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The Dekoni Cobalt is a closed-back over-ear dynamic driver headphone. The Cobalt is a collaboration mission between Dekoni and HiFiMan. Whereas HiFiMan is most identified for his or her planar magnetic headphones, the Cobalt is probably going based mostly on HiFiMan’s R sequence of dynamic driver headphones. The Cobalt retails for $499. I obtained the Cobalt by way of a assessment tour organized by Dekoni. I used to be capable of check it for rather less than two weeks earlier than writing my assessment. I coated the transport prices to the subsequent reviewer on the tour, and no compensation was obtained for this assessment.
Throughout my assessment course of, I used the Dekoni Cobalt with the next sources:
I assessed these headphones utilizing FLAC and Spotify Premium. To see what I’m listening to, go to my final.fm web page:
XenosBroodLord’s Library | Final.fm
The Dekoni Cobalt is available in an oblong black field. The headphones and the additional set of earpads are secured in a molded plastic tray contained in the field. The Cobalt comes with each velour and fenestrated sheepskin earpads. The included cable makes use of twin 3.5mm leads to hook up with the earpieces and is terminated in a 3.5mm single-ended jack. It is a commonplace configuration for a lot of over-ear headphones with removable cables and allows compatibility with all kinds of third-party aftermarket cables, together with balanced cables. The included cable is apparent black with easy rubber sheathing. It’s a good size for desktop use however is a little bit bit microphonic.
The Dekoni Cobalt is a light-weight headphone. Whereas the Cobalt makes use of plastic housings for the drivers, it avoids feeling cheaply made. In comparison with the primary technology Moondrop Void, there’s a lot much less flex, although there’s minor creaking when the headphones are adjusted. Clamp drive is affordable and each units of pads are snug for long-term put on. Sadly, the Cobalt opts for HiFiMan’s monoblock headband, which I discover uncomfortable and ill-suited for long-term put on. This is similar headband discovered on the HiFiMan HE400SE, which I discovered neccessary to jerryrig with a makeshift suspension strap to make use of for prolonged intervals. Because of this headband, I develop an uncomfortable hotspot on the prime of my cranium after an hour or two of listening. The Cobalt will not be particularly isolating, which can be factor or dangerous factor relying on the noise degree of your listening atmosphere and your want for different individuals in your environment to be audible whereas utilizing the headphones.
I don’t but have the potential to measure over-ear headphones. Nonetheless, I transformed Dekoni’s official uncooked measurements of the Cobalt with each units of earpads to .csv recordsdata utilizing WebPlotDigitizer after which uploaded the outcomes to Audio Discourse’s headphone graph database. The ensuing presentation is extra visually akin to different widespread headphone graphs than the picture offered by Dekoni. The uploaded frequency responses will also be in contrast in opposition to widespread headphone goal curves. Given the method described above, the picture under shouldn’t be considered as authoritative.
With the velour earpads, the Dekoni Cobalt has a vibrant tuning with poor bass extension and a recessed higher midrange. Bass extension is noticably higher with the fenestrated sheepskin earpads. Regardless of this, I opted to make use of the velour earpads for almost all of my assessment, because the fenestrated sheepskin earpads create an excessive decrease treble peak between 8000 KHz and 9000 KHz.
The Cobalt creates an enough sense of dynamic distinction however there’s little texture to the bass response. There’s a bit of additional power within the midbass area that gives slam and prevents digital dance music from sounding utterly anemic. Bass articulation is snappy and well-controlled. Bass decision is nice. The bass doesn’t bleed into the midrange.
The Cobalt’s midrange sounds skinny, hole, and distant. Male vocals and analog percussion lack physique and energy, and distorted electrical guitars sound shrill and fuzzy. Moreover, there’s little or no separation or distinction between these three parts. Drums and guitars particularly appear to blur collectively. Feminine vocals are vibrant and grating. Midrange decision is poor. Timbre is paper-like and lacks substance.
With the velour earpads the Cobalt has a gift, well-controlled, however in the end unremarkable treble response. The decrease treble is extra current than the higher midrange however doesn’t come throughout as harsh or peaky. The Cobalt has loads of higher treble air however treble transients are hazy and vague. General element retrieval is lower than I’d count on from a headphone of this worth. Imaging and soundstage are wonderful for a closed-back headphone.
The lacking higher midrange is the the largest concern with this headphone. The restricted bass extension with the velour earpads is correctable with equalization. However, making an attempt so as to add roughly 20 dB of ear achieve to the Cobalt with equalization had predictably disastrous outcomes.
With the Audirect Beam 4 on its low-gain setting, I reached my typical listening quantity with a Home windows system quantity of round 75/100. As all the time, I hear with a system-wide -4 dB pre-amp setting as recommended right here. I didn’t hear any hiss with this supply.
I recognize Dekoni’s transparency within the Cobalt’s promotional supplies, together with their offering potential prospects with the Cobalt’s frequency response measurements proper on the product web page. I additionally discover that Dekoni’s subjective description of how the Cobalt sounds is basically correct. Nonetheless, the Cobalt will not be a headphone I’d buy at any worth, a lot much less $499.99.
The Dekoni Cobalt could be bought on the hyperlink under:
Dekoni x Hifiman Cobalt Closed-Again Dynamic Headphone | Dekoni Audio