Skip to main content

Signature Acoustics C-12 Ver 2

Hi Audiophiles, I haven't seen anybody mentioning the Made in India Signature Acoustics C-12 Version 1 or 2. Is it because people feel it as substandard and made in India ? I so wished to write a review and here it goes.

Intro: I had lot of time trying out different budget level headsets 5 years back and somehow i came to know about this Indian company Signature acoustics and its maiden product C-12. The initial reviews were very good and made me try it out. Brought it for Rs 3000/- back then and was so happy for the next 2 years till the hard wires started splicing. Fast forward to 2017, i accidentally stumbled upon the same company selling out C-12 version 2 and that too for Rs 999/- introductory offer. Didn't even think twice, brought it, burned-in for 2 full days.

Model: Elements C-12 Version2.0
Impedance: 22Ω±15%
Sensitivity: 94±3dB &1KHz; 1mW; IEC318
Frequency response: 20~20KHz
Distortion: Max: 3% & 1KHz
Rated Input Power: 3mW
Maximum Input Power: 5mW
Level difference average: ≤3dB & 1KHz

Microphone:-
Directivity Omni-directional
Impedance: Max: 2.2KΩ
Sensitivity: -42±4dB & 1KHz; 2.2KΩ 3V ,0dB=1V/Pa
Decreasing voltage: -3dB &VS=4.5V,RL=2.2KΩ
Current consumption: 200uA-350uA
S/N ratio Min: 58dB & 1kHz

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (exynos) Hi-Res unlocked. Poweramp Alpha built - 704 (best out there)
File Source: ALAC, FLAC & 320Kbps Mp3's (all from trusted single source)

Sound Quality: Its not a V-shaped sound signature neither flat. I will say L-shaped (like the output of an old monster Nokia N91). It has got a nice good fit and it's light weight. The supplied silicon tips are really good and they are supplying a memory foam tip as gratitude which though degrade the sound a little but extremely comfortable.

Bass: Oh boy, these are Bass heavy headphones, it goes deep into the sub bass extension with elan. Its not overpowering either with very less leaking into lower mids. Since it is made out of wood, the overall sound signature is different from metal and plastic ones out there. Its very welcoming and natural.

Mids: It is quite natural and flat with no unnecessary spikes. It's not sublime or detailed as some of the higher end headsets out there. The resolution is good and instruments like guitar sounds good. It's nothing great here, but not bad either. Have used so many headset in this price range which fared much worse.

Highs: Now the biggest drawback or biggest gain for us the customers. The treble range tends to roll of around 8k to 12k region. A lot after 12k range and i don't think anything is there after 16k. The good part of this gentle rolling off is we can use it hours on end without feeling fatigue. No sibilance, harshness or unwanted spikes. Sleep will find us automatically and i use it to get nice good fast sleep. Bad part is, for critical listening & demanding people who wants brilliance & lot of details will find it boring.

Stage & Imaging: The mid range has nice good depth and instrument separation is really good. Can clearly hear 2 different instrument on 2 different sides as kept on a stage. Its smooth also. Since highs lack brilliance, separation and imaging is not perfect, but nothing to complain either.

Modification: Since the S7 DAC is super flat, we can play around the Equalizer a little bit. 31Hz = +3db, 62Hz = +1.5db 1Khz to 2Khz (where most THD happens) = -1 to -1.5db, 8Khz = +2db, 16KHZ = +4db (for compensating the roll off)

Conclusion: For the introductory price of Rs 999/- nothing comes close and i even say it's better than soundmagic E10 & ES18 overall (highly overrated these are IMHO). Sennheiser CX series also not a match overall. I will try Byron soon and get a conclusion. But this is a perfect headset (tuned for prolonged hours of listening) for an average listener.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Living with a superbike in India

LIVING WITH A SUPERBIKE IN INDIA Riding a bike is more about passion, a cult, and a relaxation for some. But full stop here. It’s not true in the case of our country. While we can buy supercars like Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari F430, Porsche 911 Turbo and even a 400 lakh rupee Rolls Royce Phantom from showrooms in India or a BMW, Audi or a Merc in lesser cases. The same simplicity does not apply to a superbike purchase. For some unknown reasons, the bike industry has not kept up with its automotive counterparts and the Yamahas, Suzuki and Hondas of the world seem content with selling 100cc economy motorcycles and now a day with little better 150cc ones. And for showing off, we have 200cc + offerings here from home grown companies like Hero Honda and Bajaj. Kinetic have taken a brave step forward and launched 2 quarter liter bikes with the alliance of Hyosung, Korea. The two offerings from them, a sports bike, the Comet GT 250 and its cruiser counterpart, the Aquila 250. Even though

Cross Plane Crankshaft

The crossplane design was first proposed in 1915, and developed by Cadillac and Peerless, both of whom produced flatplane V8s before introducing the crossplane design. Cadillac introduced the first crossplane in 1923, with Peerless following in 1924. In 4 cylinder engines, the technology is developed by YAMAHA Motor Corporation. They introduced this successful design in their MOTO GP bikes and the latest superbike. This technology interprets the positioning of the pistons or arrangement in the crankshaft in an inline engine and also the alteration of the firing order. The rapid torque pulse from the engine is diluted in this way to get more traction from the bike when it is exiting a corner. A crankshaft is a mechanical part in an engine which connects the big end of the connecting rod. Several big ends will be connected to the crank shaft. The crankshaft is also the output part of an engine. Here, in the case of a four cylinder engine, the pistons 2 & 3 are moved opposite by 90 de

Vehicle Dynamics - 2 Wheeler

VEHICLE DYNAMICS - WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT ? Altering the suspension a good idea? What will happen if you alter, try to improve the ground clearance or want to put a fancy or bigger and wider tire? Or more on the latest trend of ICE to EV conversion which alters the vehicle dynamics if not played well? Let's talk about few things to be considered and things to keep in mind before carrying out any modification to an OEM design. I will be talking more in terms of suspension, increase or decrease in ride height. We can always relate with the kind of modification we have carried out and then compare the scenario. Suspension Motorcycle's suspension serves a dual purpose: contributing to the vehicle's handling, braking and providing safety, comfort by keeping the vehicle's passengers comfortably isolated from road noise, bumps and vibrations. The typical motorcycle has a pair of fork tubes for the front suspension, and a swingarm with one or two shock absorbers for the rear sus