He400i: aluminum ring and aftermarket pads?

[Starburp701]

So i REALLY don't like the focus pads that come with thr new version of the HE400i that i got on sale for Black Friday. They are inconsistent with the foam inside (the front on 1 ear is half as full as the other for some reason!), the stitching is jenky and crooked, and the pads arent anythng close to "sealed" with the cups as i know it has potential to create better sound stage and bass response if the pads didnt let so much sound escape.. unequal amounts for each ear, at that!!

Anyways, did i mention that i REALLY dont like these pads? Other than that, i love the cans. So i ordered Aluminum Rings off the website and finally decided on the Audeze Vegan pads. Before the Vegans get here in a couple of days id like to know how to properly install them. If anyone could give me detailed instructions i would be eternally grateful. Last thing i would want to do is destroy 83 dollar ear pads. Thanks!

 

[Starburp701]

Bump... Anyone?

 

[FalafelFlyer]

I'm in the same spot you are.  Did you ever get them to fit?

 

[Starburp701]

I'm in the same spot you are.  Did you ever get them to fit?

No, sir. I did not. I found that the circumference was just too large.

First off, the aluminum rings are just decieving. They are the same exact rings our headphones already came with which holds absolutely no purpose unless you own an older revision. I thought the rings were for permanently installing aftermarket pads... like the site says.. but anyways.

The real issue is the new pads not allowing the cup to swivel. The only reason I attempted this is because I read that someone had done it and didn't seem to have any issues with it.. Unless they have a super tiny head I don't really see this as a feasable mod. If I were you I would just return them before you ruin them and get your $65-$80 back and keep looking. Once you stick them on there, there's no going back. Or you can just do as I did and return your he-400i and get some LCD-2's! good luck!

P.s. one thing I didn't experiment with, if you're handy and really want to make this work, I would take the plastic ring out of the vegan pads, maybe measure and cut them or find a substitute. They do seem to jot out a bit more than the actual pad and if you found a smaller ring or found a way to plastic weld you could tighten tge fabric around your substitute and make it work. Just not sure that would affect the shape of the cans too much, if at all, retaining their form which is obviously important to thr way thr sound will react with the pads.