ETA Genesis-G/P Impressions Thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by dematted, Apr 20, 2021.

  1. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    My ETA Genesis G Impressions

    Genesis review
    What makes a good headphone? Is it comfort, resolve, passion, disappointment with the rest of the industry? I believe many of these factors have culminated to create one of the biggest passion projects in my existence in this hobby.
    Great for EDM, New Jazz recordings, Acoustic. The extension is something that I wouldn’t have considered possible for a dynamic.

    The GenG can seem dark upon first listen. After many hours my brain adjusted, now everything else is bright and lacks the bottom octave. Coming from 650, Focal, Clears, silk hd600. This is one of the first headphones I have felt truly surpasses the modern Sennheiser headphone. It is a bittersweet feeling popping out the 650 divers for GenG. Reminds me of Woody's Nightmare . A loved headphone(HD650) now nothing more than a forgotten memory. Don't worry It will return to me oneday, one of those headphones that are difficult to escape:oops:.

    Source gear: modi/pioneer CDP > Magni/Valhalla/Asgard/Motu m2/Little bear b4

    “dethrones” many things above its price range in terms of value. Competent build, hand built, great fit, doesn’t do audiophile bass quantity, designed with many sonic preferences in mind (no really, it can change quite a bit) Bright recordings stay bright, not many dips in the treble to color the sound.


    TLDR; Its great
    Good: Plankton machine, Low end resolution, clean treble, nice mids, expresses chain idiosyncrasy, Drums:bow: , Horns:punk:

    To be Improved: Headband and cable sold separately, Brain burn can reduce acceptability, leaks sound, Power hungry, expresses chain idiosyncrasy, doesn’t do audiophile bass quantity, big pads may squish heads, feels like you need to turn up the volume for high frequency(its there), I can’t stop listening

    Final thoughts:
    I'm getting one, it scales, might not be best for Sennhiser chains
     
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    Last edited: Apr 30, 2021
  2. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Gen G: Once again, only had several hours to listen and am purposely ignoring as much of the thread as possible so take everything with a grain of salt.
    --------------
    TLDR: We may have a new king or at the very least a top 3 under $1k headphone here. Also - the sound varied A LOT more than expected between different amps and with both of my DACs - if you don't like the sound with one amp that your normally like, you may have to try a few more - even one or two you don't normally like as much.

    Also, if I can figure out personal tuning and FR with the ETA team, I want to buy one :) . Not now, but hopefully within the next 12 months - hopefully some degree of personal tuning or recommendations are still possible at the time. If I don't buy one, it's because they came out with something I like even more.
    --------------

    Setup and synergies: Yggdrasil A2 / Holo Spring 2 > EC AF / DNA Stellaris / Cavalli Liquid Crimson. Briefly tried Yggdrasil A2 > Vali2+ (low and high gain) as well.

    Short version - sound will change A LOT depending on the equipment used and how you setup the included tuning kit.
    Tuning: Based on a PM from @E_Schaff I'm 99% sure I listened in stock config first. Then I swapped out the short cotton roll for the long one (cotton rolls were placed symmetrically) and the angled pads for the flat pads per his feedback. Then I used angled pads with the extra cotton as the small ear holes of the flat pads irritated my ears after a few hours. Some "rubber" plugs and I think silicone o-rings were also included but I didn't use them. The changes I made did pretty much what E_Schaff said it would - I got less bass, more mids, more "forward' highs. There were also some other sonic changes but these were relatively minor vs the change in perceived FR.

    I think my preferred FR tune would be between the three setups I tried, probably a mix of the 2nd and 3rd. With the 2nd setup, the highs became a little too forward and I actually wanted them to go back down ~0.5-1dB. Nothing huge though. Mids did not sound as physically distant. Bass was less, this was extremely setup dependent. Overall, still varying degrees of some kind of downward sloping FR but this time with a small dip in the bass-mids transition.

    Also, I got much bigger sonic changes just switching between amps, DACs, and settings than I did with the tune above. WAY more than I have ever had with any other headphone between my amps. I suspect this is due to the impedance of the headphone. Per E_Schaff - the Gen G driver starts with a nominal value of 300ohms, but the changes made by ETA reduce the impedance and increase sensitivity to what is currently an unknown value. Based on what I heard with the different amps, I am also assuming impedance may vary quite a bit at different frequencies. Be ready to experiment.

    - I didn't like it with the Vali2+ with either tune mentioned above. Quit after 5 minutes with each tune. Strongly preferred high gain but it there is too much bass for me. A little less so with low gain but still a lot. Bass and treble had a weird tonality. Mids were still good. Also, none of the magic on V2+ that I got with the GenP.
    - EC AF - Slightly lazy and a bit too rounded on the transient edges. A bit bloomy too. I have never said this about the EC AF / Yggdrasil before. Also, had some weird tonality with the AF in the mids and the mids sounded distant again.
    - DNA Stellaris - Was also expecting a slightly lazy sound as the AF is normally more crisp and fast vs the Stellaris but somehow it was the opposite this time. I verified it wasn't a bad tube with another headphone. Also, SE out with low Zout was the best output. Mid and low bass sounded a little more boosted than with EC AF. Liked it better with the Holo Spring 2 than the Yggdrasil but the Spring 2 cast a sort of un-natural tone over the entire sound. Much like the tinted glass thing I mentioned with the GenP.

    - Cavalli LC - Used with Holo Spring 2, really liked this combo. Probably my favorite combo out of all the ones I tried. Didn't have enough time to try with Yggdrasil. Once again, this headphone doesn't react to the amp how most headphones would. Cavalli house sound is noticibly less which has never happened before.

    Cavalli warm full bass somehow didn't boost the already "boosted bass" except in the low mid bass a bit. James Blake "Limit to your Love" bass rumble at about 0:55 to 1:22 was flat out annoying but not fatiguing (I use this as a test track for bass fatigue) but bass drops in other songs were great. Cavalli sort of relaxed sound somehow didn't conflict with the more vibrant sound and nature of the GenG. A lot of strengths were brought out as well. Texture was better than with AF or Stellaris. Layering and separation somehow sounded cleaner even though the stage didn't really sound any bigger nor positioning any more precise. Transients were a little cleaner - perhaps something with the driver or setup makes this headphone need a little more current or power which is not ideal with SET amps.

    Also, this is the only headphone where I've heard a somewhat noticeable difference in the sound due to switching the gain on the LC (beyond just volume). Volume matched by ear when switching gain. Preferred with (SE) high Z out and low gain. High Zout with high gain = not bad, lots of texture and great performance in the bass but overall FR not quite as balanced, 2nd choice. Low Zout, low gain = relatively soft and flubby, sort of like pushing with the wet noodle as described for parts of the GenP. Low Zout with high gain = mids and highs are too distant (staging) somehow but the bass isn't boosted somehow (I don't recall all the Zout values of the LC outputs though). Bal out was OK, but not better than SE high Z out options.

    SS amps were recommended by E_Schaff as well but I like tubes and have tube amps.

    Sound:
    - Bass - Still a downward slope FR so bass is still going to be a bit boosted. More slam than heft whereas I feel like I got both in almost even amounts on the GenP. Quality is still amazingly good for a headphone. Could groove along very well at times and at other times I wanted a little more upper bass. Otherwise, I actually don't want to say more because it varies so much between gear.
    - Mids - Upper mids and lower highs are a little recessed and distant sounding where as it felt like it was more of the entire mid range on the GenP. Oddly, this didn't seem to impact perceived FR too much, just "staging" I guess. Middle mids would cut through at times w/o being piercing. Why it was only sometimes IDK.
    - Highs - There is "enough" highs with the 2nd tune, but could have slightly more high end extension, same as the GenP.
    - Tone - There were enough changes from tune 1 to tune 2 that I don't want to say more, but I can say with the right setup and tune, I can see amazing tone - better than my Auteur and Clears actually. I had brief moments of this just as is. With the wrong setup and tune, I would be turned off to the headphone pretty quickly.
    - Timbre, Macro, and Micro - All good throughout. Didn't really think about it separately which means it was just sort of natural and got out of the way.
    - Transients - Again, varied a lot between AF and Stellaris. Decay could be a little longer still in the highs. Ramp up on an initial attack still feels slightly slow, more so in the highs.
    - Staging and placement/imaging - IMO staging is probably the weakest parts of this headphone. It's capped at a medium stage and everything still feels like it's being crammed in but to a lesser degree. Placement is slightly more precise vs GenP. Instead of vague blurred circles that vaguely overlap, imaging a circle that's much more filled in in the middle and only the fray on the edges overlaps now.
    - Separation - Better than GenP. I can pick stuff out much more easily. There is still some overlap in the sound though.
    - PRaT - GenP was a little better, but this is still good overall.
    - Texture - Pretty good in bass and mids, good in highs

    OTHER:
    Which one would I pick: I would be comfortable buying either one depending on what I needed. Will probably end up getting a GenG later though as it fits into my collection a bit better and all 3 of my big amps don't have a low enough Zout for GenP to sound how I want.
    Build quality: At first I was worried about the quality of a 3D printed headphone made by "3 guys in a garage". (I suspect others may be quietly thinking this). Build quality is pretty good and worries were proven wrong.
    Pricing/value: Very good. I hope these guys do well and help influence pricing on the headphone market back down from the IMO "crazy" levels they're at right now with most mfgs. Yes, I realize 3 guys will have lower overhead vs a large corporation, there is a markup to accommodate for all the different sales channels, etc but that isn't what I'm here for as a consumer.
    Ergos: Not much needs to be said about the HD600 series headband. Glad they went with this instead of a suspension type band. Ear holes are a little small with the flat pads though - my ears got uncomfortable from being mushed on after a while. It also took a little bit of positioning and adjusting each time I put it on with the flat pads.
     
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  3. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    ETA Takes on ZMF
    Round 2: ETA Genesis vs. ZMF Verite Ziricote
    It's time for the big boys to come out. After the ETA Genesis summarily trounced the ZMF Aeolus in round 1, the time has come to see if the lowly, $700 dollar genesis can take on the $2500 Verite. Is this a fair comparison, given the respective price-points? Probably not, but, as we'll see, despite the divergent price-points, these two headphones both have a great deal to offer, and it's not quite clear that one is a "superior" choice for the general-purpose listener.

    The Method

    I have both of these headphones on what I consider to be a synergistic chain: SW51+ with stock tubes, Soekris 2541, and pi2aes. I used a hart cable with each, playing out of low-gain on the SW51+. With the Verite, I used Verite Lambskin perforated pads. With the Gen G, I used stock pads, asymmetrical cotton, and no vent plugs. I made my comparisons by listening to a bevy of similar music with one headphone (60s classic rock, say), then trying out the same or similar music with the other headphone and taking mental notes along the way. Throughout, I tried to enjoy each headphone for what it did rather than picking apart what it did poorly. Thank you to @Vtory for generously loaning me their Ziricote Verite.

    The Verite's Gambit
    Some of you may recall that, when in my prior review, I switched from Gen G to Aeolus, I felt that a haze had imposed itself on the music. Now, however, ZMF struck back: switching from Gen G to Verite Open, the soundstage expanded significantly, musical instruments became better placed and had notably more air and space around them, and imaging took on a more pin-point, exacting character. Although I wouldn't quite say that a "haze" has been lifted from the music, it did seem as if the sound was significantly clearer, cleaner, and crisper, with images better defined and just a better sense of openness to the music. It was as if with the Gen G, everything was just a bit closed-in: with the Verite, instruments had a chance to breathe.

    Coming along with this increase in clarity were improvements in top-end extension and microdynamics. This gave the Verite a significantly more nuanced, refined sound, with instruments having more shimmer and sparkle and an increased sense of small-scale dynamics. Occasionally, this led to the Gen G sounding just a tad "dull" in comparison, as the Verite's driver was just more capable of resolving those little nuances at the micro-level, whether they be microdetail or small changes in volume. In short, in listening to the Verite for the first time, I thought that surely, this must be the -better- headphone. Music sounded more open, more clear, more nuanced, and at the same time less fatiguing: the Verite also has, as a whole, a more stately, reserved character (which admittedly does result in some hit in immediacy), which makes it sound somewhat more "grown-up" if a bit less "fun" sometimes.

    If this was the end of the story, we would have a clear winner. The Gen G would be, of course, an exceptional headphone at its pricepoint, but could not truly be said to compete with the "Big boys". We would have to wait for ETA's next headphone to see if they could really challenge TotL stuff. But this is most certainly not the final verdict.

    Genesis' Riposte I: Transients, Macrodynamics, and Bass
    As I listened more to the Verite, I began to be somewhat bothered by the presentation of transients. Although they were exceptionally quick, I more and more got the impression that they were somewhat rounded on the edges while cutting decay unnaturally short. By contrast, the Gen G had the same sense of quickness, but imparted this speed through a sense of transient sharpness rather than shortness of decay. In short, the Verite driver sounded just a tad overdamped, while the Gen G driver had the opposite character: it was underdamped, with a real sense of rawness to the presentation. While this occasionally led it to have a looser, less "controlled" presentation in the decay than the Verite, it also gave its transients (to my ears) a better sense of naturalness. Leading edges seemed more life-like and appropriately sharp, which often made music simply more engaging, despite its inability to produce the same level of microdynamics as the Verite.

    Contributing to this sense of "aliveness" was the Gen G's improved macrodynamic and bass response. Bass simply hit harder, felt snappier, and also seemed to somewhat edge out the Verite in pitch differentiation and texture. The result? Though the Verite often had the edge in more singer-songwriter tracks without much bass, whenever one threw in bass to the picture, the Gen G seemed to be the more focused, engaging headphone. By contrast, the Verite often felt compressed at the macrodynamic level compared to the Gen G. Bass hits that were thunderous and rocking on the Gen G sounded polite and withdrawn on the Verite.

    Genesis' Riposte II: Tonality, Timbre and Texture
    Although I think I could live content with the Verite as a single headphone after hearing it for the second time (yes, my impressions of it have been significantly better - I'm not sure why), there is just a hint of beryllium timbre that is difficult for me to avoid hearing in certain instruments. This manifests itself most often on strings, but is also evident in certain, higher-pitched vocals. It also seems to have a tendency to excessive smoothness in the mid-range and lower treble which can mask over the various distinctive textures and timbres of instruments. This is nowhere near as bad as on the Aeolus or Auteur, but it is still very much there. And, of course, there is still the rather odd tonal balance of the Verite: while its dip in the upper mids is nowhere near as offensive as it was for me previously, it is still very much a feature of the sound. In short, between the 3k dip and the somewhat metallic timbre of the Verite, there is something of an "editorialized" or "colored" sound imposed on mid-range instruments.

    The Gen G has none of these problems. In fact, the Gen G has, to my ears, the least "colored" sounding mid-range that I've ever heard. The headphone's timbre is remarkably adaptive to the individual instrument or voice it is depicting. I may not have noticed the Verite's "colored" timbre if I did not have it next to the Gen G, but listening to them side-by-side, I'm quite certain that I can hear more "into" the timbre and texture of instruments on the Gen G due to its more even tonality and more organic timbre. On the Verite, everything sounded "Same-ish"; on the Gen G, this tendency toward homogenization just didn't exist.

    Let's speak more about tonality. Although the Gen G is a notably more fatiguing headphone because of its energy in the middle and upper-mids, it also sounds like a more honest headphone to me. The increased upper treble energy of the Verite does give it a better sense of openness, space, and flair, but it also seems to occasionally result in a less focused, immediate sound.

    At times, the clear advantage of the Gen G in timbre and tonality led to it just being a superior headphone for certain tracks. Switching from the Verite to Gen G on the Grateful Dead's Cornell '77 recording of Brown-eyed Woman, we get a notably livelier and more organic sound. Bass seems better balanced with the rest of the mix, and it sounds more like actual music rather than a reproduction of music. While the Verite still wins in sheer clarity and sense of separation, the Gen G crushes it on this track because the vocals suddenly have that extra bit of plankton and timbral realism that make them sound like actual vocals.

    Final Verdict
    The Verite sounds more like what one would expect a high-end headphone to sound like. The sense of clarity, separation, layering, and microdynamics are all a solid step ahead of the Gen G. However, the Verite is, in some sense, a compromised headphone: its timbre, tonality, and transient presentation all lack, to my ears, that sense of naturalness and realism that one gets from something like the 6x0 series. It is here where the Gen G steps in. And it does so while not having notably compromised clarity, separation, layering, or microdynamics; indeed, all of these are a step above something like the 6x0 series.

    In the end, we have two headphones with vastly different presentations. The Gen G has a more "in-your-head" sound, with a better sense of immediacy, tonal balance, mid-range timbre, and transient integrity. The Verite offers something larger and more diffusive, and for some, this will be a sonic experience that is simply superior. But for me? I prefer the Genesis. Having heard the flaws of the Verite, I cannot go back to it, even if it offers a better experience in other respects.

    Spider Chart

    Screen Shot 2021-05-01 at 1.41.03 PM.png


     
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    Last edited: May 1, 2021
  4. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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  5. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    GenGConfigTemplate.png

    Blank template image for those who want to share their personalized GenG configs with subjective notes.

    To use, simply screenshot / download, doodle your shell config (plugs, cotton rolls, lack thereof, etc), and circle your recipe of foam and pads.

    Happy Modding :)
     
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  6. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    Genesis G Configurations and Measurements
    For your perusal are a list of Gen G configurations I have assembled, with comments from assorted owners about them. I trust that this will continue to grow over time. Measurements may be added as @E_Schaaf gets the chance to measure them.

    @E_Schaaf Configs
    Genesis Classic.jpg
    Genesis originally shipped like this, until vent plugs were removed by popular demand. This presents a warm sound with rich decay and tactility in the bass, with a very forgiving nature. I'll let Ev say anything else about this if they'd like to.

    [​IMG]

    A configuration for lovers of the Sennheisers. Neutral with some bumpiness in the upper-midrange. Measurements below.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Fabripore tape over the center with a cotton ball applied tightly on top. According to Ev, this mod has better microdynamics, staging, layering and air, but has a dryer overall timbre with a touch more grain. Bass texture takes a hit. For those who want Gen G to have more TotL-ish technicalities and are okay with a dryer timbre. Measurements below.

    [​IMG]

    @dematted Configs


    [​IMG]

    My favorite config so far. Incredibly dynamic, crisp, engaging sound, if a little bright and sharp around the edges at times. Nick-named for family resemblance to Focal Clear in sound
    [​IMG]

    Neutral tonal balance with long decay. Very rounded transients, and a romantic sound with a softness to it.
    [​IMG]

    Neutral-bright sound with sharp transients and very dry timbre. Best Gen G I've heard for classical, and, in fact, the best I've heard classical music hands-down.

    @Gazny Configs

    [​IMG]

    In Gazny's words, this "might be too much treble", and the "bass is much much lower". But it's "A different headphone", and will as a result probably require a different kind of chain to bring out the best in it.

    @Ksorota Configs

    [​IMG]

    The most detailed that they've heard the Gen G, with tighter bass than other configs. They use blu tack over the rear driver vent where the cotton mod normally goes.
     
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  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Aside from the idea of having a TOTL headphone in technicalities for a reasonable price, the customizable nature of the Genesis is what I’m most excited about. Looking forward to trying some of these configurations!
     
  8. Brubaker

    Brubaker New

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    Are these headphones available to anyone who wants to purchase a pair, or are they limited to Friends and Contributors?
     
  9. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Good question! To be perfectly honest, the short answer is that yes, we're open to anyone.

    The long answer is that we're still somewhat in the beta phase (though the shell design is finalized), so you'll need to be ok with a few hurdles:

    1. For GenG specifically, are you ok with a 6-8 week minimum wait? All drivers are committed through the next 18 pairs, which accounts for all the drivers we've ordered so far. After this set of 18 we do anticipate having a steady stream arriving on a continual basis (and we're getting ahead on the production of shells), so in the future the wait won't be as long as it is from today. That said, GenP is ready to ship within a week of ordering.

    2. Are you ok with providing your own Sennheiser 600-series headband or equivalent? Are you ok with sourcing your own cable? We're working on providing these things in the future too, but product development is sometimes a winding road.

    3. Are you ok with being hands-on in terms of the soft materials involved in the headphone's tuning? The headphones are tremendously flexible in terms of voicing and it may take some tweaking to settle on your preference if your tastes don't align with ours (though we can help with those things).

    Being an early adopter means meeting us halfway in a lot of respects. We're happy to include anyone wanting to participate, but it's good to look before you leap :) If you want to DM me we can chat about what kind of experience you're looking for and I can invite you to the discord.
     
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  10. Ksorota

    Ksorota Friend

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    Gen G Review:

    Gen - In the beginning.jpeg

    Overarching Theme: Great job ETA

    Setup. M1 Mac Mini > Tidal or Spotify > Soekris 2541 > Mjolnir1/Mjolnir 2 > Gen G stock angled pads

    My specific sets frequency response provided by @E_Schaff
    Gen - Stock confid.png


    Thoughts to get out of the way:

    · Build quality is solid. They are homemade, but of high quality materials and fit and finish.
    · ETA communication is top notch.
    · Each headphone comes with tuning options, measurements (EARS I Believe) and advice from Ev and Tommy on how to tailor to your preferred sound (A+)
    · Using the Senn. headband is a unique solution to a challenging aspect of headphone design, and something that I do not take points off for.
    · I am neutral on having to provide my own cable. I have other 3.5’s available and would have purchased an upgrade cable anyway.

    Comfort:

    · The stock pads and Sennheiser headband provide good comfort and support
    · The cups and pads are thicker than the HD6XX’s the headband came off of, so some more stretching was required to lighten the clamp a bit.
    · Not as feather light as the Senns and noticeable on head, but not tiresome

    Other:

    · So many tuning options – not really a bad thing, but it can be overwhelming to have so many variables that can be changed by me the user. For this review I am sticking with the stock tuning (which is really good)
    · Clamp force is a little high due to the thicker body and pads…this can be fixed
    · Still need to buy a second Senn. headband to more easily use my 6XX’s, lol holding them to my ears is not a long-term solution! But honestly, I don’t see myself using them too much anyway
    · Detail retrieval is really good, better than I expected, but I also tend to turn the volume up more for Gen, so that may play into it a bit.
    · They like to be played loud…or I like them loud!


    Listening Impressions:

    Its hard to not like these headphones! They come across as effortless in their reproduction of all music. Tonality is wonderful to my ears and is somewhat similar to the PMx2’s that I have been using in tandem (differences discussed below). The Gen G have an ever-present undertone that is both rich and warming, but also clean and light (effortless).

    One of the unique features to my ears is the way that bass is presented. It is impactful and dynamic but the low frequency notes seem to float around the head as if they are not being produced inside the earcups, but rather outside. It is a great sense of immersion, especially on music with persistent low bass lines. This affect is present with upper mids and treble as well to an extent, particularly when played loudly. Staging is wonderfully dimensional, projecting the image below and above the head at times, as well as left and right. Tracks that pan from left to right are realistic and smooth.


    Compared to the HD600 Ev-Mod

    The GenG is better. I do not have the HD600 anymore, but from memory and based on some listening with HD6XX before the Gen arrived the Sennheiser was too polite. It was tuned to be neutral, but perhaps it was too far and to limited in extension. Compared to the Gen G, the 600 was just too polite sounding and lacked the oomph in the low end that I find very pleasing. The GenG has plenty of bass delivery and also very comparable nuance/detail. The low frequencies are very detailed and tight, much like a good modded HD600 is. The midrange of the Senns is more forward and vocals were very clean and pleasing as we all expect them to be. The mod tamed any sharpness, at the expense of the dynamics. Adele always sounds good through Senns. but she sounds even better through Gen G. The Gen G is a more sensitive to poorly recorded music and can be sharp at times (Amy Winehouse comes to mind).


    Compared to PMx2

    The Gen G is more attention grabbing than the PMx2 but overall tonality is actually fairly similar (more similar than I thought they would be) between these two with the Gen G having more warmth to the sound overall. The dynamics is where Gen G takes a win over the Oppo mod. The Oppo is more relaxed and sounding with less impact but also a more delicate listen with a slightly smoother presentation. In comparison, the vocals on PMx2 can feel recessed, but its more that they are integrated into the track more than the Gen G which projects them forward more. The PMx2 is more reliant on a good seal on the head and require me to remove my glasses to fully experience the dynamics and extension in the low end. I like this presentation; it is non-fatiguing but can sound strained at times, or slow. The timbre is a bit dryer overall than the Gen G, but that provides a nice counterbalance.

    Gen PMX2.jpeg

    The oppo is the more polished headphone for whatever that is worth, but is also priced much higher than ETAs Gen G and is what it is, sealed to even pad changes (but I might change that!). At the MSRP of both, the Gen G is an easy winner in value to performance. The Oppo is staying around for its lighter/smoother presentation. The PMx2 will likely become my headphones for at the office.


    Final Thoughts:

    This is a keeper of a headphone (Gen G) and is a new bar of dynamic headphones for me. Lows are extended and impactful, while retaining detail. Treble is nicely reproduced and does not sound recessed or lacking (has some great sparkle in the upper highs). One last note that I am having a hard time explaining. Somehow the ETA tuning is able to keep those lovely Sennheiser mids/vocals and project them in a way that makes them seem as if they are floating on top of the chorus/background track. The presentation of vocals is very cohesive and isolating simultaneously and very like a live performance where you can direct your focus on the singer.

    Genesis 2.jpg
     
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  11. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    ^ Is that a new grill? The food strainer grill doesnt look that nice irl.

    Do you have an ETA Genesis genesis record detailing all the prototypes and tweaks? I think that would be fascinating to read and to know the reasoning on design choices.

    I wish I had a HD580 headband for my fathead. I can deal because its a short term loan but would want to find a 580 headband or use temporarily one of those Monoprice HR5C (+ 100 other brand variants) headbands.

    GenG initial impressions: :headbang:

    Bass and mids are right. Linear, thick and juicy like my vintage ortho (and speakers) but clearer (more delineation and detail). The highs Id guess neutral, but I prefer dark / low sizzle because I find it distracting. I dont want to have to rotate headphones or avoid certain albums when Im trying to relax to music. Ill evidence criticisms with A/B and notes, but I suspect that maybe vocals maybe a bit forward and certain brass or woodwind a bit dim. Just nitpicking one of the best phones Ive heard. Maybe they can be tweaked perfect for my preference.

    Ive only listened to the majority of a few albums thus far and what’s striking is Ive not wanted to switch albums from boredom. Resolution keeps things interesting.

    Listened to so far:
    1. Dopethrone - Electric Wizard
    2. Curtis! - Curtis Mayfield
    3. Can the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music’s First Family - The Carter Family
    4. Good Kid, Maad City - Kendrick Lamar

    GenG with stock pads and zero extra cotton rolls or plugs. Macbook -> Modi MBv2 -> Vali2

    edit: horn and string (not woodwind, brainfart) energy, but maybe brain burn-in
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2021
  12. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    So good. The tiny kinks I perceived may be sorted by the Gens tweakability. Fast and dynamic. Doesnt sound rounded down like overdamped. Nor does it have fake treble detail.

    I told the wife these were on loaner tour and wanted her opinion to share on forum. She listened then quickly asked “how much?” I told her $700. She took them off to look at them, then made a face (not good), then went back to listening. She dislikes clampy headphones like me, especially since she wears thick frame glasses, but she is listening anyway - that has never happened before. Wife feints complete disinterest however she somehow manages to listen to every new headphone I get and has accompanied me to a few meets and borrows my headphones occasionally. Nerd.

    Coming later: pics, measurements, mods, and GenPffft (kidding, not tried yet but other’s impressions make it seem like the lesser).

    Yes, I want to buy GenG.
     
  13. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    ETA GenG.jpg
    ETA GenG flats.jpg

    Tried all the positioning. There is only so much tolerance for movement because the ear pad holes are not huge.

    Just put on the flats for listen, and first track there is a little forward vocals and had to turn down. Second track (different album) too. I can hear that mouthwateringly good bass in the background, but it's dim now in comparison. Switching back to stock pads.

    I accept questions no problem.
     
  14. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    Received some suggestions for configurations to address my preferences so will try them out. If 2kHz were relaxed Id say GOAT headphone (in my limited view). If 7-8kHz dimmed dark then nirvana achieved.
     
  15. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    Wife said “very good” seriously. She has some possible concerns but wants to listen again before I relay her minor criticisms. She’s kinder than I. I like to write stream of conscious for my convenience.

    I have ear fatigue from the very short listen with flat pads. 2k I say. I wont be music listening until pain goes away. Hopefully by this evening. Remember, this headphone has arguments for GOAT so consider my complaints nitpickicking, except flat pad not good is obvious. Ill be attempting tuning to see if I can get these perfect before loaner term ends. Currently as-is, I would buy these to mod. The drivers are amazing. They are graphene coated or some composite? @purr1n measurements (distortion, csd, burst reponse) please?
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I'll get distortion, CSD, burst, etc. maybe tonight, in the other thread.
     
  17. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    GenP doesnt have the superb technicalities like GenG nor the control in bass that makes me think planar is pointless. (P)ointless if only $100 less.
     
  18. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    I suspect a little nasalness in vocals, a little dip in violin higher notes. Ear fatigue from flat pad episode reactivated from only listening to GenG (stock) a little bit just now. Guess I wasnt ready. Continue comparisons in morning...

    Brass instruments are fine. They were just accompanied by bass so were made less standout. Brain burn-in.

    GenG brings much new detail, tone, and depth to songs I know well. Drums (cymbals) in particular have added spacial cues that I had no idea existed in well known tracks.

    GenP Ill take some fr measures in morning.
     
  19. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Initial impressions only. They just arrived today, so I only had a little time with them.

    Source:
    moOde -> Metrum Ambre -> Theta DS Pro Basic II -> Schiit Mjolnir, ZDT Jr., Gilmore Dynalo Clone

    GenG:
    First with initial stock setup (4 holes open in the middle, the things are reminiscent of ESX, but with more breadth and width. These things can slam.

    Then, with another cotton roll in and only one hole open, things do lift in the upper mids, but the tradeoff is a bit loss of dynamics and some dryness and shoutyness creeps in.

    The @dematted recipe is what I landed on, which is two long rolls of cotton - basically 3 holes open. (Note: I tried micropore tape over the center sushi, and electrical tape, but I did not hear much difference, maybe I only slightly.

    The next I notice, besides the warm tilt, is how quick and responsive the divers are. There is a certain snap. It reminds me of time aligned speaker drivers. It is like you can hear the potential if they would open up some. I know "speakers in a room" is the goal, and maybe I am more used to very detailed studio monitors.

    The low detail and texture is absolutely amazing. Every note on the bass guitar is clean, even, and full. Kick drums actually sound different and not just a low end thud or boom. I've never heard low end this clean and clear.

    The low end doses not bleed into the low mids, maybe barely. The mids themselves are also clean and rich.

    Top end could use more air, but it is never too much or too annoying.

    The biggest thing with GenG is they beg you to crank the volume. Although the low end starts to stack at high volume, although it is very needed for Van Halen.

    I look forward to blue foam and maybe some more air amd that effortless sound can come though more.

    GenP:
    Not much to day about these as they certainly sound more closed, but certainly more agreeable sound signature. They are slightly hotter in the mids that I normally like and coming from 650 and GenG, these might sound mid-centric.

    Lows were okay, a bit loose. Highs were there, not rolled off, but not bright or peaky. A bit shouty in the 2K region.

    Sound is more in your head and dynamic. But
    going back to GenG was like a breath of fresh air and stretching your legs.

    GenP was also great with Vali 2. It's like those two got along well.

    GenG really liked the Mjolnir amp, but ZDT Jr. did c almost as good.

    My Gilmore is having some connection issues and something happens with the DC coupling circuit, so this is back on the bench until I can figure out what is going on (would not want to blow any drivers as I almost did). Before it was acting up, it was fine for both GenG and GenP, but it is a warmer amp and felt the ZDT Jr. brought out more out of GenG, so I can certainly see how SW51 would also be a good pairing.

    More to come after blue rings arrive.
     
  20. Philimon

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    ETA GenP.jpg
    GenP (all).jpg

    I found GenP positioning a little more critical than GenG's. Top graph is best graph.

    Holy smokes the Peerless driver is super sensitive (loud).
     

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