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Submitted by
Phil Canard
a AudioPhileDate Reviewed: December 14, 2007
Bottom Line: This product gets a 5-star rating because it is professional grade and the very best at what it does, and offers incredible value and versatility to the advanced user. You want the top shelf product? Here it is. Because of the flexibility, there are a lot of things that a less-than-proficient user can screw up and reduce the performance. A person must spend considerable time studying the manual and trying different settings to determine what works best in a given situation. It is critical you set the input volume correctly as too high and you get clipping at any headphone volume level and if too low you can't get sufficient volume. You will have to set this level with different movies or CD's. The setting will vary widely according to source as well. You may also need to engage the dynamic function to prevent clipping and lack of low volume on very wide range digital recordings.
Music CD's sound best when using the direct mode. Expect to spend several days becoming comfortable with the unit to find the best settings. Buy an extra headset if long playing time is to be encountered. Short headphone battery life is the only real limitation of the unit. You can get about 3 continuous hours at very loud level with new alkaline batteries. The NiMH battery will recharge quickly before the other headset goes dead, so 2 headsets are necessary and adequate for pro users. The max loudness is only 104 dB, so not a good headset for headbangers. However, it is plenty loud for users who want to avoid deafness by listening at moderate levels longterm. The hardwired headphone amp will drive the most inefficient AKG headphones to ear busting levels if needing to check playback at extremely loud levels. If you can't get a good sound out of this unit, something is wrong. Sound quality is similar to my B&K Pro-10MC headphone amp from either the hardwire or wireless output, but the hardwire outlet has more volume capability.
The base unit will function as a preamp in a lot of systems as it has switchable inputs; 2 digital and 1 analog input. The DSP automaticaliy picks between the two digital inputs. The analog output is varied from the input volume control and will control an analog power amplifier directly. This is how you get your Vmax surround sound. If you need extra inputs simply add a switching box such as a Manley Skipjack. The unit can be inserted into the theater loop of a modern C-J preamp or similar type preamp with unity gain as it has its own volume control. Headphone volume and balance is controlled from the rotary potentiometer wheels on the right headphone can. You will get reliable reception coverage in an average apartment, studio or house if the tramsmitter is centrally located. If you want AKG's wireless headphone technology in a less expensive package, then look at the HEARO 787. It has an extended range over the 999, but much less flexibility as for one thing it does not have a hardwired headphone amp.
Audiophiles tended to ignore this system, thinking all wireless headphones are the same. The sound quality is the best in wireless headphones, and that should come as no surprise as it is one of the most expensive wireless headsets on the market. The sound quality compares favorably to wired headphones. Some have complained about not hearing the subwoofer channel, but subwoofer bass is not really hearable on headphones as it is felt more than heard. Hook up a subwoofer if that is your trip. Imagine a cross between a Betyerdynamic DT880 and an AKG K601, and you get an idea of what the headphones sound like. The AKG midrange magic is still there. Lovely with female vocals, or any vocals for that matter. Within the max loudness range, this is a clean and dynamic sounding headphone which allows high quality monitoring. Please understand that the Hearo 999 is a reference digital surround processor as well as a wirelsss headphone. If you just want a wireless headphone for watching movies and casual music listening, then the HEARO 999 is probably way too much for you. The headphones are not the lightest and the battery life is short as sound quality and flexibility comes first over many other considerations such as weight and cost. Three transmitter base units can transmit simultaneously and you can switch between them on the right headphone can.
Too much to fully describe in a short review. You have to get this unit and play around with it for some time before you really appreciate it. Pro users needing a portable monitor will cherish this unit.
Used product for: 1 to 3 months
Duration Product Used: AudioPhile
Product model year: 2005
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At: internet
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Submitted by
larchen
a Audio EnthusiastDate Reviewed: October 23, 2002
Bottom Line: Unusable due to transmission problems.
Used product for: Less than 1 month
Duration Product Used: Audio Enthusiast
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bostjan
a AudiophileDate Reviewed: January 9, 2002
Bottom Line: This pair of wireless headphones will bow your mind off... Not only that they are wireless (and using digital audio signal to transmitt, so the noise level is arround -94dB!) but the transmitter incorporates Dolby Pro logic and Dolby Digital decoder! Also included is AKG's patented IVA system, which simulates 8 types of earlobes so that when You are listening to ordinara stereo material You get the feeling as You would listen to the speakers because it seem as the sound is coming from somewhere in fron of You and not from inside Your head as it is always the case when listening music via ordinary pair of headphones. This RULES!!!
Used product for: 3 months to 1 year
Duration Product Used: Audiophile
Product model year: 1999
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