Lumberton, Texas-based startup Ecoute Audio made a splash with its first-ever product again in 2023, when it unveiled its TH1 headphones aimed at hi-fi enthusiasts.
That mannequin was in contrast to the rest available on the market on the time, with separate amplifier circuits for cleaner separation in every channel, and a vacuum tube preamp stage for analog smoothness and heat – form of emulating an audiophile’s full system setup. From professional and customer reviews, the TH1s were well received and the model’s guess on packing high-grade componentry into its headphones paid off.
Ecoute’s determined to take issues up a notch with the TH2 over-ears. The brand new headphones borrow from the unique recipe and enhance upon it with a revamped design and upgraded audio. If these sound half pretty much as good as they give the impression of being, the corporate may effectively have one other winner on its palms.
écoute TH2 | The following era of wearable hi-fi
Let’s check out the structure to start out. You’ve got bought a tried-and-true Korg Nutube 6P1 twin triode serving because the preamp and including richness to your tunes. There are two totally discreet Class A/B dual-mono amps on board, one for every channel. A dual-core digital-to-analog converter (DAC) powers 40-mm titanium-coated mylar drivers.
Ecoute says it is gone with a DAC that is able to 32-bit/384-kHz so you have bought loads of headroom for clear decoding. And since there are two impartial DAC cores and one triode per channel, the TH2 guarantees you will get correct channel separation identical to with a kitted-out hi-fi setup at residence.
All this may be fine-tuned by means of a cellular companion app, the place you’ll be able to tweak the 8-band EQ. You’ll be able to play music through a 3.5-mm cable, USB-C for lossless digital audio, or over Bluetooth 5.3 utilizing high-resolution LDAC, or AAC and SBC codecs.
These parts come collectively in a complicated set of over-ears with distinctive design parts together with vintage-style grills, and a window on the ear cup to showcase the tube preamp inside.
Ecoute Audio
Ecoute says the up to date design contains supplies that seem premium, and permit for better consolation, and improved weight distribution and sturdiness. Having painfully let go of a number of functioning pairs of cans through the years as a result of the supplies fell aside over time, I respect that the TH2 enables you to change the ear pad in addition to the headscarf wraps after they begin to present put on and tear.
The model says it is improved audio output from the unique TH1, so you’ll be able to count on “deeper bass, prolonged treble, and much more decision throughout all frequencies.” The energetic noise cancelation system needs to be simpler too, and that is supported by higher passive isolation due to the revamped construct.
Ecoute Audio
The headphones embody a 1,600-mAh battery, which ought to final over 20 hours on a full cost. At 424 g (15 oz), they are a good bit heavier than the Apple’s AirPods Max; hopefully the design permits them to really feel correctly balanced in your noggin over lengthy listening classes.
Ecoute says the TH2 will retail at US$999, however they are often had for as little as $749 while they’re being crowdfunded on Kickstarter. The reductions cut back the later you get to backing this marketing campaign.
Ecoute Audio
The TH2 might be had in gunmetal and grey, or nickel and brown. Orders embody a journey case and charging cable. You can even snap up a second set of ear pads, head pad, and headband wrap in real lambskin leather-based for $50.
All crowdfunding campaigns carry a component of danger, so you will wish to preserve that in thoughts should you select to again this marketing campaign. For what it is price, Ecoute has previously launched and shipped the TH1 on Kickstarter, and acquired reward for that mannequin. It is also detailed the TH2’s improvement and timeline on its marketing campaign web page, and has racked up almost $400,000 in funding from greater than 500 backers for this one.
If all goes to plan, orders are slated to ship worldwide in September 2026, and supply prices can be calculated as soon as the marketing campaign ends.
Supply: Kickstarter
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