Wow! Sennheiser HD 540 Reference are so good.
Feb 11, 2015 at 5:19 PM Post #1,022 of 4,343
Hm... perhaps... I was not able to test them. So they could have been defective ... I think 2€ is quite reasonable in that case... ;D
I try to get some cheap Hifiman Velours but i have no comparision to the original Reference II velours since i dont have them =/ I will look at ebay for a pair of reference II headphones with original pads... is there a real difference between 300 ohm 600 ohm reference, reference II and the gold version? anyone able to compare all of them under same conditions with a good DAC? i cant believe the cable makes a big difference... i still think the pads make the biggest one... 
 
Feb 11, 2015 at 6:17 PM Post #1,023 of 4,343
I agree that the earpad properties (along with headband clamping pressure) is the major determinant of great performance with the HD540. Inner foam/cloth and cable material type have a much more subtle influence, in my opinion, but I feel that all can alter the way it sounds if you listen carefully. I have heard 300 Ohm Ref I, 600 Ohm Ref I and quite a few Ref IIs. All sound extremely close to one another IMO as long as the drivers aren't faulty in any way. Two pairs of old Ref I drivers that I listened to many months back were less refined in purity than my Ref IIs and were over-critical of any kind of treble imperfection.
 
I've just put together a HD540II after cleaning it and I've put on some Ref II velour pads with my replacement inner foam but haven't stitched them up. I personally think they sound better this way than when stitched up but can I really sell them like this?? O_o The recipients may think I've been lazy and not want to buy... But yeah, not stitched together means a nice thick pad with unrestricted expansion, more distance from the ear and more natural stereo image IMO.
 
Feb 11, 2015 at 7:00 PM Post #1,024 of 4,343
i think every buyer wants original condition... its because behind sennheiser stands a big name... great products .. engineers... marketing and so on. people trust their products and the way these are built. when you change something its only you and your subjective/objective opinion who stands behind it... (in this case the DIY earpads) =D better stich em back together when you want to sell them... make em look as original as possible. 
perhaps its like the thing with oldtimer cars... original is allways better, matching numbers and so on =D
 
Feb 11, 2015 at 8:10 PM Post #1,025 of 4,343
Hm... perhaps... I was not able to test them. So they could have been defective ... I think 2€ is quite reasonable in that case... ;D

In other words you just basically ripped off some rightful owner's unsuspecting wife. She probably thought these were bought at some liquor store for 10 bucks. :D
 
Feb 12, 2015 at 8:16 AM Post #1,026 of 4,343
In other words you just basically ripped off some rightful owner's unsuspecting wife. She probably thought these were bought at some liquor store for 10 bucks.
biggrin.gif

 
Maybe the rightful owner sold his wife's Louis Vutton handbag for a couple of Euros the week before. Who are we to deny them the right to have a domestic flea market battle?
 
 
In any case I agree the velours Ref II pads sound great on the Ref I when "padded out" a bit.  Personally I made them stand away a bit more from the drivers by placing an approx. 4mm thick baffle under them, which also replicates the original mesh pad's slightly smaller diameter close up to the driver (see post #64 in this thread).  I'll upload some pics of my modification when I get the chance.
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Feb 12, 2015 at 8:49 AM Post #1,027 of 4,343
pics would be great... 
 
i am not the kind of guy walking around the fleamarket to buy stuff at ebay-prizes... its not that i tricked anyone. the seller wanted one euro... i told him its probably worth more if it works so he demanded 2 € because he didnt knew if they still work or not. i took the risk/chance and am thankful for a great headphone... =D 
 
Feb 12, 2015 at 9:46 AM Post #1,028 of 4,343
Yeah... sounds like pretty standard German flea market prices to me.
 
I've had a few similar (and some even better) flea market finds.
 
Feb 16, 2015 at 4:51 PM Post #1,029 of 4,343
I have 13 Sennheiser HD540 Reference II headphones and 1 HD540 Reference I (300 Ohms) to sell. Depending on cosmetic condition and whether it includes the original box, my asking price for one will be between £150-£180, where £180 is for like-new in box, £165 for excellent condition without box and £150 for fair, clean condition. All have clean, washed velvet earpads with fresh foam that I have cut and installed. All parts have been individually cleaned carefully with an anti-bacterial cloth.
 
I will post pictures of each individual unit via PM if requested. I am in the process of selling away all of my TLC'ed HD540s so it might be a good opportunity for music enthusiasts to grab ones that haven't been neglected.
 
Feb 24, 2015 at 3:50 AM Post #1,030 of 4,343
Dear Head-Fi pros, I need your advice about HD-540.
 
I just got HD-540 Reference Gold. They are brand new never used. 30 years in box. Presented by Sennheiser director to grandpa of my wife when he was a leader of USSR delegation dedicated to technologies collaboration. So last 15 years I've seen this box in his place and today take to try myself.
 
I can't add the photos of subject to this post may be because I just registered but I uploaded them here share http://www.yogile.com/vhjcywm0#41m
 
What do you think should I replace pads to HD-250 Linear II as topic starter did or try to use them as is?
 
Feb 24, 2015 at 1:59 PM Post #1,031 of 4,343

HD250 Linear II pleather pads do not allow sound to disperse outwards as the original HD540 design intended. The pleather pads are packed full of damping layers to prevent vibrations/music from leaking out; they're designed for a sealed/closed headphone capsule, after all. Introducing these pads onto the open HD540 colours/changes the sound quite considerably so stick with the originals and rework them if necessary. You will be rewarded with greater transparency and a much larger stereo image.
 
Feb 25, 2015 at 1:02 PM Post #1,032 of 4,343
pics would be great... 

i am not the kind of guy walking around the fleamarket to buy stuff at ebay-prizes... its not that i tricked anyone. the seller wanted one euro... i told him its probably worth more if it works so he demanded 2 € because he didnt knew if they still work or not. i took the risk/chance and am thankful for a great headphone... =D 


lol even broken HD540 is worth a lot more than 2Eur :)

Not sure if the seller was so poor he was selling them for 1Eur instead of straight away throwing them away or if he was too rich to care (too much time on ones hands and nothing better to do?). This is just dumb.
 
Feb 25, 2015 at 5:10 PM Post #1,033 of 4,343
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:27 AM Post #1,034 of 4,343
In any case I agree the velours Ref II pads sound great on the Ref I when "padded out" a bit.  Personally I made them stand away a bit more from the drivers by placing an approx. 4mm thick baffle under them, which also replicates the original mesh pad's slightly smaller diameter close up to the driver (see post #64 in this thread).  I'll upload some pics of my modification when I get the chance.



pics would be great... 


Pics as promised (see post #64 in this thread for the dimensions):

All four parts:




Start with the capsule:




Then add the cloth ring:




Next add the sandwich of three glued-together cardboard rings:




Now add the foam disc:




And finally clip the cushion in place:

 

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