Kennerton Audio Equipment Vali Neoteric
The Vali Neoteric pairs a wide, holographic soundstage with incisive upper-mid presence, letting vocals and dense arrangements breathe. MajorHifi highlights its smooth, detailed treble, quick low-end attack and exceptional comfort, while the rugged steel-and-wood construction gives this open-back design a convincingly premium finish. It is a poised, spacious listen for clarity-led audiophile sessions.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Comfort Fit
92/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Usability
84/100
Value for Money
87/100
Pros
Wide, three-dimensional imaging with notably strong front-to-back depth and clean separation in dense mixes.
Smooth yet detailed treble delivers definition without an overly glossy or metallic edge.
Extremely comfortable fit, despite the substantial 490 g chassis.
Exceptionally sturdy steel-and-wood build feels luxurious and durable.
Cons
Bass favors tight attack and clarity over extended sub-bass weight, so it may not satisfy listeners seeking a bass-heavy presentation.
The forward, slightly resonant upper-mid character may be less suitable for listeners wanting a softer or more relaxed midrange.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The Vali Neoteric is described as honest, balanced and spacious, with especially convincing upper-mid clarity, smooth detailed treble and a broad, deep presentation. Its low end prioritizes speed and tight attack over sub-bass weight, so it is less suited to listeners seeking a strongly bass-forward sound.
Bass
85/100
MajorHifi says the low end is not the star of the presentation and avoids heavily extended sub-bass. It is instead praised for a tight, attack-focused character, though listeners wanting intense bass weight may find it restrained.
Midrange
89/100
The midrange has a distinct crisp bite, with the upper mids often described as the star of the sound. This points to a clear, present vocal and instrumental character rather than a soft or heavily warmed-over one.
Treble
91/100
The high end is praised for reaching a sweet spot between detail and restraint. It offers definition without an excessive sheen, while retaining a smooth, slightly saturated quality.
Resolution Detail
90/100
Reviewers specifically note plentiful detail and definition, achieved without pushing the treble into an artificially shiny presentation. The overall sound is also characterized as clear and honest.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
MajorHifi calls the soundstage wide and highlights particularly strong front-to-back, or Z-axis, distance. The result is described as spacious while remaining balanced rather than diffuse.
Dynamics
80/100
The review points to a tight, attack-led bass response, suggesting capable transient drive. It says little about large-scale dynamic swings or microdynamic nuance across the full frequency range.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
92/100
MajorHifi describes the Vali Neoteric as extremely comfortable. This is notable for a 490 g headphone, though the review does not expand on long-session heat, clamp or fit variation.
Build Quality
94/100
The steel frame is described as extremely well built and likely to hold up well. MajorHifi goes further, calling these among the sturdiest headphones it has used.
Features Usability
84/100
This is a straightforward wired audiophile headphone, supplied with a two-metre OFC cable using mini-XLR connectors and a 6.3 mm plug. The reviews do not discuss pad replacement, accessories or other day-to-day ownership details.
Value for Money
87/100
At $990, MajorHifi considers the sound and construction commensurate with the asking price, saying buyers get what they pay for. The review does not make a stronger claim that it outperforms similarly priced rivals.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Driver
- Graphene-coated multilayered composite
- Driver Unit
- 50 mm
- Frequency Response
- 10-30000 Hz
- Sensitivity
- 100 dB
- Impedance
- 32 Ohm
- Maximum Input Power
- 500 mW
- Cord length
- High quality 2 meters OFC cable with 4-Pin Balanced mini-XLR connectors and Gold Plated 6.3 TRS connector
- Weight
- 490 g
- Wood
- Natural
Manufacturer's Description — Kennerton Audio Equipment
Open type acoustic design
Due to special design of inner cup sfere with 4 sound labyrinth-traps, the different types of resonances and abnormal distortions are kept below minumum. Kennerton Vali Neoteric Curly Maple – is just sound, quality sound, with incredible naturality and crystal clearance. The sound detail and clarity combined with powerful and pushy bass.
The new version has saved all the distinctive qualities of the previous versions. At the same time, those are different headphones now, of the higher sound quality, more technological, more attractive, more comfortable and lighter!
Note: Due to specific nature of every piece of wood each pair of wood cups can not correspond precisely to the photo on the website.
VALI IS ONE OF KENNERTON’S MOST FAMOUS HEADPHONES
For the years of being on the market, this model has been (and is!) one of the favorites for experts and audiophiles all over the world. Kennerton Vali has taken its rightful place among the best headphones. The most positive ratings from well-known experts and awards of various specialized publications are the true confirmations of this.
But everything needs refreshing and renewal, sooner or later. And we are very pleased to reveal the new version of Kennerton Vali Neoteric! This is the same unique sound so beloved by many! The sound detail and clarity combined with powerful and pushy bass. This is the same unique style and design by Kennerton.
These are the same high-quality materials – steel, aluminum, genuine leather and precious wood. This is the same handwork production elevated to the rank of art. This is the same super-high build quality and reliability of construction, which audiophiles around the world used to appreciate so much! But, at the same time, the new Kennerton Vali Neoteric – it is a new fresh design, a more comfortable fit, an increased cushions size, less weight. Even higher quality of processing, higher sound quality level. And yet again, it still keeps the Vali’s traditional style and identity.
Entirely developed and handcrafted in Russia, the open-back Kennerton’s Vali Neoteric headphones are using newest components to deliver the best listening experience while creating an aesthetically memorable product.
With Kennerton‘s Vali Neoteric, we succesfully achieved a lively, natural sound, that finely strikes in the balance of neither being too dark and congested, nor overly bright and sharp. Its sound signature is wide and open, yet clear and powerful, befitting the best qualities from a dynamic headphones.
So, please welcome! The New Old Vali – Vali Neoteric!
THE HEART OF VALI
Vali Neoteric Curly Maple is equipped with unique 50mm drivers using ultra-lightweight graphene-coated diaphragms. They offer great sensitivity, while reducing unwanted resonance and distortion. Its audio performance is then carefully tuned by our Russian engineers to ensure that nothing falls below excellence.
Low mass: Increases the response time to an incoming signal, while minimising the decay time. The result is a rich and emotional sound.
High internal damping: Minimum, almost zero additional resonances produced. The result is a smooth and vivid presentation.
Excellent stiffness: Allows the cone to oscillate without bending. The result is a much reduced distortion.
The graphene-coated multilayered laminated film further reduces the distortion by allowing the cone to move easily in perfect piston motion..
THE BODY OF VALI NEOTERIC
The materials we selected for Vali Neoteric are very specific. The cups are made from naturally treated wood. Those beautiful wood grains are complemented by a strong yet lightweight structure made of aviation-grade aluminium and steel. To prevent any unwanted resonance, the honeycomb grille is made of cast zinc alloy which is acoustically inert.
Designed to reduce long listening fatigue, Vali Neoteric has comfortable self-adjustable headband, made of steel and genuine lambskin leather, and coupled with large, soft leather earpads to provide a supportive and comfortable fit. High quality 2 meters OFC cable with 4-Pin Balanced mini-XLR 3.5 mm Rhodium Plated connectors with OFC USSR-military use litz wire further ensures that clear, undistorted audio signal from the headphones will be dutifully delivered.
WE ONLY USE THE FINEST MATERIALS
- Ear cups are made from valuable wood species.
- The wood is treated with a special compound based on beeswax, which makes it fungus-proof and provides product durability. It also coated with eco-friendly varnish using natural ingredients. Note: Each pair of headphones is one of a kind, and due to the nature of handwork, slight variations in wood grain may occur.
- All joints are made of steel parts, ensuring high durability and reliability.
- As the metal grille is located right behind the driver in an open-back design, any reflected wave will interfere with sound. Thus acoustically inert Zinc alloy is selected to prevent and unnecessary resonances.
- Old USSR military grade copper litz wire, terminating to a 4-Pin Balanced mini-XLR connectors, is carefully selected to bring out the best audio performance.
- Luxurious lambskin leather headband and ear cushions ensure extreme comfort for long listening pleasure.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Vali Neoteric
High quality 2 meters OFC cable with 4-Pin Balanced mini-XLR
Сomfortable eco-leather case
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Kennerton Audio Equipment Vali Neoteric
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio essence — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Audio Sanctuary — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- CASQUES HEADPHONES — in-store — Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (website)
- Igloo Audio — online and in-store — Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Knox Audio — in-store — New South Wales, Australia (website)
- MD Sound — online and in-store — Weyersfeld, Bayern, Germany (website)
- Patefon — online and in-store — Basmanny District, Moscow, Russia (website)
- Unilet Sound & Vision — online and in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)