Ultrasone iCans Headphones

Reviews: Multimedia

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Mark Korff
Kurtis
Ultrasone
Dec. 17, 2006

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First Impressions

From the look of the iCans, it seems clear that Ultrasone was trying to come up with a unique, modern, stylish design. While I know beauty is truly "in the eye of the beholder," I can't help but feel Ultrasone could've done quite a bit better to make these headphones more appealing to the eye. My biggest "style" gripe is one that isn't obvious until you actually put the iCans on your head. The sturdy headband looks rather curved while the iCans are sitting in their case, but as soon as you put them on it straightens out and rests awkwardly at a single point on the top of your head.

When I put them on for the first time and looked at myself in a mirror, I immediately decided that they would be "house headphones" only, because even though most people would probably consider me "style impaired" anyway, I couldn't see myself wearing them out in public. Again, it goes without saying that "looks" are a subjective matter, but if it's something you care about at all, I would highly recommend trying on the iCans before you make your purchase.

The headband plays a large roll in the comfort level of the iCans as well since they are of the "over the head" variety, and the only thing to keep them from falling off your head is how hard they push the ear pads on to your ears. Even though the pressure exerted by the headband is mild compared to the PROLine 650, since the ear pads rest directly on each ear it is even more noticeable than the 650 when you first put them on. The foam ear pads and soft fabric covering do a lot to lessen the effects of the pressure applied by the headband, but the iCans are still far from the most comfortable headphones to wear for long periods of time.

Before we move on from the headband, it's also worth mentioning that the way the iCans adjust in size is relatively odd and potentially "dangerous." The ear pads can be extended up to a little over an inch from their default position by pulling them down from the headband, but not before you twist them 90 degrees. If you pull them out before you twist, you'll simply break the headphones, and conversely, if you try to twist before you push the ear pads back to their default position, you will also break the headphones. Ultrasone provides multiple warnings about this "feature" (one in the form of a pink sticker that is attached directly to the headphones themselves), and also states that if the headphones are damaged due to twisting before pulling, or pushing before twisting, that they will not be covered under warranty.

Unlike the PROLine 650 which came loaded with extra accessories, the iCans come with only one, a relatively sturdy metal carrying case which has molded foam padding to keep the iCans secure. While the case seems to offer relatively good protection, it's definitely not ultra-portable. Its dimensions are approximately 2"x4"x7" so while it will probably fit in most backpacks, it's not something that'll fit into most pockets.

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Impressions
Page 3: Testing
Page 4: Conclusion

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