ULTRASONE

Headphones that protect you from Electromagnetic radiation?

In 1997 ULTRASONE began developing their first ULE shielded headphones. Electronic equipment emits low and high frequency electromagnetic radiation which experts agree can be harmful to our health. Most headphone drivers produce low-frequency magnetic fields as they convert an electrical signal into the acoustic signal we hear as music. ULTRASONE has developed an MU Metal shielding called ULE (for Ultra Low Emissions) that reduces this radiation by up to 98% in comparison to conventional headphones.  ULTRASONE’s patented ULE-technology brings magnetic field emissions of headphones down to around 90 nT, that’s ten times less than many headsets and headphones!

S Logic is Natural Surround Sound

S-Logic^TM is ULTRASONE’s attempt to create a Natural Surround Sound, they want the listening experience to be 3 dimensional. Basically it is a passive type of surround sound, requiring no extra equipment, it creates the illusion of space and movement increasing soundstage impressively in closed back headphones. This is achieved with off center driver placement and earcups which allow the shape of the outer ear to perform it’s natural job of aiding directional hearing. S-Logic™ allows a reduction of sound pressure levels at the eardrum by up to 40% (3 - 4 dB) reducing the risk of hearing damage while providing hours of fatigue-free listening.

Pro, DJ, Hifi and Edition 8

ULTRASONE break their range into four different areas which are Pro, DJ, Hifi and Edition 8. This is typical German efficiency in action, a brilliantly simple method of helping you narrow your choices and providing a headphone for every purpose.

ULTRASONE PRO headphones are exclusively designed and equipped for the professional audio sector. Each model in the PRO range demonstrates faithful sound reproduction to meet the most exacting needs of musicians and critical listeners alike.

The ULTRASONE DJ range were developed with the very specific way Mix Masters use their headphones in mind. Bringing together Durability, high output, a massive clear sound and distinguished looks, ULTRASONE asked what DJ’s wanted and gave it to them!

ULTRASONE’s HFI consumer-range reflects their professional heritage, fine quality sound is complemented by striking design in this versatile series. Uncompromising headphones for music, personal cinema, and gaming; at home, work, or on-the-go…

…and then there’s the Edition 8’s

Edition 8

Edition 8 incorporates stunning attention to detail in every aspect of headphone design. Each Ultrasone Edition model’s extensive development additionally brings together the latest progression in technologies, brilliance in design, premium quality of materials and long-standing expert knowledge in natural sound performance. Ultrasone invite you to enjoy the composition of the new Edition 8.

Edition 8 Ruthenium is hand-made in Germany. The outer ear cups are covered in Ruthenium, this precious metal is known for its brilliant metallic sheen and durable properties. The outer ear cups are emblazoned with a decorative clasp of noble metal.

The greatest Closed back headphone of all time? No manufacturer has ever put this level of effort and attention to detail into this section of the headphone market. Ultrasone have produced a supremely comfortable, light and undeniably handsome unit which has to be heard to be believed. Although many high end headphones are instantly impressive to the ear few genuinely surprise, the effect of the Edition 8 is instant, leaving you with the belief that the earcups and drivers may have been designed by the alien race who made the TARDIS. It’s all there, from the lowest sub bass rumble to the near in-audible sonic sparkle at the top of our hearing, but it’s the holographic stereo imaging that simply defies belief.

The interior ear cups of Edition 8 headphones and the headband are covered in very soft genuine dark grey Ethiopian sheepskin leather. This is the finest leather available and provides the finest isolation of any leather. In addition to a new titanium plated tri-bass-tube driver, this is the first Edition series headphone that follows Ultrasone´s newest S-Logic™ Plus technology. Edition 8 headphones also contain MU-Metal shielding that reduces magnetic field emissions. Finally, these headphones come with an exclusively manufactured carry bag made from smooth, fine grain Madras goatskin produced in France. Ultrasone travelled the world in search of the finest materials, only those manufacturers that have proven their high standards of quality by working with the most exclusive and luxurious automotive and clothing brands were chosen as suppliers for the Edition 8 series.

Pro 900

The foldable PRO 900 is the first closed pair of Ultrasone PRO headphones with the patented S-Logic Plus technology. This sophisticated new technology combines precision dampening with micro-acoustic reinforcement, allowing driver, buffer-board, and spatial parameters to complement one another in an optimal manner. So the acoustical design of S-Logic Plus models and their tonal fine-tuning result in maximum neutral sound impression with more vivid perception of voices and instruments.

The Pro900’s have a smooth, warm feel and just the right amount of  treble sparkle, they bristle with an engaging musicality. The bass is big but not overbearing, powerful yet capable of communicating subtlety. The midrange is warm, refined, articulate and although there is a massive amount of detail they seem to refrain from becoming overly analytical. The top end is detailed and crisp adding up to a surprisingly wide sound stage for a closed set of headphones ( S-Logic^TM ), thereby giving a broad presentation with excellent instrument separation.

The Pro900 has a rich yet balanced sound with powerful bass response that is complimented by detailed and controlled treble and mid range frequencies.

HFi 780

It’s the age old problem, you want to have a pair of open-back headphones that offer a wide, natural sound but at the same time want to keep your music within the confines of your cans. Open-back Sound with Closed-back convenience – is this too much to ask? Not at all! Loaded with all the Ultrasone Technology you could wish for, as well as a handy foldable design and a 1m cable for portable use plus 3m Extension Cable for home listening,  the 780’s will suit just about any application.

Ultrasone claim the HFI-780 has been “specifically tuned for DVD and gaming”, the low frequency ranges being risen in order to reach the highest possible synergies with DSP-Systems like DOLBY HEADPHONE™. This does these fantastic Headphones somewhat of a disservice as they would sit happily within any HiFi/Studio environment, the level of detail being a particular plus point for professional engineers and hifi enthusiasts alike. However, the real masterstroke is the size of the Soundstage; the width and weight from the wings through to the Phantom Centre is huge – then you remember this is a closed back! Bass is well represented, accurate and deep. The top end shimmers with excitement, backed up with a warm and precise mid range that would suit any genre from pop/rock through to Classical and Dance making the HFI-780’s a stand out model in this very impressive Ultrasone stable.

DJ1

Tested by some of the worlds finest DJ’s The Ultrasone DJ1 are the final word in cans for mixologists everywhere. Ultrasone have used not only the patented S-Logic™ Plus technology but also also Ultra Low Emission Technology. Safer hearing aspects have become very important for DJs. With its heavy duty Mylar driver the DJ1 provides powerful sound. The DJ1 is made for compact storage (transportation bag included) and one-ear-listening due to the folding-mechanism.

15G

Ultrasone 15G lightweight headphones are unbelievably comfortable.  This is the smallest headphone of the Ultrasone HFI line,  punching well above their weight they’re excellent for mobile applications or as a hearing aid for watching TV. Outclassing Sennheisers excellent PX100, is this the headphone to knock Grado’s iGrado from it’s perch of portable superiority?

More Information

For more information on the Ultrasone Headphone range please visit the HiFi Headphones store.

Built to last, the SA7 earphone will appeal to those who get through high end earphones at an alarming rate. Replaceable cables and a robustly constructed earphone body ensure the SA7 is maintainable for many years to come.

To top it all off the SA7 has a digital wireless option that has already been very positively reviewed as part of the Sleek Audio SA6 wireless bundle.

The Ultimate Earphone?

If you’re looking for the ultimate in-ear headphone then the SA7 is likely to tick all the boxes:

Milled aluminium earphone body - built to last the SA7’s earphone body will withstand the toughest environment, with the internal speakers wrapped in shock absorbent silicone and able to withstand 14000 G.  The earphone body is shrouded in carbon fibre for a durable finish.

Dual wideband balanced armature drivers - offering complete coverage of the entire audible frequency range the SA7’s dual driver design promises more than enough power for the lowest bass notes, while reproducing high frequencies with clarity and definition.

Wired or wireless options - the SA7 can be hooked up with cables or via the optional wireless adapter that uses the high fidelity Kleer wireless audio transmission protocol (uncompressed and very close to the sound quality offered by cables - also used in Sennheiser wireless headphones).

Adjustable Sound Signature - by changing the treble filter or bass port on the earphone body you can tune the SA7 to suit your musical tastes.  First featured on the Sleek Audio SA6 and later on the SA1, the new SA7 lets you find a sound that suits you perfectly.

Replaceable Cables - as with the entire Sleek Audio range if you break a cable it’s not the end of your earphones.  The SA7’s robust earphone design and replaceable cables means you can expect to keep this earphone for a very long time.

Our Opinion

Sleek Audio have been innovators from the beginning and the SA7 underlines their position as a company willing to push the boundaries of what can be expected from an earphone.

We love the bold design and applaud the fact that Sleek Audio have taken durability so seriously with the SA7.  Earphones are often very easily broken and it’s great to see a manufacturer making such efforts to produce a product that is maintainable over a longer period of time.

We have not yet heard the SA7, but if the SA1 and SA6 are any measure of performance the new flagship earphone from Sleek Audio is set to offer a high end listening experience that will keep audiophiles more than satisfied.

More Photos

More Information

For more information on the Sleek Audio SA7 and the rest of the Sleek Audio earphone range please check out the HiFi Headphones web store.

The long awaited Sleek Audio SA6 and W-1 Wireless Bundle Pack is now available from HiFi Headphones.  The W-1 wireless adapter enables you to listen to your audio source at full lossless, CD quality within a range of 18 metres (without obstructions).

The W-1 either comes bundled with a Sleek Audio SA6 earphone, or alternatively comes as a standalone W-1 Wireless Adapter if you already own the Sleek Audio SA6 earphone.

Below are a few product highlights:

• Lossless CD quality sound, using Kleer wireless technology.
• SA6 earphone is sound isolating design rather than earbud style (as used on the Sennheiser MX W1), meaning earphones seal in the ear correctly to reduce low frequency (bass) leakage and for best noise isolation.
• Revert back to wired operation when batteries run out.
• Sleek Audio W1 Wireless pendant sits behind neck and can be secured under clothing.  User reviews suggest it stays secure while exercising.
• User reviews at Head-Fi.org suggests slight improvement in bass response over wired SA6 (from iPod without headphone amp).

CD Quality, Lossless Digital Audio

The Sleek Audio’s W-1 Wireless uses a completely new technology called ‘Kleer’, which provides a CD quality, lossless digital audio link between the audio source and your earphones.

If you have tried RF wireless headphones or earphones in the past it’s likely you were disappointed by the limitations of the technology.  Even the highly regarded Sennheiser wireless headphone range introduce noise to the audio signal, which is audible when listening to quiet passages of music.  The audible hissing sound and occasional crackly interference really get in the way of enjoying your tunes.

With the Sleek Audio W-1 wireless there is no longer any compromise over audio quality if you want to get rid of the wires.

Compatible with Sleek Audio SA6 and Future Models

The highly regarded Sleek Audio SA6 made waves in the earphone World at the end of last year when it introduced the idea of customisation to an earphone.  With the SA6 treble and bass response can be custom tuned to suit your equipment, ears and the style of music you are listening too.

According to Sleek Audio they intend to make the W-1 Wireless Adapter compatible with future earphones in their line-up.  There are rumours of a lower end Sleek Audio earphone in early 2009 (an SA3?) and possibly a very high end earphone after that (can they really dramatically improve the audio quality of the SA6?).

More Information

The Sleek Audio SA6 and W-1 Wireless bundle pack is available in the UK from the HiFi Headphones store.

Klipsch Image X10

This earphone review is based on a long term listening test, involving over a month wearing the Klipsch Image X10 and Sleek Audio SA6 earphones on my walk to/from the office (a journey of half an hour each way).

During the review I listened to a good variety of music, from heavy rock, such as System Of A Down and Queens Of The Stone Age, to electronic beats, such as LCD Sound System and and Underworld, with some more easy going vocal and guitar music, such as Beth Orton and José González.

Earphone fit and comfort

Both the Klipsch Image X10 and Sleek Audio SA6 are far more comfortable than the older dual driver design earphones, such as the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro and Shure SE420, due to their much smaller size. The ultra-small single driver designs mean that it’s far less fiddly to get the earphones in your ear and once they are in you can forget about them.

The Klipsch X10 earphone body is particularly miniature and is very unobtrusive once fitted in the ear. The Klipsch earphones are so lightweight and comfortable that I found no discomfort when wearing them for an hour or more listening sessions. I did find the Klipsch silicone ear gels caused a very ‘full’ sensation in the ear that was a little disconcerting at first, but I soon became accustomed to the feel of the earphone in my ear.

Sleek Audio SA6

The Sleek Audio SA6 has a slightly taller earphone body than the Klipsch X10, but the SA6’s tapered design means that the fit is excellent in my ears and the flanged silicone ear gels provided an excellent seal. The fact that the SA6 ear gels are flanged mean that the SA6 seal in my ears a little more comfortably and securely than the Klipsch Image X10’s.

Both earphones benefited from using Comply Foam ear tips. The Sleek Audio SA6 in particular benefited from an increase in bass response and long term wearing comfort when fitted with Comply Foam ear tips.

Sound Quality

The Klipsch Image X10’s sound amazing when you first try them. The bass response is very strong and accurate and the high trebles are very present. This makes for an overall very pleasing sound that instantly sounds good with most styles of music.

The Klipsch Image X10 does seem to emphasise the bass and high treble notes, leaving the mid trebles quite lacking. The Klipsch sounds great with many rock and electronic music tracks, but strings, guitars and female vocals are especially disappointing. For example, listening to Beth Orton “She Cries Your Name” the strings and guitars were severely lacking in presence. Beth’s voice came through loud and clear (her voice is quite deep), as well as the bassline, but the beautiful drifting strings and delicate acoustic guitar notes were very recessed.

The Sleek Audio SA6 is a very involving and lively earphone with a sound that reminds me in some respects of Grado full size Hi-Fi headphones. The SA6’s sound stage is excellent and it’s very easy to pick out detail in good quality recordings. The fact that the bass and treble can be tuned to suit your equipment and listening tastes is such a great feature. I opted for the bass+ and treble++ tuning, which gives a very big sound.

While the SA6’s bass is not as clearly defined as the Klipsch Image, with the bass+ port fitted to the SA6 and ensuring the earphones were well sealed meant there is plenty of bass to keep me satisfied.

Summary

Choosing between these two earphones is difficult. They both sound superb and fit easily and comfortably. The Klipsch Image X10’s excellent low frequency reproduction makes it a very enjoyable earphone for listening to bass heavy rock and electronic music. The Sleek Audio SA6’s mid-range detail and clarity makes it extremely satisfying to listen to vocals, acoustic guitar and electronica.

Overall the Sleek Audio SA6 has a more balanced and satisfying sound than the Klipsch Image X10. The immediate wow factor of the Klipsch Image bass response soon wears off and over the long term I chose the SA6 more often for daily listening. This combined with the fact that the SA6 can be tuned to suit your listening tastes makes the SA6 a great choice for the portable audio perfectionist.

The in-ear fit is excellent with both the Klipsch Image X10 and Sleek Audio SA6 due to the miniature single driver designs. Both can be worn for long listening sessions without discomfort.

While the Klipsch Image X10 sounds great when you first try them out, the SA6 is the definite winner when you listen for extended periods. The recessed mid trebles of the Klipsch Image X10 become really frustrating when listening to female vocals and acoustic guitar. I love the energetic delivery of the Sleek Audio SA6.

More Information

For more information on the Klipsch Image X10, the Sleek Audio SA6 and many more earphones and headphones visit the HiFi Headphones store.

For the first time it’s possible to tune an In Ear Monitor (IEM) style headphone to enhance the listening experience.  The new Sleek Audio SA6 Headphones are the first fully customizable headphone that can be tuned to alter the frequency response of the earphone within the ear canal.

For more information check out the Sleek Audio website or see the HiFi Headphones online store.

Tune the Earphone to Suit your Musical Taste

Based on 30 years experience in the hearing aid industry, Sleek Audio’s Mark and Jason Krywko developed the SA6 to be fully customizable, enabling headphone owners for the first time to be able to alter frequency response to suit the their individual musical taste and to match their ears.

The miniature SA6 has an innovative multi-stage Variable Equalization System (VQ), which allows complete customization of the sound, giving the owner the freedom to control the bass and treble response as they wish.

More Innovative Design

The innovations don’t stop there. The Sleek Audio SA6 has a cord that can be detached from the headphone body, which for the style conscience means the colour can be changed to match clothes or their MP3 player. More practically the headphone cable can be swapped to replace a cord that has been accidentally crushed or broken.

When Sleek Audio designed the SA6 they scrapped the conventional thinking that more drivers or larger speakers are better, and instead researched ways to accomplish the same broad frequency response while still delivering a product a fraction the size of their competitors. The result is a miniature earphone that sounds silky smooth and musical, with excellent comfort and ergonomics to create the best listening experience.

Exciting Future Wireless Plans

Sleek Audio doesn’t plan on stopping at the SA6 In Ear Monitor headphone. Jason Krywko and his team are busy developing a wireless upgrade for the SA6, due to for launch in late 2008. It will be possible to simply unclick the wired cable and attach a wireless receiver, meaning existing SA6 owners will not have to fork out for a new setup and owners who buy the wireless model will also be able to connect with wires. Sleek Audio plans to make all models compatible with their interchangeable cable and wireless setup.

Sleek Audio SA6 Reviews

Below are a selection of reviews of the Sleek Audio SA6:

Review: Sleek Audio SA6 - Detailed 5 page review - by TechPowerUp

Review: Sleek Audio SA6 Sing in your Ears - by Wired.com

Gadget of the Day: Sleek Audio SA6 Earphones - by Stuff.tv

Official Sleek Audio Reviews site - by Sleek Audio

Sleek Audio SA6 Forum Comments/Reviews

Review of Sleek Audio SA6 earphones with close up photos @ head-fi.org

Detailed comparison review of Sleek Audio SA6 and Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 @ head-fi.org

More comparisons between Sleek Audio SA6 and Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 @ head-fi.org

More Information

Take a look for yourself at the incredible Sleek Audio SA6 earphones

Visit the HiFi Headphones store for Sleek Audio and many other top headphone brands

Sleek Audio’s SA6 earphone is the first fully customisable headphone that can be custom tuned to alter the frequency response of the earphone within the ear canal.

Based on 30 years experience in the hearing aid industry, Sleek Audio’s Mark and Jason Krywko have developed the SA6 to be fully customisable, enabling headphone owners for the first time to be able to alter frequency response to suit the their individual musical taste and to match their ears.

About KS Distribution

A leading audio electronics distributor, KS Distribution specialises in bringing innovative products to the UK market and providing a World class service to their customers. Offering a carefully selected range of products for home and mobile listening, KS Distribution are a highly focused team whose primary aim is to develop strong partnerships with retailers and manufacturers.

For more information visit www.ksdistribution.co.uk

About Sleek Audio

Sleek Audio is a personal audio company dedicated to creating “Music in Tune with You.” Creators of the first ever acoustically customisable earphones, Sleek Audio are driven from decades of experience in the custom hearing aid and audio industry. Sleek Audio products are designed for high-performance use with all MP3 players including iPod® and Zune®.

For more information visit www.sleek-audio.com