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10 l May 2012


www.prosoundnewseurope.com


technologyreview


For years, we’ve been discouraged from relying on headphones while mixing, and with real reason... until now, that is. KRK’s new offering, the KNS-8400 could dismiss the doubters for good, says Russ Hepworth-Sawyer


THE RECENT resurgence of interest in the world of headphones has not passed us by at PSNEurope, oh no. This is our second review in one year! Personally, I have been listening to a range of cans over the past few months, while observing the market with almost as much interest as I do for monitors. Monitor manufacturer KRK has set about bringing its own ‘USP’ to designing cans: to build them so they perform as closely to monitor speakers as possible. The idea is that professionals can take their monitoring environment with them wherever they work or play.


The KNS-8400s feel light at 0.23kg without too much pressure to cup in your ears, making them a real pleasure to wear. This is partially delivered by the memory foam used on each ear-pad, which, I note, is not present on the KNS- 6400s, the less expensive ’phones in the range. The foam acts as an effective noise canceller too, sealing in your ears. In a live room with other musicians, these headphones certainly keep ‘in spill’ while eradicating a reasonable amount of your drummer’s over- exuberant cymbal work-out! Connecting the cable to the headphones is a 1/8” jack with an additional locking mechanism


giving a neat ‘clunk’ as you rotate clockwise. The cable is a decent length and is terminated with


either a 1/8” or 1/4”


jack for varying uses. This can be used on its own, or with KRK’s in-line volume control provided. The sound is


produced by 40mm neodymium drivers into a closed-back design that delivers 124dB SPL. Turning these up is simply deafening and the headphone amp might distort the signal before the headphones do. This is perfect in that loud live room should you need it (health and safety warnings apply). Sonically I can see how KRK claims these mimic the image its monitors provide, but I’d even go as far as to say these might improve on the Rokits I used recently. The 8400s have an accuracy about them and I spent a lot of time stem mixing with them


The KNS-8400s are intended to perform as closely to monitor speakers as possible


monitoring. I was


intrigued to hear how they related and have to report


that, as headphones


go, these are very well balanced with


only a slightly animated top end, which meets my


approval. From the impressive frequency


range of 5Hz-23kHz there are no real dips or excessive frequencies that poke out at your ears. This is a relief as so many headphones released recently possess hyped bass ends, or other excessive frequency boosts – that differ vastly from a balanced set of studio monitors possibly resulting in skewed mixes.


Comparing these to the Sony MDR-7520 headphones we reviewed late last year, you quickly note the slightly different frequency curves. The 7520s were sharp and clear in the high frequencies with a solid performance in the low end.


KRK KNS-8400monitoring headphones


for a later master, comparing them to my


The 8400s are not as bright as the Sonys which is a benefit when making precise assessments when mixing over long sessions. This is surprising given the difference in price as the KRKs are only £129.99 (€160) RRP compared with a heady £455 for the Sonys. Between the two pairs the build quality feels very similar although the KRKs do not give quite the same sense of reassurance the Sonys did despite their impact- resistant plastic. However, KRK can supply all the spare parts required should Big Foot step on them mid-session. And, unlike those more


expensive Sonys, the KRKs do not have any numbered markings to denote the adjustable headband length on the left and right hand sides. Also, the headband adjustment moves almost too easily thus my settings are often lost between uses. But, overall, of all the headphones I’ve used in the studio, these do a fine job, providing a similar image to that of a traditional monitoring environment. Would I trust these headphones without standard monitors? To be honest, I’m rather attached to working with monitors, but I would be happy to learn to trust the KRKs where this is not possible. The KNS-8400s are a truly


refreshing entrant to the market that I shall go out and buy. If KRK was seeking to restore some sensible balance to headphone monitoring – it just has!


 C L E A R A S    


PRICE AND AVAILABILITY f KNS-8400 - £129.99 RRP


(KNS-6400 - £84.99 RRP)


fDistributed by Focusrite Phone: +44 (0)1494 462246 www.focusrite.com


TECH SPECS f Ambient noise isolation: up to 30dBA


f Transducer: 40mm, neodymium


f Power handling full range: 1,000mW


f Nominal impedance: 36 ohms f Frequency response: 5Hz-23kHz f Sensitivity (1mW): 97dB SPL f Calculated max SPL: 124dB SPL f Weight: 230g


PROS f Fantastic, even sound quality


f Extremely comfortable f Replacement parts available f Value for money


CONS f No markings and loose headband adjustment


f Lack of carrying case/pouch as standard


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