raybone0566
Headphoneus Supremus
I'm still sport in' the leather pads & still very impressed with the sound I'm hearing. Bass is fantastic. If my he-500's had this bass I'd consider them end-game. The search for perfection seems never ending.
It was the @#$@#$ leather earpads. My velour replacements came in tonight. Tight acoustic seal now, bass sounds strong but normal, mids are no longer echoey. The sound signature is completely different. Seriously I don't know how anybody could deal with these using the stock leatherettes, it's the biggest change in sound character I've ever experienced just from changing pads. There is a midrange now as well.
So could any one inform me on which they think would be the best bet, I've check a bunch of threads but haven't found any comparisons of the three (unless I missed it). I"m open to any opinions (max 50$).
Having just been down this road myself, I'll throw in my two cents. I tried the Beyer pads and couldn't get them on the HE-400 plastic rings, which I believe are necessary for attachment and which seem to require buying a complete set of HiFiMan stock pads. I trashed a set of rings trying to whittle them down to fit the Beyer pads, which may have been unnecessary but I'm new to this.
I also tried the Brainwavz pads and did eventually get them on a set of rings but I burned (actually "broke") another set of rings in the process. So now I have a total of 3 sets of HiFiMan pads, costing whatever I had to pay for them, and being more or less useless without extracting the tight fitting rings from the Brainwavz pads.
I also tried a set of Denon knockoff pads which have more padding foam in the back than the front, allowing greater contact between the pad and the area behind the ear as it curves around the back of the head. Some have said that the rather narrow opening in these pads (the exterior circumference is obviously circular like the HE-400 cup, but the interior circumference is a narrow oval) inhibits sound quality and limits space for ears. I'm no judge of sound quality (they still sound great to me!) and my ears fit just fine.
I'm wearing the Denon-like pads now and find them perfectly comfortable but you'd have to ask one of the myriad experts here at head-fi whether they will destroy your SQ.
Also, I did the headband mod and I like it. I wear these for hours and don't notice they are on most of the time so I guess it's all good.
I only discovered the focus pads recently, after spending $100 on other pads (much of which were the several sets of stock replacements I needed only for the plastic rings) and I wish I had found them right off the bat. I haven't tried them but they seem like they'd be at least as good as the brainwavz velours and they probably come with the plastic rings already installed.
Focus Pads all the way just for the comfort! I never really objectively compared the Focus Pads and pleather because once the Focus' were on, they weren't coming off, I did not notice much of a SQ change but I also wasn't looking for it.
I really wish I could do the re-grilling mod on my HE-400s but having three cats that shed a fair amount, I need the extra protection to protect my drivers. Still really loving them though, especially with just some slight EQ (only 1-3dB, + or -) changes on JRiver. I guess for some reason people here think EQ is just evil but it balances them out real well for me, I hear absolutely zero sound degradation, with more full miss and a bit less fatiguing treble. The treble on my set of 400s is really only a problem with some black metal albums just due to their production style, even then it still sounds fine, just a bit fatiguing.
Not to change the subject or anything, but...
While I'm thoroughly enjoying my HE-400, I find I am also in the market for an 'alternative' headphone of decent quality. I just can't bear to listen to the crap I once thought was as good as it gets. I would like something closed-back, possibly wood-cupped, for listening in bed when the wife is asleep or watching TV or whatever. It may also be cool if it offers a different but still appealing sound signature, for contrast and comparison. I love clarity, I don't require bone jarring bass, I listen to mainly to jazz, modern jazz, jazz-electronica, and a touch of world variety. Good balance across the spectrum, maybe not overly bright, warm is ok...can you tell I'm new at this?
Anyway, anyone have a particular alternate pair they go to when they're not using their Hifiman's? What do you like about them in comparison to the HE-400? Any recommendations for me?
Not to change the subject or anything, but...
While I'm thoroughly enjoying my HE-400, I find I am also in the market for an 'alternative' headphone of decent quality. I just can't bear to listen to the crap I once thought was as good as it gets. I would like something closed-back, possibly wood-cupped, for listening in bed when the wife is asleep or watching TV or whatever. It may also be cool if it offers a different but still appealing sound signature, for contrast and comparison. I love clarity, I don't require bone jarring bass, I listen to mainly to jazz, modern jazz, jazz-electronica, and a touch of world variety. Good balance across the spectrum, maybe not overly bright, warm is ok...can you tell I'm new at this?
Anyway, anyone have a particular alternate pair they go to when they're not using their Hifiman's? What do you like about them in comparison to the HE-400? Any recommendations for me?