Kennerton M12s Review

We’ve been covering the high-end of Kennerton’s selection for a while now, so I think it is time to bring attention it’s their more mid-fi catalog. Their M12s model is one of those models in that selection, advertised as a more professional headphone for both HiFi systems and studio applications. It is priced at $579, so let’s see what Kennerton has to offer in this range.

What You Get

Almost all Kennerton headphones come with an eco-leather carrying case with the headphones and stock cable inside.

Look and Feel

The main build of the M12s is reminiscent of the Gjallarhorn GH 50’s design. It keeps its basic steel frame and handcrafted wooden earcups, with the logo plate being the only real difference. I was a fan of the structure on the GH 50 so I am a fan of it here, as it feels like you are getting a more high-end design for significantly less. That also means the level of comfort should be mostly the same as the GH 50 as well. If you were one of the people who preferred to modify its design by bending the headband to get a better seal, you might want to do that here too. I think the M12s is comfortable and light enough in their standard form, but I also agree that they can also feel quite loose.

Design

Kennerton’s innovative 50mm titanium driver is implemented with the M12s for maximum flexibility and a transparent output. Its cable is made from OFC wires and with gold-plated TRS connectors.

Soundstage 

With Kennerton’s closed-back headphones you are sure to get a good soundstage, and the M12s give you a fantastic one for the price. Although it is not as wide as the GH50, the M12s grant you a ton of space within its more limited range. It makes all of the sound elements appear coherent and organized, accurately portraying themselves with spacious positioning. The imaging presents musical elements with huge amounts of separation, so each individual instrument and vocal sound is completely distinct in the mix. In terms of the size of some of the elements, the image can come through a bit too thin but still maintains a consistent stereo field throughout.

Low End

In the bass region, the M12s play their timbre naturally and with a neutral clarity. It never over-extends or pulsates outward, but the tonality comes through with enough texture to perform its response smoothly. The fidelity is never in question, as details in the lows appear in a realistic fashion, but this isn’t a headphone that provides much impact or slam. However, the frequencies still punch in certain areas and are mainly tuned to offer an accurate showcase of bass timbre.

Mids

The separation of the soundstage really makes the complex details of the midrange stand out a little bit clearer. As I mentioned, this is a particularly well-organized image, and the midrange frequencies take advantage of that with their distinct purity. Like the bass, the mids feature a natural tone, but its presentation is a little more forward. Instruments feel like they have a bit more gain behind them, and vocals stick out of the mix in an almost floaty way.

Highs

For a sound signature like the M12s, I believe a great high-end can really make it special. The M12s give its timbre a solid top-end, with deservedly well-shaped tones that give the treble a good amount of presence. It is a softer response that balances well with the bass and mids but never sounds too dull. Instead, the highs play to a laid-back tone, minimizing brightness and preserving some good detail.

Summary

If you are looking for a closed-back headphone with a spacious and relaxed sound signature then the Kennerton M12s are going to be for you. As a studio headphone, it does its job presenting its sound signature with evenness and realism, and the soundstage gives you enough room to analyze each aspect of it critically. Its seal is still a bit of an issue, but one I can easily forget about while listening for many hours.

The Kennerton M12s are available at Audio46.