@Somatic I never listened to this song before (Cry Me a River - Julie London), so not familiar with it - but will use it as an example for the A/B testing.
On the Verite BE2 suede pads, sub and mid bass definitely come thru quite a bit less, and yes, the lower mids do come out a bit more - definitely a more "balanced" sound signature - with this song specifically, I would also enjoy the BE2 more. Even throwing the modest EQ adjustments on with this song, I would still rather use BE2 for this song (and possibly this genre - I don't really listen to this genre at all).
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Aljamiado - Renaud Garcia-Fons
BE2 suede pads have about the same effect as above, however, I find the Brainwavz for this song just expand the body/fullness of this piece to something that is beyond enjoyable for me - not that the BE2 pads make it sound "thin", but I am just losing something with them here. If one is looking for more exactness to detail and balanced signature, than they'd want the BE2, but for me personally, Brainwavz on this song almost intoxicate me, lol.. I could get stuck in a trance with this song on repeat with them - now, I know some don't use or like to use EQ, but throwing my modest EQ adjustments on it, takes it to that perfect place.
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They Don't Care About Us - 2Cellos
About the same opinions I have in regards when listening to Aljamiado - Renaud Garcia-Fons... the fullness/body injected into this song, makes it sound super powerful to me on the Brainwavz, and those cellos.. so good!
The BE2 perf suedes here definitely trump the Brainwavz here in the details extracted, but imo, at the loss of what I personally consider that "fun" SQ experience - so, again, if you are looking more of a detailed and balanced reproduction, along with increasing the sub and mid bass a bit compared to the stock perforated leather pads, then go with the BE2.
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Pompeii - Take/Five
BE2 with more detail in the mids + highs here, but lose the magic that this song (and many like in its genre will arguable live off of) lives off of, the mid and sub bass - The Brainwavz extract that magic beautifully, while rattling your inner soul, with a bit of that same sacrifice to details in the mids and highs. The sub and mid bass still come out more on the Verite BE2 suede perfs a lot more than the stock leather pads though, and if you are looking for those slightly elevated levels of mid and sub bass, with more balance and exactness, you'd likely prefer them here - but if you're looking for that pure fun, oh my god my brain is vibrating while still retaining enough of those mids ands highs as well, then Brainwavz.
After A/B testing them in this fashion, there are a couple very obvious things.
1. The SQ/Experience you get from each of these will definitely be genre dependent!
2. In all cases, Verite BE2 suede perforated were more balanced with a more exactness to details in the highs most notably, while adding more of a subtle (compared to BW) elevation in the mid and sub bass compared to the stock leather perf pads - the change in mid/sub bass to the stock leather pads tho, is quite noticeable if you were only A/Bing those two
3. In all cases, Brainwavz micro suede extracted out significantly more sub and mid bass, at the sacrifice of the exactness to details - however, they also reproduced the "fun" sound signature I have always loved - obviously, the word "fun" here is extremely subjective, and what I consider that "fun" SQ, may be very different than what the next person does
Oh, and for anyone curious - Source = Geshelli J2 DAC -> DV with RCA 6AS7G (ST Glass) as output, with Philips E80CC input
Hope that helps!
