A further benefit of dynamic drivers is the reduction of sound leakage. The bi-directional movement of the diaphragm and the two opposing magnetic fields in a planar magnetic driver often push some of the sound outwards as leakage, whereas the use of only one magnetic field in a dynamic driver means that this does not happen to nearly the same extent with Rognir Dynamic.

The desire to minimise leakage is one of the key factors that leads audiophiles to opt for a closed-back rather than open-back pair of headphones. These headphones are perfect for use everywhere and anywhere outside of the home, in situations where leakage may disturb others, such as when travelling, or simply for use in the studio. As such, we decided that loading our new Rognir Dynamic model with dynamic drivers made perfect sense.

The ear cushions also play an important role in preventing leakage, and those that accompany these headphones have been specifically designed for this model. The cushions themselves are made of memory foam, which is longer-lasting and provides greater comfort than normal foam. It also moulds to the contours around your ears, and as a result the cushions provide a perfect fit and seal. The memory foam is then wrapped in lambskin leather, which is both durable and very comfortable, and for this model we opted for unperforated cushions. Our intention is for these headphones to reproduce sound with as high a level of transparency as possible, and perforated ear cushions can have a slight impact on the sound. Consequently, we decided that unperforated cushions were the smart choice.

Shifting the focus away from the ear cushions and onto the cups, Rognir Dynamic are hand-crafted from rare and high-quality cuts of wood that we both source and cure personally. Each pair of ear cups is subjected to robust testing to ensure that they are of the highest durability.

We craft the cups from one solid piece of wood – this means that there are no joins on the cups where two or more pieces have been glued together. The treating of the wood is an intricate and delicate process that we have developed ourselves at Kennerton. We sand the wood by hand, before adding protective oil coatings, a layer of hot beeswax, and then finally a multilayer polyurethane eco-lacquer. We polish the wood each time a new coat is applied, and the result of this complex process are expertly-manufactured ear cups that are a sight to behold.

Yet our high levels of craftsmanship are not just cosmetic, but more importantly are highly functional.

To further enhance the sound quality provided by these headphones, we have carved our trademark sound labyrinth into the inside of the ear cups. This is a vital innovation that allows the headphones to reproduce a soundstage that is as broad, deep and intricate as an open-back pair of headphones, as well as affording the Rognir Dynamic spectacular imaging.

This impressive soundstage is generated due to the wooden crests that form the labyrinth inside the ear cups. They trap and deflect the soundwaves, and this prevents them from bouncing straight back into the ear once they reach the confines of the ear cup. Instead, the return journey of the waves to the ear is delayed, and as a result it appears that the ear cups, and thus the edges of the soundstage, are further from the ear. This is because the brain judges distance based on the length of time it takes for the sound waves to return to the ear. Consequently, this innovative technique significantly expands the soundstage created by the headphones, giving it a wide and airy quality with stellar separation.