Ecoute Vacuum Tube Headphones Initial Impressions:
So after spending a few days with the Ecoute Vacuum Tube Headphones, it's pretty clear to me that there was not a lot of confidence that the wireless anc community would take to these, and in my opinion, there's a big reason for that. The sound is completely opposite of what you typically see from wireless anc headphones. Whether that's good or not will depend on the user. I'll explain shortly.
Build and Design - They're actually built really well. Only time will tell with the quality, but these feel very sturdy. There's no loose parts. I'm not a fan of the look, and like many others on my list, wouldn't wear these much outside the house, but to each their own.
Comfort - I would say average for most people. Haven't even looked at the weight, but feels pretty heavy. Can create a hotspot on top of the head after prolonged use. Earcups feel very good to me. Surrounds my ears just fine.
Features - Another area where these headphones feel to me like the creators were taking a wait and see approach. Nothing much to speak of. No app, no included 3.5 cable. You get ANC, Transparency, Passive listening, USB-C listening, LDAC, AAC, and SBC. Literally that's about it LOL. ANC is middle of the pack, as is transparency. Call quality is surprisingly good. Haven't tried in a noisy environment though.
Sound - Ok, this is what took me as long as it did to even give my initial impressions on these. When I first put them on, I almost put them in the trash. At first listen, they honestly sounded to me like cheap, gas station headphones. Luckily, I've been doing this a while and understand that you have to give your brain time to adjust to a sound signature before evaluating. This has never been more true for a set of headphones than these. Ecoute has taken a completely different approach than any other wireless ANC headphone I've tried, or maybe this is the result of the Vacuum Tube sound. This is the most mid forward wireless anc headphone I've ever tried. At first, it sounds a little muffled, bass shy, and uninspired. After some time, and critical listening, you realize that what you're getting is a very clean, non offensive sound that resolve pretty much everything. It's just not glamorous in how it does it. There's not flashy treble or big bass to add to the presentation, it's just a natural sound with extremely clear and natural voices. Now I'll be honest, I still don't personally love it when it comes to excitement, but for some reason, when I do put them on, I can't take them off. It's very weird to me. It just presents music, movies, and games in such a clean, unique manner. It's kind of addicting. I still don't know where I want to rate these when it comes to sound. More to come.
Oh, one more thing, All modes do sound a little different. USB-C sounds the best. Powered on whether wired or wireless sound pretty close with the difference being ANC On vs Off. In short, ANC On gives you a little more in the upper registers which creates a little more detail, ANC Off gives you a little more in the lower mids and bass. Which you prefer will come down to preference. I think I slightly prefer ANC On but need more time to say for sure. I'm not a fan of the passive sound. Just all bass and no treble to my ears.
