I'm going to start with the cons because there are so few that it's easier to say what these do wrong compared to everything else.
Cons
- no rumbling bass. I personally like this, as I find heavy sub-bass such as in Beats Solo 2 headphones or most other consumer sets to be a bit grating after a while, to the point that I have a headache. These headphones are definitely not for bass-heads in any way. You'll be able to tell the rumble is there, but it's not nearly as prevalent as in other headphones. As a result, if you are a bass-head, you'll probably think these are a bit weak. Instead, you'll be hearing the tone and the notes of the bass a lot more than you would with other headphones in the same price range.
- sound leakage/isolation. These are semi-open headphones, meaning sound can get in and get out easier than in a closed-back headphone. Again, I personally haven't had a problem with this yet, but it does limit where you can use them. I found that 50% volume on my laptop was both perfectly loud enough for the music to ring through with power and clarity, while also not bothering those around me. As for sound coming in, I could hear my parents and the TV, but not enough to make out any words. These allow you to be aware of your surroundings, but at the same time they wouldn't work for a train or air travel, as the lack of noise cancelling allows the sounds of the engines and track to overpower the music.
Pros
- the sound. Thanks to the semi-open design, the highs and mids in these headphones are beautiful. You can see for yourself how the semi-open cups change this by covering them with your hands while you're listening, doing so makes the music a bit more claustrophobic with harsher treble. Everything I've tried with them, whether it be Kendrick Lamar, Dying Fetus, Miles Davis, or Nirvana, has sounded better than I've ever heard. These are designed for studio recording, and as a result have a very flat and even sound that doesn't emphasize any particular frequency. They're bright, but not ear piercing. They have bass, but it doesn't drown out the rest of the music, even on an insanely bass-heavy album like 21 Savage & Offset's "Without Warning." Since these are made for studio recording and production, you'll naturally get as close a sound as possible to how the music is supposed to sound, without modifications to any particular. I've been able to hear details in some songs I had no idea were there, and it's a wonderful experience to relive some of my favorite albums with this more studio accurate sound.
- comfort. These headphones are very, very light, with soft leather cushions and a leather headband. While it's a bit odd for headphones that sound this good to be so light initially, it's actually quite nice and allows for extended listening without discomfort. No adjustment is needed when putting these on; instead of having the locking sections most headphones do for adjusting them, these have springs in the headband. This allows them to fit comfortably by just putting them on, without figuring out exactly where each cup needs to be to make it feel right. I personally found the cups to be big enough for my ears to fit almost completely inside of them, but I've seen some complain that they are too small, so take note of that. One of the other benefits of the previously mentioned semi-open design is allowing some air to come through as well; my ears did not get nearly as hot as they did with Beats or Sony Gold or any other closed back headphones I've used, which is something I have been dying to have for a long time.
- looks. Of course this is completely personal taste. I think these headphones look awesome, but I can understand if someone else doesn't. AKG makes another model that is a bit less retro looking called the AKG M220 which might be more someone's style. They're pretty much the exact same headphones, except with a white and black color scheme and a price point that's about $2 higher than these.
- wire. The wire this thing came with is long, longer than I've seen in most stores outside of Fry's or Best Buy. That works great for me, as I'm going to mainly use these in my dorm where I need to move around. You can also buy a replacement wire if this one isn't long enough that's 25 feet. Speaking of replacement, yes, these headphones have a replaceable wire, meaning it's not really a big deal if the wire breaks. It might be a bit difficult to find a cable for them though, as instead of a normal aux cord, these have a 35mm plug on one end and a mini XLR on the other that plugs into the headphones. It's a stronger fit than other headphones I've used with removable wires, but also a slightly confusing design choice. These also come with an adapter for larger plugs such as those you'd find on the headphone port of a receiver, not something I myself needed but welcome nonetheless.
- price. I got these for around $68, an insanely low price for how good these are. You can easily go over $100, $200, or even $300 to try to find headphones that are better than this, but if you're just looking for something to listen to music or even do some of your own recording, these are perfectly fine. As well, that removable wire and other reviews I've seen from trusted source means these are insanely durable; you may never need to buy another pair of headphones again.
In short, these are the best headphones I have ever come across. The sound leakage and lack of sub-bass could be a problem for some people, but personally they weren't massive enough to bring the score down. If you're on the fence, absolutely get these or their sister product the AKG M220's, you won't regret it. Samson makes a model that is clearly based off of these, and from what I've heard they're slightly heavier on the bass, though I personally went with these because of the removable wire and trust I have with the reviewers that recommended these.
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