Now then, where was I?
Ah, yes, I had infiltrated the audio section of FNAC, my local big-boxer, and had seized upon the opportunity to spend some quality time with two higher-end Ultrasone models, the PROline 2500s and the HFI 2200 ULEs. Sadly, the PROline 750s would have to remain ensconced in their factory-sealed enclosure.
But one question lingered: would I be able to execute my mission while remaining relatively unmolested by the presumably cans-unenlightened sales staff?
After all, here I was, in a mega-volume music store dipping into my rucksack and extracting six CDs (all of which they most certainly sell), plugging-in leads that are obviously supposed to be lock-wire tethered into their fancy-pants headphone stand
and firing-up a CD player that normally resides on static display. And there's just gotta be security cams mounted everywhere in this place.
Still, I was determined to press onward and go about my business and I steeled myself to accept whatever consequences might ensue. Now, exactly what is French for
I must see my lawyer?
Ah yes,
Je dois voir mon avocat!
I had just about two hours until the store would close, so I determined that, if at all possible, I would spend about a half-hour with each pair, acclimating myself to their respective presentations before attempting any direct track-by-track comparisons.
I began with the HFI 2200 ULEs simply because they are so very fetching in all their milk-chocolate brown, gild-padded, That 70's Show-glory. Although I remained standing and ever on the lookout for disapproving glances, I tried to imagine myself reclining in a basement rec-room Barcalounger, mesmerized by my new lava-lamp as the tunes began to pour forth.
The fit of the 2200s was comfy enough, to be sure, and I was surprised by how light they felt upon my head despite the solidity of their build.
Initially, I found myself quite taken aback by the sheer weight and fullness of the sounds I was hearing. It was rather disorienting at first and it reminded me of early sessions with my Heed Audio Enigma omnidirectional loudspeakers. As with them, here the soundstage was broader than I had anticipated and the presentation more diffuse, certainly far more so than my PX-100s.
But after a good fifteen minutes, I found myself able to cease questioning and (over)analyzing and I began to hear music and just submit to the flow. So make no mistake, Disco Citizens, there is an absolute learning-curve gauntlet to run before properly experiencing these cans!
Once I allowed the possibility of acceptance, the 2200s no longer seemed strange, but rather silken, organic, and just about as groovelicious as they look. Clearly, my experiences with my omnis stood me in good stead. And I had just enough time left to play one track each on my remaining five CDs before swapping over to the 2500s.
Strapping-on the 2500s was somehow rather different. While I've read here that the headbands in the Ultrasone range are all exactly the same, this pair was decidedly less forgiving with my own handsome head. So they seemed slightly heavier and I was more greatly aware of the presence of the pads.
Over the next half-hour, I played an entirely different set of tracks than I had for the 2200s in order to avoid any direct comparison and allow me to concentrate on the 2500s for what they were.
Having conquered the offset driver presentation hurdle during my time with the 2200s, I was freer to experience the 2500s unencumbered by doubt or unfounded expectation. Initially, they seemed somewhat dry, yet they were absolutely controlled in a way I hadn't noticed during my time with the brown-bombshells. In fact, they appeared to have as much of a vice-grip on the music as they had on my noggin!
So if I were to summarize this round using the one-word review paradigm found in another popular thread hereabouts, it would be as follows:
HFI 2200 ULE - lush
PROline 2500 - authoritative
Part the Next:
Ultrasones Head to Head or
Careful With That Axe, Pierre! 
Dex
Linear Mode
