2020 Kennerton Thekk (Version W or 1.2)

Let me start with... My headphones are now finally warmed up after some 100+ hours of break in. For NAY SAYERS out there who think the need for drivers to break in or "warm up" is questionable let me put that to rest right now - you just don't know how important break in/warm up is for drivers, planar or electrostatics ... case in point...

My door bell rings, I open the package very carefully- my Thekks have arrived! (which only took 5 days to arrive from Russia to NY by the way-pretty awesome). I was like a kid in a candy store... or a teenager receiving his first kiss... I was like... well you get the point. I was excited. So excited I didn't think...I didn't think or wait for them to acclimate to my room. Upon removing them from the box and within the first 1 min of me hooking the cold Thekks in I freaked out! The planar drivers were certainly cold from being outside and in the UPS delivery truck and I thought something was wrong with the planar film as it crinkled when I turned up the volume! "OH MY GAD I GOT A BROKEN PAIR!" I THOUGHT...
At this point I was talking out loud really.... "CR&P!...how can they be broken? but they are so pretty! oh no please don't be broken! " but alas after just five minutes of playing music nervously- the planar drivers stretched out or stretched in and sounded perfect- no weird noises what so ever- even when turned up- I was freaking but then figured it out. I realized they really do need to flex when they are cold. I surmised it’s like the strings on a guitar and then tuning it up. The sound initially after some play time- they hit me with all the musicality and oomph I expect at this price range.
NOW I AM SAYING "Oh WOW" .. but for different reasons- "THESE SOUND SUBLIME. HOW THE HECK DOES KENNERTON NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!" and then in my inner voice... I am thinking to myself... "Why isn't he (owner of Kennerton - Valentin Kazanzhi) a gazillionaire by now! or world wide famous?? he still answers my emails... who is this nutty professor and where did he come from? I hope he/Kennerton never changes or sells out!" I am thinking all this pretty much at the same time.
As I am exploring the contents of the soft eco-leather matterial zip carry case- looking for Russian Rubels but all I see inside are the cables, headphones and carry strap - better than rubels I think... I'M SMITTEN ALL OVER AGAIN LIKE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT MY KENNERTON MAGNI and opened the box... and yes I still very much think Kennerton is the best thing out right now- best looks, best prices and best custom heirloom quality - nothing like the mass produced "plastic" or "heirloom type quality" headphones... these go beyond heirloom headphones- they are a statement in what and how people decide to live and buy with their dollars/ruble /euros etc...'I like bespoke hand made one at a time stuff with out being taken to the cleaners price wise, and I want cutting edge technology.' That's what I think Kennerton offers beyond other brands.



As I type I am thinking.... 'How the heck didn't I ever hear of this brand before,' what if I never tried my first Russian made Kennerton some nearly 9 moths ago when CoVID-19 just started- what if CoVID19 never was around (wouldn't that be a better world), would I have found Kennerton at all? I'm not sure and I do not want to think of it other than I am ever grateful and thankful I did find Kennerton- I digress...


These Thekks are coming close to exceeding anything I have heard to date in this range ... I think I covet them already (less than half a week old). I see these THEKKS as one of my top go to headphone for listening and when I am not using them; proudly display them in my home on the fireplace mantel for all to see. They are like a TROPHY of excellence and great engineering with remarkable good looks. I feel like these were made just for me and fit me perfectly both in appearance, and in sound. How can I put a price on that achievement so few things I buy fail to do?


Like fine food you do want to share with family- at least that would be my upbringing as an Italian. So share and let others in my family listen I did- my daughter listened, my mom and my wife... all of them said the same kind of thing I am thinking- "I like these best" daddy, son and honey (you try and figure out who said what to me)... and this at only at 20 hours in...


I do prefer the Thekks without EQ since they are balanced and I like the stock sound but some people may want to know how the Thekks handle EQ. I experimented with the PEACE APO plug in EQ - and unlike my cherished Sennheiser HD600 (paired with the very necessary Bottlehead Crack OTL w/sb) or Stax SR-Lambdas w/ The SRM1Mk2 - which can handle only a little bit of push or pull of EQ - the THEKKS can handle very good amounts of EQ I would say similar to dynamic headphones or even speakers if one so desired- sometimes I like to EQ poorly recorded songs or news/pod casts and the Thekks will let you eq as much as necessary without a problem in high medium and low regions- remarkable.

NOT ALL IS ROSEY: I will say I do not particularly love the cable- I may plan on buying a new one that is more flexible- ask Kennerton which cable would fit the bill if you felt the need for more flexibility. I cannot however, recommend a better sounding cable at this time- as the included cable that come with the Kennerton is very musical and I see no need to change or alter the sound right now since they sound fine stock. The headband is microphonic IF you touch it or play with it while they are on your head- so don't try to play your headphone band instead play the headphones through your amp and stop touching the metal headband- unless that's your thing. My wife clinks on it to get my attention - so there is that feature. Comfort- I can easily wear these for many many hours without any part of my head, neck or ears hurting at all- its balanced and light, easy to wear and comfortable.



My Thekks are straightforward to own - I don’t see a need for much else in my stable at this time for an open back statement piece - at least by looking at other headphones on the market at present. They may not have as much bass as the Meze EMPYREAN but they are very close to their bass yet beat them in nearly all other criteria. The THEKKS may not be the stark crazy detailed of a Focal Utopia - and thank goodness for that - these are much better at listenability and sounding like pure music at its best. You do hear the details nearly as clearly as the Focal but you don’t focus on that alone and you definitely don’t get any listener fatigue at all with the Thekks- you just sit back and listen- and know it really doesn’t get much better than this- very satisfying.


Lastly: I get it if some people think I am a bit too amorous - but I stand behind my every word- if you ever get a chance to experience Kennerton even just the Magni's to put your feet (ummm ear) in and test the waters- you may just get it - other wise you are taking my and others who have tried and expressed their views on what it is like to own a Kennerton.



and I absolutely... love that color its like a chameleon... always changing colors of deep ocean blue and a bit of yellow and deep purple then dark blue again- it depends on how the light shines and reflects on it- did i make the right choice in color- yea I think so...

Russians are known for sending the first man to outer space

Russian's are Known for their Vodka

and...

Russians are known for their very pretty woman





I think Russians will now be known for creating heirloom quality and cutting edge sound with Kennerton Headphones... there really is nothing else like them in the world. We live in a time and are witnessing the growth and shift in the headphone world... not mass produced, not rushed or compromised in anyway...

Thanks for reading my review on this headphone. If you couldn't tell to sum up-
This is my personal open back near end game headphone- you could spend more but you will not get more.

Peace and be safe. Message me anytime.