E_Schaaf

$50+shipping. Sorry to hear about the wiring but I'll be happy to repair them in whatever way is needed, including tightening up grill caps and cable cover caps too, plus replacing any necessary parts. DM me for shipping info / address

@Brubaker, In case you are not aware how to DM/PM: click on E_Schaaf’s name and then click Start a Conversation in the pop-up.

Yes, that's what I meant to do, thanks shotgunshane.

To clarify and elaborate on the detail thing. Though resolution defines the fidelity and textural rendering of an individual sound if it isn't married with good separation so that each of those sounds are distinct and speed so that fast sounds do not smear then that detail will be lost. Like pixel density, colour accuracy, and HZ of an LCD. 1/2

Microdynamics could be said to be detail in another category, like the contrast ratio of an LCD. Focals being equivalent to an OLED.

Plankton 'perhaps' its ultimate, or at least it's most difficult to render, form where all those factors have to come into play together. 2/2

I'm not very good at this kind of language, but, back in the day when my ears were more capable of "critical listening," one of my test recordings was an orchestral percussion crescendo from a Mahler symphony (1 or 2: I forget). How much is it a single noise, how much can the individual instruments be made out? That example, for me, would be *detail.* Or *resolution*

https://i.imgur.com/0Q16dyJ.png MiniXL w/ bowls red vs 650 stock in white. Planning to swap in some N55/wool diaphragm drivers with a pure copper voice coil in place of these N52/graphene/CCAW for that last bit of smoothness and oomph. Love the comfort, transients, and stage of the bowls. Exciting times.

MiniMaxi

I'd be very interested in a DIY kit

Sign me up for a DIY AlNiCo kit.

Very interested, I've been wanting to try this for years. I'd want the DIY NdFeB one assuming it's the more powerful, and the TPE diaphragm can take it.

It'll take one hell of a driver to extend well with a pad like this. Hopefully a 50mm driver with dual N55 motor, pure copper voice coil, tpu flexing surround and rippled graphene coated biocellulose diaphragm will fit the bill. If not... Maybe an isobaric config with said driver will bring the juice :)

I didn't realize this model was already this far along! Can't wait to check this out.

Hopefully not the wrong place to ask but there's no thread yet so: I'm assuming this is the evolution of the same supra-aural you guys had at socal meet. Are there any plans to make the same sounding headphone in a HD600 series compatible headband + cup?

Apologies in advance if this is addressed elsewhere and I missed it.

@penguins dematted made a thread here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/eta-mini-impressions-and-reviews-thread.11855/

My search for an instrument is over before it even began! @ChaChaRealSmooth sold me his old beater silver plated King at a generous low price. Cheers to annoying the neighbors

Awesome. King horns are great, too.

You can always put in a cup mute during hours when others really might not appreciate your practicing.

Granted the unit rate comes down to a generous $75 each if we do 50pr. I'm too broke for this shit.

I wonder how Grado and Audeze etc have earpads made. I'm totally broke from buying ortho materials I'm with you!

I'm sure they're made in China by the thousands for dollars and cents each.

I'm under the impression that angling reveal many spatial cues very well (if properly done). Downside would be rough or even peaky treble responses -- more objectively than subjectively tho. I also do think angled drivers allow roomier space around ears others being equal, which improves comfort easily.

can be a bit brighter, not a lot of the outer ear diffraction going on

They work very well in the Philphone!

All the time, well early on. Even some meets gifted me that idea.

I like to think I know what I want, and what I value in good sound.

My sonic priorities used to be headstage and macrodynamics and Starlett made me question how wide is too wide and Focal MG made ask when is lively too exuberant. In both cases, I went back to MJ2+HD800, but I often look back. Mid-fi purgatory continues.

@E_Schaaf, do tell. For me, comfort is the priority. Can't enjoy the music if my head hurts. Hence Brainwavz pads with large ear holes for TH-X00 instead of Dekoni.

Nice work Ev!

Interestingly, I find the top graph to be more neutral sounding in the midrange because I think there's a bit of baffle decay in the low mids. On the bottom graph even though it looks flatter with more top end extension it sounds warmer and more closed in because the pads are smaller, seal more and concentrate more energy. The top pads have much livelier transients and a more spacious sound too.

There's also zero damping on the front or rear side of the driver. Just adjustments to driver rear venting with some various airflow flow chokes on the driver frame itself. I guess that could be considered damping : shrug: how soft does a material need to be to be considered damping vs enclosure design?

Only if accompanied by random Tyco drum hits.

Probably easier to make out the dialogue with the leaf blowers.

Stay warm!

It's rough I'm sure, but I'll bet it's unimaginably beautiful and invigorating as well. Enjoy!!

Sorry to have left this one read and unreplied to. I actually haven't heard any AT woodies as much as I'd like to. Not wood, but I despised the AP2000Ti headphone (aside from the pads which are some of my favs). Poorly executed W curve with peaks and dips in all the wrong places and some questionable cup stuffing and build attributes. I'd hope the wood ones are better.

residual magnetism from the rear of the driver keeps the blade from falling out, but is light enough to cause a fluctuating seal in response to backwave energy against the rim of the gasket. The bass extension is absolutely bottomless, the tactility is immense... Less smooth tone vs softer damping techniques but never heard a presentation like this out of a headphone. Very novel!

Central magnet vent still shoots out to open air since the center of the blade is a hole, so the middle of the driver still has unrestricted flow. Really feels like treading the open and closed tightrope. Bass kicks and sustains like a closed, mids breathe like open. Loving every minute

I'm rather logistically curious. Thought Alnico was OOP..

For the novelty, not for the on-paper superiority or lack thereof. I want to see what the mystique is all about. A stack of N52s is still in the works for plan A :) all previous drivers used a single neodymium N52 magnet.

Mystique / snake-oil sells, like "graphene". It's the experience that matters. I am not kidding, I'm kidding.

I also have no idea what is special about alnico except that it's spoken with reverence on speaker forums. Sounds like a fun investigation Ev.

I've had decent experiences with Audio46. My first "proper" headphones I purchased there almost six years ago and they kindly let me A/B audition two different pairs for what was probably an inordinate amount of time. And they hooked me up with additional savings once I'd agreed to buy one of them.

I'd email in advance, though, to try out the good stuff as I'm not sure what they've got by way of amps or DACs with which to audition headphones.

@E_Schaaf - next time you go (if you go), please let me know. It'd be good to meet, chat, and check out your ETA headphones.

On a set of IEMs I bought from them online, they specifically mentioned an issue with the product that just wasn't pointed out anywhere else period. That turned out to be helpful, and if nothing else it showed that they actually pay some attention to the things they sell.