Well, contrary to the crazy packaging the XB700s are not fart cannons. The bass is actually very controlled. It just has the ability to dip low.
Personally, I like the HD555s as a better headphone for most music, but like I said, I am familliar with these drivers, the ones in the XB700s. I used to produce music, and cut two albums, monitoring with those ear-mashers, the v700s. I thought then "I wish these could be had in a better headband/earcup." I thought Circumaural would have sounded great. Anyway, they finally did it.
Since that time a while back, I forgot about those drivers and really got into the senns and the dens. I agree that classical is going to sound stunning on the Shures. I think anyone entering the hobby is going to be floored by almost any 'phone we have listed. Even I am probably going to add a set of Shures to the collection. My HD555s have seen better days, and without re-cabling them, they are on borrowed time. The Shures might just do the trick in satisfying my itch for a slightly new sound signature. This thread was also helpful to me, and even writing out my books here, I get to sort through thoughts and ideas, so it does help to create a post, because it gets me thinking about the hobby and what I want out of it, and what should come first in the next upgrade: Cans, or a better head amp/pre. I "Shure" would love to put that extra DAC to good use. The E-MU is actually slightly muddy, but it is harder to hear uness you a/b against a good DAC/amp combo.
Grand Fidelity makes a new product called the DAC09, which I have also, but they sent it to me with the volume basically broken, so I have to sent it back, but it is a USB tubed dac, with coax and toslink as well, tubed preamp for other sources, tubed processor, and it can output SS, if you wish to bypass the tube. It does not replace the tubed MHDT, but if they fix the volume, it would make a swiss army knife of head-amps/pre/DAC. That is besides the point.
If the Shures sound as good as I am seeing feedback on, I may buy a pair. They look rugged, and I need a good rugged set of all rounders, and I hope that they trounce the v700s, no offense to their driver (which is actually pretrty good), but they are NOT designed to withstand being carried around. Sony made a phone for a market that needs this, and the 'phone can't handle it. I know some people that drop to a lesser pair, like the v600s (not v6s, but the muffled v600s) just so they can have something that doesn't break.
The Shures look nice, but they also appear to be rugged.
EDIT:
Amazon.com: Shure SRH 440 Professional Studio Headphones (Black): Electronics
I think I am going to buy these. You guys got me thinking. The 840s probably extend a bit to high for my taste as they are a monitor, but for 1 c-note, this looks like really good set of closed headphones. Thanks guys. I honestly didn't think much of Shure before this thread, typically because if I want a cheap, but good cart for my turntable, I just get a Grado. Anyway, I always knew shure made some pro stuff, but never looked much further into it.
