[Flognuts]

OKay Had the HD650's and I disliked them.
 
Bit the bullet and purchased the HE-500's.....I also own the grado Rs1's.
 
These are so far ahead of those headphones its quite scary. For the price you pay for these, I can't believe the sound they produce. I auditioned the LCD2 and T1's These sounded better than the T1's and to my ears equal to the LCD2.......for $500 cheaper that is a real bargin.
 
 
question what pads do you guys use? velour or pleather? 
 
I too like a few others have reached the end of the road with audio enjoyment with these headphones. I can't see myself upgrading from here. 
 
thanks. 

 

[Zoom25]

Quote:

OKay Had the HD650's and I disliked them.
 
Bit the bullet and purchased the HE-500's.....I also own the grado Rs1's.
 
These are so far ahead of those headphones its quite scary. For the price you pay for these, I can't believe the sound they produce. I auditioned the LCD2 and T1's These sounded better than the T1's and to my ears equal to the LCD2.......for $500 cheaper that is a real bargin.
 
 
question what pads do you guys use? velour or pleather? 
 
I too like a few others have reached the end of the road with audio enjoyment with these headphones. I can't see myself upgrading from here. 
 
thanks. 

 
Started with velour, went to leather and back to velour.
 
Regarding LCD-2, these take longer than HE-500 to start fully appreciating. You might be surprised with the LCD-2s when you use them for a few days.
 
Enjoy your HE-500s

 

[davidsh]

^you'll see, you will probably find flaws becoming more apparent the next couple of months. Which pads do you prefer? The general consensus is that the velour pads/modded pleather pads sound best. But not stock pleathers.

 

[Flognuts]

I prefer the velour for sure. 

 

[elwappo99]

Quote:

OKay Had the HD650's and I disliked them.
 
Bit the bullet and purchased the HE-500's.....I also own the grado Rs1's.
 
These are so far ahead of those headphones its quite scary. For the price you pay for these, I can't believe the sound they produce. I auditioned the LCD2 and T1's These sounded better than the T1's and to my ears equal to the LCD2.......for $500 cheaper that is a real bargin.
 
 
question what pads do you guys use? velour or pleather? 
 
I too like a few others have reached the end of the road with audio enjoyment with these headphones. I can't see myself upgrading from here. 
 
thanks. 

 
 
Best pads I have found so far are the Mad Dog pads. Super comfy

 

[Clemmaster]

Quote:

 
 
Best pads I have found so far are the Mad Dog pads. Super comfy

 
+0.5: they, indeed, are super comfy but the treble was funny on my HE-4 when I used them 

 
The Alpha pads are much better, but they look odd 

 

[Jesterphile]

I'm enjoying listening to my HE500's through my Fostex HP-A3 today, but everything I read indicates I need more power to really get the best out of these. Is this true, or is the HP-A3 sufficient?

 

[OICWUTUDIDTHAR]

Quote:

Do you think the lyr no tube rolling will be a big upgrade over the asgard 2 with the he500

I am wondering this too

 

[Clemmaster]

Quote:

I'm enjoying listening to my HE500's through my Fostex HP-A3 today, but everything I read indicates I need more power to really get the best out of these. Is this true, or is the HP-A3 sufficient?

 
As much as I'd love to say no (I loved the HP-A3 w/ the 500s), I must admit I heard a quite big improvement when going for the SA-31. The sound is bigger overall (in all aspects).
The sole amp costs twice as much as the - convenient all-in-one USB-powered - fostex, though
 
My experience w/ the Fostex & 500s was prior I discovered the benefit of Kernel Streaming / WASAPI and JRiver -> I was using Winamp w/ waveout or direct sound (don't remember which).
Technically, I would certainly have experienced a big jump in overall quality! Was struck me was the natural and very convincing  voicing of the duo (the Fostex is very transparent and smooth/natural).
 
You might well try the HP-A8 if you want to be sure of the resulting voicing  

 

[Jesterphile]

Quote:

 
As much as I'd love to say no (I loved the HP-A3 w/ the 500s), I must admit I heard a quite big improvement when going for the SA-31. The sound is bigger overall (in all aspects).
The sole amp costs twice as much as the - convenient all-in-one USB-powered - fostex, though
 
My experience w/ the Fostex & 500s was prior I discovered the benefit of Kernel Streaming / WASAPI and JRiver -> I was using Winamp w/ waveout or direct sound (don't remember which).
Technically, I would certainly have experienced a big jump in overall quality! Was struck me was the natural and very convincing  voicing of the duo (the Fostex is very transparent and smooth/natural).
 
You might well try the HP-A8 if you want to be sure of the resulting voicing  

Damn, I was hoping to save some money
 
I have been eyeing off the HP-A8 for a while; I just don't have the cash for this expensive hobby... lol

 

[EasySounds]

So these HE-500s are the first headphones I've ever owned, but are they supposed to feel so heavy?
 
Would changing the pads to the velour ones help in this regard? (comfort)   Seems to feel better; but may just be psychological.
Thanks.

 

[hifimanrookie]

I prefer the velour for sure. 

+1 velours for me too...but..someone is making a pair of jergmodded pleathers for me..so who knows..maybe i will cross over to the pleather camp.

 

[Flognuts]

Is it just me or do the valour pads improve the sound quality? with the valour's (to me) they sound closer to LCD2 sound sig or a really improved HD650, where as the leather pads are more bright? 

 

[davidsh]

^It isn't that black and white

 

[Jesterphile]

Erm... Somehow I accidentally my headphone's cable:
 
 

 
I just lined it up and pushed it back in snug... it sounds the same - is it supposed to come out?