I own both the SHP-9500 and SHP-9500S, only difference that I was able to tell was the bass seems a little better on the S version, and the S version came with a crappier cable, but I use the V-Moda cloth $12 cable from Amazon anyway.
Stock ears are super super comfortable, but get way to hot on my ears, oddly enough the HM5 leathers never do hot.
The earpads pop right off on both models, it just takes a lot of force, you won't break anything, its just a weird design. The HM5 leather or Shure 1540 Alcantara earpad wrap all the way around the headphone, and it stretches perfect, and I found that rotating the hM5 leathers 20-30 degrees so they are like elf ear shaped when they come down on your head increased soundstage a smidge. Because the takes longer to travel or something, no idea.
With Schiit Fulla 2 the imaging was too small, even my $40 Fiio K1 amp/dac produced better imaging and bass with these cans than the Fulla 2 did, Fulla 2 sounds better on my other cans than the Fiio K1, but for some reason the K1 just pairs extremely well with both of these models.
My go to amp/dac for this can is the Schiit Fulla 1 (not the 2, the 1 because of increased soundstage, imaging accuracy, vocals improved a little, and even sub bass hits a little more, fulla 1 is magic when it has Type C powering it), but only if you have a Type C port and buy a cable type-c to mini-usb (not micro), because using it over standard usb 2.0 or 3.0 ports produces a static or hiss at loud volumes or when the Fulla knob is turned up past noon, but on Type C, 0 issues. Not sure why, but the soundstage is improved a lot as well as the bass is slamming much nicer than even Magni 2 Uber or my old Vali 2 could produce.
Comfort with stock pads 9/10 -1 because it does get hot after 30 minutes of wearing them.
Comfort with HM5 leather pads 10/10. (you do not need a 3d printed adapter, in fact I made a youtube video showing you how to install the pads)
This can has the most unique instrument placement I have ever heard, Rolling Stones, Paint It, Black- wow it blows the Monoloth M1060, HD650, HD700, HE-400i, out of the water when it comes to this song and many others likes it, that imaging and soundstage and the the HM5 leather pads...
Look... I am not good at writing reviews, so disclaimer: this review is not about stock SHP-9500, stock-SHP9500 is lacking imo, but if you pair this baby right, she shines like no other. I was lucky enough to get Sennheiser HD6xx massdrop, and side by side comparison, while the HD6xx had much more slam all around, the lack of imaging detail compared to the SHP-9500 ruined a lot of songs for me personally. The only headphone I have owned that I truly loved more than the SHP-9500 was the ZMF Vibro MKII Rusted Zebra planar headphone, boy I regret selling that baby, but it gave me tinninutus, and SHP-9500 does not, so I guess no I don't regret it in the long run.
For competitive gaming, as long as you have the HM5 Leathers and K1 or Fulla 1 over Type C, this baby is better than the famed soundstage of the K7xx or X2 Fidelio (imo).
Anyways cheers, for those of you with stock earpads and fancy expensive DAC/AMP's. Give my suggestions a try.
FOr some reason these cans love cheaper amp/dac's.
Stock ears are super super comfortable, but get way to hot on my ears, oddly enough the HM5 leathers never do hot.
The earpads pop right off on both models, it just takes a lot of force, you won't break anything, its just a weird design. The HM5 leather or Shure 1540 Alcantara earpad wrap all the way around the headphone, and it stretches perfect, and I found that rotating the hM5 leathers 20-30 degrees so they are like elf ear shaped when they come down on your head increased soundstage a smidge. Because the takes longer to travel or something, no idea.
With Schiit Fulla 2 the imaging was too small, even my $40 Fiio K1 amp/dac produced better imaging and bass with these cans than the Fulla 2 did, Fulla 2 sounds better on my other cans than the Fiio K1, but for some reason the K1 just pairs extremely well with both of these models.
My go to amp/dac for this can is the Schiit Fulla 1 (not the 2, the 1 because of increased soundstage, imaging accuracy, vocals improved a little, and even sub bass hits a little more, fulla 1 is magic when it has Type C powering it), but only if you have a Type C port and buy a cable type-c to mini-usb (not micro), because using it over standard usb 2.0 or 3.0 ports produces a static or hiss at loud volumes or when the Fulla knob is turned up past noon, but on Type C, 0 issues. Not sure why, but the soundstage is improved a lot as well as the bass is slamming much nicer than even Magni 2 Uber or my old Vali 2 could produce.
Comfort with stock pads 9/10 -1 because it does get hot after 30 minutes of wearing them.
Comfort with HM5 leather pads 10/10. (you do not need a 3d printed adapter, in fact I made a youtube video showing you how to install the pads)
This can has the most unique instrument placement I have ever heard, Rolling Stones, Paint It, Black- wow it blows the Monoloth M1060, HD650, HD700, HE-400i, out of the water when it comes to this song and many others likes it, that imaging and soundstage and the the HM5 leather pads...
Look... I am not good at writing reviews, so disclaimer: this review is not about stock SHP-9500, stock-SHP9500 is lacking imo, but if you pair this baby right, she shines like no other. I was lucky enough to get Sennheiser HD6xx massdrop, and side by side comparison, while the HD6xx had much more slam all around, the lack of imaging detail compared to the SHP-9500 ruined a lot of songs for me personally. The only headphone I have owned that I truly loved more than the SHP-9500 was the ZMF Vibro MKII Rusted Zebra planar headphone, boy I regret selling that baby, but it gave me tinninutus, and SHP-9500 does not, so I guess no I don't regret it in the long run.
For competitive gaming, as long as you have the HM5 Leathers and K1 or Fulla 1 over Type C, this baby is better than the famed soundstage of the K7xx or X2 Fidelio (imo).
Anyways cheers, for those of you with stock earpads and fancy expensive DAC/AMP's. Give my suggestions a try.
FOr some reason these cans love cheaper amp/dac's.