Audiophile grade headphones are something like the Senn HD650 or the Hifiman HE400i, both of which are corded, larger, and open-backed (and both are a bit less expensive than the Senn HD1’s!).

The Sonys are a slightly better at reducing the highs, but the resulting sound is a bit hard-edged

so I needed something with a bit more noise isolation

I would have appreciated a bit looser and softer

but I would still wished it was a little bit easier to tighten that or loosen the other so at least they would match

I still found the ear cups a bit small and the uncomfortable

I feel like it lacks a little bit of that texture you get

The Beats have a little bit louder/punchier bass — but the rest of the sound palette isn't even close

Beats still sound good, but a bit dull/muddy

I feel like it lacks a little bit of that texture you get

Very comfortable, though I find myself fussing with them a bit to get my ears perfectly placed in the earcups

I would have appreciated a bit looser and softer

I could listen to the Sony for hours and it works on all music, albeit sometimes, it does seem to lack a bit of drive on certain music.

A bit annoying.- the right one does not hold very strong to the metal rail and moves, so I have to adjust it more often than I'd like

I had tried a more "fashion" sort of brand that was a bit more expensive and they were terrible sounding.

They are every bit as good as everyone says.

Sean's are a bit more comfortable

Kind of ruins the listening experience a bit when it happens and it happens often during walks, which I am often on when wearing headphones (grocery shopping, walking, etc)- 1 do-it-all button

It's also a bit easier and more consistent using Bose's interface to skip forward and go back to previously played songs

It feels like the HD1s just weigh a bit more or something

The only other reason I wouldn't give the headphones themselves 5 stars is because I feel like they should be able to go a bit louder

For 500$ it would be quite a bit more difficult to justify the purchase.

The cups sort of sit on the headband with a ball and socket type connection and it's a little bit stiff and inconsistent

I am enjoying the quality of sound from HD1, only thing is that feeling bit uncomfortable with head phone positioning on my ears .

The competition includes the Bose QC35s, the Sony WH-1000XM2, the brand new B&W PX (which is basically the excellent wireless B&W P7 plus noise cancelation).The Senn HD1’s have some things in common with these competitors.

The B&W look slightly more elegant and are more compact, but with less range and no noise cancelling - which could be viewed as a positive in that there is less processing of the audio.

I am spoiled by a stereo system with Emotiva electronics, and the very expensive B&W nautilus 800 series speakers, but I am satisfied listening to my TV and MP3 and FLAC files off my laptop with these headphones.

It is possible that the B&W's are better for a bit more money, but am unable to compare.

so if you already have good headphones you may not be as blown away by these as I

n’t had any issues chagring other than trying to decipher the LED indicator color meanings, but after quick consult of the Sennheiser website and instruction