Whelp, I'm calling it quits until next year. The M100s were highest on my radar, until I've finally read enough to determine that instead of making an even more balanced M80 with better mids (my biggest complaint about the M80s), we've just got more bass and mids that still won't do enough for me. Momentum won't do because who likes them more than anyone else? Tyll. And I've come to realize I don't appreciate the same qualities he does. MDR-1R just seem unremarkable, even if a good amount of people like them.
It's such a bummer. I really wanted the M100s for their design, features, and imagined SQ (better M80). While 90% of people in the M100 thread were calling for the M100s to have more bass than the M80s, I was one of the only people calling for a different signature-more balanced than M80s with, specifically, better mids. Looks like the masses got their way, and it's a bummer we have just another V-shaped portable consumer headphone. It's disappointing that the manufacturers aren't recognizing the 1 area in the industry which remains to be developed-balanced, portable headphones. It is impossible to find a headphone that has 1) a balanced signature 2) folding cups 3) detachable cables 4) a generally low profile 5) portable features like a small case or mic controls on the cables 6) comfortable 7) good isolation 8) easy to drive.
Literally, take the M100s, give them a gloriously balanced signature, enlarge the cups just a little bit so all the comfort complaints disappear, and they would become for the next 5 years what the M50s were for so long. They would be the absolute standard bearer of recommendations.
Beyerdynamic is supposedly coming out with some new headphones next year, noticeably something to replace the 770s. Hopefully they can deliver.
On second thought, maybe I just take up V-Moda on this 2 free headphones offer and get M100s and realize I may never find a headphone that is uncompromising for me. My criticism of the M100 isn't based on actually hearing them, so maybe I would actually like them. Val, seriously if you want to woo this community, come out with extra supple pads for the M100s that greatly increase comfort and change the signature to be a bit more balanced. I know his opposition to this has always been the fact that different pads change the signature, but hey, not everyone is entirely enamored with the M100s, so releasing new pads can actually only increase the number of people who are pleased with M100s. It's such a win-win-win-win-win, I can't see any reason not to do it. If he hits a good balanced signature, people on here would buy them in droves, meaning more money for V Moda, a better perception of V Moda from people who think they only make consumer phones, etc.
