Hi everyone, new member here, albeit I have been wandering around the forum for quite some time.
I just want to share my impressions of my K712 pro with original pads as well as Fenestrated Sheepskin Pads from Dekoni.
I bought mine used from Amazon after had auditioned in an audiophile shop. I did not want to mess around with burn-in things so I decided to buy a used one.
I had been using the original pads for about a month before decided to change pads as they were too hot for my ears (I am a quite quick sweating man). The comfort with the original pads was quite pleasant though.
Comparisons between those two pads:
Comfort: Dekoni pads win here hands down. They are airier and deeper than the original pads so my ears can breath and have more space laterally inside them.
Sound:
- Bass: I have always been bothered by the elevated, slightly muddy midbass of the original pads (had to EQ down -2db). Some might say they bleed into the low-mids, I beg to differ as they are still very articulated and resolving in the range. However with Dekoni pads I got perfect amount of bass and don't have to EQ anymore. Their official measurements suggested a slight elevation in mid-bass but my experience was quite the opposite. More controlled bass while keeping them resolving and separated from low-mid. Perfect for my taste.
2.
Mids: I have always like the mids of these cans. Compare to HD600 they are more laid-back, yet very natural and less flat(neutral). With Dekoni pads they did not change much in this range.
3.
Highs: At first the highs sound very harsh, sibilant and lost the notorious resolution with the Dekoni pads. I was about to return them immediately. However after giving a chance for them to break-in for 48h with excessive listening, it turned to be the wisest choice I have ever made. The resolution was fantastic (again) and the decay was way more snappier. No more sibilance, just detail and quick like the Sundaras but more controlled and no significant peaks.
4.
Soundstage: This is the trade-off. Soundstage seemed to be smaller (still bigger than HD600) yet imaging remained precise. Considering a vast soundstage with the original pads, this might be a let down for some. Personally I don't mind it as long as the FR were so good.
Overall I am very happy with the pads changes. Highly recommend for an alternative choice for aftermarket pads.