Yes, got them in last night, so they are still not burned in at all, but even w/out burn in one they I can say that they have is BASS, bigger, stronger, more powerful than my Beyer 250-250's. They are also very clear in the mids, but are a bit bright, hopefully that will be tamed with some burn in. They are heavy, but are actually more comfortable than the Sennheiser HD280's, due to the circular ear cup, which gives a more even distribution of weight around the ear. The top pad is also nice & soft & comfy. Isolation is very good, better than the Beyers, but not as good as the 280's. More updates to follow.

How are the highs? Are they as extended as the DT250s?

Is the bass punchy? Or kinda soft?

Have you ever had or heard the DT770? If so, how do these compare, both in terms of sound and fit/isolation?

EDIT: Yay for my 400th post!

Bass is punchy. Other than that I can't comment till I do some real testing after the burn in (this weekend).

I have heard the 770's. The HFI-700's have less bass than the 770's but more than the 250-250's.

Looking forward to your review Tyson, particularly if you can fit a comparison in with the DT770...

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Likewise

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What can you tell about the bass performance in comparison with a Senn HD600 headphone?

MarGan

Just a bit of an update, been running them in for a couple of days, and changing over to some female vocals I have to say they are about the same level of sibilance as the Beyer DT250-250's, which is to say slightly sibilant. On most ssss and ssshhh sounds they don't sound particularly sibilant, but if the singer leans into an s-word, you really hear it clearly and pronounced.

Other than that I have to say: MY GOD THE BASS! They don't "quite" give the ear massage bass that the DT770's do, but they are fairly close. Rock and electronica fans, this is your headphone The drums have an impact can physicality that I've not really heard any other headphone get right. The only downside is that some bass subtleties can be not as obvious as through the HD600's or DT250-250's. But those other can's cannot hold a candle to the slam, impact, and power of bass the HFI-700's can do.

And, the best thing is that they still manage to sound fairly balanced. Unlike the Sony CD3k's I heard a while back, they are not recessed in the mids, and the highs are not tipped up (ie, bright). Obviously the 700's deviate from true neutrality by virtue of their strong bass response, but other than that they sound very much like other headphones that I do consider neutral. Mids are prominent and clear, and highs are extended without ripping your ear off. I'll do more extensive A-B comparisons with my HD600's, 250-250's, and Ety 4P's this weekend and post my impressions.

Tyson, any updates? I'd be interested in a more detailed comparison between the Ultrasones and the Beyer DT250-250.

Well, after a bit more A-B comparison I have to say that I prefer the 250-250 to the HFI-700 if both are amped. The 250-250 just sounds more even in it's frequency response, a bit more tidy and together sounding, and more detailed in the bass w/a tad less brightness. The HFI-700 certainly had a more energetic and foward presentation, with bigger, stronger, but looser bass, and a slightly bright top end that I could not tame. Now, when I say slighly bright, I do mean slightly, it is no where near as bright as Grato or Sony Cans, but the Beyers are just so smooth.

The HFI-700's actually reminded me a lot of the Beyer DT-770's, but with a bit less bass and a bit less brightness, which is more to my tastes.

Without an amp, especially out of a portable source, the HFI-700 is the way to go, it is much easier to drive, and it's deviation from neutrality match well with the usually weak bass output and poor detail retrieval of most portable devices. Throw in the fact that they seem very durable, not too big, and can be folded up in to a ball, and you've got a great set of portable cans. The only caveats I have on that front are the very long cord, and the 1/4" plug - you have to use an adapter to get a 1/8th inch plug, which means the plug/jack sticks way out of your portable.

As for how they compare to the 600's, they really don't. The 600's are not only a step or 2 above in overall quality, but the presentation of sound is completely different between the 2, w/the 600's having the typical sennheiser even balanced sound, and the 700's having more of a grado sound.

They sound as if they are a worthwhile alternative and even a good improvement over the DT770, which I felt with the wrong amplifier sounds a bit nasty - overly dark and boomy but with harsh treble. The HFI-700 sounds like it might be less choosy?

I dare say from what you've said I'd personally recommend it over the DT770 to most people.

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I think I'd probably buy one as such, but for the long cable and 1/4" plug issues, since the DT770 is my portable can. Perhaps I should just get the HFI-700 and a "real" portable can.

Does the 650 Trackmaster have the same, permanent 1/4 inch plug? I was thinking of getting the DVD edition as a semi-portable (90% at work, 10% traveling), but putting an adaptor on a 1/4 inch would get annoying quickly. Also, are the cables in the trackmaster and the 650 the same length? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

Nope, the Trackmasters have mini plug with 1/4 adapter. I believe their cables are same ( I never measured it, but to me it seems to be 4 meters long, not 3..but I could be wrong) and you do not get an extension cable with Trackmasters.