Ultrasone Interview with D.Sc. Florian M. Koenig - Page 7

I'm interested in knowing the difference between Audio Technica's angled drivers and Ultrasone's (if they are also angled) in terms of difference in soundstaging.

Edit: What kind of silly crap is AT pulling?

I think it is obvious that there's not a marketing conspiracy because of (no offense) how bad the product descriptions on the official website look. If you guys don't agree with me on this, then consider the iCans' product descriptions. They don't say why there's a price difference of up to $50 for different types of color. You might argue that bad english is no excuse for the feature descriptions appearing gimmicky, and I agree, because it's not good for business. I think the technical aspects of the headphones are perfectly fine, they just need to slightly edit their product descriptions so people like ericj won't get irritated.

While Audio-Technica's drivers are angled, Ultrasone's are most definitely not.

Ultrasone drivers are offset from center (but flat), strategically covered with a metal plate & ported in varying degrees (depending on the model).

Whether or not you hear what Herr Koenig engineered with his "S-Logic" seems to be rather individual. I am a big Ultrasone fan, and think they do many (notice I didn't say "all") things better than any other headphone brand. They are not perfect. They are not the second coming. Like 'em, don't like 'em. But don't lose sleep over it.

They are not the first company to have less than 100% accurate marketing copy. Listen with your ears, not with your eyes.

Cheers.

Thanks for an informative post!

Please refrain yourself from posting so many opinionated comments without any factual or experience in ANY of these headphones. It's especially perplexing as how you would know that Ultrasone is "obviously superior" when you don't even know anything about them.

Let's open pandora's box! ^^

What does Florian Koenig think about burn-in? Many people think that Ultrasone headphones have better sound quality after 100+ hours of use.

So here's what you're calling facts: He said this. She said this. Ultrasone's marketing team said this. Therefore, they must be true.

Go figure.

Oh boy. I have nothing more to say.

Geez, magnetic field is not an issue in a headphone. If the dear doctor is worried about microwaves, he should realize that most audio sources will stop at 20 kHz. If not the source, the audio material will not exceed frequencies that should be of concern. Let me give you an example. Let's assume that the audio source, recorded material and headphones COULD reproduce 100 kHz. Well, 100 kHz is only 0.0001 GHz, which is no where near an electromagnetic wave with 1mm wavelength. This will not cook your brain like your microwave oven or cellphone, which operate well above the 0.3 GHz frequency range. Cellphones are between 0.82404 to 0.84897 GHz and microwave ovens are above 2 GHz. Even with harmonics resonances, I would not worry at all. I would not worry about the static magnetic field from the magnets either or the low magnitude magnetic field from the coil due to alternating currents from the music.There are no studies that can conclusively tie magnetic fields to health effects.

There are also no conclusive studies that can substantiate the claims that magnetic fields at 50 to 60 Hz are harmful to children living at close proximity to the sources. I have studied the subject in depth for years now. If Dr. Forian has so much fear about magnetic fields originating from 50 Hz and 60 Hz sources, then he should suggest that hydro plants, wind farms, coal plants, and nuclear plants be shut down.

In this regard, I agree with ericj that this is a pretty clever strategy to sell more headphones.

As far as I know the magnetic radiation have as much to do with te audio waves as IR has to do with light. Therefore the frequency response and output of a driver has zero to do with the output of magnetic waves. Headphones still aren't rated for magnetic radiation, I think ultrasone are on the safe side by playing it safe. Now if only it can compensate for the continious 540V's hanging on each side of my ears currently!

audio frequencies in a headphone are the result of the back and forth motion of the coil with respect to the fixed magnets. This back and forth motion mimics the magnetic field produced by the alternating current passing through the voice coil. The diaphragm is a transducer and converts the back and forth motion into audio energy. But the audio frequencies really do not harm unless the amplitudes are too high and in that case, you should turn the volume down. But audio waves really are not related to electromagnetic emissions. I can make noise (talk, sing, play the drums, etc) without emitting electromagnetic waves.

Euhm, yeah thats kinda exactly what I said but with more words. To quote myself from previous post :" Therefore the frequency response and output of a driver has zero to do with the output of magnetic waves "

x-rays emit electromagnetic waves that are 30,000000 GHz or higher. Anything in the microwave range and above is harmful, that is 0.3 GHz and higher. Electromagnetic waves produced by headphones are WAY WAY WAAAAAAY below these frequencies, of very low magnitude and as a result of no concern.

Ultrasone have models that have the MU shielding for safety purposes based in the studies of Dr. Florian, and maybe they have others than do not (the portable ones I doubt they will)
As aside note, he had been working on that field for over 25 years, you guys need to settle down and realize that a person working for so long in one field, that also have several publications, sold and used all over the world, has a little more knowledge than the majority of the ones objecting these facts...If you want to believe that this shield will protect you, good, if not good as well, it in any case I feel is detrimental to the sound at all, and over that, and the most important issue, you are not charged for that shielding extra, they are there, and period....are you paying for the shielding extra? Does any other headphone with similar quality will cost you around the same cash, and will not offer that, so for me is absolutely fine...

We have here cables that are covered in fancy jackets, made of ultra-known materials like cotton, silk, etc...that will not offer any benefit neither, and the manufacturers claim that to be a fact, with no evidence, or even an straight answer or study offered on that, just because they say you should hear it, period....why not question that???......jezzzzz!!!!!

note: BTW IIRC the Edition drivers are indeed also angled besides of being offset...

Very good post, I very much agee with this Sovkiller.