Some thoughts about the Ultrasone Pro 900

OK, I will start by saying that these headphones are solidly built, and that fit and finish is excellent. Also, Ultrasone has stood by its design philosophy solidly through the years, and you have to commend them for standing by their principles.

But the fact is, either you are going to love the Pro 900 or you are going to hate it, no in-betweens. These headphones are more polarizing than Grados, and for one and only one reason -- S-logic.

S-logic based on this paper that Florian Konig, the founder of Ultrasone, wrote. I read it when I first tried to figure out what the term "S-logic" meant, and I think it is the best (and probably only) detailed explanation you are ever going to get on the topic, unless you count the rather vague statements on the Ultrasone website. The problem is that the paper is translated into English in such a clumsy way (I assume that it was not initially written in English) that many of the concepts are almost impossible to understand. It's like the paper was written by a Tamarian ("Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel"). If you don't understand what I mean by this, well, you probably never will, it's a Star Trek thing :-)

Basically, as far as I can make out (disclaimer: it's been a while since I have thought about this in detail because it gives me a migraine) the sound gets better if you place the drivers in a "decentric" fashion (i.e. in an inhumanly low position and angled weirdly) then something called "head-related transfer" occurs and then the sound that travels through regular air conduction (via the drivers) and head-related transfer function are both picked up the brain and combined to create a magical 3D sound. You with me? Good, because I'm not sure I am.

Now to be fair, HD800 also utilizes a somewhat eccentric driver placement, and many IEMs add a component of bone conduction, and Ultrasone has a ton of patents for S-logic, and Florian Konig is clearly a very smart man, and his paper offers a reasonable scientific hypothesis to support decentral driver placement, so maybe there is something to it. I should also add that Ultrasone claims that their headphones subject you to less EM radiation than other headphones, and that you are less likely to sustain hearing loss with their headphones. Rather than depend on my biased opinion, read the paper for yourself and decide!

Suffice to say that depending on your perspective, S-Logic technology either improves the sound like the Traveler (whose name was unpronounceable by Humans) improved the warp drive of the USS Enterprise, or kills the sound more thoroughly than a rerun of a Star Trek Voyager episode.

I am of the latter persuasion.

I ripped my headphones!

Q: I accidentally ripped the fabric around the driver in my Beyerdynamic DT770 headphones! Will this affect sound?

A: Best case scenario, the tear reduces the treble reflex, so treble will increase. Most likely on the Beyerdynamic DT770 770 it will make treble harsh and the sound fatiguing.

Worst case scenario, over time the vibrations from the torn fabric that will be frustrating. In that case, the headphones may become unlistenable.

Scientifically comparing personal audio equipment

Q; Most comparisons of headphones or amps or DACs are so subjective. Why aren't there many scientific studies comparing personal audio equipment? How can we become better at comparing different headphones or different amps in a more scientific way?

A: Comparative analysis isn't a common or popular modality of testing audio equipment. Even the most quoted "objective" blinded A/B tests (like those for headphones) are methodologically weak, with lots of observer-dependent limitations that significantly detract from any results they manage to come up with.

Rather than trying to randomize the source like a drug trial or a physics experiment, another way to scientifically approach this might be to study the observations of different judges by looking at their inter-rater reliability as a measure of scientific "soundness".

For example, we could look at your data using Fleiss' kappa or a rank correlation coefficient (such as Spearmans, since your data will most likely be ordinal) as a measure of validity, since if our subjects were really under the influence of a placebo effect, there would be a very specific correlation (or not) between their scores, and if there was a true audio difference there would be a different specific correlation (or not) between their scores. So for example, if everything came up with poor correlation, we could make the argument that any sonic difference was attributable to the placebo effect.

Of course, the problem is that these projects are not viable because they are not really attractive to funding by the usual suspects, i.e. industry - after all, which DAC manufacturer would want to conduct an experiment which proved that their $1000 DAC was no better than a $100 DAC, or even the opposite, why would the manufacturer of a $100 DAC want to take a chance that the study would prove that the $1000 DAC was much better?

The best headphones for $500 or less?

Q: What would you consider to be the best headphones for $500 or less?

A: HD600/650 depending on your preferences
HD600 from a pure price-performance perspective.
HD650 if you don't want a neutral pair of headphones (most folks don't)

Why do Ultrasone headphones sound different?

Q: What's with Ultrasone headphones? Why do they sound different than everything else out there?

A: Few headphones polarize audiophiles as much as Ultrasone. Folks either love the sound, or hate it.

In essence Florian Konig, Ultrasone's founder, came up with this paper on how to bounce sound waves off the ears rather than into the ears directly to create this surround effect with normal headphones. They called this effect s-logic, and have been refining the technology ever since. Only Ultrasones have them. More details here -- this is what makes Ultrasone headphones sound so different.

Folks who love S-logic love Ultrasone. They sound unique, and in my opinion the only way you can figure out if you are a lover or a hater is to listen to them for yourself and decide.

What is a "sound signature"?

Q: What do you mean when you say "headphones have specific sound signatures"?

A: Different headphones have different signatures. For example the Beyer DT880 or Senn HD600 are more "neutral" sound profile, i.e. they are free from coloration,

Coloration refers to deviations from neutrality, for example the Philips Fidelio X1 is very colored. Coloration also often adds a "fun" element to listening.

Some headphones are intrinsically dark -- the term signifies a warm + rich sound profile. Technically, dark headphones have a frequency response which is skewed clockwise across the entire range, so that as the frequency increases, the output diminishes. A good example of this would be the HD650.

Other headphones are very bright, their frequency response is skewed counter-clockwise across the entire range, so that as the frequency increases, the output increases. A good example of this would be the Grado SR60i or e (or pretty much any Grado).

IEMs for speech / voice

Q:  I listen to lots of radio podcasts and audio books. Which in ear monitor (IEM) should I buy? My budget is $150-200.

A: For lots of speech / vocals, you don't want overwhelming bass or recessed mids. In your budget, consider the Shure SE315, especially if they are on sale. The 315 is a singe BA (balanced armature) IEM, it is very isolating and not as bass prominent as similar dynamic driver IEMs. The detail on these is astonishing, and they are awesome for podcasts / chorus / opera / voice.

However keep in mind that you won't get huge bass from them.

Q: Just bought a pair of Shure SRH440s, left speaker sounds great but the right one is quieter and more tinny, his there something I can do about it?

A: First make sure the pad on the R side is well seated, that the headphone connector has been inserted all the way into the jack, and that balance levels from your source are in the middle and not skewed towards L or R.

Then do the driver matching test here. Swap the sides around and do it again, if your R earcup is more quiet on the R side the first time around and on the L side the second time, then its a driver issue, and you should return the SRH440.

However if the R earcup is quieter on the R ear the first time around and the second time you do the test the L earcup is quieter (i.e. on the R side both times) then its your ear, you need to see your doctor or audiologist to figure out what is going on.

What you need to know about the Sennheiser HD600

If you are in the market for a relatively neutral pair of headphones, then yes the Sennheiser HD600 is a great choice. It excels for critical listening and some genres like classical. Keep in mind that you need an amp to get the most out of it.

If you don't want to play the upgrade game all the way to summit-fi for whatever reason, then the HD600 could conceivably be endgame for you, if you know what you are getting yourself into.

If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music like EDM or hip hop, you may find the 600 to be surprisingly bass-light. The 600 isn't known for its sub bass, I can assure you. For the price, something like the VModa M100 may be a better bet for you.

If you are a detail whore, you may want to hold out for something like a Sennheiser HD800, a Beyerdynamic T90, or, at this price point, a Beyerdynamic DT880.

If you want a very bright listening experience, you may find the 600 treble to be disappointing. Instead, consider a Grado and some gauze pads (to apply to your ears when they start bleeding, ba dum tish!)

If you are looking for isolation or don't want folks around you to hear the fact that you secretly listen to Barry Manilow while proudly wearing that My Chemical Romance t-shirt, then don't get the HD600, it leaks sound like a sieve, and is as open as it gets.

if you want to listen to music off your phone, don't get the HD600. It has a 300 ohm impedcance and just won't sound as good as it would through, say an OTL amp. Sure, you will get sound through your iPhone, but the bass sounds just too flabby and meh.

And finally, if you are looking for a warm and smooth sound, consider the 600s younger sibling, the HD650.

The Martin Logan Mikros 90: A Bridge Too Far

The Martin Logan Mikros 90: A Bridge Too Far

It was a dark and stormy night. OK, not really, but I have always wanted to read a review that started this way. And now I have, and so have you.

When the Mikros 90 was conceived, it must have been a dark and stormy night indeed at Martin Logan HQ, which as a select few know is hidden in a bunker in the middle of a cornfield in Kansas.

“Guys I know a brilliant way to increase our market share. Let’s do headphones.”

“Oh wow, what a great idea! Electrostatic headphones, right?”

“Nope.”

“OK they will be huge, like our speakers, right?”

“Um, nope. They will be tiny on-ear headphones.” 

“All-metal construction, right?”

“Um, nope. But lots of plastic, and fake-looking leather. And some chrome.”

“OK then why are we doing headphones?” 

“Well, we can build these headphones cheaply, slap the ML logo on them, and mark up their price by *800%*!"

"Won't that erode customer confidence?"

"Guys we will be laughing all the way to the bank. This is the easiest way to make money since bitcoins!”

“But why would anyone buy these headphones?”

“Are you kidding? These puppies are *Martin Logans*! Every audiophile will want one of these babies!”

And thus, ladies and gentlemen, the Mikros 90 was born. OK the dialog is fiction, but it’s otherwise hard to understand from a business / marketing perspective why a venerable speaker company with a significant market share of the electrostatic audiophile speaker market would put out a $300 MSRP first-time-around-the-block on-ear headphone model.

ML Does Tiny, But Do They Do Tiny Right? First impression: they smell like new shoes

You have to admit, the Mikros 90 looks premium. It is enclosed in a luxurious black box with vague shadowy images embossed on the front that scream “luxury”, reminiscent of the Fidelio X1 box. Inside is a foam insert, and removing it reveals the carrying case, unzipping which finally delivers the Mikros 90 like an infant at the end of a complicated c-section on a Matryoshka doll.

The headphones themselves look gorgeous. The cylindrical headband is wrapped in fake-looking leather like the steering wheel of a Lexus, with shiny chrome ends that sparkle, the plastic dome of the rotating earcups are imprinted with a rich leather pattern and discreetly feature the wavy ML logo, the smooth on-ear perforated pads are comfortably supple, with springy foam that displays good memory.

The build quality is solid. The detachable cable clicks firmly to the left earcup in a reassuring way, the cable itself is slinky and almost rubbery to touch, the connectors at both ends look well built.

The cups are closed in design, and extend by a friction mechanism that takes some getting used to. The pads are detachable. The 1/8 inch connector is right-angled.

Accessories: What else do you get?

Apart from the headphones, you get a carrying case, TRRS cable with iphone controls, an 1/8 to 1/4 inch adapter, and a tiny manual written in a font so small you need an electron microscope to make the words out.

Comfort: well, or not

I was surprised by how firmly these headphones clamp. The clamping force is up there well within ATH M50 territory. It’s not enough to crush your skull, but the significant clamping force is high enough to be uncomfortable, especially if you wear glasses. And not just for extended listening sessions -- you will begin to feel the clamp within a few minutes of first use.
To be fair, clamping force got a little better after I stretched the headband out for a few days, but is still super high compared to, say, a Grado SR60i. If you wear glasses, the Mikros 90 is not going to be put-it-on-and-forget-about-it, for sure.

The flat on-ear earcups also make your ears sweat. A lot. From a comfort perspective, that’s not a good start. The earcups do swivel, though, but getting the pads to seal on-ear just right can be a little tricky at times.

And finally, the cable is 4 feet long, includes ipod controls with recessed “buttons” that have poor tactile feedback, and has significant microphonics, which can be very distracting to some folks.

Sound: the real reason you should be reading this

Some basic tests: drivers of my Mikros 90 were balanced. The bass shaker test revealed no hum or rattle. Treble extension was excellent. Sub bass was moderately compromised. Overall, the headphones sounded like they were built as solidly as they looked.

Isolation was surprisingly good for on-ears. Probably because of the immense clamping force. After all, something that clamps with the gravitational pull of Jupiter will isolate well by pressure seal alone.

After burning them in (yes, I know, I don’t know whether burn-in real or not either, but I still burn in my headphones, it is a ritual, you know, like hitting your left heel three times on home plate and spitting twice and grabbing your crotch with your left hand every time before batting).

I subjected them to my current playlist of well known, well loved songs ripped as lossless flac files on my usual “neutral” test rig setup: Foobar > Benchmark DAC1 > O2 > Mikros 90. The Benchmark and O2 do what they are supposed to do -- they get out of the way and let me concentrate on the headphones. Kick off was with New Order’s Regret - Fire Island Mix, one of my favorite “first to play” songs.

Let’s play ball :-)

For on-ears, the sound is surprisingly rich. These headphones excel when it comes to the mids, saxophones, guitars and vocals are equally vivid and prominent. Voices are prominent and crisp. Instrument presence is appropriate, and midrange tonal variations are maintained. IMO the way that the Mikros 90 makes vocals shine is the most delightful feature of these headphones.

Treble is extended and modestly bright, without significant high-end rolloff. These headphones are not sibilant or harsh, and the highs are not tinny or artificial.

The bass is the Achilles heel of the Mikros 90. Lows are clear and defined but lack impact and gravitas. There is no low-end warmth, no soul, if you know what I mean. This isn’t weak bass presence like the SR60i. This is downright anemic. Don’t get me wrong, the bass isn’t missing entirely, it is on the lower end of adequate. And “lower end of adequate” is not a good choice for DnB or dubstep.

Soundstage is what you expect from closed, on-ear headphones. This is not in the same ballpark as a Q701. Probably not even in the same league. Instrument separation is adequate.

Price / performance value: Steal, from Old English Stelan, noun, informal, a bargain.

I wouldn’t pay $300 for these headphones, ML or no ML. But something curious happened to the Mikros 90. Soon after their introduction, and probably too soon into their product lifecycle, their price went into freefall. They dropped into the $150-200 range which was still probably more from a price/performance ratio than I would be willing to pay for them, but then when the discount price went dumpster diving into the sub-$150 range, I became interested in them.

But the discounting did not stop there. The price on these headphones dropped like Felix Baumgartner on a supersonic freefall run, and when they hit $100 the Mikros 90 became attractive, and then at $80 they became very attractive despite their flaws (you know, like the good looking cougar you pick up after a few drinks at 2 am when the bar closes), and when they went on sale for $60 IMO they became an absolute steal. Their value becomes pretty astronomical at this price point, and if you are looking for a stylish portable on-ear headphones for predominantly rock/ jazz/ classical musical tastes, they offer surprisingly good sound quality on a surprisingly low budget.

Final thoughts: what have we learned on the show tonight, Craig?

In sum:

Bargain basement price makes this closed on-ear offering from Martin Logan a steal
Portable, case is included
Stylish
Great mids, particularly vocals
Anemic bass
Clamps like a bitch

What you need to know about the Beyerdynamic DT990 Premium (600 ohm version)

The build

The DT990 Premium features impeccable build quality, and superb comfort, especially for extended listening sessions. They look and feel like high-end headphones.


The sound


These are open headphones, and leak sound significantly. All Beyers have a V-shaped frequency response curve. In general, the DT990 has the most V-shaped curve when compared to the DT770 and 880, with prominent bass and a somewhat bright treble.

The 600 ohm version of the 990 Premium follows the same general rules, but its bass is a little less prominent, most likely because of the reduced clamping force. The low end is controlled, and if you amp them appropriately, nice and tight.

Mids are neutral, vocals are well represented without tonal distortions or coloration.

It has the same 9000 Hz spike as the Pro version, and so if you are not a fan of tinkly treble then most likely the 990 premium will disappoint.


FAQs


Q: Does the Dt990 600 ohm premium need an amp?

A: Yes, it will benefit from an amp. You don't need a monster like the Schiit Lyr to power it, though. The most noticeable difference with a good amp will be tighter bass. Some mobile devices like phones and tablets will struggle to run the 600 ohm DT990


Q: Whats the difference between Pro and premium DT 990 versions?

A: Materials (more metal in the Premium version, more plastic in the Pro), and clamping force (less in the Premium).


Beyerdynamic DT880 vs DT990 Premium versions: The 880 is a lot more neutral. The DT880 does not have the sparkly highs that are so forward on the 990s. DT 880 bass is more linear when compared to the rest of the frequency profile.


AKG Q701 vs Beyerdynamic DT990 Premium: If you are a fan of the Beyer sound profile with its V shaped emphasis on the bass as well as the highs, you may find that the bass and treble are both going to be lacking somewhat with the Q701.


HiFiman HE400 vs DT990 Premium: The 990 premium has better build quality. HE400s have a flatter frequency curve. You'll notice the mids coming forward compared to the 990. A lot. HE400 bass is tighter and more controlled than the DT990. The bass isn't as prominent as the DT990, but "punchier". HE400 treble is harsher and more sibilant than the 990. Cymbals and hi hats go into "attack mode". The HE400s are heavier and a lot less comfortable than the 990s.


Sennheiser HD598 vs DT990 Premium: 990s have much better build quality. The 598s are much warmer and smoother. Mids are more pronounced with the 698s.

What you need to know about the HiFiMan HE560

On the surface, HiFiMan's new model, the HE 560 is an amalgam of innovative design and great sound quality. It has garnered some great reviews, and expectations have been high.

Certainly the sound quality is excellent, as can be expected from a high-end model priced at $900.

But close up you can clearly see the fit and finish is somewhat disappointing -- the veneer does not come right up to the grille circumference, the universal headband looks really fragile at its tension points on the sides, and the earcup ratchet mechanism cover is cheap looking. Even the pad stitching is irregular.

And when you hold the 560, your biggest fear is that it will break in your hands. Yes the headband is stronger than folks give it credit for, but overall it feels incredibly flimsy, and that's not just my opinion. Of course, some of my fear is a bias -- it is super light, and when it comes to headphones, in our mind we unconsciously equate heaviness with "strength" and lightness with "fragility". But you have to hold one to understand what I mean when I say it feels "incredibly flimsy".

Am I being nitpicky? A little. But for $900 I expect more than this. I want a HiFiMan headphone I can love, that isn't disappointing. HiFiMan is like the dude who runs the whole race like a champ and then falls short at the finish line, their products have huge potential and yet continue to be marred by fatal flaws.

I think the piece that sticks in everyone's throat is the $900 price tag. If this were a $200 or $300 pair of headphones, it would not be an issue at all. After all, the AKG Q701 headband tension mechanism is just as flimsy, and the "wood" on the Sennheiser HD598 is just as fake looking. But at this price point, the general feeling is more that HiFiMan is overcharging for the HE560 than anything else.

Purchase advice for headphone noobs

Q: How do I go about buying my first decent pair of headphones?

A: you can enjoy music at any price. Just follow Veni's 3 Laws of price-performance personal audio-lation!

Veni's First Law: set a budget and stick to it. This rule is the Prime Directive.

Veni's Second Law: if you are on a budget, remember the rule headphones > amp > dac >> cable. This will give you a sense of the relative importance of components. If your budget is $100, you will get more bang for your buck spending the $100 on a pair of headphones that you can drive off your phone or computer than spending $30 on headphones and $70 on an amp.

Also, if all your music is poor quality (eg 64k mp3, or ripped off youtube) then it doesn't matter how good your headphones are, it will still sound terrible. So upgrade your music files as much as you can when you get good headphones.

Veni's Third Law: Do your research. There are price-performance champs at almost every price point. Know what they are, avoid hype, and be an informed consumer.

Veni's Bonus Law (Buy Three, Get One free! Law): Look for sales / deals. Audiophile products are usually marked up to an insane degree. If you are patient, there will always be a deal on the stuff you want sooner or later.

What you need to know about the NVX XPT100

The NVX XPT100 is made by Yoga (a Chinese OEM manufacturer) as the Yoga CD880. Other clones of the CD880 are the Fischer FA003, the Jaycar Pro Monitor, Brainwavz HM5, and Lindy HF100.

All these clones are differentiated by modest design differences, branding, and different pads. if you live in Europe, the Jaycar Pro Monitor is the best bang for your buck, and in the US, the NVX XPT100.

The only retailer I have seen stocking the XPT100 is Sonic Electronix (are there others?). Usually they sell for $80-100, but have gone down on sale to as low as $70. From a price-performance perspective, the "sweet spot" pricing for them is in the $70-80 range.

They are mostly plastic, and build quality is a bit dodgy, but what did you expect for the price? They come with extra angled pads, which is unusual to see in a sub-$100 model. They feature a detachable cable, another surprising detail in a budget pair of headphones. They also come with a huge soft carrying case, which offers no protection whatsoever but does allow organizing and dust-free headphone storage.

They are super comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions, with decent SQ. I would characterize them as modestly warm, with reasonable but not dominant bass, some low-end rolloff (but not alarming amounts of bass loss), smooth mids (with surprisingly good rendering of vocals) and mildly recessed highs (but not disappointingly so). I

Their best feature apart from comfort is that they have a very decent soundstage, considering that they are closed headphones.