Écoute launches TH2 – the next evolution of its groundbreaking vacuum tube-powered headphonesBack in 2023, San Francisco audio brand Écoute made waves in the headphone world when it introduced the TH1, the world’s first over-ear headphones powered by a built-in vacuum tube preamp and dual-mono amplification.
Funded via Kickstarter, the innovative cans caught the attention of enough audiophiles around the world, raising over $200,000 in its initial campaign. Now, the brand has unveiled the TH2 – the next evolution of its vacuum tube-powered headphones.

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“What if your headphones didn’t sound like headphones?” This is the question powering Écoute’s design philosophy behind the all-new TH2 headphones.
At the heart of the TH2 sits real, glowing triodes performing the “critical role” of voltage gain. As Écoute explains, in any HiFi system, the gain stage is where a signal is truly shaped. “It’s the front end of the amplification chain – where microdynamics, harmonic structure and spatial cues are either preserved or lost.”
Credit: Écoute
Essentially, then, the principle of tube-driven audio and dual-mono amplification remains the same as the TH1, but the TH2 offers a number of upgrades on its predecessor.
First is improved sound, with deeper bass, extended treble, and more resolution across the entire frequency spectrum. They also feature a redesigned chassis and headband for improved comfort via better weight distribution, plus upgraded durability.
The TH2 headphones are built to last too, with a modular design allowing for the easy changing of pads and headband wraps.
Credit: Écoute
Other upgrades to the TH2 include improved noise control, with a lower ANC noise floor and a more natural transparency mode, plus better passive sound isolation.
They also allow for the customisation of audio, with eight customisable frequency bands and ±12 dB per band.

“It’s the same architecture, just refined for an even more musical and lifelike listening experience,” Écoute says.
“Two years ago, we introduced the TH1 – the world’s first headphone with a built-in vacuum tube preamp and dual-mono amplification,” the company continues. 
“It proved that a true analog signal path could be made portable without compromise. Audiophiles noticed. Reviewers took it seriously. And for the first time, listeners could leave the listening room without leaving the sound they loved behind.”
You can learn more about the new TH2 headphones at Écoute’s Kickstarter page.
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