Ultrasone (http://www.Ultrason.com) is releasing both a standard, single cable version and a balanced, double cable version of its PRO 2900 headphones.

While standard, single cable headphones are commonplace in most pro audio and audiophile applications, a balanced headphone coupled with a balanced amplifier offers unique advantages over the former such as increased audio performance due to a doubling the slew rate and voltage swing power, while reducing distortion components and eliminating crosstalk, according to the folks at Ultrasone. The end result is decreased distortion and ultimately superior audio performance, they add.

To achieve this paragon of headphone fidelity, balanced headphones must be paired with a balanced amplifier (4-channel amp with 2 inverted positive channels) that instead of using a common ground, uses two wires per side to deliver positive and negative audio signals to each side of the headphone. Ultrasone’s PRO 2900s boast a black design, velvet covered black ear pads and a diamond-cut logo insignia on the ear cup.

The PRO 2900 features a 40mm titanium-plated driver and a soft USC-Cable that is paired with Neutrik connectors. Ultrasone’s newest headphones contain MU-Metal shielding (ULE technology) that purportedly reduce the amount of radiation directed to the listener by up to 98%, as compared to conventional headphones. The PRO 2900s also contain Ultrasone’s patented S-Logic Plus technology for reduced sound pressure on the ear drum.

Ultrasone’s PRO 2900 comes in a hard-sided carrying case along with two removable cables (one spiral and one straight) and spare speed-switch ear pads. The PRO 2900 headphones have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$549 and the Balanced PRO 2900 headphones have a MSRP of $799.