Brainwavz HM5 Earpads
CHOICES
Velour
Pleather
COLORS
- Pleather pads come in Black, Dark Red, Red, Brown, White
- Velour pads available in Black and Red
Cost: $8.50 USD each
Big thanks to Brainwavz for loaning a pair of both the pleather and velour pads for this review.
What headphones do they fit?
Brainwavz HM5
Shure SRH440
Audio Technica ATH-M50
OVERVIEW
If, like me, you started off years ago with a headphone like the ATH-M50 and after some serious use realized that the earpads are no longer in their ideal condition, then these HM5 replacement pads from Brainwavz are for you. They fit beautifully onto the earcups of the ATH-M50 and with a little effort they fall into place. Having a great fit is a must to achieve the same seal and comfort as the stock pads. These replacements pads do just that!
AESTHETICS
The pads come in four colors: Black, Dark Red, Red ( seen here ), Brown, and White. The colors are fantastic, the stitching is also very well done with no signs of quality control issues. As seen in the pictures the pads are a bit larger than the stock ATH-M50 pads providing more ear room and a softer feel around the outer ear. The HM5 pads are also thicker which will be a great change for those of you wanting more depth in the earpads. For travel I recommend the pleather pads to provide a better seal and block out some of the noise.
The velour pads come in the black and red. They also provide you with a little more comfort than the pleather pads by removing some of the heat build-up from around the ear. The velour pads are an excellent choice for long listening sessions.
ACOUSTICS
The Pleather Pads
The thicker pads change the sonics slightly, but not enough to distract from the overall sound signature of the ATM-M50. The bass is the obvious region of the spectrum affected. It is slightly thinner and less punchy perhaps due to both the seal around the ear and the proximity of the driver to the ear. A slight compression of the replacement pads while listening reveals that the bass can be enhanced with little effort. This indicates that the acoustic seal is not the same as the original pads. I found them more than adequate and suspect with a little age the bass will fall more in line with the original pads.
The Velour Pads
Many great headphones like the beyerdynamic DT 990, Sennheiser HD 650, and even the AKG K712 Pro utilize velour pads. Velour typically provides an open seal around the ear which if coupled with an open driver resonator design provides a more airy presentation. It allows the air to couple to the ear differently than a sealed / leather earpad. You should expect more treble and less boom in the bass. The HM5 velour pads follow this expectation perfectly. These pads work wonders if you are sensitive to bass or pressure build up.
CONCLUSION
If you are looking for a colorful replacement pad for the HM5, ATH-M50(x), or even the SHR440 the HM5 replacement pads from Brainwavz are an excellent choice. They are well made, very comfortable, and do not add any unforeseen acoustic problems. The leather pads seal and provide more bass than their velour counterparts. The velour pads are more comfortable for hot listening sessions or where more treble focus is desired. Both remain a simple and inexpensive way to tune the listening experience.
LINKS
Brainwavz HM5 Replacement Pads
http://www.yourbrainwavz.com/HM5padsthick.html
SRH440 with HM5 pads
http://www.head-fi.org/t/741698/new-brainwavz-hm5-pads-different-colours-velour-leather
CHOICES
Velour
Pleather
COLORS
- Pleather pads come in Black, Dark Red, Red, Brown, White
- Velour pads available in Black and Red
Cost: $8.50 USD each
Big thanks to Brainwavz for loaning a pair of both the pleather and velour pads for this review.
What headphones do they fit?
Brainwavz HM5
Shure SRH440
Audio Technica ATH-M50
OVERVIEW
If, like me, you started off years ago with a headphone like the ATH-M50 and after some serious use realized that the earpads are no longer in their ideal condition, then these HM5 replacement pads from Brainwavz are for you. They fit beautifully onto the earcups of the ATH-M50 and with a little effort they fall into place. Having a great fit is a must to achieve the same seal and comfort as the stock pads. These replacements pads do just that!
AESTHETICS
The pads come in four colors: Black, Dark Red, Red ( seen here ), Brown, and White. The colors are fantastic, the stitching is also very well done with no signs of quality control issues. As seen in the pictures the pads are a bit larger than the stock ATH-M50 pads providing more ear room and a softer feel around the outer ear. The HM5 pads are also thicker which will be a great change for those of you wanting more depth in the earpads. For travel I recommend the pleather pads to provide a better seal and block out some of the noise.
The velour pads come in the black and red. They also provide you with a little more comfort than the pleather pads by removing some of the heat build-up from around the ear. The velour pads are an excellent choice for long listening sessions.
ACOUSTICS
The Pleather Pads
The thicker pads change the sonics slightly, but not enough to distract from the overall sound signature of the ATM-M50. The bass is the obvious region of the spectrum affected. It is slightly thinner and less punchy perhaps due to both the seal around the ear and the proximity of the driver to the ear. A slight compression of the replacement pads while listening reveals that the bass can be enhanced with little effort. This indicates that the acoustic seal is not the same as the original pads. I found them more than adequate and suspect with a little age the bass will fall more in line with the original pads.
The Velour Pads
Many great headphones like the beyerdynamic DT 990, Sennheiser HD 650, and even the AKG K712 Pro utilize velour pads. Velour typically provides an open seal around the ear which if coupled with an open driver resonator design provides a more airy presentation. It allows the air to couple to the ear differently than a sealed / leather earpad. You should expect more treble and less boom in the bass. The HM5 velour pads follow this expectation perfectly. These pads work wonders if you are sensitive to bass or pressure build up.
CONCLUSION
If you are looking for a colorful replacement pad for the HM5, ATH-M50(x), or even the SHR440 the HM5 replacement pads from Brainwavz are an excellent choice. They are well made, very comfortable, and do not add any unforeseen acoustic problems. The leather pads seal and provide more bass than their velour counterparts. The velour pads are more comfortable for hot listening sessions or where more treble focus is desired. Both remain a simple and inexpensive way to tune the listening experience.
LINKS
Brainwavz HM5 Replacement Pads
http://www.yourbrainwavz.com/HM5padsthick.html
SRH440 with HM5 pads
http://www.head-fi.org/t/741698/new-brainwavz-hm5-pads-different-colours-velour-leather