Panasonic Retro Monitor Over-Ear Headphones for iPod, iPhone, MP3 and Smartphone - Black

A lot of reviews stating that bass was too low on these put me off initially, but I decided that I was willing to risk it for the other reviews that said they were great.I have regular sized ears, and these headphones nearly completely cover them, keeping out basically all external sound - so you're really in a world of your own - makes you feel even closer to the music.The only negative point I have is that the headphones can become quite hot and after a while this can be a bit uncomfortable.I use the headphones for music production as well as just general listening.I am very pleased - and bass is not too high or too low - just perfect! And straight out of the box it was excellent, maybe some reviewers should check the devices they are playing the headphones off, or their settings, before blaming the headphones straight away.I could hear the bass in rock music so clearly, exactly how it was intended in the initial recordings - for example, I was listening to nirvana and the libertines first off and you felt like you were at the recording session - for the first time I could hear the bass perfectly and the drums - WOW - every intricate detail is there - its no longer just a thud, its a type of thud, at a certain frequency, with a certain drum-kit, I can hear the difference now! Everything is so clear - nothing was tampered with electronically - this is how it is supposed to sound people!I would say the same for dance music too, everything is so clear, and you can hear things you didn't before, little intricacies, so good!For years I've been listening to music on run of the mill headphones - there is no comparison - with these headphones you're transported to the gig, to the recording session - YOU ARE NO LONGER JUST LISTENING, YOU ARE THERE - the producer wanted you to hear it this way - and now you get it!Thank you Panasonic!

Reviews of headphones are very subjective. One person may say there is too much base, while another may feel that there is too little. Another may say that they are extremely comfortable, whereas another might describe them as vice-like. With this is mind I give my review below.General Info:I have four sets of headphones, all for different functions. I have a Sony on-ear set, connected to my speaker system on my desktop PC, A Bowes and Wilkins P7 set for my Personal player and a set of Technics RP-F200 for late night TV watching which are plugged into my Denon surround system. This Panasonic set are to replace the Technics, as the ear pads are deteriorating.Build Quality:As good as anything that you could expect for £40.Comfort:I find them light and easy on the ears and I experience no discomfort when wearing them for a couple of hours. In fact they are more comfortable than my P7s that cost around £300.Sound quality:This is where it becomes very subjective. Compared to all my other sets, I find the base very boomy and on some occasions masks out much of the other frequencies. I used the track ‘Somewhere’ from the Barbra Streisand’s Broadway album as a test for this. Of course if you like a lot of deep base then this will, literally, be music to your ears. However when the base is absent the rest of the range is quite acceptable and in my case does the job of watching films and other general TV very well.In summary:I would be cautious about buying these for those of you who would describe themselves as audiophiles as you will hear the flaws in the base spectrum and the lack of separation immediately. If you just want to listen to music on your personal player, they will also serve well, as long as you are not expecting faithful sound replication. They are perfect for any PC sound system or plugged into your TV. If you are looking for more than this in a set of headphones for a similar budget then try and go to a pair of Sennheiser HD205. Momentums (2.0) or HD518s.

I've been searching for a new set of headphones, reading lots of reviews. I was struggling because I'm on a very tight budget but take audio quality quite seriously. For reference my first set of good headphones were Sennheiser Hd 215's (£56 at time of writing and a very good pair of headphones) which completely broke after several years of use, followed by Sennheiser HD 201's (£21 at time of writing) that were terrible in comparison that I have been eager to replace. Both were used for listening to music and watching films at home.These Panasonic headphones have been reviewed quite well so thought I would give them a shot. I'm very impressed with the sound quality, lots of depth without lacking presence. You really get that "in the room feel" that a good pair of headphones should give. I'd be hesitant to say they sound better than the 215's because its been a few weeks since they broke and my memory isn't perfect. But they are certainly comparable. The sound is very good and for me they are reasonably comfortable.The build quality however seems quite cheap, they have a very plastic (almost disposable?) feel to them. That's not to say they will fall apart, they just feel a little flimsy. The cable is only 1.2m and intended for portable use, so you will need to get an extension cable if you use it for your TV. The cable is also permanently attached. With my 215's and most good studio headphones the cable is detachable which is good because with excessive use cable wear can result in a crackling sound. Its much easier to replace the cable than the headphones themselves.Ultimately the sound is great and they're reasonably comfortable, I'd be surprised if you could find anything significantly better for £40.