After spending a bit of time with the two "extra bass" headphones, here are my final thoughts between the two.  I hope you guys will find it useful.  If you missed the unboxing videos you can watch them here.

 

MDR-XB1000:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AREfsEf2cbs

 

MDR-XB700:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP9K2PqK6rg

 

Comfort & Design:

The XB700 has a much better seal on my head than the XB1000.  The seal is so good that it feels like wearing ear plugs.  Both headphones are VERY comfy to wear for hours, but I do wish the headband has more padding.  

The XB700 cable is a lot shorter and did not come with a 1/4 adaptor.  Looks to be designed for portable use.  The XB1000 did come with a 1/4 adaptor and the cable is twice as long.  Both are flat cables.

 

The Sound:

The XB1000 has a MUCH wider soundstage.  Bass on the XB1000 is a bit more refined. The XB700 is more "in your face" forward sounding than the XB1000.  The mids on the XB1000 are more natural compared to the XB700.  The highs on both are very smooth which makes them easy to listen to LOUD.  That can be very dangerous to your hearing.  The XB1000 needs a bit more power to drive but nothing an iPod or iPhone can't do.  Better power on the XB1000 gives you a bit more controlled bass.  The XB700 is not as picky due to its overly forward presentation. 

 

Which Genre of Music Sound BEST?

I tired all types of music on these.  The final thoughts are Trance/House is BEST, second is Hip Hop/Rap and third is R&B.  The XB1000 is very very good with electronic music.  The wide soundstage gives you very nice side to side effects.

 

Is the XB1000 worth the jump?

IMO, YES!  The refinements in bass and the HUGE soundstage is a clear winner.  I think the XB700's overly forward sound can be a bit too much for long term use.  I hope Sony will bring the price down on the XB1000 because it is a GREAT headphones for electronic music.

 

Original Link:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/542885/final-thoughts-sony-mdr-xb1000-vs-mdr-xb700-pictures