Products of Interest

Ultrasone Edition 8 Surround Headphones

Ultrasone's Edition 8 is a new set of headphones (see Figure 1) that uses the company's patented S-Logic technology to achieve what it calls Natural Surround Sound. The audio signal is reflected off the surface of the outer ear in different directions before it enters the auditory canal to give the perception of three-dimensional sound. No additional hardware is required for this technology.

The headphones are black and silver with a closed back. The inner cups use sheepskin for increased isolation and the outer ear cups are covered in ruthenium. The headphones use a 40-mm titanium-plated driver. MU-metal shielding is used to reduce electromagnetic field radiation.

The Edition 8 headphones have a frequency range of 6–42,000 Hz, an SPL of 96 dB, and 30 ohms impedance. They weigh 260 g without the 1.2-m oxygen-free, ultra-soft cable. A 1/4-in. gold-plated mini-jack connector is used and a 1/8-in. adapter is also supplied. The headphones are packaged in a leather bag.

The Ultrasone Edition 8 headphones are listed for US$ 1,499. Contact: ULTRASONE AG, Bernrieder Str. 17 b, D-82327 Tutzing, Germany; telephone (+49) 815-890 780; fax (+49) 815-890-7850; electronic mail Infodesk@ultrasone.com; Web www.ultrasone.com/.

Figure 1.

Ultrasone's Edition 8 headphones.

AKG K702 Headphones

AKG's K702 (see Figure 2) open-back, dynamic headphones are designed for both the professional and consumer market. The company notes that these are the first headphones in the world to feature flat-wire coils for increased accuracy and response to transients. A two-layer varimotion diaphragm is used.

The lightweight 3D-form ear pads can be adjusted to fit and a padded leather ergonomically shaped headband is also provided. The headphones weigh 235 g. The 3-m oxygen-free cable is detachable for ease of transport and features a 3-pin mini-XLR connector. A gold-plated 1/4-in. stereo jack is used and an 1/8-in. gold-plated mini-jack adapter is also included.

The AKG K702 headphones offer a frequency range of 10–39,800 Hz with an SPL of 105 dB. The impedance is 62 ohms and a maximum input power of 200 mW can be used.

Figure 2.

The AKG K702 dynamic headphones.

The AKG K702 headphones are listed for US$ 539. Contact: AKG Acoustics GmbH, Lemböckgasse 21 25, A-1230 Vienna, Austria; telephone (+43) 186-6540; fax (+43) 866-548 800; electronic mail sales@akg.com; Web www.akg.com/.

Sennheiser Audiophile HD 800 Headphones

Sennheiser's Audiophile HD 800 headphones (see Figure 3) combine a new large transducer with unique ear cup and headband design. The 56-mm transducer is the longest of any dynamic headphones, according to the manufacturer. The air over the entire transducer is set in motion by the ring-shaped surface area of diaphragm. The large surface area is intended to provide a purer sound at low frequencies, and the ring-shape reduces the resonance at high frequencies that can occur with large circular surface areas. The transducers are mounted in high-precision stainless steel gauze to avoid partial vibrations.

The ear cups of the headphones are designed to direct the sound waves to the ear at a slight angle and are suspended on one side only. They are constructed of high-quality plastic and are not covered, again to avoid partial vibrations. The headband uses a multi-layered combination of metal and high-quality plastic to reduce vibrations and dips in the SPL at low frequencies. The frequency response is 6–51,000 Hz and the THD is .02 percent at 1 kHz and 100 dB SPL.

New cables have been designed specially for the headphones, using four strands of high-performance silver-plated, low-oxygen copper wire shielded against eletromagnetic interference. The 1/4-in. jack connector is gold-plated.

The HD 800 headphones are listed for US$ 1,399.95. Contact: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, Am Labor 1...