The ultra-super headphones

(SUPPLIED)   

People who love to listen to music on their walkmans and iPods are used to being warned that it is bad for their hearing. But now there are headphones, which are so safe that even your parents would not object to your using them.

However, the fact that they do  not harm your hearing does not mean that the sound quality has been compromised in any way.

On the contrary, these headphones come with surround sound and reproduction quality so good, that many professionals from the music world such as Grammy winners Delbert McClinton, Gary Nicholson, country singers and songwriters Jenny Lynn, Jessi Coulter and DJs Dr Drax and Scratch use and even recommend them.

These are the Dh8,160 Edition9 handmade headphones by the German firm Ultrasone, which uses its patented S-logic and MU metal shielding technology to create professional quality earpieces.

Managing Director of Ultrasone and creator of Edition9 Michael Zirkel spoke about the technology to Emirates Business. “Our patented S-logic technology sends music around your head not just into it, because this technology uses decentralised driver positioning.

“Do you know all of us use and need the outer ear for three-dimensional hearing to define the direction and the distance where a sound comes from?

“So we made use of this to our advantage. Instead of hitting the inner ear directly, with S-logic the signals are reflected off the surface of the outer ear in different directions before entering the auditory canal to create a natural three-dimensional sound.

“S-logic is the only headphone system that includes your entire sense of hearing. S-logic does not change your personal hearing. It intensifies it for your individual needs and listening pleasure. S-logic also does not use artificial echo or digital processing or cross over run time delay (like DSP). You can hear the music just the way the sound mixer produced it,” he said.

Going into the safety aspect of the product, Michael Zirkel said: “The S-logic technology not only creates a natural surround sound but also allows a reduction of sound pressure levels on the eardrum by up to 40 per cent (3-4dB) while maintaining the sound levels and quality. This reduces the risk of hearing damage.”

“Apart from the S-logic, we also developed the MU metal shielding technology as our products are mostly used by professionals who practically live with their headphones on.

“Most headphone drivers convert an electric signal into an acoustical signal, producing low-frequency magnetic fields. We developed a special MU metal shielding to reduce the radiation by up to 98 per cent.

“Even though we had developed this technology for professionals to begin with, there was such a huge demand for it that we now include this in all our headphones,” explained Zirkel.

If you are not wowed by the technology, then try this out for size. The ear and headpads of the Edition9 headphones are made of soft genuine Ethiopian sheep leather. This is the finest leather available and is also used in Maybach cars. The leather is so soft and smooth that you barely feel the headphones on your ears and it provides excellent isolation.

The Edition9 is equipped with titanium-plated drivers and polished MU metal shieldings and the set also contains a gold-plated adapter.

Also, a specifically created box allows you to store and carry your Edition9 safely.

The earcups are ruthenium-plated and the insignia on the earcups is made of chrome-plated brass, crafted in Bavaria.

Zirkel said: “We originally planned to make 500 sets that we thought would be sold over a period of 12 months. However, within six months all our headphones were sold out and we had to begin over again”