Ultrasone HFI-780 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones

Product Description

,Sennheiser Remanufactured RS-120 Wireless Headphones ,Beyerdynamic DT 770-PRO Headphones , Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile HiFi Stereo Headphones , Sennheiser PMX 60 Lightweight Portable Headphones ,Philips HN 110 Folding Noise-Canceling Headphones The exclusive design of the closed-back Ultrasone HFI-780 is accentuated by the polar-silver color. The HFI-780 contains all Ultrasone technologies such as S-Logic Plus, ULE and safer hearing. The HFI-780 is developed from the studio sector and is distinguished by a frequency response that is specifically tuned for DVD and gaming. Sophisticated home theater and music enthusiasts are overwhelmed by the impressive sound that makes it appear as though you are listening to speakers placed meters away. Gamers are impressed by the exact sound reproduction, making the gaming world come alive. The low frequency ranges are raised in order to reach the highest possible synergies with DSP-Systems like Dolby Headphone and Yamaha Silent Cinema. Through S-Logic Natural Surround, the sound moves out of your head and into the room around you. Direction and distance are more easily perceived, giving the illusion of being at a live concert. With just a pair of Ultrasones and your favorite audio device, you can have genuine 3-dimensional aural enjoyment. The HFI-780 is equipped with thicker ear and headphone pads, and comes with a new velvet carrying bag.


This review is from: Ultrasone HFI-780 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones (Electronics)
When you first wonder what you are missing by listening to you music with those ear buds that came with your iPod, you can find yourself on a rewarding (and expensive)journey. I knew that the iPod earbuds were seriously lacking, many songs had muddled bass and highs.

My journey to find the perfect headphones started with the Audio-Technica Airtight Dynamic Monitor Stereo Headphones, an improvement over my iPod buds but very uncomfortable. My next leap was the Audio Technica ATH-A700 Closed-Back Dynamic Headphones With Double Air Damping and they are really a wonderful headset. The are a closed headset, and I wanted to hear an open one so I got the much touted for rock listening, Grado SR80 Headphones which for awhile became my favorites. I am using all these cans with my Toshiba laptop and iTunes, mostly high vbr mp3s. For my iPod I am using both the Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones and Yuin Pk2 Earphones both of which blow iBuds out of the water.

But once you start down this path, you seem to always want more. I had read many reviews on headfi.org and one had stated that the HFI-780 had good bass and were probably the best cans under $350, a pretty bold statement. I decided to take the plunge and they now are my favorites. I use them with my Toshiba Satellite X205-S9349 17-inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100, 2 GB RAM, 240 GB Hard DRive, HD SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium), Audio Advantage Micro USB Sound Card, and a portable headphone amp (Little Micro Dot +) and this setup has the most full, crip sound I have yet to hear from any source. The lows are more defined and substantial then the Grados. The surround gives music more of a feeling that the music is being played live all around you, and you can pick out where instruments are being played.

When you upgrade to a headphone this good, there are some things you need to realize. First, there is a break-in period. Some like to use "pink noise" over a period of time. But no matter what you do, your headphones will sound different over time, usually for the better. You may also need to experiment with your setup. I initially was just playing out of the laptop jack, using the on board sound card. The Ultrasone's did not sound good with that setup, bass was not well defined, there was a hiss in the background and the music was not full. Using the Turtle Audio to process the sound removes the processing from the EM interference within the laptop that can cause distortion. The amp added fullness, I have the computer's volume to the max and adjust it with the amp's volume switch. Next, higher end headphones can amplify bad music sources. mp3s can have a whooshing noise in the background because mp3's are a compromise between file size and quality, so try and use higher vbr mp3's. And once you really hear what you are missing in your music, you know that these headphones really are worth the cost.


EDIT: For those that do not like the pleather pads, the velour pads for the Beyerdynamic DT 250 - Headphones ( ear-cup ) which can be found online will fit it nicely. There is a metal band under the plastic cover on top that can be bent for those complaining of a too snug a fit.


EDIT 4/2011 Just under 2 years and they are still going strong. Clarity, strong base, large sound stage, these cans just seem to sound better and better. Amazon carries the Beyerdynamic EDT 200 Velour Padded Earcushions for DT250, DT280, Sony MDR7506 and V6 Headphones (Pair) now and they are cheaper then anywhere else since they are Prime eligible. I don't think Ultrasone makes this model anymore so grab a pair while you can!