Vacuum tube amplified headphones...

It is great to see another application for the Korg Nutube.

I have previously encountered it in Pre'-Amp's of which I am having one built, a Phonostage and DAC.

I see no reason why this new application will fail to find users, especially if the Circuit Design is enabling the Korg to really perform.

The controlling the Nutube's microphonic ring, is going to be a hurdle to get over with only a very compact space to produce control measures.

A friend who is a ESL user, as I am myself, builds Ribbon Headphones which require a purpose made Amp/Energiser?

I am not a Headphone user and after another who is an advocate of ESL's and  Headphones brought their Stax Model for a comparison to the Ribbon Headphones, the positive reports on the experience captured my curiosity.

I was offered a chance to experience the Ribbon design in use, through a VAC Valve Amp, it took a few tracks for myself to settle and acclimatise to having encapsulated ears.

A CD I use for demo's was also used, about a half hour in to the demo'.

The Ribbon design produced a depth to the Soundstage and Details that I know about and will use to determine the quality of details being extracted from the recording. Using the Ribbon Headphone as the listening method, there was a very obvious presence of attractors, the depth was considerable and the details vivid, certain aspects are seemingly tangible.

A few tracks were repeated after the demo', through the ESL's. The Headphones were spectacular as a comparison, it really does require a lot from a Speaker in a Room to generate the sense that a performer is present and can be touched.

The Ribbon Headphones proved to be capable to to create being their presence with ease, and was a common experience, I will one day be set up to really enjoy opportunities to have periods where Headphones are in use in my own system. 

@asvjerry The DIY Ribbon Speakers were a follow on to an investigation into building a Stax Type of ES Headphone, from recollection there is a Part that can be purchased very cheaply that enables the Stax ES Type to be produced.

It become apparent, both the ESH and RH DESIGNS, could have all parts required prior to assembly purchased for approx’ £100.

If the most desirable aesthetic is wanted, the price will inevitably increase.

The owner of the Stax ES Headphone was absolutely lost for words, when the discovery was made that the Ribbon Type was bettering their Headphones at approx’ a twentieth of the cost.

The same builder of the Headphones is also the Builder of the other devices I mentioned earlier using the Korg Nutube.

The Producer of the RH Design, is not just your average DIYer.

There are all aspects of HiFi devices produce by their hands.

DAC's, Head Amp's, Phonostages, Pre Amp's, Power Amp's and quite few Speaker Builds, and over the recent year+ a Tonearm is also produced.

A DAC built for approx' £200 recently A/B compared to a Denafrips Venus really caused the Venus owner to rethink their situation with DAC. It seems the recent Denafrips Firmware Updates has allowed the DAC owner a little more grace, as they feel there is improvement now on offer.

I think is fair to say the RH Design is buildable, but the fine tuning of the finished product is probably best left to those with a time served experience.    

A Japanese Audio Designer known as Dr Kaneta, who is also responsible for making the Kaneta Technics SP10 MkII a realised design, of which quite a few have now copied on other TT's, is also an advocate of the Korg Nutube.

Nelson Pass is using the device as well, and a search will discover other Audio Devices have it in use in a Circuit.

When the Harmonic Ring is brought under control this little box of delights can really hit a home run.

In use the Nutube, is a Substitute for another Valve Type, that when used for certain roles would detach the Bass Driver from its chassis due to the distortion produced. The Nutube moves that distortion quite higher up the frequency, hence avoiding the impact on the Drivers. 

The Nutube Harmonic Ring is successfully being brought under control and inaudible, there are methods reported through users that clearly explain the methods used.

The Nutube is reported by the Manufacturer to have a 30000 Hour working life.

I would assume it would be a proportion of this working life, is the optimum working life, and it is not known to me if there is a fall of in sonic qualities after a certain amount of usage hours. This is a much improved working life when compared to typical Vacuum Tubes.