Thanks for the comments. My comparisons of mods I've made (based on the creativity and experimentation of so many on this forum!) are offered for what they are worth to anyone who cares to read what I post. I have no other agenda. It should go without having to say that I/we post our subjective opinions that will likely be different from the next guy's. Some will agree. Some will disagree. Ultimately, we're all correct when we post what sounds good to us. Opinions should not be confused with "absolute truth" because I don't think this can ever be measured or determined.
I agree that the 840 pads are much better than the stock pads for some configurations. I was skeptical about this until I tried it on my version of mods modeled after mrspeakers' RP2's. I found, however, that the 840 pads cleaned up the mids and improved top end clarity, as well. I can see, now, how Stax O2 pads could take it to a whole 'nother level. I am not interested, however, in spending 2X the price of the T50RP's for pads since I already have LCD2's and my goal has been to get the best sound I can out of T50RP's for under $100 total price. If, on the other hand, I did not have the LCD2's, I would be interested in listening to a modded set with the O2 pads and decide for myself if the upgrade is worth it to me. Heck, I'd love to hear them anyway just to satisfy my curiosity. The same can be said for stiffened vs. "limp" felt. I was surprised to find that stiffened felt produces better overall SQ when applied to "naked" drivers than limp felt; again, with improved clarity and tight bass.
Thanks, also, for the tip about how to put the 840 pads on more easily. It works!
You make some good points about the known and unknown variables that interact in many different ways to produce any given result. We are further hindered, I believe, by the lack of solid operational definitions as we try to objectively put into words what we subjectively hear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Questhate 
Just caught up since I last posted. Boy, does this thread move fast!
Thanks for all of your time and effort in doing these side-by-side comparisons. I've personally found them very helpful in figuring out where to focus my mods. It's been a great resource to the thread to have someone systematically testing each and every variable.
BTW, as an aside, I found the 840 pads to be much easier to put on, if you roll the flaps over the earpads, put them into position, and then roll them onto the headphone baffle. This way, you have much less chance of the flaps getting stuck between the earpad and baffle.
This makes sense. When I switched to the 840 pads, the immediate thing I noticed was that the mids settled into the rest of the spectrum better, which made the bass a bit more commanding and the treble more upfront in the presentation. I can only imagine the O2 pads further increasing this gain, given that they move the drivers even a bit further away from your ears and possibly creating a better seal. On side by side comparisons to the LCDs, I'm detecting a slight upside-down U-shaped curve with the 840. The mids are more upfront in the presentation on the Fostex, while the LCDs have the mids planted more evenly with the rest of the spectrum. I imagine the O2 pads making these perfect with your particular tuning.
It's always a sensitive subject when people share their hard work for the rest of the community to try and test, but people have been tactful in voicing any disagreements so far. Also, people have to remember that there are dozens of variables at play that may affect the sound, like gear synergies or even the listener's mood at the time, that don't even have anything to do with the actual mods. Or, maybe a certain specific mod doesn't mesh well with the rest of the mods in another person's headphone (which is why I try to disclose all of my mods when giving impressions of anyone else's ideas). That's why it's so hard to get many universal truths on these things etched in stone. But, still the testing and impressions is very valuable to the rest of the community.