The JVC HA-S500.. Appreciation, fan thread. - Page 272

OK, so I just received the ATH pleathers. Did anyone else receive them in a soaking wet package. It's like someone dropped the carton package in a puddle and didn't want to deal with explaining what happened, so just put that wet package in a sealed plastic bag, snapped on a Chinese stamp and sent it like that. 

 

edit: Anyway, the pads are fine. They are more comfortable but after listening so much to the stock pads these sound very bass light. 

Edited by kova4a - 1/4/13 at 7:58am

This.  In the States my local Ace Hardware has these 0-rings, along with 20-30 other sizes.  Some places don't have hardware stores, I guess, so you may have to order them online.

 

The O-ring works, not all that good, though.  Pads stay on better, still a little bit floppy and can come off.  Sound and comfort level makes up for any inconvenience. 

 

It does lose a little bit of bass, so for me the stock pads sound best, since they're the most bass-heavy of the pads.

 

Are the O-rings from Ace Hardware 3/16"?  I tried those and they are a smaller diameter.....the 3/16" from the web site I linked are 3/16", and I have never had a problem with them coming off!

Ok, so I did some insane pad swapping (good thing it's so easy to change the pads) and I think I'll stick to the stock ones. I just don't like what the ATH pleathers do to the bass - that's definitely not a 2db difference like Dsnuts said. And with the ath pleathers and e11 on eq 2 the impacts isn't even close to what the stock pads have with zero bass eq.

I went back to the stock pads too...at least until summer time....lol

I also purchased the O rings from cute's reference and use the HM5 pads and though it fits slightly loose, there has been no problems of it coming off.  For the sound, it doesn't produce enough bass for me with this mod, otherwise it's the best mod so far.  

 

Curious: did you try taping the vents?

The other option is sewing up a bit of the pad to get a tighter fit. If I'm not mistaken, it was Cyloh who first did this? There were photos.

I did this, then lined it with cotton wool to make up for the bagginess. The fit isn't fantastic, but I probably should have sewn a larger portion shut. I don't know why I was so conservative about it. I'll fix it when I feel like fiddling with that again.

Of course, this will permanently damage the pads, so if you're the sort who plans on selling, stick to the o-rings. I'm sure w wee bit of double-sided tape would increase its likelihood to stay on.

I decided to half-tape my vents. I used that micropore medical tape and just stuck the pieces halfway over each hole instead of the full-on tape mod.

there was a big noticeable decrease in bass amount

maybe 4-6 db drop?

taped all of the ports again and got back the stock sound though

Well, I did try covering the vents but it sounded different, like the bass lost some of its texture. I might have to find a porous material to test - maybe something like band aid 

 

+1

 

It's a conspiracy lol!

I also use stock pads and have done for a while now after trying out the ATH pleathers and not liking the reduction of the bass.

HOLY MACKEREL!!! THIS IS TOO AWESOME-SAUCE!

 

These S500s; HM5 pads with the stuffed tissue mod/ stock pads under them/ taped bass ports with the Rubber- O -Ring -aThing-A-Ling holding them in place is.....................................................................................................................................

 

 

I found that the HM5 pads were too soft and get squished in too much after a while, so I did the tissue stuffing mod on them and oh man, fits more tight and holds it's shape a lot better now. Pics/ more details to come tomorrow, damn cute/ others that discovered it, the rubber-O-ring thingy is ingenious!!! So simple, yet so effective it holding the pads on. So glad my local Hardware store carried them WOOT WOOT!

 

Edited by sfwalcer - 1/5/13 at 12:24am

I think you're onto something sfw! I don't think I can wait for my rings... gonna have to make a trip to home depot tomorrow!