ear pads should start arriving tomorrow. Hope everyone enjoys them. My comments vs the stock pads:

1) Perforated are really great for vocals, and for those wanting a bit more splash on the top. Nice layering, deep and wide soundstage, center front is a few rows further out, with a nice depth of field and solid imaging. Probably the pad I listen to the most.

2) Suede pads are really buttery warm and smooth, they're particularly great with well-recorded music turned up a bit. They're also a lot of fun when you pull out an annoyingly bright rock album and want to bump the volume a bit.

 

[jeffri]

Do anybody here encountered an issue with cracking sounds on the Ether 2- I had the issue on the Abyss Diana and it was really annoying. I think the reviewer here had some issues with it.

No such thing with my Ether 2 and I don't think anyone in my circle has experienced one either. I have that with my old Sine though.

 

[borrego]

Any crackling sound is likely from the seam of the earpad. That is my recent experience with my Sine DX: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audeze-sine-series.793518/page-293#post-14944986

 

[JM1979]

2) Suede pads particularly great with well-recorded music turned up a bit.

Excellent. I like the sound of that. I can’t wait for mine to arrive on Monday.

I’m also pleasantly surprised by how easy they appear to swap out after watching the videos you posted.

 

[hikaru12]

Does anyone recommend "upgrading" from the AFOs? My personal tastes in a headphone are ones that have warm, forward mids and lots of detail. The Auteur fit the bill the closest while the AFO I believe is my goldilocks headphone that has met all my needs. What I've read is that the Ether 2s are even lighter, have better imaging and soundstage and a more relaxed treble. I'm usually treble insensitive but I can see the AFO's getting a lot hot from time to time - not enough for me to consider their treble troublesome as I prefer splashier treble in general. Do the Ether 2s sound too boring? After a while I found the Auteurs neutralness too boring as did the LCD-X. Trying to decide if they're just more of a flavor upgrade or even a sidegrade than a true full blown upgrade given my preferences.

 

[franz12]

Does anyone recommend "upgrading" from the AFOs? My personal tastes in a headphone are ones that have warm, forward mids and lots of detail. The Auteur fit the bill the closest while the AFO I believe is my goldilocks headphone that has met all my needs. What I've read is that the Ether 2s are even lighter, have better imaging and soundstage and a more relaxed treble. I'm usually treble insensitive but I can see the AFO's getting a lot hot from time to time - not enough for me to consider their treble troublesome as I prefer splashier treble in general. Do the Ether 2s sound too boring? After a while I found the Auteurs neutralness too boring as did the LCD-X. Trying to decide if they're just more of a flavor upgrade or even a sidegrade than a true full blown upgrade given my preferences.

I owned them at the same time. They sounded quite differently. AFO has more mid-bass but has less sub-bass and less lower mid. As a result, AFO sounds a bit hollow sometimes, while E2 sounds full and warm. AFO is more flavored, while E2 is quite neutral.
Some people say E2 has splash treble, but I definitely disagree. I never heard any sibilance with E2, while I do hear sibilance quite often with hd800s, ether c flow, afo, utopia, verum, and hek.

 

[hikaru12]

I owned them at the same time. They sounded quite differently. AFO has more mid-bass but has less sub-bass and less lower mid. As a result, AFO sounds a bit hollow sometimes, while E2 sounds full and warm. AFO is more flavored, while E2 is quite neutral.
Some people say E2 has splash treble, but I definitely disagree. I never heard any sibilance with E2, while I do hear sibilance quite often with hd800s, ether c flow, afo, utopia, verum, and hek.

Are the mids forward like the AFO? Reason I ask is because the soundstage is wider on the E2 I would assume it would be a little more diffused. I agree that the mids on the AFO can be a little weird if you're listening carefully (the lower mids are a little hollowed out.).

 

[eIndi]

Ear pads should start arriving tomorrow.

I got the pads but there were no parts to upgrade the factory pads to be replaceable. Do I have to buy them extra?

 

[Phantaminum]

Does anyone recommend "upgrading" from the AFOs? My personal tastes in a headphone are ones that have warm, forward mids and lots of detail. The Auteur fit the bill the closest while the AFO I believe is my goldilocks headphone that has met all my needs. What I've read is that the Ether 2s are even lighter, have better imaging and soundstage and a more relaxed treble. I'm usually treble insensitive but I can see the AFO's getting a lot hot from time to time - not enough for me to consider their treble troublesome as I prefer splashier treble in general. Do the Ether 2s sound too boring? After a while I found the Auteurs neutralness too boring as did the LCD-X. Trying to decide if they're just more of a flavor upgrade or even a sidegrade than a true full blown upgrade given my preferences.

The Ether 2s mids are not forward but neutral. They both have opposite sound signatures when comparing them to each other. Ether 2s sub bass doesn’t roll off, neutral mids, and the top end can be dark. The AFOs have a roll off at the lowest octaves, forward mids, and more sparkle at the top end. My preferences are a mid forward sound as well and sometimes I wish the Ether 2 had a bit more of it. I wonder if the new pads would make any changes here.

 

[hikaru12]

The Ether 2s mids are not forward but neutral. They both have opposite sound signatures when comparing them to each other. Ether 2s sub bass doesn’t roll off, neutral mids, and the top end can be dark. The AFOs have a roll off at the lowest octaves, forward mids, and more sparkle at the top end. My preferences are a mid forward sound as well and sometimes I wish the Ether 2 had a bit more of it. I wonder if the new pads would make any changes here.

Curious to hear your impressions when you guys get the new pads then. I'll probably be upgrading the cable to a Prion4 or Compliment4 then at this point. I'm eagerly awaiting to add a GSX Mini to the mix since I'm reading good reviews on the impressions thread so far.

 

[ksorota]

I got the pads but there were no parts to upgrade the factory pads to be replaceable. Do I have to buy them extra?

It was my understanding that they had an epoxy type glue backing.

Anything to peel off?

 

[eIndi]

It was my understanding that they had an epoxy type glue backing.

Anything to peel off?

I don't understand your question in context of my post.