BRAINWAVZ HM3 On-Ear Headphones

After reading many reviews on Head-fi and trying to find the right pair of over the ear headphones, I finally found a winner.
 
First got the HTX7PP, while happy with it, I wanted more.  Then moved on to the hyped HTF600, I found my pair to be muddy and slow, even after lots of burn in.  Next I tried the 8323 from Monoprice, way too bassy and returned it do to a shorted out left speaker.
 
Finally I came across the HM3, on SUPER sale.  I could not pass it up. ($26.66 USD!!!)
 
Even before burn it, the sound signature was what I was looking for.  Not too bright, forward mids and just the right amount of punchy bass.
 
Comfort wise, you really need to bend the headband a lot to shape them to fit.  Not too hard to do though.  As for the stock pads, I have smaller ears, so they fit as Over-the-Ear for me, but just barely.  This causes my ears to get sore as they are slightly smooshed in between the pads.  They also make my ears warm after a short amount of time.
 
So fix this problem I took the extra set of round HM3 pads, took out the padding and retrofit them with the oval Beyerdynamic EDT 250.  I could not be happier with the results. 
 

 
 

 
 
Now after the new pads and sufficient burn in, I can clearly and FINALLY say, this is the pair I have been waiting for!  Perfect blend of Highs, Mids and Lows.  Almost a darker sound, but clear sounds across the range.  The EDT 250 Pads are AMAZING.  So comfortable.  I can wear these for hours. 
 
For some, this might not be the best deal.  Even at normal sale prices, theses are around $40 USD with a MSRP of around $60 USD.  At that price range, they compete, but are not the best value.  Even more so if you have to pay to get different pads.
 
For me, I got everything for just under $50 USD (HM3 + EDT 250 Velor Pads) and at the price, wow, I would love to see if there is anything that can come close in terms of sound.
 
*Note*: These CAN be had for this price range if you go with the re-branded versions of the Fischer FA-004 / Brainwavz HM3, by getting the Incipio F38.  The F38 runs about $30 USD and is the same as the FA-004 / HM3, a REAL steal.  Plus they come in lots of fun colors, kinda wish I got the Espresso version.  Cool color scheme.
 
Though, there is nothing wrong with some simple black headphones. 
 
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If you are familiar with Fischer Audio FA-004 these cans are exactly the same. These are simply rebranded/rebadged/reincarnated version of those headphones. Just as the ones before it they are definitely a steal for such price.
 
Into the review. At a first glance the packaging is very good, it comes with an extra pair of ear pads, finally somebody has thought of that. It also comes with a professional gold-plated ¼ adapter screwed into the 3.5mm jack for DJ and production use.
 
Design:  Very retro looking, very nice, built-quality is very good. You can bend them horizontally without breaking them. The ear cups are made-out of high-quality plastics, the headband is made out of aluminum. The headband looks and smells like real leather; however, I think they are pleather.  The cables aren’t detachable, they are tangle-free and thick. The 3.5mm jack is gold-plated; however, it is a straight connector rather than an L-shaped.  In theory, L-shaped connectors are better in relieving stress in the cables.
 
The major flaw is the headband design, it is shaped like the letter “C” which doesn’t create a seal for most heads. But, you can always straighten them out with the use of some cloth and pliers. The cloth is of course to prevent plier-marks .
 
Update: After a month of use I didn't see any damage, now for the extreme test. I really tried pulling these cans in all directions, hitting them hard on the floor. I can say that these are extremely rugged and can hold for a lifetime of normal use. If they are able to stand the abuse.

 
Comfort: Without bending them the C-shaped headband would be terribly uncomfortable, but after bending them they sit well to your ears and they are quite comfortable and roomy for an on-ear pads.
 
Audio Quality: Out of the box, they are very good. Well balanced, the bass is strong but not over-powering just right for any music. The mids and highs are reasonably detailed for the price. You would think that these cans are at $130-$150 for their sound quality, but in-fact they are just $40 the price of some over-priced ear pad replacements. How could you go wrong? There are some flaws with it too, there are some peaks with the trebles, but if you like the sounds of cymbals crashing then this might be your cup of tea. I have played FLAC files with the likes of Daft Punk, Jamiroquai, Chesky Jazz, Led Zeppelin, they all sound very good.
 
Value: For a modest price of $40, I would definitely recommend this for incoming-audiophiles