[Jodet]

  Got my Ether-C in the old box! First impressions... build quality is great, as I expected given my experience with the Ether. Weight is a little more, obviously because of the cup, but still way less than my other headphones. After a few hours listening happily at work I took it home and conducted some quick-and-dirty shootouts using a number of reference tracks...
 
1. Ether-C vs Alpha Prime: (Both using Norne Zoetic cables). I am on record as loving the Alpha Prime. It's a neutral-ish headphone with great dynamics that's fun to listen to. However, it lacks a little bit of detail and is a fussy fit; it has to be rotated just right to get it to clamp evenly (and no, bending the headband never did help). Well, the Ether-C also has those sonic advantages but is noticeably more clear and detailed. Fit is perfect, basically just drop it on your head, adjust the slider (once), and it becomes invisible. Definitely a win for the Ether-C, but not a big win.
 
2. Ether-C vs LCD-XC: (Ether-C using Norne Zoetic, the LCD-XC using Norne Vanquish.) Yeah, the LCD-XC has issues with weight but with the suspension mod I find it not to be a big issue. Sonically the LCD-XC is extremely detailed and a bit treble-heavy. It's an outstanding headphone but I can't really call it "fun", at least for my tastes, since it can be a bit antiseptic and fatiguing. With the Ether-C, you also get great detail but without any grainy character, and a more realistic tonal balance that's less trebley. Unless your tastes run towards the HD800 end of the spectrum, I believe the Ether-C is the solid winner here. (It still remains a puzzle to me why Audeze chose to make the X family sound so different from the 2/3... yeah, variety is great, but at least advertise the sonic differences so people can make an informed choice without having to browse forum threads.)
 
3. Ether-C vs Ether: (Both using Norne Zoetic cables). Ahh, sibling rivalry. Very similar sonically, except that while the Ether-C is extremely clear and intimate, the Ether takes that even a step further into the realm of the absolutely ******* insane. There is no non-electrostatic headphone in the world that provides as crystalline and transparent an experience as the Ether, it really does sound like it's wired into your brain. (And I'm about ready to admit it may even match the Stax SR-009 in that regard.) So I'd give the nod to the Ether. However, we are talking apples and oranges since the Ether is open. To me, the Ether-C is indeed the best closed headphone in the world.

 
Thanks for that detailed write up.   So.... if you had to have one or the other - Ether vs Ether C - which would you prefer?   There's a lot of excitement around the 'C' because a lot of people need closed cans.   I live alone so that's not important to me, and I've  always been more of an 'open' can kinda guy.    So I'm confused here.  

 

[sbradley02]

While I am waiting for my ETHER C to ship, really enjoying my Primes. They are an amazingly good headphone, so I am anxious to see how the ETHER can better them.
 
Also looks like I will be the first to pair them with the Geek Pulse.
 
EDIT: Just got my tracking number!

 

[mrspeakers]

BOXES ARRIVED EARLY TODAY AND WE ARE SHIPPING!
 
Not that I'm excited or anything.  Tracking will start to update by 6PM on the first orders going out.

 

[Stereolab42]

  @Stereolab42, regards to Ether-C vs Ether, do you happen to test out live album/songs? My own use of Ether, live songs sounds live. I'm curious about Ether-C.

 
Yes, Alice In Chains Unplugged. Sounds spectacular.
 

  Thank you for your review. How is the bass impact of Ether-C comparing to the LCDs?

 
Bass is great on the Ether-C, similar to the LCD family and 1-2 db hotter than the Ether (although the Ether can be easily EQ'd up).
 

   
Thanks for that detailed write up.   So.... if you had to have one or the other - Ether vs Ether C - which would you prefer?   There's a lot of excitement around the 'C' because a lot of people need closed cans.   I live alone so that's not important to me, and I've  always been more of an 'open' can kinda guy.    So I'm confused here.  

 
If your environment can tolerate open, and you can only pick one, then I'd go for the Ether because of its slightly superior transparency and intimacy. As I mentioned it's a little cooler in the bass frequencies but I'm always running EQ through my PC so that's not a problem for me.

 

[sbradley02]

   
Yes, Alice In Chains Unplugged. Sounds spectacular.
 
 
Bass is great on the Ether-C, similar to the LCD family and 1-2 db hotter than the Ether (although the Ether can be easily EQ'd up).

Love that album.
 
Out of curiosity, which member of the LCD family? I loved the bass on the LCD-2 (never owned one because it is open) but was underwhelmed by the LCD-XC I used to own.

 

[x RELIC x]

Got my 'order completed' email! Thanks Dan! My box ETHER C is on its way!!!!

 

[mrspeakers]

We will be working late and a lot of boxes will miss today's shipping cutoff, just FYI.  If you've received a notice and it doesn't update tracking today it will by 6PM Monday.  Not enough time in the day...

 

[buke9]

Won't be long now. WooHoo.

 

[goldendarko]

  BOXES ARRIVED EARLY TODAY AND WE ARE SHIPPING!
 
Not that I'm excited or anything.  Tracking will start to update by 6PM on the first orders going out.

Sweet! I haven't gotten an e-mail though so I guess I'll have to wait til Monday

 

[mrspeakers]

 
Sweet! I haven't gotten an e-mail though so I guess I'll have to wait til Monday

I hope by Monday night we'll be up to around order 6080, or orders placed before Oct 4.  I'm not quite positive that's where we'll end up, but just to give an idea.  We're moving pretty fast at this point...
 
Please remember the headphones will benefit from about 100-200 hours of use before they'll be mostly burned in.  

 

[Stereolab42]

  Love that album.
 
Out of curiosity, which member of the LCD family? I loved the bass on the LCD-2 (never owned one because it is open) but was underwhelmed by the LCD-XC I used to own.

 
XC and 3F. I find the bass on the XC to be perfectly fine. The 3F of course has great bass and slam for an open headphone, which is why I love it for metal music.

 

[sbradley02]

 
I hope by Monday night we'll be up to around order 6080, or orders placed before Oct 4.  I'm not quite positive that's where we'll end up, but just to give an idea.  We're moving pretty fast at this point...
 
Please remember the headphones will benefit from about 100-200 hours of use before they'll be mostly burned in.  

I know you are busy, but to other folks, what differences have you heard after burn-in?

 

[musicman59]

 
I hope by Monday night we'll be up to around order 6080, or orders placed before Oct 4.  I'm not quite positive that's where we'll end up, but just to give an idea.  We're moving pretty fast at this point...
 
Please remember the headphones will benefit from about 100-200 hours of use before they'll be mostly burned in.  

Getting closer! I am 6089..... 

 

[Ableza]

  I know you are busy, but to other folks, what differences have you heard after burn-in?

I've got well over 100 hours on my Ether-C now and all I know is I'm enjoying them more every day..

 

[gelocks]

Ok... I think I'm going to start selling some of the watches I don't use and get this already! I can't stand looking at the pictures on Dan's website and getting that itch to click "Add to Cart"!!! The only thing stopping me is that I just bought a car!! LOL!
 
Arrrghhh...