[morph2k4]

I absolutely love the sound quality from my SA-5000's, but I'm not crazy about the headband or the earpads.  Leather earpads in general are just not my thing.  The SA-1000 seems to have cloth earpads, and a slightly different headband.  I'm assuming since the design is so similar, I could just put the SA-1000 parts directly on my SA-5000 without any modification needed.  Has anyone ever tried this, or can anyone give me some feedback on the comfort of the SA-1000 pads or headband?

 

[morph2k4]

bump

 

[BotByte]

The pads are leather on both
SA-5000 is better
 
The SA-1000 headband doesn't come off
Add some padding and wrap your earpads with what you with and attach back on.
 
Is it that hard to figure out?

 

[morph2k4]

 
1.  Are you sure the pads are leather on the SA-1000?  I have never heard dispute that they were anything but cloth.
 
2.  Everything "comes off".  It looks like the adjustment mechanism is identical, so I see no reason I couldn't retrofit the SA-5000 cups and adjustment rods onto the 1000 headband.
 
3.  I tried wrapping the headband with some foam.  The solution was ugly and insecure.  I would pay a lot of money for an elegant solution to the problem, given what the cans cost in the first place.
 
4.  How exactly am I supposed to "wrap the earpads"?  Making a donut shaped covering, especially one that can stay on without wrapping around more than half way, is not a simple task for a number of reasons.  It also wouldn't provide me with the breathability of cloth covered pads, since there would just be a layer of unbreathable leather underneath.
 
5.  Yes, it really is that hard to figure out.  You seem to be ignoring the engineering implications of building new parts.  They exist, and have allowed companies like J-money to find a mostly unoccupied niche.

 

[morph2k4]

I'd also be very curious to know if anyone has successfully fitted any other ear pads (hi-fi man or beyer maybe?).  The Asymmetry of the cup depth would make it hard to fit pads that weren't custom made, but its conceivable that an existing product could be stretched to fit.  Something velour would be fantastic.

 

[MDR30]

The MDR-SA1000 have cloth pads. I don't know if they fit the SA5000. The SA1000 headband net slides onto the two metal bands. May work for the SA5000 if the original net is detachable.
 
Pics of the SA1000.
 

 

 

 

[DjAmTraX]

Off topic.  How do you like the SA1000?  What are the short comings?  Do you own the SA5000 as well?

 

[MDR30]

I'll have to get back on that one, I'm just finishing modding the SA1000. The SA5000 I haven't heard, but it uses superior drivers (like the SA3000) and should have better resolution and transparency.