After spending months with the Ultrasone Signature DJ, I have come to the conclusion that they are so perfect for me that I almost feel as if they were custom designed, to the point that I can say I have lost interest in hearing other headphones, especially paired with the V-Moda Verza which I have found to be the ideal portable amp for them. I thought I would list some highlights as to why they are perfect for me, understanding that others have different tastes and requirements. However, if these check most of your boxes, you may want to try these out.
Appearance- Personally, I really like the "tuxedo" black and white color scheme. Pictures don't do them justice (see next comment).
Build quality- Holding the Sig DJ in your hands, you see and feel the build quality and details- genuine soft leather headband and earcups, mirrored glass etched cup covers. Although mostly plastic, there are no apparent weak spots. These headphones feel extremely solid. Also, the cups fold flat for the high quality case and also fold inward for compact portable storage.
Portablility- I could count on one hand the number of summit-fi headphones that realistically have the potential for portable use. The Sig DJ is uniquely suited for portable use as it is rugged, isolates reasonably well, has a snug fit and looks from a distance like modestly priced headphones to avoid unwanted attention from would-be snatch-and-grab "admirers". They are also easy to drive directly from a portable device and include a quality smartphone cable in addition to the coiled DJ cable. As 95% of my listening is away from my desktop, portability is crucial for me.
Sound quality- Again, for my personal taste, these are as close to sonic perfection as I have heard in any headphone, closed or open. I can truly enjoy these with every genre. Compared to the Signature Pro, which is also one of my favorite headphones, I enjoyed their sound very much but longed for more low end impact with certain genres. The Sig DJ gives me the extended, airy, sibilance-free highs and transparent, lifelike, detailed mids of the Sig Pro with bass that hits when called upon in the recording. Female vocals give me chills with the Sig DJ and make me feel as if I am in the studio with the artist. What is remarkable is that these same headphones can transport me to a nightclub with pop and EDM. Also, the combination of pop/dance beats with the accuracy of female vocals is sublime. The soundstage is also exceptional, using Bob Marley as an example, I feel like I am in the middle of the recording studio and his band is placed all around me.
Based on my experience with Ultrasone, I understand why the perception of their headphones is a mixed bag. Personally, I am not a fan of their US customer service or most of their headphones, but their Signature line and the Signature DJ in particular is something special. It is certainly the most expensive headphone I ever purchased without first auditioning and that is really saying something for me since I am generally risk-averse, but the Signature DJ is one of the best purchases I have ever made and wanted to share my experience with them for anyone who is considering these.
. Regarding sound, it's all diminishing returns up to a certain point so who knows, besides the bass, maybe the MDR-7520s you'd prefer in all aspects over the Sig DJs.
Same design as HFI, which is rugged no doubt but wasn't the most comfortable for me, and cheap plastic enclosure is definitely not up to asking price. Sony MDR-7520 for instance at third the price just ooze "premium" all over.
