Denon AH-D1000 or Ultrasone Proline 650?

[Thurston Moore]

I´m quite new to the world of Head-fi and I recently got myself a pair of K701s and a Corda Move, which I´m very satisfied with. Now I´ve realized I also need a pair of closed cans. First I was thinking that since I like my K701s so much the K271 Studios should be the obvious choice, but I´m now considering geting something that´s a bit different. I want something that has a bit punchier bass and more attack in the midrange compared to the K701s, so it would suit rock/metal a bit better. I have considered the Proline 650 and the AH-D1000 but will not be able to listen to the Prolines before purchase. I´ve also tried to find comparisons betwen these two cans here on Head-fi, but haven´t found any.

Anyone outthere with experience of both that could give me some guidelines on which way to go here? Or is there other options that I should consider as well?

 

[Thurston Moore]

I also want to add a question about isolation...and the importance here is that not too much sound leak out from the cans.

 

[captian73]

i have the D1000's and the Proline 750's not the 650's. I love the D1000's they sound sweet and detailed. the D1000's are a better alternative to some of the lesser Grado's (sr60 sr80) because the bass is deeper.

however compared to my 750's, the D1000's don't really stand a chance. Although superbly detailed, that S-logic sound thing, is not to everyone's taste.

the mids can sound distant,......or faint so to speak.

even with that, i'd choose the Ultrasone's over the Denons.

 

[Thurston Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by captian73 /img/forum/go_quote.gif i have the D1000's and the Proline 750's not the 650's. I love the D1000's they sound sweet and detailed. the D1000's are a better alternative to some of the lesser Grado's (sr60 sr80) because the bass is deeper. however compared to my 750's, the D1000's don't really stand a chance. Although superbly detailed, that S-logic sound thing, is not to everyone's taste. the mids can sound distant,......or faint so to speak. even with that, i'd choose the Ultrasone's over the Denons.

Do you know if there is a big difference in sound quality between the 750s and 650s...at some places one might even get the impression that the 650s are better even though they are cheaper (for example...it seems like Headroom have this opinion)?

And could you explain what you mean with "that S-logic sound thing" a little more, please?

 

[MaZa]

PL650 is sweeter and smoother, PL750 is brighter and more detailed, overall more tighter. I would take the harsh and glaring comments with grain of salt. Atleast my PL750 dont have overblown highs, not even close! Ear shape and placement on head affects it though due to offset drivers. (it takes a while to find sweet spot sometimes.)

 

[Thurston Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaZa /img/forum/go_quote.gif PL650 is sweeter and smoother, PL750 is brighter and more detailed, overall more tighter. I would take the harsh and glaring comments with grain of salt. Atleast my PL750 dont have overblown highs, not even close! Ear shape and placement on head affects it though due to offset drivers. (it takes a while to find sweet spot sometimes.)

How well do they isolate? It is quite important to me that not to much sound leak out of the cans.

 

[MaZa]

Ultrasones S-Logic thing is that they have putted drivers in offset. Normal headphones have drivers in center, aimed directly to your earcanal. Ultrasone has drivers in low-front, and aimed towards the earlobes. This enhances soundstage depth imagining. Good for gaming and impressive on recordings that have good soundstage cues mixed in.

But it also has downsides. Shape of earlobes affect the sound, and it also takes a while to find the sweet spot for optimal sound. Too front and soundstage goes 2D and sound gets brighter. Too back and mids dissappear and sound gets too laidback and recessed. I guess some earshapes might make finding the exact sweetspot impossible?

*edit* clarification

 

[MaZa]

They do not leak sound outside at all. Noise isolation is average, but leaking is non-existent.

 

[Thurston Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaZa /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ultrasones S-Logic thing is that they have putted drivers in offset. Normal headphones have drivers in center, aimed directly to your earcanal. Ultrasone has drivers in low-front, and aimed towards the earlobes. This enhances soundstage depth imagining. Good for gaming and impressive on recordings that have good soundstage cues mixed in. But it also has downsides. Shape of earlobes affect the sound, and it also takes a while to find the sweet spot for optimal sound. Too front and soundstage goes 2D and sound gets brighter. Too back and mids dissappear and sound gets too laidback and recessed. Some earshapes might make finding the exact sweetspot impossible?

So then it would be taking a big risk buying them without trying them first? Hmmm...unfortunately I don´t have any chance to find them around where I live...I would have to order them.

 

[MaZa]

I doubt it would be a risk exactly. It was just a theory from my part that it would be possible for some ear shapes not to find good spot. But the sound takes a while to get used to.

 

[Thurston Moore]

I see on your equipment list that you seem to use Grados and Ultrasones a lot. In what way do they fulfill different requirements to you? Do you use them for different purposes?

 

[MaZa]

I use Ultrasones for Ambient (simply kickass in that music!), classical, Funeral-doom and Black Metal, and also for gaming. Grados for all other Metal music.

 

[Thurston Moore]

How come you use Ultrasones for black metal and Grados for other metal?

 

[MaZa]

Blackmetal is more atmosphere oriented than riff oriented like other kinds of metal music. Deep soundstage and overall more distant sound (compared to very intimate Grado sound) helps to enhance that dark wall-of-layered-sound.

Though not all blackmetal fit that well to Ultrasones. Thanks to its kazillion sub-subgenres some fit Grados better. But generally speaking...

 

[Thurston Moore]

When you say that the Ultrasones have a more distant sound would it then be in the same way some people think that the K701s have a distant sounding midrange (which would be no problem for me, since I love my K701s, though it wouldn´t hurt if the I could find a closed can that has a little more attack in the midrange and a bit more punch in the bass)?