MrSpeakers ETHER C Review / Announcement - A New Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Flagship from MrSpeakers

[mrspeakers]

Here are the basics of the tuning kit response.  As you can see, the system essentially provides a gentle "tilt" to the response.
 
Purple is no tuning, Green 1 black pad, Orange 2 black pads, Cyan 1 white pad.  
 
For general use and EDM I am loving the white.  The black pads work best for classical and jazz, unless you get a bright recording.  The stock tuning works beautifully for acoustic music, but can be hard edged on some heavily produced materials or stuff with hot microphones, like 70s Brit-pop.  Of course what gear you use will affect this and YMWV. 

 

[x RELIC x]

Thanks for the graphs Dan! Really looking forward to trying out the 'kit'!

 

[sbradley02]

  ether c is definitely nicer than the alpha primes imo. I found the alpha primes a bit bland though I do also prefer the prime over the XCs. XC has some interesting coloration from my perspective so I think the XC really depends on personal preference. I think its worthwhile to consider the ether closed if looking for a closed home usage generally neutral orientated sound signature. should be well-tuned for most audiophile-type tastes. personally preferred the ether closed over the ether open. I think its a worthwhile upgrade over the prime & I would recommend skipping over the prime to the Ether closed.
 
The closed headphones that I think are competitive at their price points are the k553, hp50, pm-3, prime (sale price), and ether closed to give you a sense of my preferences. cheers

I also went from the XC to the Primes. When I got the Primes, took only a few minutes to decide to sell the XC. Same observations as you had.
Fired up the C for the first time today. First listen was slightly edgy. Played them in the background for a few hours, smoother now. From what others state, I expect it will continue to break in. Considerably smaller difference from the Primes to the C than the Primes were from the XC. You can tell the Primes and the C are voiced much the same (and this is a very good thing IMO). Main improvement I am hearing is, as Dan has stated, better definition. The C is more 'electrostatic-y' (and this is a favorable observation on my part). It is an overused term, but better 'speed' also comes to mind.
Went with the DUM cable, with nothing playing it is slightly more microphonic than the standard cable, but not noticeable in use.
 
Also looking forward to getting my tuning kit.

 

[NZtechfreak]

  Here are the basics of the tuning kit response.  As you can see, the system essentially provides a gentle "tilt" to the response.
 
Purple is no tuning, Green 1 black pad, Orange 2 black pads, Cyan 1 white pad.  
 
For general use and EDM I am loving the white.  The black pads work best for classical and jazz, unless you get a bright recording.  The stock tuning works beautifully for acoustic music, but can be hard edged on some heavily produced materials or stuff with hot microphones, like 70s Brit-pop.  Of course what gear you use will affect this and YMWV. 

 
Right, this is what I was expecting - attenuating the higher frequencies to varying extents, which will shift the overall sense of the tonality a bit. Be interesting to try it. On face value I suspect I will like the stock tuning more, as the reduction in the presence region will likely not be to my liking (ditto the treble attentuation, which my ears already do a reasonable job at!), although then again a slight increase in bass emphasis due to this may improve things... Bottom line: needs to be tried!

 

[sbradley02]

Please allow at least a 100 hours for Ether C to sound it's best.

I like to use an acoustical absorption chamber so that I don't disturb the higher ups.

What changes did you find after 100 hours?

 

[sbradley02]

  Here are the basics of the tuning kit response.  As you can see, the system essentially provides a gentle "tilt" to the response.

Out of curiosity is a higher resolution pic of the graph available?
 
Thanks

 

[mrspeakers]

Out of curiosity is a higher resolution pic of the graph available?

Thanks

Click on the image.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Please allow at least a 100 hours for Ether C to sound it's best.


I like to use an acoustical absorption chamber so that I don't disturb the higher ups.

What changes did you find after 100 hours?

Bass was more pronounced and cleaner

 

[m0nster]

It's hard not to live in the US right now.. MrSpeakers seams to be a truly outstanding company! Right after the stress of having to prepare tons of wonderful headphones with nice boxes and sending them out, they produce cool filters for the headphones and send them out for free!!
As soon as I can afford it I will buy an Ether C because it seems to be a great headphone and because these guys are just a wonderful company! (Unfortunately it will be a while until I can afford it - darn wallet seams to always keep its diet...)

 

[wahsmoh]

It's hard not to live in the US right now.. MrSpeakers seams to be a truly outstanding company! Right after the stress of having to prepare tons of wonderful headphones with nice boxes and sending them out, they produce cool filters for the headphones and send them out for free!!
As soon as I can afford it I will buy an Ether C because it seems to be a great headphone and because these guys are just a wonderful company! (Unfortunately it will be a while until I can afford it - darn wallet seams to always keep its diet...)

Haha I know tell me about it. If I was still a single man I guarantee I would already be in possession of an Ether C and Gumby/Mojo stack. But no I am in possession of a beautiful woman and best friend and so I have to enjoy my measly Alpha Dogs and 20 year old Theta DAC as well as my HD600 + Crack (not complaining one bit)
 
The Ether C will be purchased next income tax return

 

[Imusicman]

I am looking to purchase the Ether C before Christmas. Will a new purchase include the felt pads in the box as accessories or will they be sent out seperately afterwards free of charge? If they are free to existing owners perhaps new production models should have them already in the box.
Nice of Dan to send them out FOC though.
Will there be a more permanent design change in the future or will these mods stay as tunable accessories leaving the user to choose their preferred option

 

[Serenitty]

 
Haha I know tell me about it. If I was still a single man I guarantee I would already be in possession of an Ether C and Gumby/Mojo stack. But no I am in possession of a beautiful woman and best friend and so I have to enjoy my measly Alpha Dogs and 20 year old Theta DAC as well as my HD600 + Crack (not complaining one bit)
 
The Ether C will be purchased next income tax return

 
I guess I'm lucky my wife will be buying me mine...  Of course there was some jewelry shopping last week that will take care of her..  She likes her carbon a little more compact...

 

[goodyfresh]

   
I guess I'm lucky my wife will be buying me mine...  Of course there was some jewelry shopping last week that will take care of her..  She likes her carbon a little more compact...

You know diamonds are not actually rare/valuable, right?  The entire modern diamond-industry is one big scam   Kind of hilarious, actually, if it weren't for the issues with Blood Diamonds in Africa.

 

[Allanmarcus]

 

   
I guess I'm lucky my wife will be buying me mine...  Of course there was some jewelry shopping last week that will take care of her..  She likes her carbon a little more compact...

You know diamonds are not actually rare/valuable, right?  The entire modern diamond-industry is one big scam   Kind of hilarious, actually, if it weren't for the issues with Blood Diamonds in Africa.

engineered scarcity or actual scarcity (like ethers , doesn't matter. That's the point of the cartel or the orpheus. 

 

[tylerchris]

I am looking to purchase the Ether C before Christmas. Will a new purchase include the felt pads in the box as accessories or will they be sent out seperately afterwards free of charge? If they are free to existing owners perhaps new production models should have them already in the box.
Nice of Dan to send them out FOC though.
Will there be a more permanent design change in the future or will these mods stay as tunable accessories leaving the user to choose their preferred option

I msg'd Dan yesterday, and he confirmed that all new Ether C orders were going out (as of last Thurs) with the felt kit in box. All future orders will continue to do so. Awesome!