FAQ

Yes.

Similar to the battery in your phone, they are “factory replaceable” by a technician with the appropriate tools and training. We do not recommend customers replace batteries themselves.

Yes.

écoute headphones are compatible with Apple products and pair using the Apple AAC codec.

AAC for Apple devices, LDAC for Android and other compatible devices, and SBC for others.

Yes.

écoute headphones have two wired connection options: an analog 3.5mm port for analog input; and a USB-C port for lossless digital.

The signal path architecture of écoute headphones was designed to deliver a superior listening experience in both wired and wireless modes.

While it’s true that sound quality is dependent on the quality of the signal input, an inferior audio signal still benefits from the same care given to a high-quality source. Our experience has been that lower-quality signals benefit more noticeably because there is more room for improvement. When used wirelessly, écoute’s vacuum tube preamp stage fills out the otherwise flat tones associated with the comparatively low quality of Bluetooth signals resulting in a warmer, more natural-sounding rendition of the signal.

When listening to high-quality audio sources via the analog 3.5mm port or USBC lossless digital input port, the built-in vacuum tube preamp stage and a dual-mono amplifier work together to preserve the integrity of the original signal revealing all its detail and texture.

It is highly unlikely to the point of no.

The Nutube 6P1 has an expected service life of over 30,000 hours under continual use.

No.

The next-generation vacuum tube (Nutube 6P1) used in écoute headphones runs cool and does not produce excessive heat like a traditional vacuum tube.

No.

The next-generation vacuum tube (Nutube 6P1) used in écoute headphones is extremely durable and not as sensitive to shock as traditional vacuum tubes.

Yes.

Yes.

écoute headphones are engineered like a component-based rack system with a built-in vacuum tube preamp stage and a dual-mono amplifier—effectively a miniaturized hi-fi system you wear on your head. This means you can plug directly into a turn table, computer, or digital audio player (DAP) without passing through a stand-alone pre-amp or amplifier.

Yes.

Because écoute headphones have a built-in vacuum tube preamp and amplifier, there is no need for an external system—but there is no harm in plugging into one either.

Some loss of clarity and excessive clipping may occur if the external amplifier volume is set too high. When wired to a pre-amplified audio source, we recommend setting the external amplifier volume low and controlling the desired output volume with the headphones.

Technically yes, but not all distortion is bad and some of the right distortion can even be good.

Vacuum tubes produce more harmonic distortion than transistors, but the total harmonic distortion (THD) measurement employed for this comparison is a misleading spec unless you know what percentage of each order of distortion is present.

The distortion that vacuum tubes produce, particularly single-ended triodes (SET), is mostly in the even order (an octave above the fundamental frequency) and is therefore generally imperceptible because it is “in-tune” with the fundamental frequency.

Transistors show a lower THD than vacuum tubes, but the distortion produced is primarily in the odd order, and even a minute amount of odd-order distortion can be audibly unpleasant.

Even though vacuum tubes show a higher THD than transistors, the nature of that distortion makes it less perceptible than the distortion produced by a transistor creating a cleaner, more natural-sounding rendition of the audio signal.

While sound preferences are subjective, tubes offer a distinct sonic signature that most musicians and audiophiles find superior to those produced by transistors. This preference can be attributed to the following:

Even-Order Harmonics: Vacuum tubes produce predominantly even-order harmonics when amplifying signals, which are perceived as more pleasing to the human ear than the odd-order harmonics produced by transistors. Even-order harmonics enrich the sound and add warmth, creating a more natural and musical listening experience.

Euphonic Distortion: Vacuum tubes introduce a certain amount of distortion into the signal, commonly referred to as "euphonic distortion." While technically not perfectly faithful to the original signal, this distortion imparts a unique and desirable character to the audio, often described as warm, rich, and full-bodied. This quality can enhance the perceived depth and presence of the music and fill out the otherwise flat tones associated with lower-quality signals (Such as Bluetooth and digitally compressed files) contributing to a richer listening experience.

Soft Clipping: When pushed into overdrive, vacuum tubes exhibit a gradual and smooth clipping behavior described as "soft clipping." This characteristic lends a smoother, more pleasing tone than the harsher, more abrupt clipping typically associated with transistors.

Dynamic Range: Vacuum tubes are known for their wide dynamic range, capable of handling sudden peaks in volume with grace and maintaining clarity even at high volumes. This dynamic responsiveness can result in a more dynamic and lifelike reproduction of the music, capturing subtle nuances and transients that might be lost in transistor-based systems.