Ultrasone HFI780 ALO Mod - Page 22

Originally Posted by Headphone Crazed

Right out of the box sounded very comanding PUNCHY through my Headroom Amp....Burning 49hrs now.... Just took them for another run and boy these have an opulance of there own spacious warm smooth highs punchy (when called upon ie Limelight Rush early drum line blew me away!!), near total bliss only drawback so far is the slight tightness of the cups around my head and the weighty jena cable, but overall very very pleased with the musicality that they are reproducing...Burining will continue and will try to update at 100mark intervals...

Originally Posted by Al4x

i am considering these but im so lost

theres no way i can justify the best cabling option but the vampire cable is o the cards

im sort of getting a picture that they mite be suitable for me

i like a fast, detailed, sparking treble with impact bass, (not boomy and not too much)

i listen to a lot of metalesque music well see my sig

the question is
are they worth it rather than stock when using them with a pico?

Originally Posted by Al4x

this is one of those damned hard decisions, i have no amp as yet, but i will be looking at a pico/predator

to alo, or not?

with no way to try them its hard, the only other can i have is the d2000, which is not ideal, too boomy and bassy

grr, i wish i could try a pair!

Originally Posted by CountChoculaBot

The two options I'd recommend to you is to either:
Get Markl'd ($160)
or
Buy a stock HFI-780. If you like the sound (give it about 200hrs, I'd say), but want some improvements (harshness/sibilance especially), then send it in to ALO.

Originally Posted by Al4x

i might have to do that, tho $450 in total, (more if i have to send them about) is alot of money, especially seeing as i may have to buy an amp also around the same price! if i did that option i bet i wouldnt get them modded!, its like £100 more! and i live in the uk!

and from the sounds of it, people prefer the pico, and i will only be getting one that a definite. i kind like highs, i use the tf10s with silicon tips cause the foam tips lost too much hi range

one thing, they are still effective as portables after the mod arent they? if not then thats out the window.

oh yeah, i think i will wait until i get an amp before selling the d2000s, i dare not mod them, i dont understyand headphones that much!

Originally Posted by Sceptre

It's rare for a member to be close to me so I'll offer an audition of cables, portable amps and thoughts over a beer.
PM me,
John

Originally Posted by Skylab

Thanks to HeadphoneAddict, I was able to spend some time comparing the ALO Audio modded and recabled HFI-780 to the S2 Audio modded and recabled 780.

First and foremost, both of these mods do a great job in addressing the main shortcomings of the stock 780. Both smooth out the treble peaks, and relax the midrange aggressiveness. The ALO modded set are slightly smoother throughout, but just a little. In either case, the main goal is accomplished - both versions sound excellent in this regard.

However, neither mod significantly improves the problem with the soundstage being shallow. Both improve it a little, and again the ALO maybe just slightly more, but for people who are ga-ga over soundstage depth, look elsewhere.

The ALO 780 also had slightly less lump bass response, I felt. this was still pretty subtle versus the S2 audio version, though.

So overall, in terms of JUST sonics, the ALO version is slightly better, IMO.

HOWEVER, there are some other factors. First, the ALO mod is more than 2x the price of the S2 mod. But more than that, the ALO modded cable is really badly microphonic. The S2 Audio cable is somewhat microphonic when it's rubbed or tapped, but the S2 cable isn't microphonic when one just turns one's head - the ALO cable is. With the ALO cable, you have to stay totally still, or you get loud microphonics. I found this troubling.

I also greatly prefer the single entry configuration of the S2 Audio recable, and I prefer the looks. That, and the price, make the S2 version much easier to recommend than the ALO version, IMHO, in spite of the ALO version offering very slightly better sound.