ETA O² headphones

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by k4rstar, Jan 21, 2023.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    9,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Home Page:
    I think about the principle that 'bass should be slower than mids should be slower than highs' quite a bit in terms of the damping config during tuning. Like what you get with a loudspeaker room response. For me with many headphones, there's sometimes a feeling of incongruence with this principle regardless of how smooth things may seem on a FR curve - part of what makes headphones and speakers sound different, and headphones sound different from each other.

    Something about extended high frequency decay with sustainless deep bass just sits in my uncanny valley - even though this presentation style may make upstream amplifier characteristics more critical to synergy due to differences in damping factor / output impedance, etc. I'm sure Marv's burst response measurements could be enlightening here, and I wonder if amplification selection has any effect on what could be captured with that method on various cans.

    What's most interesting to me is how this principle interacts with things like FR targets. How tipping the transient presentation in one direction may make me want to tip the tone in the opposite direction. How damping for optimal transient response may give a weird FR, or damping for an ideal FR may give a weird transient response. The driver itself often tells you how best to use it. The enclosure is how you make the narrow strokes and find the middle pathway between these things.

    There's no real point or argument to this rant. I will say with the O2, I used my ears to make judgement calls regarding the tuning proportionally more than I've done with any other headphone associated with ETA, seldom referencing graphs with my rudimentary measurement devices. I'm very pleased with the experience and can't wait to share with more ears. Two pairs will be at the Bay Area meet this weekend.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2023
  2. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    A bit OT but Ollo has similar thinking and interestingly shaped their cups in similar fashion to Mini-s and Nighthawk which all share a common goal about making headphones sound more like speakers-in-room. I think you will like this video as Ollo explains and demonstrates their attempt at capturing this goal.

    If youre interested in comparing against Mini, Ollo conveniently makes available and sells just the parts to convert their open headphone into the closed version.
    Question: O^2 sbaf loaner tour please?

    (edit: they have more videos on the topic if interested)
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2023
  3. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Who pinned this review? I literally don't know anything about how these sound from this thread. I don't think I've seen a 44 post review thread for a new pair of headphones tell me less about what they sound like since I stopped going to HF many, many years ago.
     
    • Like Like x 10
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 6
    • Epic Epic x 2
    • List
  4. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    @purr1n did you pin this while drunk? You're not allowed to go to the UK again.
     
    • Epic Epic x 7
    • Like Like x 4
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    This man gets it. I am trying not to get drunk and post what I really feel about this subject matter because the level of Autism and lack of Social Awareness/Cues is off the charts.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 2
    • List
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2023
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    TBH, I initially did not want to pin because of lack of substance per SBAF standards. However, the thread seemed popular with eventually very good discussion, so I figured what the heck.

    FWIW, I did have a glass of wine or three when I pinned it. Some withdrawal symptoms, so slowly weaning. Still hitting the gym though.
     
    • Like Like x 8
    • Epic Epic x 1
    • List
  7. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2022
    Likes Received:
    1,990
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    The Deep South
    It's cuz they're ETA and probably do sound good, despite the lack of anyone actually saying exactly how so.
     
    • Respectfully Disagree Respectfully Disagree x 2
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  8. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,960
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Irvine CA
    ok ok.. Listened to the video. This is what I got:

    References: Grado Prestige SR325s and Koss KTXPRO1 (Radioshack edition)

    Build quality: DIY, printed cup with off market headband. Comes with 3 customization options: no cup, black cup, white cup. Both cups are perforated with different a pattern possibly to customize sound signature.

    Sound signature (no cup): Monitor linear response, possibly w/o tilt. Relative to KTXPRO1 (and possibly PortaPro) less bass. Relative to Grado Prestige less mids. Use of cups white or black seem to reduce detail which might actually indicate a non flat response or distortion due to cup partial sealing and/or vibration. But unsure.

    Technical: Allegedly no "time domain" issues. All those attack decay sustain stuff are gonna happen if we have a flat frequency response anyway. The claim is that these are super flat and monitor like. Would like to see that measured cuz I have yet to see that from the vast majority of cans, if not all LOL!

    Price: Horrid @ > $600 relative to references.

    Gripes: "Time domain" issues. Just say other phones sound colored or lacking in detail.

    Would Ultrabike buy? No. I feel I would like the PortaPro more for a lot less. HD6x0 possibly far superior technically and cheaper as well, though subject to a technical review.
     
    • Like Like x 8
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2023
  9. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,697
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Arizona

    I've gathered that he is comparing apples to apples with supraaural style headphones. The presentations will be more similar than the circumaurals on his list. That is just what I took from his review. I would like to see a Grado HP1000i compared to the O2.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  10. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,942
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    I never had the HP1000i but I had the HP2. Specifically, the 'second' generation of the HP2, because they changed the cables a few times during the production lifecycle which does affect the sound character. I did not like the HP2 very much. From the research I did into it before buying one, it seemed it was designed firstly as a monitoring tool for dissecting sound recordings. It is good for this purpose because of how it presents macro details and separates everything in the sonic image into its own tidy corner (very useful for tracking and panning). But I found it to be lacking extension on both ends (soft top and early roll-off in the bottom) and boring to listen to (polite in the presence and brilliance region, did not reproduce boogie and verve of music like cheaper John Grado cans). So, I sold it when I got the SR325, and would also take the O2 over it. It's kind of an artifact of its time and cool to experience but really a collector's item than something to own for pleasure listening.
     
  11. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Isnt insufficient description in written form your complaint? If not then please provide more description. How is autism preventing you from posting?
     
  12. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    Are you serious? Do not make me blow up this thread where we are going away the topic in question.
     
  13. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Is it that serious? I dont know.
     
  14. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    The f**k is wrong with you.

    That isn't how it works.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2023
  15. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

    Pyrate Contributor Banned
    Joined:
    May 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,092
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Okay. Nevermind.
     
  16. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2018
    Likes Received:
    5,465
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Home Page:
    Hi folks,

    Could we please try to minimize the noise in this thread? We appreciate the excitement, but let's try to fill in the thread with impressions/reviews soon
    @YMO @Philimon please use PMs to dish out personal matters

    And Yes, there will be an SBAF loaner soon! More to come soon...

    Also side note, I will be in Austin visiting @famish99 @Erroneous and others from taco crew this weekend and will have an O2 if anyone from the area wants to audition. Would love to see you there and get your feedback on the O2.
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 12
    • Like Like x 3
    • Respectfully Disagree Respectfully Disagree x 2
    • List
  17. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    @tommytakis I love you, man, but GODDAM, the first post and all the following ramblings are like gobbledygook. I legit feel like I need to talk to my therapist after reading through a few pages of this nonsense.

    In your shoes, I'd ask that the whole thread be moved to an entertainment section and start over when you can get reviews from people who aren't going to freebase lead paint and fentanyl before hitting the keyboard/camera.
     
    • Epic Epic x 10
    • Like Like x 6
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 4
    • List
  18. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 11, 2020
    Likes Received:
    2,209
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    open sky
    Week has been flying by with these. Decided to finally get them going with something more suitable.
    These are so rich from the Piety, much more heft and body than the lowly headphone out. It simply is not as close as I might have made it seem earlier in my previous post. Since than I have I would say 20 more hours on and it will continue for the foreseeable future.

    I wanted to say these have really filled a hole that I have been missing with my other on-ear headphone.
    The tightness in sub bass and cohesion through the midrange is exactly the experience I seek.

    Not many warning signs when listening, these are everything I wanted from the Black screen hd600 when I first heard it on a Valhalla. More neutral to me. and less glare past 4k to my ears.
    IMG_1995.jpeg
    • A bit about this chain Mac Book Air m1 > Motu M2 > Belden cable > Piety > Forza cable > o2

    Previously from my listening I had loved the information the o2 was able to extract from seemingly nothing special.
    Plenty of NeverHeardThat-Idus. My first attempt was flawed due to user error( wrong power supply).
    Very clearly every change in the system was quite noticeable. No placebo moments like I had suffered in the past.
    Something that had made me quite bitter for years. Did I really hear that or do I wish I did? Without a doubt I do now.

    Simply no nonsense.

    Back to the O2, it is simply my favorite on ear ever. The Idea of an on ear is something that brought me into the hobby.
    And it still drives me to peruse these sonic landscapes. The sub bass extension and texture is very impressive.
    Who else dares to purse the stigmatized on ear design besides @E_Schaaf and @tommytakis.

    This is a greatness at any cost design to me, and I am blessed to have a better open headphone than what I loved in the mini Open. Every issue I had was resolved. Ergonomics, sound, efficiency.

    The presentation of tape hiss(does not boost the region), foley, and DAW artifacts bring me closer to the music than previous headphones have been able to achieve. Clearly not for everyone but those

    Screen Shot 2023-01-26 at 2.38.55 PM.png
    In Untitled A.K.A. Change the Beat (Bonus Track) the rain, bit crushed tv samples, and rolling thunderstorms are an incredible delight, breaking into the main vocal track.
    Screen Shot 2023-01-26 at 2.19.12 PM.png
    Another similar hiss test track with screeching guitars
    Passing with flying colors for me. 2-16khz test.
    Low Gain o2.png
    While I was not at this recording, I was at one of the shows live.
    Piety on high gain paired with O2 has that same FORCE AND STRENGTH on the Tom
    Malik Venna sounds as confident as ever
    Alexander Bourts PRAT is undeniable.
    Screen Shot 2023-01-26 at 2.10.32 PM.png
    last but not least, Lightnin’ Hopkins
    Simply a guilty pleasure, these recordings make him his true size. BIGGER than life. All the love for female vocals, but you gotta check Hopkins out.

    Screen Shot 2023-01-26 at 2.15.37 PM.png Screen Shot 2023-01-26 at 2.22.41 PM.png Low Gain.png HIgh Gain.png

    The ETA o2 is a neutral, extended over ears headphone. With no frequency quirks to my ears. Easily the biggest sleeper headphone I have heard to date. Plans for the future, pairing with the Lyr+, Hugo 2, and premium dongles in the near future.

    I had no comfort or auditory issues with this model compared to my 80e, 99classic or pervious mini Open.
    A true successor and and substantial improvement.

    A big step forward for ETAs sound and philosophy.
    Thank you for reminding me how fun this hobby can really be.
     
    • Like Like x 25
    • Miss Information Miss Information x 2
    • Epic Epic x 1
    • List
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2023
  19. willc

    willc Friend

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Bruh. Why does Marv allow SBAF to be like Head-Fi?
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Dislike Dislike x 1
    • Miss Information Miss Information x 1
    • List
  20. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,569
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I just want to say that Infected one of my favorite albums, good call!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page