I should have been included in that PM. That's how my turn worked.I'm next in the queue for your demo unit, @interweb-tech. I replied to the Dekoni PM requesting my info on Thursday. Hopefully they'll pass it along, soon.
They are asking you for tracking info., but it seems they forgot to include you in the PM where they ask my address and are asking form info.
Thx.
My loaner Dekoni Blue is boxed up and ready to go to the Post Office tomorrow. As much as I would love to keep them forever, it's time to spread the joy.
So what did I think about them?
Well, after listening to Dekoni, it was a story of 2 headphones. My initial impressions was - wow, the Blues SUCK! Why would they be putting them out on tour -- Bass is bloated and plodding. Highs are shrill and strident. Mids were recessed and breaks-up periodically. Soundstage was narrow and congested. I began to think these were either defective or the other reviewers were being far too generous in their assessment. WELL, I WAS WRONG!! ...
All this changed when I switched from the Schiit Valhalla 2 tube amplifier to my Schiit Lyr 3 tube hybrid amp. Seems the Valhalla 2 being an OTL tube amplifier is VERY particular about headphones and the DB was not a match made in heaven given it is a low impedance HP. Not the Dekoni Blue's fault -- heck any low impedance Planar would suffer the same fate. At 50 ohms Valhalla 2 puts out .18 watts and with a 93db sensitivity, the Fostex variants are just not going to play at a nice level without the amp being driven to soft clipping. The Lyr 3 however, would drive the DB's at a very potent 4 watts of power -- night and day difference!! So after rectifying the situation and moving to the Lyr 3, what did I think? (I did not use the provided Fostex amp)
Sound: The Dekoni Blues were a good listen. They are a mildly warm HP with a nice bass punch that digs deep. While the bass is a bit pronounced, it never really impedes on the clarity of the mids, which while slightly recessed, are clear and detailed giving instruments air and space. The highs were now nicely present and crisp without sounding etched or strident. The soundstage, although not as wide as open back HPs, was moderately wide extending outside the head. Sound isolation was very good for a semi-open, doing a good job of keeping music out of the room and the room out of the music. Their sound signature forms a slight 'U' and as for flaws in their reproduction of music, well there was really none that would cause any concern (All of my listening was with the Dekoni Elite Hybrid pads.)
Comfort: The Dekoni Blues are very comfortable. Even after extended listening, I was not fatigued. They adjusted easily and the ear pads were comfortable with no undue heat or discomfort. They are well built and seem very durable.
Note: I did do some comparisons between the HD6XX and the Dekoni Blues, but most was when the DB's were used with Valhalla 2. I did compare briefly with Lyr 3 but due to time constraints, it was not nearly as thorough. I can say that the HD6XX does have a more neutral sound and comparatively, is not as 'exciting' to listen to as the Dekonis. The HD6XX being open back, does have a wider soundstage and since it is a more neutral HP it does lend itself better to unamplified instruments such as acoustic guitar, piano, etc. The Dekonis do a good job across the board, but are definitely more 'energetic' and do a fabulous job with electric guitar, EDM, etc. Vocals were nice on both, although the HD6XX sometimes did exhibit the mystical 'Sennheiser Veil' that made it seem a tiny bit less clear.
Closing: Once matched with the proper amp I have no problems in recommending the Dekoni Blues. They have a very engaging sound that is very appealing and lends itself to prolonged listening without audio fatigue. They are also comfortable allowing for extended listening sessions without needing to take a break to rest the head or cool the ears. At their selling price, they are very easy to recommend and will not disappoint.
Well what do you know -- I just wrote my first review!!
(sorry for any typos -- watching the Cowboy game while typing this.)
Wait, you have that fantastic of a posts:likes ratio, and this is your first ever headphone review? Well, you did a great job! It’s easy to see why you get so many likesMy loaner Dekoni Blue is boxed up and ready to go to the Post Office tomorrow. As much as I would love to keep them forever, it's time to spread the joy.
So what did I think about them?
Well, after listening to Dekoni, it was a story of 2 headphones. My initial impressions was - wow, the Blues SUCK! Why would they be putting them out on tour -- Bass is bloated and plodding. Highs are shrill and strident. Mids were recessed and breaks-up periodically. Soundstage was narrow and congested. I began to think these were either defective or the other reviewers were being far too generous in their assessment. WELL, I WAS WRONG!! ...
All this changed when I switched from the Schiit Valhalla 2 tube amplifier to my Schiit Lyr 3 tube hybrid amp. Seems the Valhalla 2 being an OTL tube amplifier is VERY particular about headphones and the DB was not a match made in heaven given it is a low impedance HP. Not the Dekoni Blue's fault -- heck any low impedance Planar would suffer the same fate. At 50 ohms Valhalla 2 puts out .18 watts and with a 93db sensitivity, the Fostex variants are just not going to play at a nice level without the amp being driven to soft clipping. The Lyr 3 however, would drive the DB's at a very potent 4 watts of power -- night and day difference!! So after rectifying the situation and moving to the Lyr 3, what did I think? (I did not use the provided Fostex amp)
Sound: The Dekoni Blues were a good listen. They are a mildly warm HP with a nice bass punch that digs deep. While the bass is a bit pronounced, it never really impedes on the clarity of the mids, which while slightly recessed, are clear and detailed giving instruments air and space. The highs were now nicely present and crisp without sounding etched or strident. The soundstage, although not as wide as open back HPs, was moderately wide extending outside the head. Sound isolation was very good for a semi-open, doing a good job of keeping music out of the room and the room out of the music. Their sound signature forms a slight 'U' and as for flaws in their reproduction of music, well there was really none that would cause any concern (All of my listening was with the Dekoni Elite Hybrid pads.)
Comfort: The Dekoni Blues are very comfortable. Even after extended listening, I was not fatigued. They adjusted easily and the ear pads were comfortable with no undue heat or discomfort. They are well built and seem very durable.
Note: I did do some comparisons between the HD6XX and the Dekoni Blues, but most was when the DB's were used with Valhalla 2. I did compare briefly with Lyr 3 but due to time constraints, it was not nearly as thorough. I can say that the HD6XX does have a more neutral sound and comparatively, is not as 'exciting' to listen to as the Dekonis. The HD6XX being open back, does have a wider soundstage and since it is a more neutral HP it does lend itself better to unamplified instruments such as acoustic guitar, piano, etc. The Dekonis do a good job across the board, but are definitely more 'energetic' and do a fabulous job with electric guitar, EDM, etc. Vocals were nice on both, although the HD6XX sometimes did exhibit the mystical 'Sennheiser Veil' that made it seem a tiny bit less clear.
Closing: Once matched with the proper amp, I have no problems in recommending the Dekoni Blues. They have a very engaging sound that is very appealing and lends itself to prolonged listening without audio fatigue. They are also comfortable allowing for extended listening sessions without needing to take a break to rest the head or cool the ears. At their selling price, they are very easy to recommend and will not disappoint.
Well what do you know -- I just wrote my first review!!
(sorry for any typos -- watching the Cowboy game while typing this.)
