This thread is for ETA’s new headphone launch, ULI.
It was demoed at CanJam SoCal & Dallas, and is now available for preorder at $2,499. Based on ETA’s previous track record this looks very interesting, and comments from anyone who’s tried one or ordered are most welcome! There’s a thread on SBAF for those interested.
I feel like I heard a very early prototype of this one earlier this year, very curious to try the finished product. I’ve enjoyed the other ETA stuff I’ve heard.
I’ve preordered a copy, yeah. Been following the project for a good while from the sidelines. But of course, I cannot comment on the sound at all. I am quite amused by Blaine’s comment about it during an earlier livestream, though.
Hey a couple of questions then, what are you going to use for an amp?
Also, any chance you can find a link for the stream you mentioned?
The low impedance has me a bit concerned about driving them. I have a Cayin HA-3A which is probably up to it, and a jotunheim 2. I have my doubts with DHSA-3FN…
I’ll probably be running it off my CEntrance AMPmini (connected to their DACmini 2 once those ship). I also have an Auris HA-2 SE+ 10th anniversary edition tube amp to try out but that is not overall the best for very low impedance in my experience.
It was on the Noise Floor channel and the first one that Blaine rejoined the livestreams for this autumn, I’m pretty sure. He shared his impressions of stuff that he heard at an event, and the Uli was one of them. Very brief description, though.
haelo
i copy pasta from my headfi post
uli with emm labs da2iv2 mass kobo 485 and black pads
unique bass physicality with size of cups with slight treble peak and good res
7.29
uli with meitner ma3 audma hpa1 and purple pads
slightly better than black pad tonality
7.61
uli with questyle m15i and purple pads
v good from dongle with smoother trebs while retaining bass punch
7.44
I heard a unit at CanJam Dallas as well, using the hand-stitched purple pads with wrinkles in them. I was quite surprised how much I liked the ETA ULI. It’s quite a good headphone. The mechanical design is kinda funky with how big and swivel-y it is, but it does sound good. It had a fairly balanced, neutral-ish sound that erred on the lighter side (i.e. not bassy or bodied), but it does have a surprisingly good bass punch with a touch of weight. Treble was no issue whatsoever. Nicely controlled and smooth.
However, the pricing is a little step. $2,500 is quite a lot for it I think, though I can understand why its creators needed to price it at that. I think if it was around $1,000 it would be a killer. I’m also a little apprehensive how it might change in sound in the final version when the parts aren’t quite as hand-made any more. At any rate though, I will say that it one of my favorite listens at this CJ Dallas.
Can you please compare it to an HD800S with EQ? A like new HD800S is easily available for under $1000 in the used market so $2500 is a lot unless it’s a clear improvement. Thanks!
Do yourself a favor and read through the thread on SBAF if you haven’t already. Only you can really answer your own question as to whether it’s worth it, with the usual price/performance delta question. Still, it’s an interesting read.
For me for now, it’s too much $ for a blind buy with uncertain synergy with my existing equipment…
Something being hyped at SBAF makes me skeptical, but then again I’m always skeptical of hype around some super-expensive headphone from a boutique manufacturer.
Here’s what I see in the frequency response graph. Not that this isn’t on a standard rig and can’t be compared to real measurements, but it can give an idea of what’s going on.
Same.
Someone I respect on headfi heard it at a show, and said while it’s interesting it remains to be seen what it’s like in production form, and how it sounds on a variety of gear to see what’s good and what’s not so good with it. The sample size of listeners is too small to make any conclusions so far.
And while I know Marv is an experienced listener who’s heard far more gear than I have, he’s one guy. Who happens to be super enthusiastic about it.
We’ll see… I’ve definitely backed off it after consideration, just too many unknowns for a blind buy at $2,500.
I’m beginning to think no headphone is worth paying an exorbitant amount of money. There is a definitely a price/performance ratio in play. The actual amount where price far exceeds performance is up for debate.
Unless I get an ETA ULI in for review, I won’t be able to do that comparison.
I would not take that graph seriously. It has a scale of 100 dB which means it makes everything look flat. I’m assuming it’s using MiniDSP Ears as well which isn’t the best. Personally, I also wouldn’t read too much into the 2 - 4k dip. I’m not sold on it as a soundstage trick for every headphone.
I gotta say I’m not either. I’ve played around with adding a dip in that region using PEQ and I’ve never had the sense that the soundstage increased. Maybe it needs to be combined with something else.
Oh for sure, which is why I mentioned that you shouldn’t really compare it to measurements on other rigs, but I think you can get an idea of the wideband stuff from it.
The 2k-4k dip has the soundstage effect for me, though it depends on the relative volume of the mids and treble for it to be effective, in my opinion.
Getting it to you and Andrew would be really good marketing for them if the product is a great performer. I don’t know how many people are willing to blind buy a $2500 product that looks pretty DIY.
