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Testing & Performance
I
spent the last week with these headphones clamped to my head pretty much every
moment I was at my computer. One of the items that really surprised me was how
bad these headphones made MP3s sound…any bitrate less than 160 sounded
decidedly weak. The DH-720Gs are simply not forgiving of poor quality audio,
and you’re going to hear every little imperfection.
Although they are not gaming headphones, I used a few games to exercise the
surround functions of these headphones. Hitman Contracts (Creative EAX), Need
For Speed Underground 2 (THX), Far Cry, and Unreal Tournament 2004 (Dolby
Digital) all made appearances. One of the really outstanding things HCT
managed to do with these headphones was the imaging. The sounds appear to come
from several inches away from your ear, which creates much more believable
effects. This was especially evident in FarCry, and I found myself looking
over my shoulder far too much.
I watched “Saving Private Ryan” (Dolby Digital 5.1), “Seven” (DTS ES) and
“Gladiator” (DTS ES) on my home theatre utilizing the Toslink fiber optic
digital out capability of my Pioneer Elite A/V receiver. The quality was quite
above and beyond what I was expecting out of a set of headphones, and all the
effects were properly positioned and represented. The DTS sounded outstanding
as well…these would make a great addition if you find yourself watching movies
in the middle of the night and don’t want to wake up spouses or neighbors.
Conclusions
HC
Technology is certainly on top of their game…the DH-720Gs are proof of that.
Excellent sound, superb imaging and multiple installation options are all
present on this unit. On the bad side, these are not light headphones…you’ll
certainly take them off your head if you’re not actively using them. The other
item is the price tag. HCT lists the DH-720G Dolby headphones at $179.00 USD,
which generally puts them out of the budgets of all but the most dedicated
audiophiles. On the bright side, you will certainly get your dollars worth out
of this headphone set. Highly recommended!
More
information on this product can be found on the
HCT Website.
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Pros |
Cons |
- High fidelity
- Excellent imaging
- Solid construction
- Flexible installation options
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- Price tag
- Lots of wires to deal with
- A little heavy for long term use
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Questions? Comments?
Discuss them here!
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