Kickstarter Early Reservation Campaign Launches February 11 at 2:00 PM EST
écoute audio unveiled the highly anticipated TH2—the successor to its award-winning TH1 vacuum tube headphones—at CanJam Dubai. The company has confirmed that a limited number of pre-production units will be available through a Kickstarter campaign launching February 11 at 2:00 PM EST. The campaign will offer early reservations of production units at discounted pricing, with general retail availability expected in September 2026.
About écoute audio
écoute audio was founded on a simple premise: portable shouldn’t mean a compromised listening experience.
While most headphones simplify the signal path—collapsing stages, sharing circuitry, or relying entirely on a single integrated chip—écoute follows the blueprint of classic two-channel systems with dedicated components and a true analog front end with a world-first inclusion of a vacuum tube preamp stage built into the headset itself.
Equally unique in headphone design, écoute employs a dual-mono signal path architecture—physically separate left and right channels from DAC to amplification. This eliminates crosstalk and preserves stereo separation with the kind of precision normally found only in high-end rack systems. Combined with real vacuum tube preamplification built directly into each earcup, this architecture ensures that harmonic structure, spatial cues, and microdynamics are preserved with clarity and intent. It’s not modeled. It’s not approximated. It’s real high-fidelity architecture, made wearable.
About the TH2
Two years ago, we introduced the TH1—the world’s first headphone with a built-in vacuum tube preamp and dual-mono amplification. 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.
TH2 is the evolution of that idea. It preserves the warmth, presence, and dimensionality listeners loved in the TH1, but refines the experience.
Not a repackaging. A refinement of a proven idea.
Key improvements
- Deeper bass, extended treble, and improved resolution across all frequencies
- Redesigned chassis and headband for improved comfort and durability
- Interchangeable pads and wraps
- Lower noise floor in ANC and more natural transparency mode
- Improved passive isolation
- Enhanced shielding for reduced RF and mechanical interference
- Firmware-level tuning across eight frequency bands
- Listening Opportunities
- Pre-production units of TH2 will be available for audition at major international audio events including CanJam, AXPONA, and High End Munich.
- Technical Overview
- Architecture: Full dual-mono hi-fi signal path in a wearable form factor
- Preamplifier: Korg Nutube 6P1 dual triode
- Amplification: Discrete A/B, one per channel
- DAC: Dual-core high-resolution, 32-bit / 384 kHz capable
- Tuning: 8-band adjustable DSP
- Connectivity: Lossless digital via USB-C, analog 3.5mm (active or passive), and Bluetooth 5.3 (AAC/LDAC)
- Features: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Telephony, Voice Assistant Compatibility
- Design: Over-ear, closed-back, modular components
Availability
Launch Date: February 11, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM EST
Platform: Kickstarter (exclusive pre-production reservation campaign)
General Release: September 2026
