Firstly I would like to thank Mark from Electromod for
lending me these for review. They are a demo unit and have been well used.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the
purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable
review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.
Gear Used:
HP Laptop > Curious USB > Keces S3 > Balanced cable
to Ether Flow
Build Quality and Accessories:
These didn’t come in their retail box as they are on loan,
so I will start with the build quality. The build is excellent; the headband is
made from NiTinol memory metal and is extremely light but strong. The headband
strap is leather, the cups are aluminium and the whole build is metal/leather
and extremely well put together. These headphones are built to last, even the
cable is much better than most standard cables, along with being shorter and
more manageable.
The Ether Flow come with a leather carry case and a cable,
that is it. But then again, what else do you really need?
Comfort and Isolation:
The Ether Flow have very thick and plush angled leather ear
pads that feel great on your head, the leather headband strap also distributes
the weight evenly and they end up being a comfortable headphones for extended
periods of time. Ok they do have some weight to them, so after a while you will
notice them, but the way the weight is distributed is excellent.
The Ether Flow are an open headphone, but they do have
layers of felt that mean they don’t leak quite as much as a fully open driver,
and it also means they block out very quiet outside noises.
Sound:
Split into the usual categories, with a conclusion at the
end.
Lows: The lows on the Ether flow are fairly full but never
becoming overbearing, they stay well controlled and also extended with
excellent sub-bass rumble when needed. They have excellent punch when it comes
to dynamics, and can really hit hard with great impact when needed. Due to
being planars they also carry great speed, and adapt well to different genres.
During faster metal tracks they keep up with ease, yet can flesh out the sound
during slower acoustic tracks. With faster tracks the bass does an excellent
job of layering and not becoming congested, bass guitars are well defined and
articulate whilst being separate from the impact of kick drums. Overall the
bass is slightly on the fuller side, but is very well behaved.
Mids: There is a slight lower midrange rise which brings out male
vocals nicely, but female vocals don’t quite have as intimate a presentation.
Imaging is strong in the midrange, having nicely centred vocals and well
separated guitar lines. Male vocals are up front, nuanced and have good bite, but
female vocals sit a little farther back in the mix. This is not to say they are
lacking, just not quite as forward. The midrange has good tonal balance,
leaning slightly towards a more euphoric sound but without sacrificing detail.
The upper midrange is rather conservative, and this means there is no hint of
sibilance.
Highs: The highs are excellent on the Ether Flow, true treble heads
will crave a tiny bit more presence but the quality here is outstanding. They
are always present in the mix, and the spatial accuracy of the highs is very
good. You can pinpoint where instruments are in the mix very easily, what I
enjoy is the natural tone of the highs. They are not artificially boosted and
are far from metallic sounding, coming across with a very natural tone. The
thing about the Ether Flow is they are not the most open sounding headphones
but there is excellent imaging and coherency. The highs might not have extreme
energy or sparkle, but they do extend well and the Ether Flow is far from a
dark sounding headphone.
The soundstage is not huge, in some ways they are like the
Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation, having more focus on accurate
imaging over a boosted soundstage. There is still plenty of air around instruments,
and everything is very well layered and separated.
Conclusion: I really enjoy the Ether Flow with a lot of the
rock music I listen to; they have great but controlled impact, a detailed
midrange and well extended highs. They are well balanced with a little added
impact, the sound is dynamic and fun and they are a great all rounder if you
have the money.
Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (expensive but very fun to
listen to)
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