Great review!! Thanks a lot

you gotta try the NAD Viso HP50 mate!
I'm waiting for the next headphone from Paul Barton.

Awesome review!
I have heard good things about these cans and have had my eye on them for a while.What an absolute deal you got @ $150,as I haven't seen any used pairs for sell.
I notice the sennheiser hd598's in your picture-I had a pair based on the reviews here but was disappointed with their lack of bass,so I currently have the HiFiman HE-400's and wonder if you have had a chance to hear these and could compare.  

Thanks all!
@ Jeff Y- I have tried on the HP-50 but unfortunately the button relay to select them was not working so I couldn't actually hear them. However they hurt my upper jaw because of the clamping force combined with the limited movement of the cups. I think the Fates were telling me to walk away because if the HP-50 were working I probably would have walked out with them, only to be caused constant pain. The M4U 1 fit a hell of a lot better.
 
@ G Tone- Unfortunately I have yet to hear any planner or electrostatic headphones; I seldom order blind and have yet to find a pair on demo nor a locale store that either carries them or can order HiFiMan products. $400 is a lot (to me) to order headphones going off from nothing but reviews. That said at $150, the magic price range I have bought all my headphones at (NIB), is in my mind easier to swallow if I dislike the sound, not to mention I could make a profit if I were to promptly sell them. Anyway in regards to bass response, the M4U 1 has much greater quantity and quality over HD598. The M4U 1 actually trumps my DT770 in overall quantity.

I think a simple way to compare the M4U1 and the NAD is NAD = M4U1 less laid back and a bit more clear and more of that RoomFeel thing.
If you scoot over to the NAD thread, there's always some people who's got an unfortunate problem with comfort while some say it's the best comfort ever.
I doubt that Paul Barton's next headphone will have the same ergonomics as the NAD though.
Cheers for the upcoming PSB headphone later this year!

"Cheers for the upcoming PSB headphone later this year!"
 
I am excited!

Hi Bansaku,
 
If you had to pick one; the HD598 or the M4U1, which one would you pick? I know one is a open and the other a closed headphone but I have the choice of only buying 1 (M4U1 abit more expensive but not too much) and would like to hear your thoughts since you own both.
 
Thanks!

@lionheart222  Lets just say that my HD598 have been sitting on the rack unused for some time now. My DT770s are sold and my T70 are up for sale on Kijiji. Truthfully, this all came about after I completed a DIY custom balanced dual plug double shielded cable; it really makes a difference. I am however keeping the HD598 as they are my #2 headphones and still enjoy them. Plus, I am actually thinking of doing a 3.5mm dual plug balanced re-cable mod. All in all, the M4U 1 has much better dynamics, while the HD598 feel invisible on your head.

Nice! Thanks for your response. What is the custom balanced dual plug double shielded cable mod you speak of? What does it achieve?

Thanks for writing this review! I think it's one of the most detailed reviews iv'e ever read(not only of headphones).

For the last few days iv'e been looking around for new headphones to buy and i'm almost sure what i wanna get, but i do have one last concern which i guess is stupid considering the great sound you and a lot of others around the internet said these have. How do they perform in games?(if you got to play any with them)

and again thanks for writing this awesome review
 

@GlassNight Thank you! No inquiere is stupid, only the answers.
 
I am an avid PC gamer. Over the years at one point I have owned virtually every brand of gaming headset such as Creative, Corsair, Turtle Beach etc. They are all garbage; Generic drivers with a mic and a whole lot of bling. Only Sennheiser does a gaming headset any justice.
 
To answer your question, how does the M4U 1 perform in games? Unbelievably fantastic! Most modern games use some sort of built in 3D sound engine and the M4U 1 renders it perfectly. There have honestly been times when playing a game and the ambient sounds literally made me turn my head. I have a budgie and it likes to squawk. I was playing FarCry 3 and a bird started squawking and I swore it was my bird, even yelling at it to shut up only to have my wife look at me puzzled. Just last night I was playing GTA V and I again thought the police were outside my complex (not unusual). I often find myself just standing there in World of Warcraft, Diablo III, or The Witch 3 immersed in the beautifully rendered score.

Thanks for the answer and the fast response, it's good to hear it performs in games as well as it does in other thing. i think iv'e made my decision.

Awesome review, many thanks!
I just hope you learn how to be a little more articulate, this review was so short...
 
All kidding aside, I appreciated the detail which shows how passionate you are about these. I've had my eyes (ears) on these for a while. I've had the pleasure of 2 quick demos and each time I walk away wanting more... I'm torn...I can pick these up for $192 with a Verizon Wireless deal, but I've been holding off to demo the Oppo PM3, which I haven't seen a bad review for yet.
 
Thanks for confusing me further!!

@jinxy245 Thanks for your kind words, and it's my goal in life to add confusion!
 
Have you been checking out the M4U 1 Impressions thread? Regardless, let me answer my own question. According to owners of the PM3 and M4U 1, adding an aftermarket OCC copper cable is the deal breaker favouring the PSBs. When I did my review I used a solid core OFC coper aftermarket cable; The stock cable, in all honesty, is garbage. Seriously, virtually any aftermarket 3.5mm cable sound better. However, I recently made my own dual-plug OCC cable (and rewired one of my 2 Grado SR60i with the same cable) and the difference in speed, transparency, and holographic imaging is stark, almost to the point of night and day.
 
If you were to go ahead and grab the M4U 1 for $192 (that's not only an awesome price, but the headphones are very hard to come by in stock) and buy (for example) an Oyaide 3.5mm OCC cable, your ears will be forever happy.

I confess to shying away from most impression threads. There's so much gushing and bashing, it can be hard to get a handle on what's reality & what's someone trying to convince themselves that they made a good purchase (perhaps they're coming from Beats or the like, so of course they sound fantastic).
 
I usually stick to reviews, and I like the "know quantities" such as Tyll, Brent Butterworth, Steve Guttenberg, etc.If I read enough of their reviews, I can come close to confidently purchasing without a demo...but I still want to demo.
 
The only thing that gives me pause is that the Wirecutter (I enjoy all of their opinions) is the only site that raves about the PSB...most seem to prefer the NAD (they too sound great from my brief demos, but seem to have a softer treble, and definitely less bass to my ears). Everyone seems to have the Oppo on their top list. I know that doesn't make it a better headphone ( I happen to Agree with Brent and like the ATH M40x a little bit more than the 50X). I already know I like the PSB sound signature more than the Senn. Momentum (I have the 1st Gen) and the Senn have way more reviews (almost all positive) but that's why I think I have to listen for myself.
 
There is a dealer in NYC I can make my way to, and that'll cinch the deal, I think. Maybe I'll get lucky, I'm going to the NY Audio Show & the NYC Head Fi meet (in CT, of course). Maybe someone at one of those venues will have the Oppo... I kinda doubt that the Oppo would be worth twice as much as the PSB, though...
 
Thanks again for your thoughts & reply. I've already looked up a couple of good replacement cables.

Thank you - great review and incredible written and thought out. You should do this for a living!

Great review Bansaku!! Very detailed and clear. I'm about to get an upgrade from my ATH-M40x and i was thinking of getting the PSB M4U1 although i saw that the B&O BeoPlay H6 was cut down to $250. What would you recommend? Should I stick with getting the PSBs?

@donpd  Thank you! Admittedly it has been a few years since I have heard the H6. My first impressions was that they felt premium with all that metal and high grade leather. Sound-wise, to answer your question, when I was in the market for an on-the-go circumaural headphones, the H6 were a contender; I decided to go with the Sennheiser Momentum. If I could only keep one pair of headphones in my inventory, I wouldn't give a second though about keeping the M4U 1 (although it would be heat-breaking to give up my Meze 99 Classics). Now, if I could only keep one pair of headphones for on-the-go I would keep the Momentums. It's not that you couldn't wear the PSBs outside, it's just that they are what I consider full-sized and in my opinion are a tad bulky (and kind of makes one look like a sci-fi hipster).