I bought this after seeing the specs compared to the MDR-V700 headphones. They are exactly the same in all respects. These are just the Japan version.

The quality is good, the comfort level is there, and the sound is superb. Don't know about the V700's but these Z700's were made in Japan so you can expect the utmost quality.

As circumaural (cover the ears) cans, they should suppress the noise from the outer world while keeping the sounds they're producing limited to your ears - no leakage. These do a pretty good job in that respect. Unless you want to go deaf you won't have to worry about leaking sound. However if you're sitting in a library and you get the sudden urge to listen to some Metallica, just keep in mind that there is minor leakage as most people's heads aren't shaped exactly enough to the earpads to create a seamless pocket. But then again this is the case with most other cans except most others can have more leakage. With a snug fit there is almost no sound leakage at all volumes.

As for the outside sound, once you put the cans on, you can't hear anything short of a fire truck blaring in front of you or a gunshot. And even those can get muffled. These cans are superb at keeping external noise out and leaving you in your own sonic world. So if you want to listen to some classical at NASCAR, you'll do well with these.

Now onto sound quality. I also own a pair of Technics RPDJ1200s and have tested most of the Sennheiser line across all price ranges but mainly the top. I can tell you that these Z700's get the job done and are excellent at all levels. You want bass? You got it. You want the high end? You got it. Although the sound is not mind blowing (these aren't made for the studios but they can work as studio phones) they are still really really good. And to be honest, I haven't really experienced a mind-blowing sound out of any cans yet. So yea, these are probably at the top of the list. Then again I believe it's all subjective and Sony did really well making these. The sound is awesome and coupled with the noise supression, you've got a compact opera house you can put on your head. But seriously, the sound screams quality.

Comfort. Like with all circumaurals, you're going to get headphone fatigue whether you like it or not. It's just a matter of how long you can wear them before it sets in. I've found that after about an hour then my ears start hurting, but it all depends on the shape of your head. If you've got a bigger head then these will work but will fatigue you faster. The same is true if your head is smaller. If you've got a pretty medium sized head, you'll be set. The ear pads are made of some pleather (fake leather) material and they're pretty comfortable and don't cause much perspiration. As for the headband, it could be a little more comfortable, but most other cans are in the same category. For the price these are sufficiently comfortable.

Durability. I've read reviews where people complained of cracking in specific areas of the cans. The majority of these people being DJs who are more susceptible to tossing their cans around. I'm not a DJ and take care of my stuff but I do get careless occasionally. But I've owned my cans for about a good year now and there is no cracking or any other damage except for minor nicks which are my fault. I've dropped it on the floor a few times and still no damage. These are built pretty tough but I haven't really abused them yet. But if you take care of your stuff, then these will be a good investment.

Ok now for the features. Since these are DJ headphones they have the ability to pivot and swing at the ear joints. Compared to my Technics these aren't really as flexible, but in all honesty I prefer the Sony's.

They look really good on your head compared to most other headphones. I'm serious when I say this as some cans can make it seem like you've got a car spoiler on your head, or you're some kind of test patient for a hearing impaired experiment. In fact they just don't look really good, I think they're the best looking cans on your head. Compared to my Technics and the Sennheisers, these cans look casual and like something you can wear outside of the house or at school without looking like a total dork. Plus they don't look so flashy that you'd attract muggers. So if you're safety and image conscious, these will serve you well.

All in all these are the BEST all around cans I've owned and tried. And trust me, I've gone to a lot of Magnolia Music, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Tower Records stores chasing the perfect cans and seems like I've found it. The masses of people aren't buying these cans over others for no reason. Even those who complain of the cracking still go back to them. For the money and for the features it's well worth it. So if you're in the market seriously go out, try these, read the reviews, and you'll see what I'm saying.



Recommended: Yes