Koss Esp-7 Electrostatic Headphones With Se-7 Energizer Review

Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom and I spoke virtually the magazine's coverage of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV, Us and decided we would take a "divide-and-conquer" approach where each of us would focus on a scattering of specific product categories. Every bit it happens, one of the product categories assigned to me is a personal favourite; namely, loftier-performance headphones, earphones, and related electronics components. Beneath, I will summarize highlights from the headphone category as seen and heard at CES, providing photos of almost of the products I mention.

Let me repent in accelerate to whatsoever manufacturers whose worthy products I fail to mention in this report. The evidence was a dauntingly large 1, so information technology is perchance inevitable that a certain number of vendors and products volition be missed. But, as yous volition learn in a moment, there were many excellent products on brandish and sounding great.

This is Part i of a two-role Hi-Fi+ study on headphones and related electronics equally seen at CES 2013. Y'all tin access Part 2 from our homepage.

Abyss

Key production: AB-1266 planar magnetic headphone ($5500)

The Completeness AB-1266 headphone was shown in a prototype form at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2012, and shown in an updated pre-production form at CES. To country things simply, the AB-1266 is pursuing a single-minded goal; namely, to exist the finest ultra-high-end headphone in the earth (i capable of doing battle on an equal ground with the impressive and class-leading Stax SR-009 electrostatic headphone). On the road to production, the AB-1266 has undergone several changes, with refinements to the headphone's voicing, a new and more rigid (simply nonetheless adjustable) frame, new foamed aluminium driver protection screens, specially gauged JPS Labs Illuminati signal cables, new asymmetrical magnetically-attached and position adjustable ear pads, and an exquisite tool leather carrying case. All in all, the AB-1266 should be a very impressive offer—i that we await forwards to reviewing in final production course.

Blastoff Design Labs/Furutech

Key products:

• X1 high resolution iDevice/Android/USB DAC & headphone amp (price TBD; ~$550)
• H118 headphones ($299)

For CES, ADL/Furutech showed two cardinal products: a prototype of the house'southward upcoming X1 portable, high-resolution DAC and headphone amp, which was sounding extremely expert at the show. Of item significance is the fact that the X1 DAC department has been designed from the basis upwardly for iDevice, Android device, and USB compatibility, and is also fitted with optical outputs, giving the petty portable exceptional flexibility. The X1 should make a terrific follow-on to the business firm'south already popular Cruise and Pace portables.

The H118 headphones had debuted at Rocky Mount Sound Fest 2012, merely Hi-Fi+ learned that the headphone had in the intervening months been re-voiced in a beneficial and very musical style. Stated simply, the production version H118 sounds non only a little merely a lot better (warmer, more than natural, and more organic and musically correct) than the version shown at RMAF. Skillful work, ADL.

April Music

Key Production: Stello 100-series HP-100 headphone amplifier/DAC ($1200)

Equally many of y'all know, April Music offers three ranges of components, with Eximus models at the peak of the range, Stello 100-series models in the middle, and Aura components representing the (relative) entry level. April'south newest offer, as shown at CES, is the Stello 100-serial HP-100 headphone amplifier/DAC, which was sounding very promising during a cursory listening session. What words (and for that thing, photos) cannot easily convey is the exquisite simply understated fit and finish that makes all April components—the Stello 100 HP-100 included—a joy to behold and to use.

Audio-Technica

Key products:

• ATH-ANC33is Smartphone-compatible dissonance cancelling earphone ($79)
• ATH-ANC29 noise-cancelling headphones ($99)
• ATH-A500x airtight-dorsum headphones ($169)
• ATH-AD500x open-back headphones ($169)
• ATH-AD700x open-dorsum headphones ($199)
• ATH-AD900x open-back headphones ($299)

Amongst a plethora of new product announcements from Audio-Technica, two groups of new products stand up out: outset, a pair of new active dissonance cancelling 'phones (the ATH-ANC33is and ATH-ANC29) and second, a quartet of new audiophile-series headphones.

The new ANC models come in ii distinctly different formats: in-ear (the ATH-ANC33is, which claims upwards to ninety% noise noise-cancellation) and on-ear (the ATH-ANC29, which claims up to 87% noise-cancellation).  Both models claim to offer a healthy measure of musicality and performance-minded sound quality in conjunction with their agile noise cancellation features.

Music lovers, however, will likely be drawn to A-T'due south four new audiophile-series models, which again come in two forms: offset, the closed-back ATH-A500X, and second the open back ATH-AD900x, ATH-AD700x, and ATH-AD500x. Common wisdom holds that open-back 'phones typically offer a more open up and transparent sound, and to a certain extent A-T's new open-back models follow this pattern, though in a broader sense the intent backside these models seems to be to requite listeners a generous taste of upper-terminate sound quality at a mid-fi toll.

In turn, common wisdom holds that closed back 'phones typically offering better noise isolation with punchy and extended bass, but sometimes at the expense of a more "closed in" audio. Here, though, the airtight-back ATH-A500x may bear witness the surprise of the agglomeration, in that information technology delivers the expected dissonance isolation and bass power and grip we want while also serving upwards an unexpectedly articulate and open up sound (specially so in calorie-free of the ATH-A500x'south modest toll).

Beyerdynamic

Key products:

• T90 quasi-open-back headphone ($699)
• Custom One Pro headphone ($249)

Both the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro and T90 headphones debuted at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2012, but it was bully to hear them again at CES and—in the case of the T90 in particular—to take fourth dimension to compare the T90 to the business firm's flagship T1 Tesla.

The Custom One Pro might exist considered a "lifestyle" headphone, but 1 that places a much higher premium on audio quality and on visual personalization features than virtually others of its genre. I of the most distinctive features of the Custom One Pro is a "sound slider" arrangement that presents mechanical "slide switches" on the bottom of each ear cup, where the switches either open or shut a series of vent ports that direct affect the voicing of the headphone. Every bit you lot can come across from the images provided, the Custom One Pro can be configured in a variety of visual styles to conform the owners' tastes.

The T90 was 1 of our favourite discoveries from this year's CES evidence, in that listening comparisons between the T90 and the T1 Tesla showed just how much of the sonic goodness of its big brother the new mid-priced T90 is able to capture. In truth, the sibling relationship is readily apparent, and so that the T90 perhaps should be considered equally a "T1 Inferior", just at about half the toll of the flagship model. Based on a preliminary listen, we matter the T90 may well plow out to be one of the best mid-priced headphones on the market place.

Bryston

Key Production: BHA-ane balanced output headphone amplifier/preamp ($1395)

Candidly, the BHA-1 balanced output headphone amp is not a new product per se, only at CES Hi-Fi+ learned from Bryston's James Tanner that the BHA-ane at present includes as standard a key feature non included in the original designer: namely, the power to function not only equally a headphone amplifier but as well as a minimalist stereo preamplifier. We weren't able to cheque out the BHA-i's preamp functionality at the show, but the BHA-1 certain sounded good when powering a set of Grado'southward flagship PS-thou headphones. Spotter for a possible full-length review in an upcoming issue of Hullo-Fi+.

Cary Audio

Central Product: HH-1 hybrid valve/solid-state headphone amplifier

Not long ago I favorably reviewed the Audio Electronics by Cary Sound Nighthawk headphone amplifier and now Cary has released its externally similar but internally quite different HH-1 hybrid valve/solid-state headphone amp. The sonic differences between the Nighthawk and the HH-one hinge, as near as I could tell on the basis of a brief listen, on the Cary models subtler, more than nuanced, and notably richer and more total-bodied audio.

CEntrance

Cardinal Production: HiFi-M8 balanced output headphone amplifier/USB & Apple tree IOS-compatible DAC ($699)

CEntrance is a fascinating company in that it was a well-regard digital audio technology evolution and consulting company (complete with a client listing that read similar a Who's Who of High-End Sound and Pro Audio), long before it began building products consumers could buy. But one time CEntrance took the plunge, it has congenital a serial of winners including the DACport, DACmini, and MasterClass 2504 desktop monitoring speakers, to proper name merely a few.

Now CEntrance brings u.s.a. the HiFi-M8—one of the about ambitious portable headphone amp/DACs nosotros have seen thus far and an amp that provides high-resolution iDevice and USB inputs, plus a fully balanced high-output headphone amp that provides extensive controls for chief proceeds adjustment, bass and treble EQ, and more. Equally heard at T.H.E. Prove (which was staged in conjunction with, but not under the auspices of, CES), the HiFi-M8 was used to drive a pair of Beyerdynamic T1 Tesla headphones that had been modified (rewired, actually) for employ with balanced output amplifiers. The resulting sound was stupendous—easily some of the best headphone sound we heard at the show.

Fosgate

Fundamental Product: Fosgate Signature headphone amplifier ($1500)

At present up and rolling forth in total production is the Jim Fosgate-designed, tube powered Fosgate Signature headphone amplifier. Apart from an elegant and very wide bandwidth (2Hz – 200kHz) amplifier circuit, the amp besides includes 2 other Fosgate inventions: a special user-controllable bass EQ circuit (using Fosgate's patented "Unmarried Element Controlled Twin T Filter") and a switch selectable surround sound or imaging control circuit (using Fosgate's also patented "Panorama Command").

Prospective buyers may be interested to know that Fosgate enjoys an almost Thomas Alva Edison-like reputation as an inventor/designer. He is credited with having created the worlds first high-powered/low-distortion/bass EQ-equipped car sound amplifier (the famous Fosgate PowerPunch amp), the Fosgate/Audionics surround audio decoder (which ushered in the era of surround sound-equipped dwelling house theater equally we know it), the Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound decoder excursion, and now a growing line of Fosgate Signature high-end audio components.

HiFiMAN

Fundamental Products:

• RE-400 Waterline earphone ($99)
• HM-901 high resolution portable player/DAC (toll TBD; ~$1000)

The Chinese headphone/earphone specialists at HiFiMAN conducted a press breakfast where information technology appear both its new RE-400 Waterline earphone (available) and prepared the manner for the release of its very ambitious HM-901 high-resolution portable music player/DAC (slated to go far inside the next few months).

The RE-400 is intended as the centre model in a three-model range of high performance earphones. Company founder and President Dr. Fang Bian explained that he had always like the Dire Straits vocal "Downwardly to the Waterline" and had, in a sense, named the RE-400 for the vocal. But he so quipped that any competing 'phones that cost equally much equally the RE-400 but failed to audio as good could exist considered, "…beneath the waterline."

The HM-901 is one of the near ambitious personal digital music players ever conceived, with ability to play digital music files at resolutions of upwardly to 24/192, or to serve as a high-resolution DAC, if so desired. The HM-901 will comprise user installable amplifier modules, giving buyers the flexibility to install amp modules specifically geared to fit the power requirements of their called headphones or earphones. Finally, the HM-901 will be offered with an actress-price dock that provides a USB input module and that is intended to remain connected to the owner's high-cease audio or dwelling theater system. In this manner, the HM-901 can exist used both as a portable device (its primary purpose), simply also as a acme-tier DAC in a dwelling-based organization. Is the HM-901 up to the task? HiFiMAN's CES bear witness demo suggests that it is, as Dr. Bian invited direct A/B comparisons between the HM-901 and a $2000 high-end component-style DAC—comparisons in which the HM-901 fared very well indeed.

Kingsound

Fundamental Products:

• Emperor electrostatic headphone ($500)
• Emperor electrostatic headphone arranged with solid-state electrostatic amp ($800)
• Emperor electrostatic headphone bundled with vacuum tube electrostatic headphone amp ($1600)

Though Kingsound is maybe best known for its full-range electrostatic loudspeakers, we suspect the firm is near to become even more famous for its shockingly practiced (and also unexpectedly affordable) Emperor electrostatic headphone with matching amps (offered in both solid-state and tube-powered versions).

The Emperor headphone lone sells for $500 (a bargain basement toll for a full-range electrostatic headphone), but we expect most interested parties volition buy 1 of ii King Sound headphone + amplifier bundles: the Emperor + Solid-Land amp bundle (priced at $800, which must be considered a screamin' practiced deal) or the Emperor + Tube-Powered amp bundle (priced at a still quite reasonable $1600). Afterwards listening to both packages, my personal conclusion was that the solid-state package was skilful, merely that the tube-powered package was even better—so expert, in fact, that information technology basically upended many of my preconceived notions well-nigh value for money in the world of very high performance headphones. This is a product that bears watching and volition surely go a Howdy-Fi+ review subject in the non too distant future.

After hearing the Emperor + Tube-Powered amp combo then learning its toll, Hello-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom offered up a succinct, 2 word commentary: "Oh, wow…" I couldn't have said information technology meliorate myself.

Koss

Cardinal Products:

• Striva Pro Wi-Fi headphone ($450)
• Striva Tap Wi-Fi earphone ($500)
• ESP950 electrostatic headphone & energizer module ($1600)

Koss is one of the (if not the) oldest headphone manufacturers in the globe and is widely credited with creating the world's first music-oriented (as opposed to spoken word-oriented) headphones. This tradition of innovation connected at CES with the announcement of the earth'south beginning Wi-Fi-enabled (note that I did non say Bluetooth-enabled) headphones and earphones: the Striva Pro and Striva Tap, respectively. What makes the Striva models special is the simple fact that they tin can, from whatever Wi-Fi hot spot, access a special MyKoss.com web site, which can in turn allow users either to access a number of music channels provided by Koss or to access personalized music channels through which their home music servers are continued (again via Wi-Fi) to the MyKoss.com site. If that concluding sentence sounds a little convoluted, and so let me diagram the audio information menstruum path, below:

Home Server –> Koss-provided "CAP" module–> Network connection to MyKoss.com –> (Wi-Fi) –> Koss Striva-serial Wi-Fi headphones.

In brusk, Koss' self-powered, Wi-Fi-enabled headphones and earphones enable you to admission your habitation music library from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Cool concept, no?

But, in the oldie-but-incomparably-goodie department, Koss too had something very special to evidence high-end listeners; namely, its venerable ESP950 full-range electrostatic headphone with energizer (that is, amplifier/bias voltage module). In truth, the ESP950 was one of the very first commercially feasible full-range electrostatic headphones and it is almost certainly the one that has been in continuous production for the longest period of time. Fifty-fifty so, I thought the ESP-950 sounded as if it still had plenty of modern era, summit-tier-grade functioning on offer. Appropriately, look to run across an upcoming Hi-Fi+ review of this very special Koss model, if but so that we tin get a improve handle on a product that helped get the whole electrostatic headphone movement rolling in the first place.

MartinLogan

Key Products:

• Mikros seventy earphones ($149)
• Mikros 90 on-ear headphones ($299)
  

An ever-growing number of loudspeaker manufacturers accept taken the plunge to get headphone manufacturers and MartinLogan is no exception. Terminal Autumn the house appear its Mikros seventy in-ear 'phones and for CES debuted its beautifully made Mikros 90 on-ear headphones. The MartinLogan demo room was geared primarily to bear witness loudspeakers and subwoofers so that I really didn't go a chance to hear the Mikros models in action. Just never fear: both Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom and I have samples of the Mikros seventy in paw so that betwixt the two of us a full-length review will announced in Hi-Fi+ before too long. Stay tuned…

This concludes Office i of a two-part Hullo-Fi+ written report on headphones and related electronics as seen at CES 2013. Y'all can admission Part 2 from our homepage.

sorensenwerter.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ces-2013-headphones-headphone-related-electronicspart-1-hi-fi

Share this post