Tubes in a Bluetooth Headphone? Écoute TH1 Headphone Review

Yes, you read the title correctly: and no, it isn't clickbait. There's a new Bluetooth headphone on the market that has integrated vacuum tube technology in its wireless listening. It's a one of kind headphone here in 2025, and you have Écoute audio to thank for it. The TH1 Vacuum Tube Bluetooth Headphone is an all-new listening experience that has piqued interest here at Audio46. But how does it sound? Is it too much for one headphone? Is it worth the $899 price point? We're going to dive into all the details right here in this review. 

Let's start this review with the basics. How do the headphones look? The TH1 headphones are a sleek headphone that comes in two different colors: black and silver. Both have the same basic build, with memory foam ear cushions and an aluminum shell. The material is prone to fingerprints, so that's something to look out for when using it. The ear cups are fairly large and fit completely over the ear. The headphone can lie flat on a table, but it turns upwards when you wear it around your neck. Overall, the headphone is comfortable to wear despite being a bit heavier than most. You can adjust the headphones pretty well to have an ideal fit. 

In the TH1's design, you have buttons on the right side for power, noise cancellation, and play/pause. The left side has a small display window that lights up to show off the vacuum tubes. This feature makes the TH1 more delicate than most, since the technology inside is more fragile and needs careful maintenance. 

The TH1 has several features that make it stand out from the crowd. To begin, let's discuss the vacuum tubes. No matter if you listen via Bluetooth, digital USB-C wired, or analog 3.5mm, you get the same signal path. The sound passes through the tube preamp and then a dual-mono amp right to your ears. There's no special feature you need to activate to get the tube amplifier; you just turn it on and begin to listen. Écoute advises being careful when listening at louder volumes, as the tubes are delicate and can be damaged if overpowered for long periods of time. The TH1 only has about 20 hours of playtime, so it is a bit less than your standard Bluetooth headphone. 

This headphone is also equipped with active noise cancellation, so you can really focus on your music. The TH1 doesn't have particularly strong noise cancellation, and while I was listening, there was noticeable noise when the ANC was activated. The transparency mode was highly effective and allowed me to be more aware of my surroundings. I did appreciate the fact that I could turn off the noise cancellation completely and just use the TH1 with passive isolation. 

Écoute Audio also has a companion app for sound personalization. There are a large number of presets to choose from, both for musical genres and more exact EQ curves. They have a preset for the Harmon curve, bass boost, speech focused, and more. This sound customization allows you to listen exactly how you like, without compromising the type of technology you use. The app was easy and intuitive to use, setting you up with basic details and keeping any additions easy to find. 

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

One thing I will definitely applaud on the TH1 is the wide soundstage. For a closed-back, ANC listening experience, the soundstage was impressively wide and expanded horizontally exceptionally well. It made elements truly separate in the signature, but still cohesive to not sound drastically far apart. The TH1's midrange suffered from this width sometimes, as it sounded as though it was stretched too far and didn't ever settle in the middle of the field. This made the height lacking in the reproduction, but depth was still very present for all genres. The loudness of the whole signature was fairly impressive, though, as mentioned earlier, volume should be carefully monitored when using these headphones. 

The signature as a whole is definitely U-shaped. The TH1 has a mid-range that has a tendency to sound hollow and overly thin, making the rest of the track sound very different than what you might expect. The treble was sharp and precise, and the lows were punchy and had good depth. The sound reproduction in the TH1 is more dynamic than it is neutral, so I would definitely not recommend it for those looking for a reference headphone. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The low end is actually quite powerful in the TH1. It is thick and takes up a lot of space in the low end, so you're not left with a thin layer as your foundation. This is the range that the vacuum tubes come through the most, and it gives the TH1 a certain natural warmth that is hard to recreate in other headphones. Low-end instruments weren't exactly natural in sound reproduction; they did have a lot of power to make them more noticeable than other ranges. It was nice to not have to search for the low-end clarity, and the ANC only accentuated its impact as opposed to washing it out. I liked how the bass took up plenty of space in the low end, allowing for a good foundation for other frequencies. The vacuum tube technology in the TH1 kept this range warm and inviting, perfect for bass-heavy genres. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The main part of a lot of tracks comes from the midrange, and the TH1 had a midrange that was very unique. The TH1's midrange sat behind most other frequencies, taking on a very hidden quality that made you hunt for those melodic instruments. Vocals that should have been front and center were instead pushed back and stretched out across the soundstage. This placement made the entire range sound thin and hollow. While depth was somewhat lost in the midrange, the timbres of the instruments remained relatively true and distinct. There was enough separation of instruments to make a clear picture of ensembles and orchestras. 

Personally, the midrange is what turned me away from the TH1. While the bass performed well and the tube technology inside is a fascinating feature, the midrange did not reproduce sound that was nice for my ears. However, I won't knock the TH1's midrange completely; certain genres and tracks do well with a recessed midrange. More orchestral works with harsher dynamics were reproduced exceptionally well. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The high end was very bright. In context with a very warm low end and recessed midrange, the treble in the TH1 was very piercing and sharp in its detail. I was definitely a fan of how this treble response balanced the thick low end, especially the way it cuts in to give more distinct separation between instruments. The clarity and detail in this range were exceptional, with high strings and horns filling the space easily and delivering just enough punchiness so it doesn't lean too sharp. Even with all the detail, the treble remained light and didn't get weighed down by other elements. The top end didn't invite a lot of space, so there was a noticeable shelf where frequencies reached right before they cut off. Still, with the depth this headphone gives, you are able to get a decent picture of those high frequencies without worrying about missing height. 

The TH1 joins the lineup of Bluetooth headphones that have already made a name for themselves. Sony, Sennheiser, Focal, Dali: all of these brands are already very popular and would be hard to replace. So how does the TH1 compare to the other brands?

At a similar price point, the TH1 is most similar to the Dali IO-8. They come with a very similar price point, and I found myself preferring the TH1 over the IO-8. The IO-8 has a narrower soundstage and a signature that doesn't have distinct separation. The mids are more present, but still have a muddy quality as opposed to the detail coming from the TH1. The vocals were less compressed, and the sound was overall wider in the soundstage. However, the TH1 can't beat the Dali IO-12, which excels in its detail and midrange forwardness. The TH1 has a hollower sound than the fullness of the Dali IO-12.

In the same vein, the Focal Bathys MG would be the next step up from the TH1. As someone who loves the Focal Bathys MG, I knew they would be tough to beat. The Bathys MG ended up having the same differences to the TH1 as the Dali IO-12. There was more clarity and precision in the midrange, which was pulled forward to be the main feature in the Bathys MG. The TH1 was just a little too stretched out and recessed to have a competitive midrange, but it does offer a decent alternative to commercial options. 

The Écoute Audio TH1 is a very unique Bluetooth headphone that is definitely worth trying. It breaks barriers in audiophile technology and how you can listen to your music. Be warned: this headphone's sound signature won't be for everyone. For those looking for dynamic and warm headphones that don't focus on the midrange, the TH1 is an excellent upgrade to consider. For pop and more singer-songwriter-type tracks, you may want to give a good listen before pulling the trigger on them. The vacuum tube technology alone is enough reason to check out the TH1 and see if you should add it to your collection.

The Écoute Audio TH1 is available today at Audio46.