écoute Audio TH1: headphones with tube amplifier

Information:

Release year: 2022/2023
Country of origin: China?
Colour options: Gunmetal and Satin aluminium
Price: $799 / ~710€ ($150 discount with promo code)
Type: closed, over-ear
40 mm dynamic drivers (titanium-coated mylar)
Preamplification: Nutube 6P1 Dual-Triode tube
Main amplifier: Class A/B Dual Mono
Audio inputs: Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C and 3.5 mm
Bluetooth codecs: LDAC, AAC and SBC
Charging connector: USB-C
Battery size: 2000 mAh
Battery life: 20 h (volume at maximum)
Charging time: 3.5 h
ANC: on / off / transparency mode
Features: multipoint, voice assistant (Google Assistant/Siri) and beta phone app with equalizer
Weight: 424 g (tested unit 430 g)
Accessories: carrying case and high-quality USB-C cable (AUX cables sold separately for $25-130)

Origin of the review unit: Received from the manufacturer

There are all kinds of noise-cancelling headphones, but few stand out from the crowd in terms of basic technology. Of the more specialised models, the ones that spring to mind are those with more elements. Heavys H1H and Noble Audio Focus Apollo. No headphones, on the other hand, have a built-in tube amplifier on their feature list so far. Can such a thing even work and what's the point?

Answers to these questions are provided by écoute Audion TH1 Vacuum Tube headphones, with a preamplification stage implemented with a Korg Nutube 6P1 tube. The same miniature tubes are also used in other battery-powered devices (e.g. DAPs and mobile amplifiers), as they consume little power (only 2% compared to standard tubes) and offer a distortion profile similar to larger tubes when tuned appropriately.

In the TH1, the tubular gradient is intended to make the sound more pleasant and realistic, according to the manufacturer. The Class A/B dual mono headphone amplifier also plays a role, which is also an exceptional solution in this product category. As a whole, the signal path should compensate for the lossy compression of sound in wireless listening. The dynamic elements of the TH1 are 40 mm in diameter and have a titanium coating on the diaphragm.

The TH1 costs $800, which translates into a final price of around €900 including VAT when ordered in Finland. However, at the time of writing, you can get $150 off the price with a discount code, so we're talking about a headset for around €750. So far, the TH1 is unfortunately not sold in the EU, but is shipped from either Hong Kong or the US. The company, in turn, is run internationally between the US, Canada and China. The name écoute is French for "invitation to listen".

The current headphone version is relatively new, but some marketing material still shows the older version with a slightly different bucket structure. The original release was partly funded by a Kickstarter campaign in 2022 and 2023, while the first prototypes of the headset date back to 2019 before the interest rate pandemic messed up plans. The very first time the manufacturer implanted tubes in the headphones was back in 2016, so the TH1's journey to becoming a finished product was ultimately quite a long one. In today's market, competitors to the headphones include Focal bathysta and DALI IO-12.

I received the headphones for review directly from écoute Audiô. By now I have already had time to give plenty of direct feedback, having communicated regularly with the co-founder of the company for several weeks. Let's take a look at what I have observed during this time.

Packaging and accessories

TH1 arrives in a cardboard box, reinforced at the corners, without separate product packaging. However, the headphones' four-panel carrying case has a white decorative border around it. As the product is not, as far as I know, currently sold in brick-and-mortar stores, the presentation is quite adequate.

Inside the case, you'll find not only the headphones but also the USB-C cable. The buyer should also receive a user manual, but I didn't have one - I did find one online. So there's not much to mention in terms of equipment, but externally, I've never received a USB cable of such high quality and flexibility with any other headphone model. I prefer to use the cable not only for charging but also for listening to the TH1.

The headphone cable is not included at all and would have to be purchased separately. The most expensive option in the manufacturer's range is priced at a whopping $130, but by choosing the Audiophile bundle you can get it for practically $50 extra. The headphone cable, which is the external equivalent of a USB-C cable, would cost a more reasonable $25. Perhaps some sort of basic cable could be included in the package out of the box, since other manufacturers also supply one?

Build and comfort

The écoute Audio headphones are large and, at 424 grams, heavier than most of the competition. However, at this price point, I would be disappointed if the construction was cheap and flimsy plastic. So I'm happy with the TH1's metal cups and bucket and overall high quality feel. I chose gunmetal, but the headphones are also sold in satin aluminium. In this case, the cushioning parts, which contain memory foam and are covered with fabric material, would be brownish in colour. Fabric may not be the best choice for sound insulation, but it is far less abrasive than the synthetic leather of many other noise-cancelling headphones.

The headphone height adjustment should be enough for everyone, because for me the TH1 is already almost too high at its minimum settings. For small heads, an extra padding sold separately by the manufacturer may be necessary. Such an extra headband might also be useful for comfort, as the narrow collar starts to put some weight on my head during extended use. There is also a point on the round ear pads where my earlobes are under pressure, so I would like the opening to be a little higher (current diameter 5 cm and depth about 2.2 cm). For me, the TH1 would not be entirely optimal for longer train or plane journeys, for example, but I still have no major complaints about comfort based on the test period. On the plus side, the compression force of the buckle is quite gentle and the cushioning fits evenly around the ears in terms of the functionality of the response function. The TH1's ear pads are interchangeable, as they come off by twisting to the side in a similar way to the Valco headphones we're familiar with, or, say Audeze in Maxwell.

écoute Audio has placed all the headphone functions in the right-hand cup, which is a bit of a departure from what you're used to. Often, buttons and connectors are sprinkled in both cups, but in the case of the TH1, the left cup is dedicated entirely to the amplification circuitry. The Korg Nutube 6P1, the biggest seller, glows turquoise under the glass window on the side of the cup, revealing the headphones to be on.

If anyone is wondering whether the Nutube 6P1 is a genuine tube, the left cup can be tapped or a beverage can opened, for example. Such vibrations cause the glass tube to "ring" at a high frequency for a few seconds. I don't find the disturbance particularly annoying, but it is nevertheless a definite drawback of the tube design. Fortunately, moving around with the headphones on or walking, for example, does not cause any side noise, so without the left cup being tapped, the presence of the tube is generally not noticeable. The Nutube 6P1 should withstand shocks well and has a design life of 30 000 hours, so there should be no need to replace the tube.

The low power consumption of the tube also means that it doesn't heat up much, so the ventilation holes in the bottom of the earcups are purely decorative. However, when I opened the headphones, I noticed that the grilles were partially open, so they could, at least in theory, have a small effect on the acoustics of the cups. On the other hand, apart from a single cloth-covered opening, the elements are enclosed separately from the rest of the cup's interior, so the effect would mainly extend to the bass frequencies. My wife pointed out that the TH1 leaks more sound outwards than usual, which could well be due to these grilles or also to the fabric ear pads.

The TH1 is controlled by both round buttons and a push-button dial on the side of the right cup, which can be pressed vertically to change the volume and sideways to skip forward or backward through the song list. All buttons work well enough for me, although the feel is not the sharpest or clearest. I needed a user guide to find out how to turn on the headphones. The power button is not marked in any way, but I eventually found it in the middle of the row. I wonder if the surface of the button could be made slightly different, so that it would be automatically recognised.

Bluetooth technology and battery life

The headphones support Bluetooth 5.3, offering support for Multipoint and high quality LDAC codec. For other codecs, support is limited to AAC and SBC, meaning that the AptX family is missing from the list. On my Google Pixel 9 (and other Pixel phones), LDAC had to be manually activated via the Android developer settings, as Google's proprietary configuration meant that the default codec for TH1 was otherwise AAC. The change had a positive impact on sound quality. In my case, LDAC works smoothly at 660 kb/s, while 990 kb/s stutters. I have no complaints about the reliability or range of the Bluetooth connection. A couple of times the headphones have turned themselves off in the middle of use, but the reason is probably elsewhere.

The electronics inside the TH1 are expected to consume more power than usual, as the manufacturer promises a battery life of only 20 hours, despite the fact that the headphones' 2000 milliampere-hour battery is larger than the Audeze Maxwell, which has a battery life of up to 80 hours. In reality, however, the TH1's battery life seems longer than promised, because 20 hours is measured at maximum volume, which I don't need to do. The headphones sound suitably loud even halfway through their range. I haven't found the volume control as uneven as, say, the Focal Bathys (unless things have changed with updates), which always sound either too quiet or too loud for my taste.

écoute Audio claims a charging time of 3.5 hours for the TH1, which also seems a slight overestimate. If necessary, the headphones can also operate passively without power, but in this case the built-in amplifiers and DSP correction are bypassed, so the headphones' main selling point is lost. With battery power, everything works as designed, whether you listen to the TH1 via Bluetooth, a USB cable (supporting lossless 32bit / 384kHz audio) or an AUX headphone cable.

Beta phone app and additional features

At the time of writing, the écoute Audion Spec mobile app was not yet fully ready or available for download from the app store. However, I received a download link from the manufacturer for the beta version, which, despite a few peculiarities, already worked quite well. Several new versions also appeared during the test period, so the final release should be soon.

The app allows you to change the sound profile and adjust the frequency using 8 fixed sliders. In addition, the volume can be capped, making it easy to lower the steepness of, for example, the phone's control knobs. In future, the firmware version of the headphones can also be updated via the app.

A large number of predefined sound profiles are available, which the user is welcome to freely edit into new profiles (five profiles can be saved). As an alternative to the traditional music genre-specific settings and the addition of bass/discant, there is a profile for Harman's target curve reproduction called 'Harmon'. The so-called 'écoute' adjustment profile also activates a kind of frequency correction, while the 'flat' profile sets all sliders to zero. I also ended up customising a couple of custom sound profiles for the TH1, which écoute Audio decided to officially include in their application. The profile you choose to use is stored permanently in the headphones, so it's available on all your listening devices.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

TH1 includes an active reverberation function and an optional ambient sound enhancing translucency mode. The headphones will always default to a mode with the reverberation function switched off. The opacity mode is activated by pressing one button, while the noise cancellation mode is activated by pressing two buttons. For the time being, it is not possible to change the mode via the app, nor is it possible to adjust the level of noise reduction or opacity.

The noise cancelling function does its job in the same way as other premium wireless headphones that are primarily aimed at good sound quality. In other words, from manufacturers that have focused on the development of feedback technology, such as Sony and Bose (this noted QuietComfort SE), you'll be pretty far away, but any kind of noise reduction is useful in a noisy environment. The only annoying thing about the TH1 is the noise and hiss caused by the reverberation function, which is easily noticeable unless you're listening to something on the headphones at the same time. However, the noise is no longer noticeable when listening to music, but this is an area where the manufacturer could still improve, especially as many people who are passionate about hi-fi are averse to this kind of background noise, which is partly why they use headphones with feedback.

I did a quick comparison of TH1's noise attenuation performance Cambridge Audio Melomania P100:aan Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e:hen, Valco VMK25and found that the écoute Audio headphones were at the bottom of the four in both low and mid-frequency attenuation. The Melomania P100 and PX7 S2e were clearly superior, while the VMK25 performed slightly better. Background noise was also strongest in TH1. However, in terms of transparency, I found the écoute Audio headphones to be quite natural, like the B&W model, while at the other extreme, the Valco headphones sharpened more unnaturally any kind of hiss, such as the sound of rubbing fingers together.

As the TH1 is the first product from écoute Audio, I don't think it needs to be top-of-the-range yet. In my own estimation, we are now roughly at the level of the Focal Bathys, which I think is fine. If the manufacturer can improve the noise attenuation efficiency of its next headphone models even a little, we would already be on a par with most competitors. At the same time, noise reduction should be pursued, if possible. I haven't noticed any major bugs in the TH1's noise cancellation. There is also no rattling from footsteps, and even a slight breeze doesn't cause the greatest disturbance to the soundscape.

Microphone sound quality

The headset is also used to make and receive calls. I tested the microphone relatively quickly and found it to be functional and fairly standard in terms of sound quality, which I don't mean as a criticism. As can be inferred, I am not particularly interested in microphones in this type of headset.

Headphone sound quality

The TH1 can be listened to in both active mode (Bluetooth, USB-C and 3.5 mm connections) and passive mode (3.5 mm connection). I can't recommend the passive mode more highly, as the electronics and DSP correction inside the headphones are not used to their full potential. In active mode, the digital fine-tuning of the frequency response by écoute Audio or, alternatively, the user's own equalisation is available. It should be noted, however, that the TH1 sounds slightly different depending on whether its reverb function is on or off. The transparency mode and the ANC OFF mode are equivalent in frequency response. écoute Audio says that it has modelled the TH1 on Harman's target curve, but with some fine-tuning to provide a more linear bass response, even clearer midrange and a slightly brighter, airier top end.

I don't usually mention the channel balance of headphones, but this time it's appropriate, because the upper midrange frequencies of my test headphones are weighted to the left. Thus, for example, the vocalist is not fully centered in the sound image and the sound is generally sharper on the left side. For some reason, the balance also varies depending on the mode in which I am listening to the TH1: in reverberation mode, the differences between the channels are most pronounced, while in passive mode the differences are smallest. In general, however, the channel balance should be better than my test headphones, as the manufacturer's engineer noted the problem as an isolated case.

Measurements

Our frequency response measurements have been made with a clone IEC-60318-4 coupler and KB501X pinnae. The Harman target curve from 2018 is used as a reference point and generalization of the headphone response that would sound good to most people. For more information on the measurements and their accuracy, see Headphone Measurements-page. The TH1's frequency response is also comparable with other measured headphones Squiglink .

Note: Active mode measurements are made with a Bluetooth connection, which reproduces the treble from 3 kilohertz onwards about 1 decibel louder than measured with a USB cable.

Frequency response in passive mode:

In passive mode, the frequency response is based on mechanical tuning. Because the elements are tightly enclosed, their adjustment possibilities have been limited. As a result, the frequency response is very bass-driven and upper frequency coloured. In terms of DSP correction, however, the initial situation seems good, as the response does not show any major local variation, but is rather flat despite its unnaturalness.

Channel balancing with the feedback function on:

The left side reproduces more strongly between 1.5 and 3 kilohertz, while the 4 kilohertz environment is louder on the right side - annoying, but not entirely uncommon in other noise-cancelling headphones.

Frequency response ANC ON vs. ANC OFF:

écoute profile (default setting)

Harmon profile

Flat profile

Sound observations

The DSP settings configured by écoute Audio would seem to work best with the reverb function enabled, when you want the playback to be as balanced as possible. Without feedback, the bass becomes stiffer and the upper midrange becomes quieter. Still, with the écoute sound profile, the performance is in any case tightly warm and mid-frequency weighted with the tweeter playing softly in the background. A sharply rising 100-400 hertz interval and a soft treble prevent the sound from being particularly clear, even though the upper midrange level is set between 1 and 3 kilohertz with the right amount of energy. The mid frequencies do sound as if they are loud, but rather veiled.

The end result, in my opinion, is not quite what the headphones are marketed as, but it is an improvement over the even more coloured Harmon profile. Either my own headphones work exceptionally or the settings are still not quite right for lower midrange and treble. The flat profile in the app, i.e. resetting the sliders, seems much more appropriate to me. I therefore already consider the TH1 to be a very good headphone, especially if one assumes that the target audience of écoute Audio prefers neutral sound to a thickly reverberating upper bass.

When the response function is activated, the TH1 subfrequencies are reproduced in a flat profile in a linear fashion, similar to open hearing patterns. At the same time, however, there is still a pleasant warmth to the reproduction. The energetic upper midrange, meanwhile, draws attention to the detail of the instruments and the vocalist's articulation to such an extent that my attention is always focused on this aspect. The treble, on the other hand, still recurs between 7 and 10 kilohertz, still a bit too quiet for my taste, but one could get used to it. I would prefer to listen to such a clear, midrange-rich sound with a slightly more critical attitude. On my own headphones, the left side sometimes sounds aggressive and kind of thin between 2-3 kilohertz, though, so I've found turning off the feedback function to be a good alternative for relaxed listening. This makes the upper midrange frequencies reproduce a little more naturally for my taste, and the sound has a certain analogue feel due to its warmth and softness. On the downside, some of the clarity of the sound is lost compared to listening with the reverberation on.

I think that the TH1 has the biggest impact on the sound image, because it attracts attention with its interesting volume and layering. The sound is more immersive than usual for a wireless headset and sounds more authentic overall. In fact, it's a bit like listening to a matched headphone & tube amp combination. So I think the TH1 has an idea and manages to stand out stylistically from traditional noise-cancelling headphones. Despite the dark tweeter, I don't find the sound too muffled, but critically, this is the area that could be improved the most. In line with écoute Audio's recommendations, I don't think it's worth not taking advantage of the adjustment possibilities offered by the application, which make the TH1 even better.

Equalization

I will not present my "own" voice profiles in the app here, as they are still misnamed in the latest version of the app, and this will probably continue to be the case for some time. In any case, I have fine-tuned these profiles a bit more based on longer testing, so I will focus on three different equalisation profiles below. Two of these are suitable for use with the response mode on and the third for use with ANC OFF.

The "écoute neutral" controls I named are like a more neutral version of the flat profile.The biggest change I made was to balance the upper midrange slightly and boost the treble. This makes the sound fresher and clearer compared to the flat profile. To my ears, the change sounds like removing a thin curtain in front of the music without changing much else.

I call the second tune "Harman-ish" (you should find very similar settings in the app), because I adjusted it to match the Harman target curve as far as possible with the sliders in the app. I'm quite happy with the end result, as at these settings the TH1 provides a solid bass response with clear midrange and energetic highs. The listening experience is exhilarating, but the headphones still give you a long listening time. My in-app profile offers a slightly brighter treble above 10kHz.

The third of my profiles, "Clear", is intended to be used without the reverb function, but otherwise the idea was to make the sound balanced and clear. The end result was by far the most natural, thanks to the linear upper midrange. In addition, it was possible to raise the treble upwards without drawing too much attention to the 6 kHz region. There is also a pleasant bass to my taste, and a slight mid-bass boost certainly doesn't detract from the fun of the final result.

Once the frequency response is tuned to a more balanced level, my attention is drawn to the TH1's spacious soundstage, where the separation of sounds is remarkably layered and lifelike, even with Bluetooth connectivity. Switching to a USB cable removes the last of the tightness and compression from the treble, further enhancing the final result. For example, the snare drum clicks a little more naturally. On the other hand, comparing signal quality is rather tricky, as the treble seems to be a bit more quiet when using a USB cable.

From a sound quality point of view, I've found that I prefer to listen with the feedback turned off, as this keeps background noise to a minimum (with the USB cable there is still some noise). In this case, the sound spreads around me pleasantly evenly, so the headphones kind of disappear. There's a wonderful empty space between the different parts of the music, and the details pop out of the soundstage with an edgy presence and precise delineation. Moreover, the sounds that move from close to far away seem to travel as if to infinity, so that there is no wall in the soundstage in the same way as with some closed headphones. At the same time, the vocalist is successfully separated from the other instruments, which further enhances the authenticity and immersiveness of the final result. Only the poor channel balance of my test headphones slightly dampens the ambience. However, the difference between the channels is harder to notice, as the upper midrange frequencies no longer overwhelm the left side as badly.

After some initial difficulties, I didn't expect to end up with such a good result. The spaciousness and vivid separation of sounds, combined with a relatively unencumbered treble, make for a pleasant listening experience. After a few tweaks, the TH1 absorbs me better than any other wireless headset I've tested. However, in the upper frequencies, absolute neutrality is still left to other headphone models, as the TH1 has a slight unevenness between 5 and 10 kilohertz.

I don't currently own any other more expensive wireless headphones, so I'll leave more detailed comparisons for the future, until I hopefully get to test more headphones in the 500-1000 euro price range. However, for those who like neutral sound, I think they will like the TH1 a bit more than the Focal Bathys, which offer more colourful sound. Also, the Noble Audio Fokus Apollo, with its own equalizer, doesn't give as balanced a sound as the Ecoute Audio headphones. The cheaper Audeze Maxwell, on the other hand, sounds better by default in my opinion, but after my adjustments the TH1's soundstage feels more layered and the sounds are more vividly confined to their respective locations. As a result, the presentation feels more authentic and I cling to it more tightly on an emotional level.

Summary

I was moderately wary of écoute Audio's TH1 "tube" headphones beforehand. However, I was not so much concerned about the performance of the tube amplifier, but rather about the fact that the TH1 is the manufacturer's first headphone model, and a rather expensive one at that. Many new headphone manufacturers do not yet fully understand how to tune their headphones. Critically, some of the sound profiles specified by écoute Audio are not the best in my opinion, but there are more functional alternatives, including a fairly neutral flat profile and a couple of my own profiles, once they can be named and fine-tuned.

The frequency response adjustment is a small salvation this time, because with the right settings, I find that electronics and tuning support each other perfectly. The headphones are also nice looking and the feedback function does its job, although I wouldn't classify the TH1 as primarily a good headphone for feedback. It is also quite natural that the manufacturer's first product is not yet perfect in every respect. On the other hand, the absence of major problems is an achievement in itself. If it is not already clear, I like the TH1, especially its authentic and lively sound.

Thanks to its built-in tube amplifier, the TH1 automatically stands out from the crowd. This is exactly the kind of new and interesting invention I want to see! Some people buy a DAP with a tube amplifier for their wired headphones or a small amplifier for mobile use, but with the TH1, even those who use their phone as a player and want Bluetooth listening will have access to a tube sound with a similar style. A tube amplifier is by no means required for headphones, but I would venture to suggest that it will have a positive effect on sound quality and especially on the soundstage in the case of the TH1, as long as the frequency response sounds natural to your ears. All in all, the TH1 is a positive surprise for me, despite its minor weaknesses. For someone looking for wireless headphones or something a little more special in the €500-1000 price range, the écoute Audio TH1 Vacuum Tube Headphones (I wanted to be able to type the full name at least once) compare favourably with other options in my opinion.

Pros and cons:

+ Comprehensive sound adjustment options
+ Flat sound profile offers the most neutral sound of most competitors
+ A layered and immersive soundscape
+ Differentiation capacity after adding the discount
+ Built-in tube amplifier!
+ LDAC-Bluetooth codec
+ Premium-style structure
+ High quality USB-C cable

+/- Counter-measure function does its job, but lags behind many competitors in terms of efficiency

- Sub-frequencies are repeated too often by default
- Treble sounds dark without equalisation
- Poor channel balance of test headphones
- Background noise of the response function
- There is still some room for improvement in longer-term comfort
- Tube rattling when touching the left earcup
- The product is missing a headphone cable