[Hawaiibadboy]

  So my ATH Pro 700mk2's arrived today, along with the HM5 pads. Initial impressions are good, cans hit nice and hard without a doubt. Surprisingly they are able to take A LOT of power, they eat turbo on my iDSD no problem. Granted I do have my preamp turned way down on my EQ since I am boosting so hard, but I keep the preamp at that level for all my hard hitting headphones. I can easily hit 3 o'clock on the iDSD, which is the highest I've ever been able to have the volume pot. 
 
I only tried them on for about 10sec with the stock pads, they were TERRIBLE. I didn't even listen to them, 10sec was long enough to want to rip them off my head. So I can't comment on what the HM5 pads did the the sound signature, but they pound for sure with these. And the comfort is excellent. The pads are so thick and squishy that it gives the "impression" that they loosen the clamp force. Honestly I've had them on my head for about an hour now without any issue, so I'd say the pads are a success. Plus they look dope as hell, they match my purple vmoda cable I'm using with them almost perfectly. 
 
My Yamaha Pro 500's smack a bit harder than these, but the 700mk2's hit harder than my TH-X00's for sure. And the Yamaha's don't need nearly the same amount of power and EQ boost that these do to hit to their full potential. But fortunately for me I've got a powerful portable set-up, so I think these are going to be perfect. The 700mk2's also hit nice and low, which is always a must for me. 
 
Overall sound quality is "decent". They are heavily V shaped, and found that I had to actually cut EQ some of the treble down as it was becoming a bit much at full bass tilt volume. They also don't have much sound stage to speak of, which I expected going in. To me, they sound exactly what I thought a "DJ" tuned set of cans would sound like. My TH-X00's are still my favorite "basshead", yet still "audiophile" sounding headphones. If the X-00's had 30-40% more bass than they have now, I think I'd be able to sell off all my other over ears as I probably wouldn't listen to anything else. But as it stands now my X-00's are my "do everything well" can, SZ2K's are still the BASS cannons, 700mk2's will fill the portable over ear role, and my DT990's I use for low volume easy listening and occasional movie/video watching. 
 
Thanks everyone for the rec on the 700mk2's, head slammers without a doubt! Anyone who says otherwise isn't feeding them proper power, and also probably not EQ boosting the sub bass like they should. Proper basshead cans for sure. 
 

 Cool.
 
What is with companies and stock pads?
 
Even for non bassheads some of the stock pads are utter garbage like the 700mk2 and SZ series

 

[Fearless1]

The SZ's pads were made an evil scientist in a lab, they wanted to see how much torture the human ear could take. Just awful.

 

[Strauss95]

Are they worth the money for someone who owns sz's or only if I'd be looking for a more portable bass bomber.

 
I'd have to say no. Honestly the 700mk2 hits surprisingly hard, and it was closer in impact than I expected them to be compared to the SZ2K. Bass wise it's the most similar sounding headphone to the SZ that I've ever heard, it's literally like you just turned the volume down a hair on the SZ2K. But the SZ2K sounds better overall and has much better sound stage. Keep in my mind I've done LOTS of EQ work with my 2K, but to me it actually sounds a bit better. Hard to explain, but the 700mk2's just sound a bit harsh up top and the mids have a different kind of "tone" to them. I actually prefer the overall sound signature of my heavily EQ'd SZ2K to these, at least for rap/hip-hop type music. 
 
But these 700mk2's are the closest thing I've heard to the holy grail SZ2K. They just need even more power and EQ boost to fully wake up. 

 

[Strauss95]

The SZ's pads were made an evil scientist in a lab, they wanted to see how much torture the human ear could take. Just awful.

I can honestly say the 700mk2 stock pads were WORSE than the SZ2K stockies. Ridiculous. 

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Seems like it fits but no one that i can remember have tried them.  Also for the price I would rather get the x55 since they are tried and true.

 
I was hoping someone would have compared the 60X and 55X pads by now, but it looks like you're right. Can't find any comparisons online...
 
The price of the 55X has been jacked up, unfortunately. (Over $100 on Amazon and other sites.) The 60X is only $35 or so at the moment.
 
I had a 55X in the past, but sold it. I also bought a 60X recently, but was sent the wrong item, so I got a refund.
 
My SZ2000 should arrive tomorrow. Trying to figure out which of these pads to go with... Since no one seems to know whether they would be the same, perhaps I'll be the first to compare them.
 
Guess I'll have to go to eBay (where I originally got it) for the 55X unless someone here wants to sell me theirs.

 

[SHAMuuu]

  I can honestly say the 700mk2 stock pads were WORSE than the SZ2K stockies. Ridiculous. 

 
Seems AT makes some nice cans but makes silly mistakes like the AIR series and its headband issue and these with the earpads.
 
I thought i saw 3500mw max rating which is why it can eat gobs of power.
 
To see "BASSHEAD" can + high input power rating is very noice.
 
Looking forward to more of your impressions.

 
Also was surprised by the statements of porta pro outbassing the Ultrasone Pro 900, since the 900 is a closed can right? KOSS power.

 

[SHAMuuu]

   
I was hoping someone would have compared the 60X and 55X pads by now, but it looks like you're right. Can't find any comparisons online...
 
The price of the 55X has been jacked up, unfortunately. (Over $100 on Amazon and other sites.) The 60X is only $35 or so at the moment.
 
I had a 55X in the past, but sold it. I also bought a 60X recently, but was sent the wrong item, so I got a refund.
 
My SZ2000 should arrive tomorrow. Trying to figure out which of these pads to go with... Since no one seems to know whether they would be the same, perhaps I'll be the first to compare them.
 
Guess I'll have to go to eBay (where I originally got it) for the 55X unless someone here wants to sell me theirs. For some reason, eBay isn't showing up right, at least on my end. It's almost nothing but text now...?!

Whats wrong with nice comfy hm5 pads?
 
Is the 55x that much more impact?
 
My ears hurt enough with the sz1k pushed.
 
hm5 sheeps transfers pretty good vibrations to the skull

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Whats wrong with nice comfy hm5 pads?
 
Is the 55x that much more impact?
 
My ears hurt enough with the sz1k pushed.
 
hm5 sheeps transfers pretty good vibrations to the skull

 
The 55X pads are well-established as the ones that provide the hardest-hitting bass impact. (There are quite a few comparisons out there with the HM5 pads not being able to compete with them in that area.) Just not sure whether the 60X pads are the same. I've worn the 55X pads before and didn't find them uncomfortable. (Though not very comfortable either.)

 

[SHAMuuu]

   
The 55X pads are well-established as the ones that provide the hardest-hitting bass impact. (There are quite a few comparisons out there with the HM5 pads not being able to compete with them in that area.) Just not sure whether the 60X pads are the same. I've worn the 55X pads before and didn't find them uncomfortable. (Though not very comfortable either.)

We need some sort of number system/100
 
e.g sz2k 100/100 with 55x pads
 
95/100 w/ hm5 etc
 
the sheeps are verrrry comfortable
 

 

 

[Strauss95]

 
We need some sort of number system/100
 
e.g sz2k 100/100 with 55x pads
 
95/100 w/ hm5 etc
 
the sheeps are verrrry comfortable
 

 

I'm tempted to try the HM5 sheepskins I just bought and installed on my 700mk2's, on my SZ2K's. If it wasn't such a major pain in the a** to install them on the 700's, I already would have tried them on the SZ's. I picked up a used set of 55x's off amazon at the same time I ordered my SZ's to sacrifice for their pads. I've never even used the stock SZ pads as I immediately ripped them off out of the box and installed the 55x pads since both pairs arrived the same day. 
 
Even though the 700's slam really hard with the HM5's, I'm constantly wondering how they would feel with a firmer pad. The HM5's sure are comfortable, but they are also very soft. I'm assuming a firmer pad on the 700's would also increase the bass vibration transfer to my face, thus giving me the impression of more impact. I may pick up a set of M50x pads to try out just for that very reason, but I sure do love how they look with that purple. 

 

[SHAMuuu]

Well you can always have both (firmer ones and hm5). and then roll.
 
In the long run comfort with nearly as much bass is the logical choice.
 
Then when you want slam slap on the firmer slightly less comfy ones.
 
I know if i watch a movie which ones i prefer anyway
 
The purple pads match nicely with the cable
 
I also like the alpha pad look with sz2k.
 

 

 

[Music Alchemist]

In the long run comfort with nearly as much bass is the logical choice.

 
Comfort isn't too important for me for these. All I want out of 'em is ultimate skull-pounding bass!
 
I have other comfortable headphones for audiophile/general use. (Though I will make sure to test the SZ2000 in every way I can. I'm sure it would be great for videos.)
 
By the way, I'm getting an HA-MR77X from another member now. Totally forgot it has the same pads as the 55X.

 

[vapman]

Comfort isn't too important for me for these. All I want out of 'em is ultimate skull-pounding bass!

I have other comfortable headphones for audiophile/general use. (Though I will make sure to test the SZ2000 in every way I can. I'm sure it would be great for videos.)

By the way, I'm getting an HA-MR77X from another member now. Totally forgot it has the same pads as the 55X.

Sorry bro i dont have any spare pads left over but it is true that pretty much anything in the Xtreme Xplosiv lineup has the 55/77x pads. Of course only the 55x has that sweet inner red...

 

[Music Alchemist]

Sorry bro i dont have any spare pads left over but it is true that pretty much anything in the Xtreme Xplosiv lineup has the 55/77x pads. Of course only the 55x has that sweet inner red...

 
According to various sources (including @Hawaiibadboy), the 55X and 77X have identical pads. You can look up photos to see that the 77X pads are red on the inside.
 
There are many other models in the Xtreme Xplosives lineup. (Some being much smaller.) As far as I know, only the 55X and 77X are confirmed to have the same pads. I have not seen any direct comparisons to the 60X pads to determine if they match the impact level.

 

[SHAMuuu]

   
According to various sources (including @Hawaiibadboy), the 55X and 77X have identical pads. You can look up photos to see that the 77X pads are red on the inside.
 
There are many other models in the Xtreme Xplosives lineup. (Some being much smaller.) As far as I know, only the 55X and 77X are confirmed to have the same pads. I have not seen any direct comparisons to the 60X pads to determine if they match the impact level.

Whats the main difference then, just 57mm vs 50mm driver in same shell?