P6 Pro Obsidian First Impressions (Out of the Box) P6 Pro灰曜石初印象（开箱听感）
Luxury and Precision (L & P) has earned a reputation of making the premiere R2R DAPs for audiophiles around the world. Many domestic Chinese customers are familiar with the P6, which released nearly three years ago. P6 earned many accolades for its sound by both the press and praise from hifi hobbyists. Based on feedback from P6 users and reviewers, L & P added features such as the touchscreen and further optimized the audio performance to create the P6 Pro. To appeal to a wider audience (outside of China), L & P engineered P6Pro with a ‘all around’ tuning that works with a wider variety of music. Mr. Wan (co-founder of L & P) set P6Pro loose on the market, with a keen eye on reception of P6 Pro in Western markets. P6 Pro exceeded expectations and won numerous awards (including coveted VGP Gold Medals) for its exceptional sound quality, hardware engineering and outstanding design. While customers expressed desire for better software, the revelation of L & P’s sound quality is not easily forgotten in the Western market. In fact, an increasing number of customers are using P6Pro as a flagship DAC within their desktop amplifier headphone systems, aided by P6 Pro's LO in either 3.5mm or 4.4mm.
While L & P are working tirelessly on the next generation of systems (LP7), Mr Wan looks to his favorite source of inspiration, his customers. He noticed many customers hold on to the older P6 player. It turns out P6 tuning is very popular and is much adored by Chinese audiophiles who prefer the P6’s original ‘vocal enhanced’ tuning compared to the ‘all around’ tuning of Black/Gold P6 Pro. Customers asked Wan if it was possible to create ‘the best of both’, a P6Pro with the tuning of the original P6.
Those who know Mr. Wan knows that he loves a good challenge. Driven by his demanding customers, Mr. Wan and his team set out to create the P6 Pro many customers were asking for. After many iterations, the team at L & P has produced a P6 Pro that combines the performance of the P6 Pro line but brings the sound tuning back the original P6.
I was able to ask Mr. Wan a few questions about P6 Pro Obsidian. Responses are edited slightly for brevity.
Q: P6Pro Obsidian vs P6 Pro Black, how are the tunings implemented? Is it hardware or software (or both)? Is this because of FPGA? A:Yes, the Obsidian version tuning is from the FPGA reconfigurable hardware. This can be said to be the result of both software and hardware configuration.
Q:Is Obsidian P6Pro the future direction of L & P tuning? Or L & P offer different tunings/colors for future products? A:Obsidian Tuning is just a branch of our tuning; in fact, we can do a variety of tunings without loss of tone quality based on our current experience. Later on, we can launch different versions according to customer demand and feedback.
Q: Why was Obsidian conceived? A:Many of our customers like the popular tuning of P6 (vocal centric) and want to get the performance of the P6 Pro Black version, so we have launched the P6 Pro Obsidian version.
Q: Is L & P looking for tuning preference feedback from Western customers? A:Yes of course, we are eager to hear our customers feedback so we can offer even better products in the future.
This new model, called P6 Pro Obsidian has the same price as P6 Pro Black. The silver case of Obsidian looks very similar P6, however the Obsidian retains the wood back plate of the P6 Pro line. Obsidian and Black share the same software platform and features. However, the differences between the players become apparent when the music flows.
As L & P R2R devices benefit from burn in (P6 Pro requires 200 hours for optimal results) please understand these are first impressions. Extended impressions will be posted some time from now when the device is fully burned in.
The Obsidian has the same power delivery as P6 Pro Black. Depending on your iem, you may be better off using 3.5mm if using a wider volume range is desired. The sonic differences are best appreciated in vocal music. Obsidian is airier, vocals sound lifted and have more sparkle than the Black version. The P6 Pro Black signature is a relaxed and diffuse presentation. The Obsidian is a tad tighter, focused and brings a livelier sound to the vocals. I find vocals (Yao Si Ting, We Are One) and classical solos such as violin, cello and piano benefit from this presentation whereas layered jazz passages with saxophone can sound crowded and brighter at times. Electronic music (Everybody’s Lonely by Goldroom) benefits from Obsidian's more engaging presentation. There are optimal pairings with Obsidian, some genres worked particularly well with Obsidian, whereas others lacked this synergy.
灰曜石具有与P6 Pro黑色版相同的功率输出。根据你的入耳款式，如果需要使用更宽的音量范围，你可能最好使用3.5mm单端口。在人声音乐中最能体会到声音的差异。灰曜石的空气感更强，人声听起来更有气势，比黑色版更有光泽感。P6 Pro黑色版的特点是宽松感和弥散感更强烈。灰曜石的声音则更紧凑、更集中，给人声带来更多的活力。我发现人声试音曲（姚思婷的《We Are One》）和古典独奏，如小提琴、大提琴和钢琴，都受益于这种表现形式，而有萨克斯风、层次感强的爵士乐选段有时听起来则会很拥挤、会更明亮一些。电子音乐（Goldroom的《Everybody's Lonely》）得益于灰曜石更具吸引力的调音表现。灰曜石有其最佳搭配，对味时听一些音乐类型特别好，而还有一些流派则缺乏这种音色与韵律上的协调感。
P6Pro Black allowed for greater compatibility with music but didn’t shine in any one aspect. Obsidian leans closer to LP6 in presentation; however the tradeoff is with other complex genres like jazz ensembles, rock and hip hop where I preferred the P6 Pro Black warmer tonality. LP6 in comparison managed to sound excellent in every genre, it seems there is no substitute for LP6. Even so, Obsidian’s tuning pushes P6 Pro’s enjoyability with my music to a new level that was not possible with the Black version. I still have some time to burn in Obsidian, however if you consider yourself a fan of vocals or simply want a P6Pro with livelier, leaner signature, one can view Obsidian as a more suitable alternative to the lush Black P6Pro.
