Rating: 
Summary: Best for the money!
Review: I decided it was time to retire my Sony MDR-65's after about 4 years of heavy abuse.... So after auditioning five different models from Koss, Sony, Philips, Aiwa and Jensen in the [money] range, I was quite disappointed. They all had plenty of muddy bass and not much clarity....especially when I used them with my portable! I found out that my [reasonable] old Sony's have a slightly exaggerated treble response around 10 KHz. This gave cymbals and strings some added zing without any EQ. The Sennheiser's have a much flatter frequency response than all the others I've tried with no mud whatsoever! They are very honest headphones....but they will also bring out any imperfections in the audio gear and old analog recordings as well...you can really hear the hiss from the tape! Digital recordings sound fantastic....The HD-497's are best for the money! The only thing that I didn't like was the "Y" cord connected to each earcup. Connecting the cord to only one side (usually the left one) greatly improves "wire restriction". I wasn't crazy about the silver plastic finish either, black would be a lot better. All in all a great value!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent sound and value
Review: I've been shopping for a medium to high quality pair of headphones for a while now. There are many high-end audiophile grade headphones that sound better than most $5000 speakers, but most of these headphones are too expensive for my budget (most cost $200 or more). I was looking for something around $50. After doing lots of research on the internet, I've narrowed my choices down to 4 pairs of headphones: Sennheiser HD497, Koss Pro 4AA, Grado SR60 and Sony MDR-V300. All of these headphones are within the $$$ range.The first pair I auditioned, Koss Pro 4AA produced excellent sound all around (they have an unbelievable frequency response of 10-25,000). However, their weight was as formidable as their sound - I couldn't wear them for more than 20 minutes at a time, my ears would begin sweating from the rubber ear pads and my neck would begin hurting from the weight. The Sony MDR-V300 is a much more comfortable pair of headphones; they also look much cooler than the 70's-style Koss. However, their sound was no comparison to Koss - Sony had a very nice bass, but overemphasized treble and lacked any midrange. The choices came down to Sennheiser and Grado. Both of these brands are well known for their excellent headphones, and both models I picked lived up to their reputation. Both headphones sounded very similar listening to rock and pop tracks. Grado handled classical music and jazz slightly better, while Sennheiser sounded better with techno and trance. In the end, Sennheiser's super-sexy futuristic look swayed me in. The HD497 are one of the best headphones I've heard - much better than any "generic" headphones you may own, and even better than $$$ Sony MDR-V700DJ. The highs (treble) on these headphones are well defined and absolutely clear, the mid-range is warm (but not colored) and pleasant to listen to, and the lows (bass) is very tight and hard-punching (despite the fact that HD497 is rated down to 24Hz, 4Hz short of the theoretical limit of human hearing). The headphones produce very little to no coloration - they don't enhance any of the frequencies, so what you hear exactly what is being passed to the headphones. You will hear new things from your CDs and mp3s, but be aware - unless your mp3s are encoded in high resolution (192kbps or higher), you'll also notice any encoded defects and blemishes that are characteristic of low quality mp3s. (You probably won't notice a difference between a 128kbps and a 190kbps mp3 on cheap "generic" headphones, but the HD497 will make these differences very clear once you give them a listen). These headphones are very efficient - you can play them loud using a regular portable CD player. However, you will notice great improvement (and be able to play them VERY LOUD) if you play them using an audio receiver or a dedicated headphone amp (which I don't have). I've found that my Creative Audio's Live! Drive's front end headphone plug produces the best results. They are very comfortable to wear; I've been listening to them for 3 or 4 hours at a time without getting tired. Because they are "open" headphones, there is plenty of air circulation, so your ears won't get sweaty. On the negative side, you won't be isolated from outside noise, and others won't be isolated from your music - you share whatever you're listening to with people around you (unless you listen on the quietest levels). All in all, these headphones are definitely worth the $$$ price tag.
Rating: 
Summary: hd 497
Review: so i bought these headphones and i tried them for a week. I used them for gaming and i thought they were pretty good cause i could hear everything. But the only problem was when i put them on i have to like adjust them to fit my ears into them since they are only medium sized earphones. So after a couple of hours with these things on, I take them off and my ears would hurt if i touch them and i really didn't like the feeling. Also i've listened to some music with these headphones and they sound pretty nice but they could use a little more bass. But i guess thats pretty good for 60 bucks
Rating: 
Summary: Very comfortable, a bit low on bass
Review: I do a lot of work on my computer so I was looking for a comfortable set of headphones that I could wear for a long time, and I definitely found them. I forget I'm wearing them half the time... I even fell asleep with them on the other night, watching a movie on my computer (the cord is more than long enough for me to do this). As for the bass, I have heard that you sometimes need time to break in Sennheisers, so I'm not going to make a final judgement on that just yet. The bass doesn't have nearly the same amount of punch to it that I had with a ... pair of closed Yamaha headphones (which my brother stole and fell in love with; I'll never see them again). If you're looking for comfort and decent overall sound, buy these headphones, they're a good deal.
Rating:
Summary: geeky look, great sound...
Review: Really, for the price, the sound quality can't be beat, I especially love the long (10') cord. Great with my iPod and my Mac (or any stereo for that matter, as it comes with an adapter). I personally think they look a bit odd on my head, but whatever, that is not a big deal. With these headphones, I truly melt into the music experience.
Rating:
Summary: Comfortable, incredibly clear sound
Review: After my disappointment with the Philips SBC HN100 noise cancellation headphones (see my review there), I picked up the Sennheiser HD-497 headphones. I hadn't used a pair of Sennheiser in a long time, but I do have excellent hearing and my musical training enables me to tell a good pair of headphones from a so-so and a bad pair. After breaking in the HD-497 I think this is a pair to keep, while I continue my search for an affordable noise-canceling set. The best feature of the HD-497 is the ultra-clear sound. I've hook the headphones up to my 600-watt amplifier from RCA, various models of Panasonic and Sony portable CD players, my Palms, my iPaq, my Initial portable DVD player. To my satisfaction, the HD-497 gives vibrant, clear sound on each one of the sources. It should be emphasized that the HD-497 does *not* enhance any particular range. If you are looking for a bass-boosting headset, for instance, you'll be sorely disappointed. For me, though, this is better, because I want "high fidelity" in its truest sense. Whatever audible range and texture that are recorded on the source (CD, DVD, MP3, etc.), should be preserved. And since many amplifiers and also software programs are better at allowing me to adjust the levels of the various frequencies, I'd prefer to use those to get the best sound, and I want my headphones to preserve those settings without any furthur, "cheapo" distortion. This is fundamentally different from purchasing a so-so pair of earphones and hoping to get some fake bass boost from them. I'm not saying the fake bass boost is necessarily a bad thing, though; sometimes, for example, when you are using a no-frills portable audio player, the bass boost in the headphones may make you happier. It's just that for me, the way the HD-497 preserves and passes through the output from my audio sources, greatly pleases the audiophile in me. Of course, this also means the HD-497 is best used with an audio source that allows you to make frequency response adjustments. My RCA Lyra MP3 jukebox does that, so I've been very happy with the Lyra-Sennheiser pairing. In terms of ergonomics, the HD-497 is far from perfect. It's still a bit too tight for my taste, especially because I wear glasses. On the packaging Sennheiser boasts of "extremely comfort for extended listening." I beg to differ. After about 30 minutes I need to take it off for a break. But because the sound quality on this is so superb, I'm willing to accept a bit of discomfort. Besides, it's many times more comfortable than my old Koss over-ear headphones. The padded headphones help keep some noise out, but not very much. It probably doesn't even qualify for a passive noise cancellation system, so if you take this on a plane or Amtrak you may be disappointed. On the other hand, it gives you beautiful sound and plenty of volume (no inline volume control, though), so you should be able to find a volume level on your audio source that will effectively cancel out ambient noise. As for portability, the HD-497 is too big for stuffing it in a pocket, or a ladies' purse. The person who said this was too big for his/her carry-on luggage wasn't being accurate. You can put this away in a carry-on, or just hang them around your neck. In fact, it's quite stylish. :)
Rating:
Summary: Wow! These are REALLY good headphones.
Review: Just got these from Amazon.com... I'm a casual listener and got these mainly to listen to MP3's off of my laptop at work. Wow!! These headphones deliver amazing sound. I'm no audiophile, but I can easily feel the difference from various ...Sony's that I recently tried out. The bass is particularly impressive. It's very punchy, deep, and crisp. It also sounds really dynamic and clear through the midrange and treble. My laptop or a portable CD/MP3 player is plenty enough to drive these headphones. I listen to a wide variety of stuff from rap to pop to techno/house to rock/metal (sorry - no classical) - these phones are great for all of the above. The only minor complaint I would have is that they are slightly tighter on my head/ears than I would like. You'll have to take a break after having them on for a while. Maybe they will break in after a while and get looser ... not sure... Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: a pretty good one
Review: It's my first GOOD headphone. I used the 10$ value sony earbuds all the time, and the first trully gave me some surprises.
It looks simple. It's not very comfortable for wearing compared with earbuds. I love classic music, and I really can't hear the difference between a 60$-value good headphone and a 10$-value earbuds with pop music. Bass was very strong. I turned fully on bass of my sony CD-player, then my ears protested. Music is crystal clear. The only thing I'm confused is that I could hear clearly the position of diffferent instruments in the band with my earbuds, but I couldn't figure out anything with this one. Maybe I need some time toget used to it.
Overall, it's a good headphone, deservs the money you want to put on it.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Headphones
Review: These are by far the best value headphones on the market. So far I can't say anything bad about them. Awesome headphones.
Rating:
Summary: Great Hybrid Design
Review: Like a crossover vehicle that isn't quite an SUV and isn't quite a car, these are hybrid headphones. These are surprisingly light like supra-aural (on the ear) headphones, but they are in fact circumaural (around the ear). Unlike most such enveloping headphones, they don't isolate you from your environment. I rate that an advantage -- you are more likely to be able to hear a phone ring or the doorbell, but they do mute ambient noise sufficiently to allow focus on music. Fit: If you have big ears you may find them a bit snug. They are "around the ear," but in a low-profile way, with not a lot of cubic centimeters to spare. I have a big head (7 5/8 hat size) and the earpieces easily drop down far enough, unlike a lot of lightweight phones that maddeningly seem to stop just short. The headphones are a good choice for extended wear -- the ear pads, head pad give them enough grip. They don't slip and slide easily, though I haven't worn them jogging. You can watch a 2-hour DVD without discomfort -- some headphones make you want to take a break halfway through. Sound: The sound, like the fit, is non-fatiguing. I haven't noticed any response anomalies. The bass is fairly extended and shaded toward tight-and-crisp rather than lush. If you are trading up from the cheapo headphones that come with a portable (usually a good idea), you will be surprised at how much the bass is improved. Look: These are great-looking headphones and they don't stick way off your head like many around-the-ear phones. Build quality: These are made of lightweight but strong plastic. The ear pads are higher quality than typically found in this price range. The cord is a bit longer than average, and thicker than on most lightweight headphones, but it isn't heavy. Bottom line: These are a good choice for someone who listens mostly at home but also travels. The non-fatiguing sound and fit, combined with tight bass, give these 4-star headphones that fifth star. Recommended.
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