The German Maestro GMP 8.35 D Monitor in the studio... serious about audio, INDEED!!
Dec 29, 2012 at 9:27 AM Post #606 of 1,132
Hey Acix, I have a small question. AKG K550 or GMP 8.35D ?
 
both will run without an amp and no specific one type of music genre. Portability is important but not a deal breaker. I would like to more about sound differences. how would you compare these 2 of them?
 
Jan 19, 2013 at 7:27 AM Post #607 of 1,132
Got the 8.35's today. Really like them, but found the earpads pretty uncomfortable. I decided to try the pads off the AKG K550's. Firstly, they are SUPER comfortable now. Also, the treble seems to have been rolled off ever so SLIGHTLY. Which is a good thing, as it has definitely made them more balanced. The soundstage also seems to have increased. They sound a lot more open now.
 
The only thing I'm not sure about is the bass, which doesn't seem AS tight. I'm guessing because they're not the perfect fit (i.e skin tight) Still very good though.
 
Would definitely recommend trying them out.
 
Jan 19, 2013 at 7:37 AM Post #608 of 1,132
Quote:
Got the 8.35's today. Really like them, but found the earpads pretty uncomfortable. I decided to try the pads off the AKG K550's. Firstly, they are SUPER comfortable now. Also, the treble seems to have been rolled off ever so SLIGHTLY. Which is a good thing, as it has definitely made them more balanced. The soundstage also seems to have increased. They sound a lot more open now.
 
The only thing I'm not sure about is the bass, which doesn't seem AS tight. I'm guessing because they're not the perfect fit (i.e skin tight) Still very good though.
 
Would definitely recommend trying them out.

 
 
I'm curios about the fit of the K550 pads on the 8.35, do they fit loose or tight? Can you please post some photos, and also show the fit, thanks? 
 
Jan 23, 2013 at 7:04 AM Post #609 of 1,132
Just did the tissue paper mod, along with adding some DT770 earpads and a Fiio E17 amp. WOW. The difference is night and day.
 
Amazing soundstage, I was actually a little surprised. Before, to me they sounded quite similar to the HD25's in that they were a little closed/boxed in. Now, they sound very airy and open. The bass is still really tight, detailed and controlled. The slight treble spike from the DT770 pads has been countered by the tissue paper mod (which worked excellently) Also, the comfort of the pads is in another league to the stock ones. They seem really balanced now too. I use them for checking my mixes, before they were just a little coloured. Now, gotta say they're very good for that purpose.
 
Seriously, I would HIGHLY recommend trying this setup out. I've had a fair amount of different headphones in the past (Beyers, Denons, AKG's etc) this is now the perfect headphone (given its price). And it's closed back? Incredible..
 
Some pics:
 
This is what I used for the mod, basically just took a cheap tissue. As it usually comes in two layers, I peeled away one of them and stuck that to the foam.
 
 

 
With the DT770 pads:
 
 

 
Setup:
 
 

 
Jan 23, 2013 at 8:55 AM Post #610 of 1,132
^^ Cheers man, a different pads do bring this studio flat FR... I always want to try the Beyer gel pads.
happy_face1.gif

 
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:11 AM Post #611 of 1,132
Quote:
^^ Cheers man, a different pads do bring this studio flat FR... I always want to try the Beyer gel pads.
happy_face1.gif

 
I did try the gel pads on the GMP 8.300. It was a disaster.
The comfort is lacking because of the small openings, they sit very tight around your ears. But worst was the muffled, closed in sound they produced. I like a somewhat darker sound, but with the gel pads, it was way overdone. It was like music played through a tube.
Like tigersinacage, I find the DT770 pads best suited on my pair. Although I put two thin velours pieces on the drivers, not paper tissue.
 
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:32 AM Post #612 of 1,132
Quote:
 
I did try the gel pads on the GMP 8.300. It was a disaster.
The comfort is lacking because of the small openings, they sit very tight around your ears. But worst was the muffled, closed in sound they produced. I like a somewhat darker sound, but with the gel pads, it was way overdone. It was like music played through a tube.
Like tigersinacage, I find the DT770 pads best suited on my pair. Although I put two thin velours pieces on the drivers, not paper tissue.

 
Interesting observations, I've thought the gel will tight the sound...BTW, do you still have the gel pads?
 
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:38 AM Post #613 of 1,132
No, I sold the gel pads. The sounded also horrible on my DT880 closed back.
 
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:55 AM Post #614 of 1,132
Quote:
Although I put two thin velours pieces on the drivers, not paper tissue.

Where did you get the velour pieces, if you don't mind me asking? Did you notice a difference to the tissue paper, or just purely for durability purposes?
 
I'd really like to change the cable, but I don't have a soldering iron.. a nice Mogami straight cable and I think these headphones really would be perfect. Maybe some day!
 
Jan 23, 2013 at 10:20 AM Post #615 of 1,132
Quote:
Where did you get the velour pieces, if you don't mind me asking? Did you notice a difference to the tissue paper, or just purely for durability purposes?
 
I'd really like to change the cable, but I don't have a soldering iron.. a nice Mogami straight cable and I think these headphones really would be perfect. Maybe some day!

 
Oh, I bought several large pieces of cloth at a drapery shop, like felt and velours, and cut them to round pieces wit a scissor.
I really dislike sibilance, therefore I 'smother' the sound. Thin paper would not be enough for me.
Even the HD 650 driver was damped by me with one piece of felt
eek.gif

 

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