Steven Slate Audio VSX Modeling Headphones - Essentials Edition

This comment is regarding the hardware; the headphone itself. I am a simple man. I have no build quality issues. I have an issue (it’s you) with the sound. It’s not me it’s you. Without the use of any software, I find the sound of these headphones so engaging, so pleasing to my ears. Plugged into an iD4 mkii, they are my preferred phone in comparison with the AT M50, MDR- MV1 and iPod Max. Sub bass region is no one-trick-pony, but goes deep in the blue sea (water). The mid bass area feels so organic (horizon). The treble tone is very natural (airy). The midrange is down to earth. All enlaced on a precise yet fluid soundstage…..just beautiful. I look forward to deep diving into the room to see what melody I can catch. This headphone is a toast to the groove and a compliment to audiophilidity. Now onto the software…

I know some people think this is gimmicky, but this was legitimately a game changer for my mixing and mastering, I even just use them all the time with the desktop plugin, they sound amazing, you get what you pay for. For those who cant afford 10 studios and want a quick car test and references, go for this, it's pricey yes, but you don't get anything else for this price either. Only love for slate

These were a birthday gift for my son, who spends a lot of time doing sound design. He had asked for them specifically because they're known to be high quality. He is very happy with them and uses them almost daily in his work. He says the audio quality is fantastic and they're comfortable even after long periods of wearing. Highly recommend!

Awesome for mixing/mastering, ESPECIALLY if you don't have the high-end speaker sources of the big studios.

They perform exactly as intended. I’ve owned many Slate products over the years, including the VMS 1, VMS 2, and several of their plugins, and I genuinely appreciate their innovation and sound quality. However, with the VSX, while the functionality is solid, the build quality feels underwhelming. The main issue is the cable: it constantly snags and tangles, which might seem minor but has become a real disruption to my workflow. I’m planning to replace it with a high-quality coiled cable instead. It’s a shame Slate cut corners on such a crucial detail. I’m giving them 4 stars. Edit: After spending more time with these headphones, I’m removing one star. The build quality is disappointing, the cable remains wrinkled and sticky. Overall, very poor value for the price.

I had a pair of monitors that were okay, but the room I was in was an apartment so I could basically never ever use them. I love that these simulate different environments that I can test my mixes in, and I then can take to my friend’s studio to test the mix also. These have been amazing to mix with, and I would definitely recommend trying these. I bought the expansion pack as well which I would say is also worth it. These are solid quality, and the fit is quite comfortable. Definitely try them out!

They're very balanced and deliver high quality sound. However they aren't nearly as comfortable as I had expected based on other reviews. Additionally, for home use: watching movies, playing video games, video chat, etc... the sound is a little lack-luster since it lacks coloring.

Well worth the money. I upgraded to the Platinum version as soon as I tried the VSX plugin with the headphones. Sound quality is fantastic. The headphones are comfortable on my small head. My mixes sound better after mixing with these headphones and the plugin. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is serious about getting professional sounding mixes in less time and with less guess and check. It’s also a lot of fun to choose between the different mix room simulations, which sound phenomenal.