Sony MDR-XB500 40mm XB Diaphragm Driver Extra Bass Headphones

To start off, I will say I'm not an expert on the subject of sound and I haven't owned any great headphones in the past. After reading many reviews on various products, I thought that these headphones would be a great start as far as headphones go. Nearly all of the reviews had positive things to say about these headphones, and I do too. Other reviewers who have more comparisons can critique the sound quality/cons of these, but I will highlight/reinforce what others have said about the pros:-Sound Quality: I am extremely impressed with the sound quality that comes from these. I've listened to a wide array of genres of all different music types, and I am impressed with the quality of all of them. Before these headphones, I was using either my laptop speakers or a set of cheap in-ear headphones. These headphones really give realistic sound with plenty of treble and bass. If you've never owned a good pair of over-the-ear headphones, these are a fantastic place to start in my opinion. They are a great price and sound amazing in my opinion.-Bass: The bass on these is very deep, and most definitely satisfying. If you're used to listening to really cheap headphones, or simple iPod in-ear headphones, you haven't experienced any bass. The bass on these is loud, clear, and does not distort the rest of the tones. I've listened to numerous genres with these including: Country, Metal, Dubstep, Trance, Hip-Hip, and Hardstyle, and i've been satisfied with the bass in all these genres. If you can get a really loud bass track (hip-hop or Dubstep) these headphones actually vibrate your ears; it's awesome.-Comfort: These headphones are extremely comfortable. I have worn some headphones that begin to hurt your ears or temples after a while, and these don't at all. Some reviewers have said that the ear-pads are ridiculously big and while they are bigger than some other headphones, they don't look bad at all. They were most definitely designed for comfort. I've worn these headphones numerous times for 3-4 hours straight listening to music and they never irritated me in the least.-Appearance: Yes, the ear-pads are big. No, they do not look ugly. The ear-pads on these are most definitely larger than your standard over-the-ear headphone but they don't look bad at all. The overall style of the headphones is very sleek, and I have absolutely no problem wearing these anywhere I go. The cord is a 'Y' style that has a cord going up to each driver and they form one. The cord could be a little longer, but I like the style they chose, and the cord looks nice.

I have several pairs of mid priced headphones that include Beats Sennheiser and now these Sony cans...I was nervous because of the price but these things are sweet. The bass is solid but not as rich and deep as my beats...although people say they are better ..they really do not sound better than the beats solo. They are cheaper and but the bass in my opinion is not as detailed. Make no mistake the bass is awesome and for 70 bucks you get one heck of a headphone. They are also very comfortable but I won't wear them outside too much as they are just too big in my opinion. The beats I can wear anywhere because they are stylish. If your looking for a good headphone for your teenage kids that will likely lose them or tear them up you can't go wrong with these...the kids will love them...and I am enjoying them at home as well. I believe the kids will really like them and they really can't tell the difference in sound in my opinion. For older kids and adults I would go with the beats as they are more refined and stylish and in my humble opinion sound better. I did just order the xb700 as I am starting to build my headphone collection and I found a good deal on them...reviews say they offer better bass and better overall sound. Summing it up these headphones are rock solid...the bass is deep...strong...will vibrate your ears and give you chills if you crank the volume...it is pretty much all bass...for bass heads looking to spend less than a hundred bucks there is no better headphone on the market in my opinion. They are not as refined as the Beats they are not as stylish as the Beats but they are a rock solid buy and a great comfortable headphone for those that love bass like me. I run them on my iPad and classic iPod ...they don't need a lot of power and are very efficient so you don't need a headphone amp....I have an F11 amp by Fio but to be honest I am afraid to give these bad boys any more power as I am already getting chills from the bass without an amp...remember chills from the bass...the highs and mid range are all kind of muddled together ...these are strictly for the base head !