Following the success of our first headphone — the world’s first convertible open-back/closed-back design, the DHS-1 — we decided to take the next step in our pursuit of exceptional sound. Our aim was to make the concept of convertible audiophile headphones more accessible without compromising the standards of performance that define Palma.
Meet the new Palma DHS-10, the younger and more colourful member of the family. Delivering the same core acoustic philosophy as the DHS-1, it offers a slightly more analytical presentation, without the natural warmth imparted by the DHS-1’s sapele wood enclosures. And just as music comes in many colours, the DHS-10 is available in seven finishes to suit your taste and personality.
Before the DHS-1, listeners had only two choices: open-back or closed-back headphones. We were surprised that nobody had rendered a design capable of switching seamlessly between both. So we set out to create one.
After more than three years of development, we arrived at a headphone with a uniquely transparent and natural sound. Through our patented rotating shutter mechanism, that same sonic character can be experienced in either open-back or closed-back mode simply by opening or closing the acoustic chambers.
The result is a headphone that adapts instantly to its surroundings, making the DHS-1 as practical as it is uncompromising.
Since its introduction, the DHS-1 has earned recognition throughout the audiophile community. Conceiving a new idea is one thing; bringing it successfully to life is another. Developing a headphone capable of switching between open-back and closed-back operation while maintaining genuine high-end performance in both modes required more than three years of dedicated engineering and fine tuning.
Built from premium materials including sapele wood, lambskin and stainless steel, and protected by our patented design, the DHS-1 is made to provide decades of musical enjoyment.
Judging by the response from specialist journalists, musicians, recording engineers and audiophiles alike, we achieved our goal. Its transparency, detail and versatility have been widely praised, with one reviewer describing the convertible design as “…nothing short of ingenious.”
The DHS-1 was not designed from the outside in; it was engineered from the inside out. Throughout development, function took precedence over form. Only once every acoustic and mechanical objective had been achieved did the aesthetic details fall into place.
We believe there is a timeless beauty in purposeful design. These are headphones built to outlast passing trends and remain relevant for years to come. As one professional user remarked: “…it doesn’t hurt that they look good too.”
Considerable effort went into refining the acoustic chambers and identifying the ideal enclosure material. Our approach was closer to loudspeaker design than conventional headphone design, treating each enclosure as a carefully tuned acoustic space.
Sapele, a prized African hardwood frequently used by luthiers, stood out for both its acoustic properties and distinctive reddish hue. Its rigidity and density allow exceptionally precise machining while ensuring long-term dimensional stability. The result is an enclosure that contributes to both the performance and longevity of the DHS-1.
At the heart of every Palma headphone lies a carefully engineered driver. A powerful neodymium magnet drives a 26 mm voice coil, which in turn controls a 50 mm composite diaphragm. The diaphragm combines a rigid pressed-cellulose central dome with an ultra-thin polyamide suspension. This construction minimises flexing during operation, reduces intermodulation distortion and lowers moving mass, while maintaining excellent power handling and long-term reliability.
The voice coil’s low impedance and exceptionally low inductance of less than 0.1 mH ensure excellent compatibility with a wide range of amplification systems, including integrated amplifiers whose headphone outputs often employ passive attenuation and offer relatively low damping factors.
However impressive the music or the sound quality, comfort remains essential to a rewarding listening experience. The DHS-1 sits securely and naturally on the head, distributing pressure evenly so effectively that it is easy to forget you are wearing it.
We’ve received particularly positive feedback from listeners who wear glasses, many of whom struggle with comfort when using conventional headphones.
The headband adjusts easily to suit a wide range of users, while generous memory foam ear pads wrapped in supple lambskin provide lasting comfort. Open the enclosures and settle in for hours of listening free from both acoustic and physical fatigue.
Many factors contribute to sound quality, but frequency response is perhaps the easiest to visualise. It also highlights two of the key achievements behind the Palma concept.
The first is the remarkably transparent tonal balance. The response remains free from dramatic peaks or dips across the audible spectrum, reflecting our belief that headphones should reproduce music as faithfully as possible. Our role is not to alter or embellish the performance, but to deliver the artistic intent of the musicians and engineers behind it.
The second is the close correlation between the two curves shown above. The red curve represents closed-back operation, while the blue curve represents open-back operation. Maintaining such similar tonal balance in two fundamentally different acoustic configurations is exceptionally difficult, yet it is central to what makes the DHS-1 unique.
Of course, frequency response tells only part of the story. Many aspects of sound cannot be fully expressed in measurements alone, and personal taste will always play an important role. Ultimately, the only meaningful evaluation is your own. We simply invite you to listen and discover what the DHS-1 has to offer.
The versatility of the DHS-1 makes it a natural travelling companion. To ensure it arrives safely wherever your music takes you, every headphone is supplied in a robust carrying case with dedicated space for cables and accessories.
Also included are two textile pouches — one for the headphones and one for the cables — together with two leather cable straps for convenient organisation.
The DHS-1 is supplied with three detachable cables:
All three cables connect to the headphones via individual 2.5 mm connectors for each channel.
Following the success of the DHS-1, we wanted to make the concept of convertible audiophile headphones available to a wider audience without compromising our standards of sound quality. Achieving this led us to explore a carefully selected high-performance synthetic composite for the enclosures.
The change in material introduces a subtly different character while preserving the core performance of the design. Compared with the DHS-1, the DHS-10 offers a slightly more analytical and revealing presentation, without the natural warmth associated with the sapele wood enclosures.
As part of our commitment to challenging convention, we also introduced a range of colour finishes. Music comes in many colours — as does the DHS-10.
Like its predecessor, the DHS-10 was engineered from the inside out, with performance guiding every design decision. The move to a high-performance composite enclosure, however, also gave us an opportunity to explore something new.
The DHS-10 is available in a choice of seven distinctive colours. As a result, your headphones can adapt not only to your listening environment, but also to your personal taste and living space.
If your DHS-10 is going to be part of your home for years to come, it should feel at home there too. So, which colour is you?
So what distinguishes the DHS-10 from the DHS-1? The most obvious change is the adoption of a carefully selected synthetic composite enclosure. Sonically, this results in a more analytical and revealing presentation, without the subtle warmth naturally imparted by wood.
The new material also enabled us to integrate 3.5 mm connectors directly into the enclosure, something that could not be achieved in the DHS-1 without compromising acoustic performance. Furthermore, the original aluminium shutter discs have been replaced by a fully enveloping rotating outer cover, providing improved sealing, greater isolation and enhanced acoustic control in closed-back mode.
What remains unchanged is our commitment to convertibility and uncompromising audiophile performance.
The DHS-10 was conceived with the same engineering-led philosophy as the DHS-1. Every decision was driven by acoustic performance, functionality and long-term durability.
The introduction of a high-performance composite enclosure also allowed us to offer the DHS-10 in seven distinctive colours. Whether your system is part of a dedicated listening room or a modern living space, there is a finish to complement both your surroundings and your personality.
After all, a headphone designed to stay with you for years should feel as natural in your home as it does on your head. You choose what to wear, don’t you?
Thanks to its low impedance and exceptionally low voice-coil inductance of less than 0.1 mH, the DHS-10 is remarkably easy to drive and performs confidently with virtually any source.
Whether connected to a dedicated headphone amplifier, a DAC, a streamer or a portable player, the DHS-10 delivers consistent results. For the best experience when listening from a smartphone or tablet, however, we recommend using a quality headphone amplifier dongle.
The DHS-10 retains the exceptional comfort of its predecessor. Memory foam ear pads wrapped in soft lambskin gently cushion the ears, while the same premium materials are used throughout the headband assembly.
Long listening sessions should be limited only by your music collection.
Our goal is simple: to transport you to the performance itself, allowing you to focus entirely on the music and forget you’re wearing headphones at all.
The DHS-10 builds upon everything we learned during the development of the DHS-1. The concept remains unchanged: a high-end headphone capable of operating as both an open-back and closed-back design while maintaining exceptional performance in either configuration.
Thanks to our patented rotating mechanism and extensive acoustic tuning, the tonal balance remains remarkably consistent between both modes. As the frequency response graph demonstrates, listeners can switch instantly between open-back and closed-back operation while preserving the essential character of the music.
This creates a uniquely revealing listening experience, allowing you to explore the genuine differences between both acoustic approaches without changing headphones.
The DHS-10 is also exceptionally easy to drive, performing well with virtually any source. For the best results when using a smartphone or tablet, we recommend pairing it with a quality headphone amplifier dongle.
One final note: transparency is a double-edged sword. The DHS-10 will reward outstanding recordings, but it will also reveal the shortcomings of poor ones. Then again, accuracy has always demanded honesty.
The DHS-10’s ability to adapt instantly to different listening environments makes it an ideal travelling companion. For that reason, it is supplied with a robust protective hard case, ensuring safe transport wherever your journey takes you.
Included cables allow connection to the vast majority of portable and home audio equipment:
Both cables connect to the headphones via individual 3.5 mm connectors for each channel.
The Palma DHS-1 will be available from September 18 but you can make sure to get yours by making a pre-order now. Just give us your name and email and we will contact you as soon as they are launching.
Thank you so much for your interest. We have just sent you a confirmation email of your pre-order. We will let you know as soon as the Palma DHS-1 are available so you can complete your purchase.
Best regards
The Palma Headphones Team
