From some testing, it seems the Hybrid pads don't change much, maybe a little less etchy in the treble which is good. Shure 1540 Alcantara suedes definitely add warmth and bass at the expense of some detail clarity.
I THINK the pads that were attached are some cheap aftermarket pleathers because they don't feel like the original pads. The original pleather pads are soft and really comfy. But hot. These are kinda stiff and don't like quite the same. I wouldn't have expected the original pleather pads to last 8 years however, so it's understandable. I know they tended to break up and flake after a few years. I wish I could find some official stock pads though.
So looks like I'm more than likely gonna stick to the hybrids, thankfully.
In short session, the bass isn't quite like I remember. I mean the quality is what I expected, which is separated from the midrange and treble (which is something very unique), but it doesn't have the tickle my ears rumble I remember from before. Might be a pad thing, or I dunno. It does sound like the D7000 I remember otherwise.
The soundstage is as huge as I remember.
I'll have to game with them to see if it was the gaming that caused the tickle factor.
It could also be that the Magni 3 isn't the Lyr and Audio GD amp I used to have, so it may not be as thick sounding....
What's weird is how quickly the bass went from...hmm a little less than I remember, to, oh there it is. It seems he hadn't used them in so long, the drivers needed to loosen up a bit or something.