Écoute Audio TH2 Headphones

ECOUTE AUDIO TH2 WIRELESS HEADPHONES INTRODUCE DUAL-MONO VACUUM TUBE DESIGN

écoute audio has announced the Écoute Audio TH2 Headphones, a second-generation wireless over-ear headphone that follows the company’s TH1, introduced in 2023.

The Écoute Audio TH2 retains the dual-mono architecture and built-in vacuum tube preamp stage of its predecessor, while adding changes aimed at noise control, shielding, construction and connectivity. The headphone is due to become available in North America next month.

ÉCOUTE AUDIO TH2 HEADPHONES

The TH2 uses a separate signal chain for each channel, running from digital conversion through to the driver output. Each side has its own DAC core, vacuum tube preamp stage and discrete analogue amplifier. The DAC hardware supports 32-bit/384 kHz decoding, while the amplification is handled by dual discrete Class A/B amplifiers.

ÉCOUTE AUDIO TH2 VACUUM TUBE STAGES

The tube preamp stages use Korg Nutube 6P1 dual triodes to provide real voltage gain rather than DSP emulation. The tube stage sits within the analogue signal path, with the architecture arranged as source, preamp, power amplifier and transducer.

The TH2 introduces enhanced RF and microphonic shielding around the tube stage. According to écoute audio, this is intended to address interference from the Bluetooth radio as well as the tube’s sensitivity to mechanical movement. The headphone also uses hybrid active noise cancellation, an updated transparency mode and improved passive isolation.

The company says the TH2 has deeper bass extension and extended treble compared with the TH1, with its resonance chamber design contributing to the changes. These are accompanied by an eight-band tuning system, with ±12 dB adjustment available per band through the firmware-level DSP. Custom settings can be saved as the default tuning.

DESIGN AND CONNECTIVITY

The headphone has a redesigned chassis and hybrid suspension headband intended to improve weight distribution. Its modular construction allows the ear pads and headband wraps to be replaced without affecting the headphone itself.

Connectivity includes USB-C digital input for lossless audio, a 3.5mm analogue input that accepts active or passive sources, and Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC and LDAC support.

ÉCOUTE AUDIO TH2 PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

In the UK écoute audio is available through Electromod. The TH2 will be available with a cloth or leather trim, Th2 with cloth trim £999, Th2 with leather trim £1099

HiFi PiG says: The écoute audio TH2 builds on the TH1 with dual-mono amplification, a genuine tube stage and improved noise control. The modular design and flexible connectivity also make it an interesting addition to the wireless headphone market.