I hope you won’t object if I ramble on a bit and add my impressions. Thanks to Dan Clark, and Mark Dolbear of Electromod in the UK, I have had the pleasure of the MrSpeakers Voce at home for a few days. It is a production model with a few hours on the clock. I am told that it would be good if they were run in for a few weeks - so early days for these.
I was joined on one day by “Bonesy Jonesy” and we had available his BHSE and 009, my KGBH and my KGSShv Carbons. Other Earspeakers were 007Mk1 and the new Voce. All the amplifiers drove all the headphones with ease. (400 volt, 18-20mA OP stage current).
All the amplifiers sounded similar in that these KG designs are all very good amplifiers. A sense of power, clarity, wide soundstage and good separation of instruments, voices etc.
The ES headphones however, sound very different. There are immediately obvious differences between 007Mk1, Voce and 009. I wouldn’t presume to tell you which is the most accurate or whatever. None of these was exactly the same as a live concert whether rock or classical but headphones provide a personal subjective experience so you choose what you prefer.
The market for ES equipment has been led by Stax for many years and for many/most that is all listeners know. The Voce is different and it is a very welcome addition to the market which can help to increase the choice and popularity of this excellent transducer type.
I can imagine that some Stax users with top tier stuff would find the Voce so different that it could be dismissed as underwhelming but the 009 ‘s presentation sometimes seems too “larger than life” to me. I would say the Voce has a smaller soundstage and I do like the more intimate type of presentation of the Voce a lot. It is a welcome alternative. If I had not heard or owned Stax I would be approaching things with an open mind.
I find the Voce very comfortable. It also has a clever storage case/stand.
The weights of the headphones with cable supported;
Voce 390gm, 007Mk1 and 009 similar at around 410gm.
On the immediate sonic impressions:
The 009 has highest perceived efficiency and produces a big soundstage and lots of bass.
The 007 needs a few db more drive but is warmer with a fat bass.
The Voce also needs a few more db and produces a tidy, more intimate soundstage. I enjoyed the tone and clarity of instruments and voices.
Because my amplifiers have precise stepped attenuators, I can say that I would normally listen at around 10 o’clock (-40dB). With the 007 and Voce I used 4-6dB less attenuation and for the Voce a little bass boost around 60 -120-320 Hz.
PS. I used ripped CD to flac files, Arcam D33 DAC. Output balanced 2.2v rms.
PS. I have today fired up my KGST (400v 10mA) with similar results at normal listening levels.
