Disclaimer: First of all never compare the sound quality of a budget headphone with a Bose or a Beats headphone.It would be unjustified! Each belong to a different league. Always make a comparison within the same price range. I bought these pair of headphones as a replacement to my JBL Tempo on-ear headphones (which were very uncomfortable and had really cheap cables which tangled and tore apart within 6 months) The popular headphones that fall within this Price range and their comparison with Panasonic HXD5 are - 1.Sony MDR XB400: Known for their Extra Bass, these Sony headphones have unmatched bass within this range, but if you listen to classical,accoustic or instrumental u will be disappointed.There is no clarity or definition on Sony,just the thumping bass. Panasonic on the other hand have a flattish bass as compared to Sony, but the sound quality is crisp , sharp and clear. You can easily identify distinct sounds and instruments. 2.Sennheiser HD 202 II : HD 202 by Sennheiser is an awesome product with crystal clear sound. Sennheiser is always known for superior sound quality. But they seriously lack bass. More over this Particular model is unmanageable.Firstly it comes with a 10 feet long cable which is annoyingly lengthy for no reason. Secondly they are big in size and dont come with any carry case. Thirdly , the huge ear cups are bad at ambient noise canceling. Panasonic on the other hand provide the same sound quality with a better bass. They are light and more compact than Sennheiser.The length of the cable is 1.2m which is standard and manageable.Though they too dont come with a carry case, but the box of the headphones can be smartly used to store it.Noise cancellation is good and there is no noise leakage as well. 3.JBL Tempo On Ears: JBL tempo are worst headphones i have ever owned. The sound quality and a carry pouch can never compensate for the discomfort they cause and the tangling cheap quality cables. Sound and bass are pretty good but these headphones are so tight that they cause pain to your ears and sweat. Panasonic HXD5 is way better than it. Now summing up in a nutshell the Pros n Cons of Panasonic HXD5:- PROS- 1.Feather weight and comfortable. 2.You can wear these for hours without any discomfort.You might for once even mistake it for earbuds (in terms of weight and comfort). They are that light and comfortable. 3.Design is stylish. 4.Good quality materials used. 5.Soft and thick padded earcups. Padded headband as well. 6.Good and thick quality wire. 7.Crystal Clear and Crisp Sound. 8.Good noise cancellation. 9.Absolutely NO noise leakage. Person next to you cant hear what you are listening,at all ! 10. Good for watching movies, playing games, listening to classical/vocal/acoustic/instrumental music . CONS: Nothing in this world is perfect! 1. Flattish bass.You wont hear it unless u increase the volume above 75% 2. No Carry case. Thats annoying. How do the manufactures expect us to store and carry the headphones.They could charge use extra 100 bucks and provide a carry case or pouch as standard. 3. No modern folding/swivel design. Nor adjustable earcups. Hence u cant adjust them to a custom fit unlike JBL tempo (perhaps the only advantage with JBL). 4. Low sound. U need to turn the volume to around 60 % to get that sound and definition you desire.Though it depends on the quality of the song as well, say the quality of a 128kbps vs. 320 kbps mp3 file.But at full 100% they are mind blowing. No discomfort no sound cracking/distortion . All in all a Great Product with all round usability. VALUE FOR MONEY !