SoundMAGIC HP200 Premium Full Size Open-Back Folding Headphones (Black)

I collect headphones and now own 30 pair priced from $20.00 to $500.00. I have owned a lot more than the 30 I have kept. I keep the one's that are unique in styling(but still sound good), perform exceptionally for their price or just plain blow your mind with their sound.With that said these cans are definitely keepers.ConstructionThese are very well built units that surpass other headphones in this price range.ComfortUnmatched in comfort. These cans are among the most comfortable I own.SoundFor sound I would say they compare most closely to AKG Q 701's and Grado 225i headphones. The bass is deep and balanced not muddy and boomy. Bass is a little more represented than the AKG ' S and similar to the Grado's maybe going a little deeper. Mid's are very clear accurate. High's are perfectly nuanced with out a hint of shrillness or fatigue. Overall a very well balanced sound. The sound stage is immense larger than the Grado's or AKG's providing a true 3D sound. . Every instrument can be identified in good recordings along with their placement. The only nit pick would be the sound stage is so huge they lack some centering.I can truly say I never heard of this brand before and after some research decided to give them a listen. I must say I am so glad I did I now would not want to be without them. When ever I want to sit and do critical listening to music they are one of four headphones I reach for. In fact I liked them so much I purchased a set of their HP 150 closed back and P21 portable headphones. Both of which are world class in their performance in their category.I was skeptical about a company with such a strange name and whether it could compete with the established brands. The name is strange but it truly describes the sound they make, it's magic.

I live outside the US, on February 2015 I purchased the HP150, based on some good reviews on-line, that pair sounded great, and even when lack on lower-end (they not designed for bass heads, but still lack in that end), overall they just sound clear and detailed.Fast forward to a vacation trip made to the States in March of the same year, I was excited on getting the HP200 based on my previous experience and because I wanted open air headphone. I made my purchased before my arrival, as I only a couple days in my stay. But for some reason, the package was delayed and received a day before my return, so never had the time to test the HP200.The problem with the unit I received, is that the left side sound quieter than the right!! Not sure by how many decibels as I do not have any equipment to test this, but I tried different sources and had friends listen to them, and all times came to the same conclusion.I have purchased numerous headphones over time, some cheaper some more expensive, but this was the first time something like this happened to me. This headphone was not on the cheap side ($200 at the time of purchase), and coming from a company that prides itself with their “meticulous manufacturing process, all products must be tested at least three times”, I just can’t understand were the quality control actually was when my unit was manufactured.I did not return them to Amazon because the shipping expenses were insanely close to the cost of the headphones themselves.Maybe I got a lemon, as the HP150’s still sound fine, and while I could partially compensate the volume differences with the balance controls, in the end, I still end up with a low quality expensive headphone, hoping this is not a an early sing of a driver going bad.Now they still sit in my closet in mint condition with a couple of uses, as a reminder to never purchase a SoundMAGIC product again.To a friend, I would definitely advise them to look elsewhere, for the price there are many alternatives for open headphones (Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, etc). But if still you are wanting to buy these headphone as part of an export sale, just check the return cost beforehand. I wish you do not have such a bad experience as I did.

I got these as a "budget" audiophile headset for my friend who is blind. Unfortunately they didn't stand the test of time, after 8 or less month's of daily use 8+ hr's a day one of the ear pads came off. The sound signature was mind blowing though

First review I've ever posted on Amazon:Allright, this is the first item that I've ever reviewed on any website. The reason? I really think this is one of the best deals in the audiophile world.Gonna keep it short and simple:Build: Nice, comparable to the HD600 in sturdyness, feels far more solid than the HD598. Not as good as Beyer DT990Performance: Great, amazingly detailed mids and highs, nice quick bass (run out of a Schiit Asgard 2+Modi). Could use a bit more space in the vocals, the intimacy of the sound can be a bit overwhelming sometimes and muddle the soundstage. A little picky sometimes, can have a bit of sizzle.Cons: Provided cord is short, and a replacement would need to fit into the proprietary locking mechanism. Also, while the build is sturdy, it looks a bit "cheap" on close inspection due to the mostly plastic finish.Overall: I think these cans are quite comparable to the HD650 in terms of warm-ish signature and detail. However, I prefer the bass here to any Sennheiser headphones that I have tried. I'll be looking to see if I can replace the cord and earpads somehow (maybe to the Shure Alcantara) and update this review. Until then, these still stand as a viable alternative to any pair of headphones in the DT880/990 HD600/650 AKG 701/702 class.