My real opinion on these (HD700): GARBAGE. I wouldn't keep them if I got them for free. I had access to these for two weeks while LFF had them and I only once touched them...one more time just before I mailed them back on behalf of LFF. Head time is the strongest indicator of how much I like a headphone. These essentially got ZERO head time. I never had any desire to listen to them. ZERO = FAIL = GARBAGE

During this time, I pulled out the V-Moda M80s and even the FA-011 (PS1000 imitator). I've even longed for the LCD3 (on statewide loan.) But who wants to listen to a slightly nerfed HD800 with an even more fucked up treble? What's the point of his headphone?

I know it's a pretty strong statement, and part of this is based on my expectations from Sennheiser. None of their other (mid-fi and above) headphones ever had sharp narrow peaks. This is the only one has at least two that I can hear. Cymbal work and snares on 50% of my rock albums just make me cringe with pain. This is an unacceptable percentage.

The HD700 has the same peak at 6k the HD800 does, except it's even worse. In addition to that, there's all sorts of ringing and resonances in the treble - at least two more peaks - and they are nasty too. It's totally uneven up there. This probably accounts for why one person may think it sounds thin and another thinks it's warmer than the HD800 - it's so recording dependent.

The last factor. It's fricking one thousand dollars. Last time I checked, one thousand dollars is a LOT of money. Something that costs one thousand fricking dollars should never make me cringe with pain with 35% of the music that I listen to.