Would be nice if someone who spoke french, would translate some of that stuff... Googletranslate stuff is annoying to read. Most of the technical stuff never translates that well...
Here is a try of translation of the Frédéric review:
« Monday July 27, at home of my friend Pierre, I have tested the amp Egoista, finally in a quiet environment, but also the Odin headphone which I must say I was particularly impressed.
Equipment used:
Source:
- DAC: 3D Lab SRC MKII Millenium
- Network Player: QAT RS3
Amplification
- Viva 845 egoista
Headphones
- The LCD-X Audeze
- The JPS Labs Abyss
- The Odin Kennerton
Features headphoness:
Audeze LCDX:
Type: open headphones
Driver: Planar magnetic
Frequency response: 5Hz - 20kHz
Impedance: 20 ohms
Sensitivity: 95dB / 1mW
Weight: 600g
JPS A / B 1266 Abyss:
Type: open headphones
Driver: Planar magnetic
Frequency response: 5 Hz to 28 KHz
Impedance: 46 ohms
Sensitivity: 85dB / 1mW
Weight: 660g
Kennerton Odin:
Type: open headphones
Driver: Planar magnetic
Frequency response: 15Hz - 50kHz
Impedance: 35 ohms
Sensitivity: 104dB / 1mW
Odin headphone:
The wait finally over, I can touch the famous headphone and I'm not disappointed.
Firstly there is virtually no plastic which makes a truly sustainable Odin helmet. Darker wood cuts on the many photos are finely worked, the headset setting is very clever and exudes solidity. The pads are really nice and perforated front.
The Odin headphone does well with less pressure than a LCDX for example. The cable also appears to have been carefully constructed (nothing to do with that of the LCDX)
Globally we are facing at a really well thought out product, with a finish clearly high-end.
Choosing among the many music used in my testing:
Benjamin Clementine: Winston Churchill's boy
Chabrier: Espana
Schindler's List
Listening; Odin comparison, LCDX / Odin, Abyss
Benjamin Clementine: Winston Churchill's boy.
Benjamin Clementine, is an English singer-songwriter
At 22, he left London to try his luck in Paris. He was spotted in 2012 while playing in the métro4,5.
His music is influenced by classical and sometimes compared to Nina Simone and Antony Hegarty4 although he owes his musical vocation Erik Satie6.
Having signed a contract with the Behind Records label, he released two singles and an album.
He sings and plays the piano for a Burberry fashion show in 2014.
He also participated in the Francofolies de La Rochelle in June 2013, Transmusicales Rennes in December 2013, as well as at Montreux Jazz Festival and the Festival of the Old Plough in July 2014.
He won the 2015 Victory music revelation scene.
My assessment begins with the LCDX then I pass rapidly over Odin, phew ... the differences are really important!
My first comment relates to the space occupied by the two headphones, on the LCDX the listener is in second row with Odin we are more fourth row.
The second point, the voice of Benjamin Clementine on Odin is a dazzling clarity, surgical precision without ever going into the game in a sterile high resolution, it is still damn right.
The headphone is not here in a technical demonstration, it only restores all the information it receives, and this is clearly listened, the headphone goes down low, with an impressive impact. On this point the LCDX appears bloated, but also untidy ; on the top of the spectrum the LCDX still is not at the party ; Odin goes higher, with a electrostatic accents.
Finally: Odin descends lower, go up higher, has more resolutions, transients are faster ; short, Audeze is literally overwhelmed by the new arrival!
For the rest, things get complicated. For our champion, for example, the mid-range of Odin is simply more resolving than the Abyss, to the point that I do not know that of a single magnetic Planar proposing such a resolution! For cons, I read some reports account that speaks of a blur of the Abyss compared to Odin. I totally disagree with this comment.
Certainly Odin has more resolution, more isolated things, but Abyss also features a high resolution, and it is certainly no blur, even in the face of Odin.
I close with the top of the spectrum; Odin again scores points, more air, more clear ; short, it puts in trouble once again the Abyss.
In conclusion, Winston Churchill's boy Benjamin Clementine, also of great artistic quality of course but also due to the actual recording, Abyss is abused, as there never was (except probably the SR 009, and yet). The voice is well emphasized, it is perfectly to prefer Odin.
Personally I choose yet the Abyss for his great image and consistency, but it does not play much more.
Chabrier: Espana :
Alexis Emmanuel Chabrier was a French Romantic composer. Although primarily known for two of his orchestral works, España and Joyeuse Marche, he composed numerous operas, piano pieces and songs. His designs, high quality, were admired by many composers as Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Richard Strauss or Stravinsky.
España was written following the Chabrier living in Spain in autumn 1882 with his wife and family; composer there was delighted by the Spanish and Andalusian music. Back in Paris, he promised the conductor Charles Lamoureux he would write a play with Spanish accents that would stand up and embrace the people in the audience! Thus he wrote this piece, inspired by the melodies, rhythms and style of this music. Although initially Chabrier mattered write for the piano, he soon realized that he was going to need the brilliance of orchestration, and used all the resources it could provide.
Comparative LCDX, Odin:
On this small masterpiece of Emmanuel Chabrier, at first listen, for me, the Audeze "no seem here overwhelmed" as Winston Churchill's boy Benjamin Clementine. The more frontal and thunderous approach blurs the tracks; However, a closer listen, without repeating the song ten times, shows a clear qualitative advantage in favor of Odin. The instruments are sharper, more identifiable in their placement in space, but also their timbre, dynamic changes, sharp transient, impress. Again he reminds me of my SR 009 with more weight, what is really not easy, to play in the field of electrostatic.
Well I stop there as the headphone is not playing in the same category.
Compare Abyss, Odin:
Two giants on the track in a fight to death. This time, the great specialization of the Abyss serves more than "Winston Churchill's boy" ; the orchestral mass takes a greater dimension on the flagship JPS, the instruments are collected on Odin, but amazing readability, and do not give the feeling of listening in her bathroom, as many headphones are on orchestral.
Both headphones are very fast, but Odin seems more on lightness but with the proper density to Planar, the result is surprising.
Overall I lean more about the Abyss for the opening, his bombastic performance.
But as Odin astonishes me, a man's name, these headphones not kidding !!
The Schindle list "Remembrances" BO John Williams:
John Williams is a composer, conductor and American pianist. He is best known for his film scores. He was responsible for the renewal of symphonic soundtracks with what remains of his most famous work: the music of the Star Wars saga. Resident composer Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Williams has composed over a career spanning nearly sixty years, many of the most famous film scores in Hollywood history. I chose the fabulous passage of title "Remembrances" with Itzhak Perlman.
Comparative LCDX Odin:
Listening and again listening, always the same observation, the LCDX do not follow ; the archer Itzhak Perlman worked wonders on Odin, this sounds pure, clear, devoid of the slightest roughness, I really the feeling of being closer to the truth with Odin where the LCDX seems pasty without this breath of life brings Odin.
Need we say more? except that the LCDX can not much more; Odin is simply on another level.
Compare Abyss, Odin :
This time the confrontation turns more in favor of the Odin. Abyss on the violin seems a little too far, the mid-range loses some of its consistency especially in direct opposition to the Odin. The diabolical precision Kennerton brings a surprising proximity to the provision of Itzhak Perlman, the slightest inflection, changes in the dynamics Odin transcribed. So I will not use the term too often usual "I rediscovered my music" but that all the emotion has seemed more intense than ordinary to me.
Finally on the highest note of the violin, I never felt the slightest hardness. This remains fluid as would an electrostatic. A sensory and emotional experience that does not leave unscathed.
CONCLUSION:
As a preamble to my conclusion, I thank Peter for his hospitality but also for allowing me to test this equipment outside the norm.
A word about the amp Viva Egoista 845. We were him and me to our third meeting this time in quiet conditions. What can I say, except that I miss superlatives, it is simply the best amp I've ever tested. It combines precision, resolution power with ease. It drive the difficult Planar headphones without any concession and pushes Abyss into its retrenchments, showing us the extent of his abilities. The result blew me away !!
For our "Match" LCD X; Odin; Abyss, there were real surprises.
The opposition: LCD X - Odin, the confrontation was cut short. But let us be clear, the Audeze is absolutely not a bad headphone, quite the contrary. He is one of the best. However Kennerton is a different "species", that of the exceptional headphones. The Odin opens more, offers low spectrum with density, vivid, nuanced ; that of LCDX, by comparison, appears more confused with admittedly a little more bass (because has its frontal approach) but less nuanced ; the sub-bass appears with far more sharpness on the Odin. The midrange, like the treble, are extremely readable, and yet, never no hardness touches is hear.
Overall, Odin manages to surpass its competitor on "all" the domains !!
Facing at the "monster" Abyss, the game tightens.
The JPS Abyss has for it, his consistent image, large, with a staging of remarkable sound levels, and a powerful bass, to the dizzying descent; for Odin, a mid-range clear and precise, pure, disturbing realism, and treble near an electrostatic headphones in its vividness
Both headphones are fast ; the Abyss plays more on the side "raw power", more "animal" ; Odin has more "lightness" to the image of an electrostatic with more weight.
In my case I prefer the Abyss.
Its strong points are important in my tracks; however, the Odin with its current price, has no competitor, and I can fully understand that we choose the Odin on Abyss.
The guys at Kennerton have done a remarkable job, with a flawless finish to the product but also the acoustic performance of a very high level; congratulation !!
For my part, I place Odin alongside the Abyss and SR 009, and I confess that I plan seriously to separate me from my loved Stax 009, Odin impressed me so much ; is tell you !!!!
Comparison with other headphones, released recently :
My comments are not based on direct comparisons, are therefore to be taken very cautiously.
Kennerton Odin vs HifiMan HE 1000
Features HifiMan HE 1000
Type: open headphones
Driver: Planar magnetic
Frequency response: 8 Hz - 65kHz
Impedance: 35 ohms
Sensitivity: 90dB / 1mW
The hifiMan HE-1000 made the Buzz for some time, especially on forums across the Atlantic, and of course, I was waiting with "firm foothold". Some of you also know my views on this headphone that I've tested recently.
Facing the supposed "challenger", the Chinese headphone does not pass the first round.
The Odin has more resolution, more consistent picture, I find also faster in transient.
With the Odin we really are a step ahead.
Finally the headphone trim level is quite different, although I appreciate the retro side, the art deco Hifiman, finish leaves much to be desired too, where Kennerton built a headphone with very very little plastic, and really finish fly high.
Kennerton Odin vs ENIGMAcoustics Dharma D1000
Features: ENIGMAcoustics Dharma D1000
Type: open headphones
Driver: Planar magnetic
Frequency response: 15Hz - 50kHz
Impedance: 26 ohms
Sensitivity: 95dB / 1mW
Weight: 380g
The Dharma ENIGMAcoustics D1000 was one of the surprises of the 2015 Munich High End.
The technology used is an electret / dynamic. Dharma uses a small strip of Teflon material for the diaphragm of a high frequency transducer. The diaphragm is self-biasing, which eliminates the need for a high voltage electrostatic polarization headphones, the low and the midrange are reproduced by an electrodynamic transducer, technology strongly recalls the mythical AKG K 340.
On a remote confrontation, Dharma defended quite well, its specialization really impressed me.
On this point it seems to do better than Odin. However it lacks the consistency of the latter. The resolution remains the preserve of Odin. Finally, despite its high frequency transducer, Dharma did not seem to do better than Odin. Of course, a closer examination will confirm or invalidate my feelings.
I finished on finishing rather plain Dharma D1000 without reaching the Odin build quality.
Kennerton Odin vs Pioneer SE Master 1
Features: Pioneer SE Master 1
Type: open headphones
Transducer electrodynamics
Frequency response: 5 Hz to 85 kHz
Impedance: 45 ohms
Sensitivity: 94dB / 1mW
Weight: 460g
Pioneer makes his first headphone a fine performance. Everything has been designed from A to Z.
For example, the aluminum diaphragm 25 microns thick coated with a ceramic coating. The building also has not been neglected with extremely comfortable leather pads and a beautiful finish, Headband offers via two adjusting rods, a strong or medium Clamping. Overall the headphone offers a nice finish.
Despite the Pioneer seems more fragile than Odin.
In terms of sound quality, and some have also pointed out before me, there is a certain kinship with the HD 800. The headphone offers a high resolution but not the "natural" of Odin.
The midrange does not have this fluidity of the Kennerton Odin which on this point really has no competitor. Another note, tiering of sound plans, including on the Symphony, seemed more consistent on the Odin.
Not too want to go (I have the pioneer only since yesterday and I keep it until Friday) the tariff would be closest to the HD 800 it would make it more attractive.
Clearly, Odin scores points over its competitors! »
Original review (in french) by superfred21 (link :
http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/post178592899.html#p178592899)