If you’re going to bash a wonderful set of cans like this, at least tell us what music you listened to and, more importantly, what amp and sources you used. My experience with these headphones using a Burson Soloist backed by a mid-five figure main system and listening to primarily jazz is quite different than yours. I think they are exactly what they are intended to be - a more user-friendly version of the hd800.

At the time my dac was Hegel HD10. As an amp I mostly used SPL phonitor but I also had chord Mojo, gustard h10 and Burson Soloist SL. I preferred the Phonitor.

I listened to various sort of music but admittably very little if any jazz. I have about 30 "test songs" of rock,pop,classical,folk,edm,rap that I know very well which I use evaluating every headphone. Thing is that no source or music will change the fact that hd700 has sucked out upper midrange, allmost 10db treble peak and bass rolls of after 200hz. Those things are clearly audible and you can see them in every measurement out there.