Soundstage: Absolutely blows my other closed back headphones out of the water (177X Go, Fostex Ebony), and creates a true psychoacoustic illusion of soundstage between its cup and your ear. Trades blows equally with my absolute favorite open back, the Philphone. Bass: The Bass on the JM R7 is dynamic and well controlled. If the track calls for the subtle backing plucks of an upright bass, then this headphone delivers and if you need the THUMP of something like an orchestral bass drum or taiko drum, then the R7 is gonna give it to ya. Handles my rock...