It's interesting that the Sash Tres is compared to much more expensive headphones like the Meze Elite or Audeze LCD-5.
Has anyone tried other custom ear pads on the Sash Tres? What size are these pads? Any recommendations and impressions?
What are you thoughts on the optional closed cups? I understand the jack of all trades idea. It seems like a budget solution, like the hybrid pants that can become shorts when needed. But I mean I am not sure it's very convenient to attach and detach them back and forth. Plus everyone seems to agree that the closed cups add up to the overall weight and degrade the sound quality. Wouldn't it make more sense to just have another set of closed-back cans? Or would you say the optional closed cups are good to have anyway because why not?
I've tried the 45 Ohm Tres with Sasha leather, perforated and velour earpads also with the semi open cups and closed. I wasn't the biggest fan of the closed cups. While it wasn't as V shaped when compared to the 16 ohm, I felt the magic that the Tres has was somewhat taken away. Imaging felt a bit blury and soundstage reduced while the mids took a hit too. I did like the semi open cups much much more though which brought me to putting them in my order. The semi open cups make the Tres more U shaped but still keep a very nice balance. You gain more low end impact, mids pull back just a touch but still remain clear, and treble gains a touch more energy, though it's slight but I feel it also rolls off a bit at the high treble so sizle is pretty spot on and never becomes bright or fatiguing. With perforated pads on open back 45 ohm Tres. The Tres becomes a soundstage and imaging beast. Heaps of clarity and air, maybe even too much? But I love it. Low ends does become very neutral though with a bit of roll off under 60hz. EQ fixes this and you can gain the slam back. Mids are forward but not shouty and energy up top in the treble but never splashy or fatiguing.
Velour earpads do similar to perforated, but less so while keep more low end. Soundstage is not as large and airy but mids come forward a bit and treble as well comes to play. Mids are the star of the show with velour earpads, great for vocal tracking.
Leather you have most low end and is more neutral U shaped.
Semi open cups work great with all earpads. My favourite combo was Semi open with velour earpads, second would be leather, the third is perforated.
Open cups would be, perforated with 5db low shelf at 70hz. Second would be velour earpads, 3db low shelf at 70hz. Third is leather earpads. Don't need a low shelf, but low end satisfaction with leather earpads and 5db low shelf at 70hz puts a massive smile on my face.
I do prefer forward mids and airy treble so you may prefer leather earpads most or maybe velour or maybe feel the same. But I'd skip closed cups and consider semi open
. No matter which earpad and open or semi open though. The Tres has amazing soundstage and imaging. The 45 ohn Tres with open cups and perforated earpads though is insane though. It's a sound I had to get used to. Imagine that big planar sound. Like a huge wall of sound coming at you. Then you add heaps of air and openess to it. Extremely pin point imaging, a very wide spread and great height, heaps of depth, yet vocals are forward and clear then you have that slamming low end. It's a joy to listen. It's not neautral or flat. It is colored but the musical enjoyment. Not many headphones bring as much enjoyment and intensity. That's the only thing. The perforated pads with open back cups on the 45 ohm Tres with that low shelf at 70hz is intense
I have em and never use em anymore though. Closed-back cups make these feel like a weak $300 headphone. Removing the cups and using Très open-back transforms it into a competent $1000 headphone (at 1/3 of the price).
