Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First off, I've been researching on getting a high quality set of headphones for a long time, looking at reviews all over forums and sites, and testing them out at stores that carried the ones I was interested in, mostly for DJ use. (Sony MDR V700, Pioneer HDJ-1000&2000, Allen&Heath XD53, Ultrasone DJ-1, Technics RP-DH1200, etc etc, and even the Monster Dre. Beats Pro, even though after the Beats Studios I've grown to sway away from those overpriced-bandwagon-moneymaking headphones) If you're looking for a set of 'cool' headphones that look flashy and deliver mad bass for casual listening (with hopes that you will be noticed by people around you wearing your super cool headphones) and are thinking of getting these, look elsewhere. However, if you want studio-level quality headphones that deliver excellent noise isolation while maintaining superb sounds with crisp highs and tight, punchy bass, (and aren't buying them for sex appeal) you cannot go wrong with these. I might also mention that I bought these for mainly DJ use as well as listening on-the-go for I am a hobbyist, and I have to say it serve my purpose extremely well. One reason why these are far superior than other headphones in the price range is its isolation. Although it is technically not a 'closed' system, it blocks out sound better than any closed headphones I've tried. Next time you're watching ESPN and look at what headphones the commentators are using, you'll quickly realize that these are EVERYWHERE. This is because of the superior isolation it provides, since commentators need to be able to block out the loud noise of the crowds & whatnot in the environment they are in. If you go to a club/music festivals where DJ's are present (for Electronic Dance Music), you will quickly notice that many of your favorite DJ's are sporting these. I recently went to the Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas this year, and found myself being amazed at how many DJ's there were using these headphones during their sets, and although it might be the wrong reason for getting these headphones, just the fact that so many of the DJ's I looked up to had these, I wanted the same headphones as them. As a DJ playing in front of a massive crowd and monitors and speakers at ear-piercing levels, you need to be able to block out those extra noises and hear the track you're cueing up. Don't take my word for how well these do just that, just take a look at how many professional DJs choose these when they play their live sets. Next feature to mention is its durability and comfort. Yes, they are made of plastic. But don't be fooled; because of the simplicity of the design, these will seriously last forever. They've been bent, tossed around, sat on, pulled, anything you can name it by plenty of traveling DJ's and if you check the forums they all say these have withheld stress the best. Also, every part of the headphone is replaceable, making it easy to buy parts that wear out or break unlike other headphones which become utterly useless if you mess with the wrong cord. As far as comfort goes, although at first they may seem a little tight on your head, after you give them some time to 'break in' and mold to your head, you will find yourself forgetting they are even on your head at times. They're super light, with minimal baggage that other headphones slap on to make their brand look more appealing than others. You're getting 100% efficiency with these and 0% of the tacky features of other headphones. Like I said, if you're looking to stand out and be that guy with the super-cool-headphones-that-aren't-Dre.Beats-since-everyone-has-those-and-you-want-to-be-different, these will not suit your intentions for they aren't the most appealing of headphones. However it has a minimalist design that has the simple aesthetics that grows on you. To add, I've actually taken them apart completely (and they do come apart) and decided to customize the pieces by spray painting certain parts to transform them into white and black. And yes this is possible and there are actually many customized HD-25's on the web if you google it. Last and most importantly, the sound. Crystal clear highs, projectile mids, and excellent bass. Since most people seem to care a lot about the BASS, considering the prominence of Dre. Beats and their infamous bass, these aren't as deep or 'booming' sounding as the Beats which completely overpowers/drowns out every other spectrum of sound in my honest opinion. These sound much tighter, and punchier. It's like comparing that too-loud, vibrating (almost fart sounding), overdriven subwoofer you've had the misfortune of experiencing in your friend's car to a well-tuned and balanced clear, punchy bass thump coming from a kick drum mic'ed through a nice PA system at a concert you've been to. Okay, maybe that was a little over exaggerated but you get my drift. But some people just seem to enjoy that loud, floor rattling bass so if you ARE that kind of person, do not buy these. Now that we've got that clear, the rest of the sound spectra considering the highs and mids are substantial, really bringing out the clarity and phenomenal sound quality that Sennheiser is known for. The sound separations between the bass kicks and hi hats and mid range vocals and melodies are definitely present, which is another reason why DJ's use them. The only thing I say they somewhat 'lack' is that the sound presence isn't necessarily the best. Some headphones give you that experience where if you put them on and play your favorite track and close your eyes, it seems like you are right there with the music and have that '360 degree' feel (like the Ultrasone DJ-1's). These don't necessarily provide that type of presence but it's not such a negative feature to sway people away from these headphones. Think of it as a bonus feature that some headphones have. Overall, there's a reason why these are recommended by nearly every DJ if you read the forum threads of people looking for headphones. There's a reason why every commentator you see on TV is wearing these. However, these aren't for everyone and definitely not for the average consumer with the average ear that listens specifically for how much bass the headphones can put out. I may also add you can, and I suggest, buy a headphone amplifier if you want to reach the full potential of this high-end headhpone. Anyway, I think this review was extensive enough for people seriously interested in considering these headphones and if they aren't, they probably stopped reading this review by now so I'll end it with this question. If they did 'suck' and really were a waste of money as some reviews state, why would so many PROFESSIONALS that care about audio quality (compared to the also prominent Dre. Beats seen on NBA players and spoiled kids with no real ear for quality sound) resort to these and choose to use this specific model when there are plenty of products? Hope this helps you make a decision and I'm sorry if I've wasted your valuable time while you were sitting bored at home or work browsing through Amazon. Cheers :)