With very few reviews on Cerwin Vega HB1 headphones to be found anywhere, I felt perhaps I should buy a pair and contribute, having bought these mostly out of curiosity. So, if you are as curious about them as I was, keep reading.Ergonomics and FeaturesPhysically, these headphones appear to be well constructed and feature excellent aesthetics. They are moderately lightweight, and are fitted with articulating cups and thick padding that provides excellent comfort and isolation. Two removable leads of generous length with gold plated 3.5mm plugs are included, one straight and cloth-covered, the other coiled rubber. A screw-on ¼” (6.35mm) TRS gold plated male plug that can be fitted to either lead is provided. Also included is a slick leatherette carry bag with the Cerwin Vega logo.Sound and PerformanceCerwin Vega recommends a lengthy break-in period for optimum performance, so be mindful. It is for this reason that I've returned to tweak this review several times. These headphones are a low impedance (24Ω) high sensitivity type. The first thing that became apparent is sonically, this is not a flatter response, open-back studio reference type like the AKG k712s I use, so you won't be wearing these CV phones at the studio mixing desk. Neither are these treble-forward, monitoring cans like the venerable Sony MDR-7506. This CV pair is intended for pro DJ use or playback listening enjoyment, and are calibrated along the lines of the Harman target curve. As such, expect accentuated low frequency response, a relatively flat midrange, and a gradual taper in the high end of the spectrum. Such tuning provides a warm sound signature that many feel renders extended listening more enjoyable and less fatiguing, particularly at the higher volumes required in a DJ setting. As one might expect from Cerwin Vega, the large (50mm) neodymium magnet drivers reproduce low frequencies (e.g. 30Hz) with adequate accuracy and control. The enhanced low frequency response tastefully bolsters the dimension of electronic music, movie soundtracks, and gaming audio where sub bass (<70Hz) content is present, even at low volumes and without sounding cloying, muddy, or adversely affecting overall clarity. Imagine balanced audio playback headphones with a pair of well-tuned subwoofers and you’ll get the idea. I should mentioned that although CV claims 96dB sensitivity, they nevertheless deliver significantly more volume at a given headphone amp setting than my AKG k712 (105dB) despite similar impedance, so don't read too much into these figures. Among other observations I made straight away is the CV soundstage is more forward and not expansive as compared to the spacious open AKGs, which is expected for closed DJ phones.After playing with broad tonal adjustments (i.e. treble & bass controls) using an external DAC (24bit/48kHz) and headphone amp as many will undoubtedly do, I can flatten the overall response if I choose with a basic slope of -6dB to +4dB (20Hz to 20kHz), which gives some idea as to the internal tuning. My own personal preference for listening at nominal volumes in a home audio setting with these headphones however, is leaving the bass as-is while raising the treble slope from +2 to +4dB from 4 to 8-20kHz. Set this way, the bass remains strident and clear in Cerwin Vega fashion, but higher frequencies emerge with nominally improved resolution and imaging. These headphones respond favorably to such EQ adjustments without becoming harsh or sibilant, and can comfortably provide ample volume while maintaining good fidelity. In music listening tests, I enjoyed running through various lossless audio tracks in my collection to develop impressions. In some cases, I heard low frequency content that is often subdued. For example, often obscured low frequency orchestral elements of Enya's "Orinoco Flow" now come through with authority, as does the sub bass in Afterlife's "Lo Delta." More or less anything by Massive Attack sounds...well...massive, and electronic dance music sounds particularly exciting. While listening to the “Last of the Mohicans” soundtrack, it occurred to me these headphones appear ideal for watching movies at hours when others may not share one’s appreciation for home theater subwoofers. Actually, many who share a wall with their neighbors may not be able to enjoy a home audio system that can deliver low frequency content like these headphones do without collecting an eviction notice.ConclusionsAll things considered, these versatile headphones are built for physical and aural comfort in a DJ setting, and deliver a solid Mid-Fi listening experience for those who enjoy low frequency extension while retaining decent clarity throughout. When listening for pleasure, I am enjoying these and prefer them to some other headphones with a higher price tag in some situations, which in my opinion makes this Cerwin Vega pair a comparatively good value. As these have satisfied my expectations and function as advertised without glaring faults or disappointments, I am glad I bought them and find it difficult to give anything less than five stars.