[Mad Lust Envy]

edit: Update on my next post...

 

[Bachnaify]

Great job man ! Could You tell me which version of PRO 900 did you test ?
 
I found two versions:
 
Ultrasone PRO 900 - which costs circa $ 491
Ultrasone PRO 900 - Balanced - which costs circa $ 690

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Here's the official and final (unless I made some glaring mistakes) Pro 900 impressions! It's been added to the first post as well.

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Pro 900

So I gotta say, the Pro 900 is lethal with Dolby Headphone. They are stupid awesome for gaming.

The DT990 is it's closest sounding alternative, but you definitely trade off that open soundstage for a closed one, so if there are any DT990 fans looking for a closed headphone that bears some resemblance, but with lesser treble, and more focused/stronger bass, the Pro 900 is it.




Fun: You will be absorbed into your games with the Pro 900, make no mistake. The ambience won't come close to the D7000's, but it's damn good on it's own merits. There's something about the pulse the Pro 900s emit that really keep you excited every single minute you use them for gaming. The bass is strong as all hell, but very, VERY tight, making for an incredibly fun can that doesn't smother detail with it's bass. I'd say it does gaming bass better than the DT990, for sure. Not to knock the DT990, since it's open AND has that amazing bass. The Pro 900 is closed, which should make it's bass an obviously logical strength.

Competitive: I know that the Pro 2900 is less bassy, making it for more focus on detail, but the Pro 900's bass really, REALLY doesn't get in the way. Directionality was great (just as it was on the Pro 2900). Soundstage was also similar, despite it's closed vs open design. The Pro 2900 didn't ever sound open in any case. The recessed mids didn't truly rear it's ugly head when I was gaming, so I'll consider them recessed but clean sounding, not making them much of an issue. The Pro 900 is stronger in the fun category than competitive, but it is by no means weak for competitive gaming. You can and will maintain focus even with the addition of that lovely bass. I'd say even with the tip towards bass, the Pro 900's bass keeps you ever so slightly more focused than the DT990's bass, though I'd say the DT990 is better overall for competitive use due to it's expansive soundstage/open sound that keeps other details more spread apart and easier to pick up.

Comfort: Personally, I would say they are an 8 for me, and I can wear them all day long, but I know realistically, you guys won't find it as comfortable due to it's clamp grip, and whatnot. I honestly don't see why people have issues with the Pro 900's top padding. It's infinitely better than the Q701's padding, which was not really an issue after some time. The Pro 900's top padding is a lot like the Sennheiser PC360's. Can't see how that can bother anyone.

Isolation: I know I haven't done this with any other headphone, but that's usually because I prefer open headphones, which don't isolate well at all. Because the Pro 900 IS closed, I feel it necessary to mention how well it does. I feel that it keeps outside noises out well enough (certainly leaps and bounds better than the D7000), and does incredibly well keeping sound from leaking out, even with it's velour pads.

Value: Overall, the Pro 900 truly houses a resemblance to it's sibling, the Pro 2900, even down it it's soundstage. You trade off the Pro 2900's EXTREMELY articulated bass, for a more prominent, less articulate, but still very high quality bass. I can literally paste the review of the Pro 2900, and change the bass section, and voila. I gotta say, I prefer the treble on the Pro 900 to than the Pro 2900 by a little bit. They are both artificial sounding as a whole, but the Pro 2900's treble sounded more metallic to me.

Having spent a bit of time just gaming with them, it is what has made me decide to keep them. I can't wear the D7000 that long when gaming, and the Pro 900 is a VERY solid back up for that purpose. I may not have been as happy with the Pro 900 for music, but considering how little I've been using headphones when gaming, I think it's a big win for the Pro 900. They truly pulled it off in the bottom of the 9th, with 2 outs, man on 2nd and third, down by one, with a bass hit to win the game.

I was VERY close to giving up on them. It wasn't until I used them for gaming that made them invaluable to me.

If you have just over $300 to spend on a headphone for gaming that you want to use for fun and some competitive gaming, the Pro 900 is a rock solid choice. It does favor fun more than competitive, but it won't let you down either way, with it's great positioning, unobtrusive bass, and clean sound.

I also want to add that if you were on the fence between the Pro 900 vs the Pro 2900, I personally recommend the Pro 900. The Pro 2900 doesn't have an airy sound, losing the main reason why I believe anyone would go for an open headphone. The mids and treble are similar, making the only real differing aspect being the bass. Considering that the Pro 900 is a ton of fun without sounding messy, it will impress you more than the Pro 2900. The Pro 2900 is more balanced overall, but even calling it balanced is a far stretch, due to mid recession, and more metallic treble. The Pro 900 may also have similar recessed mids, but that trades off for more bass, whereas the Pro 2900 doesn't really give you anything in return for those recessed mids. The Pro 2900 has remarkable texture and refinement in the bass, but is lacking in abundant quantity to make that bass really stand out. The Pro 2900 is also considerably more expensive than the Pro 900 (if you shop well), making it just a poor choice for it's exorbitant price.

For music: I want to mention how much I am enjoying the Pro 900 through the E9. Even though it's very hard to distinguish between it and the NFB5 at first, the NFB5 has the tendency to flesh out the sound a little, which is TYPICALLY a good thing. However, in the case of the Pro 900, I find that as a detriment to the mids. The E9 holds the vocals together more, with more focus. I think that has always been a strength of the E9. The E9 may make vocals sound thin with some headphones (in comparison to the NFB5 and it's full/organic sound), yet that is what makes it just a little clearer. It truly helps the Pro 900. Ironically, I thought the E9 was really bad with the Pro 2900, making that treble just really irksome.


Final scores:

Fun: 9

Competitive: 7.5

Comfort: 7.5

Isolation: 8


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Bachnaify, I have the non-balanced Pro 900. I'm not audiophiolic enough to go balanced, nor will I ever.

 

[Bachnaify]

Thanks. Do You wanna test some other headphones in games or is it over ?

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

What do you mean? If I'll ever test other headphones? Lol,



Also, the Pro 900 in America can be found for $320-$350. I bought mine for $335 (Amazon).

I think if I get someone to trade me temporarily, the next headphone I want to test is the newer, revised HE400 with swapped velour pads.

 

[Bachnaify]

I mean something like Ultrasone PRO 650 or Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 ohm or Audio-Technica ATH-W1000X
or Sennheiser HE90 - joke 

 
HiFiMan HE400 - this should be intresting

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I mean something like Ultrasone PRO 650 or Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 ohm or Audio-Technica ATH-W1000X

No, not interested in those. Most of my tests and listings come from headphones I was looking forward to. I'm not one to look back. There are a few 'lower tier' cans (from what I own now) I'd wanna try out if I had the chance, but don't specifically want them. The D2000, to name one. I'd also wanna try some Grados at some point, just because, though not for gaming. I hear they have a terribly small soundstage which wouldn't translate well for gaming.

I also, really want some white M50s, though... I literally wouldn't have a need for them. Maybe for 'portable' use, in front of others. They'd be my show off cans.

Hmm, I really want the ODA+ODAC. I think the very neutral signature would make the Pro 900 exactly how I'd want it to sound for music. I'd settle for the ODA alone though, as I'm happy with the NFB5's DAC.

 

[Bachnaify]

OK, I'm waiting for updates but maybe I decide earlier. 

 

[Fegefeuer]

OK, I tested a lot of other games and the recommendation stays. If you are an immersive type of player that wants to dive into a game's world and totally enjoy its atmosphere, the strangeness, the bizarre, the frightening, the fantastic, the DT990 is very great and to me better than the K701/Q701. Since I don't have the AH-D7000 I can't recommend anything else for now but other headphones are less recommendable imo (those I tested: PC360, HD 598, HD 650, AH-D2000, Pro 2900, HFI 2400, K701, Q701) - the DT990 600 is that good for gaming.
 
I changed my mind and will order the Beyerdynamic T90 (it wasn't available for weeks and I canceled back then) and compare with the DT990 600.
 
 

Spoiler: Warning%3A%20Spoiler!

 
Medieval Total War 2 with EAX HD and CMSS-3D + the DT990 - really epic with thunderous cavalry charges, generals screaming orders, soldiers dying, steel on steel, explosions from trebuchets, thousands of arrows flying through the air, the screech of orcs and the howling of wolves. The burning the city, loud noise as the gates and walls come crushing down and the enemy charges in with havoc.
 
Check this video
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X51fFTOwKr0&hd=1
 

 

[Bachnaify]

Does PRO 900 need amplifier to work correctly with portable player ?
 
I'm not sure, cause impedance is only 40 ohm.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

The Pro 900 is relatively easy to drive. However, it's two extremes, the bass and treble will most likely lose quality and control, making the bass boomier, and the treble harsher.

Forgot to mention on the review that the Pro 900 is pretty bright. Not too bright (less than the Pro 2900). but not a smooth sounding headphone. It's aggressive.

 

[NamelessPFG]

Quote:

What do you mean? If I'll ever test other headphones? Lol,

 
Does that mean you'll evaluate some electrostatic setups eventually? 

 (No, not just the Stax flagships or Sennheiser Orpheus. More reasonably-priced stuff like the Stax Lambdas and the Koss ESP/950.)
 
I get a feeling that you might like the Koss ESP/950 in particular, at least going by other people's impressions on its sound signature.

 

[chicolom]

Quote:

I also want to add that if you were on the fence between the Pro 900 vs the Pro 2900, I personally recommend the Pro 900. The Pro 2900 doesn't have an airy sound, losing the main reason why I believe anyone would go for an open headphone. The mids and treble are similar, making the only real differing aspect being the bass. Considering that the Pro 900 is a ton of fun without sounding messy, it will impress you more than the Pro 2900. The Pro 2900 is more balanced overall, but even calling it balanced is a far stretch, due to mid recession, and more metallic treble. The Pro 900 may also have similar recessed mids, but that trades off for more bass, whereas the Pro 2900 doesn't really give you anything in return for those recessed mids

 
So the Pro 2900 has the weaknesses of an open headphone (lighter bass...), but without the strengths (soundstage size and air) ? 
 
Whilst being more expensive...
 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Pretty much. That is why I was quite dissapointed with it especially at their price. The soundstage may be just a tad bit bigger than the Pro 900, but its not a major difference. The Pro 2900 has good, bass quantity, sort of like the Q701, but the mids are just pushed back by some unknown reason. I'm pretty sure its S-Logic's fault.

 

[chicolom]