Ultrasone: Zino Review - PAGE 4

The point we found consistent through our portable testing was that even with volume pushed to peak levels on the devices, the Zino drivers never failed from distortion by volume. On the PC we were able to use the amplified source of a set of Altec Lansing 641’s to push the headset to new peaks. The first candidate was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a Michael Bay movie pushing special effects and sounds from all angles. The goal of course was to get the impact and immersion from the film. Transformers presented a full assault of sounds in the action sequences; with higher volumes we had a strong showing of high ranges and deep explosions. The movie felt like a cinema experience for us with everything pronounced very vividly; the vocals and background soundtrack played back well, giving depth to each scene.

Iron Man carried up the next leg of our PC testing, delivering a similar experience with explosive action moments and heavy amounts of shooting at times. We found the Zino headphones were comfortable with the atmosphere developed and the increased power pushing through the drivers. With the ability to tune the EQ on the X-Fi, there was no overloading. The final action sequence stood out as a treat, providing explosions and sounds from the suits' full detail without losing impact due to coloring or distortion from the drivers.

Our last push in the multimedia area was the use of Top Gear as a sample for TV moments; the goal to see how well the engines could reproduce sound and how the challenges played out. The announcement cuts showcased the echo in the studio and highlighted the differences in the microphones between the narration and feature pieces; it felt like a unique exchange as the audio was impressive, but it also showed many of the flaws that occur on producing such a long project. The Zino in this case highlighted both flaws and promising moments of the show.

PC Gaming

We took to the gaming realm with Modern Warfare 2; the latest in the Call of Duty series brings about sound just as impressive as the movies we’ve taken a moment to go through already. The big push this time around was multiplayer gaming. When players hit the net they search for the best gear they can get to hear the steps coming and the bullets firing; using sound as a key source to pinpoint the action or potential enemies, one is able to lessen their death ratio. We tangled for a few rounds in Team Deathmatch to explore the abilities of the Zino; during our firefights in the city the set was able to produce accurate sound for the upper ranges; soft steps or distant sound were present to tell which direction it might be coming from. We used the advantage of the headset to take a more low-key approach to advancing and it delivered great results, although not to the accuracy of a dedicated 5.1; on occasion we would backtrack right into the person we thought we were chasing. The performance and range was a highlight with the headphones, given the drama in the fight.

Left 4 Dead 2 was our final testing ground; the zombie survival shooter was a great experience for us. Using night hours for play, we found the game held new life to say the least, with so much attention to the atmosphere -- roaming zombies and rough terrain make for scary times. The Zino were able to pack a large punch with the shotguns and rattle the ears with the automatic and semi-automatic weapons. When the sirens rang and the environment exploded, the pulse raced as we braced for the onslaught, hearing every detail of the environment in horrifying clarity.

Conclusion

The Ultrasone Zino is a powerful headset for the price point; the headphones are light and compact and come in a handy carrying case to protect them from abuse. Those needing mobility with quality will recognize the strength of the drivers in the headphones as it carries well. Stationary users on the PC or other sources will find the Zino headphones are incredibly powerful for sound, without distortion to the point of headaches from extended high volume use. The biggest drawback of the headset is if outside noise is high and the moment calls for moderation in volume, the noise will win. These have no canceling features built in and they do not cup the ear to block out room noise. That said, these are still impressive for ability and the construction is top-notch; those in the market will find that for $99 these deliver an experience that should last for years to come.