Thanks to Brainwavz for the review samples of the HM5 pleather and velour earpads replacement!
These replacement earpads are meant for Brainwavz HM5 headphone, but Brainwavz told me, size wise, they are compatible with other headphones from other brands, such as Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and the variant. I tried, the earpads, size wise also compatible with ATH-MSR7.
I don't have Brainwavz HM5 headphone, so I will test it with ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7.
Sorry the color of the pleather pad is rather off on the pictures. The correct brown color of the earpad is close to the first picture. Both the pleather and velour earpads are the same size, and they are larger and thicker than the M50LE and MSR7 original earpads.
Size wise they are compatible with both ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7, and due to larger size and thicker pads, they are generally more comfortable than the stock earpads. The velour earpad is more comfortable than the pleather earpad, but generally both are comfortable.
Sound Quality on ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7
Pleather earpad on ATH-MSR7
Reduces the overall loudness by around 3 dB.
Reduces the midrange level, and a little bit of bass. Midrange sounds recessed, resulting a V shape tonality. Vocal becomes slightly more prone to sibilant.
Overall tonal balance is still relatively acceptable.
Velour earpad on ATH-MSR7
Reduce the overall loudness by around 5 dB.
Reduce the bass and lower midrange area quite significantly, around 6 dB, resulting bright tonality, with thin and bright midrange, and lacking in bass.
Overall tonal balance is not acceptable.
Pleather earpad on ATH-M50
Reduces the overall loudness by around 2 dB.
Reduces the midrange level, and a little bit of low bass. Midrange sounds recessed, resulting a V shape tonality. Vocal becomes slightly more prone to sibilant. But the effect is less than when compared to the Pleather earpad on MSR7, less V shape tonality.
Overall tonal balance is still acceptable, more acceptable than the sonic changes by the pleather earpad on MSR7.
Velour earpad on ATH-M50
Reduce the overall loudness by around 4 dB.
Reduce the bass and lower midrange area quite significantly, around 6 dB, resulting bright tonality, with thin and bright midrange, and lacking in bass.
Overall tonal balance is not acceptable.
Sound wise, the sonic changes by the pleather earpad is generally more acceptable than the velour earpad. The velour earpad makes the M50LE and MSR7 sound too bright.
Those are good quality earpads, and designed best for Brainwavz HM5 headphone.
These replacement earpads are meant for Brainwavz HM5 headphone, but Brainwavz told me, size wise, they are compatible with other headphones from other brands, such as Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and the variant. I tried, the earpads, size wise also compatible with ATH-MSR7.
I don't have Brainwavz HM5 headphone, so I will test it with ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7.
Sorry the color of the pleather pad is rather off on the pictures. The correct brown color of the earpad is close to the first picture. Both the pleather and velour earpads are the same size, and they are larger and thicker than the M50LE and MSR7 original earpads.
Size wise they are compatible with both ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7, and due to larger size and thicker pads, they are generally more comfortable than the stock earpads. The velour earpad is more comfortable than the pleather earpad, but generally both are comfortable.
Sound Quality on ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7
Pleather earpad on ATH-MSR7
Reduces the overall loudness by around 3 dB.
Reduces the midrange level, and a little bit of bass. Midrange sounds recessed, resulting a V shape tonality. Vocal becomes slightly more prone to sibilant.
Overall tonal balance is still relatively acceptable.
Velour earpad on ATH-MSR7
Reduce the overall loudness by around 5 dB.
Reduce the bass and lower midrange area quite significantly, around 6 dB, resulting bright tonality, with thin and bright midrange, and lacking in bass.
Overall tonal balance is not acceptable.
Pleather earpad on ATH-M50
Reduces the overall loudness by around 2 dB.
Reduces the midrange level, and a little bit of low bass. Midrange sounds recessed, resulting a V shape tonality. Vocal becomes slightly more prone to sibilant. But the effect is less than when compared to the Pleather earpad on MSR7, less V shape tonality.
Overall tonal balance is still acceptable, more acceptable than the sonic changes by the pleather earpad on MSR7.
Velour earpad on ATH-M50
Reduce the overall loudness by around 4 dB.
Reduce the bass and lower midrange area quite significantly, around 6 dB, resulting bright tonality, with thin and bright midrange, and lacking in bass.
Overall tonal balance is not acceptable.
Sound wise, the sonic changes by the pleather earpad is generally more acceptable than the velour earpad. The velour earpad makes the M50LE and MSR7 sound too bright.
Those are good quality earpads, and designed best for Brainwavz HM5 headphone.