This is my first effort at even a mini-review. I have no confidence in my ability to come close to imparting wisdom. I'll therefore be content with stating the impressions of a non-audiophile newbie.
Source - Mac G5 with Audiophile USB, with song files ripped at 192. OK, I know, my unsophisticated source and bit rate are already causing some of you to question the legitimacy of what is to follow.
Amplification - Corda HA-1 MkII.
Music - Everything . . . jump-boogie (Roomful of Blues covering Ray Charles' "Smack Dab in the Middle"), hard rock (from Pat Traver's "Crash and Burn" to ZZ Top's "La Grange"), country (Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar), metal (Metallica's "Neverland"). I know, I've got ridiculously diverse tastes. Or just maybe ridiculous.
First, I ordered the HFI-700s from Dr. Meier and he did his typically outstanding job of doing precisely what he said he would do, when he said he would do it.
The 700s were packaged in a rather pedestrian manner, at least as compared to my last headphones, the DT880s (which came packed in a lovely aluminum box). Like most everything German, build quality is outstanding (of course, given that my wife is from Cologne, I felt obliged to throw this in. And please, no questions about her build quality!).
After approximately 50 hours of burn in, here's what I've found.
1. Driveability - As compared to the very difficult to drive 880s, I can easily get the HFI-700 to ear-bleed levels with the Corda. When hooked up directly to an iPod, they're easy to drive to appropriate volume levels.
2. Portability - They do fold up, that's true. Even so, they'd be a bit bulky to drag around, IMO, and are just too big to wear in most settings outside the home.
3. Comfort - I find, at least so far, that I experience fatiugue after 45 minutes or so. This is less due to heat (though that is somewhat an issue) than the clamping pressure. I'm hoping this will ease up after more use.
4. Included extras - an extension, and a very nice "click-in" adapter (1/4 to 1/8).
5. The sound - As compared to anything I've owned previously (880s, PX100s, PX200s), these headphones shine in their ability to provide that kind of visceral bass impact so necessary (IMO) for the faithful reproduction of much of rock/metal music. Visceral is the right word, too. The 700s really give the listener a kick in the stomach (or, perhaps, a kick to some other part of the anatomy) and therefore are capable of giving the listener a very involving listening experience. Just superb bass slam.
Unfortunately, I really find myself missing the the more present mids and highs I'd grown used to in the 880s. They're there, sure. But (can I say this of a headphone not bearing the name Sennheiser?), there just seems to be this *veil* behind which the upper registers are hiding. With the 700s, it's like the bass drum is in your ear and the cymbols are somewhere off-stage. I'm listening now to ZZ Top's "La Grange" and the lead guitar and vocals are just, how do I say, recessed and perhaps a bit dark. I would love to hear some Grados (maybe the 225 or RS-1) to compare their reproduction of some the lead guitar and vocal parts with the Ultrasone.
While, on one level, I love these phones and the emotional impact they can bring given the right material, I fear that, in the long run, the search might have to go on for the perfect can.
And that brings me to another important observation. Given the strength of the 700s, I have noticed a disturbing tendency I have to turn the amp to insane volume levels, so as to produce the impact they're capable of. Like the old line, "anything worth doing is worth doing to excess," I have an addict's tendency to want more and more. In the long run, however, my own lack of discipline in keeping the volume down may prove very harmful to my listening health. This fact alone may well cause me to have to give these really decent headphones the boot.
And so, I'll keep these for awhile, but I'm afraid the search goes on for headphones that offer a bit more balance. What I really want are the RS-1s, but circumstances virtually demand that I consider only closed cans.
Why do I keep hearing voices in my head saying "CD3000" over and over again like some insane mantra?
Your thoughts and remarks would be most appreciated.
Source - Mac G5 with Audiophile USB, with song files ripped at 192. OK, I know, my unsophisticated source and bit rate are already causing some of you to question the legitimacy of what is to follow.
Amplification - Corda HA-1 MkII.
Music - Everything . . . jump-boogie (Roomful of Blues covering Ray Charles' "Smack Dab in the Middle"), hard rock (from Pat Traver's "Crash and Burn" to ZZ Top's "La Grange"), country (Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar), metal (Metallica's "Neverland"). I know, I've got ridiculously diverse tastes. Or just maybe ridiculous.
First, I ordered the HFI-700s from Dr. Meier and he did his typically outstanding job of doing precisely what he said he would do, when he said he would do it.
The 700s were packaged in a rather pedestrian manner, at least as compared to my last headphones, the DT880s (which came packed in a lovely aluminum box). Like most everything German, build quality is outstanding (of course, given that my wife is from Cologne, I felt obliged to throw this in. And please, no questions about her build quality!).
After approximately 50 hours of burn in, here's what I've found.
1. Driveability - As compared to the very difficult to drive 880s, I can easily get the HFI-700 to ear-bleed levels with the Corda. When hooked up directly to an iPod, they're easy to drive to appropriate volume levels.
2. Portability - They do fold up, that's true. Even so, they'd be a bit bulky to drag around, IMO, and are just too big to wear in most settings outside the home.
3. Comfort - I find, at least so far, that I experience fatiugue after 45 minutes or so. This is less due to heat (though that is somewhat an issue) than the clamping pressure. I'm hoping this will ease up after more use.
4. Included extras - an extension, and a very nice "click-in" adapter (1/4 to 1/8).
5. The sound - As compared to anything I've owned previously (880s, PX100s, PX200s), these headphones shine in their ability to provide that kind of visceral bass impact so necessary (IMO) for the faithful reproduction of much of rock/metal music. Visceral is the right word, too. The 700s really give the listener a kick in the stomach (or, perhaps, a kick to some other part of the anatomy) and therefore are capable of giving the listener a very involving listening experience. Just superb bass slam.
Unfortunately, I really find myself missing the the more present mids and highs I'd grown used to in the 880s. They're there, sure. But (can I say this of a headphone not bearing the name Sennheiser?), there just seems to be this *veil* behind which the upper registers are hiding. With the 700s, it's like the bass drum is in your ear and the cymbols are somewhere off-stage. I'm listening now to ZZ Top's "La Grange" and the lead guitar and vocals are just, how do I say, recessed and perhaps a bit dark. I would love to hear some Grados (maybe the 225 or RS-1) to compare their reproduction of some the lead guitar and vocal parts with the Ultrasone.
While, on one level, I love these phones and the emotional impact they can bring given the right material, I fear that, in the long run, the search might have to go on for the perfect can.
And that brings me to another important observation. Given the strength of the 700s, I have noticed a disturbing tendency I have to turn the amp to insane volume levels, so as to produce the impact they're capable of. Like the old line, "anything worth doing is worth doing to excess," I have an addict's tendency to want more and more. In the long run, however, my own lack of discipline in keeping the volume down may prove very harmful to my listening health. This fact alone may well cause me to have to give these really decent headphones the boot.
And so, I'll keep these for awhile, but I'm afraid the search goes on for headphones that offer a bit more balance. What I really want are the RS-1s, but circumstances virtually demand that I consider only closed cans.
Why do I keep hearing voices in my head saying "CD3000" over and over again like some insane mantra?
Your thoughts and remarks would be most appreciated.
