Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Ergo Ergo Model 1 Headphones by Tom Schuman

Model:	Ergo Model 1
Category:	Headphones
Suggested Retail Price:	$200
Description:	Dynamic open air
Manufacturer URL:	Ergo
Model Picture:	View

Review by Tom Schuman ( A ) on October 12, 2004 at 03:04:24
IP Address: 212.151.68.211

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Manuf. info:
Dynamic headphones, completely open air
Response: 28Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 100 ohm
Sensitivity: 95 dB
Distortion: <.4%
Weight: 380 g
I have used these 'phones with an Antique Sound Labs Headphone amplifier, MG Head OTL MkII. The 'phones are made in Switzerland and the price there is 250 SF, around $200 by current exchange rates.
They are extremely revealing and at first, sound quite bass light, partly because of their open air design; there is no coupling to the ear that you get with the closed designs and which sometimes gives a fuller sound.
These phones are ruthlessly revealing. If you have any problems with tinnitus you will find these bright. If you have EMI or RFI problems in your system, you will hear it. If the recording is bad, you will know it. If you turn them up too loud, you will get tinnitus.
However, if you have problem free sources and a quiet powerline, these are perfectly clear and give great insight into the recording. They sound like electrostatic earspeakers.
They make it extremely easy to hear the difference between the feedback and non-feedback settings on the MG Head, and between the OTL and transformer coupled settings. I suspect that the stock tubes in the ASL also affect the sound of this setup and would benefit from a tube upgrade (Ei tubes on the way for a test)
These phones are not ideal for bassheads or badly recorded rock or pop,
best for well recorded classical or acoustic and very refined front ends. The result can be revelatory!
Associated equipment: ASL Mini phono amp, ASL MG HEAD OTL MkII, Rega P3, QED cables, Grado Red, no power conditioning.

Product Weakness: Can be perceived as bass light or bright
Product Strengths: Very high resolution

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	ASL Mg Head OTL MkII
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	ASL mini phono
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Rega P3, Grado Red
Speakers:	None
Cables/Interconnects:	QED
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Classical, Pop
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Can be perceived as bass light or bright
Product Strengths:	Very high resolution