DAN CLARK CORINA

By K.E. Heartsong

Yes, the electrostatic world of headphones and headphone amplifiers is one that I visit regularly. And I have traveled to many lands across this diverse world and always enjoyed the profound and engaging music whether electrostatic headphones or speakers. Until François Lemay’s incredible Hommage speakers in Montreal at the Audio Fest, it had been a while since I'd listened to electrostatic speakers. And what an immense pleasure it was.

You see, the music did not live in François’ speakers, but it had been freed and had come alive in the room! Brilliant.

Electrostatic headphones have, in a like manner, freed music from the confines of the componentry and allowed it to, well, live and breathe.

Anyone who has read my many reviews of electrostatic headphones and amplifiers and complete systems are aware of my fondness for them and how they ‘free’ two of my favorite types of music—live and Choral. Electrostatic headphones are unlike any other headphone technology, in that they can lift the 500-pound weight of rendering live and Choral. And if the headphone can ‘lift’ that weight, lesser weights —genres—are relatively easy.

There is something about the massed, layered, and sometimes dueling voices of Choral music that most components cannot seem to accurately render, not like electrostatics.

If you haven’t tried electrostatic headphones, then please do. After all, there must me something to them, if people hold on to their electrostatics an entire lifetime and then pass them down across generations to family or dear friends.

This is my second connections with Dan Clark Audio and its electrostatic headphones. The first was with the VOCE electrostatic headphone, which was quite good. Upon first listen, the VOCE immediately brought back memories of the Marin Logan CLS and the Quad ESL-57. Both were exceptional electrostatic speakers with stunning midranges though they had their achilles heel—limited bass response, truncated treble. Yet they were loved and are loved by many, to this day.

The VOCE remains near my electrostatic headphone amplifiers and is always in reach for that memory lane stroll.

The Corina is Dan Clark’s second electrostatic headphone and it employs the AMT technology that was incorporated into the STEALTH headphones, which were exceptional and also beautifully constructed.

Suffice to say, that I look forward to my review of the new Corina electrostatic headphones and to finding out where they fit on that electrostatic world that I adore so much.