I myself am really happy with the pleather pads. They get really soft after you use them for a while and I think I prefer them over the velour pads. Honestly, the velour were just too much of a hassle with my hair, however short it may be, being in them every time I removed them. The pleather have this nice cushion to them now. Kind of like how your couch has that soft spot that you always sit in .

You mean that crater that you left behind? 

I'm looking for a high quality portable can for my OTG setup. I listen mostly to classical and jazz. Does anyone know if the iBasso P4 will drive the HD 25-13s? Source will be an iPod Classic via LOD.

I have both the HD25 and Beyer DT1350, for classical and jazz I prefer the DT1350.

 

Unfortunately, the DT1350 is just that bit too expensive. I was hoping that the 600 Ohm version of the HD 25 might have an improved soundstage.

Then the HD25 is a good choice but the 600 ohm version will be a little to much for a direct connection to the iPod I think.

 

Which is why he asked about that portable amp and not the ipod.  I think it was ljokerl or some other head-fier who remarked that the 600-ohm HD25-13 isn't that insensitive.  I would be surprised if the P4 of all amps couldn't power it sufficiently.

Why not IEM?

Because I can't stand something shoved in my ear for more than 30 minutes!

Hence the compact, supra-aural headphones.

As much as I love the HD25's, since I got my M80's, they are the over ear cans I turn to.  I have a love/hate relationship with the two and one of them has to go.. I spend way too  much time comparing them but when I just want to listen and enjoy, it's the M-80's I go for. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with the HD25's, just going to sell them off to help fund a Lyr for my HD650's.

Hello :-)

 

You have me intrigued about the M80s. I have found real synergy with the Graham Slee voyager portable amp with a DIY cable/LOD to a 6g ipod. So much so that I don't think my desktops amps sound as good with the HD25s !!

 

One point on using an SP headband - totally get it, plus the option to rotate helps get the optimum position :-).

 

I did find though that the ratchets on the hd25-1 housing did get damaged over time so for me it was a one-way trip...

 

Best

 

James

 

PS re: why not IEM? For me vs. IE8, SE530,TF10 and Denon 751s, I would always choose to listen to the HD25s for SQ unless on a very noisy airplane or parts of the London underground. Everywhere else, the HD25 isolation (pleather/split headband) does pretty good job. I think I'm not keen on BA driver signature and I like the IE8s but they don't satisfy as much (even though they do have some technical advantages incl. separation).

 

Edited by jamescodway - 3/11/12 at 4:36am

Me too.. can't go back to the original headband as they do not stay.

Actually, the Etymotic HF-3 are my goto IEM's for public transit.  I take the train into work everyday.
 

 

I have recently purchased a pair of HD25-1 IIs for use with an iPod Claasic 160GB and an iBasso P4. Whilst it initially sounded excellent, after about 60 or so hours of intensive burn-in, the sound has deteriorated, the bass becoming overpowering. Will this bass bloat go away again after further burn-in, or are the HD25s merely revealing their true nature (making tweaks elsewhere necessary)?

I wouldn't call them bass heavy but due to the nature of closed headphones they surely give you more bass quantity when compared to open backed designs.