Ultrasone ProLine 550 Review - Soon

[Kernmac]

My quest in search of headphone utopia is to continually seek the enjoyment factor. It is not accuracy I seek, as I don’t know what accuracy is, as all sound is coloured by the amplification and speakers it projects from, even live music. I simply seek enjoyment (which I know is extremely subjective) and to some degree I could even add variation as desirable (multiple fons that have different qualities), change is good, particularly from genre to genre.

I have a pair of MS2is that sound extremely good to my ears, particularly for the majority of my music tastes. From rock ballads through classic and contemporary rock, with some house/techno, trance on the fringes. I listen to a fair mix of both female and male vocal as well as the more instrumental techno genre. I love the sound of my fast paced, emotion stirring, well balanced Alessandro MS2 and am never likely to part with them, except to maybe sell off for a pair of MS Pros one day. I went looking for a fon that was closed with monster bass for watching movies and to contrast with the MS2is to give me an occasional change from the metal rock headphone masterpiece.
I was looking for a bass centric Fon, but with slam/impact and warmness and not simply the car stereo doof or muddy overpowering bass of a cheap home brand headphone.

So is the Proline 550 a bass monster with character, that is ideal for movie watching late at night (without disturbing my lovely sleeping wife) that challenges my MS2 for music listening time, or a doof, doof, doof, waste of cash?

The Proline 550s will be in my hands in about a week, and I will spend about a week listening to them (I believe in burn in changing sound, but 100 plus hours isn’t necessary) both directly from my favourite DAP (Sony NWZA816) and through my Porta Corda amp.
I will test and then review them with a variety of action movies, and more importantly with a music selection similar to the below artists.
Ben Harper
Blondie
Regina Spektor
Muse
4 play house remix
Ministry of Sound
Susan Vega
Three Days Grace
Fleetwood Mac

Looking forward to reviewing these guys and hope it will be helpful to fellow Headfiers, as there isn’t much on here about these critters, totally over looked in favour of the Pro 750s and the HFI 780s.

I know this was a bit of a boring post, but I am excited to be getting another set of fons, and I couldn’t wait till I was ready to review them prior to posting. Hopefully they won’t be a doof, doof, disappointment.

Next time I post a new thread, it will be my review.

 

[equinox_zero]

Looking forward to your review, since I haven't read / heard much about the PL550.

Cheers,

ALi

 

[REB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernmac /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know this was a bit of a boring post, but I am excited to be getting another set of fons, and I couldn’t wait till I was ready to review them prior to posting.

Not at all Kernmac! I like the way you worded your quest to headphone utopia: entirely subjective and yet (or because of that) of value to others (such as me).

I am really curious as to how the Pro 550's sound. I'll be waiting for your review.

 

[iQEM]

i ussually used to recommend HFI580 if i read someone wanna try an Ultrasone's cans, but nevermind...

just go on, i'm curious too about PL550...

 

[equinox_zero]

iQEM:
It appears that the PRO550 is a step-up from HFI580, as seen from their description:

Quote:

Ultrasone PRO 550 The PRO 550 (formerly the PROline 550) builds on the immensely popular HFI-580 (formerly the HFI-550)

 

[iQEM]

yes, on the old line PROline 550 use to be a step up from HFI550/HFI650/HFI700 dvd...but i dont believe it's a step up from HFI580 yet, since HFI580 itself are different from HFI550...PL550/PRO550 are from the old model's (PRO550 only a cosmetic upgrade from PROline550), i'm sure that no improvement on the sound side...for example, PRO550 didn't have S-logic plus like HFI580/680/780 had, check the spec again...cmiiw !

 

[Kernmac]

Not that I really want to get involved in a debate that I don't really care about, but iQEM you missed equinox zero's point.
Agreed, the changes from Proline to Pro are cosmetic (Thicker ear pads, aluminium name plate) however Ultrasone's own site states that the Pro (Proline) 550 are a step up on the HFI 580. You may not agree, however it is an interesting comment to make when you don't seem to have heard them, and agiain this is not the view expressed on Ultrasone's site. That was equinox zero's point I believe. Now I don;'t really care which is the better fon, I only hope I am happy with my Pro 550. However I do think that Headfiers commenting on the performance of fons they have never heard is an issue on this forum, and the less of it the better.
Now if I am wrong and you have spent time with Pro 550 or Proline 550 then I stand corrected, however you haven't mentioned this exposure before. And come on, S logic plus, over S logic, it is marketing hype.

 

[iQEM]

well, sorry if i bothering you with my comment there...FYI i and equinox are friends, and what i'd stated there was "i dont believe that PL550 or PRO550 is a step-up from HFI580 YET"...you can check my post again there, so there's no need to be feel offence at all, cos i didn't mean to be offence you at all...

i haven't heard about PL550/PRO550 by myself yet but i've heard PL750, which is feel different from my HFI580...but the diff' only because the beat impact on PL750 are too smooth, nonetheless...i believe S-logic plus was the one that causing thateven all the ppl here on Head-fi think that's only a part of marketing hype or a gimmick, it makes the image positioning are much more closer to Ed9 (yes, i have heard Edition 9 too !)...OK, i'm finish with my thought here...just want to sharing about what i believe, that's all...peace !

note:
english aren't my native language, so please forgive me if you've found my sentence/grammar too rude or something...

 

[Kernmac]

Hi iQEM,
I don't find you rude, and I am in no way offended, and common sense tells me to leave this alone and move on. Which I will after this post. Equinox zero simply posted an extract from the Ultrasone site that states that the Pro(line)550 builds on the immensely popular HFI-580 (formerly the HFI-550). This suggests that the manufacturor sees the Pro 550 as a step up on the HFI 580. Now sound is a subjective thing and everyone is entitled to their opinion, and in fact I value yours. However your reply to Equinox Zeros post was;
"but i dont believe it's a step up from HFI580 yet".
Now my point is, what do you base your opinion on? It is fine to have an opinion and one can hardy contest that someone esles opinion is wrong, and I am certainly not contesting yours. However I do not understand what you based your opinion on. You have stated that you haven't heard the Pro 550s so why do you belive it isn't a step up on the HFI 580? Ultrasone one state it is aimed there, they cost more, so I am at a loss as to why you made the statement, that is all.

Now I do not want to make a mountain out of a mole hill , so as far as I am concerned the matter is dead.
Cheers and I hope I haven't offended you, it is not my intention.

 

[iQEM]

and that's why i put the word "YET" there, my opinion there based on from what i've read (from headroom or somewhere) that DJ1pro are basicly made from PL550, with a tweaking to suit for DJying need (IMO)...so ? i doubt it's gonna be more superior or right to be a step up from HFI580...but i'm curious with the cans though...

if you mind with my thought there, i'm off this thread...

 

[equinox_zero]

Sorry Kernmac & iQEM. Didn't mean to spark this issue and bring this about.

 

[iQEM]

relax...no need to worry, equinox...

just wanna share this url to this thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/rev...-550-a-335803/