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HD-414 pad mod questions (for MS-1)

post #1 of 10
4/24/06 at 4:09am
Thread Starter 
Today I finally got some HD-414 pads for my MS-1's, and I have some questions for you folks. First of all, my HD-414 pads look different to most of the pictures I've seen of them here. For instance, kramer5150's pads look like this:



But my pads look like VR6ofpain's:



(Thanks for the pictures, you guys)

I realise that in the second photo, the pads are on reversed, but note that the sides of the pads are angled, unlike the straight sides you see in the first photo. Also, the front of my HD-414 pads is completely flat, unlike most of the photos I've seen of HD-414 pads on which it kind of caves inwards like on Grado comfy pads. So what gives? Are there two types of HD-414 pads?

Next question, my new HD-414 pads don't fit onto my MS-1's. Should I widen the hole that the driver goes in to? I don't usually see people talking about that here, and would this have an adverse effect if I later decided to reverse the pads?

And last question, since everyone talks about putting a Quarter-sized hole in the pads, since I'm not from the States, how wide should this hole be?

Thanks for your help!
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post #2 of 10
4/24/06 at 4:18am
Second pic is reversed, like mine. They are angled on the outside and taper in towards the driver a bit. Just the a hole the same size as the one on there and put them on backwards. They need to be stretched a lot but they fit. Great mod

Happy listening
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post #3 of 10
4/24/06 at 5:36am
Thread Starter 
Cool, I'll give it a try, but first, do the HD-414 pads I have only work reversed? If I want to try them non-reversed, do I need to get these different HD-414 pads that lots of people seem to have?

When I ordered these at my local Sennheiser dealer, they asked if I wanted the HD-414 pads or the 414-SL pads (I think). Could the SL model be the one in the first picture above?
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post #4 of 10
4/24/06 at 7:35am
Thread Starter 
Ah-ha! I just figured it out. After you stretch the HD-414 pads over the Grado earpieces, and it is a huge stretch, they stop looking like the second picture and start looking like the first. Sound impressions to come!
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post #5 of 10
4/24/06 at 7:47am
You can add your pictures to the 414 pad appreciation thread so others'll know what the reversed pads look like:http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...4+appreciation

How do they sound reversed compared to unreversed/normal?
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post #6 of 10
4/24/06 at 8:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gaplessophile
Ah-ha! I just figured it out. After you stretch the HD-414 pads over the Grado earpieces, and it is a huge stretch, they stop looking like the second picture and start looking like the first. Sound impressions to come!
I did my 414 mods in stages:

First I put them on just as they came out of the package to replace the comfies and to see how they sounded un-modded.

Then after a couple days to make sure they didn't tear when I put them back on, I punched a 13/16 hole with a socket thru them(after taking them off the cans!)and put them back on for a listen.

After looking at them with not all the rows of driver holes visable, I decided to take a sharp pair of sissors I'd located and cut another 1/8 inch or so out and put them back on. All the holes were exposed now and all was cool.

Then kramer noted that in that configuration his ears hit the screen! I noted that yup, that's why my ears hurt too!!

So I reversed them!!

And they look like the big picture with the angle.

But I have noticed while doing a search on the subject; some folks use no hole, some use a small "dime" sized hole, others a "quarter" sized and others yet "Silver dollar" sized!!

Then there are of course; reversed!

Talk about "Adjustability"!!



....which do I like best? I dunno. Reversed is good, seems more stable. But 13/16 sized seems in my memory to be OK too. I may have to buy more sets and mod each differently and interchange them as the whim suggests!!

This is fun.
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post #7 of 10
4/27/06 at 9:53am
Thread Starter 
Okay, after listening to the unmodded HD414 pads on my MS-1's for a couple of days, here are my impressions: Basically, a bit more treble, detail and a little more impact. But, the music has lost its "colour" and warmth. With the comfy pads, the sound puts a picture in my head of colourful music on a black background. With the stock HD414 pads, the sound is more cold and colourless. (I am aware that this could be a psychological thing, due to the ugly yellow colour of the pads!)

So, I prefer the stock comfy pads over the stock HD414 pads. I will try hole-moding as well as reversing them, since the sound with the comfy pads, while very much to my liking, is missing a bit of something in the upper frequencies. A while ago I tried the Sennheiser HD-25 and was blown away by how much more detail and soundstage and upper-frequency-X-factor they had, while still sounding colourful. But, I did find them a bit harsh and sibilant.

Thanks to those who replied, but I'm still not quite sure how big a hole to make. I get the impression most people make a quarter-sized one. So, how wide is a quarter?
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post #8 of 10
5/17/06 at 10:11pm
I just did the mod in the first picture by cutting a 1 ¾ inch diameter hole in the front of each 414 pad. They still fit snug, actually they fit great. It seemed to make the most sense since you apparently want some distance between your ear and the speaker. The pad is thicker on the stock Sennheiser hole side.

These pads make a giant difference in my honest opinion. Much more comfortable then the bowls and with the bowl pads my ears still touched the speaker grill.

The sound is the best I’d heard these SR-225’s sound yet.

Nice abundant bass, clear mids and a nice controlled high end. Staging is good, even very good. I cut the scraps of the pad (hole) a little smaller so I should put it into the existing hole to cover-up the speaker and it’s also good but I like it without the pads better. Maybe if the recording is a little harsh, the pads over the speakers definitely softens the sound but it diminishes the soundstage/transparency. Takes the bite out of most instruments.

My ears still get a little sweaty but these pads are MUCH more comfortable then the Grado brillow bowls.














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post #9 of 10
5/17/06 at 11:51pm
Nice write-up and set of pictures!! I also find the reversed 414s most comfortable, and in my case, anyway, more stable as well.

Wish I had seen your post before I cut-up my pads last month; I'd have been more carefull not to destroy the plugs!!
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post #10 of 10
5/18/06 at 12:20am
Yeah when you use the 414 pads "standard" so they are not reversed, they have to be STRETCHED to reach around the grado earcups. Thats why mine look the way they do.
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