[TopPop]

AT ESW9... Not only are they sexy looking, but their sound is very surprising for their size. Just plain fantastic little headphones!

 

[aimlink]

For me it was the SR325is. It gets a lot of negative press here. I decided to try it and was shocked at the sound. The clarity and transparency was stunning. Bright indeed, but overall, very very good. Very ample bass too...

I also agree with TopPop about the ESW9A. I wasn't as surprised with it as the SR325is, but I was still impressed by the quality sound coming from those phones.

 

[Towert7]

KSC75, by just how amp dependent these little things were!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HD800, WOW, didn't know dynamics could sound this good.

 

[boomana]

JH13s. I've had them over a month now, and they continue to amaze me every time I put them in my ears.

R10s. I didn't know anything about them the first time I heard them. It was as if everything I thought possible in headphone listening changed right there when I first put them on.

O2MK1s. I had liked these headphones the first few times I listened to them, but was never going to get them. It took the BHSE to give me the surprise of what these headphones were capable of producing. Love them. Love them. Love my rig.

HFI-780. New definition for hype for me. After reading countless posts on their virtues, I was surprised in a horrible way about how bad I thought they really were, and that was both before and after mods and burn-in.

 

[hew]

I concur with Towert7, the KSC75s do scale surprisingly well for such inexpensive phones.

 

[estreeter]

I think most people agree that the KSC75 punches well above its weight, but I disagree with folk who claim they are a cheaper replacement for the MS-1 : neither gives you massive isolation or soundstage, but the MS-1 is a better headphone on both counts for mine.

Add the MS-1 to my list of headphones that surprised me, and put me on the path to Grado upgraditis.

 

[Joelby]

RE0 was the biggest suprise for me. I'm not an IEM guy and wanted these solely for flying , etc. They are fantasticly detailed and balanced.

 

[Lil' Knight]

JH13s - re-definition of how good an IEMs can sound.
SR-007 - ears-opening experience of how electrostats sound. So far the best headphones I have.

 

[atothex]

DT48 was shockingly awful. I wasn't expecting much, but they were about the worst things I've ever heard. Simply disgusting.

Pleasantly surprising were some ugly old orthos... YH100s I think?

 

[Jack Mono]

SONY MDR-EX082 came bundled with the S639 player. It saved me 100 bucks to buy an earbud... yes, it is that good.

 

[dallan]

The PX100s surprised me for sounding better than I would have expected, although the Victor/JVC HP-DX1000 also way outperformed my expectations. I must say though that although I kept my esw9 they were way lower than my expectations and sound very flat with no soundstage-sounding like there is less room than even an iem, and they have always sounded that way to me and i was one of the original buyers of them.....oh well. (sorry TopPop)

 

[achristilaw]

The HD800: performed well above the hype and am re-configuring the whole system make-up to cater solely to their needs (which are considerable).

The JH13: Wow..I was flabbergasted at the giant sounds these little Nuggets are capable. Not just among the best of IEM's, but the best headphones in general!

 

[bergman2]

SA5000's ... and now I love/hate them

 

[charliex]

I was very disappointed with the K701's, and yet pleasantly surprised and pleased with the D2000's. Also was impressed with my first listen to Stax electrostatics (so much so, that I pulled the trigger on a pair)

 

[Kommando]

Ultrasone PROline 750's

Awesomely awesome cans, so fun to listen to. Bass is incredible, and insane for electronica. Great for movies too!