The Sum Of All Its Parts
EQUIPMENT
Topping a50s Amp
SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK2 DAC
iFi Hip-Dac
Acoustune AET08 Tips
Cable: Stock MMCX Cable
Sources: Flac Files From my Personal Collection / Tidal
SPECS
49mm2 Piezoelectric Driver / Balanced Armature / 12mm Dynamic Driver / 32ohm / 110db/mw
NOTES
The Senfer DT6 packs a lot of tech in what is a very affordable package. While its rated specs don't show it , the DT6 does benefit from proper amping which does improve it's soundstage even more. This isn't a crucial an issue as in the KBear BElieve or HZsound Heart-Mirror where imho being driven by a capable amplifier is absolutely necessary. The DT6 will sound good on less capable devices such as a quality DAP.
BUILD QUALITY & FIT
Build quality appears good with the DT6 imparting a solid feel due to it's metal housing. The included cable is not as well received being quite basic but functional and at least has mic and controls integrated. Extra design touches such as the graphics and shiny coating lends itself to a more upscale presentation. As for fit this is where tip selection is critically important. When hearing the DT6 initially I was very unimpressed. The bass was slow, bloated and overbearing and the highs were pushed back and non distinct. Turns out inserting the DT6 in my ears with most tips blocked the Dynamic Driver port seen in the pics above. Tip selection involved not only choosing a tip that helped open up the sound and provided a good seal, which the DT6 needs absolutely, but allowed the bass DD port room to breath.
:SOUND:
BASS
Bass on the DT6, when properly tipped and inserted, can be described as filling with great body but not being overbearing. Bass is tuneful and present with good impact , nicely driving the music without being front and center or in your face. Sub-Bass is present but doesn't colour the sound or cloud the rest of the frequency spectrum. Mid-Bass is more apparent but thankfully mid-bass bleed is kept to a minimum. Bass clarity and speed are good, in particular when the low price is considered. The DT6 is not as fast or offers the level of bass separation as witnessed in the Heart-Mirror or BQEYZ KC2 as examples, but offers more output while also being better balanced in that part of the spectrum. In Wayman Tisdale's track "Circumstance" while the Heart-Mirror & KC2 do allow more of the the bass texture to come through, the DT6 allows the driving bass line to be more present if somewhat thicker in comparison. This difference in output is clearly evident on Massive Attacks' track "Angel" where the Heart-Mirror and KC2 fall behind the DT6 in both output and impact.
MIDS
The midrange is pleasingly balanced with respect to distance, being neither recessed or forward. Overall the DT6 is more a conveyer of macro vs micro details in this part of the frequency range. This isn't to say that Senfer's offering does not reproduce micro details, just that there is a certain balance favoring macro details that is heard here. Clarity is very good allowing the emotion of a track to shine through. This is very apparent when listening to a number of Anita Baker tracks including "Been So Long", "Love You To The Letter" and others. Tracy Horn's beautiful vocals on "Protection" by Massive Attack also show how the DT6 can lead to a very engaging listen. There is a slight emphasis on the upper mids but the DT6 thankfully avoids becoming harsh or sibilant. Mids are surprisingly and thankfully engaging and the flow from the bass to the mids is smooth. I say surprisingly due to the challenging integration of three different driver technologies used in the DT6.
TREBLE
I guess it's a long standing bias of mine, but whenever I hear that a Piezoelectric drive is being used I automatically expect one note strident highs. The DT6 throws that bias in the garbage. Highs are decently extended and while the DT6 can be categorized by some as somewhat bright, I prefer bright neutral tuning btw, at no time do the highs become a distraction. In fact the highs are well balanced and detailed. The highs are non-fatiguing and are not harsh or sibilant. Ronny Jordan's beautiful track "Vanston Place 12am" has some interesting cymbal work and the on the DT6 everything was clear with lots of detail, avoiding the splashy presentation offered most of its competitors in the price range and even higher.
IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE
The DT6 throws out a reasonable image that is wider than tall or deep but does not feel overly constrained. Width and height were commendable adding to a sense of space that was larger than the room & depth was reasonable but not I did not find the image 360 degrees like some have reported. Imaging was more than reasonable for this market segment. Elements in the soundstage are well placed and distinct. Layering and separation are definitely above average for this market segment. A Guy Called Gerald's track "Stella" has many layers and effects spanning the soundstage. The DT6 did a good job at keeping each individual layer distinct enough to pick them out. This fell apart at high volume but most don't listen to music at this level. The DT6 is not at the same level in this respect as the Kbear BElieve or BQEYZ KC2, but these cost at least double to six times as much.
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Very difficult to bring up many if any weaknesses of the Senfer DT6, considering it's sub $30 price point. One though is Timbre, in particular in the upper mid/treble region. There are a number of times where cymbal strikes and their accompanying transients sounded somewhat off. Switching to other earphones with known good timber such as the Heart-Mirror confirmed this.
Fit is another aspect, at least in my experience, that has been challenging. Tip selection on the Senfer DT6 is critical to afford a proper seal and more open sound. My initial experience was terrible as the sound appeared bass heavy and bloated with recessed treble. Turns out that when inserting them in my ears I had inadvertently blocked the DD vent. Settling on larger , firmer tips solved that issue. As per usual, time spent tip rolling will go a long way in extracting the best sound quality out of the DT6 , or any other earphone for that matter.
VERSUS
- HZsound Heart-Mirror
The DT6 has a fuller sound with more present bass. Bass on the HM is more detailed but with greater output on the DT6. The HM is faster but with less bass impact as heard on the DT6. The HM is superior on detail retrieval but much closer to the DT6 on layering and separation, at least at reasonable volume levels. The Heart Mirror can be pushed harder without falling apart. Timbre on the Heart-Mirror is also superior. The HM is "colder" while the DT6 leans towards the warm side of things. Mids on the HM are slightly more recessed as compared to the DT6. Overall clarity is good on the DT6 while being bested in that regard on the Heart-Mirror. Transients are clearer on the Heart-Mirror as well. Top to bottom the DT6 is more linear than the Heart-Mirror, while not besting it in overall sound quality.
-Kbear Lark (Retuned Version)
Both offer a full bodied sound. Bass is comparable but is more evenly distributed with the DT6, with the lark having more of a mid-bass lean. Quality and speed are comparable. Overall clarity is comparable with the Lark winning out ever so slightly on micro detail retrieval while the DT6 puts forth a more evenly distributed response from the top to the bottom of the frequency spectrum. Treble is where the DT6 does pull ahead being more even and detailed even given the timbre issue noted above. Sound on the Lark is more punchy.
CONCLUSION
The Senfer DT6 is very easy to recommend. Praise has to be given to Senfer for a product that combines tech found at much higher prices yet a tuning and execution that brings it all together. All of this at a price that defies logic. If you are after an earphone in tis price range that throws out an even response with good detail and clarity, the DT6 should be on your shortlist. Overall sound is clear, smooth, well integrated and non-fatiguing. Tip rolling is a must and there are some timbre issues, but still it can't be denied that the DT6 is an excellent value.
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