MrSpeakers’ ETHER HeadPhones at MCRU

MrSpeakers was founded in California by Dan Clarke, an electrical engineer with more than twenty years of experience in the high-end audio market. The aim of MrSpeakers has always been to provide fantastic audiophile performance headphones at a reasonable price with excellent value for money.

The latest products developed by MrSpeakers are the all new open backed ETHER and closed backed ETHER C headphones. Designed and built from the ground up, MrSpeakers ETHER headphones are designed to look great, fit more comfortably than their previous headphones and of course, to sound fantastic. MCRU are proud to be associated with MrSpeakers and to stock ETHER headphones, which we believe could re-define what is possible from a pair of cans, especially at the affordable price of £1,150.

Why ETHER?

In the world of astronomy and physics, Ether was the name that was given to an imaginary substance that was assumed to fill the empty voids between the stars and planets. It was thought that the presence of Ether in space was essential to provide a carrier for light and radio waves. MrSpeakers decided that the name ETHER was a perfect fit for their newest products due to the magical space and deep quiet between the notes heard through their ground-breaking headphones, similar to the great silence and expanse of space between and beyond the Milky Way.

Looks

Whereas some full sized headphones can look slightly over the top, the design of ETHER is somewhat understated. The deep claret of the outer casing contrasts tastefully with the black of the listening pads and headband to form a simple but great looking pair of headphones.

Comfort

ETHER are designed and built with a great focus on the comfort of the user. Whilst many high-end headphones can be quite heavy and bulky, ETHER way in at only 375 grams (or 394 grams for the closed back ETHER C).

To cut down the weight and increase comfort without compromising performance, the headband is made out of super light and flexible NiTinol “Memory Metal”. Rather than creating a completely solid headband, ETHER cuts down weight and size by using two thin wires that run parallel. Due to the flexibility of the metal, the headband fits securely, but with just the right amount of give, even for wearers with larger heads.

Whilst many headphones feature angled listening pads (including MrSpeakers’ Alpha and Mad Dog series headphones), ETHER has more traditional pads that are flattened to the ear. MrSpeakers’ founder Dan Clark’s explanation for this is that flat pads just sound better. The ear pads are made of lamb’s leather and allow enough space for listeners with ears of all sizes.

Overall, ETHER are very comfortable headphones and the weight is well balanced ensuring that they feel light on the head. MrSpeakers have thought carefully in terms of use of materials to deliver extremely user-friendly headphones.

Sound

ETHER provides a highly detailed, yet natural and organic sound that is ideal for purists. The reproduction is incredibly lifelike, giving the listener a real sense of being there.

• Bass – Whilst ETHER are probably not the ideal headphones for bassheads, the low end is clinical, pure and full bodied. Rather than providing a visceral slam in terms of bass, ETHER provides a neutral response and plenty of warmth to create a very natural sound.
• Midrange and vocal sounds – As with the bass sound, ETHER provides a very natural and neutral midrange and is well suited to vocal centric music, reproducing voices with a very organic, resonant quality.
• Treble – Whilst some headphones with a high treble response can be uncomfortable when listening for long periods, ETHER are highly listenable headphones. The resonance and reproduction of instruments is very clear and precise, allowing the listener to hear recordings as they were intended. MrSpeakers have developed headphones that are ideally suited to long listening sessions, providing a full treble sound at a high volume without bringing on tinnitus or listening fatigue.

Overall

MrSpeakers’ ETHER tick all the boxes: comfort, aesthetics, bass, mids and treble. The combination of design and materials create headphones that provide a very enjoyable listening experience for all users, handing a wide range of different musical genres extremely well. The real beauty of ETHER is that they allow the listener to really connect with the music overall, without an overpowering bass, midrange or treble presence taking over.

If you would like to learn more about ETHER, please feel free to visit our website, call us on 01484 540 561 or visit us at:

MCRU

A2 Gledholt Business Park,

Allen Row,

Huddersfield,

HD1 4SB