catscratch
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2004
- Posts
- 4,021
- Likes
- 705
Just thought I'd post some updates.
I finally have a portable amp that's usable with the ES2 - the RS Hornet. So, I can finally use the ES2 in my main system. I can finally see what it can do with better gear.
The Hornet, even at low setting, has entirely too much gain for the ES2, given the rather high output of my sources. So, I use it with a UE attenuator, which is, from what I gather, a rather beefy 200+ Ohm resistor. It certainly does change the sound signature of the ES2, and for the better, though the changes are small.
I've since used the ES2 in a variety of configuarations. The sources were a wide number of DAPs, PCDPs, the MicroDAC (which is simply excellent - wow Tyll, congrats on such an amazing portable product. Any thoughts of making a portable digital transport to compliment the MicroDAC?), and my trusty Rega Planet 2000. None of this is especially high-end, but it gives a pretty good idea as to how the ES2 will sound with high-end sources.
My impressions are far too disjointed and disorganized in order for me to try and express them with any kind of coherence and flow, so I'll just post ideas one by one as they come.
So, here's what I think so far:
- The ES2 is entirely too sensitive for portable devices. It picks up background hiss with incredible ease, which rules out a lot of portable devices as viable alternatives. The iRiver iHP-120, which sounds excellent, is largely unusable because of the tremendous amount of background hiss. The Kenwood HD20GA7, which sounds similar to the 120 but is even better, is even less usable due to even more hiss! The portables that sound very clean - X5, 5G iPod - are too bright to make very good synergistic companions, and besides, the 120 sounds better than them anyway. Using an attenuator to get rid of the hiss degrades sound quality and kills battery life, and the Ety adapter makes the ES2 much, much brighter, which you don't want.
- The ES2 is likewise too sensitive for most portable amps. Here, however, you have the option of using resistors. Still, if I can make just one suggestion to Westone regarding a custom IEM build around high-end consumer use: make it less sensitive! You'll make it much more compatible with portable devices.
- The ES2 is incredibly, amazingly, astonishingly revealing of any weakness that your source has. In order to get it to sing, your source basically has to be very well rounded without any single serious flaw, because if it is, the ES2 will find something to complain about. If there is even slight hiss, you'll hear it. If there is any harshness in the treble, you'll hear it and feel it. If there's muddy bass, bloated midbass, recessed midrante, etc... you'll know about it. It's very, very sensitive to tonal balance differences.
- The ES2 has definite potential in a high-end system. While I don't think that it's as good as top-tier cans overall, it's still very good. It's soundstage can actually extend beyond your head, and it's instrument separation, on good sources, is truly stellar. It's right up there with electrostats. It's quite fast, very well balanced from top to bottom, and has a very good midrange with great detail and clarity. Where it starts losing points is in texture. I guess this is an artifact of it's 18kHz cutoff, which hurts it's ability to replicate upper harmonics. But, high-end cans have a definite edge in repdroducing instrument and vocal textures, even though the ES2 is in many cases more detailed, or at least appears more detailed on first listen. Still, for the moment I'm enjoying the ES2 quite a bit in my main rig, and it does things many things that even the SR-404 can't. It is definitely high-end, though it doesn't quite go all the way.
- The ES2 is amazingly dynamic, vivid, and musical, especially with the Rega Planet (and Hornet). This combo, while not technically not the best I've ever heard, is musical enough to move me to tears. It just sounds right - clear, smooth, very vivid, well balanced, extremely detailed, articulate, and incredibly engaging. The ES2 is fully capable of "disappearing," basically, transporting the music so well that you no longer hear the system. It doesn't do it as magically as the HE90 and the top tier electrostatcs, but it definitely does it better than the HD600 or SR-404. It simply makes music.
- The ES2 is superb with all sorts of electronica, where texture doesn't really matter. Out of all my cans, it's my favorite for electronica right now.
- The Hornet, once it is burned in, is a great companion for the ES2. The Hornet has a forward but very organic and tube-like signature. It's not the most detailed and revealing amp that I've ever heard, and it's a bit colored, but it simply sounds beautiful. The ES2 is able to communicate these aspects of the Hornet's sound very clearly and well. But, it has a bit too much gain even on the Low setting, hence the need for an attenuator.
- To be perfectly honest, I'm starting to believe that the ES2, as well as the SR-001, is entirely too much headphone for any portable to handle. I know this will raise some eyebrows, but I'm beginning to believe that using a headphone like this unamped out of a portable is a waste. Instead of relaxing and letting the music flow, the ES2 simply complains over and over about how bad the portable is. The SR-001 does this too. These systems are simply far too revealing for the quality of current portable equipemt. Personally, I wouldn't even think of using lossy files with the ES2 and the SR-001, though I know many people prefer lossy on the move.
I bought the ES2 thinking that it was going to be the be-all and end-all in unamped personal listening. Instead, I started a long and still ongoing search for a source that would do the ES2 justice. In terms of an convenient, unamped package, I still haven't found it. But, I've realized that it is very much a high-end headphone that shines together with quality gear.
The rig right now looks something like: iRiver iHP-120 --> MicroDAC --> Hornet --> ES2/UE attenuator, with a Kimber mini and some generic optical cable. The rig isn't very portable, though it might be with that nifty Headroom bag, but it sure does sound wonderful.
More ideas to come later.
I finally have a portable amp that's usable with the ES2 - the RS Hornet. So, I can finally use the ES2 in my main system. I can finally see what it can do with better gear.
The Hornet, even at low setting, has entirely too much gain for the ES2, given the rather high output of my sources. So, I use it with a UE attenuator, which is, from what I gather, a rather beefy 200+ Ohm resistor. It certainly does change the sound signature of the ES2, and for the better, though the changes are small.
I've since used the ES2 in a variety of configuarations. The sources were a wide number of DAPs, PCDPs, the MicroDAC (which is simply excellent - wow Tyll, congrats on such an amazing portable product. Any thoughts of making a portable digital transport to compliment the MicroDAC?), and my trusty Rega Planet 2000. None of this is especially high-end, but it gives a pretty good idea as to how the ES2 will sound with high-end sources.
My impressions are far too disjointed and disorganized in order for me to try and express them with any kind of coherence and flow, so I'll just post ideas one by one as they come.
So, here's what I think so far:
- The ES2 is entirely too sensitive for portable devices. It picks up background hiss with incredible ease, which rules out a lot of portable devices as viable alternatives. The iRiver iHP-120, which sounds excellent, is largely unusable because of the tremendous amount of background hiss. The Kenwood HD20GA7, which sounds similar to the 120 but is even better, is even less usable due to even more hiss! The portables that sound very clean - X5, 5G iPod - are too bright to make very good synergistic companions, and besides, the 120 sounds better than them anyway. Using an attenuator to get rid of the hiss degrades sound quality and kills battery life, and the Ety adapter makes the ES2 much, much brighter, which you don't want.
- The ES2 is likewise too sensitive for most portable amps. Here, however, you have the option of using resistors. Still, if I can make just one suggestion to Westone regarding a custom IEM build around high-end consumer use: make it less sensitive! You'll make it much more compatible with portable devices.
- The ES2 is incredibly, amazingly, astonishingly revealing of any weakness that your source has. In order to get it to sing, your source basically has to be very well rounded without any single serious flaw, because if it is, the ES2 will find something to complain about. If there is even slight hiss, you'll hear it. If there is any harshness in the treble, you'll hear it and feel it. If there's muddy bass, bloated midbass, recessed midrante, etc... you'll know about it. It's very, very sensitive to tonal balance differences.
- The ES2 has definite potential in a high-end system. While I don't think that it's as good as top-tier cans overall, it's still very good. It's soundstage can actually extend beyond your head, and it's instrument separation, on good sources, is truly stellar. It's right up there with electrostats. It's quite fast, very well balanced from top to bottom, and has a very good midrange with great detail and clarity. Where it starts losing points is in texture. I guess this is an artifact of it's 18kHz cutoff, which hurts it's ability to replicate upper harmonics. But, high-end cans have a definite edge in repdroducing instrument and vocal textures, even though the ES2 is in many cases more detailed, or at least appears more detailed on first listen. Still, for the moment I'm enjoying the ES2 quite a bit in my main rig, and it does things many things that even the SR-404 can't. It is definitely high-end, though it doesn't quite go all the way.
- The ES2 is amazingly dynamic, vivid, and musical, especially with the Rega Planet (and Hornet). This combo, while not technically not the best I've ever heard, is musical enough to move me to tears. It just sounds right - clear, smooth, very vivid, well balanced, extremely detailed, articulate, and incredibly engaging. The ES2 is fully capable of "disappearing," basically, transporting the music so well that you no longer hear the system. It doesn't do it as magically as the HE90 and the top tier electrostatcs, but it definitely does it better than the HD600 or SR-404. It simply makes music.
- The ES2 is superb with all sorts of electronica, where texture doesn't really matter. Out of all my cans, it's my favorite for electronica right now.
- The Hornet, once it is burned in, is a great companion for the ES2. The Hornet has a forward but very organic and tube-like signature. It's not the most detailed and revealing amp that I've ever heard, and it's a bit colored, but it simply sounds beautiful. The ES2 is able to communicate these aspects of the Hornet's sound very clearly and well. But, it has a bit too much gain even on the Low setting, hence the need for an attenuator.
- To be perfectly honest, I'm starting to believe that the ES2, as well as the SR-001, is entirely too much headphone for any portable to handle. I know this will raise some eyebrows, but I'm beginning to believe that using a headphone like this unamped out of a portable is a waste. Instead of relaxing and letting the music flow, the ES2 simply complains over and over about how bad the portable is. The SR-001 does this too. These systems are simply far too revealing for the quality of current portable equipemt. Personally, I wouldn't even think of using lossy files with the ES2 and the SR-001, though I know many people prefer lossy on the move.
I bought the ES2 thinking that it was going to be the be-all and end-all in unamped personal listening. Instead, I started a long and still ongoing search for a source that would do the ES2 justice. In terms of an convenient, unamped package, I still haven't found it. But, I've realized that it is very much a high-end headphone that shines together with quality gear.
The rig right now looks something like: iRiver iHP-120 --> MicroDAC --> Hornet --> ES2/UE attenuator, with a Kimber mini and some generic optical cable. The rig isn't very portable, though it might be with that nifty Headroom bag, but it sure does sound wonderful.
More ideas to come later.
