jamato8
Headphoneus Supremus
Looks like the HE1000 lacks dynamic range making it sound less "live" or engaging as posted by several beta testers. Generally classical music has the widest dynamic range and the better recording techniques used for recording classical music bring the performance home in hi-end setups.. Go to a high end audio show and most demo material is classical music for a reason.
Dynamic range is the difference between the quietest and loudest volume of an instrument, part or piece of music. In modern recording, this range is often limited through dynamic range compression, which allows for louder volume, but can make the recording sound less exciting or live.
Maybe it goes to amp used also. I listen to a lot of classical music, recorded and live and if the HE1000 were any more dynamic sounding, to me, it would be unnatural. They do well with Jimi Hendrix as well. :^) Joe Satriani comes across pretty well as well, though a little compressed at times, due to the recording. Back to classical, I have some Brahms, Clarinet Quintet in B minor op. 115, that is beautiful to listen to.