General:
- comfortable even after 6-8 hours of continuous use; the "fake-leather" pads get warm, an inevitable phenomenon with this material
- the headband and pads absorb almost all mechanical vibrations produced by the driver shells
- decent sound stage for semi-open headphones - compared to Presonus HD7, the sound stage seems more open, probably due to the low-density filter used in the openings
Sound:
- almost linear response except for the bass (the appreciation is subjective based only on listening, not on measurements)
- slightly emphasized bass, but clear, comparable to that of ATH-M40x (relatively easy to correct for those wanting an absolutely linear response)
- clear mids and just as boringly linear as any monitors
- defined highs and boringly linear, highlight any imperfections in the monitored track
Pros:
- almost linear response
- decent sound stage
- comfortable for long sessions
- mini-xlr connector on the headphones
- locking-jack connector on the cable
- the price
Cons:
- standard non-coiled cable (preferably)
- fake-leather pads (understandable in this price range)
- the mini-xlr connector does not attenuate the horrible microphonics produced by cables like AKG EK-500s
In the price range under 100EU, comparing "boring" headphones (read flat-response) is hard - do they sound "better" or "worse" than Samson SR850, Superlux 681, or Presonus HD7? Probably not. Does the quality with a slightly superior touch compared to other models of materials, especially the headband, make the K240 last longer than other models? Probably yes. Is the detachable cable a clear advantage? Personally, I say YES. Does their appearance and colors (unfortunately chosen) differentiate them from other models? It doesn't matter, they are monitors.
If you're looking for a single pair of headphones for mixing (or for music/movies/games), there's no need to look further. The frequencies are separated in such a way that listening to a song you already know, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover sounds you wouldn't have noticed listening on speakers or in a lower quality set of headphones.
Attention! The headphones do not provide a 100% neutral sound across the entire frequency spectrum, and for some, the low frequencies (bass) may leave something to be desired. Overall, a set of headphones that know how to do their job.
Castile offers good stereo, with clear highs and prominent mids, but the bass doesn't go as deep compared to other headphones in this price range that actually provide deep bass but lack mids and crystal highs! These headphones won the S.O.S Awards in 2011 for Best Studio Headphones. To use them at their maximum capacity, you need a source with over 50 ohms. They are comfortable and made of good leather, and the signal cable is quite long.
