[aBc.CaN]

Hey everyone,

I bought the Ultrasone HFI-650 DVD edition recently for my pc and for usage with the TV.

I found my MX500s were great and were much better then my ****ty tv speakers. After much research I bought the Ultra's thinking they would suit me perfectly. But... they jus didn't amaze me as much as the MX500s first did! The bass extension does go low, but doesn't impact or respond like the v700s, and it doesn't have the detail of the Grados. But according to my friend who has good hearing, I'm partially deaf missing some high frequency, they (headphones) are warm sounding and kick his AUD$250 Altec Lansing 200watt 3pc pc speakers. But then he is a real bass wuss...

What's wrong? As in in your experiences how good are the Ultra's? Am I expecting too much?

I've burned them in for approximately 1 day, sure I don't have good sources, but I thought they would do (I choose these cans so I could use them unamped):
PC sound card is a SoundBlaster Vibra 128, and connect headphones directly to VCR have to have a male-to-male volume cable as its way too loud straight out, tv has no earphone jack.

Skip the next blue paragraph if you just want the short verison of my story...
I have trialled many headphones, albeit quite a while ago and found that I preferred the Grados SR80 (most definately, but NO bass and the Sennheiser 497, AND I like the Sony 700s! I like the Sony's especially because of the FAST bass response, but they are muddy. The high-end sennheisers are way laid back and just don't suit my tastes, but if these are some of the best dynamic headphones, 580s, then how come I wasn't impressed. Must be me...

 

[Pablo32]

Sounds to me that you like big, bloated bass, because all the headphones you listed that have "no" bass have pretty decent bass. Maybe you should go for the dt770 which is known to have the biggest bass out of most headphones out there.

 

[wordsworth]

Quote:

but if these are some of the best dynamic headphones, 580s, then how come I wasn't impressed

I find the 580 don't have much of a wow factor but just getter as your source and amp gets better. In fact with a poor source and amp they sound quite poor and are out done by lots of different headphones. I imagine if you listen to some of the current favourites on here like the cd3000 you might go wow, that is based on other peoples view as I have never heard them.

BTW the mx500 are great and by far the best bang for buck you are likely to see after that you start getting diminshing returns in my opinion.

Wordsworth

 

[AIM9x]

naah.... diminishing returns begin after the KSC-35s

 

[wallijonn]

try listening to them from a receiver headphone output. you are underdriving them. expect them to sound 'thin'. (after all, it is a Sound Blaster). I have my DT831s connected to my SB Audigy, but I don't even entertain the notion that they are reproducing the best sound possible (too much high frequency noise and artifacts).

 

[Snufkin]

Try the headphones from a higher end source

If you don't like them then, perhaps consider an amp.
If you really want bass, consider the Beyer DT770pro and an amp

I really like the way the 650dvds sound myself, but keep in mind most high end headphones are heavily source dependant!

 

[KJ869]

Burning em in might be wice. run em 50~ and try then

 

[aBc.CaN]

so do any of you reacon if I changed my sound card then I might get better sound of the pc? I mean I feel out of place with all of you people here with your sound blaster live and audiologies!! I guess I should a/b a cd from an amped source and from my pc. Amps are just so expensive so I'd rather change soundcards then buy an amp.

The DT770s by themselves would be a considerable alternative... except for the fact that an amp costs so much... *sigh*

Why oh why couldn't I be born under my uncle who can aford sooo much better, ie. AUD $15, 000 on his entertainment system =(

 

[MERTON]

you can get a cheap mint amp for less than $100.... i have one coming soon and i may want to sell it because i was to hasty in the purchase and i may just end up with a meta amp anyway... pm if you want to know more... but i recomend you get others comments on the MINT with your headphones.... it may not be the wisest choice for amps for you... but it will be cheap.

 

[Pablo32]

I've never heard of a soundblaster vibra 128, but I can't imagine it's that great. Sounds like a pretty old card to me. Amps also help alot , you can buy a cheap cmoy for as low as 40$ or make one for as little as 25$ if you have the tools.

 

[KJ869]

dt-770 is 250 ohm, HFI-650 75ohm. Your underdriving your 650, and 770 is even harder to drive. Forget 770 for a while and get mint amp, and better source with the money.

 

[aBc.CaN]

yea the soundcard vibra 128 is a pretty old card.. only a AUD$20 card.

I'm not very aware of amps and stuff. Like what the heck is a cmoy and a mint amp???

Also if I did get a different soundcard like a Hercules Muse XL AUD $30 or Soundblaster live value AUD$70 then would the sound quality significantly increase?? And is EAX discernable in headphones, and if it is, does it actually work properly?

 

[bangraman]

The issue here is power. The reason why you think the V700 has great bass is most probably because the sound card hasn't got enough juice to drive anything else. The V700 is extremely efficient. I really wouldn't bother with an amp for a soundcard that crappy... And I'm presuming from your comments that the quality of the sound is not your ultimate aim, but bass is.


Still nice sound is... well, nice. After you replace your soundcard (yes you will notice the difference), try something like a Sennheiser HD25 (not SP) before considering an amp. It's relatively efficient, although not as much as the V700. But while the V700 with a reasonably powered phone socket starts resembling the worst 'car tube sub' you've ever heard, the HD25 is a paragon of audiophileness in comparison, while retaining a deep big and tight bass. Alternatively you can replace your soundcard, keep your Ultrasones and get an amp... Try it first unamped with your new card.

 

[wallijonn]

abc.can,

just find an old receiver, hook up the soundcard to the receiver's aux input and use that until later. if yyou don't have a receiver kicking around in the garage, or a friend's garage, then you might have to use a boom box's aux inoput. it's as cheap as you can go.

 

[Daroid]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman Still nice sound is... well, nice. After you replace your soundcard (yes you will notice the difference), try something like a Sennheiser HD25 (not SP) before considering an amp. It's relatively efficient, although not as much as the V700. But while the V700 with a reasonably powered phone socket starts resembling the worst 'car tube sub' you've ever heard, the HD25 is a paragon of audiophileness in comparison, while retaining a deep big and tight bass. Alternatively you can replace your soundcard, keep your Ultrasones and get an amp... Try it first unamped with your new card.

I got the HD25s from Thomann.de and am on the third week enjoying them, and VERY much in fact. I just wanted to say, that I think my SB Live! is crap, qualitywize, since the output signal seems to lack more laidbackness, and seems to be slightly overpowering in the mid-range... This is not the case when running the HD25s from a PCDP (IMP-400), or for that case, an old Marantz amp, my dad's

.... There is a huge difference. However, no matter what upgrade you choose for your PC with soundcards, it will ALWAYS sound overpowering, and unnatural. A PC case will always be a hell og interefence and emission.

I just have one problem with the headphones... Other sound sources now sound like utter crap. I thought the Z-560 PC-speakers rocked, nada

, Now I can see how muddy and crappy the sats are, and the boomy selfdestructing sub. We have a Sony - Insert random model no. here - ghettoblaster in the kitchen, and sound like... well, something I should never had bought! Help me cure my disease