I’d say it’s the opposite of most high end headphones. Most are master of one aspect but lack in others. Like the HD800s have great soundstage but lack bass, LCD-X have great sound but lack soundstage etc. The 109s on the other hand aren’t the best of perfect in any way, instead it’s very good at most things. A Jack of all trades master of none if you will. So for me as a student, that’s exactly what i need.

But they also have a trick up their sleeves. They lie like nothing else. They’re like an insurance salesman crossed with a televangelist. Even horrible underground metal or rap recordings sound good on them. It’s like they’re somehow not revealing and have great detail. Like, my best recordings sound just as good with all the details as they did on my LCD-X, and at the same time my worst black metal recordings that were unbearable on the X sound mesmerizing on these.