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ESS 422H Headphones
01 / 05
ESS 422H Headphones
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Product Description
Featuring a 40-millimeter moving-coil dynamic driver and ESS’s Art of AMT technology, the 422H headphones deliver a full range of natural sound. Describing the improved multi-fold Air Motion Transformer, Major HiFi says: “It pushes currents back and forth in a way that prevents air from escaping in the wrong direction Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downTheChosenOne
118
Nov 29, 2018
The Audio Beatnik says, “The actual sound of the 422Hs is closer to planar-style headphones, say the Audeze LCD line or Magneplanar and similar speakers. They offer a coherent soundstage from left to right that sometimes seemed to reach out beyond the enclosures themselves, similar to how open headphones sound. And the highs were crystal clear, maybe a little more forward than the rest of the spectrum, but they were not sharp or cutting unless they needed to be."
Paid review, or deaf reviewer! Close to LCD-style, mkay...
Purchased these for try-out, and they were an instant return. Nonexistent soundstage, muffled sound, recessed vocals, boomy bass (whatever bass there is..). I'd get a used pair of hifiman he400i instead these for around 125$, any day.
Edit: Forgot about the most important thing, before getting to how any headphone sounds: These were the MOST uncomfortable headphones I put on my head in the last two years!!! Too small ear pads, zero padding headband, killer clamp force! Enjoy...
02/05/2019 EDIT: Roughly 6 weeks after trying then 422s I ended up getting a pair of Audeze LCD-2C for a really good price on Reddit and I just remembered about the Audio Beatnik review on the 422s.
Hahaha, wow!!! Seriously I have no idea what that statement is supposed to mean. I suppose "close to LCD-style could have been meant in the sense that both headphones make sound. Other than that, I'm at a loss about what exactly that statement was supposed to convey...
Biggest shock for me was the clarity the 2C offer and they are what is described as somewhat "dark" , kind of like the HD650 , but I happen to like that! And holy mother of bass, this is the best bass I've ever heard. I've owned the TH-x00 (to V-shaped and I found them very fatiguing) and they win in quantity, but they loose in quality to the 2C . Sorry, kinda ended up parading the hard on I have for the 2C, but can you blame me? JHC, I love how they sound!!!
(Edited)
TheChosenOne
118
Jan 17, 2019
CasKAppreciate the reply, but I'm way over these headphones! Returned them a looong time ago.
If the driver is indeed blocked by the pads, then even more reason to NOT buy these things!
Perhaps they should fix all the issues in the factory and THEN sell them as a finished product! I cannot stand these practices and will not put up with it.
msxmsx
144
Nov 28, 2018
Ah, I though this was some random company. However, according to Wikipedia, "ESS Speakers" (founded in mid-1970s, famous for AMT speakers) stands for "Electro-Static Sound", and "ESS Technology" (founded in 1984, famous for DAC chips) stands for "Electronic Speech Systems" so I guess they aren't the same company?
tutetibiimperes
266
Nov 28, 2018
msxmsxThese are from the speaker people, not the DAC people. I don’t believe the two companies are related.
The original ESS Speaker company looks like they closed their doors at some point in the past, but several years ago a new website showed up at esslabsusa.com and it appears to be run by people who were a part of the original speaker company. I saw a factory tour video somewhere and they still have NOS stuff from the 70s, they’re developing new AMT drivers, building new speakers based on the old designs with some tweaks, and have introduced the new line of headphones.
Theyre also apparently playing with Transar drivers for speakers again, so that’ll be cool if it comes to pass.
Billqs
32
Nov 30, 2018
So this isn't a rebadged Chinese brand then. Good to know. Looked a lot like the Verosonix "Mitchell & Johnson".
tutetibiimperes
266
Feb 7, 2019
I haven’t heard the JP1s, but I do own these and they’re great once you upgrade the pads. Since these use an AMT tweeter they won’t ever ‘wear out’. The electret driver on the JP1s will eventually lose its charge and no longer function properly.
luvmusik
120
Aug 11, 2020
tutetibiimperesMight you know what type of wood are the earcups of the ESS 422H ? Does the packaging mention wood type ?
sidn3y
21
Dec 16, 2020
What is this? So this looks exactly like a SIVGA headphone that goes for under $100.
postwarscars
1367
Mar 25, 2021
sidn3yLooking like something doesn't make it the same. This has been around a while, and I doubt the SIVGA has an AMT.
Chugunin
4
Dec 12, 2020
RayFWhile I really appreciate your ostanding essay, I have to point your attention to the fact that plastic production involves oil processing and various toxic footrpints on rivers and local environments. And listening to music and other loud sounds may harm your ears and degrade your hearing.
Buying nice watches is much better option.
james.roberts
26
Sep 1, 2020
What’s the connection to the cup(s)? From the pics it looks like maybe single 3.5mm TRRS ? I can’t find it on ESS site either.
thx
Asatiir
115
Sep 16, 2020
james.robertssingle 3.5mm, there's a different balanced version which I don't think has ever been sold on Drop.
james.roberts
26
Sep 18, 2020
AsatiirThx. I’ve also confirmed that it’s a 3.5mm TRS. So unbalanced only with no cable option for balanced.
quicklytoo4
779
Keyboard Club Member
Jul 9, 2020
this looks like a ripoff of the sivga sv006 or maybe the other way around
JJDeviloper
191
Sep 4, 2020
quicklytoo4No, the audio design is very different. They use their own "AirMotion" technology. Sivga tends to use beryllium or beryllium coated driver. The ESS has a AMT tweeter, made by Heil. Z Reviews did a review on this and he really liked it. Check out Air Motion Transformer on Wikipedia, it's interesting, it's a type of electroacoustic transducer. Nothing like Sivgas and a great deal. Only other woody I would recommend that isn't getting up there in price is the Meze 99, which has great bass and is not fatiguing. Sivgas and Blons are nice, but the wood is either not real or just not that 'woody'.
quicklytoo4
779
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 4, 2020
JJDeviloperI was referring to looks wise but interesting a lot of new stuff that's under linsoul has been using beryllium coated driver's and I am interested in 99's hopefully I can get in on the drop that's in 3 months
Gregfras
30
Nov 28, 2018
Same ESS labs like a phoenix reborn. The original air motion transformer tweeter company is now working on making headphones as well as speakers. Zeos has a review posted on YouTube. There's a mixed bag of reviews for these cans. I'm interested in these myself, may make the plunge.
luvmusik
120
Aug 25, 2020
WALNUT is the ear cup wood type if anyone is interested.
Two very nice drop members contacted me with that information (Thank you both !). They said it was found deep in a review online. (Amazon review & also in majorhifi review site from my google search). Walnut is a great wood for headphones, so I am eager for ESS 422H arrival here.
I did email ESS directly twice (2X) with no response, and also DROP did not reply here to the discussion question. (!?!).
DRomelV
2
ESS Laboratories
Nov 28, 2018
was just reading about ESS in Positive Feedback, 422 (https://bit.ly/2KEqSlY) and a speaker/tour (https://bit.ly/2CT3YWa)
tutetibiimperes
266
Nov 29, 2018
DRomelVZeos reviewed them and liked them after a pad swap to Shure 1540s. I may order the Shire pads as well, I prefer breathable pads to solid leather anyway.
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