- The integrated tube amplifier promises a warmer and more welcoming sound
- ANC HYBRID, LDAC and USB-C for upper audio
- $ 799 (about £ 652 / $ 1,303 in)
We have seen small vacuum tubes in helmet amps with the promise of a warmer and more involved audio experience, but the new empty tube helmet of the eco -friendly decided to cut the intermediary and put a whole hi-fi on your head. The headphones include a Korg Nutube P61 in full-ears for an authentic tube sound with a class A / B amplification.
We first saw these headphones on Kickstarter, where the project exceeded its funding goal by a huge margin. And now, they are available for purchase on regular routes, although for much more than paid initial donors: the price for the first birds was $ 379 to $ 399, but the price is now $ 799 (About £ 652 / $ 1,303 in).
Ecote vacuum tube listener: Key characteristics
The idea of putting a tube in a pair of headphones tends to ensure that the mental images of massive tubes the size of a bulb, but the Korg tube is positively microscopic compared to those you will find in McIntosh’s tubes amps. Which is just as well, because a traditional tube is far too fragile to survive in the outside world, and it would also make headphones much heavier. Those are a relatively Light 424g, thought it was much heavier than the 250 g of the Sony Wh-1000XM5.
In addition to the tube and the amplifier, there is an old hybrid with the mode of transparency, the voice control of Siri and Google assistant and an analog and digital input: the latter, on USB-C, takes charge of the 32 -bit / 384KHz audio, which is much higher than even as most hearing headphones dare to go.
The claimed frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the pilots are 40 mm size and there are Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC. The battery life is claimed 20 hours at full volume.
I have not heard these headphones, so I cannot say if the tube keeps its promises; At this price, I would like to wait until the criticisms are before deciding to oppose them or our current premium choice of the best wireless headphones for sound, Dali io8. But they are tubeless …
