[Czilla9000]

[size=xx-large]Ultrasone DJ1 Review[/size]

[size=large] Review in one word: Balance[/size]

This review begins with a funeral: I originally bought these phones back when my Ety's died in October. I treated them somewhat poorly, so their death was not too big a shock. To be honest, I never really got used to the whole IEM thing, so their death did not sadden me at all. I still had my Grado SR-325i, but I needed headphones that would not leak sound for college.

(My Stax system, FYI, is back in California - I didn't take them with me to college...I'm probably going to sell it sometime...I haven't listened to it in about a year......I can't really compare the Ultrasone's to them because its been such a long time since I listened to them. I really stopped listening to the Stax system out of laziness....most of my music is on my MacBook as iTunes Music Store AAC files. (The Grado's sufficed.) I stopped buying CD/SACDs because I couldn't wait for Amazon to deliver them, and I don't like driving. I'm impatient. It is not convenient or practical to hook my Stax system up to my MacBook. I don't really miss the Stax .

I've gone from a full SACD Stax system to just a MacBook with AACs and some Ultrasone DJ1s. As I said earlier, I can't really compare the two - it's been too long - but I don't miss my big rig. I'm cured of upgraditis.)

Anyway, when I got these phones back in October few - if anyone - actually used Ultrasone phones. That was part of the reason I bought these phones - I wanted something different. I almost bought the AKG K81DJs....but everyone had them. Also, the S-Logic technology in the Ultrasones intrigued me. I like headphones that have unique technology - such as Stax and Ultrasone. I wanted to see if Ultrasone's claims were true. I also didn't want to spend too much money. Furthermore, the few people who did have Ultrasones only tried the high end.

I believe the rate of diminishing returns hits in earlier than most HeadFi-ers admit. (Even after buying a Stax system, I still think the Koss PortaPros are awesome...and are probably the most non-audiophiles really need.) I think many HeadFi-ers upgrade for the sake of upgrading...kinda like the DMV makes paperwork for the hell of it. Thus, I figured I would try the cheapest phone in Ultrasone's lineup. I figured I could get most of the house sound while trying something NO ONE else had tryed.

I wanted to chart unconquered territory. I set sail for HeadRoom and purchased a pair of Ultrasone DJ1s for $189 ( $169 + $20 for next day shipping...as I said I'm impatient!).

Since October, Ultrasone headphones have become much more popular. But, for whatever reason, very very few - if any - have tryed the lower end models. Why everyone assumes the lower end must suck if the high end is good is something I will never understand.

The Ultrasone DJ1 accomplishes an interesting balancing act. On one hand, they are extremely forgiving; I could not tell the difference between 128 AAC (iTunes encoder) and CD with this phone. YouTube stuff still sounds decent on these phones. On the otherhand, they are also detailed - subtle orchestral details still get through - although they lack a bit of detail at the very high end. I didn't feel I was loosing much detail going from the Grado SR325i to these.

The headphones almost have a mind of their own. They somehow know what details to exclude (like minor distortion) and what to highlight. Futhermore, the sonic balance of these phones seems to change depending on the music they are playing....it's kinda freaky

. They somehow "know" to really accentuate the bass during electronic music (such as Rob Dougan's "Clubbed to Death") while restraining it during classical. Overall, the headphones achieve a proper frequency balance.

(Goldilocks would choose these phones.

)

I disagree with HeadRoom's description of the phones having an unsmooth frequency response. I think the frequency balance is very smooth. I find it funny that they describe the sonic signature of the DJ1s and the DJ1 Pros so differently. If I'm not mistaken, they are the same phones except some slight differences (such as detachable cord on the Pro model). I will agree, however, that the midrange is slighly recessed. But, really, its not enough for concern.

Overall, I think the frequency response is smoother than my Grado SR325i....which cost twice as much. Soundstaging is also superior....but Grados aren't known for that.

When I first heard these phones I didn't know what to make of them. They seemed veiled and weird at first. The more I listened the more I liked them. On well recorded material, they sound awesome. As I mentioned earlier, however, they are also very forgiving of poor material. Once again, these phones balance variables well.

There is one other thing I should mention...BRASS! These headphones LOVE brass. It sounds awesome on these phones. The soundtrack to "Casino Royale" sounds great on these phones.

For Christmas I bought my dad some M-Audio StudioPro 3 speakers for his computer. I noticed the signature of the M-Audio's were similar to the Ultrasones. The M-Audio speaker, BTW, I also liked alot.

You may have noticed that I have not mentioned using an amp. That's because I don't have a dynamic amp currently in posession. I've only been using the MacBook's and iPod Nano (1st Gen) amp. I don't know if they would do better with an amp.

If I ever decide to upgrade, I'd probably buy another pair of Ultrasones.

Ok.....go ahead and ask questions.

(Oh....if these are like the HFI-550 - which I saw a dissection online of - then the driver is actually centered. It is just that the driver OPENING is off-center. The more higher end Ultrasones have the driver actually off-center. The resulting effect, however, is supposed to be the same. This is what Ultrasone means by the S-Logic technology.)

 

[slwiser]

It appears that we are entering the Ultrasone around here.

I really have been impressed with my Proline 2500s and apparently there is no stopping the Ultrasones across their product line from the top to the bottom. Great review.

Ultrasones are the new bass-head headphones for anyone.

 

[rhymesgalore]

Nice review. It reminded me somehow of Jan Meiers description on his website, because he also mentioned that they have "a surprisingly nice neutral balance", although they have been designed to be DJ headphones.

 

[tbritton]

Great to see these finally getting some attention here! Thanks for the fine review!

Terry

 

[captian73]

ryhmesgalore wrote: Quote:

Ultrasones are the new bass-head headphones for anyone.

i agree 100%. the bass on my 750's are breaking in nicely. for the first time i'm hearing the bass i really want. the depth is there when you want it. and the speed and timing is amazing.

i have to say, the 750's still struggle with my ipod shuffle, but considering the size of the shuffle compared to the size of the 750's it's easy to understand.

 

[Czilla9000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif It appears that we are entering the Ultrasone around here. I really have been impressed with my Proline 2500s and apparently there is no stopping the Ultrasones across their product line from the top to the bottom. Great review. Ultrasones are the new bass-head headphones for anyone.

You'll notice the vast majority of reviews for ANY phone here are overwhelmingly positive, including my own. This is for couple of reasons:

1. We try to rationalize our purchase by telling ourselves our purchase was the best. To convince ourselves we write about it.

2. Anything new tends to sound better: at first. What I mean is that a new sonic signature is appealing at first because it is different. It lets you hear the music from a different angle, and we associate different with good because we our hearing things we've never heard before. I tryed to minimize this by waiting a couple months before reviewing the Ultrasones. I also downplayed the whole natural surround effect for this reason.

Most importantly....


3. Practically all the phones here at HeadFi are very good. If it's that bad, usually not enough people buy it to actually review it. However, Ultrasones were around for a long time - if I recall - before anyone bothered to buy and try them.

If I were a small headphone manufactuer, I would give Headfi-ers free phones to try at first so I could get my name out there (Virtual Dynamics - if I recall - did this with power cables to awesome results). It would be worth the goodwill of the community, because things catch on here like wildfire. Why? Because of what I wrote in point 2. However, overtime, the flavor of the month wares off and people begin to say negative things about your headphones in comparison to the new flavor of the month. The old flavor of the month is still just as good as it was when it was popular, but the sonic signature or mise-en-scene has become well known. Sennheiser and Grado are victims of this. If I were a small headphone company, I would replace my product line once every 18 months to prevent my products from becoming old.



My point is this....I do really like these Ultrasones. However, that doesn't mean you should run out to sell your old Senns and Grados. They are every bit as good as when you bought them. If you are curious about a certain manufactuer, try out their cheaper model first, then maybe sell your stuff and get the more expensive model if you really like it.

I might, for instance, sell my Stax stuff and get the more expensive Ultrasone...but probably not. The DJ1s are just fine for me, and I don't have an amp.

 

[Dexdexter]

Czilla, that review was fabulous and your follow-up to it is every bit as impressive. You have excellent instincts for lateral thinking and getting to the heart of the matter.

If anything, your thoughts here demonstrate that the top-of-the-line cans aren't necessarily the best solution for many applications, an idea that generally evades most of us when we seem to be fixated on simply "the best".

I have the Ultrasone HFI-650, which is of course from the same lineage as your DJ1, and it has been just perfect for me in my portable rig. So I can certainly appreciate your findings that the DJ1 has a special synergy with your MacBook and AAC files. And I'm guessing that it even works pretty well for DJs!

 

[plainsong]

Yes, excellent review, and my thoughts about the dj1 exactly. They're great laptop cans because somehow they're detailed AND forgiving. When Jan told me to get these because they'd really sound better from a poorer source, he wasn't joking. I have the proline 650, which sounds complete crap in comparison (from an ibook, at least. It needs something a good bit better to show its stuff).

I also got the Beyer djx-1 at around the same time to compare the two. The Beyer has crap-your-pants bass, and it is detailed, but nowhere near as refined as the dj1.

Yes, The dj1 is teh hawsome. Great review!

 

[bonethugz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ultrasones are the new bass-head headphones for anyone.

not really. i got a hfi-550 last month and i don't think they have enough bass

 

[Usagi]

Czilla9000,

I empathize with your lack of patience. Whenever I purchase audio equipment, I pay for Same-Day Shipping if available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonethugz /img/forum/go_quote.gif not really. i got a hfi-550 last month and i don't think they have enough bass

It is unfortunate that you didn't pick the 750. It produces copious amounts.

 

[BrookR1]

When I listened to the iCans, I mistook the diffusion of the Ultrasones for being hard to drive. But, I listened to them in a noisy store. Do you find that you have to turn up the volume to get any "ooomph" out of them?

 

[Czilla9000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrookR1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif When I listened to the iCans, I mistook the diffusion of the Ultrasones for being hard to drive. But, I listened to them in a noisy store. Do you find that you have to turn up the volume to get any "ooomph" out of them?

You should know that the iCans are not considered in the same tier as there other phones. I've heard they sound bad.

I haven't tryed the DJ1 with an amp....but I can get enough uummph with my MacBook. They are - I believe, don't quote me - 64 ohm phones.

BTW, any suggestions on a small amp to maybe try it with? I've thought of the Bithead...

EDIT: bonethugz, I read somewhere - not HeadFi - that the HFI-550 have more bass than the DJ1. I picked the DJ1 because I thought they'd be more neutral.

EDIT2: plainsong....wow, I didn't expect anyone to mirror my observatives. I didn't know Jan said that. I have yet to try the higher end Ultrasones. I wonder if I got an amp if it - the ProLine 650 (or 750) - would sound better than the DJ1 on laptop.

I told myself I wouldn't upgrade. Darn this. Part of my hesitation about upgrading is I don't want anything too expensive looking or breakable for college.

 

[erlik]

Quote:

My point is this....I do really like these Ultrasones. However, that doesn't mean you should run out to sell your old Senns and Grados

I do think that each headphone has it's own stong points that makes it worthwile even when it is not the flavor of the month. For exemple ultrasones are great for soundstage (and to some extent bass), grados are great for rock, senns are great for a confortable/relaxed listen etc...

A new "flavor" of headphone is great because it gives more choice to headfiers, but "trying every new flavor" is probably best left to meets and so, unless you have unlimited finances...

Nice review by the way.

 

[slwiser]

The Ultrasone does appear to have become the favor of the month but have you tried it? It is so different from other sound presentations to demand it's own audition. You may love it or you may hate it but do try it after an appropriate burn-in period.

Edit:erlik-I just noticed that you do have one of the Ultrasone headphones. So I am speaking to an experience listener concerning this view.

This is one headphone that can give you an alternative hearing experience even if you love another house sound as I do with the Audio-Technica house sound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by erlik /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do think that each headphone has it's own stong points that makes it worthwile even when it is not the flavor of the month. For exemple ultrasones are great for soundstage (and to some extent bass), grados are great for rock, senns are great for a confortable/relaxed listen etc... A new "flavor" of headphone is great because it gives more choice to headfiers, but "trying every new flavor" is probably best left to meets and so, unless you have unlimited finances... Nice review by the way.

 

[rhymesgalore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Ultrasone does appear to have become the favor of the month but have you tried it?

take a look at his sig......