sotto123
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2009
- Posts
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Try cheap HD250 Linear 1 600 ohm. They are far from boring. Order 2 sets of pads - sennheiser hd430 pads from thomann - bright pads. And wangs pleather pads from ebay - all rounder pads. With bright pads try Dire Straits On the Night (live). With wang's pleather pads try anything. Share your impressions here afterwards
Ps you may think you know what you want (bass ..) but you might be surprised to find out what lies out of such comfort zone. I am saying it is more interesting sound than that of hd540.
Same years, same excellence, same Sennheiser, but another result.
Cable terminations that fit in the shells must be carefully trimmed on sides with a razor blade or something similar to allow deeper insertion in case it does not plug inside deep enough. Just follow the already thinner part that fits in and make it few milimeters deeper. Do not forget to post selfie from hospital if anything goes wrong!
Stock replacement pads are found by buying another pair of HD540 Reference 1 headphones on ebay, or read what I wrote about replacement fabric pads here yesterday or so.
The only issue with the HD250 is that it's a closed headphone and I generally really dislike closed headphones. I've heard it sounds quite open, though it's never going to give the same experience as an open design.
To be honest, I think I'm being a bit fussy and have already found an upgrade (or sidegrade) in the HP-1000. Some days I prefer the HD540G and others the HP-1000. The Grado is similar to the Gold in the way that it was designed to be as neutral as possible, yet it greatly improves upon the 540's lack of bass. For me both offer a similar sense of realism but it's achieved in different ways. My only issue with it is that it can sound quite closed in.
However, play some acoustic tracks and even the Golds can't compete with its naturalness of sound. It seems to give each instrument the perfect amount of body, which is the other area I feel it improves upon the 540G on the most. When it comes to rock things get a bit more complicated. Due to the more open nature and better transient response I find the Gold's are often the preferred option for faster rock despite the lack of bass.
Both are really just the finest headphones I've ever heard. I don't think there's an equal today in terms of qualities they offer. There tends to be something tonally wrong with every single flagship released today judging from numerous impressions I've read of each one. This is why the MySphere is the only other headphone I have an interest in hearing.
Hi sotto123, I have a feeling you may find the Mogami cable adds just the extra quality you seek, especially if you are currently using your Golds with the stock cable. Balance and extension, a superbly natural expression of music while keeping all that is wonderful about these headphones is the Mogami experience. I have found this also occurs with all my other headphones that now have Mogami cable, without exception ... basically all of them now.
The trimming of the cable jacks is simple, a sharp fine edged craft knife or surgical blade is all that is required, the plastic plugs are quite soft and just a slight trim off the sides to match that of the original plugs is all that is required. Depending on which Mogami cable you have bought, you will find that it's a bit heavier than the original cable, I find that the cable made with the #2893 is lighter than the #2534 which is often used from eBay stores. While I use the #2893 cable, a full 10' length (as per the original cables) is noticeably heavier than stock and I find around 6' or so is a better match, although I do use my 10' cable when I need to. The quality upgrade is worth it!
I ordered the Venus Audio one off eBay. I tried the HD650 stock cable, which actually fits perfectly, but it took away some of the magic that the Gold's stock copper cable seems to provide. I had a feeling you might say that, as it was after having read your and others' opinions that persuaded me to get the Mogami cable.
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