[DCofficehack]

I have the M50s and prefer them to the XPT100/HM5.

So now you understand. Headphone choice is a bit about personal preference

 
Absolutely.
 
These threads often remind me of discussions on clothing forums with people trying to describe how shoes fit and get/give advice regarding what size would work best. It's all so subjective, and regrettably there's no substitute for actually trying something on.
 
It's such a shame there are so few stores where one can try on headphones. Headphones other than Beats, that is. 
 
May I ask why you prefer the M50s? Are the characterizations wrong, or do you prefer that kind of sound profile?

 

[cel4145]

May I ask why you prefer the M50s? Are the characterizations wrong, or do you prefer that kind of sound profile?

I don't what the characterizations were in that video. I don't watch a lot of amateur youtube audio review videos. But here's a counter. Here's a professional reviewer that likes the M50s: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/audio-technica-ath-m50. The M50X, a bit of an improvement over the M50s: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/legend-continues-audio-technica-ath-m50x

The XPT100/HM5 are a good headphone for <$100. But they have a strange sort of hollow, receded soundstage to me. So while the soundstage of the M50s is sort of meh as far as closed headphones are concerned (nothing to be excited about; it's OK), the XPT100s are notably below average. And for certain genres, the extra bass of the M50s are nice.