GREAT BASS ON A BUDGET
Pioneer HDJ-500 review
(NOTE: this is a review of the HDJ-500, not the HDJ-500K. The difference is that the K model has a smartphone compatible 1 m cable to receive calls).
Bass-head headphones are the most prominent models in the market today but unfortunately, as most of us know, a number of this bassy headphones while offering plenty of low end thump, the bass is simply bloated and not good. For a couple of months I've seen lots (and by lots I mean at least 90) of people wearing the cheapest headphone in Pioneer's current DJ headphone line, the HDJ-500; many of these might as well be fakes, but I still wondered about their popularity. After a few months I went headphone hunting (I'm sick, I know) and in a few audio and department stores that have Pioneer headphones on sale asked the employees about the HDJ-500 since they were gone; two of them told me they were best sellers and that they tend to sell-out shortly after receiving them...so to my surprise many of the HDJ-500s I've been looking around might actually be genuine. So two weeks ago I finally got a pair (in white as I didn't have any white headphones) and I'm glad headphones like this are popular. Keep reading to learn more.
DESIGN
The HDJ-500 don't look like the rest of the HDJ line, not only design-wise, but because the construction materials don't have the same quality feel of the 2000, 1500, or even 1000.
First off, their design is very stylish. They really look amazing and the style is bolder than that of the boring 1000 and 1500 and that the sober and elegant 2000. They have chrome or colored accents in both the headband and the cups. They might seem a bit too much but I think they look great in the white version. There are other versions with black bodies and red, yellow, and purple accents. Unfortunately they feel very very plasticky and flimsy which can be easily seen and heard when grabbed with one hand, even when they look more expensive than they really are.
The right ear cup can swivel to both sides and makes a substantially enough sound to know it locked in place. The HDJ-500 are, in my opinion, the most comfortable model of the HDJ line for one-ear monitoring. The right ear cup rests comfortably on either side of my head and the headphones still feel secure. They have plenty of padding on both the ear cups and the headband and although the removable ear cushions are somewhat hard out of the box they become quite soft after a few hours of listening. They are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and don't get too steamy even on warm weather and that's something great for closed on-ears. Although they are cushy, you won't be mistaking these for memory foam filled cushions. An issue I've encountered with the cushions and I think it applies only to the white model is the fact that they get stained very easily and are hard to clean. Another issue I've found is the squeaky noise the right ear cup makes when handled in certain angles; it really drives me crazy but at least it doesn't squeak when worn.
The HDJ-500 come with two cables, a 1 m straight one and a 3 m coiled cable with one side being a 2.5 mm plug (for the ear cup) and the other one being a 3.5 mm plug compatible with the screw-on 6.3 adaptor. They are texturized and thick enough and both have a locking design but the lock doesn't feel secure enough in my opinion. Both cables have a very thick 3.5 mm plug which bothers me a lot when using it with a portable; they could have used it in the coiled cable only.
There's a lot to say about portability and not because of its abundance but because of the lack of it. As you can see in the next image, they are quite big. The cups are almost the same size of the UE 6000's which is an over-ear full-size model. This can be explained because of the relatively big 40 mm drivers. The cup is pretty deep as well and there's a somewhat long gap between the ear and the driver created by the cushions. All of these characteristics might explain the comfort and sound, but they affect the size a lot. Then it comes the fact that they don't fold in any way; not even flat. The UE 6000 they are compared with in the picture do fold while being larger. The UE 4000 for example are another pair of cheap on-ears that don't fold flat, but that have a substantially smaller footprint than that of the HDJ-500 and come with a carrying pouch (the HDJ-500 don't).
There's a lot to say about portability and not because of its abundance but because of the lack of it. As you can see in the next image, they are quite big. The cups are almost the same size of the UE 6000's which is an over-ear full-size model. This can be explained because of the relatively big 40 mm drivers. The cup is pretty deep as well and there's a somewhat long gap between the ear and the driver created by the cushions. All of these characteristics might explain the comfort and sound, but they affect the size a lot. Then it comes the fact that they don't fold in any way; not even flat. The UE 6000 they are compared with in the picture do fold while being larger. The UE 4000 for example are another pair of cheap on-ears that don't fold flat, but that have a substantially smaller footprint than that of the HDJ-500 and come with a carrying pouch (the HDJ-500 don't).
SOUND
At the very beginning of the review I mentioned I was glad these became so popular and it is not only because of their looks but because people are actually using basshead headphones with a decent overall sound. Let me explain: while these do have an accentuated bass response, the other frequencies don't suffer so much because of it and the bass is pretty good for the sub-100 pricetag. A thing to note is that their sound changes a lot with burn-in.
The highs are nothing to write home about; they are just a little bit accentuated over the mids. If something they can get a little sibilant with very high frequencies. Still they are very clear and are not grainy. You could say they are the norm if not a little bit better for closed on ears in the same price range. The sibilance decreases considerably after burn-in but they remain clear and sparkly.
The mids are not so good news out of the box. The HDJ-500 have a U shape frequency response with emphasis on the lows and it shows in the recessed mids. But don't phase these out yet! They are recessed, but crisp nevertheless, never consumed by the lows or highs, and frequency separation is great as well. Although they are crisp they are very very grainy, but fortunately this graininess tends to disappear with burn-in and now that they settled in they are just a little bit grainy, but can still be easily noticed.
The lows is where they shine. The bass is boosted, but it is surprisingly tight! They sound great with songs with a solid beat to them since the bass is full bodied and has great impact. Lots of headphones manage to "hit" you with their bass, but only a few can do it for this low of a price. There's something remarkable about the bass: it doesn't bleed into the mids.
The overall sound signature is that of a "fun" headphone with great bass more fit for electronic and certain rock sub genres than for ballads or vocals-heavy music. Still they would make a decent job if you happen to listen to other kinds of music because their only real fault is the grain in the mids. The soundstage is actually pretty wide for closed headphones and I think the huge gap between the ear and the driver is the main culprit, as well as the dept of the cup. Imaging is just ok; you won't feel like you're in an actual concert under no circumstance. The isolation is pretty good as the earcups themselves don't transfer sound through the plastic so it all depends on the cushions which are not memory foam filled and that results in some minor leakage. It isn't a problem during commuting but your 1D tracks will be heard by others on a quiet waiting room if you're too liberal with the volume. If you are in need for actual human interaction but still want to listen to your tunes, you could always swivel the right ear cup and they will stay on your head securely.
CONCLUSIONS
The HDJ line of headphones is remarkable for various things Pioneer did to get the right spots for each model's price range and target market, and I think this was a success. For $100 you get a pair that offers great and fun bass with minimal compromises to the other frequencies (for the price range) that looks stylish at that. I really don't think Pioneer was targeting actual DJs with these because of their build quality but based only on their sound, included accessories, and an ear cup that swivels I dare to say these could pass as a decent DJ headphone in a pinch. For the rest, I think they are a great second or third pair to go out to the streets listening to upbeat music while looking great and not worrying that much about your investment; at least that is how I'll be using them.
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Instrument separation, imaging, soundstage, clarity, sound quality under certain conditions
Cons: Size, thin and non-removable wires, short nozzles/tips, sound quality is heavily dependent on the source
I have owned the XBA-3 and XBA-1 beforehand and now I own the 1 and 4 only. As far as multi-driver IEMs go I don't think you'll find a more consumer oriented set than the Apple In-ears and the XBA line.
The package includes the earphones, the same fitting kit included with all the rest from the line (4 sizes of standard universal tips, and 3 sizes of "hybrid" tips that have a ring of foam inside the flap of the tip to provide more isolation), magnetic fake leather carrying case like the XBA-3's, and a cord manager. This is pretty much what you would expect for the price and is not as impressive when compared with something like the XBA-1 which are 1/4 the price and include pretty much the same goodies (except for a pouch instead of a case).
The XBA-4 themselves share the looks of the family: glossy paint in sober colors with silver accents, a great stress relief (not found in the XBA-1), semi-flat wire, and a nice L headphone jack. The cord is semi-flat, asymmetrical, and while it is thin and feels fragile, it is very easy to untangle. It is a shame it is non-removable as it looks it would be a hassle to repair if it were to break, which is not that unlikely to eventually happen. I have found the XBA line to be extremely comfortable...except for the XBA-4. They are very large, and even when they don't seem to be that much larger than the XBA-3 (which I could wear for hours at a time), the issue is their width and not their height. They rest on the antitragus but they are so wide because of the two drivers in the middle of the assembly that they chafe my concha after some minutes; some readjustment gets the job done but if you can, try to fit them on before buying. They are heavy in comparison with other plastic IEMs, but not heavy for a 4-driver IEM and here is where the plastic construction finally makes some sense.
Having the same fit kit than the rest of the XBA line has advantages and drawbacks, the first being the super soft and comfortable ear tips. On the other side, there's an issue with the nozzle. I've heard people complain that they don't go deep into their ear canals and it makes sense since the housing is so huge. It only is a problem for me when I try to wear them with the wire facing upwards. The shape of the housing is not an issue there, but the length of the nozzle and the tip is. The isolation is just as the XBA-3's (way better than the XBA-1 but pretty much average isolators). They will work on a plane or bus for sure.
Now comes a very interesting part for this review in particular. The sound quality is an incredibly mixed bag. I can see in the other reviews that people have very mixed opinions on the sound signature, specially with the highs: some people complain about sibilance and too much sparkle while others complain about a darker sound. I have experienced both and I can only tell something for sure: they are extremely source dependent. This is, in my opinion a huge disadvantage. We all know sound is different with different sound cards, amps, DACs, phones, and so on, but headphones generally maintain a certain signature that doesn't change with the source (for example the "Sennheiser veil" or Etymotics characteristic crispness) and these do change, a lot. In general, the sources I've found to have the most negative effect on these are by far smartphones and mobile devices. They don't sound bad with these per se, but they make the XBA-4 sibilant and make the highs too sparkly, almost to the point of being piercing (Zune 80, iPod Touch 4G, Galaxy S2 (AND very low volume with this one), Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Player 4.0). I've heard this is a result of their very low impedance of 8 Ohms so in order to get the most out of these you'll need an almost 0 Ohm jack on your source (which I haven't tried yet). But when using other sources these issues are almost gone and everything changes for the better and even soundtage improves. Powering these from a Xonar Essence STX card or a FiiO E10 or E17 alone makes a great improvement.
Now I'll mention the constant sound properties of these, which I found to be extremely appealing. First the soundstage, which is fantastic! I can't believe such an open sound can come from closed IEMs. Instrument separation is really good but that's what you'd expect from multi-driver IEMs, although at times it seems as if they lacked coherence when the sounds have a very different frequency from one another; it is funny since this means congested stuff tends to sound better. The mids are very nice, but somewhat recessed (but it isn't an issue with vocals in my opinion), and while the bass is lush and very present, it is not overpowering. The XBA-4 include a super-woofer and I was a little worried about its effect on music but I was pleasantly surprised! The super-woofer doesn't overpower anything at all, but adds warmth and body to the other sounds, makes bass more present and with good extension. Highs in general (sibilant or not) are very well extended as well and work great with classical music.
In conclusion I can say I like these more than the rest of the XBA line. The XBA-3 is better with vocals but most of my music has none or little vocals so in the end the musicality of these won me over. I'm pretty used to the Sennheiser sound so a fuller sound that I hadn't found in BA drivers until now is really nice. They offer great bass while maintaining the separation and life of the other frequencies and an above average soundtage. Comparing these with the Shure SE535 I have to say the Shure have more impact in every single frequency and the Sony offer a more laidback sound. But I don't think one is inferior to the other; in fact they have share similar qualities like the separation and soundstage but with a different sound signature. In terms of construction quality the Shure SE line is the clear winner with a HUGE advantage, but I guess that's were the price difference comes from in the end. But I think neither of these is worth their MSRP considering their sound quality and construction is not that different from the cheaper models of their respective lines.
I got these from Mexico's Sony Store for a ridiculous amount of money; they were a mere $142 USD, price that was supposed to last until March 1st. Of course I got them but then the horror! Of course they were sold at that price until that date! Afterwards they were 46 USD on the online store. Yes, it is not a typo, 46 friggin USD! Of course they are sold out. It makes you wonder how much money do these really cost to make and why was sony so eager to get rid of them (my guess is the updated XBA-X0 line). About being worth their original MSRP....I think it is worth it because of all the technology stuffed inside, but not because of the sound quality which is what matters in the end so don't pay the full price.
I hope you enjoyed reading my insights and found this helpful. Happy listening!
The package includes the earphones, the same fitting kit included with all the rest from the line (4 sizes of standard universal tips, and 3 sizes of "hybrid" tips that have a ring of foam inside the flap of the tip to provide more isolation), magnetic fake leather carrying case like the XBA-3's, and a cord manager. This is pretty much what you would expect for the price and is not as impressive when compared with something like the XBA-1 which are 1/4 the price and include pretty much the same goodies (except for a pouch instead of a case).
The XBA-4 themselves share the looks of the family: glossy paint in sober colors with silver accents, a great stress relief (not found in the XBA-1), semi-flat wire, and a nice L headphone jack. The cord is semi-flat, asymmetrical, and while it is thin and feels fragile, it is very easy to untangle. It is a shame it is non-removable as it looks it would be a hassle to repair if it were to break, which is not that unlikely to eventually happen. I have found the XBA line to be extremely comfortable...except for the XBA-4. They are very large, and even when they don't seem to be that much larger than the XBA-3 (which I could wear for hours at a time), the issue is their width and not their height. They rest on the antitragus but they are so wide because of the two drivers in the middle of the assembly that they chafe my concha after some minutes; some readjustment gets the job done but if you can, try to fit them on before buying. They are heavy in comparison with other plastic IEMs, but not heavy for a 4-driver IEM and here is where the plastic construction finally makes some sense.
Having the same fit kit than the rest of the XBA line has advantages and drawbacks, the first being the super soft and comfortable ear tips. On the other side, there's an issue with the nozzle. I've heard people complain that they don't go deep into their ear canals and it makes sense since the housing is so huge. It only is a problem for me when I try to wear them with the wire facing upwards. The shape of the housing is not an issue there, but the length of the nozzle and the tip is. The isolation is just as the XBA-3's (way better than the XBA-1 but pretty much average isolators). They will work on a plane or bus for sure.
Now comes a very interesting part for this review in particular. The sound quality is an incredibly mixed bag. I can see in the other reviews that people have very mixed opinions on the sound signature, specially with the highs: some people complain about sibilance and too much sparkle while others complain about a darker sound. I have experienced both and I can only tell something for sure: they are extremely source dependent. This is, in my opinion a huge disadvantage. We all know sound is different with different sound cards, amps, DACs, phones, and so on, but headphones generally maintain a certain signature that doesn't change with the source (for example the "Sennheiser veil" or Etymotics characteristic crispness) and these do change, a lot. In general, the sources I've found to have the most negative effect on these are by far smartphones and mobile devices. They don't sound bad with these per se, but they make the XBA-4 sibilant and make the highs too sparkly, almost to the point of being piercing (Zune 80, iPod Touch 4G, Galaxy S2 (AND very low volume with this one), Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Player 4.0). I've heard this is a result of their very low impedance of 8 Ohms so in order to get the most out of these you'll need an almost 0 Ohm jack on your source (which I haven't tried yet). But when using other sources these issues are almost gone and everything changes for the better and even soundtage improves. Powering these from a Xonar Essence STX card or a FiiO E10 or E17 alone makes a great improvement.
Now I'll mention the constant sound properties of these, which I found to be extremely appealing. First the soundstage, which is fantastic! I can't believe such an open sound can come from closed IEMs. Instrument separation is really good but that's what you'd expect from multi-driver IEMs, although at times it seems as if they lacked coherence when the sounds have a very different frequency from one another; it is funny since this means congested stuff tends to sound better. The mids are very nice, but somewhat recessed (but it isn't an issue with vocals in my opinion), and while the bass is lush and very present, it is not overpowering. The XBA-4 include a super-woofer and I was a little worried about its effect on music but I was pleasantly surprised! The super-woofer doesn't overpower anything at all, but adds warmth and body to the other sounds, makes bass more present and with good extension. Highs in general (sibilant or not) are very well extended as well and work great with classical music.
In conclusion I can say I like these more than the rest of the XBA line. The XBA-3 is better with vocals but most of my music has none or little vocals so in the end the musicality of these won me over. I'm pretty used to the Sennheiser sound so a fuller sound that I hadn't found in BA drivers until now is really nice. They offer great bass while maintaining the separation and life of the other frequencies and an above average soundtage. Comparing these with the Shure SE535 I have to say the Shure have more impact in every single frequency and the Sony offer a more laidback sound. But I don't think one is inferior to the other; in fact they have share similar qualities like the separation and soundstage but with a different sound signature. In terms of construction quality the Shure SE line is the clear winner with a HUGE advantage, but I guess that's were the price difference comes from in the end. But I think neither of these is worth their MSRP considering their sound quality and construction is not that different from the cheaper models of their respective lines.
I got these from Mexico's Sony Store for a ridiculous amount of money; they were a mere $142 USD, price that was supposed to last until March 1st. Of course I got them but then the horror! Of course they were sold at that price until that date! Afterwards they were 46 USD on the online store. Yes, it is not a typo, 46 friggin USD! Of course they are sold out. It makes you wonder how much money do these really cost to make and why was sony so eager to get rid of them (my guess is the updated XBA-X0 line). About being worth their original MSRP....I think it is worth it because of all the technology stuffed inside, but not because of the sound quality which is what matters in the end so don't pay the full price.
I hope you enjoyed reading my insights and found this helpful. Happy listening!
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Extremely clear sound for less tha $100, Small and comfortable, semi-flat cord, super lightweight, Accesory set
Cons: No strain relief, thin cord, don't isolate that much noise, not bassy
I got a set of XBA-3s a few months ago and I liked them a lot, but I had been wary with them because of the somewhat steep price. Then I found at a local audio-store super discounted XBA-1s and I though those would be a really nice gift for my friend who still used crappy earbuds. I got them but I was very curious about how they sounded so I ended up opening them and what a pleasant surprise that was.
They retain the looks from Sony's XBA line, with sober colors and glossy paint. These come with the standard XBA ear-tip kit: 4 sizes of standard universal tips, and 3 sizes of "hybrid" tips (they have a ring of foam inside the flap of the tip to privide more isolation), a cord wrap, and a small carrying pouch. This is above the standard for what you get with most good sounding earphones costing less than $100. The cord is semi-flat, asymmetrical, and while it is thin and feels fragile, it is very easy to untangle. They are well constructed but they have one design issue that worries me to some degree: they lack strain relief for the wires going into each earbud. Really, they simply have no strain relief whatsoever, so when taking them off you really should not pull the cable. They are extremely comfortable. Their shape is just perfect; the pill-like shape helps getting them deep into your ear canal and the sony tips don't chafe my ear canal at all (although the hybrid tips do exert more pressure on the ear canal and I find them comfortable only for minutes at a time). They rest on the outer ear canal with no discomfort at all since they are extremely light as well.
These have only one BA driver inside, but still could reproduce every frequency with no problems at all. The bass is not as punchy as with the XBA-3 or 4, but it has impact and it's solid enough while the mids are great in a not in-in-your-face way. The highs, although bright, are not piercing in -most- scenarios. But the best part about these, both at the launch price and their current price, is their clarity. They offer an incredible resolution. Astonishing for anything under $100, really. The sound has obvious faults but in my opinion are very minor. They are not distortion free, but only on high volumes and with very congested tracks they do show that THD. Then there's little isolation, wearing them with no music doesn't mute anything to a considerable amount, with both the regular and hybrid tips. And then there's the bass which will leave bassheads wondering what's the point of these.
This is an amazing back-up set for audiophiles or beginners who are not looking for "moar bass!!" but for those looking for an economic and clear earphone/headset that is lightweight and comfortable. If you get a gool deal on these, don't hesitate.
They retain the looks from Sony's XBA line, with sober colors and glossy paint. These come with the standard XBA ear-tip kit: 4 sizes of standard universal tips, and 3 sizes of "hybrid" tips (they have a ring of foam inside the flap of the tip to privide more isolation), a cord wrap, and a small carrying pouch. This is above the standard for what you get with most good sounding earphones costing less than $100. The cord is semi-flat, asymmetrical, and while it is thin and feels fragile, it is very easy to untangle. They are well constructed but they have one design issue that worries me to some degree: they lack strain relief for the wires going into each earbud. Really, they simply have no strain relief whatsoever, so when taking them off you really should not pull the cable. They are extremely comfortable. Their shape is just perfect; the pill-like shape helps getting them deep into your ear canal and the sony tips don't chafe my ear canal at all (although the hybrid tips do exert more pressure on the ear canal and I find them comfortable only for minutes at a time). They rest on the outer ear canal with no discomfort at all since they are extremely light as well.
These have only one BA driver inside, but still could reproduce every frequency with no problems at all. The bass is not as punchy as with the XBA-3 or 4, but it has impact and it's solid enough while the mids are great in a not in-in-your-face way. The highs, although bright, are not piercing in -most- scenarios. But the best part about these, both at the launch price and their current price, is their clarity. They offer an incredible resolution. Astonishing for anything under $100, really. The sound has obvious faults but in my opinion are very minor. They are not distortion free, but only on high volumes and with very congested tracks they do show that THD. Then there's little isolation, wearing them with no music doesn't mute anything to a considerable amount, with both the regular and hybrid tips. And then there's the bass which will leave bassheads wondering what's the point of these.
This is an amazing back-up set for audiophiles or beginners who are not looking for "moar bass!!" but for those looking for an economic and clear earphone/headset that is lightweight and comfortable. If you get a gool deal on these, don't hesitate.
L0SLobos
My thought exactly. I've had these for about a month ever since I got them on sale for $50; their only weakness is that the trebles start rolling off at around 12k and bass doesn't pick up until about 25hz.
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Build quaity, style, comfort
Cons: Overpriced for the sound
I got these as I needed a pair of portable decent sounding headphones. These fill that role pretty well.
The design is great! The dark matte finish is soft to the touch, the earcups are small and plastic but feel nice and solid, and the headband has enough padding. Even the box's design is exceptional!
The non-detachable cable is thick enough but still flexible, doesn't tangle or get in the way. It has a coiled section which is just for show since the coil has a pretty small radius and the section's lenght is just too small to be of practical use. The straight jack is golden plated with a golden stress relief spring which works wonderfully, although I wished the jack was smaller as not to stress the source's female jack too much. They have a mic and a single button control which is also coated in matte painting and has the marshall logo painted on it.
They can fold into a relatively small package and after months of constant use the hinges don't show any sign of wear (although the cups themselves do, with section of the edge of the cup losing the matte coating). The headband is adjustable but if adjusted to a long lenght, the cable wire coming to the drivers limits their movement. We could say their construction is by far the greatest attribute of these headphones. They include a 1/4 in adapter and a neutral plug but don't include a carrying case, something you'd be expecting for the asking price.
At the beginning I thought these would be uncomfortable after a short period of time but I actually found them extremely comfortable; I don't have a small head and my ears are not small by any means, but the earpads are so cushy that I can wear them for several hours without discomfort and just need a few moments to rest, and mostly because of the heat. The earpads are leather(ette?), feel nice, and are removable (although I haven't been able to find replacements, just as a precaution).
If I had to describe the sound with a sentence I'd say they are "dark sounding, with average detail and with some dB drops in very weird frequency ranges, but nevertheless a somewhat fun signature". The bass is powerful and has impact (not bloated or insanely boosted), but is it not tight enough to be pleasing. The mids are good and warm, but they do drop in the mid-highs and mid-lows. The highs are non-fatiguing but they could be a little clearer. All of this make it sound like a pretty terrible pair, but they aren't that bad because of very good instrument separation (thanks in part to those weird dB drops). They work with every genre up to a certain degree, but they are clearly meant to reproduce the electric guitars of rock-related music (they won't blow you away, but for the price the guitars alone offer some real value). They are really easy to drive, too. The sound does benefit from amplification but suffers too! Mid-highs get a boost, but mid-lows don't get a volume boost as the rest of the frequencies so they sound even more recessed
The isolation is good, especially for this kind of headphone. They do leak sound, and it is not the earpads' fault, but the plastic cups that actually transmit the sound through them (weird since they transfer practically no vibration to the headband), but at least nothing gets in.
As a headset it works remarkably well. I can hear clear voices at loud volumes and the people I've called say I sound loud and clear. It is not crisp clear, but voice calls sound really pleasing. It helps that the headphone rest at the base of the neck and doesn't rub with clothes.
In conclusion, although they don't have extremely serious flaws, you could get way better sounding headphones for this price but you'd hard pressed to find headphones as comfortable and well built as these. They are also a competent headset that can get to high volumes with portable sources so they are a good smartphone companion.
The design is great! The dark matte finish is soft to the touch, the earcups are small and plastic but feel nice and solid, and the headband has enough padding. Even the box's design is exceptional!
The non-detachable cable is thick enough but still flexible, doesn't tangle or get in the way. It has a coiled section which is just for show since the coil has a pretty small radius and the section's lenght is just too small to be of practical use. The straight jack is golden plated with a golden stress relief spring which works wonderfully, although I wished the jack was smaller as not to stress the source's female jack too much. They have a mic and a single button control which is also coated in matte painting and has the marshall logo painted on it.
They can fold into a relatively small package and after months of constant use the hinges don't show any sign of wear (although the cups themselves do, with section of the edge of the cup losing the matte coating). The headband is adjustable but if adjusted to a long lenght, the cable wire coming to the drivers limits their movement. We could say their construction is by far the greatest attribute of these headphones. They include a 1/4 in adapter and a neutral plug but don't include a carrying case, something you'd be expecting for the asking price.
At the beginning I thought these would be uncomfortable after a short period of time but I actually found them extremely comfortable; I don't have a small head and my ears are not small by any means, but the earpads are so cushy that I can wear them for several hours without discomfort and just need a few moments to rest, and mostly because of the heat. The earpads are leather(ette?), feel nice, and are removable (although I haven't been able to find replacements, just as a precaution).
If I had to describe the sound with a sentence I'd say they are "dark sounding, with average detail and with some dB drops in very weird frequency ranges, but nevertheless a somewhat fun signature". The bass is powerful and has impact (not bloated or insanely boosted), but is it not tight enough to be pleasing. The mids are good and warm, but they do drop in the mid-highs and mid-lows. The highs are non-fatiguing but they could be a little clearer. All of this make it sound like a pretty terrible pair, but they aren't that bad because of very good instrument separation (thanks in part to those weird dB drops). They work with every genre up to a certain degree, but they are clearly meant to reproduce the electric guitars of rock-related music (they won't blow you away, but for the price the guitars alone offer some real value). They are really easy to drive, too. The sound does benefit from amplification but suffers too! Mid-highs get a boost, but mid-lows don't get a volume boost as the rest of the frequencies so they sound even more recessed
The isolation is good, especially for this kind of headphone. They do leak sound, and it is not the earpads' fault, but the plastic cups that actually transmit the sound through them (weird since they transfer practically no vibration to the headband), but at least nothing gets in.
As a headset it works remarkably well. I can hear clear voices at loud volumes and the people I've called say I sound loud and clear. It is not crisp clear, but voice calls sound really pleasing. It helps that the headphone rest at the base of the neck and doesn't rub with clothes.
In conclusion, although they don't have extremely serious flaws, you could get way better sounding headphones for this price but you'd hard pressed to find headphones as comfortable and well built as these. They are also a competent headset that can get to high volumes with portable sources so they are a good smartphone companion.
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: The sound, comfortable, detachable cable, everything is replaceable, nice design, awesome price, forgiving with lower quality sources, low impedance
Cons: Hanger not included, not even a pouch, the 6.35 jack can be a problem
These are just insane. It has such a flat response, but they are not by any means boring. Every single frequency shines since the instrument separation is great. There is simply no distortion, even at really high volumes, which they can achieve very easily since they have a meager 50 Ohm impedance and very high sensitivity. If that wasn't enough, their best quality IMHO is their HUGE soundstage. Even while being so open, the bass in punchy and unlikely tight!
Everything is serviceable too, from the cable to the headband padding. The ear pads are big, cushy and don't get your ears too hot thanks to the open design of the cups themselves and the velour-type material. They are so soft you can almost forget you're wearing them. The headband is heavily padded with memory foam covered in white leatherette, as well as the headband itself. On that note, I think the design is great. Sober colors make it stand out of any other Sennheiser model out there.
They are forgiving with lower quality sources, although they tend to show off excessively EQ'd signals. Bass can be boosted but only to a certain degree, but I love the bass the way it is out of the box. After burn-in they become even more lush but retain the tight bass.
The ony issue is that cable that ends in a 6.35 mm headphone jack. Sennheiser includes an adaptor which adds a lot of bulk to the connector. I just use an adaptor and then a neutral extension so it doesn't stick out when using them with mobile sources, although their place is at home. I seriously can't recommend these enough.
Everything is serviceable too, from the cable to the headband padding. The ear pads are big, cushy and don't get your ears too hot thanks to the open design of the cups themselves and the velour-type material. They are so soft you can almost forget you're wearing them. The headband is heavily padded with memory foam covered in white leatherette, as well as the headband itself. On that note, I think the design is great. Sober colors make it stand out of any other Sennheiser model out there.
They are forgiving with lower quality sources, although they tend to show off excessively EQ'd signals. Bass can be boosted but only to a certain degree, but I love the bass the way it is out of the box. After burn-in they become even more lush but retain the tight bass.
The ony issue is that cable that ends in a 6.35 mm headphone jack. Sennheiser includes an adaptor which adds a lot of bulk to the connector. I just use an adaptor and then a neutral extension so it doesn't stick out when using them with mobile sources, although their place is at home. I seriously can't recommend these enough.
Sylverant
By "neutral extension" are referring to an adapter and extra cabling rather than one that sits on the 6.3mm jack? If so that was a smart move. Using my old HD560 with a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter killed my iPod's headphone plug in a very short amount of time.
Arkyle
Yes, that's what they call these plastic small cords (sometimes the metal housing of the jacks can interfere with cellphones so they include and sometimes sell these).
Arkyle
I mean something like this http://iplazashop.com/shop/img/cms/Minor3.jpg
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Good open bass, comfortable, good looks, detachable cable with volume control, 6.35 mm adapter, carrying pouch
Cons: Recessed highs, cups sound when moved
These were my first pair of "full size" headphones. Even so, these are not around their ear, but over the ear headphones. The pads can be replaced as usual with sennheiser, and are extremely comfortable, although they are not nearly as cool and soft as the 500's series. They are open back but they don't leak much sound which is impressive. They have a 32 Ohm impedance, but are not very efficient; they benefit A LOT with an amp. This helps a lot, specially with the highs which are recessed but are way better after burn-in. Mids are sweet and full too.
The included cable is HUGE, but thick and has volume control which is a very nice touch. Sennheiser includes a soft carrying pouch as well as a 6.35 mm adaptor.
The included cable is HUGE, but thick and has volume control which is a very nice touch. Sennheiser includes a soft carrying pouch as well as a 6.35 mm adaptor.
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: So comfy you can barely feel them, great sound, high quality construction, tangle free modular cable, includes carrying case.
Cons: Leak tons of sound, can be problematic when taking on and off.
The first time I saw these was in the PS2 game Persona 3 trailer. I though those where some good looking headphones, but wasn't aware they were an actual model made by Audio Technica. I got this for a discounted price on Amazon some years later. They have a modular cable design so you can wear them with a sansa clip of iPod nano without the long wire. Both the principal and the extension are convered in cloth that doesn't transmit noise when moving around. The plugs are gold plated and the extension is L shaped. Everything comes in a nice soft carrying case.
The headphones themselves are made out of aluminum and are extremely good looking. The holder clip is amazing. the metal wire on top gives it form but only the silicone loose hook touches your ear and holds them in place. It has a locking mechanism, meaning it clicks when opened and closed so you know they are secure. Not only that, but the height on the hook can be adjusted by sliding the cilinder connected to the drivers themselves. It's still working after all that use I find it amazing. The headphones are closed back but they leak lots of sound since they don't push that hard into your ear. The pad is not foam, but soft silky cloth; at the beginning I was worried because it didn't have any replacements but I'm happy to tell you that they haven't worn out considerably since I got them.
Their sound is amazing! Specially the highs which are crystal clear and beautiful, while the mids are rich. The only issue is the bass; it is tight, really tight, but lacks punch, although that was expented. Instrument separation is something I wasn't expenting these to excel but they really do, so they are perfect for instrumental and sound impressive with orchestral works.
The headphones themselves are made out of aluminum and are extremely good looking. The holder clip is amazing. the metal wire on top gives it form but only the silicone loose hook touches your ear and holds them in place. It has a locking mechanism, meaning it clicks when opened and closed so you know they are secure. Not only that, but the height on the hook can be adjusted by sliding the cilinder connected to the drivers themselves. It's still working after all that use I find it amazing. The headphones are closed back but they leak lots of sound since they don't push that hard into your ear. The pad is not foam, but soft silky cloth; at the beginning I was worried because it didn't have any replacements but I'm happy to tell you that they haven't worn out considerably since I got them.
Their sound is amazing! Specially the highs which are crystal clear and beautiful, while the mids are rich. The only issue is the bass; it is tight, really tight, but lacks punch, although that was expented. Instrument separation is something I wasn't expenting these to excel but they really do, so they are perfect for instrumental and sound impressive with orchestral works.
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great sound, extremely portable, good construction
Cons: comfort comfort comfort
I got this as an impulse buy while I was living in Seoul. I already own the Audio Technica EM7 (which are amazing, BTW) but they were a mess when I had to take them on and off around Campus (although they are great for the street). Boy was I surprised. Their sound is very similar to the Koss PortaPro even when the driver is completely different. It is certainly fuller even when it doesn't seal as well as the PP. The bass is rich and relatively tight for an open design and the other frequencies are almost distorsion free. Unlike the porta pros, these won't trap your hair in the headband as once it's adjusted, it won't move ever again. They fold both flat and in a compact sennheiser PMX like shape. the cable is short and tangle free, too.
Now, what's not good at all is the comfort: unless you wear them in a certain, very specific way, they will hurt your ears in an extremely painful way. The cups rest directly over your ears, and they only have a little foam between your ears and the prominent plastic ring that holds the ear pad. the PPs solve this with the temple pressure adjustment so the pads don't rest directly over your ears.
Now, what's not good at all is the comfort: unless you wear them in a certain, very specific way, they will hurt your ears in an extremely painful way. The cups rest directly over your ears, and they only have a little foam between your ears and the prominent plastic ring that holds the ear pad. the PPs solve this with the temple pressure adjustment so the pads don't rest directly over your ears.
rigodeni
I agree with the comfort issue, but there so cheap and sound so wonderful! I am looking into making some custom earpad's for them.
Arkyle
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Pads are extremely comfortable, very easy to drive, somewhat flat response
Cons: Expensive, thin and delicate cable
I bought them a couple of years ago for around half the street price and for that price they are pretty good. The sound is neutral and I would describe it as "fun". Not meant for precision, but they are clear enough. The band is solidly built and the ear pads are a pleasure to feel. I had a problem with the cables; they are way too thin and had to repair them more than once.
They are a good pair for the price I paid, but they are not worth their MSRP; they are not worth your hard earned cash. They are old and the new replacement model is around the streets so give them a try, but as you might know, Bose isn't the best when it comes to audio, specially headphones.
They are a good pair for the price I paid, but they are not worth their MSRP; they are not worth your hard earned cash. They are old and the new replacement model is around the streets so give them a try, but as you might know, Bose isn't the best when it comes to audio, specially headphones.