Audio-Technica ATH-A900 Headphones

Sound is only a little better than average at best.
 
Treble: Analytical sounding and a little bright for my tastes, a little fatiguing, liquid though lacking absolute detail, some air, compressed sound stage.
 
Mids: On the thin side, but fairly detailed and liquid, lacks defining punch and rich tonality. Voices sound good but lack that palpable richness of say, HD 600's.
 
Bass: For headphones the size of sliced grapefruits these surprise with their less than ideal bass extension. The bass they do have is decent though, not boomy, well controlled but not particularly detailed.
 
Overall sound: Well, I gave them to my girlfriend and she likes them well enough and uses them at her desk job.
 
They're quite comfortable, perfect for long listening sessions.
 
They isolate pretty well.
 
They look ridiculous after you get over the wow, shiny blue metal phase.
 
After factoring in the superb build quality, high comfort, and decent looks if you like the color, these are not bad for $170. I'd hesitate to pay more though.

Also another owner here for whom the ATH-A900 is the first pair of good headphones.
 
They definitely stand out with their styling and massive aluminium cups. I just dig circumaural headphones. They're just so much more comfortable that on-ears.
 
Love the sound which works well for my taste in music (electronic/rock) and for use on PC watching movies, etc. The bass is good, but their is something lacking in the midrange. Nothing a EQ change won't sort out. I have run these through a C&C XO amp fed from ipod line-out with no EQ change on the ipod and they sound good. They can take a good whack of power (if you're into going deaf) without distorting in any way. Massive drivers on these.
 
The ear pads are comfortable but I'd suggest trying out the leather pads as these leatherettes wear out fast. However, I cannot get used to the "headband" and have on several occassions had bad thoughts on how to rip the headband off and try to graft on something more conventional. I must have weird hair or something, but after a while of having these on my folicles hurt. And they'll make you look pretty weird if you've got a small head. I don't have a small head, but it's not a large enough head I think. The band can be rattly too and they don't feel that secure should you not want to be sitting upright while using them.
 
They are durable headphones though and still pretty good value for an all-rounder.

The A900s are my first set of headphones that I spent more than $20 on, so I don't really have much to compare them to.  They sound great and are very comfortable.  it's like wearing a big pillow of sound on your head.  I've worn them almost every day for the last 3 and a half years and the show no signs of wear or damage (aside from the little scuff on the side from dropping them on a concrete floor).
 
Some people may not like the huge ear cups, and strange looking head band design, but I love it.  Not only does it make them extremely comfortable, but it makes them stand out when compared to other headphone designs.  If you like to take the road less traveled, these are the headphones for you.