Good video! I have personally tried a few models by ES lab and this review is accurate and well done! Look forward to more reviews on their headphones!
Hell yeah! ive been eagerly waiting for this review for a while now. I agree with mostly everything your saying. Before these i thought my endgame was the 007mk1 but that changed the moment i got these. Theyre just so balanced. Honestly the perfect midpoint between the 007 and 009. Very versatile. The 009 may edge it out ever so slightly in in detail (i say may because on my system i didnt really notice a major difference) but it sounds so artificial by comparison. The 007 while sounding more "colored/lush" to my ears sometimes leaves alot to be desired in terms of detail and soundstage imo. Plus the price point for something this caliber really makes these headphones a steal in my opinion. The direct line of communication with the creator is also stellar as he"s very nice and accomodating. Overall stellar product!
@@halimj7 I've never heard the sonoma model one. They are a little rare and I've personally never seen one in person. The few reviews I've seen of it suggest it competes with the stax lambda line but not so much with the omega line. Again this is what I've read and not my opinion. The one thing about it that I don't like is that it's a completely proprietary system. The headphones come with their own amplifier and you cannot use any other one with it because of the tech in the headphones as well as the proprietary plug. So I would be interested in trying one out but not buying it because of the aformentioned lack of customizability. Most of the fun of this hobby is trying stuff out with different gear and the sonoma model one doesn't let you that. Just my two cents.
That's a nice chain and should be a great match for the ES-1a, a little smoothness from the Ares II combined with some juice and clarity from the KGSSHV.
I am wearing the Stax X9000 and I put the Audeze LCD ear pads on them. Since the ES-1a is also 90mm the Audeze pads should fit it. Just something to think about
They do need some juice to drive but they are not the most demanding estat I've tested by any means. Best bang for buck... I really like my modded SRM-007tA (6S4A and CCS mods making it like a mini KGST) and my KGHHSV. In my experience of those two, tubes bring the mids and vocals a bit forward while adding fluidity and softening the edges. Solid state increases clarity, separation, and impact.
I've never heard about this company untill this video but their other headphone the ES-R10 seems really interesting being like a recreation of the Sony MDR R10.
I have looked into the Nectar. Based on what I've read I'm not sure that it would stack up to some of these TOTL estats but you never know until you try it. Hopefully one will come across my desk before long.
I'll always have a place in my heart for the ES-1a but the X9000 is a better headphone by nearly any measure (except price). The ES-1a ia still more fun!
Ive owned nearly every Stax, starting with the L300 up....(other then the X9000).... And i think i'll pass unless i find a pre-owned for about half price... However, i will receive the ES Lab tomorrow. I'm sure i'll love it.@@SineCraftAudio
You said that this is your favorite estat out of what you tried. Without considering cost, what is your personal ranking between this, the Shangri-la Jr, and the Audeze CRBN?
The ES-1a is at the top of my list for estats based on timbre, bass, impact, and price point. I want an estat to sound different than the best planars and dynamics. Other folks just want the best all arounder and like the characteristics that estats offer. The Jr. and CRBN are both great all around HPs. If I could only have one HP I think I might want the Jr. but if I can have two then the estat I would choose would be the ES-1a or the CRBN... I think ;)
Ah, then you would probably enjoy the ES-1a. However, your need to factor in the cost of a quality energizer so if you are already invested in planar/dynamic HPs it is not a fair comparison to look at this against other sub $2k HP. I've got a handful of estat reviews if you're interested: th-cam.com/play/PLIH-Y74r_Ma4XR7HiWWyMY8TzKjxmcqqU.html
Great video !!
Also look forward to seeing u review the es-r10
Yes, me too. Looking forward to checking out the ES-R10!
Good video! I have personally tried a few models by ES lab and this review is accurate and well done! Look forward to more reviews on their headphones!
Hell yeah! ive been eagerly waiting for this review for a while now. I agree with mostly everything your saying. Before these i thought my endgame was the 007mk1 but that changed the moment i got these. Theyre just so balanced. Honestly the perfect midpoint between the 007 and 009. Very versatile. The 009 may edge it out ever so slightly in in detail (i say may because on my system i didnt really notice a major difference) but it sounds so artificial by comparison. The 007 while sounding more "colored/lush" to my ears sometimes leaves alot to be desired in terms of detail and soundstage imo. Plus the price point for something this caliber really makes these headphones a steal in my opinion. The direct line of communication with the creator is also stellar as he"s very nice and accomodating. Overall stellar product!
Right on! Very much agree with your comments. What DAC and energizer are you using with the ES-1a?
What about Sonoma M1? How do you rank it along side the this and Staxs.
@@SineCraftAudio I'm running a denafrips ares 2 dac and a kggshv from mjolnir audio
@@halimj7 I've never heard the sonoma model one. They are a little rare and I've personally never seen one in person. The few reviews I've seen of it suggest it competes with the stax lambda line but not so much with the omega line. Again this is what I've read and not my opinion. The one thing about it that I don't like is that it's a completely proprietary system. The headphones come with their own amplifier and you cannot use any other one with it because of the tech in the headphones as well as the proprietary plug. So I would be interested in trying one out but not buying it because of the aformentioned lack of customizability. Most of the fun of this hobby is trying stuff out with different gear and the sonoma model one doesn't let you that. Just my two cents.
That's a nice chain and should be a great match for the ES-1a, a little smoothness from the Ares II combined with some juice and clarity from the KGSSHV.
I am wearing the Stax X9000 and I put the Audeze LCD ear pads on them. Since the ES-1a is also 90mm the Audeze pads should fit it. Just something to think about
Also for clarification the wood ring is no longer available for this headphone. I tried to get them a month ago and the creator no longer makes them.
Excellent review SCA,,, what energizer(s) did you like with these (especially bang for buck)?
They do need some juice to drive but they are not the most demanding estat I've tested by any means. Best bang for buck... I really like my modded SRM-007tA (6S4A and CCS mods making it like a mini KGST) and my KGHHSV. In my experience of those two, tubes bring the mids and vocals a bit forward while adding fluidity and softening the edges. Solid state increases clarity, separation, and impact.
I've never heard about this company untill this video but their other headphone the ES-R10 seems really interesting being like a recreation of the Sony MDR R10.
Interesting stuff. I’ll have to do a bit more research on the guy making these.
Great video, have you heard about the nectar hive estat? Hoping for a review from you
I have looked into the Nectar. Based on what I've read I'm not sure that it would stack up to some of these TOTL estats but you never know until you try it. Hopefully one will come across my desk before long.
I wonder if Sine Craft Audio, .. still prefers the ES Lab, now that he's spent time with the Stax SR-X9000 ??????
I'll always have a place in my heart for the ES-1a but the X9000 is a better headphone by nearly any measure (except price). The ES-1a ia still more fun!
Ive owned nearly every Stax, starting with the L300 up....(other then the X9000).... And i think i'll pass unless i find a pre-owned for about half price... However, i will receive the ES Lab tomorrow. I'm sure i'll love it.@@SineCraftAudio
You said that this is your favorite estat out of what you tried. Without considering cost, what is your personal ranking between this, the Shangri-la Jr, and the Audeze CRBN?
The ES-1a is at the top of my list for estats based on timbre, bass, impact, and price point. I want an estat to sound different than the best planars and dynamics. Other folks just want the best all arounder and like the characteristics that estats offer. The Jr. and CRBN are both great all around HPs. If I could only have one HP I think I might want the Jr. but if I can have two then the estat I would choose would be the ES-1a or the CRBN... I think ;)
How do these compare to the sub2k gang? clear, Arya, auteur, hd800s, etc..
They compare well technically but have a pretty differentiated sound signature. Do you like estats?
@@SineCraftAudio the only one I tried was the stax l300 and I loved it.
Ah, then you would probably enjoy the ES-1a. However, your need to factor in the cost of a quality energizer so if you are already invested in planar/dynamic HPs it is not a fair comparison to look at this against other sub $2k HP. I've got a handful of estat reviews if you're interested: th-cam.com/play/PLIH-Y74r_Ma4XR7HiWWyMY8TzKjxmcqqU.html
Have you heard the Hifiman Jade 2, and if you have what do you think about it?
I have not heard it personally.
Hey what are your top 5 headphones so far from best to worst sine
Oooh, that's a hard one to answer. Let me think about it and maybe I can do a video of my thoughts.