Upcoming Electrostatz-based heaphone range – exclusive!

Mitchell and Johnson New 2016 Headphone Range  ·  Source: Mitchell and Johnson

Mitchell and Johnson GL1 stereo headphones  ·  Source: Mitchell and Johnson

Mitchell and Johnson GL2 stereo headphones  ·  Source: Mitchell and Johnson

Mitchell and Johnson MJ1 stereo headphones  ·  Source: Mitchell and Johnson

Mitchell and Johnson MJ2 audiophile headphones  ·  Source: Mitchell and Johnson

Mitchell and Johnson JP1 DJ/Live/Pro headphones  ·  Source: Mitchell and Johnson

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New kids on the hi-fi block Mitchell and Johnson have told gearnews about an upcoming new range of five new headphones, using, no less, electret technology coupled with a 40mm driver! The makers are using Electrostatz technology to achieve this. The first model to boast this new technology, the GL2SE, and was available via their Kickstarter campaign and is still the only model listed on their website. These 5 new units are said to cater for all market sectors, including DJ’s and the pro audio community.

Electrostatz Technology

Electrostatic technology in headphones was developed a long time ago, but with the original tech requiring high voltage amplification they weren’t practical or cheap. Original electrostatic transducers required a separate power supply and this made them heavy and not very portable. Mitchell and Johnson, however, are utilising a recent development by Electrostatz, who build electrostatic transducers which can operate on the power provided by any modern headphone amp, including those on iPhones and mp3 players. No additional power source or amplification is needed.

Mitchell and Johnson say that the benefits are distortion-free sound with a frequency response as high as 50kHz. Supposedly, these electrostatic transducers aren’t prone to the same flaws that traditional paper or plastic driver cones are including driver break-up. They should apparently last longer too, offering the same response for life.

As these electrostatic drivers only have a high frequency response, Mitchell and Johnson have coupled them with a traditional 40mm headphone driver for the lower frequencies as seen above. Mitchell and Johnson also report that they are able to ‘factory-tune’ this tech so that they can tweak the sound to suit each intended market. See below for the new models which are due to be launched in a matter of weeks, each offering different price options and purposes.

The upcoming Mitchell and Johnson headphone range in full

Here’s some official information from Mitchell and Johnson for Gearnews.com about the new models:

• Lightweight portable design
• Polymer enclosure
• Modern bass tuned response
• Specification:
  Frequency Response: 12 to 30,000Hz
  Sound Pressure level: 110dB
  Impedance: 32 ohms
  Acoustic System: Closed back
  Total harmonic Distortion: <=0.5%
• Include carry bag and 1⁄4” to 1⁄2” adaptor
• UK retail price: 149 GBP

GL2 stereo headphones

• Lightweight portable design
• Real walnut wood enclosure
• Naturally tuned response
• Specification:
  Frequency Response: 12 to 40,000Hz
  Sound Pressure level: 115dB
  Impedance: 32 ohms
  Acoustic System: Closed back
  Total harmonic Distortion: <=0.5%
• Include carry bag and 1⁄4” to 1⁄2” adaptor
• UK retail price: 249 GBP

MJ1 stereo headphones

• Over-ear design
• Real walnut wood enclosure
• 3 Detachable Cables included
• Naturally tuned response
• Specification:
  Frequency Response: 6 to 40,000Hz
  Sound Pressure level: 115dB
  Impedance: 32 ohms
  Acoustic System: Closed back
  Total harmonic Distortion: <=0.4%
• Include carry bag and 1⁄4” to 1⁄2” adaptor
• UK retail price: 349 GBP

MJ2 audiophile headphones

• Over-ear design
• Real cherry wood enclosure
• Detachable Cable included
• Naturally tuned response
• Specification:
  Frequency Response: 6 to 50,000Hz
  Sound Pressure level: 120dB
  Impedance: 32 ohms
  Acoustic System: Closed back
  Total harmonic Distortion: <=0.1%
• Includes protective case and 1⁄4” to 3.5mm adaptor
• UK retail price: 499 GBP

JP1 DJ/Live/Pro headphones

This all sounds really interesting and I of course commend the fresh approach implemented here. I also think the headphones look great and the prices seem competitive, given the new technology at play, as long as they really perform as well as their maker promises. Having heard the pleasant and detailed sound of the prototypes last year, I am really curious to hear these. However, the initial question in my mind is how ‘pro’ the pro model sounds. Do they all have that coloured audiophile, hi-fi-type sound? We’ll see…

More Information at the Mitchell and Johnson website

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