So I was so happy with how the Ori pads were making all my HiFiMAN cans sounding (and this is with borderline-obsessive pad rolling) and I did a crazy thing and ended up acquiring the entire Ori line. Here are some freeform impressions:
Ori Solid Lambskin
Look and Feel: Luxurious and soft lambskin.
Bass: The absolute king. Largest amount of bass, quality beyond reproach, speed is out of this world considering the size. Kicks like a jackhammer.
Midrange: Full and warm, bordering on honky/resonant. Audeze-like.
Treble: Present and energetic lower treble, and a very even upper treble. "S" sounds can veer into "SHH" territory. Can get slightly fatiguing at higher volumes, which might happen if you are really into the bass.
Overall: A hard-kicking, intense listen.
Ori Perforated Lambskin
Look and Feel: Just like the lambskin, just perforated. Perhaps a little breathier.
Bass: A definite step down in quantity, as expected with perforations. Still reasonable in quality. Fast, but does not kick very hard.
Midrange: Full and warm, without the slight honkiness.
Treble: Even sounding, not too bright. Has the same amount of upper treble as the solid pads, but the lower treble is the same amount.
Overall: an easy listen with a slightly eased off bass and treble - has none of the strengths of any of the other pads, but none of the weaknesses either.
Ori Suede
Look and Feel: Plush and soft synthetic microfiber pads.
Bass: Probably second to the solid lambskin pads, but a marked step down. Great kick, quality, and quantity.
Midrange: A clean, uncluttered, and present midrange.
Treble: The suede seems to increase the upper treble relative to the other pads, at the same time hollowing out the lower treble - a noted lack of consonance in vocals, while cymbals can be intense, and "S" sounds can be stabby.
Overall: Bright, hollow-ish sounding, with a decent kick.
Ori Hybrid
Look and Feel: Identical to the solid lambskin on the inside and outside, identical to the suede against the face.
Bass: Not quite as kick or slam as the suede, but definitely more present than the perforated lambskin. Very even in slam, quality, and quantity.
Midrange: Similar to the suede on this front, the midrange is even and clean.
Treble: Incredibly even, no consonance or splash, but somewhat bright overall. The treble level may be what is detracting from the perceived bass kick.
Ori Cowhide
Look and Feel: The stiffest pads I've ever felt - closest analog is to the Dan Clark Audio pads, but even stiffer. God, I hope these break in. Perhaps not as deep as the others.
Bass: Extends all the way down, lithe, perhaps a little lower in quantity than the other pads, absolutely even.
Midrange: Warm, even, detailed, present, large.
Treble: Are you completely allergic to harshness or sibilance of any sort? These are the pads for you. Perhaps the most even treble I've ever heard in a pad. The overall is likely lowered, perhaps considerably, but the treble sits evenly with the mids and none of the detail is lost, it just doesn't jump out at you.
Overall: What a revelation - I can't believe my ears. These headphones have never sounded so even in the bass, mids, and treble, perhaps to the point of boredom. The last word in evenness or restraint. These pads could either make the HE-6SE perfect for you, or completely ruin the thing. Admittedly, the even-tempered nature of these pads may have reigned in the soundstage somewhat, or enlarged the image in such a way where the soundstage is now more filled up.
I think the dimensions of the pads are absolutely spot on for HiFiMAN cans, with added bass slam and widened soundstage. They're also so incredibly comfortable, except for the cowhide one, which feels like rocks covered in sandpaper.
But yeah. Cowhide either fixed or ruined the HE-6SE. The best way I can put it is that it calmed the headphone down - the treble intensity is gone, the penchant for midrange honk is gone, the upper midrange dip is gone, the bass is polite and even, the whole sound has a hint of warmth. I almost want to say these "muddy" the sound, except that the pads haven't failed a single "detail cue" test I've laid out for it.
For the HE-6SE, I would personally rank the pads as follows:
1. Cowhide (I can't get over how even this sounds)
2. Lambskin (steroids for the HE-6SE)
3. Hybrid (Clean)
4. Perforated lambskin (Polite with subdued top and bottom octaves)
5. Suede (A little to hard sounding in the treble, accentuated by the upper-mid hollowness)
On my OG HE-5 (I didn't bother trying the cowhide):
1. Hybrid (Cleanliness works here)
2. Suede (Similar to the hybrid, just more V-shaped)
3. Lambskin (honkiness was a detractor)
4. Perforated Lambskin (A little too polite)
I compared the lambskin Ori pads with Dekoni THX00 hybrid pads on my HE-400. the THX00 pads had massive, if a one-note, bottom with a really hazy treble presentation - this combination played to the strengths of the HE-400, which I think is the bass king. The lambskin Ori pads didn't quite have the same bass amount, but quality and speed improved more than the quantity was reduced, so that was a win. It also lifted the blanket off the treble presentation, and the honk of the pads filled in all the gaps of the FR. The HE-400 is a surprisingly competent can with these pads on.
I really hope this is the end of the line of my pad rolling, hah. I don't want to send anybody on a wild goose chase, but figured I'd provide my thoughts.
Cowhide, man. Yeah.
*Make sure to turn off baffle step correction.
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