General Information
Brainwavz XL and new Gel Microsuedes
With the somewhat recent addition to the Brainwavz XL family the Microsuede Gel’s I reached out to Brainwavz and was sent some review samples from Marlon from Brainwavz who made this review possible. I was also an established fan and long time user of the pads before writing this.
This is to help anyone who is on the fence about buying a set and with most of the models at my disposal hopefully this guide helps you to figure out which one will suit your needs. I did not get the protein leathers but I might get them and add it to the review at a later date.
The gel microsuede’s are the latest take on the Brainwavz XL design which is a large round 110mm pad which uses memory foam with an additional layer of gel aimed at gamer’s and audiophiles alike. The ethos behind the use of the gel is to keep the area that makes contact with the skin be kept cool over long periods of time.
The Brainwavz brand has been around for a long time and even have their own line of headphones. The HM5 headphone and range of pads have been made popular through the YouTuber Z Reviews aka Zeos Pantera.
The pads come in various shapes and sizes such as oval, angled oval, 100mm and 110mm round designs. Today we are focused on the 110mm version for headphones with round cups like the Superlux 669’s, Modern Retro’s all the way to AKG K702 or K7XX etc.
I am going to run through some of the basic sound properties of each pad and how they differ and to help you make a somewhat informed decision if you take the plunge on a new set of pads. Each pad does share the same basic design and memory foam but each one sounds a little different and may help you tune your headphone one way of another. I’ll then focus a little more on the MicroSuede Gel version at the end.
Velours
I’ll start with the tried and trusted velours. Soft to the touch and to me the memory foam feels fairly rigid. Not as soft as the suede but very comfortable and does not sag in anyway. Sub bass is reduced compared to the lambskin and has a slightly elevated mid bass region but nothing over powering, we have warm sound but does not get thick.
Mids sound great and there is a real sense of air, instruments flow together nicely. Female vocals remain clear and the treble is not bright but you still get nice detail.
Hybrids
Compared to the velours warmth is dialed back a bit. Sub bass has a little more of a crisper hit to it as mid bass is reduced.
I think the imaging is also slightly sharper but on a similar level. I like how these sound. These might be the most balanced of the bunch and ideal if you like a neutral sound signature.
Microsuede
I don’t know when these were released but I had these for a few weeks and was immediately impressed. They are one of the plushest pads I have ever tried and the suede is softer than other vendor’s suede pads I have tested.
I find them even warmer than than the velour’s with mid bass being a few clicks higher. Bass is thicker along with a smoother mid range and highs are never sibilant. If you find rock and metal harsh these are a great choice. I could listen to music all day with these from the comfort alone.
Lambskin
The premium and most expensive pad of the group at almost twice the cost of the velours. Sub bass is probably strongest here and mid bass is not as strong as on the suede's. Mids are recessed ever so slightly as bass and treble are elevated but it still feels like it has a nice balance. This one is for if you like bass to hit hard or prefer a U to V shaped signature.
Perforated Protein Leather
The perforated protein leathers are very airy sounding. They have less of a bass hit compared to the standard protein leather but it’s still present. The mid range is extenuated but remains smooth and treble has energy without being over cooked. These are an excellent choice for closed back headphones.
Microsuede Gel
Here is a description taken from Brainwavz’s website on the material, technology and idea behind the new version. These are also available in the oval HM5 style which would go great with a T50RP.
“Brainwavz XL Gel earpads use our latest Cooling Gel Technology, coupled with a super soft Micro Suede material to bring you the most advanced and comfortable earpads to date. These extra-comfy pads are not only an indulgence, but almost a necessity, with their innovative cooling gel layer helping to combat “sweaty ears” syndrome and make wearing headphones as comfortable and sweat-free as possible.”
The main feature of these is the layer of gel inside the section that regulates temperature of the contact area which should keep your head cool for long gaming or music listening sessions. The gel is certainly cool to the touch and it has a dense feel to it. The suede was denser or finer looking than the standard suede
The material is a good bit more rigid than the standard microsuede pads so it might appear like they won’t be as comfortable but don’t let that put you off as it seems to contour to the shape of your head after a few minutes or so. This also creates a better seal than the standard suede pads so it does sounds different to all the other pads.
The first thoughts that came to mind was these are darker and deeper sounding than all the other pads. They share some of the standard microsuede’s sound signature but It almost has an encapsulated feel about it. Highs and upper mids are dialed back in comparison to lambskin but it’s nice with tracks that have lots of squealing guitars. It is almost somewhere between the microsuede and lambskin. You end up with a very thick hard hitting sound and I love it.
Brainwavz decided to use materials in way we have not seen before and kudos to them for the innovation as it certainly works and the result is perhaps the most interesting sound signature of the entire range of XL pads.I actually find that the sound of these to be my favorite of all the XL pads but you mileage may vary depending on which headphone you use.
Closing thoughts
Each of the pads here are great and the cheaper variants offer exceptional value. The two premium pads in the lambskin and Microsuede gel are worth the extra $10–$15 dollars but if your budget is tight the standard suedes might be the best value.
Brainwavz XL on Amazon
Braninwavz XL Gel
With the somewhat recent addition to the Brainwavz XL family the Microsuede Gel’s I reached out to Brainwavz and was sent some review samples from Marlon from Brainwavz who made this review possible. I was also an established fan and long time user of the pads before writing this.
This is to help anyone who is on the fence about buying a set and with most of the models at my disposal hopefully this guide helps you to figure out which one will suit your needs. I did not get the protein leathers but I might get them and add it to the review at a later date.
The gel microsuede’s are the latest take on the Brainwavz XL design which is a large round 110mm pad which uses memory foam with an additional layer of gel aimed at gamer’s and audiophiles alike. The ethos behind the use of the gel is to keep the area that makes contact with the skin be kept cool over long periods of time.
The Brainwavz brand has been around for a long time and even have their own line of headphones. The HM5 headphone and range of pads have been made popular through the YouTuber Z Reviews aka Zeos Pantera.
The pads come in various shapes and sizes such as oval, angled oval, 100mm and 110mm round designs. Today we are focused on the 110mm version for headphones with round cups like the Superlux 669’s, Modern Retro’s all the way to AKG K702 or K7XX etc.
I am going to run through some of the basic sound properties of each pad and how they differ and to help you make a somewhat informed decision if you take the plunge on a new set of pads. Each pad does share the same basic design and memory foam but each one sounds a little different and may help you tune your headphone one way of another. I’ll then focus a little more on the MicroSuede Gel version at the end.
Velours
I’ll start with the tried and trusted velours. Soft to the touch and to me the memory foam feels fairly rigid. Not as soft as the suede but very comfortable and does not sag in anyway. Sub bass is reduced compared to the lambskin and has a slightly elevated mid bass region but nothing over powering, we have warm sound but does not get thick.
Mids sound great and there is a real sense of air, instruments flow together nicely. Female vocals remain clear and the treble is not bright but you still get nice detail.
Hybrids
Compared to the velours warmth is dialed back a bit. Sub bass has a little more of a crisper hit to it as mid bass is reduced.
I think the imaging is also slightly sharper but on a similar level. I like how these sound. These might be the most balanced of the bunch and ideal if you like a neutral sound signature.
Microsuede
I don’t know when these were released but I had these for a few weeks and was immediately impressed. They are one of the plushest pads I have ever tried and the suede is softer than other vendor’s suede pads I have tested.
I find them even warmer than than the velour’s with mid bass being a few clicks higher. Bass is thicker along with a smoother mid range and highs are never sibilant. If you find rock and metal harsh these are a great choice. I could listen to music all day with these from the comfort alone.
Lambskin
The premium and most expensive pad of the group at almost twice the cost of the velours. Sub bass is probably strongest here and mid bass is not as strong as on the suede's. Mids are recessed ever so slightly as bass and treble are elevated but it still feels like it has a nice balance. This one is for if you like bass to hit hard or prefer a U to V shaped signature.
Perforated Protein Leather
The perforated protein leathers are very airy sounding. They have less of a bass hit compared to the standard protein leather but it’s still present. The mid range is extenuated but remains smooth and treble has energy without being over cooked. These are an excellent choice for closed back headphones.
Microsuede Gel
Here is a description taken from Brainwavz’s website on the material, technology and idea behind the new version. These are also available in the oval HM5 style which would go great with a T50RP.
“Brainwavz XL Gel earpads use our latest Cooling Gel Technology, coupled with a super soft Micro Suede material to bring you the most advanced and comfortable earpads to date. These extra-comfy pads are not only an indulgence, but almost a necessity, with their innovative cooling gel layer helping to combat “sweaty ears” syndrome and make wearing headphones as comfortable and sweat-free as possible.”
The main feature of these is the layer of gel inside the section that regulates temperature of the contact area which should keep your head cool for long gaming or music listening sessions. The gel is certainly cool to the touch and it has a dense feel to it. The suede was denser or finer looking than the standard suede
The material is a good bit more rigid than the standard microsuede pads so it might appear like they won’t be as comfortable but don’t let that put you off as it seems to contour to the shape of your head after a few minutes or so. This also creates a better seal than the standard suede pads so it does sounds different to all the other pads.
The first thoughts that came to mind was these are darker and deeper sounding than all the other pads. They share some of the standard microsuede’s sound signature but It almost has an encapsulated feel about it. Highs and upper mids are dialed back in comparison to lambskin but it’s nice with tracks that have lots of squealing guitars. It is almost somewhere between the microsuede and lambskin. You end up with a very thick hard hitting sound and I love it.
Brainwavz decided to use materials in way we have not seen before and kudos to them for the innovation as it certainly works and the result is perhaps the most interesting sound signature of the entire range of XL pads.I actually find that the sound of these to be my favorite of all the XL pads but you mileage may vary depending on which headphone you use.
Closing thoughts
Each of the pads here are great and the cheaper variants offer exceptional value. The two premium pads in the lambskin and Microsuede gel are worth the extra $10–$15 dollars but if your budget is tight the standard suedes might be the best value.
Brainwavz XL on Amazon
Braninwavz XL Gel
