Thai manufacturer AcousticTone has announced the pre-order for its new handcrafted flathead earbud, The Essence. The pre-order will run from September 6 to September 20, although the company may close it earlier if the number of orders exceeds the available production capacity.

The initial production run is limited to 200 sets, with AcousticTone expecting strong demand. During the first 24 hours, all orders will be accepted. If more than 200 orders are received during that period, the pre-order will be closed immediately.

Because The Essence is produced by hand, AcousticTone expects the completed earbuds to be ready for shipping sometime in October.

There are two versions of The Essence, each using the same basic brass construction but finished differently:

  • The Essence – Pure Solid Brass – a solid brass body, polished and finished by hand.
  • The Essence – Plate Copper – a brass body coated with copper, with the final layer finished using an E-Coating process.

The price is 1,990 THB per set (approximately €52 / US$61).

As a pre-order promotion, customers purchasing two or more sets will also receive two free earphone cables, each normally valued at 290 THB.

Two different sound signatures

Interestingly, AcousticTone says the two finishes are not merely cosmetic. The company has deliberately tuned the two versions to have noticeably different sound signatures.

The Pure Solid Brass version is described as the more neutral and technically focused of the two. AcousticTone emphasizes its natural reproduction of instruments, attributing this partly to the brass alloy used in the earbud bodies, which is similar to brass used in musical instruments such as saxophones.

The company describes the treble as sparkly and detailed without becoming overly dry or aggressive, while the midrange is the main focus, with vocals presented prominently but without pushing the rest of the instruments too far into the background.

Bass is also said to have good note definition, making individual bass notes easy to follow, while the deeper low frequencies remain smooth and controlled. AcousticTone also highlights the version’s ability to convey positional information, including instrument placement in music and footsteps in games.

The Plate Copper version takes a warmer and more relaxed approach. According to AcousticTone, the copper coating results in a smoother presentation that is easier to listen to for longer periods.

Its treble is softer, particularly in the uppermost frequencies, and less aggressive than the Pure Solid Brass version. The midrange is described as thicker, fuller and warmer, making it particularly suited to vocal-focused music.

The bass is also warmer and softer, with less emphasis on individual note definition and more on overall body and warmth.

In other words, AcousticTone appears to be positioning the two versions as distinctly different listening experiences rather than simply offering two cosmetic finishes: Pure Solid Brass for a more defined, detailed and technically focused presentation, and Plate Copper for a warmer, smoother and more relaxed sound.

Specifications:

  • Driver: 15 mm driver with carbon membrane
  • Sensitivity: 120 dB
  • Shell material: brass
  • Cable: hybrid copper
  • Cable length: 120 cm
  • Connection: detachable MMCX
  • Plug: 3.5 mm copper, gold-plated

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AcousticTone is one of Thailand’s more unconventional boutique audio manufacturers. Founded around a passion for handmade audio, the company has experimented with unusual materials and manufacturing techniques, including its own metal-coating process for driver diaphragms. It has also previously announced the world’s first-ever stone-bodied earbuds, making this new brass project feel very much in line with the company’s experimental approach.

For flathead enthusiasts, this is definitely a model worth keeping an eye on — especially with only 200 pairs being made.

Photo credit: AcousticTone.