[GL1TCH3D]

Theres a video on youtube showing how. Hold onto the plastic ring along with the pad.

I watched both the videos from Dekoni and it's just not coming off.

 

[GL1TCH3D]

Wasn't putting enough pressure on the ring apparently

 

[jim723]

Looks like the Lawton angled pads?

 

[jim723]

I watched both the videos from Dekoni and it's just not coming off.

The first time I tried to remove the stock pads from TH900 wasn't easy for me either. So I pulled the pads off directly from the cup then I was able to remove the plastic mounting ring. After that, it's easier to mount or remove the pads.

 

[JSBachFan]

just for the record. I am still listening with the mod I published here some time ago. The pads look awful now, but the sound is great!

 

[Andrew_WOT]

If anyone has unused wooden cups, stock of aftermarket, TH900, other Fostex, or E-MU, please PM, looking for some for my TH600.
Thanks

 

[sloomingbla]

Just a random unrelated mod to post here - I had actually seen this from a post older in the th900 impressions thread, but couldn’t find where after searching.

Anyways, for users of th610 or th-X00 pads, a lot of the times people buy the dekoni attenuation rings to go with, but after A/Bing with a piece of cardstock cut in a C shape used instead I can say it actually sounds better than the plastic ring. (Subjectively)

Without the rings, the th610 pads had very loose bass, and slightly unnatural mids.

The dekoni ring helped bring back some of the mids and tightened the bass, but reduced the highs a bit too much for my tastes. It made the headphones sound much more closed, and dark, albeit more natural.

With the C rings, it retains the majority of the mids, has even tighter bass (if I had one nitpick, I’d say it reduced the bass a bit, and as a basshead that’s not a good thing, lmao), but retains just enough of the highs so it isn’t sharp/bright (perfect for me!). It has better imaging and instrument separation too (I’m assuming from the highs).

 

[sloomingbla]

Photo outside of cups next to dekoni attenuation rings for reference

 

[zolkis]

The C ring seems to block some of the front "ports" and part of the damper ring, hence the less bass and more prominent mids.
However, I have found the Dekoni pads too thick, so the C ring is a kludge fixing a design compromise (to have comfortable thick/deep pads).
If you can accommodate more shallow pads, IMHO the rings are not need at all, and you can try attaching the pads with double side adhesive tape pieces to see if you like them more.

 

[stjj89]

@zolkis, are there any stock pads you would recommend for the TH900 that come anywhere close to the modded pads you enjoy? I have modded two TH900 pads now and have grown tired of the unpleasant appearance of the crumpled protein leather and the lack of durability (the protein leather flakes off over time). I would love an off-the-shelf solution that I can just pop on and enjoy. Thoughts?

 

[zolkis]

Off the shelf - there used to be some thinner Chinese pads which were fine in stock form.
I am still using the modded Stax 009 pads on them. Sound really good.
The damper foam ring around the drivers also changes the sound very much. One more variable to play with, together with the pads.
Try leather pads that are shallow (not more than 20 mm thick in the back), have at least 70x50 mm inner opening and eventually are perforated on the inner side.
I used the leather version of these for the D9200, but needed to trim the inner foam (same mod as with the 009 pads). https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000962488722.html
Also look at https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000304691861.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000549946949.html
These will also fit: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004389052702.html
and vesperaudio.com, generally higher quality.
https://vesperaudio.com/sites/defau...dcrafted_genuine_leather_earpads_cushions.jpg
https://vesperaudio.com/sites/defau...her_earpads_cushions_memory_foam_angled_1.jpg
https://vesperaudio.com/sites/defau...ntara_earpads_cushions_memory_foam_angled.jpg
https://vesperaudio.com/sites/defau...cantara_earpads_cushions_with_memory_foam.jpg

If you can order more easily from Brainwavz, you can try these:
https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/coll.../headphone-memory-foam-earpads-xl-size-hybrid
They are rather high at 30 mm and have memory foam padding, but the perforated inner side may help.
Also, when they get warm, all memory foams will contract, changing the height, but also the density, which is why I don't like them. I prefer normal open-cell or closed-cell acoustic foams.

In the worst case you can mod them . Usually the mod consists of trimming off about 30% of the internal foam mass.

The Stax 009 (and 007) earpads are far easier to mod, since you don't need to break the sewing, just fold them out - and you can also leave them alone.
I am still using 009 pads that are 10 years old... so yes, expensive, but gets balanced out on the long term.
Sheepskin is also easier to take care of with leather care products. With proper care, they can last a decade or more...
Also, Stax is using very good foam, good for acoustic reasons, not only for comfort reasons (like memory foam).

 

[stjj89]

Thanks for the recommendations, @zolkis! I am tempted to get the Stax earpads, but the price tag is way too steep for me to justify them at the moment.

For the other pads you linked, do they all require the sewing to be broken to access the inner foam? Also, after trimming or replacing the foam, do the earpads all take on the squishy, deformed appearance that then modded TH900 pads take on?

 

[zolkis]

For the other pads you linked, do they all require the sewing to be broken to access the inner foam? Also, after trimming or replacing the foam, do the earpads all take on the squishy, deformed appearance that then modded TH900 pads take on?

Yes and mmm.... slightly yes, depending on how much you trim...
If you want stock pads that are good, leaves you with Stax... I haven't come across better, yet.
And of course, if you find pads that are shallow (max 20 mm in the back, max 15 mm high in the front) and have good sized opening (about 70x50 mm), go ahead.
Or, maybe you can convince someone from Ali to manufacture to these specs.