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TECHNOLOGY REVIEW
Ultrasone Signature Pro Headphones
HANDCRAFTED GERMAN HEADPHONES
Loaded with new technologies, Simon Allen explores whether the Ultrasone Signature Pro headphones can bridge the gap between studio and hi-fi.
WHEN I hear ‘pro’ with regards to an audio product I immediately expect it is for use by sound engineers, musicians, and producers. However, as I researched these headphones it was quite clear that Ultrasone, while keeping this definition, has also included ‘audiophiles’ and DJs into the mix. The big question is: can
Ultrasone cater for both markets with one pair of headphones?
THE LOOKS This is more important than for most products I review as we are dealing with something that is for consumers as well as professionals. I think the design and ergonomics provide an industrial look that fits well in the pro world, while staying sleek and modern enough for the train or sidewalk.
The design encompasses beautiful leather ear pads and headband, which not only look great but also feel luxurious and comfortable. The showpiece to the design, however, is the circular glass insert on each side
highlighting the high-quality build. I was really pleased that there were no creeks from any of the structure or moving parts, which is common on large headphones. The headphones come in a
case with two cables – a shorter lead with a 3.5mm mini-jack connecter and a longer lead with a 6.3mm jack for the studio professional.
THE TECHIE STUFF The Signature Pro headphones are full sized, closed back units with an impedance of 32
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ohms. They contain 40mm titanium-plated drivers that deliver a sound pressure level of 98dB. Being 32 ohms, they will work for consumers using MP3 players but are also resistant enough for most studio headphone amps. There are a couple of new technologies that have been worked into this model. First is Ultrasone’s S-Logic Natural Surround Sound, which, as they put it, ‘uses decentralised driver positioning where the drivers are slightly further back in the headpiece’. This means that the sound is pushed around your head and you listen with your whole ear. This gives the perception of 3D sound. The beauty is that it doesn’t effect the audio you are listening to with any added digital effects or delays, it is exactly as it was recorded. A massive additional
advantage of the decentralised driver position is that it reduces SPL at the eardrum. Coupled with the great sound isolation from the closed back enclosures this means you can listen at lower levels and the sound is less intense by the time it hits the ear drum. The second new technology inside these Signature Pros is Ultrasones Ultra Low Emissions (ULE) Technology. ULE doesn’t relate to sound leakage but rather the low- frequency magnetic fields full-size headphones emit. Ultrasone’s MU metal shielding reduces the level of magnetic fields, making the headphones much safer to wear particularly during long sessions.
THE SOUND Listening as a music lover and
for pure enjoyment I love the sound image from these headphones. The S-Logic technology is immediately obvious and you hear fantastic space and definition between elements within a mix. I love wide stereo images and the Signature Pro really shows this off. One of the best things about these headphones is that all styles of music sound equally exciting, which is a massive achievement. While the Signature Pros
are very pleasant to enjoy music with to the extent I found myself listening for hours, there’s no hiding that they are coloured. There is a low end warmth which is very musical and the high end sounds well balanced in relation to the low frequencies. This makes them a pleasure to listen to, but the frequency spectrum is not flat. In particular I almost hear a treble spike around 10kHz, which can give a distracting zing to some mixes. While this quality means they wouldn’t be my choice for tracking and mixing, they are a great reference to see how your mix would sit on a very expensive hi-fi in an even more expensive, great- sounding room. The S-Logic technology
provides a sonically beautiful environment. However, and not all the time, I can’t help but
THE REVIEWER SIMON ALLEN
is a full-time sound engineer and record producer. After a stint as senior engineer at City Studios in Cyprus where he headed up the new music studio, he can now mostly be found at Woodbury Studios in Hertfordshire.
“Ultrasone has managed to close that very divided gap between the audiophile and the pro-audio specialist in a unique way.” Simon Allen
notice a slight dip in the centre of the stereo image. This is always the fault when working with wide stereo images and appears only in the mid range of the frequency spectrum.
CONCLUSION These are beautifully crafted and designed headphones. Ultrasone has managed to close that gap between the audiophile and the pro-audio specialist with the use of new
INFORMATION Feature Set
• S-Logic Technology that delivers natural surround sound
• Ultra Low Emissions (ULE) Technology for safer listening on long sessions
• 32-ohm impedance • Sound pressure level of 98dB • 40mm titanium-plated driver
www.ultrasone.com October 2013 45
technologies founded on great scientific theory.
However, while I can
see musicians using these in a studio to record with on a day-to-day basis, others in the pro-audio world will find them less useful but still enjoyable. All in all, a pleasurable listening experience that is addictive and blows other consumer headphones out of the water.
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