Do Ultrasone Pro 900 really need an amp ? - Page 2

Yes the PRO 900 need an amp to get the most out of them. They lack the bass everyone raves about without it.

I'd been wondering about the bass. I have a usb amp/dac but, the bass is just not there. I have a Schiit Asgard on the way right now. I also just ordered some D5000 headphones to compare the Pro 900 too. Even though I could afford to keep a ton of headphones(I'm a hobby shop owner doing fairly well)I just don't see it as practical to have many headphones laying about. My Beyerdynamic 770/80s should arriv any day now. Anyhow I've seen firsthand now how much the Pro 900s really do need a good amp. I hope that the schiit Asgard is enough for this.

Ultrasone headphone always seem to sound good amped or unamped, out of an Ipod they sound great, just not very bassy, out of a PC EVEN BETTER!, out of an amp BWAHHHHHHHH!

I'd advise getting at least an ok amp. I'm definitely getting one (the E7) and I only have the Pro 750.

What are peoples opinions on the Pro900s with a fiioe7, alrifht match??

Sounds fine. It even sounds good without an amp. I don't know what you're fretting about.

It should be ok. I'd consider the E9 though (more power)

This is SO true. I was seriously considering selling my Pro 900, until I paired them up with a nice warm amp. Jesus I had that moment where you suddenly want to post what you heard here on head-fi on EVERY thread, yes it was that good. Then I added the CLAS... I don't want to make you buy it, so I won't describe it

 

Honestly the sound i'm hearing now makes me wonder if buying a $1000 headphone is even worth it. Only way I see myself buying another headphone is so I get a different taste, but then again anything would be different compaired to the Pro 900.

If you're handy, check out the NwAvGuy's Objective2 Amplifier. I'm building on of these in a week, when Ill receive the parts.

I haven't had any major issues running my Pro 900s without an amp. On my integrated sound card, they aren't quite as loud as I would like and the bass isn't quite as abundant as I was expecting. I would have no problem running them unamped but I couldn't help but put in a preorder for the ZO2. I've been bitten by the Head-Fi bug so it was only a matter of time before I bought my first amp. ;-)

 

I have used them with a Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro and they got much louder. The bass did seem to come a bit more life, as well. In that regard, having a portable amp would definitely be worthwhile. It depends on what you want to spend and your portability needs. I would love to get a good desktop amp but I primarily listen to music on my laptop and Zune HD so portability is key. There are plenty of bargain amps that should be up to the task.

 

After spending $360 on a set of headphones, I was a bit reluctant to spend even more to make the perform to their full potential. In the end, I expect it to be worth it. The good news is that you don't necessarily need to amp these to get them to sound good. It's an added bonus that you can presumably get them to sound even better by putting an amp in the chain.

 

On a side note, I'm relieved to hear others mention that the Pro 900s didn't have the bass that they were expecting. I was worried that it was just my set. The bass can definitely be strong, and I love the sound signature in general, but after hearing some people complain about getting headaches from the bass, I was expecting bass overload. I'm very pleased with how they sound (aside from the volume) so I am thrilled to hear how they improve with an amp.

Edited by LarryKingsShoes - 10/24/11 at 7:12pm

While the Pro 900 sounds fine without an amp, I think its price is hardly worth the SQ you'd get without one.  With an amp, everything settles down and instead of being a harsh bass-monster, you get a headphone that provides incredible dynamics and bass for EDM, Hip Hop, and Rock.

Okay, so the Pro 900 is not worth it without an amp, yet it's worth it with an amp, correct? The problem is, once you add an amp, you are technically tacking the amp's price onto whatever you are using with it, and in this case the Pro 900. Essentially, you are now paying quite a bit more just for the Pro 900 to sound "correct" or "up to potential". Not saying amps are a bad idea, or that they do not improve sound, but value goes tumbling down hill when you start getting into those. From my experience, I'm not a fan of using amps with headphones, as I never could get over the ratio of how little the sound improves compared to how much the unit costs. Even the Q701 (improved the absolute most by amping out of anything I tried), wasn't worth it over "not" amping it and getting not as good of a sound. Don't mean to raid on anyone here, or say your methods are wrong, it just depends on the person and what they feel is best for them. But for anyone that is newer to this hobby stressing about the whole amp thing (I remember that stage), I would let it rest for awhile, and then one day see for yourself. After all, "you" are the ultimate judge.

 

The Pro 900 really do need an amp, and since ur gonna get into this hobby might as well invest in one. Doesn't have to be the best, just something you can be satisfied with. I recommend waiting for the Digizoid ZO2, just pre order it and save up. Your Pro 900 will thank you.

I am on the same boat. It's a bit easier to swallow the amp pill when you're investing in something that goes beyond a traditional amp in functionality. At just about $100, it's very competitive against other affordable amps, even without considering the dramatic bass boost that it will offer. Once you factor in the benefits of being able to boost bass to varying degrees, it becomes more than just an amp. While the Pro 900s aren't in dire need of extra bass, being able to get that thicker sound can go a long way in creating a fun listening experience. It should also serve you well with whatever headphones you try out as time passes. I'm very excited to try my ZO2 with my Atrio M5s and Sennheiser HD280 Pros (and, of course, the Pro 900s). The Atrios have a lot of bass as they are now but the Sennheisers don't quite satisfy my cravings. I love the isolation the HD280s so if the ZO manages to work its magic on them, they might get more use.

 

From what I've read, a lot of people develop such an attraction to the Digizoid that listening without it just doesn't sound right. If it manages to make that much of an impression on people, it should be $100 well spent.

 

This is the kind of product you want to invest in. a product that makes you enjoy your music so much more, that without it you rather not listen to music at all.