90 is a great price for the 545s. They sound great and have a good design and durability, when it works.

Price?

You're right; not Grados. Grados have midrange.   The midrange on the 880s disappears with the HM5s.   With the HM5s one's basically trading better comfort and a wider soundstage for the loss of some of the isolation, more pronounced, piercing-er (?) highs, and a recessed midrange.   Ruins...

Just changed the pads to HM5 hybrids. Huge difference, though I'm not sure it's for the better. The comfort has improved and the soundstage has improved; the sound has lost some of its texture, however. I might revert to the stock pads eventually. I'm realizing that these 880s are special in...

I'm pretty sure that sony uses an in-house DAC design for this model.

And you are completely correct in pointing this out; it's the truth. One should definitely not buy these as primary headphones. For this price you can get the Fostex TH-X00 off of Massdrop, which are superior in every way (still no inline mic though; few head-fiers care about the mic). If you...

To each her own, but I can't say I agree with the above assessment. However, there are priority headphone choices over the MDR 1ADAC; these are a tertiary headphone for use with tablets, etc, where a real portable chain setup might be inconveniently bulky, or a hassle for quick setup and use.

Fiio e10k has much more power on reserve than the nx2. Moreover, Fiio designed the e10k to pair with the X1 as a budget solution to drive desktop cans off the X1. If you're satisfied with the nx2, stick with it; the e10k isn't ideal for fleshing out the capabilities of high end hard to drive...

HM5 pad pairing seems like a good idea. How does the sub bass react to the HM5 pads? Just ordered a couple of pairs to test it out. How'd you get the HM5s on there?

Nope; what I meant is that if what you're looking for is the Sony-house sound signature, money is best spent going XBA-A2 and above. The Sony house sound has rich, well-extended ("dark-chocolatey" I think one reviewer called it) bass that can sound uncontrolled to some people who don't adhere to...

Cost me 152 bucks shipped on Amazon a few months ago. Good buy.   http://www.amazon.com/Sony-inner-headphone-XBA-A1-Black/dp/B00NW35D2C/ref=sr_1_166?m=A3DE0IWD29UIX2&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1449100073&sr=1-166

Cups are bigger and slightly heavier, which is only substantially felt during longer wear sessions and especially in warmer atmospheric temperature settings.

I have the ATH HA22TUBE.   Anybody else have it? Can we start an impressions thread?   Not much can be found regarding this wonderful amp on Head Fi.

If someone is going to buy just one headphone to use with compatible mobile devices and laptops, especially many older ones, and not as the end component of an ultra hi fi chain, then these headphones are an Amazing and convenient option. Deliver excellent sound in a beautiful premium and...

These can be regularly found dropping on Massdrop for less than $30.

Pay a little more and get Sony XBA A1AP

  Neither is waterproof, both are water resistant. iPhone remote is not ultra-reliable when it comes to water-resistance, however.

  Problem with the K551 is the flimsy, thin, short cable and the ultra-fat jack at the cable's end. I'm seriously considering getting them professionally re-cabled. All that aside, the sound is great; very detailed and fast (though not Beyer fast), and comparable to AKG's open models, e.g...