The Takstar, Technical Pro, Gemini Greathon, CyberX, Qpad Thread

[trivium911]

The HM5 pleather pads are the best pads I've used on my Pro80 so ymmw (and obviously does).

but how do they change the sound?

 

[peter123]

but how do they change the sound?

I'm sorry but I gave my stock pads to someone who liked them a long time ago so I'm not able to compare them any more. Fwiw I've got two pairs of Pro80 and both times I've ended up with the HM5 pads on them because I enjoyed both the comfort and the sound from them better than the stock ones.

 

[trivium911]

I see well for what its worth i just bought the full pleather pads. We shall see how they sound. You dont find the pro 80s have an extended treble at all thats fatiquing and lacking mids?

 

[peter123]

I see well for what its worth i just bought the full pleather pads. We shall see how they sound. You dont find the pro 80s have an extended treble at all thats fatiquing and lacking mids?

No I don't but I'm not very sensitive to treble (old ears maybe ).

I love my midrange though and I do not find them lacking there, especially not at the price.

 

[Roderick]

I think pro80 with stock or hm5 pleather earpads is neutral to  brightish depending on your source. Despite it's low price it is quite revealing of the sources sound signature. Some think it is V shaped but I'd say it is closer to neutral with hint of extra energy up top. Pretty much what innerfidelitys measurements show. I'm sure hybrid pads are not a good match. Velour and hybrids add to brightness which is not a good match with headphones like these.

 

[trivium911]

  I think pro80 with stock or hm5 pleather earpads is neutral to  brightish depending on your source. Despite it's low price it is quite revealing of the sources sound signature. Some think it is V shaped but I'd say it is closer to neutral with hint of extra energy up top. Pretty much what innerfidelitys measurements show. I'm sure hybrid pads are not a good match. Velour and hybrids add to brightness which is not a good match with headphones like these.

Thanks for the graph, i have the full HM5 pleathers on the way also i took apart the driver and put some extra fabric between the driver which helped a little bit but still too bright (used fabric from an old center channel speaker i was getting rid of). Also just put the stock pads back on they sound better (less bright) but lose alot of sound stage and comfort of course because my ears are now touching the driver. 
 
Im curious on the soundmagic HP150 and the ISK HD999, are they bright up top in comparison to the PRO 80? Are either one of them an upgrade? The ISK's are a bit cheaper maybe like $25-$30 CAD. 

 

[Roderick]

I have no experience with isk or soundmagic so I can't comment on that. If you don't need isolation pioneer se-a1000 might be to your liking. If you can find a old stock pair of hm5/fa-003/digitech pro monitor those might suit you also. Newer versions are supposedly brighter but the old ones are often referred to as a closed back sennheiser hd600 I think that comparison is not far off. Also if you are ok with smaller headphones check out creative aurvana live! Really nice headphones with fun sound.

 

[trivium911]

  I have no experience with isk or soundmagic so I can't comment on that. If you don't need isolation pioneer se-a1000 might be to your liking. If you can find a old stock pair of hm5/fa-003/digitech pro monitor those might suit you also. Newer versions are supposedly brighter but the old ones are often referred to as a closed back sennheiser hd600 I think that comparison is not far off. Also if you are ok with smaller headphones check out creative aurvana live! Really nice headphones with fun sound.

Thanks, well actually looking for a closed back since my 598's keep me happy for my at home use. I dont like spending alot of money on closed back ones since they would get less use than my 598's since in my mind these are the perfect headphones besides the lacking for bass which the type of music i listen to rarely has an issue. Basically used closed for anytime im on an airplane or in bed and dont want to disturb the wife...mostly when i listen to music at work which is not that often i use IEMS so i dont look like a retard with big headphones lol. 
 
I did see these:
 
http://www.visions.ca/catalogue/category/Details.aspx?categoryId=729&productId=31759&sku=H6NATURAL
 
But they are way more than i want to spend. 

 

[Roderick]

CAL! might be just the headphone you are looking for. It is not bulky so it is good in bed headphone and I doubt anyone would pay attention to you if you use those at work. Don't be put of by the modest looks and creative brand which many associate with cheap pc-audio stuff. It is based on now discontinued denon model and the drivers are manufactured by fostex, well known hi-end audio equipment manufacturer.

 

[trivium911]

  CAL! might be just the headphone you are looking for. It is not bulky so it is good in bed headphone and I doubt anyone would pay attention to you if you use those at work. Don't be put of by the modest looks and creative brand which many associate with cheap pc-audio stuff. It is based on now discontinued denon model and the drivers are manufactured by fostex, well known hi-end audio equipment manufacturer.

Thanks ill check it out!

 

[quisxx]

Personally I find the pro 80 bright. I do not find the hp150 as bright, but the mid bass on the 150 is lacking for me.

 

[trivium911]

Personally I find the pro 80 bright. I do not find the hp150 as bright, but the mid bass on the 150 is lacking for me.

yeah just did some searching dont think i will like the CAL since its V shaped. Im more about the music and not into FUN that much since if i want fun i will hop in my roadrunner with dual sealed 10" pioneers...or my onkyo home theatre, or my harmon kardon AVR living room setup lol. So no one knows about the ISK HD999's? Only a few reviews that i was able to find but nothing that compares to pro 80s. What i dont want is a sidegrade as i would still be keeping the pro 80s (kingston hyper x) as they have a mic. 

 

[quisxx]

You might want to look at the soundmagic thread if you don't want too much of a fun sig. The hp150 might be for you, they sounded pretty neutral to me.

 

[trivium911]

You might want to look at the soundmagic thread if you don't want too much of a fun sig. The hp150 might be for you, they sounded pretty neutral to me.

So as tempted as I was to get the soundmagic hp150s I heard these can have peaky treble which is what I want to avoid...thus the reason I want to get something other than the pro80s. I did manage to install some more fabric in the pro 80s drivers which helped quite a bit and installed the stock pads back. I have an order of pleather hm5s coming aswell from amazon...I may send these back anyways since they may make the pro 80s worse. In the meantime I bought the 9000's based on 1clears review. So now I wait for a month lol, than I can review the MDH9000's. BTW sources will be x3ii with and without the O2, Also the O2 paired with the Q1...we shall see. 1 Clear did mention the bass can be tamed on the 9000's by installing the thinner pads that the 9999's come with...so I might pick up a set of the pads aswell once I return the hm5's.

 

[Pharmaboy]

 
So as tempted as I was to get the soundmagic hp150s I heard these can have peaky treble which is what I want to avoid...thus the reason I want to get something other than the pro80s. I did manage to install some more fabric in the pro 80s drivers which helped quite a bit and installed the stock pads back. I have an order of pleather hm5s coming aswell from amazon...I may send these back anyways since they may make the pro 80s worse. In the meantime I bought the 9000's based on 1clears review. So now I wait for a month lol, than I can review the MDH9000's. BTW sources will be x3ii with and without the O2, Also the O2 paired with the Q1...we shall see. 1 Clear did mention the bass can be tamed on the 9000's by installing the thinner pads that the 9999's come with...so I might pick up a set of the pads aswell once I return the hm5's.

 
I've never heard the pro 80's--though I share your reluctance to listen to overly bright headphones.
 
I can, however, comment on the ISK MDH9000's. They're exactly the same in every detail (that I can detect) as the Marantz Pro MPH-2, which is clearly a re-badge of the ISK (one of several). I've been listening to my thoroughly burned-in Marantz' for 1-2 weeks and really like them. BTW, the bass is excellent--relatively flat (to my ears). If it's all boosted in the bass, it's a very shallow boost that doesn't favor mid-bass over lower bass. The midrange is well above average IMO, and the treble has lots of detail w/o being sibilant or bright. They just sound good to me: balanced, composed, and accurate in a good way. The earpads definitely don't need changing on these (I have other pads, but see no reason to put them on). I think the stock pads are comfortable & perfect for these headphones..
 
I've heard them on 4 headphone amps (+/- built-in DAC), including: FiiO 10K; Matrix M Stage HPA-1; Lake People G109A; Burson Soloist amp/preamp. They sounded good throughout.
 
The worst thing I could say is that these headphones don't have much of that spacious, 3D soundstage character that open-backed headphones (and some closed-backs, too) can do.
 
I hope you'll like the ISK MDH9000's as much as I like the Marantz.