These are easily the best headphones I have. They are a strange set in that they have a nice flat neutral sound signature that gives great detailed mids and highs, but have great sub and mid bass, that is so accurate and warm but doesn't effect the neutrality of the other frequencies. Bass has a slam and presence that make them so much fun to listen to. It at no point though takes over, this is not a set with just bassheads in mind (even though they'd be more than happy with them), it is for those who like to hear the music as produced, possibly even to analytical stage.
 
The HP100 just does everything right. For me they easily outperformed my Senn HD650 and AKG K550. They are equally as detailed but with much needed bass presence that they both don't have. 650 users will dispute this, but it's what I hear even amp'd properly. They are also easier on the ears than the Grado sr80es I had, but again with similar detail and resolution. Everything just falls into place no matter the genre.
 
Highs - crisp and cymbals and drums have an attack and decay a little similar to HD25ii's.
 
Mids - Vocals are great, they sit nicely in the centre and have great tone for both male and female singers. Guitars have energy and can be mildly aggressive but not in a bright fatiguing way.
 
Lows - The bass on these as i said is just remarkable imo. I'm hearing bass in a way I never have before, hearing the bass cords in Queen songs that I've only faintly heard even though i've been a mega fan since i was a teen. It is so much fun. Bass at no point bleeds into the mids as it behaves itself.
 
Soundstage - Widest I've heard in a closed back. Great imaging and placement. Great depth. Those who enjoy hearing big orchestras will enjoy placing the various instruments.
 
These are fantastic for movies, watching the new Star wars is a joy. You can follow those Tie-Fighters as they zip across the sky and those light saber battles you'll watch over and over again. I'd guess gamers will love them too for similar reasons, very 3D.
 
Vs HP150s
 
I've had the HP150s too, anyone that says they should sound the exact same since they use similar parts need to actually judge them side by side. The HP150s are aggressive up top and sibilance is a major problem. Bass is done better on the hp100s too, much better. They are similar in the mids though and in soundstage. Comfort wise they are both super comfy and you can wear them for hours on end without distraction.

*Soundmagic replaced this Headphone for the HP151 and also has a higher end model HP-1000 now available

Bought these cans on sale, once i put the vocal/dubstep/beats tracks on, i was extremely amaze. These headphones is way to balance yet its not really fun like v shape cause there not balance. but you'll love hearing it on and off. the bass is perfect where it is, like other reviews. if its bass song, then it will turn into its full potential, but if its not, then it will have a decent bass, had the ath m50 and the m50 has a little more punch than the soundmagic but does not beat in its details. love these headphones even if i broke it in like three months, going to buy for my collection though whenever it come on sale.

 had promised to review my Soundmagic HP100s (though I don’t quite remember whom I promised that ). To hell with my memory! I have learnt a lot here at Head fi and would like to give something back to Headfi as well. Now they have had enough of time for burn in and should now be sounding their best. They were very good out of the box as well.
 
The Soundmagic HP100s are great over ears and if you can afford the inevitable stares they would be great for the commute as well. There is a lot to love about this headphone when paired with an amp that has tame treble with a pronounced low end. I used the Matrix M-Stage HPA-2 and was very happy. I even plugged into an Onkyo TX SR804 receiver and was very, very happy.
 
 A receiver is an alternative to amps that people don’t consider and sometimes they work really well. To begin with there are so many things that you could change about the music (a proper EQ for one) and different sound modes.  And once you get used to it, it just seems more rewarding. But headphone amps have their own advantages, portability and the ability to directly connect to your PC(most of them) being an advantage. Some headphone dac+amps are indeed better than recievers they are intended for that purpose, listening to the music you like on the headphones you like and they can be cheaper.
 
Back to what I wanted to tell you about, the Soundmagic HP 100.
 
Read the complete review here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/745263/soundmagic-hp100-review#post_11105185

  This is a review of the SoundMagic HP100 over the ear full sized closed headphone. I received this as one of my first mid-fi headphones about 6 months ago, and I have to say though I had just received the DT 990 pros a day before these I was undoubtedly impressed with the sound quality and comfort of the headphone. This headphone is top notch and one of the best closed headphone options you can choose under 300$. I had spent a few months with it, and my preferences being on over the ear open headphones I was surprised how much time I spent listening to this headphone. Let me get into a bit more details on why that was, at least for myself and what I heard and felt about this phone.
 
BUILD/Comfort: 
 
      Top notch, in the sense that these definitely feel like a 300$ headphone in comparison to what is out there currently. The design is made of a mixture of plastic and metal, but the plastic is higher quality and holding them in hand, though they are not too heavy, they feel sold and that they have a nice finish. Their is aluminum underneath the headband but it is a flexible source of design where one can extend this band very far given one's head width. I have a larger skull and these headphone never caused me pain for long hours of use(long is generally 6hours+) and the ear pads though they were my lesser desired pleather  material they had a very soft and high quality texture. Some owner's complained about the depth of the ear cup with the current stock pads, and I understand that perhaps for some ears that would be a less comfortable scenario. I have decent sized ears, and I have never experienced discomfort, and I remember putting velours on this phone and I have to say with them they become the most comfortable over the ear headphone I have ever worn let alone owned. I do believe the gripes about comfort or only ever about ear pads depth which can be easily remedied for a much more comfortable headphone than one would expect. As far build design only gripe is the detachable cable being custom to their own design with a locking mechanism, and this making it more difficult to get a custom cable for the headphone of higher quality. Minor gripes all in all, this deserves a 4.5/5  For comfort and build
 
Sound quality:
    Sound stage: Decently good especially considering this is a closed headphone, which tend to lack stage and excel in something like more bass impact. But this headphone does well in having a decent sound stage, granted nothing like DT 990s or even better a AKG K701's.. but come one this headphone cannot have it all. 4/5 (for a closed headphone)
  
    Lows: Very well controlled, with nice tight percussion, which I prefer. It does have decent extension in the low's as well but one thing it may be lacking in body and warmth when it comes to the bass I like control, impact, body, and extension. With this phone you will find almost all of these acquired but the body really.   4.5/5( overall very enjoyable lows)
 
   Mids: Now I think this headphone excels in this as far a bit more forward mid range, and  while listening to something Counting Crows I was kind of dumbstruck about how much I felt him singing in the same room as me. I have read that some one thought them too dry at times, and I will be honest I did not hear that if anything they are slightly warm and have a fuller more forward sound. 5/5
 
   Highs: There is solid detail retrieval in all three ranges, and highs are no exception of this. I would say they have a brightness, and this grants detail and a bit of energy at the sacrificing of being a little to bright at times. Where you will here harshness listening to something like a modi and magni coupling. I do believe it is not near the level of the DT 990s and some other like headphones. But I did not want to leave it out in case someone bought them after reading this. Highs are well done none the less 4/5
 
 Now when it comes to taking the small sections I had wrote about and putting the information together I can honestly say this is one of the best headphones I have used in the sub 300$ pricing. I am comparing this too hp's like DT 770s, Shure 440, 840, ATH M-50s, and others that have slipped my mind. This headphone does not disappoint and I ended up selling my own at my great dismay due to health issues and struggling finances. I will be honest for a closed headphone it is fantastic in all aspects that I prefer and desire. I am not going to say that I am going t buy it again soon, but that is because I am buying it's open brother  the HP200 which I know wills suit my preferences even more. I will say however that if I end up needing and having to purchase a closed headphone again, this is with out a doubt the one I am buying. That should say something being that I am stingy when it comes to making purchases for myself.

 
Where I stood when I got these: I was using the AKG K141 MKII's. The source for these had been gradually improving for the approximately 18 months I'd had them, going from a EU capped iPod Nano 2nd gen, adding a cMoyBB v2.03, then as My academic year started, being that I was constantly with my laptop I went with the ODAC-cMoyBB-K141 until I got the iBasso DX50 (Very good synergy with K141). Not wanting to have to play at ear-damaging levels to drown out commute noises, I wanted a closed design and, after scouring the Head-fi reviews and FS forums, decided to go with these (2nd hand).
 
Being 2nd hand these were already burnt in, so I went ahead and gave a quick 2 minute listen and was...... very underwhelmed. At this point it is worth mentioning that my previous upgrade had been from Skullcandy Aviators to the AKG's, which had a massive "stepping up" factor. As I was expecting a repeat of this experience I was let down.
 
Fast forward a few hours and I begin my more serious evaluation using the iBasso DX50 as the source and this tracklist plus a few more. It took about 10 minutes to be reminded how silly a 2-minute listen is as an evaluation tool, and a further 10 to realize that this pair of cans and I were to form a beautiful friendship, in which would get to know each other very well.
 
Well, I've had them for long enough to have a well formed opinion now so Here it is:
 
Comfort/Design:
I find the numbered clicks for each can dead handy. Just pop it to your required number on either side, and you're good to go. No fiddling to find your size every time they come out of the carrying case.
They fit snugly over my ears, and the faux leather seems to me to be of decent quality, more than good enough for me, if a bit sweaty in the subtropic summers I endure.
I was fortunate to receive them with both the HP200's straight cable, and the HP100's coiled one. I found the original cable annoying at times bearing a wee bit too much weight on the ear and making the headphones feel slightly uneven. IMO, you should go with the straight cable if possible.
I was slightly concerned that some reviews said they were just that little bit too shallow as I have smallish but sticky-out ears, but I found no issues, and should you find that your ears are too big for the cups, there are some remedies for that in this thread.
 
Drive-ability:
I'm no expert on how these things work, but I'll combine what I've understood from reviews with my experience, so some of this is to be taken with a pinch of salt:
 
32 Ohms, as I gather, is a lowish impedance, and should not present much of a problem to drive, but the rather large 53 mm drivers detract from the lower impedance. All this makes for a "not completely easy to drive headphone". I don't have that many possible sources, but I wouldn't recommend these for smart-device users who plan on having just the one device.
With a clean source (so no double amping) a cMoy will drive them well enough to my taste, but I can easily say I prefer the DX50 for sound. (Sending DX50 for repairs soon, Fiio E18 on it's way here, shall update with side by side comparisons along with the Serato Itch DAC/Amp/DJ controller and ODAC with various amps and a Galaxy Note 8.0).
 
Isolation:
These won't drown out everything, and sitting on the back of a bus you can still hear a slight drone of the engine, but I am satisfied with their Isolation properties. They will drown out most noises, and once you "get into" your music the extraneous noises that do manage to seep through are not loud enough to be a factor.
 
Bass:
With no bleed whatsoever into the rest of the frequency range these deliver a clean, well detailed bass. Present when needed, never overbearing, these cans will give basshead cans a run for their money because they deliver all the bass a basshead might need, without messing up, well, everything else. For music which does not require major bassness, the base is tame and controlled. This is highly evident in older recordings. A much deeper bass extension than the AKG K141's, these can pack a punch but it isn't "in your face". I think a good analogy would be a well trained guard dog. It knows when to attack, but isn't always aggressive.
 
Mids:
Beautiful. Highly detailed. On a well recorded track you can hear the pops and sighs of singers, the thump of the guitar pick, and as a once-violin-player I'm pretty sure I heard a lack of resin on the bow in an Anomie Belle track.
 
Highs:
This is where I have trouble giving a proper review. My upper register is very slightly impaired. But I shall do my best do give a decent point of reference. It seems to me that the AKG's have slightly more detail, at the cost of being slightly brash, and somewhat sibilant - hence fatiguing. The HP100's do not have that issue, but have my a smidgeon less detail.
 
Soundstage:
These rival a few open-backed headphones that I have heard in the sense of pure "distance", but the lack of airiness that comes with a closed headphone detracts from that "it's not really on your head" feeling that you can get with opens. That being said these have the best soundstage I've heard in a closed can. Truly spacious. Very surprising.
 
Layering/Separation:
These provide great instrument separation allowing you to focus on a great variety of different sonic elements in your music
 
I would be comfortable recommending these to anyone with a dedicated DAP, DAC/Amp, or amp. The really do envelope you in the music you're listening to no matter the genre. I use them at home as well.
 
Hope you like the review, hope it helped!

Review on the SoundMAGIC HP100

---

Due to this review section, some of my images and text have been cut in half and what not, so I have posted this review in the forum section. The full version can be found here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/714125/review-soundmagic-hp100-the-natural-all-rounder-headphone) Apologies for the inconvenience.

Introduction

It's been a while since my last review, but I'm back with another one on the closed-back, SoundMAGIC's HP100. I bought these headphones as an alternative to my HP200's and as an upgrade to my formerly owned, MrSpeakers' Mad Dog 3.2, as an open-back was not convenient for me as I had originally thought, and that the Mad Dog's were too veiled and dark sounding for my taste. Anyways, not long after selling the Mad Dog's, I decided to pick up these from my local, friendly audio store, Noisy Motel, and I haven't looked back ever since. 
 
(Usually I have a "Pictorial Unboxing" section, but I decided to cut that out since they're almost identical to that of the HP200's, which can be found in my review, here. Aside from that, I'll incorporate some of the main accessories that were exclusive to the HP100 and not the HP200. 
 
***NOTE: Pictures in this review are of the HP100's with Fischer Audio FA-003 pads on top of the original pads. It should be noted that the sound analysis was done with stock pads.***

---

 

---

Review

 

 
 

Specifications

(Source: http://noisymotel.com/product.asp?ProductID=486)
 

Build Quality & Design/Function Analysis

 


 
 
The HP100's overall build and presentation is rather elegant in the sense that it has the basic looks of your standard headphones - not too flashy. The build in general is of a sturdy construction, made of high quality plastics with rubberized and high-gloss surfaces, along with a thick, rubber-coated cable. It does not feel flimsy, nor does it feel of bad quality, so one would assume it would last a long time, if taken care of properly. Now, time to break it down into smaller chunks.
 

(Bird's-eye view of the HP100)
 
Headband: It has a thick, solid core, presumably, consisting of mostly plastic and a thin piece of metal that runs through the headband from/to the height adjusters. It feels bulky in width, which to me, is a good thing, as now I know it won't snap due to flimsiness. Under the headband is a nice, plush strip of cushion that makes the comfort all the better. All of this is wrapped in a very soft and pliable pleather, which is very smooth, and feels superbly comfortable on the head. 
 
Height Adjuster & Swivel Mechanics: The adjustment per side of the headphone can prove to be stiff at times in terms of its sliding ability, but it does make solid clicks per increase/decrease in height, and does not move up and down from strong movements, so it can be said that it's firm and will stand its ground. The swivel also makes strong clicks, and maintains its position with each click. The slide and swivel is in no way loose. 
 
Ear Cups & Ear Pads: The ear cups are of a nice, high-gloss plastic, with a grid design on it. Not much to say on it besides that. Although, as it is high-gloss, it does attract fingerprints very easily, so SoundMAGIC provides a cleaning cloth specifically for this issue, as shown below.
 

(Included VIP card from SoundMAGIC for purchasing their higher-end products & cleaning cloth)
 
The ear pads found on the HP100 are very plush, and soft and are made of a pleather material. They are an over-the-ear design, and fit right around the ear. What I despised about these ear pads, is that although they are incredibly comfortable, the depth of the pad is not so deep. You'll often find the drivers touching your ears, which in no way affects the sound quality, but it does become bothersome. What I did was overlap a set of Fischer Audio FA-0003 pads on top of the stock pads to improve comfort, seal, and pad depth. Did this alter the sound? Not much at all, to be honest. 
 
Cable Entry: The cable entry into the headphones is single-sided, and it utilizes a proprietary cable. The cable entry is an "insert and twist" (locking) mechanism, which to some, is okay, but for me (and many others, I'm sure), this means it'd be harder to replace the cable if it ever becomes damaged. 
 
This brings me onto the cables...
 
Cable: The cable is a 1.2 meter coiled cable. It comprises of a thick, rubber outer-coat, and terminates in a 3.5mm proprietary jack, and a 3.5mm jack that has a screwing mechanism for a 6.3mm adapter. The cable as a whole, is rather stiff, and the coil section is a bit too sprung together which it requires more than usual effort to stretch out. I found this cable to be annoying at times, as when sitting at a table and having the cable hang down, the top of the coil tends to get caught under the table top's edge, and hence, pulls your head down. 
 

(The coiled cable)
 
Case: A hard case with a reptile pattern, that uses a zip, and has a carabiner loop at the top for attachment of the carabiner. Not much else to it.
 
 
 

Sound Quality Analysis

 

 
The following analysis of the HP100's sound quality is done from this setup: iBasso DX50 > Pure Silver Interconnect > Neco Soundlabs Portable V4
 
 

Summary/Conclusion

The SoundMAGIC HP100 was a headphone I thoroughly enjoyed for what it was - a neutral sounding closed-back with amazing musicality.  If you're looking for a headphone to use in noisy environments, or just to enjoy in your own time, this headphone should be on your list of considerations, with it's great noise isolation, and superb sound in general. An amp will be needed to drive them to their full potential, but it is totally worth it. It has my recommendation (if that matters), and to me, it's a gift that keeps on giving. (I say this because I've noticed slight improvements over the period of time I've owned them, and I have yet to be bored of it)
 
 
The small company of SoundMAGIC, when in the big headphone world, has often been overlooked. I personally think this shouldn't be the case as they're headphones are one of a kind! I'm in no way affiliated with them, but I think they deserve more attention. Much more. 
 
 
 
Over & Out,
SkyBleu-

Introduction
After enjoying my re-branded Brainwavz HM5s for around 6 months, I decided that it was time to move onto the next best thing. Not that I got tired of my HM5s, but I just knew that there was something better out there. After looking around on Amazon, Head-Fi and a couple other websites and stumbled onto the Soundmagic HP100s. The looks really impressed me and although the headphones had very few reviews, every review that I read stated that they were one of the best headphones (if not, the best) within their price range. After doing a little bargain hunting for these headphones, I managed to find a deal on MP4Nation selling these headphones for $189 plus 2 day shipping. I'll post the link for the website right here --> http://www.mp4nation.net/soundmagic-hp100-closed-back-hifi-headphones-free-fedex-2-day-to-select-destination#review-form
 
First Impressions/Opening 
My first impressions of these headphones after opening them were that they looked incredible. The carrying case that the headphones themselves came in was very high quality and to me vaguely reminiscent of the case that V-Moda packages their headphones in. After opening the case, one would see the headphones, a cleaning cloth for the earcups, a warranty card, along with a little fishnet back strapped to the inside of the case by velcro that contains a 3.5 to 6.3 adapter, an airplane adapter as well as a carbiner for use with the carrying case. As for the actual headphones, the construction looked top-notch (quite a bit better than my HM5s) and the earcups with their mirror-like glossy plastic and their beige checkerboard-esque printed lines truly gave me a feast for my eyes. The company logo and the headphones model number are placed seamlessly at the center of the earcups. The earcups also rotate which means that they can be used as DJ headphones or in the instance that one would want to hear something that someone said, instead of taking the entire unit off, one could just swivel the cups. The headphones also come with a lock mechanism for the earcup plug to prevent removing of the plug in the instance of turbulence on the cable. One final remark I would like to mention about these headphones is that they come with a coiled cable. I know that some have problems with coiled cables because they add weight to the headphone and may hamper portability but to me, coiled cables are a Godsend as they save me the extra effort of having to switch between cables when I want to use my headphones with my PC or with my phone (something that I found myself doing quite often with my HM5s).
 
Sound
Now the part that is most important, the sonic capabilities of  these headphones. To be honest, I am not much of an audiophile so I cannot explain in detail every achievement or shortcomings regarding how these headphones sound, especially when the only other real headphones I've used were my HM5s and the V-Moda M80s which I've since sold. And while I cannot compare them to other headphones within their price range, what I've decided to do was to pick a total of 6 songs from different genres and state what my feelings where on how the headphones reproduced the sound. In addition, at the end of that segment, I will compare both the HP100 and my HM5s and they to elaborate more on the differences between the two headphones. As a point of reference, I have had my HP100s for around 2 months and any burn-in that will have been required to get the best sound out of these headphones has been completed. In addition, all audio for this test has not been amped and is coming straight from my PC.
 

1. Tremonti - Proof

Track 8 off of Mark Tremonti's debut album captures the essence of sorrow and the hope to rebuild and I'm happy to say that the HP100s capture this feeling wonderfully. Everything from the bass guitar to the crystal clear hit of the cymbals in the background and Tremonti's amazing 20 second solo were reproduced beautifully without fail.  Each hit on the bass drum was felt on my eardrums and never at any point cluttered the rest of the song. The amazing soundstage really helped to put together everything in this song as well.
 

1. Johnny Hammond - Lost on 23rd Street

Off of Johnny Hammond's 1975 album Gears, this song has instruments from all over the sonic spectrum to truly put to the test the HP100s claim to being a neutral can. While listening to this track, every single instrument that I heard came in and clearly played their part without stealing another another one's show or being themselves overshadowed. Bells, the saxophone, the keyboard, the bass guitar; you name it. Each was portrayed in their full integrity and the fact that these headphones were able to perform such an act to me is astounding.
 

1. Origa - Inner Universe

With a mix of opera elegance and modern electronic elements, Russian singer Origa's voice is brought to life by the HP100s. Each drop by the synthesizer is felt as the vivid bass is portrayed so naturally. Origa's voice, sounding so fully bodied and clear echoes and creates the illusion that you are listening inside of a concert hall, thanks to the amazing soundstage. This song is truly a treat to be listened to on these headphones.
 

1. John Horner -  A Kaleidoscope of Mathematics

This beautifully composed piece off of the soundtrack of the critically acclaimed movie "A Beautiful Mind" is reproduced wonderfully by the HP100s. Flutes sparkled, drums resonated, vocals mystified and string instruments danced elegantly as each instrument culminated to produce an overall wonderful listening experience. I realize that some say that closed back headphones don't have the soundstage to do classical music justice but to those I say this: Even if classical music can be reproduced better on open backs, these headphones do one hell of a job still giving you an experience that feels as though you are at an orchestra.
 

1. Dj Nat -  Theory of Everything 2

A nice dubstep song with a fair amount of drum and bass as well as some electronica thrown in for good measure to test the HP100s' bass response and its clarity as a result of its bass. I can honestly say that anyone looking for a decent amount of dubstep in their musical diet will not be disappointed. The bass response, while strong, does not drown out any other part of the music. Each drop was full,  presented wonderfully and eloquently followed by the electronic piano in the background. In my opinion, this headphone would be enough for any basshead (this also being confirmed by a couple of my friends who are bassheads who tried my HP100s and feel in love with them).
 

1. Nas - You Wouldn't Understand

As I end my song review, I thought I'd conclude with my favorite rapper Nas and one of my favorite tracks off of his latest album, Life is Good. All the wonderful things that I stated about the bass on these headphones on the dubstep song carries over to this song. Although there are many more elements in this song especially in the vocals, the bass is still wonderfully portrayed. Percussion elements and vocals come in loud and clear and as the vocals fade out at the end of the song, I get the feeling of wanting 4 more minutes to give the song a listen again. 
 
 
Finally, compared to my HM5, the Soundmagics blow them out of the water. Practically anything pro you can think of in the HM5s is multiplied by 10 in the Soundmagics without any of the cons. The very first things that I noticed were much better in the Soundmagics than in my HM5s were the soundstage and the bass response. The soundstage in the HM5s to me was like listening to a 2.1 speaker system compared to the Soundmagics which were like listening to a 5.1 speaker system with a subwoofer. In addition, with my HM5s, I could at times enjoy rap and dubstep but always felt that there was something missing as the left earcup on those headphones is almost entirely devoted to treble and is almost completely devoid of bass. This was one thing that I enjoyed about my M80s when I had them; I very easily enjoyed the above two genres because they gave me the bass that I needed. The Soundmagics take it a whole step further and in addition to better bass, adds an amazing soundstage to complement the bass. 
 
Final Thoughts/Conclusion
 
Overall, I am very pleased with these headphones and their functionality. In every single genre that I have thrown at it, these headphones have managed to reproduce the sound effortlessly and mystify me into listening to more and more genres to see how these headphones will rise to the challenge. If this review is any indication of how these headphones will handle other genres, then I am sure to enjoy these headphones for many years to come. At an MSRP price of $199, you are getting one hell of a deal that you will not be disappointed in. My only regret is not getting an amp to pair with these headphones as I can only imagine how much more impressed I will be when I find a great DAC and amp.
 
P.S. 
 
For those reading, this was my very first review of a pair of headphones and I welcome any criticism to this review. If I left anything out of this review that you would have liked me to answer, a comment helping me to improve on ways to become a better reviewer would be amazing. Thanks in advance!
 
 
UPDATE - 12/04/2016
 
             Over 3 years later, I can truly say that my Soundmagics have served me well. Every single headphone I've purchased in the last 3 years have been compared to the HP100s and each time, my Soundmagics still seems to give me the best sound and bang for my buck. Unfortunately, damage to the hinges of the earcups on both sides have rendered my current pair nigh unusable. I'm firmly convinced that this is due to the tension on the earcups caused by the straight cable replacement that I received around 6 months earlier. The coiled cable that I so loved with these headphones saw a slow but steady decay over the period of the first 2.5 years I owed my Soundmagics. By the time I finally convinced myself to pay up for another cable, I was very disappointed to learn that SoundMAGIC was no longer making the coiled cable for their headphones. I contacted SoundMAGIC and they promptly had one of their distributors in Minnesota send me a replacement cable with the extension, free of charge (Mad Props to SoundMAGIC!). I like to move around when I listen to my music but because the straight cable had no flexibility to move with me like the coiled cable did, the straight cable would often pull on things around my desk and would pull HARD on my headband in extreme cases. Finally, about three months ago, when I was putting on my pair to listen to some tunes, I noticed that the left earcup was sitting slightly lower on my head then the right earcup. Upon investigation, I found a significant fracture on the earcup holder right below the hinge; a similar but less severe crack was found in the same place on the right earcup holder. Prior to this, I had absolutely NO problems with the build construction and after 2.5 years at the time, they were still running strong with no visible damage. The final straw came a couple weeks back when I accidentally stepped on the extension cable while I was walking and the earcup holder on the left headband snapped clean off. I tried supergluing the broken part back to its original position to no avail.
 
So after 3 years of wonderful listening experiences, I was torn; do I move onto another headphone that could offer me better or worse performance to what I had been used to for so long or do I purchase another pair of Soundmagics but stay closed off to opportunities that could be better than what I've heard? As tortured as I was to move on from what had given me so much joy for such a significant period of my young audiophile life, lack of American distributors and a refusal to tolerate the straight cable that cause the downfall of my beloved HP100's from the HP150 forced me to look elsewhere for a period of time. After on and off searching for headphones, I happened upon the British SoundMAGIC division and saw that they had the HP100s, new in box and at a fraction of the price I originally paid for my pair. I ordered them about a week ago after an anxious, week long wait, got them in the mail yesterday. Now, honestly speaking, listening to the new pair and my old pair I can truly say they sounded pretty much identical, which is a VERY good thing. I've never really been one to believe in burn-in so YMMV but I'm happy I have another chance to listen and cherish one of the most important things that I've been able to experience in my entire life.  
 
For anyone wanting to find the link for the deal I got, here's two links that I found. They are named differently, but they are both the same distributor: --> http://soundmagicheadphones.com/collections/pro-headphones/products/soundmagic-hp100-closed-back-headphones-with-replaceable-cable
--> http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/soundmagic-hp100-foldable-closed-back-dj-monitoring-headphones-with-replaceable-coiled-cable.html

I've had these now for about 2 weeks now. I got these for a good price on ebay, they were open box, meaning the box was all beat up but the headphones were fine and in new condition, it's a win-win! I'm not as experienced as some members on here so if you'd like, take my review with a grain of salt. I also won't go into much depth as some reviewers do. My sources are Laptop>FiiO E10 and an ipod nano 5th generation. All music i listen to is mostly 320kbps with a few flacs and ogg vorbis. I also like to listen to my music at moderate to high levels, mostly electronic, synth/pop and some odds and ends like rock, rap and classic.
 
Comfort and Build Quality: 7/10 
When i first got them i was surprised on how comfy they looked and feeled, very squishy ear pads. I was also surprised how much they weigh. After a few days, the cons in comfort started to show. I can only wear these for about 90 minutes and then i have to take a break. First, my ears started to touch the drivers, the ear pads have flattened out slightly, but even before that, my ears were touching them. I even removed the foam that covers the drivers to get more depth for my ears, that only worked for a day or two and my ears started to touch again. I'm also not a fan of leather ear pads, but that's personal preference. I'm in the process of ordering some thicker velour ears pads. The other issue with comfort is that these things are heavy, especially with the coiled cable attached. They feel about twice as heavy as my HD 558's when they're on my head, hell, even when i'm holding them in my hands they feel that heavy. I don't have a accurate small scale so i can't give you facts. So that's comfort, i would give my HD 558's a 9.5/10 for comfort, so there's a comparison if you already have some comfy sennheisers. But then again, maybe your ears don't stick out as much as mine and you like heavy headphones with leather earpads, you'll love the comfort then. The build quality kinda ties into that stuff i mentioned, but other then that, this headphone is well built and will probably last me many years, as long as i don't toss them out of an airplane. 
 
Sound: 9/10
For the price of these, they are really good. I did notice some burn-in changes, whether it be from the drivers or my brain getting use to the sound, i don't know, all i know is that there was some slight changes. The sucked out lower mids some people talk about, i did hear in some songs. After a few days though, the sucked out lower mids seemed to disappear. That or i just got use to the sound signature. I switched back to my other headphones though and i couldn't pick it up, where as at first, i could. The bass might have gained a little power with burn in, the mids didn't change, the highs did get a little more clear.
 
***The sound stage, imaging and separation is decent compared to my HD 558s (558's being the best in the category) and is great compared to my MS-1's... lol, I don't really know what is good for a closed back headphone so i won't really touch on this. Although the sound stage and imaging is almost comparable to my modded 558's, it's more of the sound separation that's a little lacking. This could be an illusion, maybe from the resonating sounds coming back from the ear cups makes it cluttery at high volumes sometimes, i'm not sure, i'm not really the best person to ask about the sound stage and separation, i have a hard time picking up on it, probably because the music i listen to isn't full of dynamics like classical and jazz.
 
Sound isolation is good on these. They leak almost no sound at moderate levels, they will leak a little a high volume though. Although they do leak sound in a little bit. So if you're walking down the road with these on, you will definitely hear a car horn, i'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing -_- lol.. for example, most IEM will give you better sound cancellation. I don't know the specifics, but if i would have to guess, they cut down around 60% of the sound around you. Does that make sense? arghh, moving on..
 
Bass: The bass is pretty good and extends very low. It is a strange phenomenon, the songs that were made with bass in mind, have bass, while the songs that focus more on the midrange and highs, don't really have any bass. I almost always have bass boost switched on with my E10, and it does make a world of a difference. That's with just a $60 amp, who knows what other amps are capable of doing to these You can also EQ the lower frequency quite well with these. If i had to describe it, the bass is more thump and less kick and peppy. It's boomy, but not a sloppy mess, it's accurate, but not too accurate. It's like the bass is more focused on the lower bass frequency (80hz-120hz), the mid and high bass isn't as strong (150hz-500hz), maybe this is the mid bass/low mid suckout? I'm not sure, but it's hardly noticeable, some people were blowing it way out of proportion in my opinion.
 
Midrange: Very good midrange like my 558's, not much to say here, they're not laid back nor forward.. although for my tastes i think they're a little harsh, nothing the EQ won't handle though.
 
Treble: Not much to say here either, pretty flat frequency response. The vocals are not too forward or laid back, i would personally like them to be a little more forward, but that could be my amp and EQ settings too. Oh, when i removed the foam that covers the drivers, the treble did brighten up a little bit, just how i like it. The treble is never harsh or fatiguing. It has really good extension for a closed headphone, i can hear all the way up to 16khz. Nothing really drops off anywhere. 
 
Also, the speed/attack of these headphones (is that a thing?) is moderate. They're not laid back, nor too fun, they're balanced in this regard. Which is great because fun headphones do get fatiguing after a while and laid back gets boring after a while, for me anyways.
 
Overall, the sound is really good and flat. I had a hard time EQ the sound because it's already pretty much perfect (for me), most of the time i just left the EQ on flat. The midrange can get a little "in your face" and fatiguing i found. So now i have a very slight v-shaped EQ in winamp, it suits my preference better. Everybody is different though.
 
I like what some other reviewer wrote a while back. Something along the line of "For the $200 price tag, it's a great all rounder, there are better alternatives for specific genres of music, but the HP100's does pretty much everything well." It's a jack-of-all-trades kinda headphone, although i also think this jack-of-all-trades is also an expert in a few genres like electronic, rock and rap/hip-hop. 
 
I know my average makes the rating 4/5 stars, but i'm going to give these a 4.5/5 stars because most people think these headphones are really comfortable, i must be the odd ball out or something. Plus lets be honest, it's all about the sound, amirite? The sound these produce for $200 is really good. I'm still a little confused about the frequency response chart, i can't find any frequency response graphs on headroom or golden ears. I don't hear the dip in the midrange except for the mid-high bass a little. I actually tried to EQ it flat (looking at the frequency response on the box and then doing the opposite) and it sounded horrible. I think there's some sort of illusion soundmagic is pulling with these, the frequency response is outta wack but the perceived response is actually quite flat with a little emphasis on the lower bass. 
 
Anyways, this is my first review on here, if i missed something or if something doesn't make sense, feel free to let me know! I wanted to write this before a start doing anymore mods to these (currently just the foam removed). I'm getting new ear pads to see if that helps with the comfort factor. I also might try some damping in the back of the ear cup. I don't modify because i'm not happy with the sound, it's just the potential is all, there might be potential, every headphone can be improved with some mods, in my opinion.

Introduction

SoundMagic is a quite well-known Chinese IEMs and Headphones manufacturer, founded in 2005. Over the years, SoundMagic was known for their cheap bang for the buck IEMs, such as the PL50s, the E10s and others.  Earlier this year, a new model in their website caught my eye; it was called the HP100, and it was SM’s first full-sized headphones. Knowing that SoundMagic’s products are said to be of very good quality, I was immediately interested in reviewing the HP100s. Apparently, SoundMagic made some changes in this model since January, and the finished HP100s were finally released to the market at June’s-end. They retail for around $200, which is a pretty competitive price-range, as there are lots of headphones which retail around the same price. Let’s see if SoundMagic’s first full-sized headphones offer as good bang for the buck value as their IEMs.

Before we’ll start, here are the technical specifications of the SoundMagic HP100s:  

Driver: 53mm Dynamic Neodymium

Frequency Range: 10Hz ~ 30KHz

Impedance: 32Ω+-10%Ohms

Sensitivity: 95±3DB at 1KHz/mw

Maximum Input Power: 100mw

Cable Length: 1.2m

Plug: 3.5mm, L style plug gold-plated

Weight: 288g





Packaging: The Packaging is a white cardboard box, which looks quite simple but does its job quite well. It has a picture of the HP100s on its front, a frequency response graph on its side, and a few drawings of its positioning options on the other side, while its back has some technical specifications, explanations about the product and drawings of the accessories.

Accessories: SoundMagic provides a quite solid pack of accessories. First, is a hard shell-case, which looks a bit too-similar to V-MODA’s “exoskeleton” case, both in the shape and the color-scheme. It protects the headphones very well, and has an inner-pocket to store the accessories in. A small metal Karabiner, which can clip the case to your bag, is included too. There are two kinds of adapters provided too; one is a flight adapter, and the other one is a screw-on 3.5mm to 6.35mm plug adapter. Because the HP100′s cups are quite glossy and shiny, they’re fingerprint-magnets, but fortunately, a cleaning cloth is included too. Last but not least, a 1.2m long detachable cable (3.5mm to 3.5mm with lock mechanism) is provided either. It would’ve been great if another cable, a straight and not coiled one, would’ve been provided, as some people do not really like coiled cables. Also a replacement pair of ear-pads could’ve been nice, though in my opinion, another cable would’ve been more important.  The rating is 9/10.

the cable and the included adapters​

Building Quality & Design: The HP100s are very well-built, and they feel quite tough and sturdy. The quite flexible headband is covered with a thick pleather layer, while plastic ear-cups which feel quite strong and tough, are covered with shiny metal-plates, with SoundMagic’s logo on it. The cups can fold to 90 and 180 degrees, and they can also be rotated a bit on their pivots. The fold-hinges are very tough and strong, and they integrate nicely with the extending arms, which have numbers up to 10 on them, that help a lot with the headphones’ positioning. The user-replaceable ear-pads are made of the same-material as the headband’s coating layer. There are big left and right markings printed on a plastic-piece which connects the extension-arms to the headband. The cable is a detachable one, which connects and locks into a single-sided 3.5mm connection-point in the left headband. Unfortunately, due to the use of a locking-mechanism, only the supplied cable can be used. The coiled-cable has strong and big strain-reliefs on both of its sides, and overall, it feels quite durable. Overall, the HP100s are not as tough as the TMA-1s, but they come quite close, and their construction and build quality are very satisfying. The rating is 9/10.

the cable’s locking mechanism​

Comfort & Fit: The HP100 is one of the most comfortable pairs of full-sized headphones that I ever had a chance to use, due to a few reasons: Their clamping-force is very low, which makes them a lot less fatiguing than some of the other headphones that I’ve tried. I know that a strong clamping force can sometimes ruin an experience with a good-sounding pair of headphones, but well, this isn’t the case here. The second reason is that the HP100s are very well padded. The ear-pads and the headband are both padded with a thick but quite soft pleather, which is very pleasant to touch. The ear-pads are pretty deep and they can easily fit my ears inside them. The next reason is that their weight (about 280 Grams, not too light, but not too heavy either), is very well divided, so it isn’t too felt. The fit is secure and the headphones don’t feel like they’re going to fall from your head at all. Overall, the comfort is a very strong point of the HP100s, I was very happy with it. The rating is 9.5/10.



Isolation: As the HP100s are mostly intended to be used at home or indoors, the isolation isn’t the most important thing, but they do isolate quite decently. They isolate better than Audio Technica’s A700s, but worse than AiAiAi’s TMA-1s. The rating is 7/10.

Sound Quality: The HP100s were given a burn-in time of about 70 hours, no noticeable changes were detected.

The HP100s utilize huge 53mm drivers, which produce a quite natural, balanced accurate and smooth sound-signature, and overall, an un-fatiguing one. It should be noted that an iPod might struggle a bit driving these headphones due to their low sensitivity (95 dB), so I do recommend pairing these headphones with an amp. I personally paired them with the GoVibe Mini-Box MKII, which managed to drive them quite well.

the HP100′s frequency response graph (pictured from their packaging)​

The Bass: I was quite surprised that headphones which utilize a 53mm sized driver produce such a light and tight low-end, but it is by no means cold, thin or weak, vice versa, it feels quite full, it has a nice body to it. Quantity-wise, it’s about neutral. It’s very clean and quite clear, and it doesn’t bleed to the mids at-all. I find it’s detailing to be great, but it doesn’t throw the details “to your face”. The bass’ speed is decent, but nothing more than that. It extends quite low, a bit less than V-MODA’s M80s, but its resolution in the lowest-regions is quite better than the M80s’.

The Midrange: The HP100′s midrange is not forward, but it is not recessed either, apart from its upper registers (around 900 to 2k), which feel a bit “hidden”, missing and overshadowed by the other frequencies. The midrange has plenty of details in it; even the smallest and most minor vocal nuances can be easily heard due the drivers’ great detailing. As the bass, also the mids have a great clarity and cleanness. Smoothness can be found over the whole midrange, and because of that, I wasn’t really able to detect any sibilance in the vocals.

The Treble: The highs extension is great, one of the best things that these headphones do in terms of sound, though some of the highest notes are placed in the background, rather than in the front. The treble is never harsh; actually, it is very smooth. The treble has a nice amount of sparkle, and the detailing is as good as in the other frequencies.  The timbre feels quite natural and realistic, every guitar note sounds very good.

Sound-Stage & Imaging: The HP100s definitely have a great sound-stage, it is quite bigger than the TMA-1′s and M80′s sound-stage, depth, height and width-wise. Imaging feels quite realistic and true, overall, it’s above average. Instruments separation is good enough, but it does lack some airiness.

The rating for the “Sound-Quality” section is 9.5/10. It is given in ratio to the headphones’ price-tag at the time of writing this review.



Final Conclusions

SoundMagic’s first full-sized headphones are great, a solid first attempt for the company in the full-size market. The HP100 is a great all-rounder headphones, and they have no real weak points, they do everything well, and they’re even better when considering their value for the price. Their sound-signature is quite versatile, and it fits easily almost any music genre; from classic music & jazz to techno, rap & mainstream music, they do justice to each one of these genres. Comfort, which is sometimes an “Achilles heel” within some headphones, is great and non-fatiguing. The final rating is 9.6/10.

Where to Buy? The MSRP of the SoundMagic HP100s is about $200. It can be purchased from SoundMagic’s authorized dealers, which a list of can be found here.

This review was re-posted from my reviews & news website "It's A Headphones Thing". Check it out for some more IEMs and Headphones reviews. http://iahpt.wordpress.com/

Sound Magic HP 100 ($165 Used)  
 
Personal Back-Story  
 
In the search for a can with the dt 880 sound and the isolation of a closed headphone I came across the sound magic hp 100!
 
Pros: Comfort, isolation, carrying case, detachable cord, clean sound, wonderful sound stage
 
Cons : lack of lower mids and upper bass [easily fixed by the w1000x Pads], also needs to be modified for bass improvement
 
Build [5/5]
 
 
Specs
Closed operating principle
Driver: Dynamic 53mm Neodymium Drivers
- Frequency range: 10Hz～30KHz
- Impedance: 32Ω (±10%)
- Sensitivity: 95dB/mW @ 1KHz (±3dB)
- Maximum input power: 100mW
- Cable length: 1.2m (3.5ft) coiled
- Connection: 3.5mm gold plated plug
- Weight: 288g
 
Ease of Use [Comfort/Fit/Isolation] [4.5/5]
Perfect, fit’s like a glove. The comfort is wonderful and the isolation is impressive!
Price to Performance : [5/5]
For the price it performs just as well as the K550, not to mention a New Sound Magic costs the same as a Used K550. Either way it’s a great bargain!
 
Complimentary Genre:  None, works equally well with all genres
 
Sonic Test Process
 
Source Win 7[Foobar2000 WASAPI] -> oDac -> MonoPrice Premium Coaxial Cables -> Matrix M Stage [Lme 49990 OpAmp]
 
Headphone reference notes- I like to demo all headphones against my Beyerdynamic Dt 880, as they are a well know reference can.  Reference notes will always be in italics, and are included in the Video Reviews and Head Fi review posts.
 
Reference points, will be in bold italics.  In each of the seven reference songs I will specify what parts of the song I am listening to, to evaluate the 3 parts of the spectrum.  In addition to other aspects of the overall sound presentation.
 
           In addition, I always like details  presented in all frequances
Highs- looking for and evaluating air, nice extension and good energy and placement within sound stage
Mids- looking for and considering weight, body and tone
Bass- listening for, control, texture and punch/impact
 
          Sound Stage- reported after listening to all tracks
          Imaging –Track #3 and #4 are well mastered for 2D and 3D imaging
          Instrument Layering-reported after listening to all tracks
          Timbre- realism of sound, fun versus real
          Speed- ability to retain mirco-details  in ultra fast tonal shifts
Music Auditioned [All Lossless quality, tracks vary from 16 to 24bit]
 
Lisa Ekdahl [Sings Salvadore Poe] Of My Conceit {16bit 44100hrz sample}
          Vocal Jazz track,
Highs-  The upper range of the vocals and guitar notes
Mids- Lisa’s vocals, along with the lower notes on the guitar and piano
Bass- a touch of bass in the vocals and the lowest guitar  notes.
 
Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile [The Goat Rodeo Sessions ] Where’s my Bow? {16bit 44100hrz sample rate}
          This song is a new age classical composition.
Highs- upper most range of the stringed instruments, primarily of the, Viola, Violin
Mids- presented by all the stringed wood instruments
Bass- focus primarily on the Cello 
 
David Chesky- [Jazz In The New Harmonic]-Transcendental Tripping 
          New Age Jazz, Binaural  
Imaging- a binaural recording, a wonderfully real 3D presentation
Overall Balanced Sound Response  {Percussion}- looking for balance
Highs-drums, cymbals,Brass horns
Mids-Brass Horns,  upper mids of Double Bass, Piano 
Bass-Double Bass
 
Kenji Yamamoto-[Metroid Prime Sountrack[-Chozo Ruins {16bit 44000hrz sample} 
              Ambient Orchestral Sound Track 
Sound Stage- a very high energy and multi layered track, with so many individual pieces working together a large sound stage is crucial. In addition the tracks features a lot of fading sounds  
Balanced Frequency- The mood of the track set by the balance of frequency, any coloration takes away from the collective beauty of the track as a whole.
 
Benga [Invasion EP] Evolution {16bit 441000 hrz sample}
          Good ole Dub Step, -Will be Eq’d to determine how headphones handle eq
Highs- all about the cymbals,
Mids- Playful Brass horn like intro and outro, only notable mids
Bass- the Bass Wobble is the focus here

Metallica [Master Of Puppets] Welcome Home (Sanitarium) {16bit 44100hrz sample}
        Metal
Speed- this track features a very simple layering of instruments, but the mirco details in the guitar solo's make or break the track. 
Highs- guitar, cymbals classic metal tune, smooth sweet highs in the guitar
Mids- guitars, vocals, also looking for speed in the quick tactile hits of the guitar riffs
Bass-Bass Guitar R.I.P Cliff, only the best quality for his bass lines!
 
Matisyahu- [Live At Stubb’s]- Exaltation
          Live Reggae –listening for the little bits of extra noise that are often present in live music [detail retention]
Highs- Upper range of the guitar and the cymbals
Mids- Vocals, guitar and upper range of the Bass Guitar also taking note of the drums
Bass- all about that bass guitar and Kick Drum
 
Sound
           
          Sound Signature- Very clean, a slight tilt towards the central and upper mids. A very nice Sub Bass extension, but lacks a little mid bass. Overall very crisp clean headphone with nice mids.   Very Lean yet Lusher than Neutral
                             Again, adding the W1000x Stock pads, add a little meat to the sound, giving you fuller mids and bass with a slight increase in sound stage width and height!
 
Dynamics- Excellent, quick and effortless
Timbre- Very accurate, but a slight lack of mid bass… leads to an overly tight bass and mids. Low end sounds lack weight, leading to a leaner than life like timbre… but still very accurate. Not fake nor thin.
The addition of w1000x Pads leads to a slight boost in the Mid bass, giving the bass a much more real timbre!
Speed-  Very lean and quick, plenty of speed for metal! Yet lacks a little weight behind it’s speed.
          Sound Stage: 2D  image is very nice, instrument layering is good, nice sense of air in between instruments, how ever can get a little over whelmed with grandeur or elaborate tracks, anything featuring upwards of 8 or so instrumental layers. Lacks slightly in 3D space as well. 
 
Highs- Excellent, great airy presentation and energy, very detailed as well.
Mids-  Very smooth and detailed, vocals are silky smooth, yet very detailed, Guitars maintain a nice rich sound as well, although acoustic instruments can be a little too lean at times, still very pleasing.
Bass- VERY Deep and tight sub bass, mid bass lacks ever so slighty but still has plenty of attack, just needs a little more body.
[Modified with ATH w1000x Stock Pads] {+$50}
          Modification Improvements- The Stock W1000x Pads bring;

• a little more focus to the entire sound stage
• improved 2D and 3D imaging and instrument spacing
• Slightly forward yet magically delicate mids
• A gentle boost to mid bass body and attack  

 
Amplification Need or Suggested – These do not need an amp, but they pair nicely with a warm solid state or hybrid tube.  
 
Check out my Mid Fi SHOOT out thread for song by song Reviews, and check out my Blog for pictures :3 

I'm just going to jump right into the review. 
 
Specs:
Driver: Dynamic 53mm
Frequency response: 10hz-30khz
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 95db at 1Khz/mw
Max input power: 100mw
Cable length: 1.2m (4m extended)
Price: Around $200

Build Quality: These headphones are built very well. The headband is a very strong, and slightly flexible. It is made up of a metal and plastic. it is about 65% metal, and 35% plastic. The hinges on the cup are plastic, and are held together by metal screws. The headphones are easy to adjust, with up to 9 different sizes. They do require a little effort though, but it helps the headband not change size when you are wearing them. The cable is a coiled cable. It is nice and thick, and is firm enough to hold its shape, and not become tangled with normal use. The cable is removable. The headphones do fold up, making them portable. 

Comfort: These headphones are very comfortable. I have worn these headphones for over 8 hours, and have not have to adjust them at all. The pads are nice and squishy, using pleather for the pad material. The headphone pads themselves are a little shallow, but the extra padding inside the cup eliminates any discomfort from the ear laying against the driver grill. 
The seal on the headphones is a bit above average, but these headphones do leak noise. At 85% volume, my brother could hear the music from 6 feet away, while watching T.V. At around 2 hours of listening, my ears did become sweaty, as the pads don't really allow ear flow. I used these to mow my lawn, and my ears were pretty sweaty. The pads just don't allow much air flow. Very little. The headband pads are nice and squishy as well, and form nicely to the top of the head. 

Style: When you first look at these headphones, one may think "These headphones look silly." or "I would not want someone to see me with these on!". But when you put them on and look at them through the mirror, they look pretty nice. But the looks are subjective, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. The ear cups themselves are a glossy black color, with lines tanish color lines running through them, forming a grid. The SoundMAGIC logo is displayed, showing 2 quarter notes facing each other above it, and below it, the HP100 model name. (HP100) On the headband, you can see a blue square with an L in it, marking the left side, and a Red square with an R in it, marking the right side. On the inside of the headband, to the left, there is writing that says: "Designed and Manufactured by SoundMAGIC" To the right, it has an CE marking, and it says "Made in China". The cable is coiled, and black. 

Accessories: In the box, the headphones come in a hard shell case, a carabiner, a coiled cable in a nice mesh pouch, a cleaning cloth, warranty card, an airline adapter, a 6.3mm jack screw-on and a VIP card in almost all chinese letters. The case is black, and slightly reflective. It has gray lines running through it, forming a grid-like pattern. The zipper is black, with 2 red lines running through it. The inside of the case is all red. The carabiner can be clipped on to the case, so you could clip the case onto a backpack or something. Being hardshell, it protects the headphones well. The cleaning cloth is brown, with the SoundMAGIC logo on it. It works like any other cleaning cloth. The warranty card is needed if you need to send the headphones back for a replacement. I'm not sure what the VIP card is for. All it says is which number model your headphones are. The mesh pouch holds the cable in it, and the cable stays in it nicely. The mesh pouch velcros onto the inside of the case. 

Sound Quality: Overall, these headphones are pretty neutral, with a slight emphasis on the bass. I'll start with the bass. 
The bass is nice and punchy, with great sub-bass performance. If the song calls for a little bass, only a little bit of bass is present. If the song calls for a lot of bass, the bass comes out. I find it very interesting, and I think it is great. 
This isn't a bass head can, so bass heads may need to look elsewhere.
The mids are not recessed, nor forward sounding. They represent female and male vocals both very well. 
The soundstage is very wide, and while listen to orchestras, it sounds like the instruments are playing all around me. 
The headphones are nice and detailed, clearly representing each instrument/ sound. 
The treble is nice. It isn't too bright. There isn't really any syllabence, making it nice and easy to listen to. 
They do not need an amp to be driven well, but will improve with one. 

Overall, these headphones are a great pair of portable headphones, and I would highly recommend them. 

Read all the reviews here on headfi and you'll get a very accurate idea of what you'll hear.
I have been buying portable earphones since the early 90s, mostly Sony and their $100 models.In the past several years I've gathered Klipsch S4(great budget gear) then the V moda M80 for my first headphone and its great in a warm smooth way with plenty of great bass for my taste, and because it was on sale the Klipsch X5 which opened my eyes with the astonishing detail it relayed, and this made me want an over ear that was somewhere between the M80 and the X5. I wanted detail but also deep bass and something neither had, soundstage!
Like many, I was looking around the $200 level and the real contenders were the AKG K550, Beyer 770LE and Quart 8.35D oh and these of course. There just wasn't much written about the 8.35 and there were issues with comfort and soundstage so that was scratched. the Beyer was sounding appealing but it has scooped mids and harsher highs scratch. The AKGs have got real good reviews but that would depend if your head was huge because they are big and the bass, which isn't strong in the first place , disappaers without a good seal. I chose the Soundmagic after reading almost no negative feedback except one guy in Portugal that says they have a upper bass suck out, so I went for it.
These are much more neutral than warm like my M80s which was what I wanted because while warmth is smooth and all I wanted to hear more fine detail and these deliver without being harsh at all. They are actually quite smooth considering their sound. The soundstage is huge compared to anything I've owned. Having everything seperated only aids in being able to detect finer sounds and layers. I read allot about how the M80s have "polite" treble and I can understand that description but frankly they need more sparkle and with the HP100 you get that. I can clearly hear the splash and crash of cymbals whereas before they were buried behind the warmth. The mids are neither forward or recessed and are crisp and sharp and not at all interfered with bass. The bass is awesome. Listenig to a song that isn't bassy and you get the impression they wouldnt be bassy because these are a bit on the clinical side, but the moment bass enters it is there in great proportion and again in a very detailed manner. You can here exactly how the bass sounds rather than just a oomph. Somehow these manage to deliver very deep bass that makes electronic music fun, literally vibrating the cups on your head!
Bottom line is I am very happy. I think its difficult to pull off cans that have this kind of detail yet still can have incredible rumble. This is what I wanted and I am very pleased. Oh and the build seems solid with plenty of comfort and adjustments. They feel solid and the pivots aren't wimpy. The looks are neither here nor there for me as I buy them for sound, besides my M80s will be my portables. I'd put these against any headphone of this class.

We are all different, and thus we all like different things.  But there are likely only so many possible combinations in the world. So if you happen to be like me and like sleek, low profile, comfy, feature filled, well deigned, well made, amazing sounding shiny bits… Then maybe these will also be your new favorite cans? 
 
Lets start with the physical, as eventually you will have to admit this is where all love starts. Attraction. The box, like any first date is somewhat interesting, but really gives away nothing but a graph of presumable truths supported by a couple of obvious lies. Moving past the exterior is where the interest lies, inside the box.  Inside I found a great little low profile hard case reminiscent to (or the same as) the Vmoda case. How could it be the same? Well you may not have heard of Soundmagic, but you certainly have heard Soundmagic, they have been producing headphones for the big companies (even Byer!) for donkeys, In the shadows and without a word…Until now!
 
 

 
 
Unzipping the case to reveal a familiar red lining I find the cans rested around a centrally located pouch on the inner case, my breath bated, heart a mess. I went into this expecting mid priced Chinese takeout and a movie. Before even hearing these things I’m thinking of taking them home? For good?!? I shook the thought and got realistic; this is a review not a purchase.  Picking up the cans I notice there is no attached cable, but a simple and unobvious jack input and locking mechanism.  I gripped them in one hand to open the pouch to get the cable out and noticed immediately the finishes were for real… If they ever make cars solely out of plastic, this is the kind I hope they use. And someone please tell my wife I want my coffin lined with this memory foam! In the pouch I found one of those silicon style cables, with a neat little termination and its curly, but light- not what I was expecting again.  Also inside can be found a nifty airplane adapter, gold jack adapter, and cool caribeena.
 
 

 
 
Before I plugged it into the C421 and iphone I was using, I inspected a little further, unable to hide my grin.  These cans are portable, they are compact, and come with a case. But they are also sleek, low profile (the cups that hold those huge stonking drivers are somehow so narrow they almost disappear on the head!), and flexible! They do that DJ foldy thingy where they twist and flip and contort smoothly and comfortably, eventually spooning the headband in a tiny bundle of cool- presumably a useless mating dance, but never the less a big turn on. That’s not all… they have a trick Im not overly familiar with, they are double jointed? This classy, hot, little contortionist can pivot att the headband joins to angle the cups for any head- possibly even alien. And where’s the cable in all this? I don’t know? It certainly doesn’t hang out of the top of the cup and try to slip under the rug unnoticed as it were with most other cans. Its absent. Hidden somewhere in that aluminum and plastic I cant stop touching, then polishing, then touching (it hold fingerprints for ransom). Even hidden in the aluminum arms that only show when extended, hidden still impossibly inside that vastly rotating join? Amazing.
 
 

 
 
I popped them on coyly. So light, so comfortable, so slim lined, it felt sinful.  There are adjustments every which way, and all incremental and firm. Not firm on your head at all, these are effortless, but the mechanics are firm. Each adjustment stays as you left it. More impressive still those aluminum ride height adjustments have an etched scale of numbers along them. I found myself toying with the cable while they were on my head, like a girl with something wicked on her mind, I knew I had to take this to the next level.
 
Cable>C421 OP2227 [no boost]>Iphone 4s>Trentemoller rework with Thom York>eargasm.
Im no cheap or easy date, which sounds presumptuous after the aforementioned audio quickie, but I must say I was far more than my usual brand of impressed. I paused not a third into the very first track, pulled my wallet and paid Billy (Noisy Motel). These were mine.
 
Rock, jazz, electronica, hop hop, female vocalists of all sorts and eras, male crooners, 50’s radio jingles, Russian klezmer, death metal, The Beatles remasters…It doesn’t just handle them all, it renews them all! The name, which at first seemed a little less than cool, now seems completely accurate! A descriptive of the product or more precisely what it actually achieves.
The signature glows in every respect, the perfect EQ for every genre you throw at it. As if theres a tiny man in there somewhere watching which track your about to select and then quickly adjusting the EQ to suit. The more I listened, the more the ridiculous idea of the tiny EQ man become plausible. So much so I found myself desperately trying to trick him.
 
Ludacris. How can something with SO MUCH BASS for electronica (destroys any Beyer on the market), behave itself so well with other genres? How can every other aspect of the sound spectrum be so even-tempered and full? A perfect example is going from say any high quality bass heavy track you have, the biggest, the baddest you got, then switching over to The Bicycle Race by Queen… Odd I know, but if the constant kick drum in this track still sounds like an actual organic kick drum via bassy cans- you’ve got a miracle! This is seriously a new benchmark for headphones everywhere, in any price point.
If you like that BIG bottom bass in the Beyer DT770 or DT990, but don’t apreciate the scooped mids. If you prefer an even and relatively “flat” (such a subjective term) sound signature but want a little more texture, detail, and bottom end in the mix. If you like “fun” headphones, but want something better- much much better. If you just crave an improved more modern and forward thinking sound in general. If you want all of the above in a sleek package that’s well made, beautifully finished, feature filled, uber comforatable, and comes with accessories and a free case…Your asking a bit much of any headphone on the market. Any headphone other than the Soundmagic HP100- my favorite cans, by a country mile in a hovercraft piloted by Swedish models in fluro body paint smoking cigars.
 
 

 
 
Not trying them would be the worst move you ever made. Not buying them after you’ve auditioned the hell out of them would annoy you the next day- and every day after that. Trying them and then acting all cool like you didn’t like them, would make you look like a wanker to everyone else whos experienced them.  Don’t deny yourself happiness, don’t go against the grain on this one, resistance is futile.