E_Schaaf
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E_Schaaf

MOT: E.T.A Headphones, from Staten Island, NY

Pyrate BWC

What are some of your earliest memories regarding noticing good or bad sound quality? Jan 16, 2024

    1. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Planar makers step up your game! I want to see an isobaric high-efficiency design with dual SE drivers per side
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Hammy
        Hammy
        Meze Empyrean tried putting different traces on the same driver for different frequencies. The result sounds like mush with poor coherency. I suspect dual SE drivers in a planar headphone would also tend towards a mushy sound that lacks the coherency I like.
        Oct 29, 2020
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Not dual drivers firing at the ear! One driver firing into the rear of another, isobaric
        Oct 29, 2020
      4. Hammy
        Hammy
        I was picturing two membranes with traces like dual pane window glass with one set of magnets on one side of the dual pane window and another set of magnets on the other side of the window. Is that what you're thinking?
        Oct 29, 2020
    2. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      ESX900 loaner shipped! Hoping this one's a real crowd pleaser. Loved every minute I spent on it and listened til moments before UPS dropoff.
      1. Philimon, Jinxy245, obsiCO and 4 others like this.
      2. Vtory
        Vtory
        Glad the tour kicked off. Where did you send them to first? Marv?
        Oct 26, 2020
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        DEATHXMACHINE is the owner so it goes to him first, then I guess in whatever order tour sign up goes. Hopefully thread up soon
        Oct 26, 2020
        dubharmonic, SoupRKnowva and Vtory like this.
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        Oct 26, 2020
    3. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      I wish I could mod / make headphones all day every day for a living. Helping ORFAS customers set up their WiFi just pales in comparison.
      1. Deep Funk, Gazny, sheldaze and 3 others like this.
      2. JK47
        JK47
        ORFAS are people too.
        Oct 23, 2020
        sheldaze and tommytakis like this.
      3. netforce
        netforce
        If you made a company for making and modding headphones, that could be your job all day....
        Oct 23, 2020
        Deep Funk, BenjaminBore and JK47 like this.
      4. spwath
        spwath
        Yeah, make your own company, then hire me
        Oct 24, 2020
    4. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      New experiment spurred by a conversation with @tommytakis - passive radiator cups! Excited to explore, need to find something lightweight
      1. View previous comments...
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        The TH900s push some serious air, I'm going to seal off the baffle which is normally vented so these passive radiators get smacked with quite a bit of energy on the backwave. On a fully sealed cup with the sealed baffle you can feel some pretty intense vibrations in the cups from the outside with your fingertips even with pretty heavy damping inside. I think it'll push the 2" passive just fine.
        Oct 22, 2020
        Philimon likes this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        That's with the majority of the rear driver vents opened. With the normal stock paper covering there's much less backwave energy, but all those nasty treble peaks...
        Oct 22, 2020
      4. spwath
        spwath
        Makes sense, I was just thinking in my mind of a more discrete design, like how some headphones are discreetly ported. But yeah, I guess a 2" passive radiator does make sense with a 50mm driver, as 50mm=2" anyway. I was thinking 2" was much bigger than 50mm with my quick mental conversions, but thats wrong.
        Oct 22, 2020
    5. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. Jinxy245, Huhnkopf, penguins and 11 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Really, really good. I was going to hold off on using them til my fresh TH900 drivers came in, but decided to put them on the X00 anyway with driver vent tweaks. Vented cups means I could seal off the baffle (normally there's a port) without trapping too much energy in the cups. Way smoother than expected even with little to no cup damping.
        Oct 20, 2020
        dubharmonic and Jinxy245 like this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        @Vtory yes it's destined to become an ESX900 pending arrival of new drivers tomorrow. This was the first batch of vented cups, next round might go a little smaller and put the vents in different places. This is just a proto pair for me personally. Open and vented cups are something my woodworker is happy to accommodate as-needed for commissions. 100% custom spec.
        Oct 20, 2020
        dubharmonic and Vtory like this.
      5. penguins
        penguins
        Also in the midst of revising my wood cups as well. Will be fun to see how the wood cup projects evolve.
        Oct 20, 2020
    6. Cspirou
      Cspirou
      1. E_Schaaf likes this.
      2. GoodEnoughGear
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I am familiar with them! It's basically the same build as the TH900, just with the open-ish cups, and a less dense front foam ring. Still a bright and fatiguing presentation. That's it! And way too expensive! I'm much more interested in cheaper Foster variants with TH900 driver transplant and a more customized tuning / cups.
        Oct 19, 2020
        BenjaminBore, Cspirou and 9suns like this.
    7. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. View previous comments...
      2. penguins
        penguins
        Should clarify - I don't actually engrave yet but it's a very long running interest that will probably be my next hobby I pick up when things go back to normal. I've done some very very amateur level stuff but I can't even do flowers reliably right now and don't have my own tools yet, etc.
        Oct 15, 2020
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Oh, ok... all the best with that: enjoy! I guy I saw on youtube said to practice drawing: "If you can't draw it, you can't cut it." Makes sense. My lack of drawing skill limited my jewellery design to basic shapes.

        The trouble with engraving is that when you slip, the damage tends to be terminal. eek.
        Oct 16, 2020
      4. penguins
        penguins
        "If you can't draw it, you can't cut it." - My biggest problem with engraving and why I'm not already doing it.
        Oct 16, 2020
    8. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      I'm being ignored by Full Compass re: TH900 drivers. It's been over 9 weeks since I ordered. Wish I could get them another way.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Lyander
        Lyander
        I vaguely recall you mentioning elsewhere that differences between TH900 and 600/X00 motors weren't massive when you swapped em out for a build? Would it be a decent fallback or nah?
        Oct 13, 2020
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        @Lyander TH600 drivers can probably get close to the same tuning from a tonal standpoint, but their dynamic ability and resolve are a bit choked - don't really scale. And there are plenty of decent-sounding phones with these drivers already. EMU Teak, X00, Denon DX000 series. TH900 drivers with a proper tuning are way more impressive relative to other headphones, and more scalable.
        Oct 13, 2020
        dubharmonic and Lyander like this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        The newest mod revision that's on the prospective loaner pair also reveals more of the dynamic differences because there's more airflow than before. One of the most critical mods also involves mounting an extension on the protruding magnet of the 900 series driver, whereas it's not as structurally viable on the nearly-flush rear of the 600 driver.
        Oct 13, 2020
        Lyander likes this.
    9. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. Case
        Case
        Good Afternoon! Question, what is the headband cover you are using on the Senns on back left?
        Oct 11, 2020
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Just a ZMF Pilot pad. Those 580s are from 2002, the headband cushion is completely deflated.
        Oct 11, 2020
    10. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      I'm always saddened when musicians I know sell off their HD650s for an 'upgrade' just to find out they were only ever driven from a laptop.
      1. Deep Funk, Azimuth and Jinxy245 like this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I know headphone amps are ubiquitous in circles like SBAF, but the idea of an external DAC or amp or ANYTHING is completely bonkers unthinkable to a massive amount of passive headphone users. Something being easy to drive makes it more accessible to a general population.
        Oct 8, 2020
        Lyander likes this.
      3. Lyander
        Lyander
        Honestly the HD600 goes from having a burrito-sized headstage on my phone to full-on "Wait was that in the recording or in my room?" with good amps, addressing one major concern. Bass is still just eh but no cans are perfect. Hope those 650s go to good homes but yeah info on accessible upstream stuff could go a long ways towards helping em find satisfaction.
        Oct 8, 2020
      4. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Then you introduce them to something as cheap as a CMoy and they go "oh"...
        Oct 9, 2020
    11. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Had my partner compare finalized ESX900 vs L55s+subs. Feedback- 'Uncanny. Basically the same, but the headphones have tighter bass.' Proud!
    12. E_Schaaf
      1. tommytakis
        tommytakis
        holy crap that is sexy af.. I want :(
        Oct 5, 2020
        Cakecake likes this.
      2. Cakecake
        Cakecake
        Would be an upgrade from Amazon box cup
        Oct 5, 2020
        tommytakis likes this.
      3. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Oct 6, 2020
    13. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Set up Vali 2 + Modi 2U at my partner's place because I spend a few days here a week. Very impressed with Vali 2, never had at home before.
      1. Deep Funk, Senorx12562, Gazny and 5 others like this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Siemens CCa and Amperex 7308 both bring different things to the table, both probably 'overkill' from a cost perspective compared to what I paid for the amp secondhand but I already had them so figured I'd swap them in.
        Oct 4, 2020
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        I am always surprised by my Vali 2.
        Oct 4, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        On the flip side the Modi 2U sounds worse over USB than I remembered.
        Oct 5, 2020
    14. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Friends on Spotify - care to share your discover weekly playlist? Always looking for new stuff and it's a great way to get to know someone.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Sep 28, 2020
      2. Lyander
        Lyander
        Sep 28, 2020
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    15. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Nak 500 suddenly dead for no reason. Won't play anything. Guess that's just how vintage decks go. Time to look for another
      1. Cakecake likes this.
      2. PTS
        PTS
        Buying a replacement unit, cheaper than repair? I say this assuming there's always someone who specializes in fixing vintage gear.
        Sep 28, 2020
    16. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. tommytakis, monacelli and pure5152 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. tommytakis
        tommytakis
        Hey not bad for something I made as a joke. I have some ideas on how to extend the subbass more
        Sep 25, 2020
        monacelli likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Sep 25, 2020
        tommytakis likes this.
      5. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Please post a pic of the actual device.
        Sep 25, 2020
        Superexchanger and YMO like this.
    17. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. make food. 2. put on a tape to enjoy while eating. 3. become entranced by tape and forget about food 4. eat cold lunch 25 minutes later.
    18. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Would love to do a massive aliexpress pad compendium but thinking I need a better-known reference to start with than TH900. What would work?
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        DT770 a well known reference?
        Sep 25, 2020
        Lyander likes this.
      2. Lyander
        Lyander
        For round circumaural closed backs then yeah, I'd say loads of content creators I see online are rocking Beyers, either that one or the 880. Was about to suggest stuff like the Sony 7506 or ATH-M50x but they're ovals.
        Sep 25, 2020
      3. DEATHxMACHINE
        DEATHxMACHINE
        T50rp or like you said dt770
        Sep 25, 2020
        Biodegraded likes this.
    19. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Updated avatar - half-baked sketch of some vented rear-horn cups I'm working on for TH-series drivers. Should be a cool look and sound.
      1. Superexchanger
        Superexchanger
        Sepia mechanical schematic got them DaVinci vibes
        Sep 22, 2020
    20. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Revisiting a HE400 I modded years ago for a friend. Always impressed with their potential. Scales well with the S7. Pleasant U-tone
      1. Huhnkopf
        Huhnkopf
        Which revision is it? I remember having gotten a sandish yellow grid years ago that was brutally bright. I quickly switched to an older revision. Don't know if I just got a dud.
        Sep 22, 2020
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        OG HE400 in that awful blue.
        Sep 22, 2020
        Huhnkopf likes this.
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  • About

    Home Page:
    https://www.etaheadphones.com/
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Occupation:
    Sonic Optimizer

    Signature

    skunkworks headphone enthusiast - discovering new sounds