The Grado PS-500 has a very smooth, even, and detailed sound from the lower mids on up, having only the lower-mids/upper bass emphasis of about 4 db to add warmth to the sound. The standout character of the PS-500 is the amazing realism of instrument tonalities. The price seemed high for what I expected to get, but having used them, they are worth it. The 'Y' connector is not the best for convenience, but I feel it is the right design for best sound quality.