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Ultrasone Zino: How Keen-O!

By Chris Chiarella

Ultrasone, manufacturer of studio-quality headphones, will shortly be introducing an affordable new model to take portable listening to the next level. Dubbed Zino, these semi-open headphones are comfortable and wicked-stylish in shiny gunmetal black with brushed aluminum accents.

Equipped with S-Logic, Ultrasone's own technology, Zino delivers clearer sound which in turn allows the 'phones to be perceived as loud as others that are running at volume levels up to 40% (3-4 decibels) higher. Cutting the volume helps protect our ears, especially if we enjoy frequent, high-power tune-age.

Instead of firing sound directly at the inner ear, S-Logic employs decentralized speakers aimed at the outer ear, reflected off the surface before entering the auditory canal. Using more of the ear in this way adds a sense of depth and results in a more natural sound, as if listening to traditional loudspeakers a few yards away, or (dare we say it?) actual instruments and voices in real space!

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The practical, affordable Zino folds for easy storage and offers design tweaks for superior sound and aural health.

The drivers inside typical headphones also produce low-frequency magnetic fields as they do their job of converting electrical signals into the acoustic signals. Some folks don't like the idea of all those fields being generated so close to our grey matter.  To this end, Zino's "Ultra Low Emissions" metal shielding reduces magnetic radiation by up to 98%.  The results are that fewer forks will fly across the room at our heads and no one will be able to read by our irradiated glow at night. Their folding mechanism lets them collapse as quickly and easily as sunglasses, and a hard storage/carry case is included. Zino will be available this summer on Amazon.com, for $129.

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