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

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Skylab

That is good to know! I will keep running them in until 500 hours. Thank god for XM Radio !

At 123 hours now and it is still changing, as Skylab's "sslight sssibilance" has just started with mine over the last couple of hours while listening.

I have been listening 2-3 hours a night for the past 5 nights, and leaving them alone during the day (except the first day). So, when I pick them up for the first time in 20-22 hours, the changes will be more striking. Thisss is just starting while I had them on, because when I picked them up to listen a couple of hours ago they sounded much like last night (but the bass had come back up again to new levels).

When I heard it about 30 minutes ago with the D-303 and iBasso D1 DAC to Meier HeadFive, I switched to the home setup (Marantz and DV336i) and it was still there. I changed program material and still hear it. It is not bad at all, but it is notacable.

Did this start in your 780 while you were in London and they stayed behind to burn in? How does yours sound now, a day later? I am not worried yet, since I am only about 1/3 of the way there.

[HeadphoneAddict]

124 hours, still mesmerizing, and the treble is not giving me any trouble right now with Tsuyoshi Yamamoto "autumn in seattle" HDCD.

[antonyfirst]

I hate sssssibilance, can't wait for it to disssappear.

[Cry Havoc]

HA, what genre's of music do you find the sibilance most present with? Is it just a general factor overall or is it restrained to lower quality recording and certain types of music/sound?

[Skylab]

I have gone back into "break-in-but-don't-listen" mode with the 780's, to get to the 500 hour mark. I refuse to believe they won't be fully broken in by then

[wilashort]

Hi Musicmaker
For you, which of the two (Denon D2000 and it (HFI-780)) has better image and instrument/voices/effects separation?
And for you, which of the two (ES7 (it's known for/to have a very open and airy sound in a closed headphone...) and it) sound for you more open and airy.

Skylab
I make again the same question about the separation/image, between this headphone and the DT990, in complex music. Which of the two is better and how much...?

Ah, and which of the two (DX1000 and the HFI-780) sound for you, more open and airy?

Thanks

Originally Posted by musicmaker

I received mine today. Took a quick out-of-the-box listen and they sound very good. Great bass. One other thing that I noticed right away is the forward midrange as skylab stated. Also these sound pretty open/airy for a closed can compared to some of the other closed cans I've tried. I'm going to let these burn in for ~100 hours now before I do any critical listening. At this stage, they are easily worth the $200 I spent.

[HeadphoneAddict]

I am almost at 147 hours and the HFI780 are a definite keeper so far. Then again, I am also really enjoying my Proline 2500 at 500+ hours too, but the mids of the HFI780 are much more inviting, and the whole experience much more involving. The 780 mids are closer to the HD600 or Edition 9 than the PL2500. The highs remind me of my STAX SR-Lambda normal bias, and the bass is closer to my Edition 9 than anything else I have - a powerful but smooth flat to 16Hz without peaky-boomy-coloration.

The sibilance has not worsened (still mild) since 24 hours ago. Last night it was noticeable with a particular CD Diana Krall "Girl in the Other Room" and with saxophone/pianos in "Jazz at the Pawnshop". Both being CD, not MP3. I listened to classical and it was fine, as was ALL new age electronic techno and space music. Rock wasn't really affected either, but guitars in Jack Johnson "On and On" and "Sleep through the Static" were a tiny bit sharper yet his voice wassssn't hissssy.

Tonight is "Jazz Night" - with Diana Krall "Only Trust Your Heart" the vocals are better. It seems to be more of an issue with that first Diana Krall CD, which I think was recorded a little "hot". Listening to Tsuyoshi Yamamoto HDCD "Midnight Sugar" is a real treat tonight. Pianos with a 320kbps MP3 rip of Arild Anderson "The Triangle" do not have that edge to them like they did last night. Jazz at the Pawnshop CD is about the same, but very enjoyable with that little extra reedyness to the saxophone. I switched to The Eagles, "Hell Freezes Over" just now, and there is just a little sibilance in the voices but the guitars are just right.

I have to stress that this is all mild, but audible - but certainly not a deal breaker. The fact that its not there on my gold plated drivers in my HFI700, and that it did go away with my PL2500 by 500 hours adds to my confidence that it will go away.

I really love to put these on for my daily listen to update my impressions. Actually I love them all - If headphones were a religion, I'd be an 18th century Mormon...

[HeadphoneAddict]

The only complaint I have about the 780's is the "fake leather" ear-pads are not like the Ethiopian Hairless Sheep leather on my Edition 9 , and so they are not as breathable or absorbent. So, after 2 hours of continuous listening my ears (and where the pads touch my skin) do get a little hot.

The pads are as good as any other fake leather pads I have tried on other headphones. They are firm but smooth, pliable, flexible and comfortable, but they just don't have the positive attributes of real leather. I had the same problem with my HD25-1, and my D2000. You can't expect leather on $200 headphones. I just put on my Proline 2500 and I can feel the coolness as my skin moisture evaporates and cools me off.

Some people may complain about the clamping pressure (Skylab). They clamp enough that I have been able to sleep in them 2 nights in a row, and now I don't miss not sleeping with my HD25-1 (that I sold when I started sleeping with my Darths on). My ears don't get hot or sweat when I am not active, as in sleeping, but when sitting up and reading forums and typing and moving around with the 780's and my iPod is different.

I was able to stretch the headband around day 2-3, and that indeed helps with the ears breathing, but I tightened them back up when I found that didn't stay in place as well when sleeping or lying down. I have my D2000 set to be so loose I can't even rest my head back when in my leather desk chair.

[Asr]

Where do you live, HeadphoneAddict? I smell a mini-meet...