The pinna collects sound waves from the air and funnels it to the inner ear.

The ear has three sectionsthe outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each section performs a specific function, related to either hearing or balance. The three parts of the outer ear are the auricle (also called the pinna), the external auditory meatus (or ear canal), and the tympanic membrane (or eardrum).

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Ultrasone phones reduce hearing fatigue, letting you hear with more accuracy how your tracks will sound on a speaker, and have some features we have all been waiting for.

Ultrasone headphones offer real improvements over other professional models. Many location mixers if not most will find them a better choice than what they are currently using.

Anyone who makes their living listening with headphones has experienced the problem of hearing fatigue. You know, towards the end of the day when you notice that the volume knob is higher than it started in the morning; and one mix seems to sound about like another. Thats hearing fatigue. Not only is hearing fatigue annoying, it can also be an indication of permanent hearing damage in the making. The Ultrasone driver position and enclosure design noticeably reduce hearing fatigue.

Ultrasone headphone drivers are positioned to direct sound waves at the pinna (the curly outer ear), and in such a way  sound is perceived more as that the coming from in front of the listener instead of the side.

The result is an experience closer to the way we normally hear, and more closely approximates the way our recordings will sound on a speaker system. The claim can be verified by turning the Ultrasone phones around with the left cup on the right ear and the right cup on the left ear. With traditional phones there would be no difference. With Ultrasones, the difference is undeniable.

For location monitoring, isolation is a primary concern. Therefore, how the phones sound and feel without even being plugged in is in many ways just as important as how they sound with an audio signal. When evaluating headphones it is very helpful to listen closely with them unplugged.

The HFI and the PROline series are two closed headphone models from Ultrasone that Trew Audio feel are suitable for location monitoring. Both are a closed back design for isolation, and certainly have more than adequate frequency response. The PROline includes both a straight and coiled quick-change cable, and a spare set of quick-change cushions.

HFI 700 (10Hz - 25KHz) List price: US$249.00 CA$319.00
The 700HFI will immediately feel familiar to those of us who have worn the Sony 7506 phones for many years. The ear pods are similar in size to the 7506, use a similar cushion, and the isolation is comparable. They even fold compact in a way similar to the 7506. The frequency response reaches both extremes and is relatively flat to the human ear. The difference is slight, but the advantage is noticeable, especially after a long day of listening.

PROline 750 (8Hz - 35KHz) List price: US$399.00 CA$499.00
The 750 PROline may take just a little getting used to, but I predict that when the budget allows, most will quickly grow to prefer this model, particularly for drama productions. The PROline enclosure is larger than of the HFI series, and while it positions the drivers a little further from the ear (creating a slightly more roomy sound), the comfy velour cushions isolate very well. The combination of distance, isolation, and pointing toward the outside of the ear results in the most natural headphone monitoring Ive ever heard but without the fatigue closely approximating the experience of mixing with studio monitor speakers. They are more expensive, but when considering what we used to pay for phones more than 15 years ago, and considering the value of our ears, the price is quite affordable. The PROline includes both a straight and coiled quick-change cable, and a spare set of quick-change velour cushions.

Ultrasone headphones have just recently been discovered for location production sound recording. Few have dared consider breaking their old habits, but most who have given Ultrasones an honest try are glad they did.

The testimonial below is from Dimitri Medard, a highly respected and experienced Sound Mixer in Montreal, Quebec. Dimitri is by no means someone who can be talked into liking something. He knows what he is doing, knows what he wants, and knows what he likes. He has recently discovered Ultrasone headphones. Heres what he has to say about them:

After several years of using Beyer DT48's and Sennheiser HD25's I found the ULTRASONE headphones causes the least damage to my ears.

The biggest advantage of Ultrasone headphones is the low level of audio fatigue. For example, I was recording for a TV series when I switched from the HD25 to the Ultrasone PROline. After returning home from a long day of recording I noticed that the volume of my TV was lower than I had had it in the past and I didn't have any ringing in my ears.

I also appreciate the sound perception being frontal spatialization since it corresponds better to the human perception. Last but definitely not least the low radiation levels.

The only negative point that I found with these headphones is that the cable begins to get stiff in cold temperatures below -10C (quite often in Montreal!).

I recommend these headphones for all sound recordists, mixers, and boom operators who want to keep their ears alive.

Dimitri Medard