MrSpeakers Adds Flow Technology to the new ETHER Flow Planar Headphones

While traversing the CES show floor, listening to products is usually an exercise in futility - nothing sounds good with so much chaos around you, and who has time to stop and really listen to anything? Amidst the noise of this CES, however, taking a moment to slip on a pair of the new MrSpeakers ETHER Flow headphones was an escape into musical paradise, and one of the best listening experiences I’ve had in Vegas in years.

MrSpeakers is perhaps the most unfortunate name for a high-end headphone manufacturer. I truly expected a companion Mr. Microphone and a Speak & Spell to be sold along side. However, MrSpeakers is a brand that you will certainly want to get to know. The original ETHER headphones were very well-received and loved by many audiophiles, and developer Dan Clark has just released the new ETHER Flow and ETHER Flow C closed-ear models.

The ETHER Flow and Flow C use planar technology with a difference. The company developed TrueFlow technology (patent-pending) that creates a smoother pathway for the air moving around the planar magnets to improve dynamics and reduce distortion by filling in the gaps surrounding the magnets to improve the flow of air. They claim it gives the ETHER Flow an electrostat performance with the bass response of planar speakers.

The build quality of the ETHER Flow is impressive. The headband is created from a nickel-titanium “NiTinol” memory-metal blend that is incredibly strong, yet flexible, making them very comfortable. Lamb leather coverings on the earcups enhances that comfort.

They were incredibly comfortable, and even though my listening session with them was short, I felt they would have been just as comfortable after hours. I checked out both the open and closed versions. The sound was exceptional. The clarity was spectacular and the sound was spacious and open. The midrange was clean and smooth, and the treble was brilliant; not harsh or shrill, but controlled sparkle. Given the tendency these days for overblown bass, some listeners might feel the ETHER Flow lacks in impact. I felt the bass was accurate - nothing exaggerated, but quite natural. More than anything, the sound of the ETHER Flow was engaging and immersive. I wanted to listen for hours.

Dan Clark is certainly an interesting engineer. Included with the headphones is a DUM cable - which he says stands for “Distinctly Un-Magical.” In fact, the headphones can be purchased with a variety of cable lengths and termination options.

Clark’s explanation on why he named them “ETHER” is quite charming. “Nineteenth century physics had no concept of hard vacuum filling to “fill” the vast reaches of space. Ether was an imaginary substance that filled the voids between the stars. Since a lot of what makes ETHER fun is the sense of space and the deep quiet between the notes, and ETHER was a bit “magical,” it seemed like a nice name.”

You can get your own magic with the Ether Flow or the closed-ear Ether C-Flow starting at $1800 with a basic cable and connector. Both models are available now.

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