If anyone is wondering.... I have been using the suede ZMF pads regularly for about a year and they have barely shrunk or gotten flatter at all. Big thumbs up
Ok , for those that have old pads for the HD6XX or HD650 and want to extend the life, try grabbing a hairdryer and take off the pads and heat them with hairdryer and gently pull on the pads while heating them and massage them. I did mine for about 30/40 secs at a time and they brought back the sound as if they were new. The idea is to heat the foam and try and make the foam expand. Remember, try it with an old pair, as you will have nothing to lose in trying this, hopefully it will work for you as it did for me!
I'd love to see a "3 months later" update. The fact that any other pad I've heard on the 6xx drastically change the sound, it would be nice if there was an alternative that lasts longer than stock.
I have never used the ZMF Lambskin preforated, but I have been using the Dekoni Lambskin Preforated for years on my 650s. They look pretty much identical to these in every way, and I have only had to replace them once in 2 years with daily use.
@@user-vi3tb3bw5t The thing is, the Dekoni pads change the sound of the 6xx to something I don't like. The crisp mids turn kinda muddy and there's way more bleed into the lows and highs. I love the sound of the stock pads, but they start breaking down after a few months of average use. That's why I was kinda hoping DMS would have made a video with an update on how the ZMF pads were holding up, since they sound like the stock pads.
@@H2SJaeger I used mine for 2 years and didn't notice any kind of breakdown in sound quality, I only replaced them because they started to get grimy. This is the fenestrated sheepskin. They definitely last longer than stock. I know eq is blasphemous for some people, but a little eq goes a long way when done properly. I have a custom eq that I use for my pads.
I think it was you yourself (dms) that said to better stick with stock pads on the hd600 line , because every other will change the sound, which is why you got it :). Mine is 2 year old and didn't notice a change to be honest , but maybe it goes slowly so i don't notice it. I use other headphones, and my 6xx still gives me the Sennheiser vibe when putting them one. And clamping force... After 2 years:). I will try these i think if they are available easily in the EU. Just to see if i noticed a change and like it.
@@user-vi3tb3bw5t You can use an equalizer to compensate. I definitley prefer the better bass extension on elite velour pads, however, senny velour material is a lot more comfortable and supple. The leather on the other hand.... good if you want a lot more bass.... but damn they get fatiguing. if you squish the elite velour pads down a bit, you can get the og sound signiture back to almost stock.
I got the suede for my set and it sounds INCREDIBLY close to stock. Although I kind of just stopped using it after an hour due to the material feel. The suede seems kind of rough, not near as soft as I was hoping for. And the foam used has a sort of squeaking noise to it...something I've never experienced with any other pad. That being said, these pads are the only real alternative to stock and Zach made them sound great.
I second this, they make the headphones sound super close to stock sound, but the awkward squeaky noise bothers me more than it should. It's most noticeable when adjusting or moving the headphone around.
been using these for a few weeks, love em. The outer diameter is smaller than the normal pads but the inside is actually wider because the walls are thinner. I have sensitive skin + ADHD so the older pads used to drive me crazy because my ears would touch the foam inside and the pad material also felt scratchy after a while, with these I can actually wear the headphone for hours now. Sound wise the only change I really notice is better imaging, now it actually images like a decent headphone. Also maybe a bit tamer past 10 ~15k maybe, but not sure.
Awesome to hear that the Suede Pads seem to be a worth upgrade over the stock pads. Also quiet interested to see if DMS is going to consider these pads while continuing to make the attempt to make his 6XX closed DIY project (if that project still exists of course). Great video as always.
Listening to the review on my old HD580s which I had JUST padswapped into the Dekoni hybrids you recommended a couple weeks ago... and now wondering if I gotta try these suedes! Always appreciate the recs; thank you for "widening my soundstage" in this hobby!
The perforated lambskin and suede are very similar, the lambskin seems to have a bit more edge to them, the suedes are softer in terms of sound. The lambskins are more comfortable in my usage so that's what I go with but both are improvement over the stock pads imo. Zach really nailed this one. I'm hoping he also does pads for Focals.
I could have helped Zach design the ideal closed-back Focal pads. Unfortunately, he & Bevin decided to spit in my face. After purchasing $800 in pads from the ZMF store across multiple orders, Zach attempted to excuse his 'support guy' for advising me with false information. I purchased pads that did not fit my stated sonic desires, but no compensation was offered. I was then sent a B-Stock Verite pair, although I ordered A-stock at full price. The replacement pair had stiff foam and completely different sonics. Even with photographic evidence showing the difference in foam density (weight support), ZMF declined to address the differences - sending wordy emails with false information instead - and eventually stopped to respond to my emails on this unfinished business. Shockingly unprofessional customer support from ZMF... very against their reputation.
Just got the ZMF suede pads today for my 58X. These are SO comfortable, also increases bass tightness and dynamics by a noticeable amount, without changing the stock sound that much. So far I'm hearing better technical performance with these. Time will tell how they hold up, I'm really excited these might be better than stock in the long run for me!
Really impressive, I tried dekonis lineup on the 58x, 650, & 660s and it was mostly a mess. The one thing I found somewhat in common with these is that the elite velour pads were the closest but definitely not as close to stock as zmf managed. The dekoni elite velour was the only ok pad and it really only worked with the 660s but I still ended up preferring the stock pads.
I also tried Dekoni pads , and DROP pads, AND YAXI pads on my HD 600,6xx,660s. All of them was not for me . I am back to stock pads also. The problem is that hard to bealive ZMF change that .
@@Tripokaridos22 I also thought about trying the yaxi pads, they have some excellent pads for other headphones but I knew they were different enough in design that they were going to change the FR. For me the hd6X0 line is so good for their tone that I really didn’t want to change that, I only tried dekonis line because I was trying to enhance the soundstage/imaging but I gave up and just appreciate my hd650 for what it is now. The 650 is the only headphone I have left from the 6 series now and I honestly only ever use them once in a while for reference and comparing to new headphones. If I used them more I’d definitely try zmf pads but I use them so little that the new sennheiser pads I put on almost two years ago are still just like new.
@@lumntoob999 The Yaxi pads for my HD 6XX and HD25DJ was really bad experience , they look amazing the build was great really great but omg there was a LOT a LOT of mid bass on both of them . I still think that Original pads is the way to go , i give up on everything else. ZMF cost to Europe 100 euros so i dont think they worth it because on this price i get 3 x original pads :) . If u want bigger Soundstage u can Try 660s the imaging is the best for sure and Soundstage is a bit bigger. Also price in Europe its close to the 650 and 600. For example in my Country its 310 for HD600 , 350 for HD 650 and 380 for HD 660s . But i know that in US there are different prices and also there is the HD 6XX line that cost 240 ( i have them to but cost me 300 with Vats) Didnt worth it .
@@Tripokaridos22 yeah I’m in the US and I have already owned the 660s but sold them along with the 58x and 600, I only kept the 650 and then I got a hd800s. I also recently got the hifiman edition xs and those are really amazing for the price, I paid $499 usd.
@@lumntoob999 Can i ask ? Some people that have HD 660s said that they feel darker than HD6XX. I use them side by side and to me its clearly that HD6XX is darker than HD660s, do u remember how yours sound ? Hifiman Edition XS for 499 ??? WOW My Sundara cost 410 euros New ... Edition Xs are one of the best HEadphones i have seen and a dream to buy... But they cost a lot . What do u think about those?
At $69.99 I for one would love an update as to how long they last and hold their sound characteristics. If they only hold it for a few months I don't think I'll be swapping to them anytime soon. My stock pads are still holding up okay but I only use my 6xx when I want to listen via tubes as the majority of time I use my different Planars as I just prefer that sound. Thanks for bringing this new product to my attention DMS as you generally only bring us winners and if somethings bad you make it very clear just how bad it is and who might find it enjoyable...
I tried the Suede ones and I feel it changes the sound too much from what I love about the 6xx, especially vocals. Just stretching the headband over a medium sized book helped the comfort problems with the clamping force and stock pads putting pressure on my ears. I think that might help the stock pads to last longer, too.
I purchased the ZMF's in the suede and really like these. You are right on about the expanded soundstage and I feel the bass is a little tighter. Very comfortable pads and my ears don't experience any fatigue.
I feel like the suede pads really added a lot of shouty-ness to my 660s. Things like voices and electric guitars became really forward. Dynamics are improved a lot, and upper mids and treble are much more forward, but not really in a super pleasing way tbh.
So, I was intoxicated and bought these. Ends up the link in the description I didn't pay attention to, and it's for the HD8xx.. Sucks there's no returns on these things.
I tried the Dekoni lambskin pads for the HD6XX and found it to be a bloated mess, so stayed with the stock pads. That is, until this video, wow, ZMF Suede Pads...Sick! Just placed the order. Thanks for the heads-up. Appreciate all the vids you put up.
I just received the Lambskin Perfs and I am impressed (660S owner here). They do exactly what DMS said they would. Great stage, better, tighter bass and an even more organic sound. And they are very comfortable. A nice upgrade. BTW, nice video, DMS. Love your work.
7:34 Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but if the dip around 2k is the cause of the perception of wider soundstage, wouldn't EQing that area down on the stock pads achieve the same effect?
@@allansh828 In DMS's example, he's refers only to FR and says nothing about delays or coherency. So yes, if DMS was claiming this is the source of the improved soundstage, then EQ "should" achieve the same thing
@@Lord_Mad_Dog all analog EQ's cause distortion. The only thing that doesn't (linear phase equalizers) exists exclusively through DSP. Unless you just mean finding an acoustical solution. In that case, for FR I'd personally take a decent parametric EQ any day over headphone mods. It's just that they are hard to come by on portable devices, despite the insane cost of modern DAP's
Never been a believer in pad rolling. I've yet to do a pad roll that improves over stock (tried all the Dekoni offerings for the DT1990 and returned them all and kept to stock). The only time it was worth it was putting Yaxi pads on the KPH30i for me, which improved the comfort tenfold and basically kept the same sound. The 6XX is a perfectly fine and comfortable headphone you use with tubes. I would hate to mess with it. Has anyone really noticed a significant improvement with the Suede ZMF pads? I use the Bottlehead Crack with them if that’s important.
Tried them and put the stock pads right back on. Velour is more cool and comfortable compared to the hotter suede and well the sound is wider but different. So don’t buy different pads expecting better. Just expect a different sound. I don’t care to change the 6xx personally.
Or use pad adapters from Mod House and angled Brainwavz oval pads, for even more comfort and distance from the ears... greater staging/imaging. They work well for me (using hybrid pads), plus I added the copper ring from Custom Cans to the driver for extra bass (along w/ enabling bass boost & impedance matching through the balanced output of an iFi hip-dac2... an enjoyable portable pairing, to my ears).
I've been wearing my Sennheiser HD600 for several years now, with the same earpads - which I do clean frequently, but I'd been wondering why they've become so uncomfortable just recently. Now I think I know why! I ordered the ZMF perforated suede pads. Tube amp. I'm excited to try them out!
only original pads keep that legendary midrange in with every 600 series, best and most important upgrade for those is and always will be tube amp, depending on tubes mine for example give them more energy and clarity, punch is way better and clarity of highs is more present, timbre sweet like fresh honey :)
@@soulfulfool I'm quite happy with the ZMF pads, both in sound and comfort. They are also much thicker than my old pads, which were getting worn out and flat enough to cause increased discomfort. I like your description though
@@Consola260 yea but I recently notice how bad trebles are xD even if you can enhance quality by tubes it is still fun headphone not much resolution up high or down low only center is a pleasure
@@Consola260 So do you prefer the suede from the original pads? I am going to buy new pads and I am in dilemma. I do not want to lost the sound of HD600 or have issues with the comfort. I hear that with the Suede there is strange sound when wearing the headphones.
@@Nordi1_0745 I am no audiophile, just someone who enjoys good music, but I noticed an improvement in soundstage in Tidal when I first swapped to the ZMF pads. I experienced some discomfort at first, but the pads have softened up considerably over time and I now seldom experience any discomfort at all, even over extended periods. The pads sit around my ears gently and so far have retained their size and shape. So overall, yeah I think I prefer these over the original pads, but of course it's all very personal and subjective!
Would love to see a similar video with ZMFs beyer+ pads and something like the 177x GO. I got them on Zeos recommendation and did the pad swap he suggested but it always seems like theres something that needs fixing. Its a great well built headphone, but I want to know just how good it can be without breaking the bank testing all the niche pad options. I've also not seen DMS do a 177x go review so itd be nice to see how he thinks they measure up to the closed back competition.
They fair great. This is the best thing you can do to your 6X0 before mass-modding (kiss mod etc.) them. And if you do both you got yourself a 1k+ contender with adequate amping.
Got them for my 660s, so far i really enjoy them :). When I unpacked them I thought they were too small (when mounted there is like a 3-4 mm gap all around)
Hey DMS, could you try pad rolling your Stealthy Arya and making a video on results? Dekoni has somewhat newish ones available for the egg shaped hifimans
I bought the ZMF suede perforated pads and the clamp force made them unusable to me even after a mo th of heavy use. Unfortunately they are now sitting in a drawer and I wasted me money 😢
So, they do a 'pretty good job' of retaining the signature sound, which is to say they DO alter the sound. If they're so close to the genuine ear pads, why not just use OEM pads? They're readily available and cheap.
Just installed the ZMF Suede for my 650's... VERY close to stock, and you are dead on about the slightly wider sound stage. However, I must have wonky ears - I purchased them to see if I could eliminate ear pressure/touch from stock on my right ear (left is fine)... and well, they fell the same to me, just like stock, not really getting more room, and I'm kind of bummed. I guess I will have to give Dekoni’s a try. I really like the stock sound and I don't want it to change much, if at all.
I am curious to try the suede ones on my 58x, considering I’m coming up on 2 years on them, but I’ve been afraid to change them due to all the horror stories ruining the sound. The only thing keeping me from a 6XX is how easy the 58x are to drive, and I don’t think I’ll ever be in a position to own 660s.😂. Great video as always!
I saved myself $60 and went with the Brainwavz perforated sheepskin pads for my 58x... A welcomed bass increase (I can actually feel the 'thump' of kickdrums now at my inner core instead of the unfulfilling heavy 'tapping' sound the stock velours gave off) an increase in soundstage (also welcomed) and yet still retaining composure of those wonderful mids and higher frequencies... I just don't see the point in spending more than double the price for these ZMF pads for livelier sound... ? ?
Hello, I have recently acquired the Sennheiser 58x and I think the pad is to hard. I would love more bass and a wider soundstage. Is there info for me on exactly where you bought yours and are you still happy with them? Thanks in advance.
I don't understand why people hate using EQ. It's like settling for the default colour setting on a new TV even if everything looks oversaturated and unnatural.
its annoying to use eq on a phone cause it needs way more power (if youre using subtractive eq, the correct way) but other than that people who dont like eq are just annoying purists
@@-aexc- there is no correct way to do EQ. There are many different ways but who's to say which one is correct. Though I would probably argue that whatever sounds best is the way to go. It will only use more power if provided with more bass than before. When I EQed my 4XX I reduced some of the midbass which means it was less power hungry. It's also tremendously fine tuning your EQ so that it sounds amazing. How depressing it must be to buy some expensive cans and not be satisfied and think there's nothing you can do apart from experimenting with pad rolling which is a very clumsy way of adjusting EQ.
DMS states it's annoying to him as he has a lot of headphones and reviews some more. But yeah, I'm with you 100%. There's a consumerist purism agains't using EQ that baffles me. People will literally have a whole wall of headphones for "different personalities" instead of EQing a good pair for their ears. For instance, there is little reason to own both the 600 and the 650/6XX when EQ is considered.
I was wondering on these, I've been rocking the drop sheepskin perforated 6xx pads for a year now but I love my ZMFs on my 4xx and was considering grabbing the zmf solids
Finally got mine in. I bought both the lambskin perf and the suede perf. My wife's 6xx pads aren't broken in nearly as much as mine, so I used those for comparison. I still really like newish stock 6xx pads but I think I'd be very happy with any of the three. There's a slight edge to bass quantity on the stock pads, and a slight edge to soundstage on the ZMF pads, which (as new) are slightly thicker than the stock pads. I think as they break in a little bit, this difference may become less noticeable. It's extremely slight though... I find the suede to be a little more laid back than the lambskin which seems to have a tiny bit more treble. Again, it's very subtle. I probably need quite a bit of listening time to pick out any differences elsewhere, I can't really hear anything noticeable in the midrange or bass. I'm definitely happy with the headphone pads. I'll probably use the suede daily on my 6xx in the office. I'm hopeful that they're going to hold up extremely well over the years.
Very exciting - I'm more of a fan of suede and suedelike textures and perforated pads than solid velour or pleather, so this is a huge arrival. Curious if anyone has tried these as well as the YAXI pads for the 600 series, been thinking of copping a pair of those for a while since I'm enjoying their Fostex TH-series pads a lot already.
I have not tried or heard about the Yaxi HD600, 650, etc. pads, but like DMS said, pretty much every pad swap on this line really messes up the sound so I doubt that Yaxi would just get lucky and it wouldn't mess it up. Best bet seems to be these new ZMF pads
Was hoping for a pad that would effectively increase bass extension in subbass region and leave everything else as is but thats not the case unfortunately. The bass extension is the only weakness of the HD650 the rest of it is perfectly neutral already even the upper mids. Any change is barely audible for an improvement.
On ZMF's site, the image for the Suede pads look like they have yellow gunk in each perforation, making it look like a used pore strip. Does it look that way in real life?
Oh very nice. I hate how quick my 6XX pads wear out (they're used at work ~8-9 hours a day...). I can sorta understand why some folks balk at ZMF headphone pad prices... but when you go through stock $40+ Senneiser pads at a pretty good clip... these could be a pretty good deal if they're quite durable. Definitely sign me up for 2 pairs :)
I absolutely love these headphones but the audio leakage surprised me, I don't feel comfortable wearing them when someone is in my room because I know they can hear basically everything im hearing lol. other than that these headphones are amazing and I would recommend them to anybody whose budget is at 200 dollars because they sound crisp and they look wonderful.
thats nothing, I dont even consider them as full open, there are headphones that are really open and screams around like a little speaker (mostly big planars)
For the love of god, people, manually stretch (as in by hand, not with books) the metal arms out on your 600 series headphones to relieve the clamp. It'll improve the comfort and your pads will last WAY longer when they're not being squished into the sides of your head. These ZMF pads are twice the price of the official ones in my region so I'm not really sold on the idea that they're a better buy.
When I had the 6XX the Dekoni fenestrated leather made them listenable. Expended the stage a little and added a little bass. The ZMF is probably more or less the same.
im not sure how yall are wearing through these pads so fast, I have the hd579 and the pad lasted 6 years, i replaced because they got dirty. i used my headphones almost every day for hours
was looking at them when they were announced... but can get B stock dekoni or new drop pads for $30 less... almost got 2 pairs of pads for the same price as the zmfs lol
I am tempted by these for my hd600. I love the sound but they get uncomfortable for me only a couple of weeks wear into the sennheiser pads. The 'it's touching my ears' thing really blows it for me. These could solve that?
My only Sennheiser are the 58X, the Jubilee ones.. Should I consider any of these? Considering the buying ZMF material from Europe is a bloody nuisance ..
You're looking in the right place. They're listed on the ZMF website as "ZMF HD6xx+ Sub Pads." The three pad choices are in the drop-down box before you add them to the cart.
Am I crazy or are the suedes not available now? I selected them but it just said ‘coming soon!’ And then changes it to the lamb skin? Anyone else see that?
I'm not sure that these are worth it for me. The ZMF pads cost 3 times the amount of a Sennheiser pad to be delivered to where I live. I'm not sure they would last three years as opposed to buying a pair of stock pads annually for the next three years.
They'll last until the material flakes off the outside, don't let 'em fool ya. I promise you, the weakest link in your audiochain is not going to be the material or age of your headphone pad.
My 6xx earpads are basically deformed at this point lol, have been using them for close to 5 years, washed once in between. Right now using it 95 percent of the time work ms team call for work so I wonder if I should replace it or not.
@@-aexc- haha yeah, my only issue is, for music and gaming, I usually use either my Beyer dt 177x go or my focal clear, or my KEF ls50meta when I don't want to use headphones, the 6xx is being reserved for ms team call most of the time. So yeah just wondering if it's still worth it hehe.
If anyone is wondering.... I have been using the suede ZMF pads regularly for about a year and they have barely shrunk or gotten flatter at all. Big thumbs up
i was wondering, thank you bro I will order one now.
@@UnicornStrength99 glad I could help
TY king 👑
Super helpful information.
Ok , for those that have old pads for the HD6XX or HD650 and want to extend the life, try grabbing a hairdryer and take off the pads and heat them with hairdryer and gently pull on the pads while heating them and massage them. I did mine for about 30/40 secs at a time and they brought back the sound as if they were new. The idea is to heat the foam and try and make the foam expand.
Remember, try it with an old pair, as you will have nothing to lose in trying this, hopefully it will work for you as it did for me!
Damn! Will try. Maybe I'll wash them first and put them in a hot air dryer!
can I do this with a heatgun (from a soldering station)?
would a temperature setting of 100C be ok?
@@Allen-R No , I wouldn’t advise doing that … hair dryer works well . Or a hot air dryer would probably do the trick.
I'd love to see a "3 months later" update. The fact that any other pad I've heard on the 6xx drastically change the sound, it would be nice if there was an alternative that lasts longer than stock.
I have never used the ZMF Lambskin preforated, but I have been using the Dekoni Lambskin Preforated for years on my 650s. They look pretty much identical to these in every way, and I have only had to replace them once in 2 years with daily use.
@@user-vi3tb3bw5t The thing is, the Dekoni pads change the sound of the 6xx to something I don't like. The crisp mids turn kinda muddy and there's way more bleed into the lows and highs. I love the sound of the stock pads, but they start breaking down after a few months of average use. That's why I was kinda hoping DMS would have made a video with an update on how the ZMF pads were holding up, since they sound like the stock pads.
@@H2SJaeger I used mine for 2 years and didn't notice any kind of breakdown in sound quality, I only replaced them because they started to get grimy. This is the fenestrated sheepskin. They definitely last longer than stock. I know eq is blasphemous for some people, but a little eq goes a long way when done properly. I have a custom eq that I use for my pads.
I think it was you yourself (dms) that said to better stick with stock pads on the hd600 line , because every other will change the sound, which is why you got it :).
Mine is 2 year old and didn't notice a change to be honest , but maybe it goes slowly so i don't notice it. I use other headphones, and my 6xx still gives me the Sennheiser vibe when putting them one. And clamping force... After 2 years:).
I will try these i think if they are available easily in the EU. Just to see if i noticed a change and like it.
@@user-vi3tb3bw5t You can use an equalizer to compensate. I definitley prefer the better bass extension on elite velour pads, however, senny velour material is a lot more comfortable and supple. The leather on the other hand.... good if you want a lot more bass.... but damn they get fatiguing.
if you squish the elite velour pads down a bit, you can get the og sound signiture back to almost stock.
I got the suede for my set and it sounds INCREDIBLY close to stock. Although I kind of just stopped using it after an hour due to the material feel. The suede seems kind of rough, not near as soft as I was hoping for. And the foam used has a sort of squeaking noise to it...something I've never experienced with any other pad. That being said, these pads are the only real alternative to stock and Zach made them sound great.
I second this, they make the headphones sound super close to stock sound, but the awkward squeaky noise bothers me more than it should. It's most noticeable when adjusting or moving the headphone around.
been using these for a few weeks, love em. The outer diameter is smaller than the normal pads but the inside is actually wider because the walls are thinner. I have sensitive skin + ADHD so the older pads used to drive me crazy because my ears would touch the foam inside and the pad material also felt scratchy after a while, with these I can actually wear the headphone for hours now. Sound wise the only change I really notice is better imaging, now it actually images like a decent headphone. Also maybe a bit tamer past 10 ~15k maybe, but not sure.
Can relate, lmao
How have they held up? Which version did you go for?
Awesome to hear that the Suede Pads seem to be a worth upgrade over the stock pads. Also quiet interested to see if DMS is going to consider these pads while continuing to make the attempt to make his 6XX closed DIY project (if that project still exists of course). Great video as always.
Listening to the review on my old HD580s which I had JUST padswapped into the Dekoni hybrids you recommended a couple weeks ago... and now wondering if I gotta try these suedes! Always appreciate the recs; thank you for "widening my soundstage" in this hobby!
The perforated lambskin and suede are very similar, the lambskin seems to have a bit more edge to them, the suedes are softer in terms of sound. The lambskins are more comfortable in my usage so that's what I go with but both are improvement over the stock pads imo. Zach really nailed this one. I'm hoping he also does pads for Focals.
I could have helped Zach design the ideal closed-back Focal pads. Unfortunately, he & Bevin decided to spit in my face. After purchasing $800 in pads from the ZMF store across multiple orders, Zach attempted to excuse his 'support guy' for advising me with false information. I purchased pads that did not fit my stated sonic desires, but no compensation was offered. I was then sent a B-Stock Verite pair, although I ordered A-stock at full price. The replacement pair had stiff foam and completely different sonics. Even with photographic evidence showing the difference in foam density (weight support), ZMF declined to address the differences - sending wordy emails with false information instead - and eventually stopped to respond to my emails on this unfinished business. Shockingly unprofessional customer support from ZMF... very against their reputation.
Just got the ZMF suede pads today for my 58X. These are SO comfortable, also increases bass tightness and dynamics by a noticeable amount, without changing the stock sound that much. So far I'm hearing better technical performance with these. Time will tell how they hold up, I'm really excited these might be better than stock in the long run for me!
so how do they hold up now?
How did they hold up?
@@jw112mail Hold up did they how?
how they hold up now?
5th person asking how they're holding up now
Really impressive, I tried dekonis lineup on the 58x, 650, & 660s and it was mostly a mess. The one thing I found somewhat in common with these is that the elite velour pads were the closest but definitely not as close to stock as zmf managed. The dekoni elite velour was the only ok pad and it really only worked with the 660s but I still ended up preferring the stock pads.
I also tried Dekoni pads , and DROP pads, AND YAXI pads on my HD 600,6xx,660s. All of them was not for me . I am back to stock pads also. The problem is that hard to bealive ZMF change that .
@@Tripokaridos22 I also thought about trying the yaxi pads, they have some excellent pads for other headphones but I knew they were different enough in design that they were going to change the FR. For me the hd6X0 line is so good for their tone that I really didn’t want to change that, I only tried dekonis line because I was trying to enhance the soundstage/imaging but I gave up and just appreciate my hd650 for what it is now. The 650 is the only headphone I have left from the 6 series now and I honestly only ever use them once in a while for reference and comparing to new headphones. If I used them more I’d definitely try zmf pads but I use them so little that the new sennheiser pads I put on almost two years ago are still just like new.
@@lumntoob999 The Yaxi pads for my HD 6XX and HD25DJ was really bad experience , they look amazing the build was great really great but omg there was a LOT a LOT of mid bass on both of them . I still think that Original pads is the way to go , i give up on everything else. ZMF cost to Europe 100 euros so i dont think they worth it because on this price i get 3 x original pads :) . If u want bigger Soundstage u can Try 660s the imaging is the best for sure and Soundstage is a bit bigger. Also price in Europe its close to the 650 and 600. For example in my Country its 310 for HD600 , 350 for HD 650 and 380 for HD 660s . But i know that in US there are different prices and also there is the HD 6XX line that cost 240 ( i have them to but cost me 300 with Vats) Didnt worth it .
@@Tripokaridos22 yeah I’m in the US and I have already owned the 660s but sold them along with the 58x and 600, I only kept the 650 and then I got a hd800s. I also recently got the hifiman edition xs and those are really amazing for the price, I paid $499 usd.
@@lumntoob999 Can i ask ? Some people that have HD 660s said that they feel darker than HD6XX. I use them side by side and to me its clearly that HD6XX is darker than HD660s, do u remember how yours sound ? Hifiman Edition XS for 499 ??? WOW My Sundara cost 410 euros New ... Edition Xs are one of the best HEadphones i have seen and a dream to buy... But they cost a lot . What do u think about those?
At $69.99 I for one would love an update as to how long they last and hold their sound characteristics. If they only hold it for a few months I don't think I'll be swapping to them anytime soon. My stock pads are still holding up okay but I only use my 6xx when I want to listen via tubes as the majority of time I use my different Planars as I just prefer that sound. Thanks for bringing this new product to my attention DMS as you generally only bring us winners and if somethings bad you make it very clear just how bad it is and who might find it enjoyable...
Theyre 70 ?? lmao
That's basically 1/3 of the price of the headphones, I would also want to get an update on them before switching them out.
@@timekeep3r Yeah. Bend over. lol.
I tried the Suede ones and I feel it changes the sound too much from what I love about the 6xx, especially vocals. Just stretching the headband over a medium sized book helped the comfort problems with the clamping force and stock pads putting pressure on my ears. I think that might help the stock pads to last longer, too.
I have the Perf Lambskin pads for my DT1990s. I might have to check out the suede pads for my 660S
How about a comparison between the ZMF 6xx pads and the Dekoni 6xx pads? :)
Zachs pads are much better. Tried almost everything there is.
@@mariodrv how about yaxi pads?
@@wyx5854 These are the best by a long shot. They transform the headphone.
@@mariodrv all ZMF pads are leather right?
@@wyx5854
Have you watched the review?
Do you know how to use google?
I purchased the ZMF's in the suede and really like these. You are right on about the expanded soundstage and I feel the bass is a little tighter. Very comfortable pads and my ears don't experience any fatigue.
I feel like the suede pads really added a lot of shouty-ness to my 660s. Things like voices and electric guitars became really forward. Dynamics are improved a lot, and upper mids and treble are much more forward, but not really in a super pleasing way tbh.
So, I was intoxicated and bought these. Ends up the link in the description I didn't pay attention to, and it's for the HD8xx.. Sucks there's no returns on these things.
I tried the Dekoni lambskin pads for the HD6XX and found it to be a bloated mess, so stayed with the stock pads. That is, until this video, wow, ZMF Suede Pads...Sick! Just placed the order. Thanks for the heads-up. Appreciate all the vids you put up.
I just received the Lambskin Perfs and I am impressed (660S owner here). They do exactly what DMS said they would. Great stage, better, tighter bass and an even more organic sound. And they are very comfortable. A nice upgrade. BTW, nice video, DMS. Love your work.
3:32 what are you talking about? you are not tweaking the driver itself, you are modifying the situation AFTER the driver has done its job.
7:34 Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but if the dip around 2k is the cause of the perception of wider soundstage, wouldn't EQing that area down on the stock pads achieve the same effect?
because the pad slightly changes the angle of soundwave hitting into your ear. It's a different mechanism.
@@allansh828 In DMS's example, he's refers only to FR and says nothing about delays or coherency. So yes, if DMS was claiming this is the source of the improved soundstage, then EQ "should" achieve the same thing
That's technically true. You should always try to find an analog solution to audio stuff though because eq can cause distortion
@@Lord_Mad_Dog all analog EQ's cause distortion. The only thing that doesn't (linear phase equalizers) exists exclusively through DSP. Unless you just mean finding an acoustical solution. In that case, for FR I'd personally take a decent parametric EQ any day over headphone mods. It's just that they are hard to come by on portable devices, despite the insane cost of modern DAP's
Never been a believer in pad rolling. I've yet to do a pad roll that improves over stock (tried all the Dekoni offerings for the DT1990 and returned them all and kept to stock). The only time it was worth it was putting Yaxi pads on the KPH30i for me, which improved the comfort tenfold and basically kept the same sound. The 6XX is a perfectly fine and comfortable headphone you use with tubes. I would hate to mess with it. Has anyone really noticed a significant improvement with the Suede ZMF pads? I use the Bottlehead Crack with them if that’s important.
Tried them and put the stock pads right back on. Velour is more cool and comfortable compared to the hotter suede and well the sound is wider but different. So don’t buy different pads expecting better. Just expect a different sound. I don’t care to change the 6xx personally.
6xx and Bottlehead Crack is a match made in heaven
Got the suede pads. Bang on description. They sound like 6xx's when the stock pads were brand new.
Or use pad adapters from Mod House and angled Brainwavz oval pads, for even more comfort and distance from the ears... greater staging/imaging. They work well for me (using hybrid pads), plus I added the copper ring from Custom Cans to the driver for extra bass (along w/ enabling bass boost & impedance matching through the balanced output of an iFi hip-dac2... an enjoyable portable pairing, to my ears).
Can you give more info please? Or do you have a link please?
@@Thoughtflux Google is your friend. I searched "sennheiser Mod House" and it came right up. Then search "angled Brainwavz oval pads"
I've been wearing my Sennheiser HD600 for several years now, with the same earpads - which I do clean frequently, but I'd been wondering why they've become so uncomfortable just recently. Now I think I know why!
I ordered the ZMF perforated suede pads. Tube amp. I'm excited to try them out!
only original pads keep that legendary midrange in with every 600 series, best and most important upgrade for those is and always will be tube amp, depending on tubes mine for example give them more energy and clarity, punch is way better and clarity of highs is more present, timbre sweet like fresh honey :)
@@soulfulfool I'm quite happy with the ZMF pads, both in sound and comfort. They are also much thicker than my old pads, which were getting worn out and flat enough to cause increased discomfort.
I like your description though
@@Consola260 yea but I recently notice how bad trebles are xD even if you can enhance quality by tubes it is still fun headphone not much resolution up high or down low only center is a pleasure
@@Consola260 So do you prefer the suede from the original pads? I am going to buy new pads and I am in dilemma. I do not want to lost the sound of HD600 or have issues with the comfort. I hear that with the Suede there is strange sound when wearing the headphones.
@@Nordi1_0745 I am no audiophile, just someone who enjoys good music, but I noticed an improvement in soundstage in Tidal when I first swapped to the ZMF pads.
I experienced some discomfort at first, but the pads have softened up considerably over time and I now seldom experience any discomfort at all, even over extended periods.
The pads sit around my ears gently and so far have retained their size and shape.
So overall, yeah I think I prefer these over the original pads, but of course it's all very personal and subjective!
I literally just copped a pair. Perfect timing lol.
Would like an update video… especially the perforated
thank god it's just the pads, cause i finally bought the 6xx like 3 days ago
Would love to see a similar video with ZMFs beyer+ pads and something like the 177x GO. I got them on Zeos recommendation and did the pad swap he suggested but it always seems like theres something that needs fixing. Its a great well built headphone, but I want to know just how good it can be without breaking the bank testing all the niche pad options. I've also not seen DMS do a 177x go review so itd be nice to see how he thinks they measure up to the closed back competition.
Could you measure the acoustic reflectivity index of the pad materials to ascertain how standing waves fare within the pad's cavity?
Lol
They fair great. This is the best thing you can do to your 6X0 before mass-modding (kiss mod etc.) them.
And if you do both you got yourself a 1k+ contender with adequate amping.
@@mariodrv All you guys know is that magic audiophile unicorns are expensive. Do you know how sound works?
Got them for my 660s, so far i really enjoy them :).
When I unpacked them I thought they were too small (when mounted there is like a 3-4 mm gap all around)
Which of them do you use on your 660s?
@@danielzweipunktnull2670 I got the Suedes.
They looked small but still are super comfy
What do you think about the Sound compared to Stock Pads?
I have no magic ears but I think I agree with DMS remarks. Sound close to stock but are very comfy
Thanks for your answers Buddy.
I'll Take a closer Look.
Nice one d-man.. always enjoy hearing your viewpoint sir. Peace xx
Update for the clamp would be nice, the 6XX already pretty clampy.
Hey DMS, could you try pad rolling your Stealthy Arya and making a video on results? Dekoni has somewhat newish ones available for the egg shaped hifimans
Was using my original 6XX pads for 6 years 😬😬 this was a much needed upgrade! Thanks for the recommendation.
might as well call them IEMs LOL
I just got these after 8 years with the original velour pads. They were literally falling apart
dms, still waiting for that update on the worn in pads!
I bought the ZMF suede perforated pads and the clamp force made them unusable to me even after a mo th of heavy use. Unfortunately they are now sitting in a drawer and I wasted me money 😢
So, they do a 'pretty good job' of retaining the signature sound, which is to say they DO alter the sound. If they're so close to the genuine ear pads, why not just use OEM pads? They're readily available and cheap.
Wait... If these pads are new, how do you know they last longer than the stock ones?
Hype salesman, not a real reviewer is my guess.
This is the only place I've seen that has said that anything but the OG pads are better lol
Just installed the ZMF Suede for my 650's... VERY close to stock, and you are dead on about the slightly wider sound stage. However, I must have wonky ears - I purchased them to see if I could eliminate ear pressure/touch from stock on my right ear (left is fine)... and well, they fell the same to me, just like stock, not really getting more room, and I'm kind of bummed. I guess I will have to give Dekoni’s a try. I really like the stock sound and I don't want it to change much, if at all.
I am curious to try the suede ones on my 58x, considering I’m coming up on 2 years on them, but I’ve been afraid to change them due to all the horror stories ruining the sound. The only thing keeping me from a 6XX is how easy the 58x are to drive, and I don’t think I’ll ever be in a position to own 660s.😂. Great video as always!
I would love to know what you think of the suede pad on the 58x, if you decide on getting them!
I saved myself $60 and went with the Brainwavz perforated sheepskin pads for my 58x... A welcomed bass increase (I can actually feel the 'thump' of kickdrums now at my inner core instead of the unfulfilling heavy 'tapping' sound the stock velours gave off) an increase in soundstage (also welcomed) and yet still retaining composure of those wonderful mids and higher frequencies... I just don't see the point in spending more than double the price for these ZMF pads for livelier sound... ? ?
Hello, I have recently acquired the Sennheiser 58x and I think the pad is to hard. I would love more bass and a wider soundstage. Is there info for me on exactly where you bought yours and are you still happy with them? Thanks in advance.
@@BrianVallotton He said "Brainwavz perforated sheepskin" Google is your friend
Would you revisit the HD660S sometime? This headphone seems to be misunderstood by many people compared to the 6XX and 600 for a while now.
Just started noticing some discomfort with my HD6XX and thought it was the pads
They are like 4 years old 💀
Gonna pick these up!
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
I don't understand why people hate using EQ. It's like settling for the default colour setting on a new TV even if everything looks oversaturated and unnatural.
its annoying to use eq on a phone cause it needs way more power (if youre using subtractive eq, the correct way) but other than that people who dont like eq are just annoying purists
@@-aexc- there is no correct way to do EQ. There are many different ways but who's to say which one is correct. Though I would probably argue that whatever sounds best is the way to go. It will only use more power if provided with more bass than before. When I EQed my 4XX I reduced some of the midbass which means it was less power hungry. It's also tremendously fine tuning your EQ so that it sounds amazing.
How depressing it must be to buy some expensive cans and not be satisfied and think there's nothing you can do apart from experimenting with pad rolling which is a very clumsy way of adjusting EQ.
DMS states it's annoying to him as he has a lot of headphones and reviews some more. But yeah, I'm with you 100%. There's a consumerist purism agains't using EQ that baffles me. People will literally have a whole wall of headphones for "different personalities" instead of EQing a good pair for their ears. For instance, there is little reason to own both the 600 and the 650/6XX when EQ is considered.
I was wondering on these, I've been rocking the drop sheepskin perforated 6xx pads for a year now but I love my ZMFs on my 4xx and was considering grabbing the zmf solids
Finally got mine in. I bought both the lambskin perf and the suede perf. My wife's 6xx pads aren't broken in nearly as much as mine, so I used those for comparison. I still really like newish stock 6xx pads but I think I'd be very happy with any of the three. There's a slight edge to bass quantity on the stock pads, and a slight edge to soundstage on the ZMF pads, which (as new) are slightly thicker than the stock pads. I think as they break in a little bit, this difference may become less noticeable. It's extremely slight though... I find the suede to be a little more laid back than the lambskin which seems to have a tiny bit more treble. Again, it's very subtle. I probably need quite a bit of listening time to pick out any differences elsewhere, I can't really hear anything noticeable in the midrange or bass.
I'm definitely happy with the headphone pads. I'll probably use the suede daily on my 6xx in the office. I'm hopeful that they're going to hold up extremely well over the years.
I don't own the HD6XX, so of course I am not familiar with the stock pads on them. So why am I here? It's because of you DMS! Just love your videos :)
Dual dms vids in one day????
I must be dreaming
Very exciting - I'm more of a fan of suede and suedelike textures and perforated pads than solid velour or pleather, so this is a huge arrival. Curious if anyone has tried these as well as the YAXI pads for the 600 series, been thinking of copping a pair of those for a while since I'm enjoying their Fostex TH-series pads a lot already.
I have not tried or heard about the Yaxi HD600, 650, etc. pads, but like DMS said, pretty much every pad swap on this line really messes up the sound so I doubt that Yaxi would just get lucky and it wouldn't mess it up. Best bet seems to be these new ZMF pads
These headphones pair well with my jorts. A real fashion statement
Great review, would love to see your take on the ZMF pads for the Focal Clears
Got the suede cups.
Loving it
Does Zach need to do versions for the 58X and 660S? Or will these headphones sound fine with any of these perforated pads? TIA
Does the fact that the pad's outer diameter is smaller than the OG pads also affects the sound?
have you tried the ZMF fenestrated lambskin on TYGR 300R yet? They’re just recently launched such as the Sennheiser’s pads.
This was perfect timing, considering my pads are super worn! O.O Suede's sold out already lmao
Do an update when those pads are worn in!
well, quite interesting video but... why Zac doesn't sell them outside USA? here in Italy seems impossible to buy them :(
Literally just bought a pair of 650s last week, great timing
Was hoping for a pad that would effectively increase bass extension in subbass region and leave everything else as is but thats not the case unfortunately. The bass extension is the only weakness of the HD650 the rest of it is perfectly neutral already even the upper mids. Any change is barely audible for an improvement.
Did you change the pads?
Doing an update say, every 3-6 months for 1 or 2 years would be interesting. Though only showing FR results up to 10k is a little perplexing
I've tried these compared to the HD650 and the HD660s2 over and over and I consistently prefer the s2. They are all great though
Which pads did you use on the 660s2, I just ordered the lambskin perforated, because i prefer a little more bass.
@@RayCabrera1 just stock pads for me
Update after a few months please
On ZMF's site, the image for the Suede pads look like they have yellow gunk in each perforation, making it look like a used pore strip.
Does it look that way in real life?
The entire time I'm like "I've seen this guy somewhere..." then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Dude was in that LTT video that made linus boi cry.
Oh very nice. I hate how quick my 6XX pads wear out (they're used at work ~8-9 hours a day...). I can sorta understand why some folks balk at ZMF headphone pad prices... but when you go through stock $40+ Senneiser pads at a pretty good clip... these could be a pretty good deal if they're quite durable. Definitely sign me up for 2 pairs :)
@DMS Can you make a video update regarding those pads?
That pad change for more bass is an illusion 😂
I absolutely love these headphones but the audio leakage surprised me, I don't feel comfortable wearing them when someone is in my room because I know they can hear basically everything im hearing lol. other than that these headphones are amazing and I would recommend them to anybody whose budget is at 200 dollars because they sound crisp and they look wonderful.
thats nothing, I dont even consider them as full open, there are headphones that are really open and screams around like a little speaker (mostly big planars)
For the love of god, people, manually stretch (as in by hand, not with books) the metal arms out on your 600 series headphones to relieve the clamp. It'll improve the comfort and your pads will last WAY longer when they're not being squished into the sides of your head. These ZMF pads are twice the price of the official ones in my region so I'm not really sold on the idea that they're a better buy.
Dekoni perforated lambskin vs ZMF perforated lambskin? The Dekonis also show a good frequency response, but interested to hear what you think DMS.
When I had the 6XX the Dekoni fenestrated leather made them listenable. Expended the stage a little and added a little bass. The ZMF is probably more or less the same.
im not sure how yall are wearing through these pads so fast, I have the hd579 and the pad lasted 6 years, i replaced because they got dirty. i used my headphones almost every day for hours
What about the Elite Hybrid? You really like it on the Dekoni video
How this pads compared with yaxi pads?
any updates on the closed back 6xx?
was looking at them when they were announced... but can get B stock dekoni or new drop pads for $30 less... almost got 2 pairs of pads for the same price as the zmfs lol
I wonder if the perforated suede or perforated leather would be preferred for the HD600 specifically hmm
I am tempted by these for my hd600. I love the sound but they get uncomfortable for me only a couple of weeks wear into the sennheiser pads. The 'it's touching my ears' thing really blows it for me. These could solve that?
Are you able to update us on whether they’re still going strong?
Any chance for a 1 year update?
Man how about a hybrid version of the 6XX perforated pads, his hybrid versions of his different pads are usually well recieved.
Please do an update about pads when you can :)
@dms Can we do a straight up 650 vs 6xx?? Or are these too similar other than cosmetics? thoughts on their sonic differences?
Please do an update on this videos
My only Sennheiser are the 58X, the Jubilee ones.. Should I consider any of these? Considering the buying ZMF material from Europe is a bloody nuisance ..
Very curious to know if there is more depth to the pads?
I'm trying to find the suede pad but I only see "6XX sub pad". Is that the new replacement for suede?
You're looking in the right place. They're listed on the ZMF website as "ZMF HD6xx+ Sub Pads." The three pad choices are in the drop-down box before you add them to the cart.
Am I crazy or are the suedes not available now? I selected them but it just said ‘coming soon!’ And then changes it to the lamb skin? Anyone else see that?
Will measurments be available for these pads used on the Sennheiser HD600 line up?
There allready are in Zachs video on them:
ua-cam.com/video/jkDKpssVm-Y/v-deo.html
I don’t know, I love my 600 series so much just the way it is, I doubt I’m going to want to do this, but it’s interesting. I enjoyed the video.
update please when they are worn in 6 months to a year?
I'm not sure that these are worth it for me. The ZMF pads cost 3 times the amount of a Sennheiser pad to be delivered to where I live. I'm not sure they would last three years as opposed to buying a pair of stock pads annually for the next three years.
They'll last until the material flakes off the outside, don't let 'em fool ya. I promise you, the weakest link in your audiochain is not going to be the material or age of your headphone pad.
Mr. DMS, Have you try these Pads on 560S? if so thoughts?
Would a portable DAC do well with these? I got the Hiby FC3
My 6xx earpads are basically deformed at this point lol, have been using them for close to 5 years, washed once in between. Right now using it 95 percent of the time work ms team call for work so I wonder if I should replace it or not.
you definitely should, ive been using mine for a little more than a year and its already significantly deformed
@@-aexc- haha yeah, my only issue is, for music and gaming, I usually use either my Beyer dt 177x go or my focal clear, or my KEF ls50meta when I don't want to use headphones, the 6xx is being reserved for ms team call most of the time. So yeah just wondering if it's still worth it hehe.
please do a comment after this upgrade.thanx
I just bought the velour earpads from drop for the 6xx. Still waiting for them to ship.. are those any good?
nope they're bad unfortunately. They change the Fr quite a lot.
@@orthosympa6993 yeah they sound a lit boomier than the stock pads. Unfortunately i'm gonna have to use it since my old pads are so worn out
Has anyone tried these on the 58x? I'm looking to replace the pads.