Ultrasone HFI-450 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones - Black

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $119.00
Sale Price: $75.09
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

Bear in mind this is a first impression after getting them and testing them out, and I paid considerably less than the current $87.

I picked these up to use as a FOH monitor headset. All I was looking for was reasonable quality and portability. I've just tested them out and was pleasantly surprised.

Pros: relatively inexpensive, Folding and rotating circum-aural (around the ear) cups, Sturdy construction, flat audio response, good isolating fit.

Cons: isolating fit is leather (maybe fake leather, I'm not sure) so it does get a bit sweaty in there. And the rugged construction means they're a bit on the heavy side.

I have a few songs I listen to just to check out sound systems and here's what I found. One of the songs has a 13khz hiss that these headphones recreated accurately, another song has a 35hz pedal tone that runs through most of the song. Again these headphones did just fine (I've worked with PA systems that can't do that.

I tried to test they're claim to 3-D sound, even to the extent of listening to some binaural recordings from the FreeSoundProject. I can't say as I hear any difference than with the pair of Sony MDR-CD180s I had to compare them to.

Overall these headphones are great at playing back just what you put into them, and nothing else. That's just what I want, headphones that don't color the sound with their own EQ curve. They're sturdy, compact when folded, and priced just about right for a cheapskate like me. I'm not going to wear them for an 8 hour flight, but I'll grab them every time I'm doing a gig.

I'd be happy to buy them again.

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I "settled" for these headphones because I didn't want to spend the $300+ for the truly high-end Ultrasones. I knew I was spending much less-was a giving up much less?

In some ways, I wasn't. The build quality of these headphones is superb. They are very tough and sturdy. They have a very long cord which has endured all kinds of abuse, and used a threaded adapter to go from 1/8" to 1/4" (which is preferable to a simple plug-in adapter). The quality of the plastic is first-rate; these are not come cheap ABS molded parts, but appear rather tobe a fiber-reinforced nylon of PMMA of some kind. They don't scratch easily, and I have been absolutely delighted with the overall feel of quality materials and construction.

Sound quality is good, but not excellent. It is superbly balanced. While at first it appears they lack a sense of "air", you really can hear fine details. I was listening to some demonstration tracks put out by Royer Labs in support of their superb ribbon microphones. Included in the demonstration was an A/B comparison of two microphones that only differed in that one was vacuum tube and the other was solid state. The ribbons and transducer assemblies were identical.

My ultrasones had enough resolution that the subtle improvement in spaciousness and clarity offered by the vacuum tube microphone was plainly heard compared to what the solid state version of the same microphone recorded.

Sound quality is good enough to where I would say it's "good enough" then. It is good enough that the headphones are better than the source material, as most hyper-compressed modern CDs and certainly MP3s lose enough detail that the headphones cannot put back.

What you give up for the low price of the headphones is comfort. The ear cushions are firm and not particularly thick. They do not isolate much exterior sound. I do not have a particularly large head, but the Ultrasones clamp to my head very firmly. The excessive clamping pressure of the headphones combines with thin ear cushions to give a pair of phones that is uncomfortable for extended use. The headband cushion is similarly too firm-it creates pressure points on top of your head.

These headphones deliver a very lightweight, well-made phone that sounds very good but straddles the line between discomfort and pain when used for longer periods. They are actually pretty uncomfortable from the first wear, as the ear cups are a little too shallow and too small in diameter. My average size ears don't fit completely inside them, and that (along with the excessive pressure and lack of cushioning) make them pretty hard to recommend.

I would still DEFINITELY recommend the Ultrasone brand, but I would recommend one of the more expensive models to get a more comfortable phone. You could always go with the Sennheiser HD280s or AKG K240s, as they have both been around forever and proven themselves.

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Amazing headphones!

Pros: Warm sound, tight, responsive (not overpowering) bass, dynamic soundstage and all for a great price (way below the listed price)! I compared them to my Bose quietcomfort 2s and Klipsch S4s and they pale in comparison.

High trebles that sound shrill on the S4s and muddled bass on a couple of David Guetta tracks on the quietcomfort 2s sounded great on the HFI-450. Live music sounds fantastic, especially with complex symphony tracks; being able to discern the individual instruments and precise locations.

MP3s sound great and feels like I'm listening to them for the first time with the HFI-450s.

Cons: Packaging is pretty bland and dull. But then again, who keeps the box after opening it.

The ear cushion pads feel abit stiff initially, not warm and supple like the quietcomfort 2s. However, after extended use for 3 weeks, they are pretty comfortable and not really noticeable when wearing them anymore. Be patient with the ear pads!

Although it is foldable and portable, wish they provided a sturdy carrying case and not a soft cloth bag to store it in. Afraid it might be damaged when stuffed in a bag.

Wire is extremely long (3 meters) which is perfectly fine in a home audio setting; but I mainly use mine while transiting. Have to wire-tie the excess cable into a bundle and hide it in my pocket. Not the best look but a practical solution.

Conclusion: A FANTASTIC entry-level introduction to the Ultrasone headphone series at a very wallet-friendly price. Sonically wonderful, while the form and comfort factor could use some improvements. I give 5 stars as the comfort and form don't cause a hindrance to the listening experience, but more like I'm nitpicking at areas for improvement. Will definitely get a high-end Ultrasone model after using this great starter.

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Reviews on headphones can be tough because everyone's needs are different. I produce a lot of electro, progressive house and dubstep as well as enjoy listening to it primary uses for these cans are gaming and casual listening and music production. I have owned multiple pairs of headphones as well. Able Planet, Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, Audio Technica ath-m35, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro. I can say for the price these are better than those I listed.

The pros about these cans are they DO NOT have a clamping force. I'm a glasses wearer and I have a huge head too measurements for my hats are 7 3/4. I was able to wear them comfortably for long sessions and even with lower ear fatigue.

Sound Quality:

5/5

Bass is noticeable but doesn't drown anything out and isn't overbearing even in the dubstep songs I have tried that are bass heavy artists. Skrillex an Rusko. Highs are not overly bright and mids are clear and not muddy. The overall soundstage is fantastic. For gaming they have very accurate positioning and for mixing and tracking they do a great job at leading you to the best possible mix small adjustments are very noticeable.

Build Quality:

5/5

Solid construction doesn't feel like I'm going to break it the cable like in other reviews is very thick which I like as well. Feels solid overall.

Isolation:

The best isolating headphones I had we're the sennheiser Hd280 pros but as a big headed man and a glasses wearer over a long session I would develop pressure headaches and migraines. Relieved only when I removed the headphones. These are better I don't feel like I have to have the volume as high as the 280s in extremely noisy environments. The ear pads are about equivalent to those in the 99$ price range with around the same level of comfort.

Conclusion:

Best isolation, sound quality and construction for the money for long sessions whether its gaming or music production these do not fail. Ear fatigue is much better and I look forward to putting these cans on everytime!!

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These headphones are amazing! Once you put them on, you are submerged into whatever you're listening to. They block out all noise and feel like comfy suction cups. The cord is pretty long, so it's perfect to hook up to your tv if you wants to block anything out. There is also an adapter for a large jack.