A small UK company Rock Jaw managed to literally win back his place under the sun in the world of headphones, this has contributed interesting products, with adequate pricing. I have already considered their budget model, the Arcana v2 and Kommand flagship, it’s time to get acquainted with the newly updated model of the middle level Alfa Genus v2.
These earphones use a dynamic driver and offer users a proprietary sound tuning through replacement filters. The set includes 3 interchangeable bell section that can be changed by using threaded connections. They are pretty much changing the handwriting of headphones, allowing everyone to find a suitable option.
The new version differs from the first modified version of the hull, which replaced the wood came metal, as well as tuningowanych sound. The price tag remained at the same level, to buy the new version at the official online store of the company at $ 66.5, worldwide shipping free.
Specifications
- Transducers: dynamic, 8 mm
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 108±3 dB
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
- Cable: symmetrical, 1.2 m
- Plug: angled 3.5 mm TRRS male
- Headset: one-button, universal
Packaging and delivery package
Box the headphones are quite interesting. The primary material is a dark thick cardboard with a delicate print. On both sides of the packing done by the window where you can see the headphones, one on the left, second right, and also part of the package. The outer shell is removed, opening access to the main box with two small symmetrical caps. Under them lies a cable and other accessories.
The kit in addition to the headphones themselves includes: 3 pairs of filters, providing different sound, a velvet pouch for carrying and storage, 3 pairs of single tips, two pairs of foam ear tips (small and medium) and a pair of duplancich secondary nozzles.
Design and comfort
The appearance of the headphone is double faced like Janus himself. On the one hand, their hull form is quite simple “in General”, with another — it is very difficult at the level of small details — used facets, different colors, in General, is on what to look to stay. The build quality is very good, everything fits as it should, no visible problems.
The body is cylindrical, this means that they fit, they fit most ears, you can wear them as a behind-the-ear, and in the usual way, although in the latter case is noticeable microphonic effect (the so-called noise from the friction of the wire about clothes), and normalize it by using the included clothespins.
Doubt the best headphones and strength: all that can be strengthened, the cable is very thick (although not prohibitive), so the Alfa Genus to serve its owner will be long, of course, provided more or less careful handling. Wire due to the thickness of the insulation hardens a little in the cold, but retains its strength. Splitter is a big and reliable, plug — l-shaped. The right cable is placed block the microphone with one-button headset. When you shake this little small block rumbles with the button.
One of the main elements of this model — interchangeable filters that allow you to tailor the sound to fit your tastes. They are integrated into the bores and keep on carving. So changing filters is unscrewing the old and screwing the new ones. Most importantly — how to then to tighten them (but wisely, not to derail the thread). Filters with a different sound can be easily distinguished by color: black gives more treble and less bass, silver is focused on bass, Golden tries to make the sound neutral and balanced, speaking of the “average” of the other two options.
With proper selection of nozzles of the earphones can be comfortably worn for a very long time, sound insulation on a typical form factor. For conventional transport or noisy they should be fine, but in metro it is better to use dvuhventsovye or foam tips.
The sound
To listen used the following equipment:
- NuPrime DAC-10H and Resonessence Labs Concero HP in the role of DAC and amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
- Fidelia in the role of player
- Fiio X5-2, and Cayin N6 as a portable player
- Gr01 VSonic, Dunu Titan 1 and Dunu DN-2000J in the role of headphones for comparison
- Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening every headphones were heated for 72 hours.
The first filters that I “rejected” were silver. Of course, fans of electronic music or, for example, the fresh individuals will find these filters just the same joy. With them headphones able to really play much bass, performing favorite raschetami massage your eardrums. The payback for this is the traditional fall bass control and covering in the mid-frequency range. In General, all the expected “not for everybody”.
Second, I refused the black filters, they, on the contrary, cut the bass to the level of “background” (although tangible background), which in turn accentuates the upper MIDs and treble range. The result is razor-sharp, cold sound with a good three-dimensional feel. A similar sound is good for recordings of instrumental classical and vocal tracks, but to call it generic doesn’t work, too. In addition, in such configuration the headphones are very critical to the source, reaching a very strong capriciousness.
In General, as is often the case, I stopped at the “average” gold variant filters. The sound of the headphones with these filters still a little dark, but this is more of a light pleasant color, and not oppressive wall of bass, with the silver filters.
The bass in this version — slightly above average speed, he normally controlled, and although not 100% comparable to all the nuances of the bass range, still sounds very good. There is sufficient depth, and study. Bass does a good job of building “the basics” of sound, over which is built the whole tune.
The midrange is lively and well drawn. There is enough emotions, good transfer of nuances of vocals and instruments. Scene is average width but quite deep. Separation of instruments is decent, though not phenomenal. There are minor quibbles in terms of the transfer of female vocals, but it’s really not critical for this segment.
Upper frequencies are characterized by low flowability, it lacks a bit of gloss, to become just excellent, but given the prices they are presented is quite normal, there is no unpleasant ringing sharpness, and no effect strangled sound that occurs due to the lack of HF. The sound of the upper frequencies provides enough air and small nuances to most genres.
Compatibility
The presence mobile headset hints at the use of headphones, and they really show their good smartphones, despite the fact that a good source is this model good. From the players, they showed good form with Cayin N6 and Fiio X7, table of sources very well with them had a good DAC from Beresford.
Genre headphones claim to universality, especially with regard to the possibility of tuning the sound. Sensitivity to the quality of recording varies depending on the type of filter. With silver it 6 points out of 10, with black — all 9. Golden somewhere in the middle.
Traditionally, several tracks examples.
Robert Plant — All The Kings Horses. Few white men can sing the Blues like Robert plant. And let not all his songs are in fact Blues, almost all of them lives a slight tinge of sadness, characteristic of this genre. This track is a great example of this characteristic by vocals, the nuances of which great play of Rajavi.
Che Pazzo Band — Bellevile. Unexpected for jazz set of tools: two accordion and drums, and not characteristic of jazz country — Russia. However, the result is surprising as the freshness of the sound and original melodies. And though the band unfortunately broke up, I’ve been relistening to regularly their only EP. Taste and a little orange light supply model suits the sound of this band.
Nazareth — Hair of the Dog. The famous track has an unusual sound due to the active use of an instrument called talk box. This device allows the tube to transmit the sound of the instrument (usually guitar) in the mouth of the vocalist, and the mouth give the extra modulation. Alfa Genus v2 allows you to fully hear the effect and evaluate its influence on the sound of the band.
Conclusions
A very interesting model. In fact, the sound setting allows you to get three different sounding one, quite a reasonable price. If we add good build quality and materials, an interesting Alfa Genus will be further increased.