Palma DHS-10 – Open and Closed High-end Headphones in One, Now in Seven Colours and at a More Attractive Price

Open or closed? Anyone shopping for a serious pair of headphones usually has to settle that question before anything else, because the two designs pull in opposite directions: one favours air and space, the other favours isolation from the outside world. The Spanish headphone maker Palma Audio has been trying to dissolve that either-or ever since it introduced the Palma DHS-1, a model intended to cover both approaches in one pair of headphones. Its successor, the Palma DHS-10, takes the idea to a wider audience. Wooden ear cups give way to a high-performance synthetic composite, the finish is offered in seven colours, and the price comes down. The patented mechanism that moves the headphones between open and closed operation is carried over unchanged.

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Key Facts – Palma DHS-10 Convertible Headphones

• High-end over-ear headphones that switch between open and closed operation
• Patented rotary mechanism that alters the acoustic housing mechanically
• Switching takes a turn of just 14°
• 50 mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnet system
• 32 ohm impedance and voice coil inductance below 0.1 mH
• Housings made from a synthetic high-performance composite
• Seven colours with names inspired by music
• Memory foam ear pads with soft lambskin covering
• Detachable cables and a robust carry case supplied
• Recommended retail price of €1.595,-

Composite instead of wood: what sets the DHS-10 apart from the DHS-1

The biggest departure from the Palma DHS-1 lies in the material of the ear cups. The original model uses Sapele wood; the Palma DHS-10 relies on a carefully selected synthetic high-performance composite instead. Making the headphones cheaper to build is only part of the reason. According to Palma Audio, the new material has an acoustic character of its own, one that should be audible next to the wooden model.

The manufacturer describes the sound of the Palma DHS-10 as somewhat more analytical and more concerned with fine detail. The Palma DHS-1, by contrast, is said to have a slightly warmer tonal balance, which Palma Audio attributes in part to the properties of its Sapele housings. The newcomer is therefore not simply a stripped-down version of the larger model. The technical philosophy is the same, but the voicing leans in a different direction, and depending on personal listening preferences that may well be an attraction rather than a compromise.

The composite also changes the look. Where the grain of the wood defines the appearance of the Palma DHS-1, the Spanish company uses the new material to offer an unusually wide palette of finishes.

Two headphones in one: the thinking behind the concept

With the Palma DHS-1, Palma Audio introduced a design that departs clearly from the usual principles of high-quality headphones. Open models are valued for a spacious, airy presentation, while closed ones shield the listener better from the surroundings and the surroundings from the listener. The company’s patented system is meant to make both qualities available in one product.

What matters here is that nothing has to be swapped or reconfigured. The change is made by turning the outer covers of the two ear cups. That alters the acoustic behaviour of the housing while every other component stays exactly as it was.

The Palma DHS-10 pursues the same idea with one additional aim. A concept that was relatively exclusive until now is to be offered at a lower price, without giving up its essential construction features or the high standard of acoustic tuning.

A 14° turn: how the mechanism works

The heart of the Palma DHS-10 is the patented mechanical switching system already used in the Palma DHS-1. Each ear cup has 48 precisely made openings and a matching rotatable cover. Turning the cover through just 14° either releases those openings or closes them.

In open mode, the sound radiated from the rear of the driver diaphragm can escape to the outside. This produces the acoustic behaviour typical of open headphones, often associated with a freer and more spacious presentation. In closed mode, the rear radiation is kept inside the housing, which is intended to provide stronger isolation from the environment.

One detail stands out: the switch can be made while the music is playing. The listener can compare the two acoustic concepts directly, without taking the headphones off or stopping the music.

Keeping the tonal balance steady

The difficulty with a design like this is that open and closed housings can affect the behaviour of a driver considerably. Reflections, resonances and the different acoustic loads show up above all in the frequency response. A simple mechanical switch between the two housing types would therefore by no means guarantee a comparable tonal result.

Palma Audio says it has developed the whole construction, including driver, housing and opening mechanism, as one coherent acoustic system. The aim is to keep the tonal balance as constant as possible when moving between the two modes, so that what changes is chiefly the character of the open or closed design.

The measurements published by the manufacturer are intended to show how closely the two modes match. They are not identical, and nobody would expect them to be: the frequency response runs from 8 Hz to 30 kHz in open mode and from 12 Hz to 30 kHz in closed mode, and distortion is quoted as 0.08 % open and 0.1 % closed, both at 1 kHz and 110 dB SPL. It is the intended tonal continuity between the two that makes the concept interesting.

Proven driver technology with a 50 mm diaphragm

For sound generation, Palma Audio uses electrodynamic drivers with a diameter of 50 mm and a powerful neodymium magnet system. The diaphragm is a composite construction that pairs a stiff central dome of pressed cellulose with an especially thin polyamide suspension. The voice coil measures 28.5 mm in diameter.

This combination of materials is meant to keep the diaphragm movement controlled, reduce unwanted deformation and hold the moving mass low. Palma Audio’s stated goal is precise, low-distortion reproduction even at higher sound pressure levels.

The specifications give the Palma DHS-10 an impedance of 32 ohms and a voice coil inductance below 0.1 mH. The low inductance in particular is meant to help the headphones pair well with a wide range of amplifier circuits.

Sensitivity is 101 dB at 1 mW in open mode and 102 dB at 1 mW in closed mode, so the headphones make no unusual demands on amplifier power. According to the manufacturer, that makes them suitable not only for dedicated headphone amplifiers but also for high-quality D/A converters with a headphone output, streaming solutions and portable hi-res audio players. For smartphones and tablets, Palma Audio nevertheless recommends a good external USB DAC with an integrated headphone amplifier.

Seven colours and plenty of musical references

The composite housing allows a far broader range of finishes than wood, and Palma Audio has made full use of it. Seven versions are available, each named after a well-known song:

• Whiter Shade of Pale – white
• Kind of Blue – blue
• Simply Red – red
• Greensleeves – green
• Mellow Yellow – yellow
• Old Whistle Grey – grey
• Black is Black – black

The Palma DHS-10 can thus be matched not only to different listening situations through its acoustic mode, but also to personal taste in design. For headphones meant to be used both with a stationary HiFi system and in a personal work or living space, that is a welcome extra.

Comfort for long listening sessions

The unusual technology should not overshadow wearing comfort. Palma Audio has carried over key ergonomic features of the original model to the Palma DHS-10. Generously sized, circumaural ear pads in memory foam are meant to adapt to the shape of the individual head, and the soft lambskin covering underlines the premium aim. The headband is designed to distribute pressure as evenly as possible.

At 502 g without the cable, the Palma DHS-10 is not one of the lightweights in its class. The pressure-distributing construction and the quality of the padding therefore matter all the more, especially over longer sessions.

Connections, cables and carry case

The Palma DHS-10 is a classic passive, wired headphone with a separate 3,5 mm jack socket on each ear cup, so the connecting cables can be exchanged without fuss.

Two cables are supplied for different situations. A 1,2 m cable with a 3,5 mm stereo plug is intended for portable sources, while a 2,8 m cable with a 6,3 mm stereo plug is meant for the home HiFi system.

A robust carry case is part of the package as well. Palma Audio evidently expects that headphones which can be open or closed will also appeal to owners who do not want to confine their equipment to the living room.

All benefits at a glance

• Two acoustic concepts: an open and a closed high-end headphone in a single construction.
• Patented switching: a turn of just 14° changes the operating mode immediately, even during playback.
• Matched voicing: the acoustic design is meant to deliver a consistent tonal balance in both modes.
• Driver technology: 50 mm dynamic drivers with a neodymium magnet system and a composite diaphragm, designed for precise music reproduction.
• Distinct housing material: the synthetic composite gives a somewhat more analytical sound than the Palma DHS-1.
• Seven finishes: colours with musically inspired names allow individual styling.
• Flexible connectivity: low impedance and two supplied cables allow use with stationary and portable sources.
• Comfort: memory foam pads with lambskin covering and a purpose-designed headband are intended to keep longer sessions pleasant.

Price and availability

Palma Audio is offering the new Palma DHS-10 now in seven colours. The manufacturer’s recommended retail price is € 1.595,-. It is sold through authorised specialist dealers and directly from Palma Audio. That places it well below the Palma DHS-1, which has a quoted recommended retail price of € 2.195,-, a difference of € 600,-.

Getting to the point

In a segment where many manufacturers try to stand out through new materials, more elaborate drivers or ever more exclusive trimmings, Palma Audio takes a refreshingly independent route with the Palma DHS-10. Turning a high-quality headphone from open to closed on the spot has a very practical benefit, and it also makes it easy to compare two acoustic concepts directly.

That the idea now arrives in a less costly model is particularly welcome. The move from wooden housings to a synthetic composite opens up new design options and, according to the manufacturer, gives the Palma DHS-10 a sonic personality of its own. For music lovers who want a versatile, technically unusual high-end headphone without compromising on build quality or acoustic ambition, the Palma DHS-10 from Palma Audio could be well worth a closer look.

Technical Specifications

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