[buke9]

Looks like sailors like Ether-C's 

.

 

[Ableza]

 
Nice to see another bubblehead.  Submarines Once...

 

[buke9]

 
 
Nice to see another bubblehead.  Submarines Once...

Awesome .

 

[enthusiast]

I just posted Review and Pictures of the Ether C. Enjoy - http://www.head-fi.org/products/mrspeakers-ether-c/reviews/15396

 

[Skyyyeman]

Deleted

 

 

[Rocco Khan]

Firstly, I am about to pull the trigger on a pair. I have two remaining questions:
 
1) Would it be possible for Dan or any other Contributor/Headphone Supremus/Head-fier to comment on whether the Cayin C5 or the Fiio E12 (specs below) would be possible to drive the Ether C somewhat well (which would it lean towards, direct from iphone or desktop rig, for example ~3/10 from an iphone and ~9/10 from a TOTL desktop rig - i know a bit arbitrary!)? These are the most powerful iphone 6 sized amps that i can put in my big pocket (800-900mW@32ohms)... 
 
2) On cables, do you think the Ether C 1.1 would benefit from silver/copper (faster) or 100% copper (slower)?
 
CAYIN specs:
Rated output power: 800mW + 800mW (32Ω load)
SNR: ≥101dB (A-weighted)
Life time: about 12 hours (32Ω load)
Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz (± 1dB)
Sensitivity: ≤500mV (gain H)
Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤0.02% (1kHz)
 
 
 
Fiio E12 Montblanc
Output Power: >880mW@32Ω
Output Voltage: 15.5Vp-p
Stereo Crosstalk: > 70 dB
Outputs: 1/8
Inputs: 1/8
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >110dB
THD at 1V output:
Frequency Response: 10 Hz -100KHz

 

[lamode]

  2) On cables, do you think the Ether C 1.1 would benefit from silver/copper (faster) or 100% copper (slower)?

 
This has never made a difference in the history of cables.

 

[x RELIC x]

Firstly, I am about to pull the trigger on a pair. I have two remaining questions:

1) Would it be possible for Dan or any other Contributor/Headphone Supremus/Head-fier to comment on whether the Cayin C5 or the Fiio E12 (specs below) would be possible to drive the Ether C somewhat well (which would it lean towards, direct from iphone or desktop rig, for example ~3/10 from an iphone and ~9/10 from a TOTL desktop rig - i know a bit arbitrary!)? These are the most powerful iphone 6 sized amps that i can put in my big pocket (800-900mW@32ohms)... 

2) On cables, do you think the Ether C 1.1 would benefit from silver/copper (faster) or 100% copper (slower)?

CAYIN specs:
[COLOR=666666]Rated output power: 800mW + 800mW (32Ω load)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]SNR: ≥101dB (A-weighted)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Life time: about 12 hours (32Ω load)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz (± 1dB)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Sensitivity: ≤500mV (gain H)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤0.02% (1kHz)[/COLOR]


 


Fiio E12 Montblanc
Output Power: >880mW@32Ω
Output Voltage: 15.5Vp-p

Stereo Crosstalk: > 70 dB

Outputs: 1/8

Inputs: 1/8

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >110dB

THD at 1V output:

Frequency Response: 10 Hz -100KHz

I've reviewed the Cayin N5 - Correction - the C5 and the FiiO e12 will drive the ETHER C with ease, unless you listen to deafening dB levels and like bleeding ears. Both are exceedingly powerful in their respective categories. I've been able to drive the ETHER C well with the AK240 which has a much weaker amp section compared to the other two devices listed.

No comment on the cables.

 

[Rocco Khan]

   
This has never made a difference in the history of cables.

 
That's a cool story bro.

 

[Rocco Khan]

I've reviewed the Cayin N5 - Correction - the C5 and the FiiO e12 will drive the ETHER C with ease, unless you listen to deafening dB levels and like bleeding ears. Both are exceedingly powerful in their respective categories. I've been able to drive the ETHER C well with the AK240 which has a much weaker amp section compared to the other two devices listed.

No comment on the cables.

 
Thank you for the response. Very helpful. May I please ask how you would compare to a good desktop rig vs the E12/C5? Is the scaling miles off in terms of performance?

 

[inthere]

  Firstly, I am about to pull the trigger on a pair. I have two remaining questions:
 
1) Would it be possible for Dan or any other Contributor/Headphone Supremus/Head-fier to comment on whether the Cayin C5 or the Fiio E12 (specs below) would be possible to drive the Ether C somewhat well (which would it lean towards, direct from iphone or desktop rig, for example ~3/10 from an iphone and ~9/10 from a TOTL desktop rig - i know a bit arbitrary!)? These are the most powerful iphone 6 sized amps that i can put in my big pocket (800-900mW@32ohms)... 
 
2) On cables, do you think the Ether C 1.1 would benefit from silver/copper (faster) or 100% copper (slower)?
 
CAYIN specs:
Rated output power: 800mW + 800mW (32Ω load)
SNR: ≥101dB (A-weighted)
Life time: about 12 hours (32Ω load)
Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz (± 1dB)
Sensitivity: ≤500mV (gain H)
Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤0.02% (1kHz)
 
 
 
Fiio E12 Montblanc
Output Power: >880mW@32Ω
Output Voltage: 15.5Vp-p
Stereo Crosstalk: > 70 dB
Outputs: 1/8
Inputs: 1/8
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >110dB
THD at 1V output:
Frequency Response: 10 Hz -100KHz

I have both the Cayin C5 and the Fiio E12 and they both drive the Ether C fine. Get the Cayin, it sounds slightly better, slightly more powerful, way better battery life. E12 looks better imo.

 

[x RELIC x]

Thank you for the response. Very helpful. May I please ask how you would compare to a good desktop rig vs the E12/C5? Is the scaling miles off in terms of performance?

This is really such an open ended question that should probably be in one of the amplifier threads. Performance can mean so many different things. For most headphones the above listed portable amps will drive them just fine if that's the performance you are asking about. HOWEVER, compared to more expensive/better desktop amps the above are more grainy, less smooth, less dynamic, more flat, and although they perform very well in their price bracket for portable gear you will notice an improvement from better desktop gear listening to them with the ETHER C. That said this is Head Fi we're talking about and the law of diminishing returns kicks in pretty heavily after a certain point.

You heard the ETHER C at CanJam Singapore right? You also hate sibilance right? What gear did you hear the ETHER C with? If you want to tame sibilance you would use the white tuning pads on the outside of the ear cup (no ear pad removal necessary).

Edit: I don't find the ETHER C to be sibilant, at least not on my gear or with my music files.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Fiio E12 has a bass leanness which I don't think does the Ether C any favors, so I'd advise against it. But I like my bass where its at and not lessened by my gear.

The E12 is probably the least musical Fiio amp, I think. It's tight and lean, and faster than what I expected of it, so I wasn't a fan of the signature as a daily amp of choice, though it is a very good amp otherwise. Of course, it's bass boost warms things up considerably, but I don't typically believe bass boosting high quality headphones. Last I remember, the boost was at 50hz, which I feel should've been done more at 30hz-40hz.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Firstly, I am about to pull the trigger on a pair. I have two remaining questions:

1) Would it be possible for Dan or any other Contributor/Headphone Supremus/Head-fier to comment on whether the Cayin C5 or the Fiio E12 (specs below) would be possible to drive the Ether C somewhat well (which would it lean towards, direct from iphone or desktop rig, for example ~3/10 from an iphone and ~9/10 from a TOTL desktop rig - i know a bit arbitrary!)? These are the most powerful iphone 6 sized amps that i can put in my big pocket (800-900mW@32ohms)... 

2) On cables, do you think the Ether C 1.1 would benefit from silver/copper (faster) or 100% copper (slower)?

CAYIN specs:
[COLOR=666666]Rated output power: 800mW + 800mW (32Ω load)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]SNR: ≥101dB (A-weighted)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Life time: about 12 hours (32Ω load)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz (± 1dB)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Sensitivity: ≤500mV (gain H)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=666666]Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤0.02% (1kHz)[/COLOR]


 


Fiio E12 Montblanc
Output Power: >880mW@32Ω
Output Voltage: 15.5Vp-p

Stereo Crosstalk: > 70 dB

Outputs: 1/8

Inputs: 1/8

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >110dB

THD at 1V output:

Frequency Response: 10 Hz -100KHz

I use the ether c with an iFi iCan nano with very good results. The xBass boost and 3D switch work well with the ether c

 

[Uncle E1]

   
Thank you for the response. Very helpful. May I please ask how you would compare to a good desktop rig vs the E12/C5? Is the scaling miles off in terms of performance?

 
definitely yes.