I've owned the 4XX for about 3 years. If you just kick back and listen, and not analyize, you could be happy. I'm not Low bass nearly absent, mid/upper bass fat, highs up and down. Mids somewhat laid back. Decent rock n roll, forget audiophile or classical. Does NOT scale with cables, amps, even a 10 band EQ can't fix them. I'll sell my seldom used 4XX's, with an added balanced cable 2 sets of pads, but headband a HE-500 for $85 + ship.