If you're not one of those super pretentious musicians who has stopped listening to music because it "puts too much influence on the artistic process" or some such, you might want a quality pair of headphones like the new Ultrasone HFI-15G. These new lightweight phones feature Ultrasone's patented surround sound technology, so when you get hit by a bus because you're busy drowning out the outside world with Spin Doctors on your iPod Shuffle, at least you'll hear every nuance of Eric Schenkman's guitar solo.

But don't judge the Dave Matthews Band by its most obnoxious fans -- the HFI-15G headphones are pretty cool. They're the smallest headphones in the HFI line, yet they still manage to cram S-Logic Natural Surround Sound technology into them. These headphones are open-back and supra-aural, and the S-Logic technology does not use digital processing in its surround sounding. The technology also cuts down on sound pressure to the ear drum by 40%, resulting in a safer listening experience.

If this sounds like a bunch of voodoo magic, Ultrasone has an explanation. S-Logic directs sound to the outer ear rather than pumping it right at your ear drum. The outer ear is responsible for interpreting sound in a three-dimensional way.

Fast Features

• S-Logic™ Natural Surround Sound
• Dynamic principle
• Frequency range 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Impedance 32 Ohm
• Sound pressure level 96 dB
• Driver 40 mm Mylar
• Weight 85 g (without cord)
• Straight cord (length ca 3m)