Koss Pro DJ 100 - The Budget King
Apr 19, 2014 at 11:11 PM Post #2,042 of 2,344
I finally ordered a TBSE, mostly because I find tdock's descriptions so holistic and thought out (not only of this, but in general).

1. Anyone know where I can find M50x pads, not M50. The new ones are thicker.

2. Has anyone tried Shure 940 velours? I would suppose they fit, but how do they sound? What about Shure 1540 alcantara pads?

Thanks much.
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 10:18 AM Post #2,043 of 2,344
First post! :) Though I've been a silent reader of the forum, specially of this thread.
 
 
 
So thanks to tdockweiler(and other)'s glowing reviews, i ordered the ProDJ100. And boy, do I love them! Thanks for this :)
Came to India for 75$ shipped, not a bad deal at all, and I've had them for over a month now.
 
I'll put forth some thoughts: apologies for restating so many views...I am no audiophile and cant afford to be one either :p, but I do love to listen to my music properly.
 
My main listening is classic rock, a bit of classical and jazz; and usually genres that prefer open, clean, detailed sound with instrument separation and texture rather than bass/thump/beat.
I listen to them over a Dell XPS 15 which has a surprisingly good soundcard and over a Macbook Pro. As of now due to a restraint on budgets I have stock earpads and no amp and no dac.
 
The good : beautiful mids, the vocals are amazing and the layout of instruments is amazing. If you havent already, do yourself a favor and listen to hdtracks' sample album, and prepare to be blown by the koss. The tone is similar to the KSC75 which I long had and long loved, I would still buy those if they were available for US price. the trebles as many stated were held back, but I think they're out there...never lacking. The bass is nice and textured and smooth. Nothing punchy or dramatic, you hear the real notes.
 
The average: the midbass hump can be annoying in some tracks. Maybe its just the tracks, but it doesnt feel right, it feels like a loss of clarity around a small set of notes. Comfort : they get really hot, and you always feel them. No I dont have large ears, but they feel compressed. I have to take them off regularly, even though the sound is never ever fatiguing.
 
 
They are Very picky about source. They sound really sweet on the Dell, but harsh and thin on the Mac. Which surprised me, as the Macbook pro I'd heard had a good onboard chip. Obviously not comparing it to an external DAC, but atleast to the Dell. This makes me really anxious about picking the right Amp/Dac/earpads for them. 
 
On an impulsive burst I purchased a built O2 board going by the reviews again. Being in India means I'm not spoilt for choice with listening/demo options, and that sucks. Plus prices here with shipping and customs become twice the original. But I went ahead with an O2 and I hope this makes a worthy improvement in SQ.
 
I was thinking of getting a cheap DAC to experience it. I really wanted to know if you guys have used the ELE D01/02 or the Hifimediy Sabre dac with the Koss. I dont want to have a bad pairing and ruin my experience with DACs, I expect something good out of it. Will it make a difference over stock sound? if not, Id rather keep the money. But my fingers are twitchy reading about 30-40$ amps.
 
Sorry for the long post, I'm really excited about this. Please let me know about the DACs if possible, how Koss pairs with O2 and if ELE or Sabre are a good match.(from other posts in this forum I gather the ELE is clean and smooth, the Sabre is warmer)
 
Thanks guys
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 2:16 AM Post #2,044 of 2,344
Brief update: the SRH1540 pads are hella better on these than M50 pads, a very considerable increase in both soundstage and comfort. I have the 940 velours here and will try them soon.
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 3:13 AM Post #2,045 of 2,344
Brief update: the SRH1540 pads are hella better on these than M50 pads, a very considerable increase in both soundstage and comfort. I have the 940 velours here and will try them soon.

 
Are they very loose? I tried the SRH-1840 and SRH-940 pads but they really made it WAY too bass light. I even spent an hour or so modding a pair of SRH-940 pads to try and get them to sound good. I also did not like the SRH-840 pads. Based on memory they made everything too thin and harsh.
 
It seems very hard to find the SRH1540 pads now. Amazon has them but it's a 3-5 week wait!
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 8:26 AM Post #2,046 of 2,344
Are they very loose? I tried the SRH-1840 and SRH-940 pads but they really made it WAY too bass light. I even spent an hour or so modding a pair of SRH-940 pads to try and get them to sound good. I also did not like the SRH-840 pads. Based on memory they made everything too thin and harsh.

It seems very hard to find the SRH1540 pads now. Amazon has them but it's a 3-5 week wait!


I'll will do a somewhat more detailed comparison and check on the bass when I'm certain they're completely burned in some time Sunday night--that's why I mentioned only soundstage and comfort, which were immediately affected.

The fit is very slightly loose, but it doesn't look bad. The Amazon back order changes periodically. It has said that for over two weeks, but I continued to check it periodically and 1 pair became available so I grabbed it.
 
Apr 25, 2014 at 11:40 AM Post #2,047 of 2,344
I was considering selling these but my mind keeps telling me no, there's something special about these cans.
 
May 4, 2014 at 11:46 AM Post #2,048 of 2,344
hi folks , I am just wondering if these pads work :
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-Pair-of-Ear-Pads-Cushions-for-Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-M20-M30-M40-Headphone-/301142320565?pt=US_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item461d7b25b5&_uhb=1
 
did I get the right pad ? if not then paste the link to the right pads, thank you 
 
Addenda: These headphones are amazing, I am amazed by its detail retrieval.
 
May 4, 2014 at 11:52 AM Post #2,049 of 2,344
  hi folks , I am just wondering if these pads work :
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-Pair-of-Ear-Pads-Cushions-for-Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-M20-M30-M40-Headphone-/301142320565?pt=US_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item461d7b25b5&_uhb=1
 
did I get the right pad ? if not then paste the link to the right pads, thank you 
 
Addenda: These headphones are amazing, I am amazed by its detail retrieval.

 
Those are most likely generic/fake M50 pads. I would suggest the real ones found here:
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATHM50EarPad
 
You need two each for a total of $20.
 
BTW a pair of M50 ear pads for $7 is too good to be true.
 
Really wish the Shure SRH-1540 pads were in stock somewhere!
 
May 4, 2014 at 12:10 PM Post #2,050 of 2,344
  hi folks , I am just wondering if these pads work :
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-Pair-of-Ear-Pads-Cushions-for-Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-M20-M30-M40-Headphone-/301142320565?pt=US_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item461d7b25b5&_uhb=1
 
did I get the right pad ? if not then paste the link to the right pads, thank you 
 
Addenda: These headphones are amazing, I am amazed by its detail retrieval.

I bought some for $5 and they're low quality fakes. Sound terrible
 
May 4, 2014 at 12:45 PM Post #2,052 of 2,344
I think this headphone is amazing, I am going to pair it with the V-MODA boompro and Xonar U3 then you have a killer gaming headset. I tested it with different DACs, It improves greatly with a good DAC.
 
May 4, 2014 at 4:19 PM Post #2,053 of 2,344
  I think this headphone is amazing, I am going to pair it with the V-MODA boompro and Xonar U3 then you have a killer gaming headset. I tested it with different DACs, It improves greatly with a good DAC.

 
Totally agree. I've found that with this headphone it will improve the more you spend on it. Of course i'm not suggesting $500 in gear for a $50 headphone.
I just think it's a good headphone for those who already have a very good setup (desktop amp/dac) and an open headphone.
 
I would say it's very close in sound to the modded Q701. The DJ100 is still a bit fuller sounding and has more bass extension.
 
NOTE: The DJ100 sounds nothing like the K702. This is also with a good desktop amp/dac and M50 pads. Actually, the Tony Bennett version to. Some say that sounds slightly different, but maybe not.
 
I like the DJ100 with almost every DAC i've tried. It sounds great with the ODAC, Modi and Headroom Micro DAC.
 
I don't use the DJ100 much with portable devices because it sounds more closed in sounding on some of them.
 
I also think the DJ100/TB with M50 pads is a perfect (cheap) gaming headphone. I played through Uncharted 2 and Bioshock 2 with it and it really has better bass than the modded Q701. Probably comparable in low bass to the KRK KNS-8400.
 
May 4, 2014 at 4:20 PM Post #2,054 of 2,344
 
Really wish the Shure SRH-1540 pads were in stock somewhere!

 
You were right: 1540 pads suck out most of the bass. It also loses the darker tone I hear with the M50 pads.
 
Since you enjoy the sound with M50 pads, I don't think you'll enjoy these. I prefer a bass light sound, so they're fine for me.
 
May 7, 2014 at 2:30 AM Post #2,055 of 2,344
I'm not going to lie. I still think these sound better than my Q701 and HD-650.
Sure those are more open and have a much larger soundstage (and everything else that comes with that) but neither of them do anything better.
 
OK, the Q701 has more treble, but it doesn't sound any more detailed or clearer. Just more airy sounding, but that just goes with being open.
 
Now the HD-650 has ALMOST the same amount of bass as the DJ100, but not quite. I think the DJ100 has just a few more DB of low bass and is less rolled off.
 
The HD-650 does have a tad more low bass than the Q701 though, but nearly the same.
 
I was listening to both of my open headphones and yesterday they kind of bored me and were not fun at all. I know this is usually up to the music itself.
 
TB/DJ100 with M50 pads manages to sound clearer yet even fuller sounding than both. Instruments are just so realistic sounding.
This is on any amp and even my O2 with upgraded op-amps and a $350 DAC. The AMP/DAC combo were not warm or anything.
 
Haha, seriously I could live without my Q701 and HD-650, but the DJ100 just isn't as comfortable and I have to have an open headphone around.
 
Some also say the Q701 is a detail monster but I don't agree. I actually think that's more like the DT-880, KRKs and T90. I do find the DJ100 with M50 pads more detailed overall though (than the Q701). There IS stuff in recordings that's not hear on the Q701 but is there on the DJ100. I have lots of examples
normal_smile .gif
. This whole detail thing is overrated though.
 
One negative though is that the DJ100 with M50 pads is a little better for bright/harsh recordings. So..not so good if you want to pick out flaws in your crappy recordings if you were in a studio. It makes bad material sound a bit easier on the ears, but I wouldn't call it totally forgiving. Just a little.
 
Sort of like how the K400 is in comparison to the Q701. Q701 definitely does smooth over the harshest stuff, but that's OK!
 

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