Pros: VERY comfortable, inexpensive bass heavy headphones
Cons: bass is too heavy for most, and lacks detail
A Headphone for bassheads...and exclusively bass-heads
I will be comparing them to both the Dre-Beats studio, and the Audio Technica M50
Beats - 300$
M50 - 140$
XB500 - 80$
Now obviously this headphone isn't precisely in that price range, but these other models feature similar sound signatures.
SOUND
Highs: the XB500 has decent highs, not in the least bit fatiguing, but not as "fun" as the dre beats, or as accurate as the M50
Mids: Slightly recessed, and very warm (bass heavy cans tend to be) however not as recessed as the dre beats, however not at all comparable with the M50
Lows:It avoids the dreaded "one note" bass which often occurs in consumer grade headphones. The bass is here, and in as great a quantity as the dre beats, and a little more than the m50, however, it is not particularly accurate, and has a tendency to saturate the music. It is however, not a total mudfest, the bass extension is quite good, and for certain musical genre's it sounds impressive.
Soundstage: surprisingly decent, personally superior to the dre beats and not far behind the m50. It represents about as accurately as you would expect from a closed can.
CONCLUSION
If you are an audiophile (or a consumer looking for a good all purpose can with powerful bass) save your money and buy the Audio Tehnica M50.
However if you are seriously considering the Dre Beats, stop right now and buy these. No silly battery amp needed, drive well out of an ipod, and deliver bass that is virtually indiscernable from the dre beats...and for a third the cost
If you are an audiophile AND a basshead, these will work if your on a budget, but otherwise...Beyerdynamic, or possibly the FA-011
Happy Listening 




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