Some reviews I have read on these headphones like to get into the long technical terms and extensive features of these particular headphones, but I am going to take a different approach. I feel you can’t make a decision on any audio product based on specs. I have heard many pieces of high end audio gear that have not lived up to their expectation based on specs alone, and have heard many pieces of low and mid range gear that blow my mind in the cost/performance ratio.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get right down to it. These headphones are great. I mean they sound really good compared to the many choices or higher end headphones available to choose. The frequencies are represented very well, changing the EQ is almost unnecessary on most selections you listen to, and if you decide to mess with your EQ settings, you’ll realize right away just how accurate these headphones really are. Their S-Logic (fancy name for great separation) system does a wonderful job of making the music seem around you instead of inside your head, and they do an amazing job of canceling out any kind of background noise. For example, I tested these during a family session of the local favorite guitar simulation game playing on a surround sound system. The volume was loud enough to really rock out to, and the background was full of laughing and cheering for each player. I didn’t hear any of it while listening to the Big Phat Band blow their horns in amazing harmonies, and all this at a pretty low listening level compared to my normal music experience.
Ultrasone advertises the S-Logic system to also be able to reduce listening levels 3-4 db’s from standard level due to the design of the can. While that may be true, I find that the real perk is being able to listen to audio at a lower level than I normally would because I am not competing with background noise at all. It would take a jet launching off a carrier to find a reason to turn up the volume much on these headphones, and even then I have a feeling most of it would be kept out of your ears.
One other big perk I found was in the package of the headphones. Included was an audio clip cd of very high quality recordings. For some reason I find myself not getting tired of hearing just how good these things can sound with ideal sound being pumped through. You get a collection of clips ranging from New Orleans style big band to some nature scenes that actually had be turning around looking for instruments and bugs on a few occasions.
While this has all been very positive so far, be forewarned that they are not for everyone, as I have found through listening to a variety of audio clips and formats through these clear cans. Like I said in the beginning these headphones are good, and I mean really good. That means they will reproduce the audio you are hearing very realistically and very true to what they REALLY sound like. Audio that suffers in this category…..almost every converted mp3. If you are looking for a pair of headphones to listen to your latest collection of converted or downloaded mp3’s, these headphones are going to disappoint you. I found myself many times wondering how I listen all of the compression on a standard mp3 after hearing what they actually sound like in that form. Pop in a CD and you will start to notice little flaws and mistakes that your average home stereo or headphone pair will not let you hear, at least not without trained and super sensitive ears. This is not a knock really against the headphones, more a knock against the accepted quality of music in this digital age of high end recording. If you are really curious to how it all actually sounds, these headphones will tell you, good or bad.
These headphones also have a somewhat heavy feel on your head and neck. I found myself adjusting them many times to just the right spot on my head before they felt comfortable. If you are not used to wearing these types of full sized headphones, they take some getting used to before they feel natural to wear.
So how can you make the best choice on if these HFI 700’s are for you? Look at your application. If you want to hear the clearest sound you have heard in a long time, and want to know what’s really going on in your audio, these headphones are for you. If you want to use them for a home studio to track and mix, I give them an A+ for true sound reproduction and value toward getting the most out of a home studio. If you are a DJ and want a pair of headphones to mix with that will give you good results, these may be a little high priced for your needs and you may consider looking down to the Ultrasone 550 model to get the performance you are looking for, but the 700’s certainly would be a worthy addition to your DJ gear. If you are like me and plan on using them for many different applications, versatility is a high point for these cans. So go out there and listen to some of the competition at the local music store, and if the budget allows, you’ll be springing for a pair of these Ultrasone HFI 700’s.
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