Thanks for all your replies they're helping me out. I tried them out with Dead Space 2 and wow they are good with that game. I had to stop playing (lol im a wimp) Soundstage really is excellent with the cans. I imagine they will be great for movies as well, though I haven't tried that out yet...

I read around before I bought the 990s and did hear that they were bright...brighter than the 880s on the high treble end and better with bass, which I didn't mind because everyone was saying that they weren't sibilant, which is most definitely untrue for me. Even the bass isn't quite as good as...

could my audio codecs have anything to do with it by any chance. (at this point i think its obvious that I know nothing...)

I used the windows media player equalizer and put a very slight emphasis on the low end and lowered the right-most few sliders a bit and it helped a lot. I can live with them now that my ears aren't bleeding...they sound great now, though I'm still wondering if they're defective...    

I've also heard very good things about the ATH-M50s. They pretty warm sounding and punchy?   Also I didn't mean to get this off topic lol I'd still like to hear what else people have to say about the 990's

So in case I do want to turn these back in and get some other ones which headphones in the $300 or less range are very forward sounding with great bass and crystal clear sound? and not as bright. If these are any indication I guess I don't like "Bright" headphones. Maybe more warm sounding.

I've burned these thing in a bit and i've been listening to these things quite a bit. Any "s" sound that comes through is ear piercing to me. I usually like my music loud, but even when its not loud the treble on these things is extremely noticeable and distracting...maybe i'm just really...

Those sound sibilant as well. Also try Boom Boom Pow by the black eyed peas, vicarious by tool, and even Massive Attack - Angel. Or Massive Attack - Tear Drop (in their trebbly parts anyway)   Also I'm listening to flac recordings through my computer headphone jack, my bose speaker headphone...

Does anyone else have these headphones. I read around and everywhere people are saying that the treble is pretty bright but doesn't venture into sibilance. Well I just bought them and WOW they are VERY VERY sibilant to my ears.   People from this topic...