The Dekoni HiFiMAN Cobalt headphones supply the most effective of open and closed-back designs to supply a … [+] light-weight pair of headphones that may deliver music alive.
Dekoni
This month's featured pair of headphones comes from Dekoni, an organization greatest recognized for making a few of the greatest headphone earpads available on the market. Earpads can impression how a pair of headphones can sound. Dekoni has joined forces with HiFiMAN to create a particular model of the Cobalt wired headphones that options two units of earpads for 2 utterly completely different sounds.
The design transient for the Cobalt headphones was to supply a product that was exceptionally light-weight and fantastically snug. To do that, the earcups and body of those massive headphones had been made as mild as attainable through the use of plastic and a small quantity of steel for the yoke.
The result's a pair of headphones that really feel just like the lightest I've ever worn regardless of weighing 318g. The draw back of the light-weight development is the Cobalt headphones don't really feel as luxurious as headphones with extra heft, such because the Focal Elegia. Nonetheless, there's nothing mild concerning the sound of those headphones.
The Dekoni HiFiMAN Cobalt headphones really feel even lighter than their 318g weight. They do not have the … [+] heft of some luxurious headphones however the Cobalts' are all concerning the sound.
Dekoni
The general construct of the Cobalt headphones is nice, with the totally padded headband relieving a few of the weight of the headphones and the consolation degree of the Cobalt headphones is exemplary. These headphones really feel so mild that you just hardly know you're sporting a pair {of professional} closed-back headphones.
Every of the Cobalt's earcups has a 3.5mm mono jack for the detachable headphone cable to be plugged in. The opposite finish of the cable terminates with a stereo 3.5mm jack plug and Dekoni additionally offers a full-sized 6.35mm adapter within the field to be used with a bigger audio system.
The yoke that connects each earcups is made from steel, and every can swivel barely to allow them to suit snuggly on the listener's head with out an excessive amount of clamping strain. The default earpads that ship with the Cobalt are full of sheepskin and coated with leather-based. These are fenestrated earpads, which suggests their masking is perforated with an everyday sample of respiratory holes, which assist to aerate the earpads and hold the ears good and funky.
The Cobalt headphones from Dekoni are rated with an impedance of 160Ω in order that they do want an honest sound … [+] supply to drive them correctly.
Dekoni
Dekoni says the primary 1000 pairs of its Cobalt headphones will ship with a second pair of earpads coated in velour, delivering a distinct sound with much less bass and midrange. Due to the design of the sheepskin Dekoni earpads, these headphones supply a sound that's extra akin to a pair of open headphones. The earpads can minimize out an inexpensive quantity of exterior noise, in order that they have a few of the traits of closed-back headphones.
To my thoughts, the Cobalts supply the most effective qualities of each open and closed-backed headphone designs. They're open sufficient that you would be able to nonetheless hear some sounds they usually do leak a specific amount of music, however not as a lot as a traditional pair of open-backed headphones. I'd say that these are an awesome pair of headphones for personal listening at dwelling, however at a pinch, you could possibly use them out and about with a conveyable DAC and never hear too many undesirable sounds.
The nano-carbon coated dynamic drivers used within the Dekoni Cobalt headphones produce a very good degree of bass, nevertheless it by no means will get out of hand or swamps the higher registers the place the treble frequencies deliver focus to the soundstage. In case you're searching for headphones with a flat response, chances are you'll not just like the Cobalts, however there's no denying that these headphones deliver rhythm and musicality to music and may have your toes tapping very quickly.
The Cobalt headphones really feel extremely mild and that makes them simple to hearken to for lengthy intervals.
Dekoni
The Cobalt's are musically infectious and sound very good with jazz and people music, separating particular person devices with accuracy and magnificence. The bass might be a bit energetic for onerous rock, however your mileage could differ. The Cobalt's shine within the midrange with a variety of vocals. The Dekoni HiFiMAN Cobalt can ship shivers up your backbone, notably when listening to feminine vocals.
The dynamic drivers used within the Cobalts have an impedance of 160Ω, which means they want an honest and muscular supply to get the most effective from them. I auditioned them with the superb new FiiO K11 headphone amp, which might drive them simply. The Cobalts sound far dearer than they price, even when they don't really feel fairly as luxurious as some headphones.
After my preliminary listening checks, I switched to the second pair of velour earpads. The end result was a barely muddier sound with an attenuated bass that didn't supply the readability and focus of the usual Dekoni sheepskin earpads. The consolation ranges had been glorious with the velour materials, however I believe I most popular the sound of the sheepskin model. It's good to have a selection; the velour earpads could go well with different genres of music higher.
The Dekoni HiFiMAN Cobalt headphones include a second pair of velour earpads and a removable … [+] cable.
Dekoni
Verdict: The brand new HiFiMAN Cobalt headphones from Dekoni are fantastically snug and could be worn for hours with out feeling any fatigue. The usual sheepskin earpads sound glorious and as much as Dekoni's legendary high quality. With an impedance of 160Ω, the Cobalts require a good-quality supply to drive them and may sound a bit quiet on less-muscular sound programs that don't have a high-quality headphone amplifier. The sound produced by the Cobalt's dynamic drivers is simply chic. Whereas not essentially the most impartial sound, the Cobalt headphones ship a splendidly articulated bass, excellent midrange and a treble that focuses the soundstage precisely. If you'd like headphones for luxurious dwelling listening with out breaking the financial institution, the Dekoni HiFiMAN Cobalt headphones are the actual deal.
Pricing & Availability: The Dekoni HiFiMAN Cobalt headphones normally promote for $399, however Dekoni might be decreasing the worth of the headphones on their US web site to $299 and providing an additional 15% off refurbished inventory.
Extra data: www.dekoni.com
Tech Specs:
Driver: 45mm nano-carbon coated dynamic driverImpedance: 16ohmSensitivity: 101dBWeight: 318 gramsEarpads: Elite Velour & Fenestrated Sheepskin Leather-basedCable Connection: Twin 3.5mm