Massdrop x MrSpeakers Ether CX

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Hogcryat, Sep 30, 2018.

  1. Hogcryat

    Hogcryat New

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    What do you guys think? Almost half of the original price and re-tuned MrSpeakers Ether C (non-flow).
     
  2. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    I think you haven't mastered the SUPER SEARCH yet (a.k.a. Google). There was some discussion on this already.
     
  3. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    We giggled a bit;)
     
  4. Hogcryat

    Hogcryat New

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    Ofc I have looked around. But I haven't seen a dedicated thread on here, so I thought might as well do it.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Buried in some other thread. I'd go for the Ether CX if you need a closed headphone, especially for the price. I believe Massdrop tweaked some stuff, like the pads, to address the leanness in the bass that many complained about.
     
  6. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    My google search reveals this:

    Measurements here:
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...drop-x-mrspeakers-ether-cx-measurements.7612/

    I pulled out my Ether C 1.1, with some tuning pads installed, because I need some closed headphones for a while this weekend, and I'm still impressed. I got them for $1200 as a pre-order way back when, so I've had them for a while. I use my own cable made from the same cable used on the beyerdynamic T1 gen 1, so a relatively warm, copper cable. Personally I don't think they are too lean, but I don't like warm headphones.

    I'm curious to know if the tweaks are all in the pads, or if anything else was done.
     
  7. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    I just received my Massdrop Ether CX. First impressions, very impressed. I will be selling my Focal Clear and using the Ether CX. I wanted the benefit of a closed back for office use. The Ether CX sounds less "closed" than the Focal Elegia which I found to be offensively compressed and very obviously a closed back headphone. I am using a Monoprice Monolith Liquid Platinum and Audio-GD NFB7.77. I really appreciate the cable combination that comes with the Ether CX. The cable is natively balanced and includes adapters for 1/4" and 1/8". My buddy has a Stellia coming so we will do a comparison ASAP.

    The bass is super light. I'm expecting this to correct itself over time. I have read that they change drastically after the first 100 hours. I plan to run them in continuously over the next several days and report back more.
     
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Bass should be pretty damn flat/neutral down to 20Hz at least (with original Ether C upper-bass/lower-mid dip more or less filled in).

    It could be you're not getting a full seal with the pads. Too much hair, glasses, lumpy head, etc. can throw bass out the window. This is an unfortunate limitation inherent to pretty much all Ether/Aeon headphones. So, play around with how tight you have the headband, cup angle, placement, etc., and give them a good 10 minutes to warm up so the foam conforms to your head.

    Having helped with the project, they shouldn't really need burn-in. At least, that's my opinion...never really bought into it for most things anyway.
     
  9. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    I wear glasses and I am in dire need of a haircut so @Hands is either exactly right or is the reincarnation of Miss Cleo.
     
  10. thekorsen

    thekorsen Acquaintance

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    It baffles me how these aren't more popular. I can understand if you don't use EQ, they are incredibly bass lite stock. However, with a bass boost these have a great punchy, deep sound that competes with a hifiman arya (though looses in texture) and kicks the snot out of an audeze mobius. Add a little dip around 2.3k to push vocals back and the headstage take on a great round depth/width too. EQ curve I use here. They are also super lite with the most comfortable headband I've used, one of the few headphones my fiance really likes wearing. I've picked up 2 now for under $350 each because I can't imagine much of an improvement.

    ...I feel safer saying all that now that I own 2 of them and I mind less if the word gets out haha.
     
  11. thekorsen

    thekorsen Acquaintance

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    Another update. Pushed the low bass to around +10db and there isn't audible distortion, and unlike other headphones I've tried (6xx, HD800, Arya, Edition XS, Mobius) this boost had a pretty dramatic effect on the sound. The snappy transient response this headphone has + the boosted lows create an addictive crisp rumble/punch which is sublime for electronic music, and adds even more physicality to instruments and deep/gritty vocals. This boost also made me want to take that vocal dip I had before out to keep things more balanced. I'm curious to see how other great closed back planars scale when EQ boosted similarly to see if this is a unique trait or not.

    Eq profile:
    40hz - Low Shelf, Q:1, dB:3.4
    64Hz- Analog Bell, Q:2, dB:2.6
    70Hz- Low Shelf "B", Q:7.5, dB:6
    187Hz- Analog Bell, Q:1.8, dB:1.1
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2024 at 7:12 AM

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