Definitely looking forward to trying these. I am patiently awaiting TheCableCo to get their Library pair, as I am first in queue to borrow it. When I do, I will post my impressions as well, and I'll offer some comparisons to my beloved HE-5LE.
I'll also mention in passing that I have had a chance now to try both the Focus and Focus-A pads with my HE-5LE. My impressions, which echo a lot of what's been said:
For me, the Focus-A pads offered a bit more room for my ears and thus were a bit more comfortable. That said, I still find the Focus pads pretty comfortable, though my old style velour pads are still perhaps the most comfortable of the three. Sonically, all three pads have their unique advantages. The production Focus pads, imo, are aptly named as they seem to give my HE-5LE the most "focused" sound. Imaging is superior with these pads, and the overall sound has a greater tightness (bass) and crispness (midrange / treble) to it. If these qualities sound good to you, then I think you'll appreciate the production Focus pads. The Focus-A pads, on the other hand, sounded substantially (to my ears) smoother, i.e. less crisp / more buttery. Vocals regain a bit of seductiveness to them that is lost with the Focus pads. Treble is non-fatiguing. Bass is a bit warmer, and truthfully sounds beautiful. With the Focus pads, the bass is quite dry; with the Focus-A pads, the bass has a bit more wetness to it, or as Conquerator so accurately put it - it has greater "fluidity". It's really quite beautiful sounding. That's a good way to describe it, really - the Focus-A pads make the HE-5LE sound beautiful. The Focus pads make the HE-5LE sound "focused" - again, aptly named I think! And actually, the HE-5LE with Focus-A pads reminded me quite a bit of the HD650! Like an HD650 on steroids - certainly had the smooth, non-fatiguing sound to it.
I like both pads, but they do different things to the sound. I know this is the HE-560 thread, but many owners of the HE-560 have been caught up in the pads storm and may feel curious or confused, so I thought it'd be appropriate to offer my findings on what either pads tend to do for the sound of a Hifiman.
PLEASE REMEMBER, these pad impressions are with my HE-5LE. They are meant to convey what the pads slightly do to the sound of a Hifiman, not what they actually sound like on the HE-560 itself - as I haven't heard it yet.
I'll also mention in passing that I have had a chance now to try both the Focus and Focus-A pads with my HE-5LE. My impressions, which echo a lot of what's been said:
For me, the Focus-A pads offered a bit more room for my ears and thus were a bit more comfortable. That said, I still find the Focus pads pretty comfortable, though my old style velour pads are still perhaps the most comfortable of the three. Sonically, all three pads have their unique advantages. The production Focus pads, imo, are aptly named as they seem to give my HE-5LE the most "focused" sound. Imaging is superior with these pads, and the overall sound has a greater tightness (bass) and crispness (midrange / treble) to it. If these qualities sound good to you, then I think you'll appreciate the production Focus pads. The Focus-A pads, on the other hand, sounded substantially (to my ears) smoother, i.e. less crisp / more buttery. Vocals regain a bit of seductiveness to them that is lost with the Focus pads. Treble is non-fatiguing. Bass is a bit warmer, and truthfully sounds beautiful. With the Focus pads, the bass is quite dry; with the Focus-A pads, the bass has a bit more wetness to it, or as Conquerator so accurately put it - it has greater "fluidity". It's really quite beautiful sounding. That's a good way to describe it, really - the Focus-A pads make the HE-5LE sound beautiful. The Focus pads make the HE-5LE sound "focused" - again, aptly named I think! And actually, the HE-5LE with Focus-A pads reminded me quite a bit of the HD650! Like an HD650 on steroids - certainly had the smooth, non-fatiguing sound to it.
I like both pads, but they do different things to the sound. I know this is the HE-560 thread, but many owners of the HE-560 have been caught up in the pads storm and may feel curious or confused, so I thought it'd be appropriate to offer my findings on what either pads tend to do for the sound of a Hifiman.
PLEASE REMEMBER, these pad impressions are with my HE-5LE. They are meant to convey what the pads slightly do to the sound of a Hifiman, not what they actually sound like on the HE-560 itself - as I haven't heard it yet.