Doctordoom16
500+ Head-Fier
Anyone listen to the ether c flow and compare them to Sem5's?
Focal charges $200 US for their replacement pads, so not too far off. If you wipe them down after use they will last 10 years. And they give you 2 pairs. I only use the fake leather ones and honestly like them better than leather. Clean them and they will stay new for yearsBetter put the warning first: do not buy these headphones unless you are prepared to pay an insane price for original replacement ear pads, if you intend to keep them for some years, other headphones even at twice the price may be less expensive in the long run.
Was looking for replacement ear pads in the UK, took a while to find where to order them but after a while got prices and part numbers:
960-0229-040WP - L side synthetic leather
960-0230-040WP - R side synthetic leather
960-0214-040WP - L side velour
960-0215-040WP - R side velour
prices are 60.36 GBP + VAT for each synthetic leather ear pad, and 73.11 GBP + VAT for each velour ear pad, and each really means each, left and right, not the pair, so we are looking at 144.86 GBP for each pair of synthetic leather and 175.46 GBP for each pair of velour ear pads.
What a scam! Good headphones (often expensive) are used a lot and kept for several years, so changing ear pads every year is not uncommon. With these prices cannot recommend the Pioneer SE-Monitor 5 to anyone, a pair of original Beyerdynamic ear pads for the T5p costs approximately 1/3 and there are many aftermarket options.
Pioneer should seriously rethink their policy on replacement parts, making them easier to buy and at a reasonable cost. And no, manufacturing costs are not that high, I could bet the margin over the real cost is around 1000 %.
Although the ear pads on the SE-Monitor 5 are slightly angled and the hole is not circular the mounting is 10 cm diameter so there are other options that will fit. May not sound the same but it doesn’t mean it will sound worse, will report on impressions with aftermarket ear pads.
did the place you saw those pads also sell pads for the SEMaster 1 open backs?Better put the warning first: do not buy these headphones unless you are prepared to pay an insane price for original replacement ear pads, if you intend to keep them for some years, other headphones even at twice the price may be less expensive in the long run.
Was looking for replacement ear pads in the UK, took a while to find where to order them but after a while got prices and part numbers:
960-0229-040WP - L side synthetic leather
960-0230-040WP - R side synthetic leather
960-0214-040WP - L side velour
960-0215-040WP - R side velour
prices are 60.36 GBP + VAT for each synthetic leather ear pad, and 73.11 GBP + VAT for each velour ear pad, and each really means each, left and right, not the pair, so we are looking at 144.86 GBP for each pair of synthetic leather and 175.46 GBP for each pair of velour ear pads.
What a scam! Good headphones (often expensive) are used a lot and kept for several years, so changing ear pads every year is not uncommon. With these prices cannot recommend the Pioneer SE-Monitor 5 to anyone, a pair of original Beyerdynamic ear pads for the T5p costs approximately 1/3 and there are many aftermarket options.
Pioneer should seriously rethink their policy on replacement parts, making them easier to buy and at a reasonable cost. And no, manufacturing costs are not that high, I could bet the margin over the real cost is around 1000 %.
Although the ear pads on the SE-Monitor 5 are slightly angled and the hole is not circular the mounting is 10 cm diameter so there are other options that will fit. May not sound the same but it doesn’t mean it will sound worse, will report on impressions with aftermarket ear pads.
key words, when they WERE in business! lolDon't know. Had to contact Pioneer Europe to ask where I could buy replacement ear pads, they gave me the codes and pointed me to the list of authorised service centres, contacted all of them, most didn't reply, others could not find the part numbers in the system, or said they didn't handle spare sales, or pointed me to another company that didn't sell them. After a week got a reply from one of them that went to the trouble of contacting Pioneer because they weren't listed in the system. A big contrast with Oppo while they were in business...
They are very "natural" sounding. Compared to the elegia the elegia are a bit more detailed but at a cost .The elegia sounds very harsh to my ears in comparison .The mids are so far forward they sound unnatural. The sem5 have very good bass depth and detail. The mids sit perfectly where they should, not recessed in any way but not forward like elegia. The treble extension is good .it is never siblant. It may not extend as far as my senn hd800s but the sem5 can be listened to for hours and never fatigue my ears.
I'd say these are well done headphones w no trickery. They aren't pushing anything out of neutral to make them sound a specific way like the elegia .
I never listed to the Mr speakers so can't compare there. But compared to focal elegia and clear, these to me are a better sounding headphones .I listen to mostly classic rock .out of my hiby r6pro w 4.4 balanced .the combo to me is unbeatable. Very 3d like at times but not in any unatuunna way