ThieAudio Wraith Planar Magnetic Headphones

[VSG]

ThieAudio wants to take on the emerging world of open-back planar magnetic headphones with its new $550 Wraith over-ear set. It comes with three pairs of ear pads to go with excellent build quality and comfort, making for nice looking headphones with some unfortunate issues to be aware of.

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[zlobby]

Oh...

 

[GreiverBlade]

man, these cons are quite a deterrent, if the price was not one ... they would totally make this a "no no" for me ... unfortunate indeed.


on a side note

Spoiler: look what chip i found

too bad it's on a Odroid HiFi Shield + for my C2


basically the same chip as the E10K-TC ... and i did love that one, i had a Volumio setup on my C2 a few years ago.

 

[VSG]

man, these cons are quite a deterrent, if the price was not one ... they would totally make this a "no no" for me ... unfortunate indeed.


on a side note

Spoiler: look what chip i found

too bad it's on a Odroid HiFi Shield + for my C2
View attachment 279800

basically the same chip as the E10K-TC ... and i did love that one, i had a Volumio setup on my C2 a few years ago.

I know they are working on a round 2 with better drivers, so maybe that will be better. As for planars in this price range I have to give the nod to HIFIMAN Sundara/Edition XS and the MOONDROP VENUS.

 

[Space Lynx]

I appreciate your honesty in these reviews, but I do worry if companies stop sending you stuff, lol

I still am waiting for a Edition XS to go on sale for $399, when it does I think I will snag a pair.

 

[VSG]

I appreciate your honesty in these reviews, but I do worry if companies stop sending you stuff, lol

I still am waiting for a Edition XS to go on sale for $399, when it does I think I will snag a pair.

All good haha, these companies are pretty good about taking fair criticism. Those that don't are not worth covering anyway.

 

[zlobby]

I know they are working on a round 2 with better drivers, so maybe that will be better. As for planars in this price range I have to give the nod to HIFIMAN Sundara/Edition XS and the MOONDROP VENUS.

I appreciate your honesty in these reviews, but I do worry if companies stop sending you stuff, lol

I still am waiting for a Edition XS to go on sale for $399, when it does I think I will snag a pair.

JMA XTC (open or closed back) beat everything mentioned above IMO, albeit at a slightly higer price in some cases. I'd go for them if budget allows for it.

 

[GreiverBlade]

JMA XTC (open or closed back) beat everything mentioned above IMO, albeit at a slightly higer price in some cases. I'd go for them if budget allows for it.

but they are DD and not Planar, right?

also, "slightly" higher? 829$ is the first price i saw for the open one.
nonetheless nice headphones quite stylish and performing (unlike the Wraith who got only style imho, for now... )

i doubt i will get a Planar over ear soon ... but for DD i think i settle for 400chf max (time to put some money aside once i get my Desktop DAC )

I know they are working on a round 2 with better drivers, so maybe that will be better. As for planars in this price range I have to give the nod to HIFIMAN Sundara/Edition XS and the MOONDROP VENUS.

the Sundara live up the Sanskrit naming ... a true beauty (and 406chf where i live ) Venus? eh? also a mythologic beauty that fit the design of the headphone getting named after

found something interesting ... what do you think of Kinera brand? they have a planar+BA in the form of the Celest Gumiho most reviews i saw of it are quite ... flatering ... although with a price between 36 and 42$ on AliExpress ... i am almost tempted ..

 

[VSG]

found something interesting ... what do you think of Kinera brand? they have a planar+BA in the form of the Celest Gumiho most reviews i saw of it are quite ... flatering ... although with a price between 36 and 42$ on AliExpress ... i am almost tempted ..

It's pushing the definition of a planar driver for me, closer to a thin dynamic driver given the voice coil is separated from the diaphragm. I haven't tried anything using that driver yet.

 

[GreiverBlade]

It's pushing the definition of a planar driver for me, closer to a thin dynamic driver given the voice coil is separated from the diaphragm. I haven't tried anything using that driver yet.

Alright, thanks for the input, gonna check a bit more, because it's like my FH1s then (but half the Swiss pricing) saw some reviews that have drawn me toward that specific IEM...

Although what they call SPD is planar in shape, it indeed look more like a DD... If they called it a SquareDD I would be fine or a Planar DD

Correct me if I'm missing something
the definition of a planar magnetic driver is, basically, the membrane is flat/planar and incorporate the wire while being surrounded by magnets.

(I did check your links in various reviews about them, just confirming)

 

[VSG]

Alright, thanks for the input, gonna check a bit more, because it's like my FH1s then (but half the Swiss pricing) saw some reviews that have drawn me toward that specific IEM...

Although what they call SPD is planar in shape, it indeed look more like a DD... If they called it a SquareDD I would be fine or a Planar DD

Correct me if I'm missing something
the definition of a planar magnetic driver is, basically, the membrane is flat/planar and incorporate the wire while being surrounded by magnets.

(I did check your links in various reviews about them, just confirming)

For me if the voice coil is in the form of traces directly applied over the thin/flat diaphragm, that's a typical planar magnetic driver. But yes, it's a weird definition because now we are talking about how small the gap can be between voice coil/traces and the diaphragm itself haha. As long as it performs well, I can't really complain.

 

[Footman]

Great review as always. Guess I'll stick with my cheap Hifiman 400SE's
Any plans to review powered speakers???

 

[VSG]

Great review as always. Guess I'll stick with my cheap Hifiman 400SE's
Any plans to review powered speakers???

I have a review of one (yes one, not a set) active speaker in the works, but don't expect to see measurements there. Unfortunately speaker measurements are much harder and way more expensive to do right.

 

[zlobby]

I have a review of one (yes one, not a set) active speaker in the works, but don't expect to see measurements there. Unfortunately speaker measurements are much harder and way more expensive to do right.

I will personally destroy you if you even stray a bit from the proper ways of speaker testing! That is a challenging adventure.
Better stick to earphones and keyboards. You're (almost) very good at it.

but they are DD and not Planar, right?

also, "slightly" higher? 829$ is the first price i saw for the open one.
nonetheless nice headphones quite stylish and performing (unlike the Wraith who got only style imho, for now... )

i doubt i will get a Planar over ear soon ... but for DD i think i settle for 400chf max (time to put some money aside once i get my Desktop DAC )


the Sundara live up the Sanskrit naming ... a true beauty (and 406chf where i live ) Venus? eh? also a mythologic beauty that fit the design of the headphone getting named after

found something interesting ... what do you think of Kinera brand? they have a planar+BA in the form of the Celest Gumiho most reviews i saw of it are quite ... flatering ... although with a price between 36 and 42$ on AliExpress ... i am almost tempted ..

In a country where someone is considered rich if they have north of $15mil, I can't even begin to wonder how one makes a fuss about a few hundred bucks?!?! Next thig you'll tell me is that you have bums!

 

[GreiverBlade]

in a country where someone is considered rich if they have north of $15mil, I can't even begin to wonder how one makes a fuss about a few hundred bucks?!?! Next thig you'll tell me is that you have bums!

549 or 829 there's a huge difference to me

oh, another one that believe the Switzerland cliché? that's ... rich ... i am in one of the canton where the average income is the lowest and i am also below average (for monthly income ... ofc, as a person i am rather exceptional! don't you dare think otherwise!)

i do have bums ... they are connected to my thighs ... wait thig? thing? aaaaaaaahhhh i see bum as in ... poor peoples? aye, sure does ... i am one of them, but i make do with what i can do.

yep ... Swiss on a budget with low income do exist although 550 is fine (unless being that reviewed unit, too much relevant cons to be worth the price ) i just have to get a 10x55chf tiered payment.

I will personally destroy you if you even stray a bit from the proper ways of speaker testing! That is a challenging adventure.
Better stick to earphones and keyboards. You're (almost) very good at it.

BOLLOCKS! VSG is point blank accuracy on these subject (at least according to my preferences. )

i will await with eagerness that speaker review!

 

[VSG]

BOLLOCKS! VSG is point blank accuracy on these subject (at least according to my preferences. )

i will await with eagerness that speaker review!

Enjoy the spectacle of this speaker:

 

[GreiverBlade]

Enjoy the spectacle of this speaker:

View attachment 279954

that's not a speaker! that's a VT Fuze

interesting shape ... yep definitely eager to see the review now (even more now that i am a "supporter" and intend on remaning one as long as i can for TPU and your reviews )

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Oh man let's not cross into building your own speakers for reviews I went down that rabbit warren a while back and it was filled with rabid badgers.

As for this sure it's a flop but these companies tend to do that all the time. Often tossing in a free upgrade while they are at it. The larger chifi brands with a good rep do this routinely. They live on word of mouth rather than raw reputation at the high end and try to make things right. Everyone knows their tuning is uh, interesting, at times so they usually get flamed go back and fix it.

that's not a speaker! that's a VT Fuze

interesting shape ... yep definitely eager to see the review now (even more now that i am a "supporter" and intend on remaning one as long as i can for TPU and your reviews )

Yeah was going to say I did demolitions for a while and I'd be wondering when that thing was going to go off if I saw it.

 

[zlobby]

that's not a speaker! that's a VT Fuze

interesting shape ... yep definitely eager to see the review now (even more now that i am a "supporter" and intend on remaning one as long as i can for TPU and your reviews )

Oh man let's not cross into building your own speakers for reviews I went down that rabbit warren a while back and it was filled with rabid badgers.

As for this sure it's a flop but these companies tend to do that all the time. Often tossing in a free upgrade while they are at it. The larger chifi brands with a good rep do this routinely. They live on word of mouth rather than raw reputation at the high end and try to make things right. Everyone knows their tuning is uh, interesting, at times so they usually get flamed go back and fix it.


Yeah was going to say I did demolitions for a while and I'd be wondering when that thing was going to go off if I saw it.

Its bass should be, wait for it... earth-shaking!

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Its bass should be, wait for it... earth-shaking!

A while back a military buddy of mine got some 1000 watt stage speakers as he was big into spinning in his off time. Of course you know how it goes items have a memory and now that you are out of it you still won't let it go. It's harmless, it's your shit you don't let that go so there they sat. In a cramped one bedroom condo in downtown DC. We lived in the same building at the time and you have an idea how this ends. The suckers were holding up a desk because why not? Not going to use it and if we are we can drag something else over to keep it up. Que a massive military drinking fest playing fighting games games on the giant Plasma TV (those were great, for their time) and of course I pass out, friend one passes out. Friend two gets the genius idea to enable these things. So up goes Gears of War the OG and on go the monitors and holy fucking lord all mighty the racket was amazing. We wake up immediately people in the halls, cops show up, there's a lot of explaining to do. Desk was glass so that's cracked, other things are busted, it's a nightmare.

We had complaints from three floors away, in a concrete walled building not that drywall crap.

I've had lots of experiences with speakers and monitors where you have to look at someone and be all nope, you can't do that only to have them try. Another buddy of mine is an actual sound engineer out in not "bumbfuck" but a good 1.5 hours out of DC in VA and he does sound mastering for various corporations you're all familiar with but I can't get into. He has a mastering studio and then a theater in the next room (his basement is a two floor vault ceiling) for just listening with popcorn and stuff. We've got the keys (former military buddy again, fun how that works) and can go in and just crank it and play games all weekend when he's out of town as long as we feed the dogs. Which is a pretty cool deal. He's got a pool with a water slide and an oil barrel grill (this is an American thing, if you know, you know, if you don't, don't ask). So a few times year I just work remote out of his place with some friends and we just LOL it up.

Thing is, his stuff is deep under ground with only the back of the basement exposed, cause pool, and his neighbors are acres away, so he gets no shit about going bonkers. Also the dogs are bonkers huge and do need constant care or, watch out the house is destroyed.