Those who discovered Platinum Audio dynamic drivers in the 90s of the last century probably heard the name of the outstanding engineer Dan Clark, who developed electronic equipment in the Hi-End world for many years. Clark soon realized that he wanted to create audio equipment under his own brand - this is how the MrSpeakers company was born.
Now this is one of the authoritative players in the headphone market, which captivates not only with its engineering achievements, but also with its exclusivity, because all models are developed and manufactured in California, USA. One of the company’s debut models was the Ether, which was “born” under fairly simple circumstances: Dan Clark realized that it was better not to waste time and effort on improving existing planar magnetic headphones (including Fostex), but to release new ones, where everything would be worked out down to the smallest detail. Actually, that's what happened.
What's special about the Ether is that they use special V-Planar drivers, which are stamped in a V shape in the cross section to improve detail, accuracy and frequency response. Ether Flow is distinguished by the use of TrueFlow technology: it implies the absence of sharp edges and obstacles in the path of air, as a result of which it flows smoothly around the magnets and not chaotically.
Brief history of the brand
MrSpeakers is a fairly young American brand. Its founder, Dan Clark, started out designing acoustic drivers. In particular, he disassembled and improved Fostex headphone drivers, after which he successfully resold over-ear monitors on audiophile forums. Experimenting with sound led Clark to founding a company and producing his own headphones.
Ergonomics
As with the previous flagship, the case is made of either stainless steel or copper, and the back has a carbon overlay. Both options look gorgeous. Despite maintaining sharp edges in the design and nearly 400 grams of live weight, the player is surprisingly comfortable in the hand.
For control, a touch screen of normal 5-inch size and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, which is quite decent by modern standards, is offered. The interface, like the software itself, is original, but many elements will seem familiar to both Apple users and Android device users. The architecture as a whole is logical, all the elements are in place, the navigation process is intuitive, all settings can be found by yourself, without long wandering through sections. The main screen is the playback window, and it is very convenient to use.
The interface is convenient and does not require a lot of getting used to the control algorithms; you immediately feel at home in it
Hardware manipulators are also available. On the right is a rotating volume knob that can be pressed, on the left are three playback control buttons, with their help you can pause the music or switch tracks without taking the player out of your pocket. I would say that the small steps of volume control are both a plus and an annoying factor. On the one hand, you can set the level very accurately, but on the other hand, you won’t be able to quickly reduce or increase the volume—you’ll have to make a dozen turns.
The volume control knob is pleasant to turn, it even somewhat resembles a watch winder
In general, both in terms of tactile sensations and impressions from several days of use, the A&Ultima SP1000 is quite consistent with what you expect from a High-End device. It is a pleasure to use: every detail is ideal both externally and functionally, and even a person ignorant of our affairs will understand without a hint that the thing is solid and expensive. But this is all a purely consumer view, but we are interested in looking inside.
Technology, design and comfort
The company focuses on open-type headphones with planar magnetic drivers. In such a light membrane moves like a piston in the field of powerful magnets.
Planar headphones do not have the overtones characteristic of dynamic fan systems, so the technology achieves highly detailed sound.
Here we can draw an analogy with the balanced armature of in-ear headphones. Good to know : What types of headphones are there
? The representative of the “terrestrial” ETHER Flow is the best to date that Clark has been able to develop.
The MrSpeakers headband bars are made of nitinol, an alloy of titanium and nickel with shape memory properties, and the backing material is genuine leather with microsuede. At 370 grams, the headphones have a light fit and are quite comfortable. The ergonomics of the accessory are thought out to the smallest detail: you put them on and don’t want to move the earcups, as happens with other headphones.
Leather ear pads have a beveled shape and are located at a slight angle due to the anatomical structure of the auricle.
The kit includes a brown hard case with a compartment for a 4-pin cable. The cable itself is attached to the headphones with snap-off clips.
Equipment
As befits high-end headphones, the equipment of both models does not differ in a lot of cloths, films and adapters - only the necessary ones. First of all, I would like to note the hard case with a soft coating inside - you can put your headphones and cable here when moving or just in between listening sessions.
The cable has a 4-pin connector and fits securely on both cups. The length is 1.2 meters - quite enough for stationary use (you definitely won’t go outside with them). By the way, a potential buyer can choose one of several cables: balanced XLR, unbalanced 1/4″, unbalanced 3.5 mm, balanced 2.5 mm.
Actually, this is where we can end the conversation about the delivery package, and start another - about appearance and sound.
Sound
Despite the open design, the MrSpeakers Ether are damped enough to block out external sounds.
And although this model was dubbed “Ether” by MrSpeakers, one would like to call them chameleons: the sound of ETHER Flow adapts to the musical path, making them universal. During the tests, the headphones were connected to a Fostex HP-A4 amplifier; the sound source was an Astell & Kern AK380 hi-res player.
Magneto-planar headphones a priori do an excellent job with instrumental music, vocals, and jazz. Their mids are neutral, without sweetness or coldness, and their highs are delicately bright - not blinding, but noticeable. The stage would not say that it is wide, but it matches its planar counterparts. It gives the impression of being in a chamber orchestra.
MrSpeakers doesn't overwhelm the user with bass, so there's a restrained approach to overly bassy tracks.
The first question on any music forums is: how do planar speakers cope with metal? Having mixed selected metallurgical compositions into a vat and observed the lives of gloomy vocalists, the following map of impressions was obtained:
- Heavy Metal style (Manowar, Accept) comes out due to the bright middle.
- Gotham (Tiamat) lacks melancholy, although the technique of execution is impeccable.
- Doom (Black Sabbath) is not MrSpeakers' strong point, nor is any enveloping, fat, dark music.
- Industrial (KMFDM) – five points! Especially on vocal parts.
- Progressive (Pink Floyd, Yes) – the size of the “chamber” stage holds back the pressure. Where sometimes depression and withdrawal into oneself are required, it turns out kindly.
Compatibility
Both models are serious for home and studio use, don't even think about listening to them with an iPhone or budget portable audio player. In terms of music styles, jazz, classical, and live music are very suitable for them. Metal and electronics are unlikely to be fully revealed here, but hip-hop and other “bass-heavy” genres are quite open. With headphones like these, it’s really worth the trouble of searching for good lossless tracks.
And here are a few tracks for example.
David Bowie - Space Oddity. In general, vocals are the strong point of both models, and one of Bowie’s best albums reveals it perfectly. The performer has excellent command of his voice, and these headphones convey this perfectly.
Lindsey Stirling - Crystalize. One of the most interesting works by the rising violinist, with which you can feel all the detail of the sound. Just one violin, but it sounds like a symphony orchestra, and as if in the same room with you.
The Weeknd - Starboy. A modern track with moderate bass and decent vocals, despite the fact that the artist likes to dabble in auto-tune. We listened to it with a variety of headphones, but Ether Flow revealed it from a completely different side.
conclusions
I believe that Dan Clark managed to create one of the best magnetic planar open-back headphones. In the USA, Ether Flow costs a “democratic” $1,800.
MrSpeakers ETHER Flow are designed exclusively for home listening through an amplifier and provide business-class comfort not only in sound, but also in fit.
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