Performance results are a mixed bag with the HFI-15G. When we listened to CDs and MP3 files, we weren't all that impressed. Partially as a result of the headphones' diffuse sound, the music seemed too distant, and we couldn't hear much texture in the individual instruments. In the Unreal Tournament 2004 demo, explosions lacked bass presence, and the surround-sound simulation didn't help us track enemies any better.
Playing DVDs through the headphones was a more positive experience. In Pulp Fiction, the rumble of motorcycles at Jack Rabbit Slim's created a more enveloping environment than we heard when listening to the same scene with comparable standard headphones, such as our AKG K-55 set. But the HFI-15G's weak bass presence again proved to be a stumbling block in action intensive movies such as Jurassic Park, where the T. rex's thunderous footsteps didn't sound big enough. All in all, we've heard better surround-sound simulations, and we still prefer the generally superior performance of standard stereo headphones.
