Well, they are better than I expected, and originally thought. The highs are quite scratchy/tinny at the top top end, but the bass is not a muddy messy layer/film, quite detailed and very deep, especially when you push on the cups too. They sound better amped through the (bassyish) Tomahawk surprisingly (does'nt kill highs/muddy/overrun them with bass) and the D2 BBE (especially the D2+'s BBE+) they are even better (4 BBE,4 M3B.......)
With a little light headband bending, and getting the headband not too loose (there is a sweet spot for me) I can hear a difference. They are a bit tighter and better sounding now, but not perfect. If you wear them the wrong way round though (how I did before I found L and R) the cups don't turn in (only turn one way) and have no bass detail at all, awful. Even when fitted right I still hate the tinny highs though... Anyone think of some mods?
Anyway, if they are fakes they sound better than I expected originals to sound!
Oh, and never take the pads off if you don't have to! I did to see which way the lines on the driver went (fake vs. original. eBay auction says they are real, but I wouldn't be so sure, he may be trying to prove his are real?)
Matt