Kees
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2006
- Posts
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- 26
A few months ago I came across a mention of this new Kenwood flagship on a Japanese site. It was acompanied by some frequency graphs that were very promising (at least I could read that...). Since then there has been some mention on this site, but not much. It stuck in my mind though, for some reason. Possibly because I have very fond memories of the Kenwood receiver I used to have (35 years ago).
Anyway, when I found myself last week with some money to spend (on phones of course), I took the plunge and bought a pair.
They just arrived a couple of hours ago, so I cannot say very much yet, but I think a few first impressions won't hurt.
Out of the box I was very surprised of their sound signatur. The impressions I read had made me believe that these phones would be rather emphasised in the mid-high frequency area and rather lean on bass. The opposite is true.
These have very substantial bass. At first tha bass was very boomy and completely covering the midrange. The highs were distant and tinny. But after a couple of hours the drivers were settled a bit and everything was rearanged to an exceptionally good balance.
This is what I had been hoping for when I saw the graphs, and I was not disappointed!
The first thing that attracted my attention was, even when they were fresh out of the box, their ability to completely draw me into the music from the moment I put them on my head. These are very involving phones. Their overall sound signature is pleasant, open, spacious, friendly. Transparent.
This combined well with my second observation: they are VERY comfortable, only bested by the DX1000.
The fit and finish: Good to very good. As you may expect from $315 phones. No fancy box and no extras.
To give you some perspective of where I am ranking these right now (very preliminary, mind you): I think they sound as I had hoped the DT990 would sound. They succeed (IMO) in every respect the DT990 failed (for me). Nice, extended highs that are not sharp, detailed and dynamic mids that are not recessed, and big bass that is getting better every minute....
Main thing: they keep drawing me into the music and they keep me well away from critical listening, which is a very good thing in my book.
I am one very pleased Headphoneus right now.
And a few pictures of course.
(just two quick crappy shots, I just didn't dare starting this thread without pics
)
Anyway, when I found myself last week with some money to spend (on phones of course), I took the plunge and bought a pair.
They just arrived a couple of hours ago, so I cannot say very much yet, but I think a few first impressions won't hurt.
Out of the box I was very surprised of their sound signatur. The impressions I read had made me believe that these phones would be rather emphasised in the mid-high frequency area and rather lean on bass. The opposite is true.
These have very substantial bass. At first tha bass was very boomy and completely covering the midrange. The highs were distant and tinny. But after a couple of hours the drivers were settled a bit and everything was rearanged to an exceptionally good balance.
This is what I had been hoping for when I saw the graphs, and I was not disappointed!
The first thing that attracted my attention was, even when they were fresh out of the box, their ability to completely draw me into the music from the moment I put them on my head. These are very involving phones. Their overall sound signature is pleasant, open, spacious, friendly. Transparent.
This combined well with my second observation: they are VERY comfortable, only bested by the DX1000.
The fit and finish: Good to very good. As you may expect from $315 phones. No fancy box and no extras.
To give you some perspective of where I am ranking these right now (very preliminary, mind you): I think they sound as I had hoped the DT990 would sound. They succeed (IMO) in every respect the DT990 failed (for me). Nice, extended highs that are not sharp, detailed and dynamic mids that are not recessed, and big bass that is getting better every minute....
Main thing: they keep drawing me into the music and they keep me well away from critical listening, which is a very good thing in my book.
I am one very pleased Headphoneus right now.
And a few pictures of course.
(just two quick crappy shots, I just didn't dare starting this thread without pics