So what's the word on the new Ultrasone HFI-780???? - Page 137

Ok, (i think that you are something busy). I was thinking that you are ignoring my message, but now i understand.... OK, i will be wating for your response.
....Ah ha, but you can't customize them and put the 750 drivers..., at least that you and/or him have a destructive mentality, it will be a "sacrilege" (well a complete sin) to damage a new headphone to do anything similar..., better doesn't buy it....

AH, in other hand, i don't win really anything selling them for that price....
Well, i already took a new decision....

I got one of those $8.50 FiiO E3 amps today - and I must say the synergy with the HFI-780 is suprisingly good. This amp doesn't work well with every phone, but using it with a Sansa Clip and the HFI I was really impressed what this ultra-cheap Chinese amp can do. It's a warm-ish amp and tames the HFI's treble quite well, without veiling the sound or making it muddy. It certainly sounds better than a PA2V2 or similar amps.

Give it a try, it's worth the $8.50.

Hi there, this is my first post and I'm somewhat fairly uneducated in terms of quality headphones (only really having the Senn PX200's as my previous frame of reference) but have been reading this forum quite a bit over the last few weeks and have just bought the HFI 780's after hearing good things.

I'm really pleased with them, even without nearly approaching the recommended 'burn in' time. However, they are HUGE - a lot bigger than I was expecting and the cable is very long and so I feel may not be too practical for day to day commuting to and from work on the hot sweaty underground (here in the UK). My (probably silly) question is whether there is anything out there a lot more portable but with the same (or a least nearly the same) sound quality? I personally love the pristine trebles and booming bass of the 780's. I thought I read that IEM's have similar sound quality but can this be true as they are so tiny? Any recommendations? Cheers.

Welcome aboard!

You would be quite surprised what the IEM manufacturers can accomplish. I would say the Sleek Audio's SA6 just might be right up your alley. The one thing with IEMs, however, is that getting the right fit is a personal thing. Getting a proper seal is imperative for IEMs to sound their best and if you can't find tips that are both comfortable and provide that important seal, you are out of luck. Don't be too worried though - the odds are in your favor you will find what works for you. The other cool thing with IEMs - you'll get a good level of passive isolation. Why is this a good thing? Even in a noisy environment you can listen at reasonable levels avoiding damaging your hearing.

Heh, and I just put my 780s on today after a week with my 501s and had forgotten how small they felt...

Welcome to head-fi...and sorry about your wallet!

The 780's strong bass, forward mids and bright treble is often hard to replicate all at the same time in an IEM. Many times I find one part may be missing, whether it's the weaker (but present) bass in the Sleek SA6, or rolled off highs in the SE530. But the Klipsch Image seem to give a similar sound signature to the 780 with pounding bass, forward mids and clean treble (but not too bright like the 780 are sometimes).

Hi, thanks for the above recommendations. I am really surprised to hear that these tiny IEM's can produce such powerful sounds approaching these full sized cans - it makes me wonder why people would prefer to use full sized headphones at all?? I know from past experience that I must have weird shaped ears as EVERY SINGLE ear buds I've ever used have fallen out after a few seconds! However, those Klipsch's sound and look intriguing - I think I'll research them a little and IEM's in general although I really do not want to sacrifice much in terms of sound quality. I use my communting journey to listen to and study mainly modern orchestral music so it's important that everyting is crystal clear.

I know there is a separate thread somewhere for Senn HD25 vs HFI 780 but can anyone give a quick comparison - I think I could just about live with their slightly smaller size if their sound is on a par? Cheers.

The HD25-1 are very capable headphones - kinda like a closed Grado SR-225, with strong bass, forward up front soundstage, and crisp highs. The soundstage unfortunately is also lacking and small like the Grados, and not as big as the HFI-780. Still, if you like the HFI-780 or Grados you should like the HD25-1 with everything but classical which needs a bigger soundstage. I had a pair and only sold them because the 780's were a little more exciting and got used more. The HD25-1 and 780's both have good isolation from outside noises, and the HD25 are definitely smaller and more portable. I sometimes wished I had kept them.

Thanks HeadphoneAddict for the info on the HD25's. I've just ordered them from a retailer here in the UK who says I can return them no problem if I am not happy with their sound - I look forward to comparing them with the 780's. Cheers.

HeadphoneAddict suggested the Klipsch Image as a possible portable alternative to the HFI 780's - has anyone here actually used both and if so, is the Klipsch Image sound quality on a par with the 780's - what are the main differences? Does their tiny size mean anything important in sound quality is sacrificed? Cheers.

Never having used IEMs, this is sort of a random thought-out guess, but I don't think you'd lose sound quality...maybe tactile bass (and that's one thing I love about the 780s), but I don't see why you'd lose actual sound quality from a set of good IEMs.

Granted, it seems like you have to spend more on IEMs to get the same sound, but that's understandable as I'd imagine getting that out of the tiny little drivers IEMs use is harder, as well as building a proper enclosure for them.

Does anyone know of a place I get get them for 200USD online? I know there used to be places that sold them for that, but I can't find any now. I'm located in the usa if that helps.

The best price I've found was at Northern Sound & Light.

I got mine from here: Ultrasone Headphones

do your ears go in the earcup or does the headphone on your ears? This is probably my only concern, My ears go in the cup with the D2000 so I wonder if my ears would be to big for the HFI780?