number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
First, I have to mention that I have just shipped these phones off and no longer have them anymore. I started not to post anything on them, but I think it is necessary because there is a lot of hype surrounding them. So I am typing this from memory(2 days) but I have a really good grip on them as I tested them for hours for three days.
1. Not a Formal Review, Just My Thoughts
2. This is only concerning the ALO HFI-780J w/18g Jena Cable
Build Quality
The ALO cable is downright astonishing to look at and I will be the first to suggest that this alone may cause you to enjoy the sound even more. Some type of placebo if you will. The actual headphone looks a little cheaper than the cable and rightfully so at it's $249 price tag. The comfort is not great, but not bad either as it slightly clamps your head. The biggest improvement here would probably be the headband as it is rather hard and slightly uncomfortable.
Sound
My initial thought was that these sound very close to the grado house sound. The sound is forward and punchy, with the same brightness that can be shrill and harsh on the wrong recordings. The sound is very involving just like the rs-1's but lack some of the midrange warmth and coloration in comparison. This may be a good or bad thing as those who are impartial to brighter cans may want to aproach them with caution. I like brighter and darker cans alike and had problems with the ultrasone's brightness only on few tracks.
Additionally, the sound is rather closed in like grados in comparison to my other cans the W5000 and the HD650. The soundstage is nearly chopped in half in comparison to the AT's and is noticeably smaller than on the hd650's. This in turn makes it harder to make out instrument separation in comparison to the other two cans. Consequently detail resolution is more pronouced with the W5000 and HD650. In this regard, the two other cans seem more technically competent and refined. However, in its own merit this is not as large a drawback as one might think because this "congestion" is part of what makes them so involving(just like with grados).
The ALO HFI-780Js, as they are being called, are easily one of the most "fun" cans I have heard. In regards to PRAT they surprisingly compete with the AT's and are a notch above the Senns. They are rather speedy with less decay than the hd650 and similar to the W5000.
Conclusion
I wanted to keep this short as these are just impressions. The only reason I am posting this is because it was hard for me to make a decision because it's hard to figure out what is simply a FOTM can and what actually is a great new headphone.
So...are they worth the hype? I'd say that it depends. It depends on what you need them for and what you are comparing them too. If you are looking for a closed can they are definitely worth the hype. This is because there are very, very few cans that are truly closed that come extremely close to the performance of a good open can. I think it is very amazing to have the option to have the performance of the ALO HFI-780's in an environment where a closed can is needed.
If you are comparing them to any can and closed vs. open is a moot point then I do not think they are worth the price unless bought used. This is because there are various options that are overall technically more capable in the same price range as the modified ultrasones. In my opinion, the RS-1's have a bit more midrange magic(warmth), the Senns more balance, the W5000 more refinement/openness, the HD650 more balance and the list continues. I'd choose all of these before the ultrasones if open vs. closed wasn't an argument in their price range. In their own merit they are very, very enjoyable and amazing for a closed can. I only parted with them in order to grab a pair of phones that are out of production. I plan to give the edition 9 a go as I did enjoy the HFI-780. They just aren't really a match for my other cans in regards to refinement.
I know some may not agree with my statements as there is a ton of hype surrounding these, but I am giving my honest opinion in order to help people figure out where in the food chain the HFI-780 may stand.
Honest feedback welcome.
1. Not a Formal Review, Just My Thoughts
2. This is only concerning the ALO HFI-780J w/18g Jena Cable
Build Quality
The ALO cable is downright astonishing to look at and I will be the first to suggest that this alone may cause you to enjoy the sound even more. Some type of placebo if you will. The actual headphone looks a little cheaper than the cable and rightfully so at it's $249 price tag. The comfort is not great, but not bad either as it slightly clamps your head. The biggest improvement here would probably be the headband as it is rather hard and slightly uncomfortable.
Sound
My initial thought was that these sound very close to the grado house sound. The sound is forward and punchy, with the same brightness that can be shrill and harsh on the wrong recordings. The sound is very involving just like the rs-1's but lack some of the midrange warmth and coloration in comparison. This may be a good or bad thing as those who are impartial to brighter cans may want to aproach them with caution. I like brighter and darker cans alike and had problems with the ultrasone's brightness only on few tracks.
Additionally, the sound is rather closed in like grados in comparison to my other cans the W5000 and the HD650. The soundstage is nearly chopped in half in comparison to the AT's and is noticeably smaller than on the hd650's. This in turn makes it harder to make out instrument separation in comparison to the other two cans. Consequently detail resolution is more pronouced with the W5000 and HD650. In this regard, the two other cans seem more technically competent and refined. However, in its own merit this is not as large a drawback as one might think because this "congestion" is part of what makes them so involving(just like with grados).
The ALO HFI-780Js, as they are being called, are easily one of the most "fun" cans I have heard. In regards to PRAT they surprisingly compete with the AT's and are a notch above the Senns. They are rather speedy with less decay than the hd650 and similar to the W5000.
Conclusion
I wanted to keep this short as these are just impressions. The only reason I am posting this is because it was hard for me to make a decision because it's hard to figure out what is simply a FOTM can and what actually is a great new headphone.
So...are they worth the hype? I'd say that it depends. It depends on what you need them for and what you are comparing them too. If you are looking for a closed can they are definitely worth the hype. This is because there are very, very few cans that are truly closed that come extremely close to the performance of a good open can. I think it is very amazing to have the option to have the performance of the ALO HFI-780's in an environment where a closed can is needed.
If you are comparing them to any can and closed vs. open is a moot point then I do not think they are worth the price unless bought used. This is because there are various options that are overall technically more capable in the same price range as the modified ultrasones. In my opinion, the RS-1's have a bit more midrange magic(warmth), the Senns more balance, the W5000 more refinement/openness, the HD650 more balance and the list continues. I'd choose all of these before the ultrasones if open vs. closed wasn't an argument in their price range. In their own merit they are very, very enjoyable and amazing for a closed can. I only parted with them in order to grab a pair of phones that are out of production. I plan to give the edition 9 a go as I did enjoy the HFI-780. They just aren't really a match for my other cans in regards to refinement.
I know some may not agree with my statements as there is a ton of hype surrounding these, but I am giving my honest opinion in order to help people figure out where in the food chain the HFI-780 may stand.
Honest feedback welcome.
![[S]uds](https://cdn.head-fi.org/avatars/m/70/70471.jpg?1273101733){kind=avatar}
