I'm enjoying these headphones. I'm happy with paying $350 (including customs tax) for them.
Some inexperienced observations are:
When I bought these, I thought after reading opinions, that they may be a touch too warm (I usually listen to Stax SR2050A at home and enjoy a slightly bright sound). Sure, they are a little warm but not veiled at all IMO, very clear sounding.
Ultrasone HFI 700 has better instrument separation (S-Logic effect?) and sub bass (is that rumble?), but other than that, the Kenwoods are better. Different league, especially in the midrange. I like the vocals far more on the Kenwoods.
From memory, the DT880 has more pronounced treble, but for me they were a little piercing anyway.
As Kees said, they are very involving. They draw you into the music.
I find myself listening to these for hours without the need to take them off, unlike the Ultrasones. They are comfortable, although for people with small heads, they may seem too big.
The bass is strong but it doesn't interfere with other parts of the music, in fact I'd say they aren't too bassy at all with the amp I'm using (Travagan's Red / said to be a touch bright of neutral?).
What I like above all else though, is that I seem to like them with all types of music! I don't know what it is, but I do.
For example, when I listen to house, some electronica or hip hop with the Stax, I'm always left feeling the need for more bass. With the Ultrasones I get that bass. But, when I listen to Kate Bush, vocalists in general, for example, I'm disappointed with the Ultrasones. So.... I was looking for a set of headphones for general purpose usage, and I think these will make me happy.
I've bounced from music like Derrick May to BT to Bent to Aphex Twin to Madness to Kate Bush to Pink Floyd to Led Zep to Emerson Lake and Palmer to Norah Jones to Fleetwood Mac to Haydn to Gipsy Kings to Hawkwind to Mike Oldfield etc, and haven't felt the need to rip them off my head. I just listened to U2's Miracle Drug, and it sounds better with my Grado SR 125 to my ears, but the Kenwood isn't too shabby. Just lacks a bit of up front 'punch' and brightness that Grado headphones have. The 'PRAT' is there. They obviously aren't going to be perfect for every kind of music, but won't perform terribly like some headphones can.
I wish I could compare them to other top end phones such as Denon AH D5000 and JVC Victor HP DX1000.
IMO they should be looked at, at least, when considering a pair of headphones in the $300 - $400 range for general all purpose use, ones that don't disappoint too much with different genres.
Could the Travagan amp be a good match with the kenwoods? I don't know, I have limited experience with amps, but I like that match.
