ADL (Alpha Design Labs), sister brand of Tokyo-based Furutech, unveils its second headphone, taking the smoothness and balance of the existing H118 and adding vividly increased dynamics.

“With these, our latest breakthrough headphones, we decided to take the performance of our now classic H118 headphones one step further,” said ADL. “We wanted to retain the H118’s smooth, well-balanced sound which has captivated so many headphone enthusiasts, but we also wanted to improve dynamics and recreate the same ‘punch’ that you hear during live performances – a lofty goal for a pair of headphones.”

To accomplish this, the brand’s engineers designed and developed a completely new driver from scratch in collaboration with colleagues at parent company Furutech and with input from an external team of renowned Japanese audio experts.

“The H128 is a dynamic closed-back circumaural headphone. Its tailor-made diaphragms offer both high noise attenuation and low distortion, and feature high quality PEEK film with a specially designed surface selected for extraordinary performance. Furutech’s ‘Pure Transmission’ technologies abound: 40mm high-resolution extra-large high-flux neodymium drivers magnets; an aligning ring engineered to ensure phase coherence in ultra-high frequencies; rhodium-plated mini XLR sockets; all-OCC internal wiring, and excellent transient response from extremely lightweight coils made with copper-coated special aluminium alloy wire”.

All of the drivers’ metal parts are ‘Alpha-Process’ treated1, a low-temperature two-stage cryogenic and anti-magnetic process.

The H128 also features Alpha Triform Contour EarcupsTM which are specially designed for a superior seal over the ears, improving bass response . The Triform Contour also reduces internal standing waves and reflections for reduced distortion.

Included in the ADL H128 package are two Furutech headphone cables.