Note - The Ether Flow 1.1 can be found anywhere between $1500-$1750 from a number of dealers at the time of publishing this review, however DCA lists it at $1759 on their website here: danclarkaudio.com/headphones-22/ether-flow.html
I agree with your review for the most part. I have owned them a couple months and been trying them with various dacs, amps, etc and finding these continue to get better with better equipment. Not a huge surprise. This is my first planar and I have found that I can get the dynamics going pretty good with some amps. Finding out they don't mind a little more power as their not really efficient. Don't try hooking them to your phone. You will max it out quick and be disappointed lol. Been trying them in my big rig system with a expensive highly modded old school dac and they sound really good. Sound great with various centrance dac amps as well. Good combo with the hifi m8 version 1 dac/amp. Will be trying them more on a tube amp. As far as price you can find these used for half the $1500. And heard they respond well to a upgraded headphone cable as well. A really nice well rounded planar that is comfy and doesn't weigh a lot.
I highly recommend try these 90db 23ohm headphone with big amplifiers for dynamics, i had this headphones with a good dap, but the dynamic with a big desktop amplifier was a lot better..
Agree about power. I've been using Dan's headphones for a while (currently have Ether Flow 1.1 and Aeon 2 closed), they sound best with a bit of power behind them, like my 4 watt Burson Conductor headphone amp, and my ALO Audio MK3 B+ portable amp on the high power setting. The extra headroom/power makes these headphones more dynamic and punchy, in my experience (I've also been told they like solid state better than tubes)
Great review. Nice looking cans. I have the original AFO and love em. They are so comfortable. Run mine with no filters. I call them my smooth operators. They aren't the best sound wise, but are a pleasure to listen too. May add the Ether's to the long list of headphones to try. For now I have too many already and enjoying what I have.
Many thanks. My lineup had gone from Focal Clears, to HiFiMan Aryas, and now Audeze LCD-3s. There is no doubt in my mind that Audezes win out for dynamics, and when you look at the size of their magnets, they probably should. Mine go for smoothness and liquidity: I don't feel that midrange and treble micro detail retrieval on the LCD-3's, is great for the price, and is probably worse than the 1.1's. There may be a place for a Dan Clark Audio product as a second headphone, yet. The Aryas were "soft touch" headphones that hadn't sounded great with hard rock, or any song that had a lot of kick drums.
Both the Ether C Flow 1.1 and Ether Flow 1.1 are just not competitive at their price points. The Ether C Flow 1.1 does not compete with the Audeze LCD-XC in terms of technicalities. The only advantage the Ether C Flow has is comfort. Not sure why you would be the Ether Flow 1.1 over the Arya, LCD-X, or Focal Clear.
I haven’t tried the Ether C Flow yet, so I cannot comment on that headphone or how it stacks up. But at least for the Ether Flow 1.1 I can say that in technicalities (minus dynamics) it does hold up really well, and I also think also has a very good, normal FR. Add to that the great comfort and I personally think it’s definitely a good option-it could just be a little bit more price competitive.
when you properly drive i think the ether flow it's more transparent, coherent and dynamic.. but the LCD X/XC is easier to drive 90dB~ vs 102dB, you need a lot more amp with efo. I have the efo and i listened the LCD X 3 times.
While I absolutely love Dan as a fantastic member of this hobby and audio community, I could never really connect with his headphones. I guess when it comes to planars I just want that Audeze punch.
Note - The Ether Flow 1.1 can be found anywhere between $1500-$1750 from a number of dealers at the time of publishing this review, however DCA lists it at $1759 on their website here: danclarkaudio.com/headphones-22/ether-flow.html
"Price aside [...] I can strongly recommend."
That's a nice way of saying that it's not worth buying for its asking price.
Great review! I hope you review the Ether CX and Closed 1.1 soon too.
I dislike the ether CX for anything but studio monitoring. The ether closed 1.1 is incredible though in comparison.
Great review Chrono, looking forward to a review of you breaking HD800s 😄
Monolith Monoprice M1570 are the winners for me. Heavy but most enjoyable sound I ever heard even with 4x-6x more expensive models.
I agree with your review for the most part. I have owned them a couple months and been trying them with various dacs, amps, etc and finding these continue to get better with better equipment. Not a huge surprise. This is my first planar and I have found that I can get the dynamics going pretty good with some amps. Finding out they don't mind a little more power as their not really efficient. Don't try hooking them to your phone. You will max it out quick and be disappointed lol. Been trying them in my big rig system with a expensive highly modded old school dac and they sound really good. Sound great with various centrance dac amps as well. Good combo with the hifi m8 version 1 dac/amp. Will be trying them more on a tube amp. As far as price you can find these used for half the $1500. And heard they respond well to a upgraded headphone cable as well. A really nice well rounded planar that is comfy and doesn't weigh a lot.
Thanks for this review, I would really love to see a comparison with the Ether CX!
I highly recommend try these 90db 23ohm headphone with big amplifiers for dynamics, i had this headphones with a good dap, but the dynamic with a big desktop amplifier was a lot better..
Amen!
Agree about power. I've been using Dan's headphones for a while (currently have Ether Flow 1.1 and Aeon 2 closed), they sound best with a bit of power behind them, like my 4 watt Burson Conductor headphone amp, and my ALO Audio MK3 B+ portable amp on the high power setting. The extra headroom/power makes these headphones more dynamic and punchy, in my experience (I've also been told they like solid state better than tubes)
In my country, it’s available with a retailer at $1000, is it worth it at that price?
Great review. Nice looking cans. I have the original AFO and love em. They are so comfortable. Run mine with no filters. I call them my smooth operators. They aren't the best sound wise, but are a pleasure to listen too. May add the Ether's to the long list of headphones to try. For now I have too many already and enjoying what I have.
Awesome video man!
How is Arya compares?
Many thanks. My lineup had gone from Focal Clears, to HiFiMan Aryas, and now Audeze LCD-3s. There is no doubt in my mind that Audezes win out for dynamics, and when you look at the size of their magnets, they probably should. Mine go for smoothness and liquidity: I don't feel that midrange and treble micro detail retrieval on the LCD-3's, is great for the price, and is probably worse than the 1.1's. There may be a place for a Dan Clark Audio product as a second headphone, yet. The Aryas were "soft touch" headphones that hadn't sounded great with hard rock, or any song that had a lot of kick drums.
Good stuff Chrono.
these are on sale in switzerland for @1100 usd and i am considering them. did you try pairing it with a tube amp?
Both the Ether C Flow 1.1 and Ether Flow 1.1 are just not competitive at their price points. The Ether C Flow 1.1 does not compete with the Audeze LCD-XC in terms of technicalities. The only advantage the Ether C Flow has is comfort. Not sure why you would be the Ether Flow 1.1 over the Arya, LCD-X, or Focal Clear.
I haven’t tried the Ether C Flow yet, so I cannot comment on that headphone or how it stacks up. But at least for the Ether Flow 1.1 I can say that in technicalities (minus dynamics) it does hold up really well, and I also think also has a very good, normal FR. Add to that the great comfort and I personally think it’s definitely a good option-it could just be a little bit more price competitive.
when you properly drive i think the ether flow it's more transparent, coherent and dynamic.. but the LCD X/XC is easier to drive 90dB~ vs 102dB, you need a lot more amp with efo.
I have the efo and i listened the LCD X 3 times.
I find it kinda disappointed that Ether 2 still doesn’t have the same folding mechanism as Aeon 2
Will I work well with portable amp like an ifi xcan? Thanks
Excellent review!
I personally would go HEDD or ZMF first.
Would like to see you reviewing Ether 2 :-)
These or the ZMF Aeolus?
I'm Waiting for review on topping a90. ☺
While I absolutely love Dan as a fantastic member of this hobby and audio community, I could never really connect with his headphones. I guess when it comes to planars I just want that Audeze punch.
like the new head band they're using on this ether flow open 1.1 I miss the RED tho
These are gorgeous
sound aside those looks beautyful imo