ULTRASONE NEW ANNOUNCED HEADPHONE Signature Pro - Page 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwarmi 

 

Update on the 'Signature Pro' as of yesterday Australian time 

 

I spent a bit of time playing some 'Cyndi Lauper' through the Signature Pro's on a V800/V181 combo

and it did make a mess of things ~ this headphone really is not suited to female vocals ~ Cyndi's

voice warbled like she was singing through a drain pipe. The upside is that playing 'Grace Jones'

material showed that these cans lend themselves to a more male grave orientated voice, other

actual-male voices also sounded somewhat realistic but still well behind the authenticity of a DT880,

HD650 and T1 reproduction.

 

I'll finish on a high note though, Robert Miles 'Children' and 'Strange' (also by Grace Jones) were

the best I've heard thus far, the beat bass line is full, rich and detailed across the sub and mid bass,

it does significantly better than the Pro 900 in that respect.

 

General conclusion? If you wish to step up from the Pro 900 and keep the same signature, then

the Ultrasone Signature Pro deserves a look. It's a big departure from the Edition 8 and 10,

hardly the same vein though.

Thanks for the impressions Gwarmi. Although your findings are rather disappointing the information is nice to know. Compared to others on here I'm still a huge noob when it involves mid/high tier gear so please pardon my ignorance when I ask the following question. In your honest opinion do you think that the worbled female vocals could maybe be smoothed over with a different amd/DAC combo? Enough people seem to like to mix and match their gear to find as they put it the proper synergy for their headphones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuppetFace 

Ultrasone was at their best in my opinion with the Edition 9. It's got serious flaws--- most of which echo the impressions being given so far on the Signature Pros--- but I personally think the Edition 8 and ESPECIALLY the Edition 10 have even greater flaws which resulted from Ultrasone departing from their past template too much.

 

Sometimes it's advantageous to stick with what you do best. If I want to listen to a headphone for the utmost fidelity and neutral presentation, I'll grab my O2mk1. If I want one of the absolute best "basshead" cans for listening to beat-oriented music, then I'll go for my Edition 9. Variety is the spice in the dunes of life, as no one in particular says.

 

I'm quite glad to hear the Edition 9 seems to be making a return under the guise of the Signature Pro.

Lets be honest according to what I've read the Edition 10 wasn't just flawed it was a sibilant nightmare. Even Skylab with his huge collection of amps and DAC's couldn't find anything to make the Edition 10's sing like a good headphone should. As I remember it he sent it back and gave it a huge F grade because the sound for the money spent was that terrible. He even got into a bit of an argument with some of the resident Ultrasone fan boys for being harsh with his final impressions. Even Tyll gave it a failing grade and Tyll isn't the kind of person who likes to go out of his way to trash a product. Even when there's a sound flaw he'll usually try to balance his review with some kind of positive and in the case of the Edition 10 he didn't even feel it was worthy enough to do that. I think Ultrasone really screwed up with the EDition 10.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalFreak 

Thanks for the impressions Gwarmi. Although your findings are rather disappointing the information is nice to know. Compared to others on here I'm still a huge noob when it involves mid/high tier gear so please pardon my ignorance when I ask the following question. In your honest opinion do you think that the worbled female vocals could maybe be smoothed over with a different amd/DAC combo? Enough people seem to like to mix and match their gear to find as they put it the proper synergy for their headphones.

 

 

Lets be honest according to what I've read the Edition 10 wasn't just flawed it was a sibilant nightmare. Even Skylab with his huge collection of amps and DAC's couldn't find anything to make the Edition 10's sing like a good headphone should. As I remember it he sent it back and gave it a huge F grade because the sound for the money spent was that terrible. He even got into a bit of an argument with some of the resident Ultrasone fan boys for being harsh with his final impressions. Even Tyll gave it a failing grade and Tyll isn't the kind of person who likes to go out of his way to trash a product. Even when there's a sound flaw he'll usually try to balance his review with some kind of positive and in the case of the Edition 10 he didn't even feel it was worthy enough to do that. I think Ultrasone really screwed up with the EDition 10.

 

 Absolutely, some headphones in particular like the DT990-600's are so particular about the amp and source it's not

 funny. As a side note, after auditioning my pair all day yesterday I came home to find an extra layer of warmth on my

 Rega DAC compared to the relatively neutral V800 (up-sampling set to off, it's a toy function :-)) Ok, back to the

 Signature Pro's though....

 The Burson 160 was not there on the day but from memory the Signature Pro's did not detract too much from the

 original Burson presentation when plugged into the V181. The Violectric being the cleaner sounding of the two

 without that slight warm edge. It might pay to see if the SPL Phonitor likes the Signature Pro next time,

 might even be this week. I'll report back.

 The Edition 10 is a funny headphone ~ I only played one track on the day through the V800/V181 ~ and it

 was quite clear and bright not sibilant and nasty like I remember it, again, change of material and I could

 be cowering in agony!@

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalFreak 

Lets be honest according to what I've read the Edition 10 wasn't just flawed it was a sibilant nightmare. Even Skylab with his huge collection of amps and DAC's couldn't find anything to make the Edition 10's sing like a good headphone should. As I remember it he sent it back and gave it a huge F grade because the sound for the money spent was that terrible. He even got into a bit of an argument with some of the resident Ultrasone fan boys for being harsh with his final impressions. Even Tyll gave it a failing grade and Tyll isn't the kind of person who likes to go out of his way to trash a product. Even when there's a sound flaw he'll usually try to balance his review with some kind of positive and in the case of the Edition 10 he didn't even feel it was worthy enough to do that. I think Ultrasone really screwed up with the EDition 10.

 

Well, I can only be as honest as my own ears allow me to be.  

Having lived with the Edition 10 for over a year now, I've developed a rather bizarre attachment to it as a sort of petit object (a). I really wanted it to be my perfect headphone, and while it does indeed fail, it's honestly not as bad as people make it out to be in my opinion. There are some things is does really well. There are also things it does quite badly. It's only when the very harsh reality that it's price tag is what it is comes into the equation that the problems start to snowball and take on a cataclysmic quality. Quite simply, the sound signature is unacceptable for a headphone positing itself as being on that tier.

As for Ultrasone screwing up, that's really nothing new. They're just getting better and better at it. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwarmi 

 Absolutely, some headphones in particular like the DT990-600's are so particular about the amp and source it's not

 funny. As a side note, after auditioning my pair all day yesterday I came home to find an extra layer of warmth on my

 Rega DAC compared to the relatively neutral V800 (up-sampling set to off, it's a toy function :-)) Ok, back to the

 Signature Pro's though....

 

 The Burson 160 was not there on the day but from memory the Signature Pro's did not detract too much from the

 original Burson presentation when plugged into the V181. The Violectric being the cleaner sounding of the two

 without that slight warm edge. It might pay to see if the SPL Phonitor likes the Signature Pro next time,

 might even be this week. I'll report back.

 

 The Edition 10 is a funny headphone ~ I only played one track on the day through the V800/V181 ~ and it

 was quite clear and bright not sibilant and nasty like I remember it, again, change of material and I could

 be cowering in agony!@

It should be interesting reading more impressions once these headphones begin to filter out into the hands of some of our head-fier's. I'm hoping in the next few months a consensus develops on what amp/DAC combo will pair up with these new cans. I've never had an Ultrasone and I'm tempted to try some of their products and see what all the fuss is about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuppetFace 

Well, I can only be as honest as my own ears allow me to be. 

 

Having lived with the Edition 10 for over a year now, I've developed a rather bizarre attachment to it as a sort of petit object (a). I really wanted it to be my perfect headphone, and while it does indeed fail, it's honestly not as bad as people make it out to be in my opinion. There are some things is does really well. There are also things it does quite badly. It's only when the very harsh reality that it's price tag is what it is comes into the equation that the problems start to snowball and take on a cataclysmic quality. Quite simply, the sound signature is unacceptable for a headphone positing itself as being on that tier.

 

As for Ultrasone screwing up, that's really nothing new. They're just getting better and better at it. 

 

I don't blame you for liking the Edition 10 it's a beautiful looking headphone that screams opulence without being gaudy. Just a suggestion, have you ever thought of maybe finding a credited modder and letting him/her try and tame the treble energy? A little tinkering with dampening material could go a long way and make the Edition 10 really sound like what a flagship should sound like.

Significant German conflicts:

Franco-Prussian war

World War I

World War II

Ultrasone war

I think the Pro 900s are a very fun headphone, and I would really like to hear the Ed. 8s. But Ultrasone has had quite a few misses and only a few hits. They should get down and make a great, no-frills mid-fi or hi-fi headphone that competes ably within its price bracket, without embarrassing themselves. I think they are truly capable of making this headphone.

And while I'm at it, I want a pair of AKG K1001s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalFreak 

I don't blame you for liking the Edition 10 it's a beautiful looking headphone that screams opulence without being gaudy. Just a suggestion, have you ever thought of maybe finding a credited modder and letting him/her try and tame the treble energy? A little tinkering with dampening material could go a long way and make the Edition 10 really sound like what a flagship should sound like.

That's not a bad idea, but the most prohibitive factor here is modding a pair of $2700 headphones. I mean, how do you recable a pair of R10s? Very carefully, I'm guessing.
 

Completely agree, pro900 is a great headphone, but for a specific kind if music. I use it mainly for gaming and movie and its also very good for that.

Also good with electro like JMJ or some classical music, especially with piano.

Pro2900 is a much more all rounder headphone, with midrange much forward and better bass imo.(not in quantity but quality). In the end, pro2900 seems more refined than pro900.

Have you ever listened to the pro2900? if so, what are the differences with the "signature pro"? I like midcentric headphones, but also to have some good bass (not a basshead). As example, i love my romantic w1000x,lol, but unfortunately some sibilance with some woman voice.

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDRey 

 

 

Completely agree, pro900 is a great headphone, but for a specific kind if music. I use it mainly for gaming and movie and its also very good for that.

 

Also good with electro like JMJ or some classical music, especially with piano.

 

Pro2900 is a much more all rounder headphone, with midrange much forward and better bass imo.(not in quantity but quality). In the end, pro2900 seems more refined than pro900.

 

Have you ever listened to the pro2900? if so, what are the differences with the "signature pro"? I like midcentric headphones, but also to have some good bass (not a basshead). As example, i love my romantic w1000x,lol, but unfortunately some sibilance with some woman voice.

 

Thanks.

 

I haven't listened to the Signature Pro yet obviously, but if they're anything like the Edition 9 (as reports are suggesting), then you can expect: 

-A bit less treble presence than the PRO2900

-More bass quantity than the PRO2900 (it is a closed headphone, after all)

-Greater bass extension and quality than the PRO2900

-More overall detail than PRO2900

-Slightly narrower sound stage compared to PRO2900

Hello I'm new boy in Head fi

I'm in love with Pro2900 .Who can tell me I will love in Signature pro?  . I will get Signature pro in 2 day if it come to shop in Thailand . Thank So Much.

Sorry in my English I try to write in English.  Thank you ^^

I use  Notebook>Audio Gd Digital interface A>>Blackcat Cable>>>NFB-5>>>No Headphone      I wait for Signature Pro  Thanks a lot

Thanks.

Like this, it seems excellent, but the midrange is really important to me. I hope we ll soon be full of reviews.

A signature Pro vs Edition 8 comparison would be great.

I don't find any problems with Ed8 so far.

What are your complaints w/ the edition 8?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuppetFace 

Ultrasone was at their best in my opinion with the Edition 9. It's got serious flaws--- most of which echo the impressions being given so far on the Signature Pros--- but I personally think the Edition 8 and ESPECIALLY the Edition 10 have even greater flaws which resulted from Ultrasone departing from their past template too much.

 

Sometimes it's advantageous to stick with what you do best. If I want to listen to a headphone for the utmost fidelity and neutral presentation, I'll grab my O2mk1. If I want one of the absolute best "basshead" cans for listening to beat-oriented music, then I'll go for my Edition 9. Variety is the spice in the dunes of life, as no one in particular says.

 

I'm quite glad to hear the Edition 9 seems to be making a return under the guise of the Signature Pro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrahman 

What are your complaints w/ the edition 8?
 

Treble energy and glare on certain setups, primarily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuppetFace 

Treble energy and glare on certain setups, primarily.

Ditto Muppet Face 

I was listening to the Edition 8 just today off a Sugden Transport with a Sugden Masterclass HA4 head amp - track was off the 

Ultrasone CD ~ Track #7 ~ 07 "Also Sprach Zarathustra", Staccato 2, Nr. 12 (R. Strauss, Opus 30)

Big crescendo finish, I was alternating between the Beyer T5p and the Edition 8 ~ the Edition 8 was glaring things up towards

the finish.

So has anyone compared the pros with the ed8? I'm looking to get either one of these.

Ordered the Signature Pro on Wednesday. They were delivered on Thursday. Listening to them now.

It's a bit challenging for me to give my impressions on the sound of these this early on, but so far they aren't exactly what I expected. They aren't bass monsters like the Edition 9s. Seem a bit more constricted and forward, at least at this point. Should be able to say more when I've had more time with them.

Build quality is a mixed bag. The overall look and feel is solid, with that thick assembly shared with the Edition 9s. The earcups are solid, but the "Signature Pro" font is cheesy looking in person. Thankfully there's nothing to flake off or peel, so these should hold up over time. Very rugged. The headband on the other hand is definitely a misstep for Ultrasone imo. On the older models, there was a leather pad in the assembly band that could be replaced if need be; now it's an entire leather arc that isn't replaceable. There's also a spine of rubber over the top for some reason, and this results in bumps and bulges in the headband that make it look misshapen. The carry case is quite nice. Similar to the PRO series cases, but larger and made with leather.