but it kind of depends on what one defines as 'better'
M50 could be arguably better too.
What you said correct because it all depends on whose ears are listening, everyone is different. I responded earlier that I use the HD558, my daughter on the other hand preferred the M50's! Nothing wrong with her choice, she likes them, this is why I suggested a person needs to sample as many headphones as they can to get what they really like and not what someone else likes. Those M50's are a good deal for a headphone, superior, in my opinion of course, than $200 Beats Studio headphones and for around $50 less on top of it. I have listened to the M50's and they do have a strong bass response, but I find it a bit over boosted compared to the HD588 that has a tight sounding accurate bass...again that is just my opinion based on what my ears like. I think if someone is into that real deep pounding bass you get from rap and techno music like my daughter likes (she doesn't like rap though) the M50's would probably be one of the few I would listen to for comparison because the bass response is not muddy nor does it wash out the mid range as much as others I've heard, nor makes the high frequency shrill to compensate for the booming bass, It does however have a slightly recessed mid range that makes the sound stage not quite as dramatic as the HD588's, but it still had a better sound stage than others I've heard. I also observed between the two that watching movies with the HD588 is just plain superior over the M50's due to the ability of the HD588's to fake some sort of resemblance to surround sound effects, and they continue that superiority with any music that used surround sound effects, and especially live recordings where more surround sound effects are usually employed more.
By the way the M50's come with either a straight cord called M50 or a coiled cord called the M50s, so make sure you get the cord you want by getting the right model.
If you really want a low cost headphone that still sounds decent you can pick up a pair of Koss Portapro that will sound better or as good as any phone under $150 retail (I say retail because the M50's retail for about $200 but can be found on sale for $140, so I'm using retail for guideline, probably best headphone for under $130 sale priced) for just $37 range! their foam ear pads don't last long but you can get 3 pair of them for $4. My daughter had these for awhile until she graduated to the M50's. I listened to them when she bought them almost snickering because I thought they would be junk, but I was surprised at how well they sounded. They don't have that deep booming bass like the M50's and the soundstage is not as open as the HD588's nor is the mid and high response as detailed as either the M50's or the HD588's but they did sound surprisingly very good compared to other low cost headphones. She now uses the Portapro when she's at school and the M50's at home so as not to damage or "lose" the M50's.
Also keep in mind that no matter what headphone you buy they will require about 5 to 6 hours of "burn in" time to get the sound to become it's best.
I'm sorry some of this I mentioned earlier but thought was worth while summarizing since the M50's subject came up.
