Appletell reviews Ultrasone Zino S-Logic Headphones

Provides: Expansive, natural-sounding surround sound in a portable, foldable design
Color: Black and Brushed Chrome
Developer: Ultrasone
Minimum Requirements: Audio player with 1/8″ mini-jack
Price: $90
Availability: Now

Ultrasone makes unique headphones with a tagline to match: “Widescreen for your ears.” Distinctive Ultrasone technology means these headphones deliver a sound that is close to being there in person, while still being offered in a small package at a reasonable price. Their previous foray into iPod headphones was the less-than-successful iCans, which received excellent critical remarks but less enthusiastic consumer reception. Learning from mistakes of the past is clearly Ultrasone’s second best ability—the first is creating incredible-sounding headphones.

Great Features:

The Zino features a super soft mesh covering and thick resilient foam on each earcup that makes extended use a breeze. The covering is especially wonderful, as it is more breathable than the leather or plastic featured on other headphones, so your ears never feel like they are in a sauna. Ultrasone incorporates two technologies that make listening both safer and more comfortable. The S-Logic surround sound technology employs a decentralized driver design, which focuses sound on the entire ear rather than just the ear canal. This leads to immensely realistic sound, especially for recorded performances, and it creates a sound stage unparalleled by other headphones at any price. The folds of the ear function in the real world to channel sound, creating slight timing differences that our brains interpret to provide information on sound distance and location. When listening to an orchestra play, bass instruments are typically heard last not only because they produce lower notes that take longer to reach our ears, but also because the players are sitting farther away. S-Logic helps to recreate some of these audio cues when listening, to great effect.

An advantage of S-Logic is a reduction of pressure levels on the eardrum at higher volumes, so it is safer to turn the volume up a bit to capture all the audio detail possible (extended periods of listening at high volumes is still dangerous, however, no matter what headphones you use). Ultrasone’s other technology, ULE (Ultra Low Emission) shields your head from the inherent electromagnetic radiation produced by speakers in the process of recreating sound. While such radiation is generally low and not considered highly hazardous, it may be of concern to folks who spend a large amount of time each day with headphones on.

Audio Quality:

In a word, superb. From the low end bass of dance tracks to soaring flute trills, the Zinos deliver Ultrasone’s famous uncompromising sound. Some highlights:

• Lows: Bass on the Zinos is punchy but not thumpy—you can feel the power of the bass without having the fillings rattled out of your teeth. For heavy hip hop listeners, this may be a drawback, but the Zinos recreate the moving beat of a “Tik Tok” remix and the timpani in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with equal clarity.
• Mids: Acoustic and vocal performances benefit especially from the S-Logic sound enhancement, with live recordings of Joni Mitchell’s “The Circle Game” and Lea Michele’s performance of “On My Own” from Glee” both sounding at once spacious yet intimate.
• Highs: As in other categories, the Zinos were able to deliver soaring high notes with panache. James Galway’s flute solo in “A Lord of the Rings Suite” delivered both triumphant and somber acoustic detail in the abridged version of the theatrical soundtrack.

To Note:

• Fit is firm but not tight. These will not stand up to repeated head movements like running or head-banging.
• The foldable design definitely hits a sweet spot for on-the-go folks who still want uncompromising sound quality. For travelers looking to block out jet engine noise, see the next bullet.
• An oddity in this era of noise-isolating earbuds and cups is the Zinos’ open design. Outside sound passes in, and whatever you are listening passes out. At higher volumes, be prepared to share your love of Hans the Yodeller with anybody sitting around you…
• An inline remote control is not included. For a product targetted at iPod users, this seems like a glaring omission, but it is easily forgotten once the music starts.

If you need portable headphones for your iPod that hit the marks on astounding sound quality and portability, look no further than the Ultrasone Zinos. They are competent, foldable, and just about the best on-ear headphones you can find for under $100. If the open design is an issue, Ultrasone offers several models of noise isolating over-ear headphones that would serve admirably. Listeners who cannot live without a remote control can still add one separately, and most headphones that offer a built-in remote do not come close to the sound quality of the Zinos.

Appletell Rating:

Buy the Ultrasone Zinos

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