Kennerton Rögnir ($3367, current conversion): This one Octopus stole my very essence…
Kennerton Rognir: This one Octopus stole my very essence…
Pros: Looks
Sound
Build
Sound
Case
Sound is perfect for my tastes.
Is this really a closed back?
Cons: Not perfect build (so what…)
Cost
Not mine…
Kennerton Rögnir ($3367, current conversion): This one Octopus stole my very essence…
Rögnir
Intro:
Andy Kong contacted me to see if I was interested in participating in a
tour of the Kennerton Rögnir. Having a V2 version of the Magni made it a
no-brainer to me. Upon purchasing the Magni, it quickly became my
favorite headphone, regardless of price. It just fit my listening style
of robust, but not overpowering bass, laidback signature, and a rich,
warm detailed sound. The Magni is fantastic and from what I have read
(yes, I did), the Rögnir is spectacular.
I will start by saying
that upon first listen, I was taken in, held and not let go. The Rögnir
is spectacular from the off. I had been warned by @Wiljen
who gave the Kennerton his first ever 5-star rating on HeadFi. That
says something if you know his very rigorous standards. Even though I am
now thoroughly in love with the Rögnir, I will provide as honest a
review of it as possible. It is not perfect overall, but to me those
shortcomings can be overlooked once you listen. To qualify that, I
had/have the same “concerns” with my Magni, and still love it. Kennerton
has it going for them, and this one is one to be reckoned with.
I
thank Andy for the inclusion, and at the conclusion of my time, the
unit will be shipped to Las for the SoCal CanJam. I am very lucky,
indeed.
Specs:
| Driver: | Planar Magnetic |
| Driver Unit: | 80 mm |
| Frequency Response: | 10-55000 Hz |
| Sensitivity: | 100 dB |
| Impedance: | 42 Ohm |
| Cord length: | High quality 2 meters detachable copper cable 2 x mini-xlr / 6.3 mm |
| Custom cable: | Custom litz cable 2 x mini-xlr / 4-pin balanced xlr |
| Adapter: | 4-pin balanced xlr / 6,3 TRS adapter |
| Weight: | 414 g |
In The Box:
Custom (wood) Rögnir
Custom Litz cable 2x mini-xlr connectors to XLR jack
4-pin balanced XLR to 6.35mm TRS adapter
Standard cable 2-xlr to 6.35 jack
Eco-leather zip case (like other Kennerton’s)
Gear Used/Compared:
Kennerton Magni V2 ($835)
Audeze LCD3 ($1995)
Focal Radiance ($1299)
Sendy Peacock ($1499)
Shanling M6 Pro
MBP/ifi Pro iDSD/iCAN
Cayin N6ii mk2
Songlist:
Alex Fox
Dave Matthews
Joey Alexander-Warna album and others
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
twenty one pilots
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Big Head Todd & The Monsters-Beautiful World
Mark Knopfler-Down The Road Wherever
Elton John-yep, still good, still cool
Unboxing:
My
father-in-law was a Tool and Die maker for the AT&T plant in Lee’s
Summit, MO from the very first day the plant opened to the very last. He
worked the first shift and the last. The only one who did that. As such
he was in charge of making, modifying and ensuring that the machinery
worked, regardless of how it was done. Fashioning some one-of-a-kind
fixes to problems that most of us could barely imagine, he was a true
craftsman in every sense of the word. Some of his handmade tools are my
most cherished tools, along with those from my father.
As a true
craftsman, you are given certain leeway’s in order to accomplish the
task. The fix may not be perfect looking, but functional for the task at
hand, and there in lies the true appreciation for what he crafted.
While the item may look unfinished or even a bit crude, we were talking
about the inside of a major factory where functionality ruled over form
every day. Period. To me therein lies the true beauty of a Kennerton.
While it may not look or feel perfect in every aspect, such as perfectly
matched halves or how they fit; but you simply cannot question the
quality of what comes out. Especially when they go to task with close to
2000-year-old wood, which is the best form of recycling I know. Much
like the hand-formed Ferrari’s of old where the builder apprenticed for
years before being allowed a hammer to form that 365GTB fender,
Kennerton speaks of old-world craftmanship where the end product is the
goal. Yes, the Ferrari form is perfect as well, and the Kennerton’s are
very, very close, and I liken their form to my father-in-law’s presence
of function-first. The looks of the Rögnir are the icing on the cake. Or
in this case the Karelian Birch.
Coming in what could be
described as an industrial box, the inner case of the Kennerton protects
well the contents inside. You need not worry, for again the looks shy
away those who might look for flash. Inside the box you have the
Eco-leather case, much like other Kennerton’s, but this comes with a
different patterned inside and a stitched on Kennerton logo. Opening the
case, you get to the Rögnir and the included cables. Yes, plural for
you get a “standard” mini-xlr to 6.35mm jack and the superb mini-xlr to
XLR balanced cable. I will admit that I did not use the standard cable
but once to ensure it worked. It did.
Also included is a 4-pin
male XLR to 6.35mm jack adapter as well. I utilized the XLR cable as is
for the majority of my listening through my iFi Pro duo. Taking the
Rögnir out you get to the good stuff detailed below.
Build/Fit/Finish:
One of the things I
really appreciate about Kennerton is the use of not necessarily exotic
wood (I am against that…), but the use of readily available wood, which
may not be of the norm for wooden cupped headphones. The walnut version
is simply gorgeous. It does help that much of my woodworking decades ago
in high school was using walnut, cherry or white/red oak. But I have
always had a soft spot for walnut. My father preferred Northern Michigan
Cherry for much of his work, and that is gorgeous as well. But this
particular Kennerton is of Karelian Birch (Betula pendula) with
blue tints. Not perfect of cut nor finish, the handmade aspect comes
through perfectly. In researching this wood you can find it among other
things as Fabergé eggs from Peter The Great (Russian tie) and look at it
genetically and epigenetically for the development of patterned wood (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21954616/).
This makes sense as we move forward in headphone design, with the now
de rigor of stabilized wood, which uses an epoxy of reclaimed/recycled
wood. Kennerton’s approach is to not necessarily mimic or mirror that
but give us the tie to old world wood. When you consider one of the most
highly sought-after choices for the cups of Kennerton models is
2000-year-old Bog Oak, you understand and appreciate how they proceed
with an earth-bound environmental aspect. Plus, that Bog Oak is gorgeous
as well. So is this model with the Karelian Birch. The blue tints add
the right amount of highlighting and the “flaws” are allowed to show,
much like the Octopus on one side. This model does use Stabilized
Karelian Birch, giving the blue dye a place to shine. To me though, this
is not the typical “free flow” of most stabilized wood patterns such as
on my UM 3DT (which is also gorgeous), but simply used to enhance the
wood for longevity. Founder Valentin Kazanzhi knows what he is doing
with engineering and the choice of woods, so I trust his judgement. Of
late as well, the choice of wood enhances certain sounds from the
signature as well. A harder cup and frame will give a tighter response,
making for (to me) a more “analytical” or sharp tonality, but still very
nice. Softer or more forgiving woods enhances the low end as per many
manufacturers state. I do not doubt their word.
As mentioned in
the unboxing, the Rögnir is handmade, and as such not of “perfect” form.
This does not hinder the function in the least. I know many who would
spend this amount want a perfect looking unit as well (and I have on
hand three examples from a company, which are stellar in which to look
and function as well…), but hearkening back to the old Ford GT, Ken did
not give a darn how it looked other than the aerodynamics. How it
functioned would win races. And they did. Here, that “less than perfect”
look is no bother, for it gives that old-world craftsmanship look to it
and I appreciate that more than a perfect look. At least for the
Kennerton’s.
You can see the polished swirl marks of the poly
coating but know that is a result of the coating being worked into each
part, ensuring that longevity again. Flaws in the wood, such as the
namesake of this article the Octopus, are allowed to show for it does
not hinder sound inside. Slight burling shows through on the top half of
the outside cups, adding an ocean front (or Lake Superior for me) look
to it, and you can imagine the clouds along Lake Baikal or Superior
easily. As per usual of Kennerton, the fit of cups is very good,
allowing for top/bottom swiveling for a very good fit on my head. Due to
the new headband shape as well, there is a certain amount of fore/aft
movement, which allows the unit to fit over your ears very well. Several
types of earpads were included such as perforated leather and other
fitting, but I stuck mostly to the original included pads, for they
provided me the most bass and best fit.
The inside headband strap
moves easily on metal bands, affording you a near-perfect fit with
minimal movement. There is some, but we are taking about a unit, which
weighs in at almost 1lb (414g). That strap is padded as well, giving
excellent feel and the right amount of cushioning. Over Labor Day
weekend, I wore the unit continuously for 6 hours one day and seven the
next without issue. Slight adjustments were needed, but that was due to
the heat. It was 97 degrees F, and we do not have AC. No bother, the
music kept me engaged.
The interesting stitching/grommets on the
top band keep the headband covered in case the inside band slides all
the way up if your fit pushed that inside band all the way up. An
interesting stretch fabric, but I like it anyway.
The included
custom Litz cable is the one I would use permanently, changing only to
another source with the included adapter. It is a balanced XLR, so an
adapter from XLR to 4.4bal would take you a long way. Mind you the
“normal” cable is very good as well. That fabric on the XLR cable
though, gives you good feel without microphonics, and the length is just
about perfect, if a bit too long. It lays well no matter even if it is a
bit heavy.
While those cups are not perfect, they are gorgeous
at which to look, and the blue tinted dye does not distract too much
from the overall headphone. I prefer understated and would most likely
go with the Bog Oak or one of the Walnut finishes, but the Karelian
Birch is fabulous at which to look.
Technicals:
Much of Kennerton’s
expertise on previous models such as the Odin have carried on as
upgrades in various headphones, and they are done well. While Kennerton
has a very good appreciation in the audiophile market, I do still think
it is undervalued when going against its competition. To me, they are
right up there with the best, and their technical innovations may not be
groundbreaking, but improve upon already worthy designs and
implementations.
The Rögnir uses the following three design aspects/changes for its driver:
1. 80mm corrugated Polyimide membrane
2. Semicircular magnet array
3. Carbon fiber casing
Andy Kong, Ecoustics contribution: https://www.ecoustics.com/articles/kennerton-rognir-headphone-technology/
I
will also link an excellent thesis on the technology behind the Rögnir,
from Andy as well as post it on my blog for your perusal.
An
80mm membrane driver is on the larger size, but when you consider planar
technology, that is a near normal size. I have another inhouse
(compared below), which has an 88mm driver. With planar’s you can get
away with that due to the membrane technology, which while taking up
more space, is still smaller than other types of drivers, generally
speaking.
With a design, which minimizes the internal structure,
Kennerton found a way to reduce reflection and resonance; the killers of
good sound signatures. A polyamide diaphragm, which is thinner than a
human hair helps keep speed up in sound as well. While the Rögnir does
need a good source of power to drive it (approximately 20-25% more
volume input on my Shanling M6 Pro compared to the Cayin N6ii, E01),
combine all of this wonderful technology and you get a closed back
headphone, which could easily be mistaken as an open back. I can
honestly state that this is the closest a headphone has come to sounding
like an open back, that isn’t. In talking with a peer, we were both
amazed at how this is achieved. Jesse Cook’s Toca Orilla sounds
precise, accurate, vibrant, and spacious. Think of a concert at the
Hollywood Bowl and you would get the idea. Open and airy but placed
extremely accurately.
The included cables are numerous with the
test kit. Standard is the XLR terminated to 6.35mm jack, which is a fine
cable in its own right. Opt for the 4.4bal cable, and the sound rachets
up a bit due to that balanced signature. Opt one rung higher (or more?)
for the XLR to XLR and you get a cable, which can compete with many of
the best cables around. I will admit that about 60% of my time was spent
with the XLR-XLR, and the other 40% XLR-4.4bal. If I had to choose one,
it would be the XLR-XLR. Construction is Litz construction with oxygen
free copper (my favored sound). Woven with a soft fabric around it, the
cables minimize microphonics. That said, the standard 6.35mm cable did
have more than I like. And, to quibble a bit, the XLR-XLR is a heavy
cable. Up there with the best heavy Focal cables. That said, it is long
enough to lay well. In fact, it may be too long for some situations, so
it is best to be careful where you let the cable lie. Never had an
issue, but that could be I was holding and using someone else’s $3500
headphone and $500 cable…
The kit came with numerous pad options,
but I admit I stuck with the stock for the whole test. I did try the
others for fit and had no issues. But, after talking to @Wiljen
about the pads, he suggested I would like the original ones the most.
He was right, and we do share similar tastes in sound based upon pad
choice. I will state that to me the stock pads have a bit of an odd
shape and could use a bit more support (memory foam?) inside. To me the
pads squished a bit too much. That said I never had an issue with the
pads bottoming out on my head. The feel of the headphone on my cranial
matter was superb. This is not a light headphone either, so to fit as
well as it did was a nice surprise. I had no movement upon my head
either with a hat (which I wear a lot) or bare.
Sound:
Summary: As stated
the Rögnir’s sound is as close as I have experienced to an open back
headphone from a closed back. To get this level of openness and airiness
between the notes and have a closed back design is incredible. A
testament to the engineers in Russia who are behind this. Sometimes with
an open back you get too much air and space between notes for my taste.
Some Focal models while sounding quite good are too lilty or whispy as a
result. Thankfully my LCD3 is not that manner and the Rögnir compares
extremely well to the Audeze in terms of getting it right. Bass is taut
and reaches deep when needed. Mind you this is not Cascade level of
bass, but more akin to what we call the Audeze bass. Almost
transparently appearing when needed. But the Rögnir has more bass
presence across the sound signature. What I mean by that is the bass is
always there, not hiding like that Audeze bass mentioned above. On bass
heavy songs such as Alex Fox’s live To The Gypsies, the bass is
spot on perfect. Mids and vocals come across with a cleanliness meant
for God-level IEM’s. Many are on the same price line, and could compare
evenly, such as the Fir Audio M5, which to me is amongst the best mid
treatment around. Your opinion may differ of course, but to me both are
world class, and I would be thoroughly satiated with both as my only
units. Treble treatment is rounded off just a bit, but not to the
detriment of the overall character. Vocals are sublime in their
spectacular nature. Natalie Woods sounds sublime in my ears, and her
sensuous sounding voice is a true treat in the Rögnir.
Moar:
To
say that I like the Rögnir would be like saying that Tom Brady and
Aaron Rodgers are pretty decent quarterbacks. Or that Lionel Messi &
Cristiano Ronaldo are decent Futbol players. They are and I do. I am
seriously contemplating vacating pretty much all headphones I own to
purchase a pair.
Bass is treated with
aplomb. Not thunderous and deep reaching, but enough so to make you
appreciate and respect how the Kennerton lays down that line. Even
though the model sent (you have two choices for sound signature) was of
the bass variety, the Rögnir falls a bit short for my tastes. That said,
sub bass is quite good and reaches low enough to earn my respect. As
stated, this is more about the whole of the signature, not one emphasis
playing better than another. Texture of that bass makes up for the lack
of deep reach. And as we move into the mid-bass territory, I find that
the tonality is so sweet that the timbre is simply superb. It’s almost
like having that deep lying #6 (defensive mid for those not attune to
soccer positions) who goes about their business without fanfare. But
when called upon, they boss the midfield like no other. Much respect
across the league is garnered as a result of their play. The mid-bass
speaks for itself, but without being overly emphasized.
The level of control across the spectrum holds into the wonderful mids
and thankfully without bleed. The way the Kennerton controls the sound
is all but beyond reproach. This is one fantastic unit. Much the way a
Viola has a bit deeper sound and texture, the Rögnir takes control of
the mids allowing those sounds including vocal treatment to come across
as natural and full. Not thick mind you, but full and rich. To me it is
here that the richness, which pervades the Rögnir’s character shines.
Alex Fox’s Guitar On Fire comes across sweetly, but with a
verve associated like my analogies above. Rich, warmer, textured to
allow you to see right into the music without coloration. This is a
mid-treatment as it should be. As the final point of emphasis, and a
moment of “we told you so” without bragging, female vocals are slightly
lifted to me, but done so in a manner that simply adds to the signature.
An “ooooohhh, myyyyy” moment.
At the top, the treble to me is ever so
slightly rounded off, but there is an emphasis that makes you pay
attention to it for the sound is good. At times, on brighter songs, it
is a bit too much, but only ever so much. And if I can tolerate that you
should be fine. Baila Bailaora signifies this of which I
speak. Wonderful in note, but the staccato notes of vocal and percussive
treatment can be a bit bitey. Mind you this is near-nitpickery to me.
But true. Even with those “deficiencies,” the Kennerton is not strident
or do I hear any sibilance, which can happen with tuning such as this.
The coverage afforded allows for a true, natural tonality to pervade the
senses, which to me counters any potential upper end problems. This is a
very fine tuning, and even with the slightly pushed treble, still
tracks and listens very well.
Soundstage
belies the fact it is a closed back headphone. To get this kind of
expansive sound emanating from a closed back is astounding. Were you to
get a person, even a learned audio-type to listen without telling them;
they would swear the headphone is an open back model. Or those who might
posit a deceiving, would recognize the truly remarkable treatment in
all three dimensions afforded by the tune. To me here, the depth is what
makes for that expansive tone. Sometimes you get a headphone, which is
wide and tall but forgotten is the depth. To me that is a shame and can
promote a thin, less dense sound. Not here. That depth aides in
promoting excellent width and height without being like an open stadium.
No, it is presented as a whole of the parts, and separation, layering & instrumentation
as a result are superb. Layers are clearly defined, and placement is as
well. Call it the “just right” method of promoting a full, rich tone,
that has superb timbre to boot. Sometimes with overly expansive stages,
speed is sacrificed to allow that cavernous size. Again, not here. Speed
of attack and decay are nearly perfect, almost giving the impression of
being too quick, which could lead to a thin, analytical type of sound.
Far from it, the Kennerton promotes a rich, vibrant tone, which comes
across as speedy in the right direction, without those negatives
mentioned.
Source:
I write this part while
listening to my Shanling M6 Pro through the 4.4bal cable. While not my
favorite source of the test, it is extremely well behaved, nonetheless.
Vibrancy tends to overcome the warmer, darker sound of the Shanling
(which I do love). Paired here making almost a Ying/Yang relationship as
even though the Rögnir is rich, vibrant and on the warm side, it pales
to the house sound of the Shanling. So, the Kennerton brings the
Shanling back towards a “more normal” sound, without giving up its soul
of richness. Alex Fox’s Historia De Un Amor makes for an apt
song. The bass line is sublime and deep, but alone the Shanling could
sound almost muddy on lesser headphones and IEM’s. Not here, the
Kennerton brings out that vibrant, richness of song exquisitely.
But
by far my favorite offering was any DAP/MBP through the ifi Pro
iCAN/iDSD duo. With the ability to add dBs at a click and add holography
(not really needed) and the XBass feature allowed me to tune perfectly
matching my preferred signature. This just goes to show that while the
Kennerton does work and play well nicely; it works better the better the
source. End game is not taken lightly here, in either source or
headphone.
Comparisons:
Kennerton Rögnir ($3400) v Kennerton Magni V2 ($835):
Going
from the Rögnir to the Magni might seem far-fetched, but it clearly
shows the dedication of the Kennerton family. The Rognir point blank is
one of the if not the best headphones I have had the honor of hearing.
That said, it was the Magni, which stole me away to start. Upon purchase
(V2) of the Magni, I listened for about three weeks straight. I loved
the treatment of the bass, I loved the richness of character, and I
loved the look. I was sold on Kennerton as a brand. Backed by many
positive reviews, I really think it is but a matter of time before they
are thought of in the same regard as Audeze, ZMF & the Focal Utopia.
The Rögnir really must be listened to. But you will not sell yourself
short with the “budget model” Magni.
Kennerton Rögnir ($3400) v Audeze LCD3 ($1995):
To
me, this is the baseline for open-backed headphones. Yes, there are
more expensive ones. Yes, there are probably “better” sounding open
backs; but the LCD3 satiates my personal needs for an open-back, hence
it is my standard. And as such, to be compared to a closed back might
seem a bit off. That is until you hear how much the Rögnir sounds like
an open-back. The LCD3 has that typifying Audeze richness of bass,
reaching lower than it has a right to, and so does the Rögnir without
sounding completely like a basshead headphone. The LCD3 sounds expansive
in stage. So does the Rögnir. So on the surface, it seems ludicrous,
but delving in with a hard listen and the comparison is completely valid
to me.
Kennerton Rögnir ($3400) v Focal Radiance ($1299):
On
the surface, this one may seem odd as well, but the Radiance was a very
nice surprise to me. I really enjoyed its open sound as well, mimicking
much more expensive open backs. Good depth of bass, very musical mids,
and a hint of treble push, which allow that expansiveness to shine, the
Radiance is a very nice surprise, and well worthy of its place in its
price point. This addition was more for fun, but a pleasant surprise
indeed.
Kennerton Rögnir ($3400) v Sendy Peacock ($1499):
The
two here share a richness of signature, which I prefer as my favored
choice. The Peacock is actually warmer of tonality and to me that is all
right. Bass reaches well into the sub bass level, while mids come
across as slightly lifted, but not intrusive to me. Both treble notes
provided me with reduced stress levels of listening. By that I mean they
were laid back, but without being flat or boring. Adding just enough to
the top end to give a nice feeling of end to end performance, the
treble treatment of the Peacock comes across as inviting, but neither
intrusive nor that exciting. Which when taken as a whole, isn’t that bad
to me. The Rögnir on the other hand is many steps up all around.
Finale:
This could be the following and I’d be done with it: Buy one at your earliest convenience. Period.
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