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It's not the strong opinions expressed that's the problem with these threads. I have no problem at all with Acix love affair with the k702, even though I disagree with him. The problem is the fact that some people take someone's criticisms of a piece of gear as if it's an attack on their own taste. If you like the k701 and UE or someone else doesn't, what's the big deal...even if they say it a hundred times? Why should you even care enough to make it a problem? I already know UE's take on them as well as Acix's. So what if they repeat it in every relevant(and sometimes not relevant) thread. Just skip on to the next post and get on with it. The sun will still rise in the morning even though UE or someone else hates the k70X. It's incredible how polarizing a headphone can be!
I agree that people take criticism of some phones as an attack on their own taste. However, I've repeatedly defended a certain phone, the 555/595, not for personal reasons but because I feel it's being done an injustice due to the use of wrong criteria. This is after all Head-Fi, which suggests (correct me if I'm wrong) a certain committment to hi-fi, that is, the most accurate sound, the closest to the source. Now I attend quite a few live symphonic concerts so I know what live music sounds like, and I know that the 5*5 is about as neutral a phone in terms of frequency balance as you can get in that price range. However, I persistently read that the 5*5 is "boring", "no good with music"--generally, a terrible phone because it isn't as exciting as, say, an AD700. Without getting into yet another 5*5/700 debate, I can safely say that the 700 is not as neutral as the Senn phones. It no doubt sounds more exciting on some music, but it's not as neutral. So I end up repeatedly defending the Senns on those grounds--not because I care a whit what people like, but because a good phone is being unfairly maligned due to criteria like excitement and treble detail taking precedence over balance and neutrality. Or in other words, the definition of hi-fi going out the window. Of course one can say, "I prefer the 700; it's much more exciting and detailed", but that's different to damning another phone because it's less exciting.
I guess I just feel that if we get too far away from the definition of hi-fi than we have no basis for judgement: it all becomes personal preference and a Skullcandy is as good as an HD800 if it sounds as good to you.