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.
I agree 100%, comfort with close to maximum bass is ideal. Which was why I bought the HM5 pads for the 700's in the first place over the M50x pads.
For me, I don't see myself pad rolling my 700's very often. That's the main reason I have the 55x pads on my SZ2K's instead of the HM5's. I use my SZ's as my MAXIMUM impact can, so I wanted the absolute hardest hitting pads I could find for them, even if comfort was sacrificed. Like other users, I have other cans that are very comfortable that are great for long sessions (TH-X00, DT990). And since I have my SZ's set-up for maximum impact, and since they still reign supreme in the land of bass cans, I'll continue to use those when I want the absolute hardest hitting bass out there. They are the only cans I own that I'm willing to sacrifice comfort in the name of supreme bass.
I may still pick up M50x pads to give them a shot on the 700's. If the impact increases and they are still comfy, I may keep them on. But I'll be hard pressed to ditch the purple HM5's.
After getting more head time with the 700's, I am actually beginning to like them more and more. They really shine with the types of music I listen to the most, rap/hip-hop and EDM/trance. I've been constantly tweaking my EQ settings and seem to be getting them dialed in as time goes on. I find their overall sound to be very similar to my Yamaha Pro 500's. The 700's excel a bit more with true low hz sub bass, but the 500's hit a bit harder on the initial bass hit and higher hz frequencies. 500's have better stage for sure, along with a better tone in the midrange IMO. But I've been able to improve the midrange on the 700's by tweaking my EQ setting as I get more time with them. Both headphones are equally bright up top and sound very similar in the treble region.
The 700's compared to my SZ2K's sound a bit more "shout'y" and "in your face" in the mids and highs if that makes any sense. Hard to put it in words but the SZ's just sound a bit "smoother" to me. And the SZ's clearly have the bigger stage, which for anyone that own the SZ2K tells you how "narrow" sounding the 700's are. But the bass tonality of the two sound almost identical, the SZ's just slam and rumble a bit more all around. I was honestly surprised with the overall impact of the 700's, I wasn't expecting them to be that close to my SZ's.
For a throw on my head and go portable set, these 700's are going to be perfect I think. I helped my fiance pick out a set of over ear's for her Mom for Christmas this year, and had her pick up a set of Vmoda M100's for her. I made sure to grab a set of the XL pads for her to go with them for a stocking stuffer. One of these days I'm going to bring my portable rig over there so I can throw down a proper test of her M100's. Now that I've got my 700's, I'm really curious how they compare since they were the main second option for me. Because of their super low profile and heavy duty build quality, they are one of the few sets out there that I think could possibly be better for my portable use. If and when I test them out, I'll be sure to let you all know my impressions.
