[Lamprologus]

There seem to be a fair number of people who are enjoying Ultrasone headphones so I'm interested to find out what they sound like. Maybe I'm missing something

. I prefer closed cans so I've narrowed my choice down to the Proline 650 and 750 (and possibly edition 9 but that's a whole different price for something I'm not sure I'll like).

What are the differences in sound between these two cans (and also possibly compared to edition 9)? Which one am I most likely to enjoy given the list of cans in my signature?

Any help is highly appreciated, I don't think I'll be able to locate any of these cans to try before i buy.

 

[kwkarth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamprologus /img/forum/go_quote.gif There seem to be a fair number of people who are enjoying Ultrasone headphones so I'm interested to find out what they sound like. Maybe I'm missing something . I prefer closed cans so I've narrowed my choice down to the Proline 650 and 750 (and possibly edition 9 but that's a whole different price for something I'm not sure I'll like). What are the differences in sound between these two cans (and also possibly compared to edition 9)? Which one am I most likely to enjoy given the list of cans in my signature? Any help is highly appreciated, I don't think I'll be able to locate any of these cans to try before i buy.

First, I have to say, one of my favorite cichlids is the Haplochromis compressiceps. Cichlids in general are very cool fish, with so much personality and intelligence.

Now, on to headphonedae...
I have the 650 and have not heard the 750. I've read a lot of reviews on both and many have rated the 650 as sounding better. Be that as it may, the 650 was the only Proline can I could buy locally. It sounded ok in the store, but when I got it home and compared it to my AKG-K701s...Yecchh!

There was a really strong "honky" coloration in the upper midrange and a suck out in the mid-bass region. There was also quite a bit of stridency in the high end. I would have taken them back to the store, but I thought I would try a tweaking first to see if anything could be done to improve them.

See the thread on 650 mods if you haven't yet for the particulars.
Link to thread here

Guestimating from what I read of the UE9 reviews, I'm thinking that the modded 650s sound a lot like the UE9s. I need to find somebody with a pair of UE9s in the area to comfirm that though, but that's my guess.

I would also guess that the 750, which uses the same driver as the UE9s would similarly benefit from the mods I did to the 650s, but since I haven't seen them in person, I can't know for sure.

While the stock 650 was unlistenable to me, the modded 650 is quite enjoyable to listen to.

Compared to the Senn 580/600s that you may be familiar with, the modded Proline 650s have better high end extension and detail, without being strident. The Senns have a bit of bloat in the mid-bass whereas the 650s are slightly thin in the midbass. The bottom end extension and punch is actually better on the 650s than on the Senns. The modded 650s may be a little bit harder to drive than the Senns, but I haven't carefully compared that.

Overall, the modded 650 are much more resolving than the stock 580/600 Senns. My Senn HD600 with a Cardas cable sounds more detailed to my ears than the stock 600, but still not quite as resolving as the modded 650 Prolines, mostly because of the Senns having a little bit of masking of the mids going on due to the (mild) mid-bass hump. Keep in mind, this is my subjective impression.

Cheers!

 

[Lamprologus]

Thank's for the reply kwkarth.

I've read your thread about the mod of the 650 since I started this thread. Quite interesting, I'm wondering what the Ed 9's look like when they are opened up?

Anyway, I'm considering buying the Ed9's. But it would be interesting to see how your pair of modded 650's compares to ED 9, the difference in price is quite large

.

 

[kwkarth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamprologus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thank's for the reply kwkarth. I've read your thread about the mod of the 650 since I started this thread. Quite interesting, I'm wondering what the Ed 9's look like when they are opened up? Anyway, I'm considering buying the Ed9's. But it would be interesting to see how your pair of modded 650's compares to ED 9, the difference in price is quite large .

Yes, I would be quited interested in knowing how the two compare. In direct comparison to the AKG K701s the modded 650s sound a little "lean" where the 701s sound a little "warm." Overall balance is probably more technically accurate and appealing to most people with the 701s. At the same time the 701s retain a slightly warmer over all balance, they still have more midrange magic and HF refinement. The highs, while sounding smoother are at the same time more detailed and nuanced. The soundstage is wider and deeper too.

Even with all of that said, the balance and presentation of the modded PL650s is fun to listen to and useful for identifying who's doing what in a live mixing situation. I keep listening to a few cuts from Nickel Creek as I write this. Nice music, nice recordings, nice arrangements.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Sorry... did I read that correctly? The 750 uses the same driver as the Edition 9? Then... why the quintupling of price...?

 

[iQEM]

wow, 650 sounding better ?!

 

[pataburd]

Ultrasone 750 - Ultrasone 650 =
Ultrasone (750 - 650) =
Ultrasone 100.

: )