There's Something About Ultrasone…

[Zaiks]

Solid story with terrific suspenseful undercurrent. I have never heard Ultrasonic headphones however I think that they might be just underrated. On the other hand those headphones might have to reach the right listener to be fully appreciated by one. Anyway, I try to follow all Ultrasonic threads on Head-Fi and here I found something that gives me a lot to think about since I plan to buy a new toy in the next two months. Enjoy your music.

 

[Dexdexter]

Thank you for your kind words, W and Z!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller I don't know how that burn in process was done, but if you were listening them frequently or along the process, IMO it is very possible, that the burn in was mainly in your head, you got used to that sound, the heapdhones themselves do not change that much overtime IME, the differences are minimal, I recently have the chance to listen to a relatively new pair, and the sound of my old pair, was not so different from that one, a little more focussed would be my best decription, the new sounded a little like a camera out of focuss a little bit, highs are lows were "a little blurry" in comparison...but nothing else...

For me, SK, the immediate differences between the well run-in FNAC demo model and my pair fresh out of the box were essentially night and day.

When I got them home, the new 2500s sounded unlistenable in comparison to what I had been hearing at the store just an hour or so before. Highs were harsh and brittle, soundstage diminished, timing confused, with mids and lows sluggish and yes, dare I say, muddy.

But I had been expecting this since the 2500s employ a stiff titanium driver which, from all accounts I've seen, really benefits from a jolly good "loosening-up". So I've not yet been listening to them in any critical manner while they've been running-in, just checking in now and again and noting some differences as they continue to evolve.

Best, Dex

 

[Kees]

Thanks a lot, I enjoyed that. Too bad you didn't get the 750 in the equation.
Please don't hesitate to inform us on any further developments.

 

[superman's ears]

x

 

[superman's ears]

x

 

[Dexdexter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kees Thanks a lot, I enjoyed that. Too bad you didn't get the 750 in the equation. Please don't hesitate to inform us on any further developments.

Cheers, Kees. Actually, the 2500s seemed to be on the toasty-warm side, comfort-wise, so I'm not sure that I wouldn't find the closed-back 750s to be just a little too hot over an extended listening period for my liking.

Anyway, the 2500s, in this case, were far more attractively priced than the 750s.

Best, Dex

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman's ears Those differences also exist in hearing.

Given that you have superman's ears that will make a huge difference.....

(joke OK?)

 

[ralphp@optonline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexdexter ......But that will have to remain fodder for a more formal review after I get my very first dedicated headphone amp, expected sometime toward the end of this month. Cheers, Dex

A very fitting ending to a most entertaining story. Dex, your ability to describe music is first rate and having done some paid music reviewing in my time I know just how difficult it can be at times. However you seem to do it with ease and grace to spare. My hat and headphones are off to you.

I think that you'll find that the Ultrasones will benefit from the addition of a dedicated headphone amp. Their ability to reproduce bass almost demands that they be fed a clean and powerful signal with a minimum amount of distortion and a good headphone amp will do just that.

My Proline 750s are presently in the process of being recabled and upon their return I will post my impressions. So in the weeks to come we have several things to look forward to regarding Ultrasone headphones. There's your 2500 review with an amp, my 750 recabling impressions and Solkiller's Edition 9 report. The more Ultrasones, the merrier!

 

[slwiser]

Sounds like the Ultrasone is finally becoming accepted around here. It is about time. I have never heard one but have read many reviews and seen how well they are accepted at other places around the world. There is no reason why they should not have some appreciation here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralphp@optonline My Proline 750s are presently in the process of being recabled and upon their return I will post my impressions. So in the weeks to come we have several things to look forward to regarding Ultrasone headphones. There's your 2500 review with an amp, my 750 recabling impressions and Solkiller's Edition 9 report. The more Ultrasones, the merrier!

 

[superman's ears]

x

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman's ears I will buy the Edition 9 before christmas. So I can compare Edition 7 and Edition 9.

If the Editon 7 you have is yours, the Edition 9 will be practically the same, of course, I'm talking according to what Florian told me, or what I understood from what he wrote me in an email some time ago. IIRC the release of the Edition 9 was done in part to cover the demand the Edition 7 left after being sold out as an special edition. And instead of releasing more 7's, as Sony did with the R-10 for example, or Sennehiser did with the HE90, they opted for another more attractively priced offer, and not so limited edition, but they are practically the same heapdhone, of course case is different, aluminum instead of wood, color is different, but drivers, cups, leather, etc..will be the same, so soundwise they should sound almost identical, if not identical, but as we have not heard both side by side, it will be a really interesting finding if you notice any noticeable difference between both, keep us posted, I iwll be interesting in hearing your opinion, as I only heard the Edition 7 briefly...

 

[superman's ears]

x

 

[bizkid]

With all the Ultrasone talk recently i just bought a used Proline 750 for 160€ on ebay

Not bad for a retail of 299/280€. Im not into used cans usually but these come with a pair of unused pads, so why not

Im curious how they compare to my AD2000/W5000

I dont expect that much, i just would love to have a can thats somewhat semi-portable and has better qualities than the usual 100$ headphones or the HD-25-1, which shouldnt be too hard

 

[<GNEFF> killbot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizkid With all the Ultrasone talk recently i just bought a used Proline 750 for 160€ on ebay Not bad for a retail of 299/280€. Im not into used cans usually but these come with a pair of unused pads, so why not

Did it end last night? If so, I was following that auction but a couple of hours before it ended I found them here in Norway for 210 EUR new w/5 year warrenty. Can't wait to get them!

 

[Dexdexter]

Well, since everyone else seems to be 'fessin-up about their screamin' USone deals, I suppose that I might as well cop to mine.

Actually, I initially held-back because I was honestly concerned that revealing what I had paid for the PROline 2500s might somehow undermine my account of the more musical factors that led to my decision.















And that in addition to the fact that I had already suffered the indignity of essentially being called-out as some kind of "shill" for Ultrasone.

Now really. I only started posting about headphones here just about a month ago. And that was to announce my revolutionary modification to the Sennheiser PX-200s, The Achromod ™, which nobody got too terribly excited about...

I feel a price revelation coming on here. Should be around any minute now...














Furthermore, I was kinda worried that telling folks what I paid for these might cause some of them to poo their pants...

And I simply cannot be held responsible for any dry-cleaning costs related to envy-incontinence!
















And speaking of poo, I honestly was hoping I'd end up preferring the HFI 2200 ULEs:

OK, then, read it and weep!

Running for cover, Dex