If the driver is too heavy for the magnet to control, the detail can get lost as the driver fails to respond to each note in time as it is physically unable to. This can affect the amount of sound waves driven to the ear drum.
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DCA CORINA Announced (New Electrostatic Headphone)
- Thread starter moosso
- Start date
Different driver technologies bring with them different acoustic qualities. That is not to say that an electrostat will always sound better than dynamic drivers, or that planar drivers have bass that can't be equalled by other driver types. But using the unique qualities and abilities inherent in a driver of any type is part of the engineering that gets done to create transducers. For example, due to balanced push-pull driving force that is applied all over the entire diaphragm surface of an electrostatic driver it is easier to achieve low distortion than with a dynamic driver which is a piston driven only where the voice coil is attached to the diaphragm.
etc6849
Active Member
These really are outstanding headphones. I'm starting to really prefer their more natural life like tuning the more I listen to them compared to something like the SR-009. I also EQ'd them a little to provide more bass and to follow the Harman OE 2018 target a little closer (settings below).
In case someone wants to use my settings derived from VSG's measurements (https://vsg.squig.link/headphones/?share=Dan_Clark_Audio_CORINA) and generated from https://autoeq.app, I ended up with the settings on the left for RME TotalMix Room EQ (I'm using an RME UFX III audio interface), but note I added +5.1dB to the preamp level compensate for using a -5.1dB high shelf filter in place of the +5.1dB low shelf filter. I did this as I have several headphones stored in RME TotalMix, and like to keep the overall preamp gain offset around -2dB... I could have had autoeq.app generate two high shelf filters and one low shelf (limitation of the room eq in RME TotalMix is one low and two high shelfs, the other 6 bands are peak/bell), but this probably would have meant using a larger preamp offset.
For most, they can just copy the custom PEQ settings on the right and use -6.8dB preamp gain if they want to try these. Sounds incredible to me.
PS: Upon googling, I also figured out we can use curve fitting as well to extract measurement data from an image, then import these into the autoeq.app site:
https://medium.com/@jaakkopasanen/make-your-headphones-sound-supreme-1cbd567832a9
In case someone wants to use my settings derived from VSG's measurements (https://vsg.squig.link/headphones/?share=Dan_Clark_Audio_CORINA) and generated from https://autoeq.app, I ended up with the settings on the left for RME TotalMix Room EQ (I'm using an RME UFX III audio interface), but note I added +5.1dB to the preamp level compensate for using a -5.1dB high shelf filter in place of the +5.1dB low shelf filter. I did this as I have several headphones stored in RME TotalMix, and like to keep the overall preamp gain offset around -2dB... I could have had autoeq.app generate two high shelf filters and one low shelf (limitation of the room eq in RME TotalMix is one low and two high shelfs, the other 6 bands are peak/bell), but this probably would have meant using a larger preamp offset.
For most, they can just copy the custom PEQ settings on the right and use -6.8dB preamp gain if they want to try these. Sounds incredible to me.
PS: Upon googling, I also figured out we can use curve fitting as well to extract measurement data from an image, then import these into the autoeq.app site:
https://medium.com/@jaakkopasanen/make-your-headphones-sound-supreme-1cbd567832a9
Interesting transformer-based setup to drive your Corninae.These really are outstanding headphones. I'm starting to really prefer their more natural life like tuning the more I listen to them compared to something like the SR-009. I also EQ'd them a little to provide more bass and to follow the Harman OE 2018 target a little closer (settings below).
View attachment 401711
View attachment 401712
In case someone wants to use my settings derived from VSG's measurements (https://vsg.squig.link/headphones/?share=Dan_Clark_Audio_CORINA) and generated from https://autoeq.app, I ended up with the settings on the left for RME TotalMix Room EQ (I'm using an RME UFX III audio interface), but note I added +5.1dB to the preamp level compensate for using a -5.1dB high shelf filter in place of the +5.1dB low shelf filter. I did this as I have several headphones stored in RME TotalMix, and like to keep the overall preamp gain offset around -2dB... I could have had autoeq.app generate two high shelf filters and one low shelf (limitation of the room eq in RME TotalMix is one low and two high shelfs, the other 6 bands are peak/bell), but this probably would have meant using a larger preamp offset.
For most, they can just copy the custom PEQ settings on the right and use -6.8dB preamp gain if they want to try these. Sounds incredible to me.
PS: Upon googling, I also figured out we can use curve fitting as well to extract measurement data from an image, then import these into the autoeq.app site:
https://medium.com/@jaakkopasanen/make-your-headphones-sound-supreme-1cbd567832a9
How do you think the Corina compares to the Stax SR-X9000?
This, and your other systems / setups - Do you own stock in Benchmark? (HAHAHAHA)
And thanks for the data, I'll try this EQ on my pair.
etc6849
Active Member
It's well worth building a transformer box. None of the little transformer based boxes can do ~1600Vpp like the BHSE or a custom box with large transformers can. It's all manufacturer hype. This is what is required to drive these large estats to peak performance (IMHO).
The small transformers go into saturation and simply cannot handle lower frequencies like larger transformers or a proper electrostatic amp can. Try to measure one of these small energizer boxes at 10, 20 and 30Hz. You'll see quickly that the sine wave is distorted even at say 500Vpp and 20Hz, and much more distorted at say 10Hz and ~500Vpp. I have no idea how Topping, iFi and others sleep at night with the outrageous claims about these small boxes... They literally put fake specs on the box.
Some measurements of my large transformer setup:
10Hz, a little distortion, but it's outputting 1.54kV peak to peak (this distortion is not present at 10Hz on the BHSE):
20Hz, 2kV peak to peak! Beating out many electrostatic amps including the BHSE in terms of peak voltage:
Both the Stax X9000 or the DCA Corina are great headphones. Not sure if one is better than the other by ear. The Stax just sounds incredible with a little EQ though. I got the X9000 EQ settings from Oratory1990 on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/
The small transformers go into saturation and simply cannot handle lower frequencies like larger transformers or a proper electrostatic amp can. Try to measure one of these small energizer boxes at 10, 20 and 30Hz. You'll see quickly that the sine wave is distorted even at say 500Vpp and 20Hz, and much more distorted at say 10Hz and ~500Vpp. I have no idea how Topping, iFi and others sleep at night with the outrageous claims about these small boxes... They literally put fake specs on the box.
Some measurements of my large transformer setup:
10Hz, a little distortion, but it's outputting 1.54kV peak to peak (this distortion is not present at 10Hz on the BHSE):
20Hz, 2kV peak to peak! Beating out many electrostatic amps including the BHSE in terms of peak voltage:
Both the Stax X9000 or the DCA Corina are great headphones. Not sure if one is better than the other by ear. The Stax just sounds incredible with a little EQ though. I got the X9000 EQ settings from Oratory1990 on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/
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How do you think the Corina compares to the Stax SR-X9000?
etc6849
Active Member
Both the Stax SR-X9000 and the DCA Corina are outstanding headphones. I'm not sure if one is better than the other by ear. Either is going to be fantastic if you have an amp that can drive them properly (they're both pretty hard to drive). This really requires a Blue Hawaii or better, especially if you EQ and need extra analog headroom to make up for lowering your digital gain...
The Stax SR-X9000 can sound absolutely incredible with a little EQ too. I got my X9000 EQ settings from Oratory1990 on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/
The DCA Corina has slightly better build quality thus far, but they are both really well built and are premium. I've hardly used my X9000 and the ear pads squeak a little sometimes when I move my jaw muscles or slightly touch the side of the pads. There's probably some oil or something I can put on the back of the pads to stop this, but I feel like I shouldn't have to on $6200 headphones.
The Stax SR-X9000 can sound absolutely incredible with a little EQ too. I got my X9000 EQ settings from Oratory1990 on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/
The DCA Corina has slightly better build quality thus far, but they are both really well built and are premium. I've hardly used my X9000 and the ear pads squeak a little sometimes when I move my jaw muscles or slightly touch the side of the pads. There's probably some oil or something I can put on the back of the pads to stop this, but I feel like I shouldn't have to on $6200 headphones.
Thanks
I use a Carbon amp for my electrostatic 'phones. Seems to drive them well.
I had never used the Corina on the old Stax SRM-T1 I used to have; but my SR-007 mk 1's sounded VERY much better on the Carbon, as did the SR-Lambda Signature and the Koss ESP-950's.
THANKS FOR THE INFO!
I use a Carbon amp for my electrostatic 'phones. Seems to drive them well.
I had never used the Corina on the old Stax SRM-T1 I used to have; but my SR-007 mk 1's sounded VERY much better on the Carbon, as did the SR-Lambda Signature and the Koss ESP-950's.
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