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Ultrasone IQ

post #1 of 76
8/14/12 at 1:41pm
Thread Starter 

Ultrasone will now enter the IEM business with it's Ultrasone IQ. Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/14/ultrasone-iq-in-ear-headphones/

 

 

Quote:
...packed within each aluminum alloy capsule is a combo of a traditional dynamic driver and a balanced armature driver, with the former taking care of the bass plus lower-mids, and the latter covering the rest --...

 

It will hit the market in September.

 

700

(if you want more photos, hit the source link)

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post #2 of 76
8/14/12 at 1:57pm
Just read about this on engadget too, my curiosity is piqued but its outside my budget for sure.
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post #3 of 76
8/14/12 at 2:11pm

Uhhh, yeah, because a squared off earphone housing makes so much sense with the natural curve of the ear's concha....

 

Also, $770?? 

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post #4 of 76
8/14/12 at 2:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn11 View Post

Uhhh, yeah, because a squared off earphone housing makes so much sense with the natural curve of the ear's concha....

 

Also, $770?? 

 

The shape looks similar to the Brainwavz B2, Fischer Audio DBA-02 and DBA-02 MKII, and the Audio-Technica CK10 (I think it's the 10).  These are actually quite comfortable over the ear...  

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post #5 of 76
8/14/12 at 2:35pm

To me images of the DBA-02 seem to show the outer shell having more of a radius along the walls than the prototype Ultrasones, even though granted it is a mostly squared off design too. Sorry, but the IQ just looks more drastically square and uncomfortable to me. I did own the v1 SM3 and found that to be just fine (always wore them over the ears), but these just look a bit too large to have that sharp of a shape.... The CK10 is quite round, so maybe it's the CK90?    

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post #6 of 76
8/14/12 at 3:00pm

Very interesting, but that price blink.gif

I'm looking forward to read some impressions and reviews of these, hopefully they'll be as good sounding as Ultrasone's headphones.

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post #7 of 76
8/14/12 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinyman392 View Post

 

The shape looks similar to the Brainwavz B2, Fischer Audio DBA-02 and DBA-02 MKII, and the Audio-Technica CK10 (I think it's the 10).  These are actually quite comfortable over the ear...  

 

Looks more like the original Shure E1 from 15 years ago.

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post #8 of 76
8/14/12 at 4:09pm

I still haven't completely figured out why some companies insist on universal IEMs past 500 bucks. That's hitting good customs territory, and most people with the money to drop will either go customs or full size.

 

 

Besides that, they look cool. Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss IEMs if they play off of their HFI/PRO line.

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post #9 of 76
8/14/12 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mosshorn View Post

I still haven't completely figured out why some companies insist on universal IEMs past 500 bucks. That's hitting good customs territory, and most people with the money to drop will either go customs or full size.

 

 

Besides that, they look cool. Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss IEMs if they play off of their HFI/PRO line.

 

 

Some people think customs aren't the end-all-be-all most build them up to be, myself included. I recently bought the FitEar To Go 334 (look that one up for some sticker shock), it's a universal, and is significantly more than the proposed price of the IQ. Sound quality is pretty much in line with its asking price, and if I for some reason find some reason to move on (hello upgraditis), I can sell easily. Not nearly as easy with customs....

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post #10 of 76
8/14/12 at 11:41pm

I saw Ultrasone's new products at the Hong Kong High End Audio Expo. We weren't allowed to try it unfortunately...New IEM from Ultrasone which looked really good close up, and I wonder what it is plated with. Also from them is the Signature DJ, which is white! Signature HFI will also be released but the model was not at the site. Final Audio also had another headphone which is not the Muramasa on display as well.

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post #11 of 76
8/15/12 at 1:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xymordos View Post

I saw Ultrasone's new products at the Hong Kong High End Audio Expo. We weren't allowed to try it unfortunately...New IEM from Ultrasone which looked really good close up, and I wonder what it is plated with. Also from them is the Signature DJ, which is white! Signature HFI will also be released but the model was not at the site. Final Audio also had another headphone which is not the Muramasa on display as well.

 

The housing is aluminium. I do not think they would coat this with gold...

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post #12 of 76
10/16/12 at 4:18am

About 2/3s of the way through this video, she discusses the IQ:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gOFBqjhIXo

 

I think that it looks pretty nice. The pre-order price is around $900 at Fujiya Avic.

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post #13 of 76
10/16/12 at 7:11am

590 for single BA IEM? I thought grado was crazy, seems like I was wrong. 

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post #14 of 76
10/16/12 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by audionewbi View Post

590 for single BA IEM? I thought grado was crazy, seems like I was wrong. 

It also has a dynamic plus FAD charge over a grand for a single BA and i have had some single BA sound extremely AWESOME so do not judge ;)

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post #15 of 76
10/16/12 at 3:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swimsonny View Post

It also has a dynamic plus FAD charge over a grand for a single BA and i have had some single BA sound extremely AWESOME so do not judge ;)

I know single BA can sound amazing, but the price for single BA over 400 are far too few. I was hoping for the IQ to be around 700 but I guess that too is just wishful thinking :-(

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