sordidman
New Head-Fier
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- Jul 7, 2001
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REVIEW: Corda Headamp & Sennheiser HD600
PREFACE, WHO I AM and WHAT ARE MY GOALS: I add this as I believe that before I get started, - I should point out that I believe that there is no objective right and wrong with reviewing equipment. Since music and music making equipment is an art form, there is no one recognized standard of what constitutes a “good.” The best that we can do is define who we are and what we like. From that point, the reader that can “interpret” the reviewers comments in relation to what they like. For example, since I listen to and like very little Classical or Country music, I don’t expect that any musical system that I purchase would be concerned with how Classical or Country music sounds on that system. That is not to say that the systems that I like can’t do a good job reproducing Classical or Country music, - it’s just that I am not going to care if my system can reproduce these genres.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I must say that it’s silly to even try to be objective. I am a musician, songwriter and producer. I am very much a fan of British experimental pop music. Currently I listen to a lot of modern dance/lounge, techno-jazz music. I am a fan of British post-punk rock music. I am going to like musical systems that re-produce this type of music well. I also contend that there are not many systems, -especially budget systems, - that produce both post-punk rock and classical music well. If you don’t like this type of music, or don’t want systems that achieve these goals, - this review still could be useful, - if you keep in mind my prejudices and predilections.
Given the above facts, - when I listen to a music reproduction system, - I listen for an accurate reproduction of the music and noise that the musician makes. (I realize that this also can be a very subjective interpretation). It is important to me to hear the AGGRESSIVE attack of the musicians and their instruments whenever the musicians are being aggressive. In a lot of ways, this sometimes means uncolored or “rough-edged” highs. It’s also been my experience that in order to be even more aggressive, - many British bands or many British influenced bands also purposely record their music brighter. (This of course, is a generalization, and not always applicable).
MY GOAL and SYSTEM: I received my Corda Headamp & HD600s and have been burning them for over 150 hours so far. I also have Merlin TSM millennium bookshelf speakers on B&W speaker stands supported by 16 SSC pucks. I use Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cable bi-wired with Harmonic Technology Pro Silway MKII interconnects from my Mark Levinson 383 Integrated amp off to my Arcam FMJ CD23 CDP. I have the Corda Headamp connected directly to output 2 of the CDP via Tara Labs Prime Generation II interconnects. I use Aurios under the CDP. I also listen in the very near-field. I sit only 8 ft. back from my speakers. My goal is to have my headphone system sound exactly like my main system sounds through the speakers. In a lot of ways, I find now that this may be somewhat of a paltry ambition.
THE MEAT: Listening to the headphones with the Corda’s crossfeed feature on its lowest setting I find the system to be substantially darker sounding than my main system. I get a much lower bass extension and the whole spectrum of music sounds much darker. I still feel as though I am getting high end out of the system, - but it doesn’t have that “air” around the highs that I get with my Levinson/Merlin combination. On Diana Krall’s “all or nothing at all,” the hollow body guitar has more weight and body, - but Diana Krall’s vocal has less detail. One just does not hear all of her spits and lip pops and breathing that is evident through the speakers. I also hear a little less sustain from notes that seem to last longer through the speakers. Overall, I would characterize the HD600s/Corda as being smoother than my main system. Listening to Talvin Singh’s “Songs from the Asian Underground,” I find that the tabla attack on “Distant God” is much less aggressive than on my main system. The tabla on that song is very aggressive and bright, - you can picture the musician really smacking his fingers into the instrument. With the HD600/Corda system, the tabla is noticeably more mellow and you hear it much further in the backround, it simply is less “in your face.” This “laid back” character of the HD600s/Corda system may be largely due to the HD600s. Everything that I’ve read and heard about the Corda is that it is very neutral. Perhaps I need to hear the HD590? Of course, I recognize that there are those who may think that the solid state Corda is not laid back at all, - but aggressive and abrasive. I don’t want to argue the point beyond saying that the HD600/Corda system is darker than my main system.
As far as ease of use, comfort and build quality is concerned, - I consider the HD600/Corda system to be beyond reproach. There really isn’t much point in discussing the fact that the phones and amp are comfortable, durable, well constructed and will last a long time. One negative is that there’s no remote with the Corda, - but that’s a minor point, - especially considering the price. The Crossfeed feature is excellent and very quiet. On a very positive note, - the HD600 headphone cable detaches very easily for ease of replacement and if you happen to step on the cable.
FULL RANGE OR NO?: Sometimes listening to my main system with speakers, - I get a little thought that my system is inaccurate and too bright. Even though I like a lot of music that is perhaps intended to be aggressive and bright, - I get the feeling that I’m may be missing something. Perhaps as I move on, I may want to find a more “full range” system. Listening to systems in HiFi stores, - they are almost always more mellow and darker. Also, with some techno music that I listen to, - I get the feeling that the intention of the musician is to get out more bass than what my system is producing. As I listen more and more, I enjoy very much the detail that I achieve, - but can I get that same detail along with a more holographic soundstage and not possibly be missing some intended low end? As I ask myself these questions, - so too must I ask myself, should I keep my HD600s and get more full range main speakers? The answer is not an easy one. Finally, I do think that it’s pretty important to match up your headphone system to your main system. I can’t imagine anyone not being bothered by having each system sound different. I find myself listening and then all of a sudden finding that it’s late. In order to not disturb folks, - I shut off the Levinson and listen to my headphones. It’s more than a little disconcerting to hear something totally different than what was just heard a moment ago. I do not mean to say that I’m unhappy with my purchase of the HD600/Corda system, - I do mean to say that I’m a little unhappy with the disparity between my two systems.
Thanks for reading. And, I would appreciate very much your constructive criticisms of this review or any suggestions that you may have to help me achieve equality between my systems.
PREFACE, WHO I AM and WHAT ARE MY GOALS: I add this as I believe that before I get started, - I should point out that I believe that there is no objective right and wrong with reviewing equipment. Since music and music making equipment is an art form, there is no one recognized standard of what constitutes a “good.” The best that we can do is define who we are and what we like. From that point, the reader that can “interpret” the reviewers comments in relation to what they like. For example, since I listen to and like very little Classical or Country music, I don’t expect that any musical system that I purchase would be concerned with how Classical or Country music sounds on that system. That is not to say that the systems that I like can’t do a good job reproducing Classical or Country music, - it’s just that I am not going to care if my system can reproduce these genres.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I must say that it’s silly to even try to be objective. I am a musician, songwriter and producer. I am very much a fan of British experimental pop music. Currently I listen to a lot of modern dance/lounge, techno-jazz music. I am a fan of British post-punk rock music. I am going to like musical systems that re-produce this type of music well. I also contend that there are not many systems, -especially budget systems, - that produce both post-punk rock and classical music well. If you don’t like this type of music, or don’t want systems that achieve these goals, - this review still could be useful, - if you keep in mind my prejudices and predilections.
Given the above facts, - when I listen to a music reproduction system, - I listen for an accurate reproduction of the music and noise that the musician makes. (I realize that this also can be a very subjective interpretation). It is important to me to hear the AGGRESSIVE attack of the musicians and their instruments whenever the musicians are being aggressive. In a lot of ways, this sometimes means uncolored or “rough-edged” highs. It’s also been my experience that in order to be even more aggressive, - many British bands or many British influenced bands also purposely record their music brighter. (This of course, is a generalization, and not always applicable).
MY GOAL and SYSTEM: I received my Corda Headamp & HD600s and have been burning them for over 150 hours so far. I also have Merlin TSM millennium bookshelf speakers on B&W speaker stands supported by 16 SSC pucks. I use Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cable bi-wired with Harmonic Technology Pro Silway MKII interconnects from my Mark Levinson 383 Integrated amp off to my Arcam FMJ CD23 CDP. I have the Corda Headamp connected directly to output 2 of the CDP via Tara Labs Prime Generation II interconnects. I use Aurios under the CDP. I also listen in the very near-field. I sit only 8 ft. back from my speakers. My goal is to have my headphone system sound exactly like my main system sounds through the speakers. In a lot of ways, I find now that this may be somewhat of a paltry ambition.
THE MEAT: Listening to the headphones with the Corda’s crossfeed feature on its lowest setting I find the system to be substantially darker sounding than my main system. I get a much lower bass extension and the whole spectrum of music sounds much darker. I still feel as though I am getting high end out of the system, - but it doesn’t have that “air” around the highs that I get with my Levinson/Merlin combination. On Diana Krall’s “all or nothing at all,” the hollow body guitar has more weight and body, - but Diana Krall’s vocal has less detail. One just does not hear all of her spits and lip pops and breathing that is evident through the speakers. I also hear a little less sustain from notes that seem to last longer through the speakers. Overall, I would characterize the HD600s/Corda as being smoother than my main system. Listening to Talvin Singh’s “Songs from the Asian Underground,” I find that the tabla attack on “Distant God” is much less aggressive than on my main system. The tabla on that song is very aggressive and bright, - you can picture the musician really smacking his fingers into the instrument. With the HD600/Corda system, the tabla is noticeably more mellow and you hear it much further in the backround, it simply is less “in your face.” This “laid back” character of the HD600s/Corda system may be largely due to the HD600s. Everything that I’ve read and heard about the Corda is that it is very neutral. Perhaps I need to hear the HD590? Of course, I recognize that there are those who may think that the solid state Corda is not laid back at all, - but aggressive and abrasive. I don’t want to argue the point beyond saying that the HD600/Corda system is darker than my main system.
As far as ease of use, comfort and build quality is concerned, - I consider the HD600/Corda system to be beyond reproach. There really isn’t much point in discussing the fact that the phones and amp are comfortable, durable, well constructed and will last a long time. One negative is that there’s no remote with the Corda, - but that’s a minor point, - especially considering the price. The Crossfeed feature is excellent and very quiet. On a very positive note, - the HD600 headphone cable detaches very easily for ease of replacement and if you happen to step on the cable.
FULL RANGE OR NO?: Sometimes listening to my main system with speakers, - I get a little thought that my system is inaccurate and too bright. Even though I like a lot of music that is perhaps intended to be aggressive and bright, - I get the feeling that I’m may be missing something. Perhaps as I move on, I may want to find a more “full range” system. Listening to systems in HiFi stores, - they are almost always more mellow and darker. Also, with some techno music that I listen to, - I get the feeling that the intention of the musician is to get out more bass than what my system is producing. As I listen more and more, I enjoy very much the detail that I achieve, - but can I get that same detail along with a more holographic soundstage and not possibly be missing some intended low end? As I ask myself these questions, - so too must I ask myself, should I keep my HD600s and get more full range main speakers? The answer is not an easy one. Finally, I do think that it’s pretty important to match up your headphone system to your main system. I can’t imagine anyone not being bothered by having each system sound different. I find myself listening and then all of a sudden finding that it’s late. In order to not disturb folks, - I shut off the Levinson and listen to my headphones. It’s more than a little disconcerting to hear something totally different than what was just heard a moment ago. I do not mean to say that I’m unhappy with my purchase of the HD600/Corda system, - I do mean to say that I’m a little unhappy with the disparity between my two systems.
Thanks for reading. And, I would appreciate very much your constructive criticisms of this review or any suggestions that you may have to help me achieve equality between my systems.
