Rating: 
Summary: Break these in first!
Review: This headphone really transformed after about 15 hours of break-in time. When I tried it first out of box, it sounded worse than a pair of $20 headphone from Fry's. After break-in, the bass really got beefed up and the mid and high sounded absolutely gorgeous. Watching movies on this headphone is an entirely different experience. It is definitely worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: High Quality at A Decent Price
Review: This is the second pair of Sennheiser Headphones that I have purchased. The first model (HD-457) blew me away in terms of sound quality and overally comfort level. When these managed to break, I decided to upgrade to the 497's; and the differences was noticeable when listening to this model. I really enjoy the excellent frequency response for both the highs and lows, as well as the midrange (which is simply put, wonderful). You also must keep in mind, that no enhancement of the bass or treble takes place with the 497's, so it gives you an accurate picture of where your audio is (frequency, and volume wise). In this way, it can be an inexpensive tool for audio mastering, (it has helped me properly mix and master several albums.)The craftmanship is also far better than any other pair of headphones I have purchased. Starting with this model, Sennheiser makes the phono cable to each speaker removable, unlike the chaper models. This means that if this wire was to break, you could simply order a replacement from Sennheiser. This signifcantly increases the lifespan of the headphones, and enables you to save a lot of money in the long run. These headphones are also comfortable to wear; the padding in each speaker allows for extended listening, with a minimum of discomfort. The only complaint I have with this model is just how much the sound leaks. I can clearly hear the output from accross the room, if turned to even a moderate volume; so these are definately not for portable use. However, if you are looking for a quality pair of headphones, without spending a lot of money, these are the right headphones for you. Of course, if you are looking for the best Sennheiser has to offer, look at the HD-550's or 600's.
Rating:
Summary: Durability + Performance = Sennheiser Masterpiece
Review: I bought this pair of headphones solely based on the reviews from Amazon. Boy, they were right. The first thing I noticed about this pair of headphones is how light they are in comparison to the quality of sound they produce. They are light on my head, and yet they play music and games beauifully. I went through three pairs of Koss giants, and this is by far the lightest and best quality of sound I have gotten through all of them. The next thing I was delighted to see were the removable mono cables to each ear (R and L). There have been many times where I jump up from my chair and the wire gets caught on my foot or on my chair, pulling on the wire and, even in one case, snapping the cable. When I accidentally did this at one point, one of the cables popped out. I almost freaked out until I noticed that the cord was removable. I snapped it back in, and voila! I've got my wonderful pair of headphones back. Another damage incident that turned good was when I stepped on them (I give my headphones a hard time). This time, the whole earpiece popped off. Now I thought they really had it. But wait! They were removable also! How wonderful! I snapped the earpiece back in, and on I went. If you want a high-quality, well-priced, durable, and attractive pair of headphones that will go through the beating of everyday (or not so normal) life, I suggest you get yourself a pair of these.
Rating:
Summary: Sennheiser HD-497, the best of the best!
Review: There isn't really much to say about those headphones, they are simply top notch and stand second to none. The sound is so phenomenal it's simply impossible to describe it. The base, which seems to be too weak for some people, for me is simply impeccable- it's balanced out perfectly.
One negative thing about those headphones is that the people outside your "music world" are able to hear what you are listening to quite well. It becomes annoying when you are in a bus with your Sennheiser HD-497's volume turned up all the way, and people around you seem to gaze at you with a strange expression on their face. Come to think of it, it might be the music you are listening to... Britney Spears ;-). I kid, I kid...
Overall these are the best I have ever had, if you want to buy a good pair of headphones for a really nice price, buy these, you will see why people say: "I didn't know headphones could do that."
Rating:
Summary: Great Sound, Light Feel
Review: These are the best headphones I've ever purchased. I'm used to listening to Bjork or R.E.M. on the standard headphones that come with CD players and radios. Those don't even compare to the HD497's. First, they're very comfortable and light. Second, the sound is amazing. Deep, rich tones. I've heard little noises in the music I didn't notice with other headphones. Pads and cords are replacable. Plug fits both small and large headphone outlets with included adaptor. Might be a little bulky for true mobility, but they're still very easy on the ears. Cord is long, but that's not always bad. Those Germans sure do know how to design headphones.
Rating:
Summary: I'm very pleased
Review: I've been using Senn's HD-497 for a month with HP IPAQ 1910 and 128kbps WMA-encoded songs. Now it is time for review.
I listen to variety of music, like Diana Krall, The Rippingtons,
Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Counting Crows, Linkin Park.
I used HD-202 before, a DJ headphones before I gave it to my brother.
HD-202 is more bass heavy, a tad more comfortable to wear, but recessed mids and highs.
HD-497 is more balanced, a little uncomfortable to wear tough. I have to crank up the bass setting of my IPAQ to listen to Linkin Park, while I have to do the opposite with HD-202.
Overall, both has excellent value under $50, but HD-497 is the winner because of the superior mid and highs, and adequate bass.
Rating:
Summary: I don't know headphones can do this!
Review: I am writing this review after I have been using this for about a month. Initially, I had a Sennheiser HD-212 (which also received good reviews and in the same price range) that I used for a month before my brother took it from me! It was a bit cheaper than the HD-497 at the time. I was actually happy with its amazing bass and overall responses. But when it comes to the time that I need to look for a new one, I found a pretty good deal on HD-497 from Amazon that makes it cheaper than the HD-212, so I got the HD-497 instead... My review here is the comparisons between these two headphones. Right out of the box, I was a bit disappointed with the HD-497 because the bass was substantially less than that of the HD-212, although the mids and the highs are somewhat better. However, after some break-in periods (like a week or so), it does sounds better but the bass, although pretty decent, is still not as heavy and deep like that of the HD-212. I think it depends on personal taste - I like heavy bass. However, I sometimes get tired from the bass of the HD-212 after long hours on the headphones and the bass can be a bit distracting if you are trying to work and listen to musics as I do, but for the most part, it was great. The HD-497 has a more "natural" sound and it captures all the details in the music beautifully. I do like the mids and highs on the HD-497 a lot - they are clearer and brighter than the HD-212. It is amazing how much you can hear in the music with these headphones. I listen to a solo Piano CD and I can hear the sound when they turn the note page. One dilemma I had with the HD-212 is that it totally block out all the outside noises. It is good that you almost get a "noise cancelling" function without actually paying for it but sometimes I think it is too good. I have a telephone in front of me and I barely hear it rings when the music is on - that can be a really terrible thing if your boss is calling you. You can hear more outside noises in HD-497 but the music is still clear. I guess it depends on how you use it. The materials and workmanship on these two headphones are basically the same. They feel the same (which is comfortable, by the way) on my head. I feel that the cord length on these headphones are a bit too long. I'd prefer it to be like two-third of that. Both of them are light weight but pretty big so they are not really a portable type. I would recommend this product to anyone. But if you like a lot of bass, also consider HD-212.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT QUALITY! NOT VERY BASSY
Review: these are a great pair of headphones, i just got them the other day, and as soon as i hooked them up to my ordinary computer speaker out, i was blown away. The mids and highs on this headphones are amazing, the highs can be ear piercing sometimes, the bass is pretty good too, but i felt it could be better. I wish there was a volume control on the headphones too. Otherwise its amazing! Great german engineering
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the money
Review: I bought this headphone for use with my desktop and laptop
computers. I thought for a $35.00 headphone, the least I
can expect is a clear sound. But to my surprise, the sound
quality is horrible, this is definitely not a $35.00 head
phone. In fact, I wouldn't spend more than $3 for this kind
of quality. Stay away from this head phone unless you like
wasting your money
Rating: 
Summary: Some Great Open-Air Headphones!
Review: After receiving the headphones 2 days after ordering (wow, really fast shipping on amazon's part), I was skeptical of the quality of these cans because they seemed too light to be of any effectiveness. Was I wrong... After the initial break-in period, the cans sounded better than ever. Mids and highs were as crisp as the winter's air and the lows(bass) blended spectacularly with the mids and highs. These are just some great cans at an affordable price. The only reason why I did not give it 5 stars was due to their overall weight. I prefer cans that are a tad bit heavier, but the advantage of having a lightweight set like these is portability. They wont add any additonal weight to your pack. If you have super large ears, these probably wont be too comfortable for you (just my 0.02).
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