So what's the word on the new Ultrasone HFI-780????

[Luminette]

if I didn't have a pair of darths on order, I'd pounce on these.. as is, I'm waiting to hear how those do with me.. and eager still to hear a pair of these, especially for comparison between the two.. impression-wise, these are sounding better

would love to hear comparisons of all criteria with these and some closed darths (preferably over deep cups, but deep cups if nothing else)

[moonsurf]

I received mine today too. Burned them with pink-noise and some music for just about nine hours. A quick words of thoughts about HFI 780 as well as on the Skylab's reviews.

I like them much. The only closed can I can compare is HD-280, which I truly enjoyed, and I'd say I already like HFI-780 about equal to HD-280. Since my 280 already has at least 1000 hours, 780 at this stage cannot match 280's bass depth. I love 280 for its extended bass with great depth and 3 dimensional sounds. However, HD 280 has some coloration issue as many people say, and I can tell right a way that HFI 780 is better in disregard.

So far I've thrown pop, jazz, hip hop, and classic, and HFI-780 seems to be good at many genre of music, especially ones that has been tuned by computer. This is mean, at this point, 780 don't seem to do good with classical music. Well.. there aren't many cans truly good at classic anyway, in my regard. Up to this point, instruments don't truly sounds like an instrument. However, it's been only 9 hours. I hope time will bring true character of these cans.

Finally, there is one thing I'd like to add. Now I know that Skylab is really good at his reviews! I totally agree about treble sizzle that I've also noticed a little extra sibilance on some vocals. Also, I agree on the width and depth of the soundstage. HFI 780 has a huge soundstage for closed cans. However, one thing I miss so far is the depth. Having a little more depth would have brought far more 3 dimensional sounds, I think. Again, this is too early to determine. Just my initial impression for now.

One thing I don't like about HFI 780 is the headband. It is basically same as HD 280's, and it's uncomfortable. I don't think it will be durable either.

[iQEM]

looking forward for more impression after completely burn-in, SkyLab...

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Skylab

There is no doubt some extra energy in the 6-8kHz range. It isn't a problem on many recordings, and it's generally not enough to be really considered a "problem", more a "characteristic". Someone used to the more laid back treble of a Sennheiser may not like it. But it's nowhere near as aggressive as Grado treble

Again, in general, I really like the 780's.

Two things

1) You need another 200 hours on them still. My Proline 2500 did that till almost 450 hours.

2) I answered some of Antonyfirst's questions in PM the other day, and was talking about my 48 hour burn-in results. He asked for comparisons with other headphones that he has heard, to give him a point of reference. So, I want to share what I said to him about my findings at 48 hours. I also have my 100 hour results to share with all you guys.

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

Some Ultrasone headphones during burn-in can wax and wane (PL2500) from good to great, to fair back to good, etc... Some Ultrasone can start out bad and just improve over the next 300-400 hours (iCans), and Some can start out fairly good and go right to fantastic in only 12 hours (Edition 9).

My HFI780 are doing the usual burn-in changes, and at 6 hours were almost as good as my Denon D2000 with APS cable, then at 24 hours they were mesmerizing, but at 48 hours (last night) were experiencing a low point where the D2000 were more natural and realistic sounding. The HFI780 just became a little more artificial at 48 hours than they were when I listened at 6 hours, or from 20-24 hours the first night, with a little more plasticky treble than at first. Yet last night they were still fantastic with electronic music - but real instruments like guitar and piano became a little colored and forced vs the initial impressions.

I would say good headphones come in two flavors - there are accurate headphones, and fun headphones, and some are both fun and accurate. During this whole time the 780 have been fun headphones, and part of the time they have been accurate too. I won't know the final result until I have 300-400 hours on them. I am waiting till tonight at 75 hours to listen again. This headphone is going to change a lot over time. Tomorrow night at 10pm I will be at 100 hours. I will post another report then as well, when I see what direction they are headed. I am going to post this part of my reply in the HFI780 thread later.

Re: your request for comparisons. Since the burn-in is not complete and they are changing so much over time, I shouldn't comment on comparisons to the others yet. I will say that the SR-001 sound better with the headband, not when pushed deep into the ear canals by themselves. SR-001 remind me more of the Koss KSC35 which are more forward than the Livewires, but with the speed of the livewires - bass is similar to both of those when worn the way I describe, but the Livewires have more treble than SR-001. The Livewires are more balanced than SR-001, but I like the SR-001 enough to keep a stock set while the first ones I got are being modded. I may wind up selling one of the two sets, but likely wont sell both. They project a natural timbre of real instruments, which I like.

The Livewires are good enough to me that John Diles has my impressions to make me a spare set. I do want UE11 pro myself, but would have to sell my Grado HP-2 to do that (I am thinking about offering them to Subtle for $1,600 and getting the UE11 Pro and doing my iMod to my 80gb iPod with the money).

The Triple.fi have almost as much bass as the HFI780, but the Edition 9 have more than the 780. The HFI780 bass is not a peaky or boxy or boomy bass, just powerful without roll-off as it goes deeper. At one point in the burn-in, the HFI780 were almost as accurate as the triple.fi, but always more exciting than the Triple.fi. I cannot say they are better at this stage of the burn-in yet.

I would say at this point the HFI780 are better than the iCans or Proline 2500, STAX SR-3, Senn HD25-1, Grado SR-60 and MS-1, and KSC35. The SR-001, Livewires, Denon AH-C700 and Triple.fi still hold an edge in accuracy after the latest change in sound. But none of them are as much fun to listen to with new age, electronic, rock or some jazz at this point. Classical, acoustic guitars and pianos are suffering a little during burn-in and I know this is going to change a lot in the next 200-300 hours.

Out of just the headphones you mentioned above (not including the 780 yet), I place the Edition 9 as #1, the Livewires 2, Triple.fi 10 pro #3, and SR-001 #4, but all are worthy of owning. However, adding in the 780, at 6-24 hours I would have put the HFI780 as #2 instead, and moved the others down a number. But at 48 hours the 780 were down to #3, or maybe tied for #4. This is only because of the changes during burn-in, and you can't hold me to this rank at any other number of hours. [Because of the lack of burn-in I did not compare with my HD600 or D2000 or Grado yet.]

These are easily driven by the Predator, and max volume in low gain (1:1) is enough without ever needing more. The HD600 need almost max at medium gain (4:1) to match the volume! So, they could be easily driven without an amp as well.

For mobile listening, you will look prettier walking down the streets with Livewires or UE11 pro in your ears, or even some Grados, like RS-2. HFI780 do isolate well, maybe like a Darth Beyer - isolation is definitely more than a Denon D2000, but slightly less than an HD25. So, a Grado, KSC35/75 or Denon C700 would be safer for walking down the street and not getting run over by a car.

I will post updates in the HFI780 thread later. And, I hope to spend some more time with my Edition 9 today too.

Larry

Today here is what I had to say at 100 hours.

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

As you recall, I mentioned the burn-in was going through a bad-stage at 48 hours, and the great sound at both 6 hours and 24-30 hours was going through a slump at 48 hours when the sound turned a little artificial and plasticky.

My complaints at 48 hours are gone now that I have 100 hours on them (10:00PM). The bad period is gone, and they were improved yesterday PM at 75 hours vs the 48 hour slump, and even better today.

I heard reverb in Diana Krall Girl in the Other Room title track tonight for the first time. I have never looked for it before, but just listening for fun tonight it was like, "did I just hear that for the first time?"

Pianos and guitars are much better tonight, more realistic and natural, and nothing like when I complained about them at 48 hours. Saxaphones are warming up a bit too. I an expecting more changes for the better from this point on.

My recommendation is two thumbs up - buy these.

Larry

So, I think these will be another 400 hour headphone like the Proline 2500. And they may wax and wane, or develop new sounds that may be exaggerated before they get better again, etc... For instance, right now the 780's treble almost as good with my Lyrix USB DAC amp as I recall them sounding with my Predator before I shipped it out this evening to Skylab with 1,100 hours for review. The point being the Lyrix tends to have a pretty strong treble already, and the 780's don't seem to be displaying any bad treble traits at the moment.

However, the 780's do have less warm mids when played through the Lyrix than they did with the Predator, and I can't wait for the predator to come back. The predator is closer to the Meier sound, with warm rich full mids, and the Lyrix is a little more neutral flat and dry in the mids (Lyrix's AD8397 makes me think it might be closer to the PICO amp section in sound).

Now, for overall AMP SYNERGY I spent much of the day trying all my amps with the 780's before shipping the Predator about 6pm. I have found the Predator, the DarkVoice 336i, the Meier HeadFive and HeadSix, and Meier HA-1 all sound better with the 780's than the iBasso D1 with AD797 (AD8397 buffers), Super Macro 3 with AD797, and Headstage Lyrix or PenguinAmp caffeine with AD8397 opamps. I didn't plan it that way, but I find that curious.

So, happy listening!

[HeadphoneAddict]

PS: The iBasso D1 was the closest to joining the "great" sounding group than the "not too bad" sounding group of amps listed above. So, the D1 straddled the fence on this one. And, they are acceptable with any of the amps, but have a special love for the Predator and DarkVoice 336i.

[Cry Havoc]

I'd love to hear more about these as I am considering a pair of them as well. =)

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Luminette

if I didn't have a pair of darths on order, I'd pounce on these.. as is, I'm waiting to hear how those do with me.. and eager still to hear a pair of these, especially for comparison between the two.. impression-wise, these are sounding better

would love to hear comparisons of all criteria with these and some closed darths (preferably over deep cups, but deep cups if nothing else)

When your Darths and my 780 are done burning in, we (me, you, blutarsky) can try to hook up and let you listen to the HFI700, PL2500, HFI780, and Edition 9. That list is in order of goodness. The HFI780 are NOT Edition 9's, but they still sound pretty good.

[antonyfirst]

Can we see a picture of someone wearing them? I am still not sure if I want to use them as portable (walking, commuting).

[Skylab]

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

Two things

1) You need another 200 hours on them still. My Proline 2500 did that till almost 450 hours.

That is good