ETA Genesis-G/P Impressions Thread

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

  1. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    For reducing 2kHz and bringing up 3kHz on GenG I was recommended a configuration by @E_Schaaf : try without grill lid, and try smushing more cotton into sushi roll. However, the grill is super transparent so I don't see how that would have any effect by removing. The sushi roll is already densely compacted with cotton, and attempting to smush more in could easily break the felt cavity.

    Next. Listening to other headphones. A/B to determine if GenG has any negatives. I already know it massacres everything else in positives.

    edit: Not going to A/B atm. Ears are still a little fatigued. Later.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2021
  2. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    RE: ear fatigue

    I wouldnt be surprised if GenG sounded closer to GenG “flats” in actual use because the 6XX headband is pretty tight. The clamp probably squishes the pads down more around my head vs the narrow EARS couplers. The stock pads are of medium softness so I wouldnt think there’d be a ton of compression but would still guess the sound would move a little closer to “flats” measurement in normal use. Maybe idunno
     
  3. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    Wife’s GenP review: “Flat, plain.” I didnt give her any details for influence. She hasnt listened to GenG again yet, so wants me to wait still on posting her thoughts.

    Im not going to a/b GenP. Not interested. From memory I would rank it over Sennheiser 580/600/6XX because GenP has better bass. Resolution/technicalities in mids-highs I did not listen to GenP long enough to form an opinion but Id bet Senn wins. Senn is famous for being scaling machine. I wouldnt trust my Senn opinion if you’re a fan. My THX00 appreciation hovers above 6XX because bass extension and for utility as a closed phone. GenP > THX00, would not debate.

    I quickly tried Fostex T30 to see if I was being crazy. T30 is non-fatiguing, has muh dark highs, overall tone preferable to either Gen. Bass is closer to GenG than GenP. T30 and GenG both sound rich, but GenG much more detailed with depth and decay. T30 not a useful reference phone because rare, so not going to a/b. Will do a vintage ortho tour soon.

    GenG vs THX00 a/b would simply be to compare upper mid levels because its where I have concern with GenG. I dont have any totl reference phones or experience for good GenG comparison, sorry. However, GenG is cheap for a totl phone, so an upgrade from Senn or Foster could be a natural progression for a lot of people so my perspective could be a preview for others.
     
  4. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    So, listening to the G for a while. Initially, I loved them but was puzzled. The sound seemed to be shaped, like cupping your hands around your ears. So, I tried taking the long foam from the back. Stage went wider but less overall bass, apparent in the cello tone, Put on a bassier track and bass was there but this time the voice lacked some body. Put the foam back in and didn't notice the earlier issue with a shaped stage. Maybe I didn't pack it in as firm as it was. Still listening. This is very easy to listen to.. I had Empyreans in here for 3 days on a tour. They were magic with the SW51+.. Right now G's and ZDS are easily as fatigue free. I had already expanded the HD650 headband, maybe a bit too much but they were perfect for the G's. I did pick up some Empy's from here, I liked them quite a bit with the SW51 + and ZDS. I have too many headphones now, these are keepers. I believe they are even getting better. Some amps and phones will be heading out
     
  5. Philimon

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    Quick summary of a/b:
    GenG good, no problem, fatigue probably from turning it up because I was liking what I was hearing, and cause I was trying to review and report on all the things. Listening with normal volumes is fatigue free. At normalized volumes GenG doesn’t amaze like before, but still obviously above THX00 in technicalities, a worthwhile upgrade. Going from THX00 to GenG is like having a 4XX or 6XX then adding an amp. More snap, more dynamic, more weight. Then add piles of detail and decay on top of that.

    Quick a/b notes:
    1. Beck - Guess I’m Doing Fine
    vali2 at 9’oclock, low gain, mac volume at minimum
    vocals maybe a little thinner sounding than GenG

    2. Bjork - Hunter
    - bjork’s high note loudness (crescendo?) a little bit scary

    3. Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
    - fine

    4. James Brown - I Feel Good
    jb voice i wish was a bit dimmer because bass n rhythm so funky, so mo bass

    5. Ray Charles - What I’d Say
    maybe some reverb or mush in bass
    vocals maybe a tad thin, sounds distantish, like a bit from a speaker box

    6. Minutemen - This Ain’t No Picnic
    vocals a little thin, wish thicker more weight
    cymbals okay, would gladly accept less
    cymbals not detailed, a little smear splash

    7. Van Halen - Atomic Punk
    wish cymbals were quieter
    wish vocals and guitar were a little more forward
    needs more grado like minutemen

    8. Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
    Godly song

    9. MIA - $20
    back to minimum volume, would turn down more if I could, skipping cause loud

    10. Willie Nelson - Stardust
    volume up!
    willie voice fine (a little mic sound aka not so natural)

    Beck - Guess i’m Doing Fine
    vali2 stays, mac volume at 2/5
    a little more present low end but otherwise same
    less comfortable main thang

    2. Bjork - Hunter
    deep bass not blowing away THX00, same
    turn down volume
    strings sound fine
    right percussion a little more clear
    turn down volume a little more, so like a couple mm from minimum

    3. Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
    center percussion a little more attack n presence
    bass guitar has so much flavor
    mayfield voice a little different, hard to say
    imaging stronger
    percussions more detail

    4. James Brown - I feel good
    bass sounds more present. yes!
    james voice while less in comparison it sounds more detailed
    horns sound fine no problems
    just a little more tactile everywhere

    5. Ray Charles - What’d I Say
    left percussion more attack, more distinction
    right piano more tones
    left bass guitar much clearer
    ray’s voice still sounds a little weird (normal), maybe a little higher pitch, not sure
    needs back to back a/b

    6. Minutemen - This Ain’t No Picnic
    not grado good off memory

    7. Van Halen - AP
    again, wish cymbals would go back row
    sounds fine, but like minutemen needs more Grado. Which means probably needs more trebles

    8. Sam Cooke - A Change Gonna Come
    horns more present?
    sam voice bit nasally?
    song not blowing me away like normal
    needs direct a/b like Ray Charles. Both of these songs are awesome super detailed audiophile certified so I think probably have more nuance

    9. MIA - $10
    turn down almost minimum
    sounds more relaxed the whole song, less harsh

    10. Willie Nelson - Stardust
    turn that volume up!
    previous GenG fatigue issues just from getting carried away with volume?
    more clear present bass, nice
    turn down at guitar twang at times, ear burn a little, maybe i was going too loud
    need back to back a/b, more dynamic song like ray charles and same cooke

    while writing summary turned on Kendrick lamar good kid mad city: Backseat freestyle: that whip percussion is a lot louder than I remember. The art of peer pressure: that intro with high pitch noise louder than i remember. Maybe a little sharpness in vocals at very end of song.

    There were things I need to give more attention, like what might be anomalies from 2-3k weirdness but that could be bias from measurements. Songs and notes are mentioned in a/b spoiler so you may test for yourself. I'll update after testing again with more clear description, perhaps adding T30 to mix for more perspective. a/b purpose was testing tone.
     
  6. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    SW51+
    13 Shades of Blue: Best Of Mapleshade, Vol, 2
    Wabash Blues, John Previti Quartet
    Bowed bass is really heard for the first time, bow on the strings is clear and it goes oh so low,
    I have to believe this is how it was meant to be heard.
    LTA HP2
    I like the spacing better, the bowed bass is present but I miss the G's bass, can't hear the bow dragging as well.
    If I hadn't heard the G first I would be lauding the brass presentation, particularly the spacing. Also heard this at the lower volume, let me turn it up: Well, goes low but less authority. G still has the nod.

    Sweet Home Chicago, Bad Influence
    Also have the cd. crisp guitar work, bass is strong in the song and the presentation, sax back then forward on the right, vocals well rendered, percussion takes a back seat keeping the beat and punchy,
    LTA HP2
    I like the guitar presentation better here, better decay, less edgy and bass seems better distinguished. The song never goes very low.

    I Need You, Joe Stanley Sextet
    Turns from a bit shouty to strong smooth and punchy music when I lower the volume, 2 sax's, honky tonk piano, bass is minimal for support, percussion, this is about horns and vocals, guitar present but only lightly featured.
    LTA HP2
    Horns a bit smoother, more distinct when playing together, light guitar easier to hear, better tone.


    Bad Feelings, Harvey Thomas Young
    No bad feelings around here, nice slide guitar and saxophone light piano, percussion present, song is amusing and well presented, vocals staged well.
    LTA HP2
    Theme seems to be more separation, G has more body but preference? I am undecided. G's bass though...
    if it goes low the G digs it out much better, not all music goes that low though.

    Bear Foot Stomp, Silent Bear
    Acoustic blues guitar, various percussion, harmonica, vocals, some of that percussion is way off to the right, conga like in the center, raw and musical
    LTA HP2
    Follows the theme, less body but better spacing. I may like this HP better but there is no bass in this song.

    The Black AMP later.
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2021
  7. Philimon

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    Ev’s tuning updates previewed in the Discord look like they will clean up the rough edges for me. 2-3kHz more linear, and a little smoothed down 8kHz. Even with a little simple eq minus at 2kHz GenG sounds much more natural to me. I find myself messing with volume control a lot less. Dulled/dark high end is more unusual preference of mine though so cant complain at current state but look forward to what update does.

    The updates plus a 580 headband (to fix comfort issues) likey would make this headphone end game for me. The updates appear to lower the bass just a couple db too, which I would appreciate atm. The 6XX headband clamp gives me a headache. Despite clamp headache, GenG still makes it difficult not to want to turn up the volume.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2021
  8. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Koth Ganesh

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    Well, I've listened to the Gen-G HP long enough for some impressions. If I am correct, I received the 4th such HP made by E.T.A. and for a welcome change, this reached my hometown in India pretty quickly with minimal damage to my wallet (i.e. customs duty, thanks to fancy accounting;)).

    My chain is the PI2AES playing music from a HDD to the Dangerous Music Convert 2 (and through the Rolls Promatch active trafo) to the Mogwai SE (this has the KT 88 tubes with the 12AU7 driver tube and a SS rectifier). Genre is classic and hard rock only (no metal). The Gen G configuration is "stock" - the way E.T.A. intended it to be (I think). I have the HD 6XX headband and stock Focal Clear cables. The headphone is comfortable to wear and listening to it for long periods of time was not a problem for me.

    What jumped out at me (and continues to do so) is the bass response. The slam and quality of the bass is very good. I am strictly #teamdynamic and this HP does not make me want planar bass. There are several Dire Straits singles (e.g. When It Comes to You in their On Every Street album) where the drums literally kick you in the chest. The HP rendered these very well. The thump you hear in the initial passages of Hotel California in the Hell Freezes Over album will put that grin on your face.

    The mids are just that bit recessed to me compared to the Focal Clear. No surprises just looking at the FR. It also sounds that they are slightly back on the stage (as @gaspasser noted). They are smooth though.

    For my elderly ears, the treble could have been boosted just a tad (remember this is the stock config so I might have to play with it a little more). Fortunately, there is no sibilance. My test track for sibilance and treble harshness is Don't Bring Me Down by ELO. The high hats can kill your ears IMO. None of that harshness though when heard with the Gen G.

    Other observations: This is a fast HP (if that makes any sense). Transients are quick but more rounded compared to, say, the Utopia. Decay is well-controlled and notes do not "linger" unnecessarily. I love the tonality of the HP. It is more forgiving of older and poor recordings (case in point is Don't Bring me Down mentioned above). The downward sloping FR curve helps in long sessions of fatigue-free listening. Oh, one thing, this HP needs me to crank up the volume. So, do not be afraid to turn that volume knob up above your normal comfort zone.

    In summary, this is a headphone that offers very good value for the price ($750). I sold my Focal Clear to make way for the Gen G. I want to congratulate Ev, Tommy and Alex for a remarkable first product. A shout out to these guys for working with me to get this product delivered to India in a remarkably short time).
     
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  10. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Few points I forgot to put in my initial write up, all points apply to the GenG:

    - Treble did not have much upper end "air". I know perception of air generally comes from the 10k-20k region in the FR curve, but I'm not completely sure if it was "just a lack of 10-20k" in this case.
    - Definitely has the ability to reproduce plankton.
    - After reading this thread more closely, it looks like the front foam under the ear pads and around the driver could be rolled as well. Extra foam was not available at the time of my loaner - all comments apply to whatever was in the headphone - I don't remember the color but I think it was some type of memory foam per the smell.

    EDIT 5/25: - Have been asked this, so I'm going to post here - when I say the stage was capped at medium, the stage wasn't medium sized in every song. It just means that's as big as I heard it get. Things are kind of crammed together in some other songs as I mention above. The lack of upper end "air" and somewhat blurry separation mentioned may make the issue "worse" so to say. Still a great headphone, but yes, this is a weakness.

    Also interesting to see others commenting on the mids being staged further away as well. Thought it may have just been my setup or my perception was off as it was the first time I had head something like this in a headphone.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2021
  11. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    Gen P(eerless) Loaner Impressions


    I would like to thank ETA for sending this out on tour.

    TLDR: This is my favorite ETA headphone. Easy recommendation for anyone who wants the cheapest introduction to what ETA is all about. This is my desert island headphone that can run well off everything.
    —————————————————

    Everyone watches movies. This may be a bit abstract, but we all know at some point the viewer stops paying attention that they are watching on a screen and just get into the story. This is even more impressive when it happens while watching Netflix on a phone. Doing this with music is much harder for some reason. I tend to be aware that I’m listening to headphones or speakers unless I’ve had a beer or something that allows me to just listen to music. Others mention weed, incense, etc.


    This where ETA headphones comes in with the Genesis headphones. I own and really enjoy GenG and wanted to see what they could do with the Peerless driver. I got the GenP loaner and TBH wasn’t expecting much given the previous impressions.

    Since I owned ESX900, I knew to first try it off my iPhone dongle and see what I get. I put on one of my favorite Galactic albums “Coolin’ Off” on the Qobuz app and felt that same “whoa shit” moment I had with ESX900. It is wild how Ev can tune three different drivers to have a similar sound. I can reference off of GenG and ESX900 and say that GenP is less-warm overall; I think it has a more pronounced upper midrange especially compared to GenG. In the mids on up, it is closer to ESX900 with perforated pads. All of these headphones have a downsloped tuning, but I feel GenP is less so. The other reference I can offer is the striking similarity of iPhone dongle+GenP to ZDS (JAN GE green) + HD650K. Gen P easily has better bass than HD650 but it has a similarly smooth, yet very detailed presentation. The ZDS combo mentioned above is one of my personal favorites of all time.


    ETAs down sloping frequency response (house sound) offers me something that I finally put a finger on. They all give me the ability to listen and focus on the music and not pay attention to the gear or that I’m wearing headphones for that matter. This is the audio version of what happens when I watch movies and the screen disappears (or my mind doesn’t give a shit about it). It is highly addictive. I look forward to listening to GenP or GenG and haven’t touched my 2-channel system for the past couple weeks.


    I feel GenP offers something unique to the ETA lineup. It is open, efficient and low impedance. It also comes in one flavor and there is no real ability to tune it. The GenP definitely scales. I tried it on iPhone dongle, then Zampotech Bachelor and SW51. Every improvement in amplification yielded small but noticeable improvements in stage expansion and plankton. I started out using BF2 and changed to DAC2541 toward the end of my time with the loaner. I think DAC2541 is a better tonal match for the Genesis headphones offering less thicc midrange (drier tonality).


    The GenP was another no-shit instabuy for me and actually displaced ESX900 from my collection because I prefer open headphones since I need to be able to hear things when listening like toddlers crying.


    A word about cables. I tried GenP briefly with the loaner-included cheapo Amazon cable and thought compared to my Hart cable it was less detailed and much warmer. I don’t know if this could be the cause of some of the previous comments. The GenP production version apparently has some cosmetic changes as well as added internal screen to protect the drivers from probing toddler hands. I will update pictures and impressions once I get my production pair.

    B29CF3D4-5407-45C0-A6E6-6D657EC5D78E.jpeg
     
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    Last edited: May 18, 2021
  12. elwappo99

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    Big thanks to ETA for putting this tour on.

    Intro:

    I tried my best to avoid reading other’s impressions or learning much about the default tunings. Not reading the tuning info was a mistake. Unfortunately the original tuning was super bass heavy which totally threw me off and may have biased all my other impressions. I tuned these based on the “default” tuning and would recommend starting it there.



    Comfort/Build:

    Little bit more material between the pad and baffle compared to the HD6xx, so there’s more clamp force. Clamp force ends up at top of cup near the temple more. If it was my headband I’d stretch it out over a few days and don’t think it would be an issue, but for now I’ve only got about 2-3 hours on them before I get some head pain. (Later update – Azimuth sent me a HD600 headband which definitely helped quite a bit with comfort, but I’ll still need more room).



    Only complaint about build is that I wish the 3.5mm sockets were recessed at least a bit. Having the socket flush with the bottom of the cup makes me nervous that one drop could cause a 3.5mm to snap off in the cup.



    Overall tonality:

    The first thing that immediately stands out is the bass. It’s definitely more pronounced than the rest of the frequency response. The rest of the frequency response is very even sounding to the point of making it hard to comment on. It’s a very neutral sounding frequency response. But not the kind of “bright” neutral that the Ether CX have. A very dry and even sounding neutral. Reminds me a lot of the old Brainwavz HM5 or Jaycar Pros that were popular. But with more bass. Did I mention the bass?



    Bass:

    Bass is deep, punchy, has weight. Great air like the air of a Focal but without the stax fake ultra thin sounding air. Combine that with much more punch/heft. It also have more definition ability to discern between notes. Better than almost any dynamic driver I’ve heard and easily beats out most planars. Easily beats out any planar at this price I can think of. With default tuning sounds good. Bass is thick and present like Audeze, not like a UERM or a HE-6 where it only shows up when called for. Good control on bass, but the bass does linger a bit. It also bleeds a bit into the mids, but also at the same time the bass seems to also be somehow separated from mids and treble because it has this big large spacious sound to it. It’s almost like the bass is coming from a different driver entirely. Bass on the default tuning was a bit for my every day listening tastes.




    Mids:

    Great dynamic range, really clean, and not grainy like most planars and some dynamics tend to be. Very neutral sounding. So much so when switching from most of my other headphones, it sounds dry. After a few songs though my ears have adjusted. Bass does creep into the mids and can overpowering at times.



    Treble:

    Very resolving, but somewhat eclipsed by the bass. Can sound a bit dry depending on the recording and some vocals can sound a bit nasally. Great extension and it’s also super non-fatiguing since the bass is so heavily tilted. I found myself constantly creeping up on the volume since the treble was so relaxed. On higher volumes vocals can have some nasally sound to them.



    Imaging/Soundstage:

    The SS is fairly closed in, but also well defined. There isn’t the same air or sense of space that the Elex or HD800 have, but those obviously come at costs in FR. The soundstage tends to fall into the 3 blob category, but there’s more blending than usual so it does sound more coherent than most headphone. Imaging and instrument separation is also good, but overall Imaging/SS is probably one of the weaker points on the headphone, which isn’t too surprising given the FR.



    Detail:

    Good. Really good. On Jim Croce’s “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be A Brighter Day” there’s an intro guitar. On the Ether CX the strumming really pops at first listen since the treble is emphasized. But the Genesis pulls more detail to the point where you can hear the strings vibrating on the pick just before he strums down on the string. It’s outshined by some higher end gear for detail retrieval, but there’s lots of detail that’s hidden under the bass tuning that’s definitely there when you listen for it. If ETA can manage a Beyerdynamic tuning head-fi will go nuts with how detailed this headphone is.



    A very strange byproduct of this tuning is that the GenG is super detailed on poorly recorded tracks. It might be that my volume keeps creeping up, but the attack/decay detail is very excellent, especially in the bass.



    Amps:

    Scales very well with amps . To the point I think this would be a good headphone around to compare various amplifiers. GenG sounds great on the THX789, but the double dipping on dry tonality isn’t super synergistic. (Later update, this could probably be resolved with tunings). The Phonitor x / blockhead are winners, but the Phonitor X is a hair too warm in the chain for standard tuning. Blockhead with crossfeed is excellent. The bass has noticeably more control and vocals break out of the bass veil a bit more. Liquid Crimson is OK…. Just ok, but kind of mushy and too much of a good thing.



    Potential issues:

    With such a changeable headphone I could see two potential issues. The first is that there will likely be inconsistent pairs out in the wild as people tweak, resell, ship, drop, wiggle, attempt their own tunings, etc. Mrspeaker’s early on units (maybe still today?) had wild variability due to the hand crafted nature of each unit. It seems like this could be even worse especially if people who aren’t as keen on modding end up with them.



    Secondly, the amount of potential tunings is already exploding and could be (was for me) overwhelming at first. Dematted’s organized post definitely helped out a lot, but maybe some kind of database that also tracks difficulty to mod and has a few easy “starter mods” that could ease people in.



    Ramblings:

    I think in a lot of ways this is a headphone I’ve been looking for. Something that’s easy to listen to, comfortable, and has bass, but isn’t a heavy planar. Bonuses here are for excellent overall tuning (minor gripes), and a very detailed headphone. There’s plenty of people who purchase a pair of HD800s because they want the best and then assume their pair is broken because “WHERE’S THE BASS?” I think these headphones will really click with those types of people.



    Some high end headphones tend to have a certain in your face “wow” factor at first listen. Their tuning grabs your attention with it’s up front treble presentation that really grabs you and exaggerates the amount of treble. However, over time, with all the headphones on the comparison table I was using to evaluate, I kept reaching over and impulsively grabbing the GenG. I would liken it to Stax SR009 and SR007. The 009 grabs your attention at first listen, but the more I listen the more it wears me out and the odder the tuning sounds. I end up really enjoying the SR007 more and it gets much more head time.



    Also random note was that percussion sounds excellent. The mix of the treble and the strong but controlled bass was some of the more natural reproductions I’ve ever heard. The mesh cover does look like a sink strainer. It looks better in person, but there’s a strong resemblance.



    Gear: Schiit Yggdrasil, Pi2AES, Phonitor X, Liquid Crimson, THX 789, Headroom Blockhead, Audio-GD Master 11, Hifiman HE-6/HE-1000, Audeze LCD-3/MX4, HD800, Focal Elex, HD600, Ether CX, Stax, etc etc







    PT II – The tuning kit arrives

    I had tried to avoid reading impressions and tunings beforehand because quite frankly I found it overwhelming. But thanks to a few suggestions here I was quickly up and running with the “extended tuning kit.” I wish I had much more time with these as I feel like there’s a lot of things to tinker with to get just the right tuning.



    After some tinkering and swapping around my favorite config ended up as the “if you have Sennheiser centric upstream, but Sennheiser” tuning with blue foam rings. The brought up vocals just the right about for the Phonitor X, and started balancing out the vocals with the bass in the tube amps. I suddenly started seeing a lot of potential for these for tuning to match your exact rig.
     
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    Last edited: May 26, 2021
  13. Ksorota

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    ETA Genesis P Loaner Impressions

    IMG_6906.jpg

    I am the happy owner of the Genesis G. I have spent a lot of time listening, tuning, listening, retuning with others on discord and have landed on a setup that I really enjoy. I enjoy it so much that I did not actually feel all that interested in putting the Gen P on and listening. When I finally gave it an honest listen and not just a quick comparison to my other headphones I discovered that I did enjoy it very much most of the time.


    As it is priced lower than the fully custom Genesis G and also has a lighter tonality overall I think it could be considered the Genesis Lite. It will be difficult to provide a comparison that many individuals will have direct experience with since I only have a ESX900, ETA Genesis G and PMx2 (not directly compared here) to compare them too.

    IMG_6902.jpg

    The Genesis P is a very sensitive headphone that sounds great off of most sources and gets very loud on all of them, Iphone to Mjolnir 1. The loaner set is a pre-production version with a slightly incomplete build, but the sonics are well sorted and near the final production level. The bass can get a little befuddled and detail can become blurred on complicated tracks such as Tool’s Invincible, but I also find myself feeling a good sense of attack. Vocals are forward and give a good presence factor, Lorde shows off the forwardness well (Writer in the dark) and shows that it can be a little bit too edgy at times.


    Compared to Genesis G, the Peerless (lite) driver version of ETA’s new headphone is less tonally rich/thick and could be considered more delicate sounding. Thin is not a word I would use to describe them, because they, like their brethren produces satisfying punch and dynamics. I have found that I enjoy this airier tonality and edgier sound at certain times of the day, like while working and keeping energy. Gen G is the smoother of the two and maintains a solid bass line that floats around the rest of the frequency, and Gen P is the fresher and dare I say dryer sounding. They really do complement each other and share the ETA DNA. Genesis P did not work out overly well with my Mjolnir 1, but sounds excellent off of the WA11 and Iphone via apple dongle.


    Compared to ESX, this is where it gets tougher because they are close, but the ESX900 comes out on top in my personal use case ( I need a closed set of cans for work and at home) and overall opinion. For a closed and open back set of headphones to sound so similar is strange to me for obvious reasons. The Genesis P is a more open sounding set of headphones and has good bass response, and a punchier sound in the lows. The ESX900 counters with better bass extension, and better decay than the P. Vocals, treble and mids are very similar between the two headphones with more emphasis on the Gen P…vocals are a bit more forward and can sound dry at times. Overall, I think that the ESX is more capable of reproducing the details in a track without losing composure and sounds more cohesive.


    All three headphones I am comparing in this post enjoy being turned up loud, but the Genesis P loses composure first. The more volume you give them the more they thump your head and it is really fun to sit back and listen. It does not surprise me that I find the Genesis P to be lacking in total refinement and cohesiveness as compared to the ESX900 and Gen G. The latter two headphones have been through the ringer with tuning iterations and the Gen P (as I understand it) was a proof of concept to show that drivers are less important than the enclosure that they sit in.


    IMG_6900.jpg
    In all comparisons I generally found that I would get more lost in the music while listening with the Genesis G and ESX900 and I would have a hard time declaring a winner between the two. The Genesis G is a fantastic headphone and iMO is worth the price differential and longer wait times.


    Listening was done via Tidal/Spotify/Apple Music ->Gungnir MB/Mjolnir 1 or WA11 (AIO) or WA7 TP(AIO)
     

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  14. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    So I’ve listened to the Gen G now for about 8 hours a day since Monday, I wear them continuously while I’m working and then I put them back on before bed too. In fact I’m listening to King Crimson on the Gen G’s right now when I should be sleeping.

    For context, my chain is Pi2AES -> Gungnir A1 via BNC -> Goldpoint SA1X -> Mjolnir (1) -> Gen G with Hart Cable

    I’ve known for a while that I’m missing the last level in technicalities with the headphones I had. I’ve generally valued tonality over technicality, but I wanted to experience tonality AND technicality together. Reading Evan’s describing the ETA sound and philosophy, I had a gut feeling it was worth a blind buy.

    I’m very pleased to find that Gen G exceeded my expectations. I have the updated tuning they will be stock for all units going forward, but for the moment I have the AP2K pads while I wait for custom ETA pads to come in. The first thing I noticed was the low end. Deep and powerful, the Gen G does the remarkable hat trick of producing incredible slam while retaining the full texture and resolution of the bass and percussion instruments. There have been so many times where I’ve listened to a song I’ve heard a million times and said “Wait, has the bass line always done that??” Because I’d never heard it properly resolved before. For this alone, dayenu.

    This may have been driver burn in, brain in, or a bit of both, but at first the mids did sound recessed, especially in comparison to the 580 and RS2e (with TTVJ deluxe pads so not the typical Grado shriek). Either the drivers opened up or I got used to it because now the bass supports and builds the foundation for the mids, and doesn’t overtake them.

    The highs are well extended but do not get sharp, edgy, or shouty. One of the other remarkable aspects of the Gen G is the level of detail it can extract from a recording. Listening to “Rhapsody in Blue”, you can hear the pianist’s feet on the pedals and other ambient noises but this detail isn’t coming from artificially boosted treble. The Gen G is highly resolving without attacking your ears.

    Separation and imaging are top notch for me too. In complicated/dense passages I have no trouble discerning each instrument without losing cohesiveness. And the textural elements feel almost unreal. Like if this got any more textured I’d be able to run my hands across the sounds and feel them by touch.

    It all adds up to an extremely exciting, dynamic (oh yeah, macro swings on this will make you sit up and pay attention), engaging headphone that is my new reference and standard. This is a headphone worth building a system around, IMO.
     
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  15. Don Miller

    Don Miller Banned from FS; never sell me anything

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    Any comparison with Jar600?
     
  16. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Two different animals.

    JAR600 is brighter, less authority in the low end, although still warmer in the lows of stock HD600. JAR600 is more light, and better at detail retrieval, at the expense that it will make bad recordings sound bad. These are awesome at classical and for good acoustic recordings - some of the best I have heard at this price range.

    GenG iI would say slightly warmer than HD650, but with low end detail and extension that you would swear there is a sub in the room. The low end has amazing amounts of dynamics and detail (and believe me when you can tell the difference between a mic'd up bass amp and a DI'd one - this was quite unexpected). Macrodetails and quickness are all there, just not a detail monster. The top end is more downward slope, but the immediacy, space, and speakerlike quality is what captures you. And when I say "speakerlike," kind of in the same where where there is no bleedover or congestion between frequency ranges as well as the sense of space.
     
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  17. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    An update to my previous thoughts. Pairing this hp with Austin Audio Works Black Amp puts to rest in my mind, any thoughts of slam lacking in the amp.

    Listening to Mira by Melody Gardot on Qobuz. This is a fun, playful buoyant recording, lots going on. Early on, the background singers are not spaced together but randomly sounding real happy, with a light rhythm guitar and percussion.
    A flute comes in upper left for just a few notes but is announced by it's clarity, the rhythm guitar then comes in strongly for a bit with a major announcement, slam in the mid range.
    Background voices move together and the instruments come and go as they please.
    Amp and phones go real low on other recordings, acoustic bass grinding and expressing with clarity, nothing missing. Also notable is the space provided for all the instruments,, everything in it's own bubble but fully expressed, particularly the shimmer and decay of cymbals. Just a top end audio experience for me. I think the hp is still breaking in too.
     
  18. Ksorota

    Ksorota Friend

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    Gen G.

    Just some follow up thoughts after being a Genesis G owner for a few months.

    I have been daily using the Genesis G headphones since their introduction and I am having a hard time finding ultimate faults with it because it just sounds so damn engaging and dynamic.

    I started with the V1 tuning, playing with many combinations of plugs, cotton rolls and foam. While fun, it also was a bit overwhelming at times. The cup design allow for many combinations of plugs, cotton rolls, foam, etc…some of which make very noticeable differences, and others that simply refine, but in any case these headphones can almost be anything you want them to be.

    With the introduction of the new pads and V1.1 tuning I quickly settled on that setup as the goldilocks version. I may have moved the foam rolls a bit to be a bit more symmetrical, but what I ended up doing next was to make the tuning as permanent as possible by ditching the cotton rolls and substituting in micropore tape.

    In other words, I am done playing around. The tuning that ETA setup with the new pads and cotton placement is solid! All the tuning I have done since adding the micropore has been with the plugs, and even then, I am less inclined to change the tuning as I am to just kick back and enjoy the music.

    Macrodynamics are what keep me grooving, while the detail presentation keeps me engaged. I keep tricking myself into thinking I should be buying another set of headphones…but nothing has been able to tempt me after spending another listening session with either of my two headphones. (Genesis G or PMx2)

    I have started to sell off most of my gear so that I can just enjoy music and boy does it feel good!

    note: Currently listening on GLMK2+GRPS while I wait for my Ragnarok 1 to come in. DAC is a Gungnir D/S - Gen 5
     
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  19. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    Genesis G(raphene) loaner impressions.

    A huge thank you for team ETA for having this loaner. Hearing for yourself is always the best advertisement. At least if your product is any good, and in this case it definitely is to my ears. The short version: These are addictive and sound amazing.

    The setup used is my HP EliteDesk PC > Bifrost 2 (Unison USB) > either an ifi Pro iCAN or ZMF Pendant (1st gen) > Gen G. I used a variety of both lossless & lossy tracks from a variety of genres.

    They look unassuming to me, no bling or wow factor. Personally I like it especially since they don't look homemade or amateurish.

    I had some concerns about comfort going in, especially since I don't usually like the fit of the 6xx series on my head. The ear-cups are a bit wider & I thought the clamp would be too much, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. The included cable was of good quality and I had no issues with it (though it was a bit long for my tastes).

    I am not the best at describing sonic minutia, so bear with me (and feel free to ask anything, I'll be glad to clarify whatever I can). I think what strikes me the most about the ETA Gen G is a sense of coherency that I don't always get with other headphones. It doesn't always bother me personally as I can be pretty forgiving of tuning anomalies, but there is something about the Gen G that just sounds "right" to me.

    To my understanding there is now a "stock" tuning for Gen G while retaining ability to mould the sound if you choose to do so. All impressions are with the current stock tuning.

    There is a boost in the sub bass (which I really love) but beyond that, there is a linearity that just plays perfectly with my preferences.

    Mid bass might be elevated from what many would call neutral, but tastefully and unobtrusively so. I heard no bleeding into the mids, and never felt it was over the top. Texture and impact were a particular highlight for me.

    Mids are very present and clear without ever edging into anything resembling stridency or peakiness, which I am somewhat sensitive to. This is part of what made these a joy to listen to movies with. Male & female vocals were a pleasure, as were guitar and piano.

    Treble is just right for my tastes, though I do usually enjoy a darker sound. That's not to say that there's not good extension, I think there is...but I never felt they were overly bright. I never felt wanting more or less, which is rare IME.

    The headstage is definitely more on the intimate side, but it maintains a believable presentation which is more important to me. I found it to be larger than the HD650 or (from memory) the Clear MG, but less than the ZMFs I have on hand.

    Detail retrieval is quite good, again I never felt wanting. I know there are more resolving headphones out there, but I haven't come across too many that make me want to keep listening as much as these do. the OMS* factor is huge here.
    *(OMS = "One More Song" obviously)

    When I listen to headphones and try to wrap my head around their sound, I first check if there are any glaring tuning problems. If there aren't any to my ears I'll try to accent the positives and focus on what they were trying to achieve with the tuning. I'm all for a good "V" signature, or a tastefully tuned vocal specialty if that's your thing and can see the appeal of each as long as there aren't any ear daggers or wonky roller coasters in the frequency response.

    Rarely do I find a tuning that suits me so well and defies those kind of explanations. What Evan & Tommy have achieved here is somewhat unique I think. More importantly than being unique, I really think it works.
     
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  20. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

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    I posted the following on the loaner thread, not realizing this thread was here:

    "I listened to these ~45" last night. I'm impressed. The sound is refined, balanced in pretty much all sonic parameters, and neutral--the kind of neutral that simply reveals detail and doesn't shove it down your ears. In fact, nothing about this sound jumps out at the listener; everything is of a piece. I kept thinking as I listened, "This is what the golden mean sounds like." This tuning is very evolved & accomplished.

    Yes, the bass is way better than I could have expected. Then again, every part of the sound is better than expected. As is the comfort and ergonomics (excellent).

    Will have more to say after another listen or two. So far, I'm very impressed."​

    I'll do some more listening tonight or tomorrow.

    At first I was kind of unconsciously looking for flaws to call out--either sonic or comfort flaws. The surprise was I really heard no obvious flaws & the comfort was far better than expected. This unassuming looking headphone feels light and comfortable on my head.

    My overall initial impression: this is one of the few headphones that actually is neutral (not noticeably "warm" or "cold") with excellent resolution--but also sounds musically appealing and scales realistically with sources. In my experience that combination is pretty unusual.

    (more to follow)
     

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