[Cevisi]

Two questions for y'all:

1. Where would be the best place to find genuine replacement earpads for the 1990s, especially the analytical ones.
2. What other pair(s) of headphones do you own that you consider to be better than your 1990s in terms of sound stage and bass delivery or other characteristics important to you.

Thank you!

You can get the stock ones from the beyer website or from amazon. Other options are dekoni pads like the elite velour

 

[Chastity]

I just did a complete upgrade of my headphone system; source, DAC and amp. The sound with my usual Analytical pads improved significantly.

I thought I would give the Elite Velour pads another try, however, once again, I was disappointed. The biggest improvement in the new system with the Analytical pads was the transient attack, which is exactly where the Dekonis failed; PRaT decreased, an unforgivable offence for my preferences. I did not bother mounting the Balanced pads, as I know I don't like what they do to the sound, and their tonal failings would not be improved with the new gear.

I tricked out my 1990 + Dekoni Hybrids. If you try to EQ the full spectrum, you will have to make compromises. With the Hybrids, I let the pads passively boost the bass, and I EQ the mids and treble to match the A pads. I have to say I did a great job, as I now have solid, authoritative bass, and the mids are slightly forward, and the treble is detailed. Overall the sound is very immersive and addicting, just like the A pads, but without the sibilance, and adding a richer low end without clipping.

 

[dazKewl]

I tricked out my 1990 + Dekoni Hybrids. If you try to EQ the full spectrum, you will have to make compromises. With the Hybrids, I let the pads passively boost the bass, and I EQ the mids and treble to match the A pads. I have to say I did a great job, as I now have solid, authoritative bass, and the mids are slightly forward, and the treble is detailed. Overall the sound is very immersive and addicting, just like the A pads, but without the sibilance, and adding a richer low end without clipping.

Would you mind sharing your EQ settings please?

 

[Chastity]

Would you mind sharing your EQ settings please?

Spoiler: EQ Settings for 31-band

20    0
25    0
31.5    0
40    0
50    0
63    0
80    0
100    0
125    0
160    0
200    0
250    0.5
315    0.7
400    1.2
500    2.4
630    2.5
800    2.5
1000    2
1250    1.5
1600    1.2
2000    0.9
2500    0
3150    0.7
4000    1.8
5000    0.6
6300    1.6
8000    2.3
10000    0.5
12500    0.3
16000    0.25
20000    0
Parametric EQ Left Shelf +0.5dB @ 75Hz

 

[Chastity]

I need a tear-down guide so I can remove the dust mesh. The Dekoni have their own, so I'm doubled up on meshes.

 

[kman1211]

I need a tear-down guide so I can remove the dust mesh. The Dekoni have their own, so I'm doubled up on meshes.

Just pop off the ring that the pads feed onto. It’s that simple. To put back on just align the notch of the ring to the earcup. The fabric is there mostly for tuning, it’s not a dust cover as the actual driver baffle already has protection on it.

Stock the DT 1990/1770 and Amiron Home has three layers over the driver opening, a fabric mesh similar to the T1 covering most but not all of the driver opening, then a paper mesh that covers the whole baffle and driver opening, then a farbric/foam circle (the one exposed to the naked eye) that covers the entire driver baffle.

 

[audiobomber]

I tricked out my 1990 + Dekoni Hybrids. If you try to EQ the full spectrum, you will have to make compromises. With the Hybrids, I let the pads passively boost the bass, and I EQ the mids and treble to match the A pads. I have to say I did a great job, as I now have solid, authoritative bass, and the mids are slightly forward, and the treble is detailed. Overall the sound is very immersive and addicting, just like the A pads, but without the sibilance, and adding a richer low end without clipping.

EQ cannot improve poor transient performance, which is my complaint regarding the Elite Velours. Frequency response is amplitude. Transient performance (attack, decay, sustain, release), is a temporal issue.

I do not have excess sibilance with the Analytical pads in my system. The Balanced and Elite Velours both have more sibilance. I've never tried Hybrid pads.

 

[dazKewl]

Just pop off the ring that the pads feed onto. It’s that simple.
...

This part is proving to be quite difficult for me Can I use something to pry the ring off or will I risk breaking it? Fingernails alone are not doing it for me...

 

[kman1211]

This part is proving to be quite difficult for me Can I use something to pry the ring off or will I risk breaking it? Fingernails alone are not doing it for me...

You can use something to pry it off, a blunt knife works well, shouldn't take much force and it will just pop right off. It can be more stubborn the first time doing it.

 

[yeboyi]

EQ cannot improve poor transient performance, which is my complaint regarding the Elite Velours. Frequency response is amplitude. Transient performance (attack, decay, sustain, release), is a temporal issue.

I do not have excess sibilance with the Analytical pads in my system. The Balanced and Elite Velours both have more sibilance. I've never tried Hybrid pads.

How did you install the elite velours ? If you install it like the old way (totally over the ring and cups) it's not that bad. I had the same experience as you when i installed it between ring and cup housing. I still prefer the analytical pads though balanced pad have crazy energy to jam if you are in the mood.

 

[Cevisi]

Got the newer version beyer fleece from the tygr and amiron wireless today in my mail

 

[yeboyi]

Got the newer version beyer fleece from the tygr and amiron wireless today in my mail

This is interesting. Are they gonna change the stock one from now on ?

 

[Cevisi]

This is interesting. Are they gonna change the stock one from now on ?

I don't know but their last two models (tygr and amiron wireless) got these.

They advertise them on the tygr page with

"Even the sound is optimized for an ultimate wearing comfort. The integrated acoustic-fleece prevents fatigue due to sharp heights, since it levels the high frequencies without any loss of detail"

I found them interesting like you and wanted to try them on the 1990

I will tell how they sound after testing them in a few days

 

[yeboyi]

I don't know but their last two models (tygr and amiron wireless) got these.

They advertise them on the tygr page with

"Even the sound is optimized for an ultimate wearing comfort. The integrated acoustic-fleece prevents fatigue due to sharp heights, since it levels the high frequencies without any loss of detail"

I found them interesting like you and wanted to try them on the 1990

I will tell how they sound after testing them in a few days

Waiting for your impressions. I'm curious about upcoming T1.3. Let's see what they gonna do.

 

[Arniesb]

Waiting for your impressions. I'm curious about upcoming T1.3. Let's see what they gonna do.

Good start would be to get rid of rounded cups that most likely cause reflections.