Here some of my first impressions using the LSA HP-Diamond.
This new headphone from LSA (underwood hi-fi) sells for $1999 which includes delivery anywhere in the world.
My previous experience with LSA was wonderful in the form of the LSA HP-1 (Odin driver in a Thekk casing) which I sold a few months back to a fellow head-fier.
Kennerton does not cut back on much when they create LSA headphones. As a consumer you lose out on the wood choices but that's about it. I've heard from Walter (owner of underwood hi-fi) that a 'dusk' edition of the HP-Diamond will follow by the end of May / begin June 2021.
The delivery of the HP-Diamond is the same as (any) other Kennerton: A cardbox box with the eco-leather carrying case inside. Accompanied by just the cable you will find your priced possession inside the carrying case. Omitted from the LSA box though is the envelop which holds the serial number and proof of authenticity.
The HP-Diamond come with ECL-01 pads pre-installed. These are most likely the emerald lambskin version since they are a lot smoother and supple then any other Kennerton I have ever had.
The full line-up of LSA headphones:
- HP-3 equal to Kennerton Magni V3
- HP-2 equal to Kennerton Gjallarhorn
- HP-1 Odin driver in a Thekk housing
- HP-Diamond equal to Kennerton Wodan 2021
My station:
My listening is done by using FLAC files from CD's I own myself, the FLAC files are played using my self written music player JSMusicDB (
https://www.arielext.org for a very brief explanation, though we are not here for free spam
) and fed to a RME ADI-2 DAC fs. For these impressions no peq was set. Using a balanced connection I prefer to use the Audio-GD Master 19 as main amp. This amp has too much power but can deliver a wider and more holographic soundstage compared to the RME amp. An 8 core UP-OCC cable is using using Neutrik/Rean plugs and soldered with Cardass silver solder (I tend to make most cables myself).
Now on to the sound and I want to do this by describing the technicalities first and then give an example of the music I used to determine the outcome.
Soundstage:
Soundstage is relatively wide and the outmost left/right sounds will have the feeling to live just outside of the cups.
Bass:
Bass is rolled-off and has some struggle to "dig down" (see example). Compared to dynamic headphones like the Focal Clear you get the feeling you missing out on something. While that is a con is also has a benefit: deep bass can become fatiguing, the HP-Diamond is never fatiguing!
Mids:
Ah voices. A highlight of these headphones! Mids are neutral and natural. The presence is near perfect and combined with the speed of the driver these can give a magical experience if the recording allows it. Riverside's frontman (Mariusz Duda) has a dreamy voice which is portrayed beautifully in their song "River down below"
Female voices might even be better on the HP-Diamond and to repeat myself: the Diamond is capable of a magical experience, you just need to find a recording that can do it justice. If Anneke van Giersbergen reads the phonebook I will still order a copy of it
In this example she accompanies Tomi Joutsen who just happens to be on my list-of-great-voices as well
Highs:
Again a roll-off but my ears are starting to show their age as well. It's non offensive and less piercing then for example the Focal Clear. I was struggling to find a good example till I remembered those high notes of "Chocolate chip trip" by Tool. It's a good annoying *beep* in your right ear every 3 seconds. Annoying at ~ 9khz/10khz, annoying as just a sine wave. but never offensive.
p.s. The HP-Diamond makes you feel those deep drum notes, just not as intense as some other headphones can.
Hope you liked this take on the headphones a bit
Oh I did try ECL-02 pads on these and .... no. They suck out the life out of these headphones, just like their Kennerton twins: the Wodan.
we wait patiently for your feed back
