Ultrasone S-Logic Opinions

[Sonic Atrocity]

I am intrigued by the concept. Supposedly, they are safer? Let's hear your opinions on the S-Logic technology.

 

[mythless]

Safer compared to what?
 

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Other headphones I guess? I am not making any claim of truth in this matter. Just re-stating what I have read. Anyways, opinions?

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Safer compared to what?
 

Certain Ultrasones models have shielding they claim reduce exposure to radiation emitted from the drivers by 98%.  The S-logic also allows you listen to similar volumes at 3-4db lower SPLs they claim.  My ears and crude measurements w/ a budget meter seem to confirm this but I can't say for sure.

 

[Kernmac]

ED8 and Pro900 are two of my favourite headphones, so I am declaring that I like Ultrasone sound (albeit those two headphones sound very different from each other).
 
Firstly S-logic and S-logic plus.  Marketing bullsh*t or masterfull design?  I don't find the Ultrasones to be that significantly different from many other headphones in the soundstage/headstage department, and in fact not nearly as wide or airy as say K701, and certainly not 3D- surround sound IMO.  However they are airy and spacious sounding for a closed headphone design (particularly the Pro900) so call S- Logic what you like, but it, or something in the Ultrasone black plastic unit delivers.  I find both the ED8 and Pro900 are clear, detailed and provide great instrument separation.
 
Quote:

S-Logic™ Plus is the newest advancement in the S-Logic™ Natural Surround System. S-Logic™ Plus profits directly from innovations developed for our flagship Edition range, the ultimate headphones for critical listening. This sophisticated new technology combines precision dampening with micro-acoustic reinforcement, allowing driver, buffer-board, and spatial parameters to complement one another in an optimal manner. So the acoustical design of S-Logic Plus models and their tonal fine-tuning result in maximum neutral sound impression with more vivid perception of voices and instruments.

 
 Secondly -safer listening.  Well to be honest I have never been attacked by any of my headphones and I always practice safe listening.
 
 Quote:
 
 
   

Safer hearing S-Logic™ does not only create a Natural Surround Sound. S-Logic™ allows at the same time a reduction of sound pressure levels by up to 40% (3-4 dB) for the same loudness sensation. This may reduce the risk of hearing damage while ensuring hours of fatigue-free listening. However, Ultrasone generally advises not to listen to music at high volumes to prevent hearing damage.

  
I don't know whether this is true or not, and really it doesn't matter as the efficiency of each headphone with your associated gear will tend to determine at what level you will listen at.  Simply don't listen at high volumes, particulary for long periods and it will not matter whether your headphones have built in reduced sound pressure level technology or not.  Truely safe headphones would have governors fitted, where they would cut out at reaching certain volume levels, be interesting to see if anyone would pay for that. not, as     
And finally safety from reduced magnetic fields due to ULE technology.
 
Quote:

ULE-technology & PRO design PRO headphones stand for Ultra Low Emission (ULE-technology) with significant benefits for professional users and PRO headphones show a specific design. The PRO appearance does not only distinguish the professional line but also allows due to more ear anatomy area a higher degree of transparency in combination with the spatial sense and understanding. To understand what ULE-technology does, you need to know that most headphone drivers produce low-frequency magnetic fields as they convert an electric signal into an acoustical signal you hear as music. In response, Ultrasone developed a special MU Metal shielding (ULE-technology) to reduce the radiation by up to 98% compared to current headphones. The ULE-technology has stood the test of international review and is recommended by technical surveillance organisations. Ultrasone originally developed the ULE-technology for professionals as they do spend half of their lives in headphones. But due to grand requests the ULE-technology has now been integrated in other Ultrasone headphone lines. 

Again who knows whether the shielding works or not, but isn't the first question-" is the "radiation" from non ULE protected headphones harmful?"
I don't know of any research or anything that is credibily published that sugests that headphones emit dangerous magnetic radiation in the first place.
 
If you like Ultrasones buy them (and I have).  If you are buying them for safer listening or to "prepare yourself for genuine 3-dimensional enjoyment" you may have just purchased some lovely marketing prose.

 
  

 

[oqvist]

Is there any research not funded by mobile companies or such that suggests there is no danger in such radiation? But personally I would listen to headphones even if people told me I would get cancer by it.
 
The Pro 900 do really really well at low spl. ED 8 as well though that one encourages more volume bumpage Not just due to the driver displacement though I am sure it helps not shooting audio straight down the ear drums but also the FR is optimized for lower SPL then most cans. Though the driver displacement make it a bit harder to accurately judge what SPL you are actually listening to.
 
As for the soundstage I have yet to find a headphone that creates such a believable center channel as my Ultrasones and have such a room feel so it´s more then marketing prose to me. Better then headphones like K701, DX 1000 and T1 in the 3D regard. T1 is quite close though.  All those mentioned can push the sound further away then the Pro 900 and even more the ED 8 but it´s not as solid in 3d pannings on bullets passing by your head, where it impacts and such. I watch a lot of movies where you really notice such stuff if it´s wrong.
 
As for music its harder to call the bluff but in regard of creating a center channel the displaced driver approach seem to be more successful then angled drivers! Sound is redirected behind the plate which create some of the surround effects. Those are not as accurate all the time of course but much more believable "surround" then other headphones I have tried. If you don´t like it you just close those holes. It has other positive bi effects doing so

 

[leeperry]

I made a thread about it a while ago: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/473894/health-issues-associated-with-prolonged-headphones-use-due-to-emf-pollution
 
about S-Logic? I'd say that the normal version didn't work on me at all, all I heard were some metallic mids on the Pro750...but S-Logic+ was amazing on the HFI-780, some of the most natural headstage I have ever heard! The sound was as "out of my head" as I could hope for, this was a very impressive experience...too bad the damn thing's as uncomfy as can be and the mids very mushy.
 
I can certainly attest that I could lower the volume(compared to other phones) and have the same loudness impression....we all hear differently so YMMV.
 
I know a guy who rates his Pro750 as high as his cd3k, and I know some ppl hear the cd3k as "sound coming from a hole"....one thing's for sure: Ultrasone headphones cheat the human brain as much as they can and we all hear differently so there's only one way to find out how *your* brain will react.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

From what you write it is apparent to me that these headphones may be geared more towards cinema as opposed to music. I am looking to get headphones strictly for music. 

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Quote:

I made a thread about it a while ago: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/473894/health-issues-associated-with-prolonged-headphones-use-due-to-emf-pollution
 
about S-Logic? I'd say that the normal version didn't work on me at all, all I heard were some metallic mids on the Pro750...but S-Logic+ was amazing on the HFI-780, some of the most natural headstage I have ever heard! The sound was as "out of my head" as I could hope for, this was a very impressive experience...too bad the damn thing's as uncomfy as can be and the mids very mushy.
 
I can certainly attest that I could lower the volume(compared to other phones) and have the same loudness impression....we all hear differently so YMMV.
 
I know a guy who rates his Pro750 as high as his cd3k, and I know some ppl hear the cd3k as "sound coming from a hole"....one thing's for sure: Ultrasone headphones cheat the human brain as much as they can and we all hear differently so there's only one way to find out how *your* brain will react.

Cheat the brain?
 

 

[stevenswall]

I found the soundstage to be quite uninspiring for the Ultrasone Edition 8... Not even close to an open phone.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Do open phones have a tendency to produce better sound staging than closed phones? 

 

[TheWuss]

well.  you're going to get pretty extreme answers.
this is head-fi, after all.
 
but, my experience thus far with the edition 8 is that the phones do a respectable job of not sounding closed.
especially if you consider that their ear cups are quite small.
 
the soundstage is not on par with most open phones, granted, but it's certainly better than M50, SRH840, etc.
 

 

[wind016]

I found the soundstage to be quite uninspiring for the Ultrasone Edition 8... Not even close to an open phone.

I agree. The hfi series also have very upfront soundstage. Pro series is where its at.

 

[stevenswall]

@Sonic Atrocity: Yes, open headphones have better soundstaging than closed ones.

 

[oqvist]

Quote:

Do open phones have a tendency to produce better sound staging than closed phones? 

 
If we generalize yes. Open headphones tend to push sound further away and less cup resonances. So if you have two identical headphones one open and one closed the open one tend to be better. Otherwise it depend on the application
 
ED 8 is better then the Pro 900 as in less cup resonances but it´s more sealed so a bit claustrophobic for movies, games.