You won’t get a lot of volume and a good music listening experience from these headphones when plugged straight to your phone or computer. These have a high impedance rating so you’ll need a powerful amp to run the DT990 properly.
These headphones should be able to withstand minor impact and drops, and will last you years of use. The headband and yokes are made from solid yet lightweight metal, so they won’t break easily. The ear cups are made of plastic materials which, while not as durable as metal, are strong enough to not come off as flimsy.
The low frequencies are what stand out from the sound signature. The bass is powerful, deep and tight so you get a lot of thump without muddying up the overall sound. This is complemented by very detailed and airy high frequencies, so you should be able to easily hear the fine details from your music.
The audio from these headphones will sound wide and quite immersive, which can be attributed to the open-back design. This also results in good instrument separation, so you’ll be able to easily identify the directions where the various sound sources are coming from. The wide soundstage can result in a truly immersive music listening experience, and also makes these headphones a good choice for movies and gaming.
You can wear these headphones for many hours straight with little to no issue, as the head band and ear pads have thick padding. The ear pads have a suede cover which allows some airflow to the ears, and helps minimize heat build-up.
The DT990s are not ideal for use in an office environment, if you share your space with others or when traveling. These headphones are fully open, so they leak out a lot of sound, which can be annoying to others.
You may find the clamping force to be quite tight, especially if you have a fairly large head size. This can make wearing the headphones for hours straight uncomfortable, even if the padding on the ear cups and headband are quite thick.
too boosted and harsh, which can feel fatiguing.This can be apparent if you listen to more aggressive styles of music like rock or metal, or music which involves a lot of cymbals and high-pitched instruments.
The powerful yet tight bass and airy, clear highs make these headphones great to listen to. Effective passive noise isolation will allow you to really concentrate and enjoy your music, and the soft headband and earcups will allow you to listen for extended periods with no issues.
The ATH-M50x are great sounding headphones with a sound that may fall in the neutral category, but with very slight boosts to the bass and highs; a slightly V-shaped sound. The bass is full and has a lot of power. The sub bass has a hint of elevation though, which can make the bass sound a bit loose on hip-hop or EDM tracks. The mids are fairly neutral with no elevation. The highs are also slightly elevated, which does not add harshness but instead gives the sound a shimmery and detailed feel.
This sound signature of the M50x makes it versatile. It is neutral enough for monitoring use, yet also has just the right qualities to make it a great choice for enjoying music.
Audio-Technica finally updated the M50's built in cable to a detachable cable. The M50x even comes with three cables, a 1.2 m - 3.0 m coiled cable, a 3.0 m straight cable, and a 1.2 m straight cable. None of the cables have in-line controls though.
The ATH M50x is made from high quality matte plastics which are quite resistant to damage without being too heavy. The hinges move smoothly and do not have unnecessary creaks.
The ear cups and pads are able to keep the sound in and block outside noise. These are suitable for a noisy office as even low volume music is enough to drown out those noisy office mates.
The ear cups can be folded into the headband, reducing its footprint. Combined with the carrying pouch and detachable cables, you can easily chuck these headphones into your bag when going out.
The ear cups on the M50x are smaller than those on something like the 380HD or the DT 770 Pro. Your ears could end up touching the the inside of the headphones which can be uncomfortable for some.
If you're looking for a headphone to keep you isolated on long plane rides, the M50x is probably not the right headphone for you. These headphones do not electronically limit exterior noises, it only blocks noise with its physical design.
Depending on which model is purchased (16/80/250-ohm), your system may have trouble powering them to get a full sound and comfortable volume. 16/80-ohm should work fine in most systems. If not, you may need an external amplifier.
While the Sennheiser's have headbands which can be adjusted to easily fit a 'hatsize 62/63' head, the DT770 Pro and DT990 Pro headbands may need tweaking to make them work for larger heads.
The bass is not overpowering. Instead, it is clean and controlled. The overall sound signature is focused on the bass but the mids and highs are in no way lacking either.
The DT770s are very comfortable to wear with its deep and spacious ear pads. The velour material used on these are smooth and breathable, and the thick foam provides ample cushioning. These headphones can be worn for long periods of time with no issues.
The bass takes a bit of a back seat compared to the other frequencies, yet is still enough to give fullness and punch to the sound. The mids are the star of these headphones' sound signature. They are clear and a little bit forward, which give a lot of extra detail and presence to guitars and vocals. The highs are pretty crisp and clean, and complement the other frequencies really well.
Even for open back headphones, the soundstage that the HD 598 produces is amazing. It is quite wide yet natural at the same time, which makes it feel like you're listening to the artist perform in front of you live. This wide sound stage and great imaging also make these ideal for games and movies, as these can enhance audio immersion.
The large ear pads feature a velour surface and a soft foam material underneath. The comfort of the headband is also notable. It features a synthetic leather material with a thick foam inside. In combination, these cushioned parts feel like pillows on the head.
This makes the headphones quite easy to store, and the cable easy to replace. Also, the attachment mechanism is a twist to lock system which minimizes the chances of the cable getting disconnected while in use.
The M-100's sound signature can work really well with a wide range of music. Bass reproduction has good power and punch. The mids are also full and slightly forward over the other frequencies. This results in extra emphasis on the vocals and on mid-range sounds like guitars and keyboards. The highs are not peaky, which reduces their harshness, sounding smooth instead.
These have a solid, high quality feel to them, and you can tell that they will last you a long time. The ear cups are made of high quality plastic, while the headphones' yokes and headband are made of metal. The headband has a generous give yet does not feel flimsy at all. You can even twist it quite a bit yet it still won't feel like it will break.
The SpeakEasy cable has an in-line microphone with great noise cancelling. The cable also comes with an in-line 1 button remote which allows users to answer or end calls, as well as pause and play music tracks.
The SharePlay Cable features a 3.5mm pass-through port where a person can connect their own headphones. This means that you and another person can enjoy music from the same source.
You can detach the cable by simply pulling out the 3.5mm connector from the port on the headphones. The connector attaches with a satisfying click so it is less likely to get disconnected when in use.
Included is a clam-shell style case made of durable plastic so it should protect your headphones from scratches and minor impacts. Do note that you will have to detach the cable to make it fit inside the case.
The mids may come off as a little bit artificial due to the extra emphasis on these frequencies. Vocals and guitars may be too in-your-face for others.
The ear cups are not completely closed as there are small ports on the side. People near you may be able to hear you with enough volume. This also means that ambient noise can mix in with the music.
Sub-bass is a bit laid back, but the overall low-end production is punchy and with good extension. Mids are clear and forward so vocals, guitars and keys sound good with these. The upper treble is boosted, which results in good detail, but can also give harshness to the sound.
Overall, this is a really fun set of cans to listen to, especially if you just want to have a fun music listening experience.
The traveling case is small and provides room for spare batteries and other components. This makes it pretty portable, for those that can't or don't want to leave their headphones at work.
The QC25 feels comfortable even after wearing it for several hours. The pads go over the ear and feel soft, as the ample cushioning is covered with supple and high quality synthetic leather. Aside from the usual headband padding, it also has an inner Alcantara lining that feels really nice on the skin.
With the feature switched on, you can really zone in on the music. Noise canceling is very effective at blocking out ambient noise, especially the lower frequencies. On a flight for example, engine noise is drastically reduced, as well as most of the sound from the conversations in your vicinity.
You have a number of options as to how you want to use these headphones' active noise canceling feature. You can either have the feature on or off while you are listening to music, or have noise canceling on without audio. This is a nifty feature if you just want to enjoy some peace and quiet when in a noisy place.
While low frequency sounds are effectively blocked, high frequency ones can still be heard. Female voices and high pitched noises may still get in the way of your music.
The highs, mids and lows are all fairly balanced, and there are no frequencies that stand out from the rest. Audio is clear and with minimal distortion. These are versatile sounding cans that will work with a wide range of music genres.
The main difference of the Special Edition from the standard Sense is that it has a special nano-coating applied, making these headphones splash-proof. Splashes of sweat and other liquids should not pose a problem for these headphones.
There are built-in sensors inside the BackBeat Sense which detects if you are taking off or putting on the headphones. Music is paused/resumed depending on the detected motion.
The BackBeat Sense features a slim and lightweight design, making these very easy to wear even for extended periods. The headband also features a hammock-style mechanism which feels quite soft and comfortable.
These are mostly made from plastic which results in the light weight. However, the materials and build quality, along with the slim design make these headphones feel flimsy.
The mids of the 4.50 BTNC sounds natural and clear. Music with a lot of vocals and guitars will definitely sound great with these headphones. The bass is not very powerful, but still provides a satisfying thump to the music. Overall, these headphones sound warm and laid back, great for casual music listening.
The headphones can last around 19 hours from a full charge on wireless mode with noise cancelling on. When on wired mode, it can last 25 hours with noise cancelling which is pretty decent for its class.
These headphones can easily fit inside a bag or purse, and should be easy to carry. The ear cups can fold up to the headband, reducing the headphones’ overall size.
The active noise cancelling feature can reduce a good amount of ambient noise that may mix in with your music, though it doesn’t completely eliminate both high and low-pitched noise if they're loud enough.
You may find the sound to be too laid back or lacking in detail. The high frequencies are slightly rolled off, so these may not be the best option if you love to hear the fine details of your music.
You may feel some discomfort on your head when wearing these headphones for extended periods. The clamping force is quite strong, and may give a pinching sensation on your head.
These headphones can easily be brought along while traveling and spending time outdoors thanks to the included carrying case. The solid, clam shell design gives the headphones extra protection from impact and scratches.
These headphones, as far as reference or pro-quality headphones go, are fun sounding. There is a slight boost to the lower frequencies which adds fullness and depth to the bass. The mids are also full-sounding, but there is a peak at the upper mid frequencies which can make guitars in heavy music sound harsh. The highs have good detail to them, but the peak in the top frequencies can also make the sound a bit grainy.
The HD380 Pro can produce great sound even paired with low power amps. Some headphones require expensive amps to sound properly, but for these, even entry-level portable amps are sufficient.
The HD380 Pro is quite portable thanks to the detachable cable. Also, the included cable has a specially designed locking mechanism which prevents it from being detached accidentally.
The 380s sit well over your ears and do not typically touch them when positioned correctly. This helps make them comfortable as the clamping force is distributed over a wide area, not directly on your ears.
The ear cups of the HD380 Pro can be folded up into the headband. This reduces these headphones' size and footprint, making these much easier to fit inside a bag.
The 380HDs have a very strong clamp. This helps the headphones achieve better sound isolation and minimal sound leak, although some will find the clamp very uncomfortable. Fortunately there are also many who will never notice this at all and find the 380HDs very comfortable.
The closed design helps to greatly minimize sound leakage from these headphones. People near you will not hear what you are listening to when using these headphones. Also, the pleather pads allow for a great seal which further helps to minimize sound isolation and block outside noise from interfering with your listening experience.
The sound is clear and accurate, and it should be very easy for the listener to pick out the details in the music. The bass level is just right without sounding boomy or muddy. The mids sound natural and neutral so these frequencies do not jump out of the mix. The highs are slightly extended, but do not make the sound harsh in any way.
These headphones have very good build quality. Solid plastic and durable-feeling plastic is used for most of the headphones' parts. The matte finish adds a softer and more premium feel to the plastic surfaces. The headband is made of metal so it can handle some flex without breaking.
The K553 Pro's earpads feature pleather materials which feel supple on the skin. Inside, the quality foam should provide ample cushioning. The headband also features a pleather surface and has some padding, which should help ease the pressure off of your head.
You may encounter some hassle when using these headphones due to the cable. While the length is quite good at around 3 meters, the cable can get in the way and can be quite difficult to organize. The cable is also non-detachable, so replacing it can be difficult.
While the ear pads are able to provide ample cushioning, they are quite thin. Large ears may come into contact with the driver housing. This can lead to some discomfort and annoyance, especially when wearing the headphones for long periods of time.