Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First and foremost, I work in film and TV. I own a number of Audio-Technica products, partially because I grew up knowing people who worked there in my hometown. My last set of studio headphones were Sennheiser HD-280's that I owned for nearly 6 years before someone walked off with them. I've used my headphones for monitoring sound while I work outside the studio. The Goods: You get a set of collapsable (I guess they take up less space) studio cans, a coiled gold-plated headphone cable, a straight gold-plated headphone cable with 1/4" gold-plated adapter, and a soft bag for storage. Sorry, no AT bumper sticker in this kit. First Impression: They're light! I don't have my Sennheisers next to me to directly compare, but man, these things are crazy light. Almost suspiciously light... Cables snap in nicely, and the bag is perfect for keeping the dust off, nothing more. Also, this material on the cups and head band are SOFT. Seems softer than a kitten, without the smell. I like it. The Sound: As you can imagine, they're great. The highs are very crisp, and like any AT headphones, there is a break-in period. They should warm out a bit, and lose the high-end harshness in a week of use. The lows are not as clear as they could be, but clearer than the muddled lows on my Sennheisers. Mids are great. Clarity at volume is really good. Only complaint, they don't seal out background sounds like my other cans did. They seem open, instead of closed. These are definitely not as effectively in loud spaces for listening. As monitors, they're very neutral for sub-$100 phones. Slight warmth toward the low, with sharp highs that will break in. Voice sounds natural, especially solo vocals singing, which is what I need them mostly for. The Feel: I don't know how to say this. The plastic doesn't feel cheap, it's just very, very lightweight. The phones are so much more comfortable to wear being this light. If you wear glasses, you will notice a HUGE difference when wearing them. They aren't heavy or tight, meaning they're not clamping your head, pressing the frames behind your ears. Yet, the way the cups swivel, and click, sounds and feels cheap. I feel like I could definitely break these. I have a year warranty, and I'll refer back with updates. My other Audio Technica gear, is SOLID stuff. My microphones and turntable feel like they could be dropped from an airliner. The band and pivots inside are stainless steel, so the phones should hold up well. I'm just not feeling it every time I pick them up and flex them over my head. The cables are also lightweight, but will no doubt hold up. The Verdict: For under $100, headphones that sound this good, with replaceable cables for different situations, that don't weigh anything on you; are well worth it. 4 stars for being loose with this material, and not sealing out background noise like they should.