Beyerdynamic Pad Swap Adventure _(Z Reviews)_ Every Dekoni Pad Tested!

[@BlAznPhAzn]

This really should be its own series. It'd be nice if Dekoni supported a follow up with pads for Fostex, Audio Technica, etc.

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

I'll second this. Would love to see the X00 pads compared and reviewed.

[@Assimilator702]

@@NotTheOnlyMattAround I had the Elite Sheepskin on the Fostex XOO Mahogany and they sounded considerably worse than stock. The fit was better but the sound was a considerable downgrade. I had to sell my XOO since I had no clamp with the stock pads.

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

@@Assimilator702 Thanks for the reply. I can never seem to find much info on other pads. I've spent more on pads than I did on the X00, even going as far as buying a couple of different ZMF, and it seems like a lot of people I've just accepted that stock is stock for a reason. The only pads I've found that has a different, but nearly as pleasant sound, are the DT770 Beyer pads stretched on to fit (with attenuation rings). They sound great. They're open and airy, with only a slight decrease in bass, BUT I have the Sundara for that kind of sound and it does that sound better. So, I rarely even put those on, but it is an option for those who want an all-in-one headphone. Seems it's hard to do better than stock for this headphone. Thankfully the clamp is perfect for my head and these have become my favorite headphones.

[@Assimilator702]

@@NotTheOnlyMattAround I wanted a pair of Fostex for so long and when I finally got a pair I was severely let down when comparing to my reference headphones and even iems. The Fostex have such a slow presentation. While the bass was impressive I can get a better presentation from iems which I prefer these days anyway. The midrange sounded buried and the treble was tizzy. To to mention the build quality of those cans is terrible. The clamp was so loose on my head if I looked down they fell off my head. The headband is built with such little care for its actual purpose it makes me think Fostex rushed the design of the platform just get something on the market. And the reports of the yokes snapping like dry twigs and exposing the pit metal underneath was the using in the cake for me. It’s kind of like admiring a certain female for a long time and thinking she’ll be THE ONE. You finally go on a date with her and all her mannerisms and habits are such a turn off that any desire you had flies out the window. Or in one word.......anticlimactic. I sold my Fostex for slightly more than I paid and I don’t miss them one bit except for the nice wood cups.

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

@@Assimilator702 Man, your experience with the X00 sounds a lot like my experience with the DT 1990 Pro. I researched forever and was convinced this was the perfect headphone for me. Got it, made my jaws hurt horribly after only about ten minutes of wearing. Bought two different Dekoni pads to try, and despite measurements, the velour pads do not sound like stock to my ears. They sound less detailed and more distant, but I just assumed my ears would get used to it. Surely I wouldn't be disappointed by something so expensive. Then, once they were comfortable enough to wear for more than ten minutes, I found the sound itself began to hurt my ears after about thirty minutes. So I ordered an in-line filter from Solderdude to tame the peak. Once that came in, I came to realize that the praise for detail these receive must be because of the treble peak, because when the treble peak was tamed they sounded worse than the HE-4XX I had hoped they would replace, to my ears. I actually got the TH-X00 almost expecting to be disappointed, and took the risk knowing I'd be able to resell them for more than I paid at the good deal I got. Immediately sold the DT 1990 after only a day of listening to them, and installed Lawton driver mod a few weeks later. Slight improvement. Purchased ebony cups from Emu hoping for another slight improvement but I couldn't tell much difference beyond an almost indiscernible amount of subbass. But damn they're gorgeous now. Cut and re-terminated the mile long cable to 3.5mm, and I'm convinced I'll be keeping them for the rest of my life. It just goes to show how much different we are based on things like the shape of our heads, our preferences, and sensitivities. Have you found anything since then that you've liked, or are you still searching?

[@pratamamp]

He has done it, ladies and gentlemen, he has reached PAD GOD LEVEL!

[@FreeThePenguins]

I think he's closer to pad burnout than god level.

[@ThevenimX]

You fool he’s just entering god levels

[@ZReviews]

Want to Support this Channel ? Click Below ⚔️www.SubscribeStar.com/Zeos -- Subscribe Star 🥇www.Patreon.com/Zeos -- Check out the Patreon

[@johnsmitherino4913]

For the 1990s, you're not comparing them to the stock pads, because what you have are not stock pads.

[@handlmycck]

same thing for mmx300. TYGR pads are way different than the stock mmx300. i know cuz i have them both

[@testek3053]

my own recommandation for dt1990: elite velour. stays true to the original sound (balanced pads) while smoothing that annoying beyer treble peak: much needed and appreciated! also, they are more confortable than sticky leather for long sessions when it's hot summer and your head's all sweaty. tried the elite hybrid on them, didn't like it because they change the sound signature too much.

[@pulsingpython2652]

out of curiosity, how do you think the elite hybrid sounds on the 1990s?

[@LyK0sa]

I've had the elite velour on my 1990s for months now, but today I changed them out for ZMF universe perforated hybrid pads. I'm really enjoying enjoying them so far, the suede faces feel great, soundstage is possibly a little better than the elite velour, and the treble peak is dialed back a little more (they're still bright, just not as piercing, I'd say we're back to AKG K712 levels of treble) The only minor downside is that since they're not specifically designed for beyers, you can't get that perfect OEM style fitment that you can get with the dekoni pads.

[@charliehill6776]

@@LyK0sa currently making the decision on what pads to get myself. Did the universe end up staying on top or where the velour's just as good.

[@LyK0sa]

@@charliehill6776 nah, I wasn't keen on the loose fit. I feel like they messed with the imaging performance a little as well, same for the elite velour. I'm actually back on the stock balanced pads now. ZMF do actually make beyer specific pads now, they might be worth a look if you're in the market. I'm tempted to try them myself.

[@paulosousa2106]

for me elite velour dont do almost nothing to smoothing that horrible peak treble.

[@ickebins6948]

I instantly ordered the Choice leather for my DT770's They arrived today... BOY are they comfy AF. Soundwise is really a step up. Aspecially if you're listening to alot of metal / rock. Kick drums sound more direct, have more punch. The soundstage is a bit wider and the highs are a bit more defined. Totally worth the money if you already have 770's and like the sound.

[@MrAhuraMazda]

I don't have the 770s but I have the Choice Leather on my M1060Cs and they're soooo luxurious. Definitely worth the price and added a meatier sound to those

[@kantegir]

Will I get same feelings with 250 Ohm version? Since in this video was used 80 Ohm ones.

[@ickebins6948]

@@kantegir Sure. The pads are the same and the construction of the headphones is identical ( except the drivers ). The pads are still great after more then a year and I wear them 5-10 hours a day. Just try them. I wasnt sure either.

[@HoshPak]

Very same reaction... I immediately went to purchase ba pair myself. I am very excited to try them.

[@vi777x4]

Instructions unclear, bought Bose.

[@ZReviews]

AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAaAaAaAAA

[@jamesboyce7467]

@@ZReviews B

[@B_dev]

RETURm

[@brokenreviews556]

@@ZReviews hey man, your code's not working. Can you reach out to them? I'm gonna get all 3 dt1990 recomends.

[@ynstyne]

Ewe, Bose....

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Z, this review is so unbelievably detailed and good. I can only imagine how long the testing took. I’ve tried a few pads on the mmx300 and I cannot agree with your informative views more. You are amazing.

[@zlatan91lw]

Have you tried the choice suede on mmx 300, which you would recommend for competitive gaming?

[@classifiedsuser3265]

what would you recommend for me to buy for the mmx300?

[@jakeufps]

Yooo, it's Freshy! I'm in the same exact spot as you were a year ago; I really needed some new MMX300 pads and with only very little research, I got the Velour Elites. They arrived today and I almost puked. Gonna' return them ASAP and get some others that Z actually recommends.

[@janchrzciciel]

Zeos, the pads on the 1990 definitely aren't stock.

[@Foxy_proxy]

The DT1990 "stock" pad isnt stock at all. Probably the same as the other fenestrated sheepskin ones you have. But I think these are all made by hand and thus the foam isnt ever the exact same shape.

[@ron2291]

Yeah, the stock pads are way less comfortable than the 1990s. I use their hybrid because it's way more comfortable but from what I was able to find the "better" pads are the one he said almost gave 3 stars to and that has to do with enhancements on it's "normal" sound signature ( slightly wider, a verry small amount more u shaped ) with way more comfort.

[@Foxy_proxy]

@@ron2291 I've got the fenestrated sheepskins and ive made them even thicker by putting a foam ring behind the padding. They sound awesome but even then comfort is more important as I have mine hooked up to my pc through a dac + amp. I can adjust the sound using peace+apo EQ to make it far better than it originally is. Its the whole point behind buying neutral headphones if you'd ask me.

[@treyd1906]

Haven't used my DT770 80's in a long time, just bought a set of Choice Leathers and maybe they'll go back into rotation. Thanks for all the work you put into this Zeos!

[@treyd1906]

Wow, exactly on point Zeos. Completely different set of headphones with these. Also, the Choice Leathers are comfy af to me. Might make my ears hot after a few hours, we'll see. Now I need to mod this stupid stock 400ft cable the DT770's come with.

[@GandalfGreyhame]

I heeded your advice and bought myself a pair of Dekoni choice leather pads for my 770 80ohms. I was originally not very satisfied with how some frequencies sounded on those headphones, but after switching to the new pads it completely transformed them. The first thing I noticed which Zeos didn't mention is that the bass gets improved enormously. I'm typically very picky when it comes to the lower frequencies but here it sounded pretty much perfect. I however felt that the lower treble frequencies (around 6000 if I remember correctly) sounded a bit too quiet, but after adjusting it with software the sound became an absolute 10/10. Much better soundstage, richer in detail, and they're way more comfortable than the stock pads. They are also perfect if you plan to use them near other people since they leak very little sound

[@AlexanderPiercy]

Note that there is a Beyerdynamic t1, t1.2 and a t1 version 3. The first two have a noticable sound difference.

[@derpenberg7814]

I hear there is a big difference on gen 3 also. Apparently it's the worst out of all 3?

[@derpenberg7814]

Too much foam* but this commented by Joshua Valour

[@AlexanderPiercy]

@@derpenberg7814 it's a different driver completely too. Its no longer 600 ohm. That doesn't necessarily make a headphone worse per-say but for the previous Beyer cans the 600ohm worked in their advantage

[@Mat-hr1dg]

The best ever combination I found for myself is the elite Velour on the DT 1990, it's basically a must buy for me if you want to get the DT 1990. It's by far my most often used headphone because it's just amazing all around and the measurements back that up too. Especially the measured full spectrum lack of unwanted resonances is amazing with these and they basically sound the most naturalistic yet fun and HiRes headphone out there. That combination is a monster for me.

[@soraflame66]

Yea I read reviews and stuff dekoni elite velour pads supposedly reduced the treble peak/sibilance, increase bass and I think make the midrange a tiny bit better.

[@Mat-hr1dg]

@@soraflame66 Yeah, they sound overall far more neutral, less aggressive while still retaining their resolution of detail (I would even argue that those pads vastly improve it in the bass region) and the mids might only get 'a little' better, but I found that to be the most noticeable change aside from the less piercing highs, since it is the one thing that makes the whole tonal character seem a lot more natural and pleasing. I do see why Zeos said "stock" though. Different from many drastic, sound destroying modification you can often do by changing pads on your headphones it retains much of the DT 1990s strengths and a good chunk of character but I would still argue that the flaws are all but eliminated which make the headphone into a completely different beast for me. In fact I didn't have much love for the DT1990s with the analytical pads at first, since they had a certain magic to them but I just found the highs too piercing and the lows too weak to be impressed by anything but it's resolution, and sparkle in certain songs while the balanced pads seemed indeed better rounded but had too much unwanted resonances in the bass section and the upper part lost its positive sparkle while still retaining too much sharpness. Putting the Elite Velours on was like dialing the headphones into near perfection for the first time. That's why, since I've gotten the DT 1990, I've never again settled for any other pad on them. Not because I didn't try (I did use the suede and fenestrated ones for example but didn't like them as much as Zeos apparently) but because it just sounds like the best rounded headphone I have with them on.

[@soraflame66]

@@Mat-hr1dg yea balanced pads I still use I dont think I'd like analytical ones but I think my elite velour are gonna be my main replacement and I might get suede simply for edm and fun "bass boost" kinda thing. Imagine bass boost button/eq with the suede pads that must be fun as hell for non analytical music! I wanna try it for house, electronic, techno etc etc.

[@Dunkelz]

Just got the Elite Fenestrated for my DT 1990 Pro's and love them. I wouldn't call the stock pads uncomfortable, but the Dekonis are a whole new level of comfort.

[@D4rkResistance]

Ordered the same pads for my DT 1990 Pro's now. I hope i'll enjoy them as much as you do. 🥰

[@D4rkResistance]

Got my fenestrated today. I really enjoy the soundstage, the build quality and overall comfort, but dislike the lower bass (than balanced pads). Someone wrote the fenestrated are like an improved version of the analytical pads. I will keep the fenestrated anyway...maybe i'll try them on my old DT 990 Pro. But also i ordered the 'Choice Suedes' today, for my DT-1990 Pro's. Many comments here said the bass and overall soundstage is the best. Maybe i like those even more.

[@VoltronShakespeare]

Got some suedes for my 880s and took them off after about a week. Pros(vs. stock): -My ears don't barely touch the inside of the cups. -Noticeably reduced the few spots of sibilance that pop up in my playlists. -Low end dominant tracks very enjoyable. -Less fatiguing overall. CON: -All of the above comes at the expense of a significant veil that borderline ruined most songs on my playlists. Mortal Kombat theme is great, but tracks with strings/vocals/piano that normally sound insanely intimate on the 880s sound like they're in another room with the suedes. Teej said they "completely destroy everything this headphone was good at," and I definitely understand where he's coming from. That said, I do listen to a good bit of bass-heavy music, so I'll probably swap them back on from time to time now that I own them.

[@lucaspengler4027]

TL,DR: The Choice Suedes on the 1990s enhance the sound by 300%, clear recommendation. I have the 1990s and just got the Choice Suede pads delivered today. What can I even say? They are simply amazing. I'm not a basehead, since most Bass-heavy headphones I've tried covered the mids and sounded bad, but even if these pad are quite bassy - don't let that discourage you. The bass actually sounds good (never thought I'd say that) and almost never covers up the mids or highs due to the increased soundstage and good separation. For the few songs where it does cover it the tiniest bit? Well, it never made it hard to hear, just slightly harder at worst. I mostly listen to Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, the Minecraft soundtrack, Hans Zimmer, the AC4 soundtrack, etc. Especially Slipknot comes out as a clear winner; I wasn't the biggest fan of the sound before, since it often sounded too busy and the drums usually had little weight to them. Both of those aspects are helped by these pads; the drums sound deeper and heavier, and the bigger soundstage helps the separation quite a bit. Did you know that "The Devil In I" has an echo to the vocals throughout the entire song? It has been my favourite Slipknot song for ages and I've never noticed that, before, yet I instantly noticed it on my first time hearing it with these pads. Even Instrumental music sounds great, mostly due to the bigger soundstage. Vocal songs like Mansons "Minute Of Decay" also sound great. Even towards the rather busy end, Mansons voice is still clearly hearable, even over the drums which have a much larger impact with these pads. The comfort is also good. I've larger than average ears and they fit me fine. They are also quite soft, but my head is so tiny I can wear the 1990s comfortably on the smallest setting so that probably doesn't mean much. Really the only complain I have is the fact that these smell quite bad. I'd recommend cleaning them before use. It's not too bad though, shouldn't be a dealbreaker.

[@Hanga1986]

I have also purchased the choise suede for my DT1990's. It makes a huge difference I have to say. Not sure it's all positive though. The best thing in my opinion is increased soundstage, and the bass is just immense. However I do feel that it does overpower a bit and that theres less detail because of it. Also, while the sharpness being reduced a bit was one of my goals, I do feel that it is a bit to much. Will have to play around with my EQ.

[@framo_official]

i got elite velours ordered choice suede bc of you :D im curious!

[@Ghettochild.2600]

@@framo_official you get a chance to try them yet? I'm going to order the choice suede and was also thinking of the elite velors. Which ones are better I wonder?

[@framo_official]

@@Ghettochild.2600 choice suede for sure!! its worth it m8

[@Ghettochild.2600]

@@framo_official I got both. I prefer the choice suede over the velours.

[@FragEightyfive]

25 years into my audio journey.... I have used everything from the cheapest of the cheap to some audio setups that cost as much as a nice house..... After all that, DT 770's are the sound great / 'good enough' with a DAC+AMP at most things. Its really hard to recommend much more unless you are an audio hobbyist looking for a specific sound. I don't mind the Beyer sound, it makes voices clear and easy for me to understand, and most things sound good to me. With different pads + EQ you can do a lot with the DT770's.

[@kamild_]

Just wanted to say thank you for the video. My DT770's pads have deformed after just one year of usage (albeit heavy usage, to be frank), and when I searched for alternatives, Dekoni pads were often recommended by many people, but not by everyone. Which is when I found your video. The way you plainly described the differences between them helped me decide to order the Choice Leather pads, which despite potentially being more sweat-inducing (but perhaps easier to clean?) seemed like the right choice towards also changing the way my headphones sound closer to my taste. Can't wait to try them on, will report back :)

[@kamild_]

I've been enjoying the new pads for a few hours. Already adjusted to the slightly different sound, though I like the change to the bass the most. It doesn't seem to me like it packs more of a punch, but the more subtle bass I usually struggled to notice seems to be brought up with those. I think I'll be keeping those :)

[@Beliefacy]

@@kamild_ Thanks brotha

[@badgerjeff6081]

I've come back to this video as a reference many times. I recently put the Elite Velour on my 880, 600 ohm and the improvement was astonishing. I truly couldn't believe how much better the cans sounded. Also added the jumper to my Emotiva BasX A-100 and the pairing is pretty amazing for the price.

[@baderq8ty99]

i also have the 880 600ohm and emotiva (entirely because of zeos), but i got the choice suedes and so far they kinda sound like bass cannons, idk i'll try for some time longer and pass the final judgement

[@badgerjeff6081]

@@baderq8ty99 I haven't tried the choice suede, but don't doubt your experience. Pads can completely change the sound!

[@sicariusk9]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!!! I recently upgraded my gaming/streaming setup to add a GoXLR, SM7B, and went with the Beyerdynamic DT770 80Ω. The bass in games like Warzone was overwhelming coming from the Sennheiser Game Zeros running off an Astro Mixamp. I bought the Elite Fenestrated Sheepskin based on your points. Yes I also had to turn it up a little more but the detail is so much better and bass tamed.

[@thesharanaithal]

Do the fenestrated ones get hot on ear if using for extended time like 12 hours? Looking for breathability and not-hot earpads, but these pads cost just as much as my DT 770. Wondering if it's worth it...

[@sicariusk9]

I didn't notice any issues and would wear them for several hours a day between work meetings and gaming. @@thesharanaithal

[@thesharanaithal]

@@sicariusk9 thanks for the reply

[@carolbaez5891]

what a lazy video. you forgot to try these outside, in the rain, under an umbrella, under a fenestrated umbrela, upside down, inside out, what does chewbacca think, link to the beast headphones for cats, what if i pad swap during mid review? come on Zeos. did you honestly think an hour an a half on pads was enough? shame on you.

[@24wherath36]

I would love to see something like this for Hifimans.

[@novama2]

Thank you Zeo very , very much !!!!! My good old Beyerdynamic with the Dekoni choice suede sounds now 10 times better !!!No more harsh also.Unbelievable the new quality !! Thank you so much Zeo.

[@lylejorgenson4878]

Would have loved to see 990's included given the extreme nature and frequent derision about them.

[@lxr_rl]

Me too!

[@teejjonson8523]

after listening to this, I just bough the suede pads (his favorite) for the DT 880 600 ohms and while they are comfortable and add hella bass, they completely destroy everything this headphone was good at. Yes its mroe rich but now its muddy and sounds like there a thick Egyptian carpet between me and the singer.

[@FelixMalm]

I found the exact same thing. Bass and treble are still good but there is no life lift in the mids.. I wound up putting the dekoni pads on my verum 1 instead, which is a fantastic match.

[@rjsmith2007]

Try the fenestrated sheep skin. They are my favorite type of pads.

[@Assimilator702]

Thanks for that. I almost ordered the Choice Suede pads for my DT 880. It looks like the stock Beyer pads that are used on the Limited Black editions of the DT 880 and DT 990 plus the Pro versions are the way to go.

[@Assimilator702]

@@rjsmith2007 Does the bass get boosted while not killing the midrange?

[@fclp67]

well fuck there goes a 100$, I'm still gonna try them out when they ship here

[@rusinsr]

Me who just bought a pair of Beyerdynamic headphones: "Guess I know what I'm doing for the next hour and fourteen minutes" P.S. I bought both 1990 pros and 1770 pros - 1990 were awesome for details and clarity, but they are too flat for listening and enjoying music. (And sometimes the highs were too loud) They also had no sub-bass. DT1770s solved all those problems - V shaped sound curve, better bass, and from what I can tell, just as much detail, although it doesn't throw it in your face like the 1990s do. That's my 2-minute comparison in case it helps anyone :)

[@philchia4764]

Same!! Listening to this on 1990s balanced...

[@PerfmonX64]

I own both as well. The DT1990 with the balanced pads is probably my favorite open back headphone. DT1770 is pretty much as you describe it, and it is probably my favorite closed headphones.

[@LIVEINPICS]

Thank you for that amazing comaprison review! Appreciate the time and effort you invested in it! Keep up the great work! Just bought the Choise lether pads and put them on my DT770 250Ω. They are so comfy, the bass is deffinately better, soundstage is better, the highs got just a little more muted for my liking but they are easier to listen to now. Overall, I am very impressed.

[@xophere]

It was a really cool idea. I haven't been that excited about Beyerdynamic headphones but Dekoni and Z make a cool point. Cans tuned very differently across a broad range of pricing with the same ear cups. Makes is really easy have lots of options and play with your own sound preferences on the edges of what Beyerdynamic designed. The dumb coupon expired but I got a couple sets of B stock at a great price.

[@xC0y0t3x]

Vol. 1: Beyer Dekoni Pads - The Movie Stay tuned, Vol. 2: Sennheiser Dekoni Pads - The Movie ... ... coming out soon™

[@bvander131313]

Thank you for this video Zeos. Got my Choice Suedes two days ago and love my 1990s even more now. Used some AKG foam before to deal with the treble peak. Worked OK but the new pads work way better in my opinion. No need for the extra foam anymore. And you are right in saying that with the Choice Suede they sound 'intense'. They absolutely do!

[@hypnos9356]

I love the DT770 so much that I own both the 80 ohm version and the 250 ohm version (which was modded by CustomCans with a detachable cable and some driver stuff to help the bass). I sort of let the 80 ohm one fall out of my rotation after I got the 250, maybe with the choice leather pads they'll find themselves a new life.

[@BrianWalters97]

Just got the Choice Suede for my DT 880 600Ohm and you made me fall in love with one of my favorite headphones all over again!

[@Assimilator702]

Does everything improve? Does any part of the frequency range suffer?

[@BrianWalters97]

@@Assimilator702 It has more bass. If its better, probably not. It loses its "flatness". It becomes quite boomy and sounds pretty scooped tbh. It also sounds pretty distant but that is probably because the pads are 2-3 times as thick. Its really comfortable and the 10khz spike is less pronounced. I dont think its better but its a different sound signature. More bassy and more chill i guess. I already have a HD650 for flatness so this DT880 is my "fun and comfortable" set. :)

[@darrellross8609]

Z, Got Dekoni's for my TYGR's. Thank you for your efforts, for your viewers. I didn't think my TYGR's could be better? Best, D.

[@Ryan-ds2wx]

I have the Elite Hybrids on my DT 1990 Pro's. Running though a Schiit Modius and Asgard, it's end game status for me. Absolutely superb. I don't think you can get much better than this until you start spending $1000's.

[@bnordin66able]

Same DT 1990 with the same Dekoni Hybrids as you, and man, these pads really lifted my 1990 to another level! I will never let these go:-)

[@jestercow]

@@bnordin66able Elite velours on mine, couldn't be happier (but I'lll try the fenestrated when I can!)

[@petertarpinian157]

*tries not to spend $100s on pads immediately*

[@RiddleTime]

Thank for these reviews, been watching them for years and I have learned a ton about proper audio!

[@rusinsr]

Bought the Dekoni choice leather pads a week ago - my review: worth it. The 50$ investment compared to the 400$ spent for the headphones makes it a no brainer. Wider sound-stage, definitely more bass. (Some songs now have too much of it, but that's the song's fault). Listening to music incorporating binaural elements is almost god-like now. Makes way more of a difference than getting an amp, so if you're on a budget - forget the amp, get some pads. 9/10, just wish they were a bit more breathable.

[@joshmiller804]

Which headphone did you buy the choice leather pads for?

[@rusinsr]

@@joshmiller804 DT 1770 pros. I left a short comparison between them and the 1990s elsewhere in this comments section if you scroll a bit.

[@joshmiller804]

@@rusinsr Sick, thanks for letting me know!

[@Jonesocinco]

You were spot on about the velour pads on the 38X. Pretty much every other reviewer said they liked the sport cloth ones more which made me question their and my hearing.

[@TSLlol]

amazing review thanks. I wish all reviews were like this, helped me a lot with my pad choice

[@dwahnaslowdown8887]

As a new owner of the DT880 600Ω and having watched this comparison, I ordered the Choice Suede. For me, they made the headphone sound terrible. It gained a bloated and muddy upper bass and lost much of the airiness and sparkle that it originally had. The change was so dramatic that at first I looked at my system to see if somehow I'd hit a wrong button. I put the original pads back on and they sounded great (again). Honestly, I'm not disappointed; it showed me that different earpads really can make a (huge) difference. Experience learning is the best kind. I'm listening via a Quad PA One plus feeding a jumpered A-100, which seems a good combination.

[@MrAki.]

try to remove the 880 foam while using dekoni. Makes a different.

[@ynstyne]

6 headphones, 8 custom pads = 64 combinations total. This is crazy!

[@HoshPak]

You just made me avoid a huge mistake. I was about to sell my DT 770. Instead, I will now keep them, pair them with the choice leather pads and mod the chord to be re-attacheable mini-xlr. Way cheaper than buying a new pair of DT 900 X. Reviews appear to be a mixed bag while the pads are now proprietary.

[@silencedgrave]

bro when did you get so rich i remember your old messy apartment

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

Guess KZbin's treating him well!

[@GiltleyRage]

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio I wonder... can you really make some serious money with only 217K subscribers?

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

@@GiltleyRage I wouldn't know, really. (i'm not sure if you're joking about 'only 217k subscribers', btw. Seems like a high number to me). But that aside, I do know that Zeos (spelling? - can't remember atm) has multiple avenues of income, so i'm sure the sum of the parts work out quite nicely for him.

[@GiltleyRage]

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio No joking, just heard that YT itself is not that easy way to make money everyone thinks. If it's his primary income these audio companies pay really nice for these reviews probably because of his attention to details and proffesional approach. Anyway good for him.

[@NeapolitanApe]

He lives in the middle of nowhere in PA, doesn't cost a lot for a good house.

[@joontech7715]

WOW!! DT880 600ohm with Choice Suede is awesome!! I understand why Zeos said the sound is rich...

[@Assimilator702]

Does the midrange get ruined like some people claim?

[@joontech7715]

@@Assimilator702 Mid range with choice suede is little recessed but I feel it is not even close to ruined or something. More enjoyable than with original pads.

[@Assimilator702]

@@joontech7715 There was a guy further up in the comments saying the midrange was completely destroyed. I have the DT 880 250 ohm Chrome Edition which I feel has very good midrange and especially vocal presentation. Some people claim that the 250 ohm Chrome Edition is nothing like the 600 ohm Premium which I find hard to believe considering the DT 770/880/990 all use the same drivers. Z didn’t give the Chrome Edition a good review while he raves about the 600 ohms version. I just ordered the DT 880 600 ohm so it will allow me to further understand different reviewers preferences and if I agree with them. If I don’t like the Dekoni Choice Suede, the Beyer Black velour pads could be another option.

[@Assimilator702]

@@joontech7715 Someone that's in thw Z Patron chat said that the Choice Suede sounded like a Bass fart. Does that sound like what you're hearing?

[@joontech7715]

@@Assimilator702 with Choice Suede, I hear it boots mid bass, lower mid and recesses mid little bit. High is little smoother and more soundstage than original pads. Overall, It sounds more richer. With original pads, It is more analytical and more linear. I don't say Choice suede is always better. It is different. I think you can relax more with Choice suede for sure. I don't have 250ohm version so I cannot say anything about it. You will figure it out in the near future.

[@dasninjastix]

I got my Choice suedes today for me TYGRs and they are quite luxurious. They're extremely comfortable. I'm going to have revisit the prospect of getting suede furniture.

[@YayaTia_II]

Wow, thanks for the effort Zeos. I did test DT1990 at Jaben Audio rip Australian store the Singapore parent store should still be up and running hopefully it comes back.

[@nemesis_ftw]

Switched to the Dekoni Elite Sheepskins for my 58x's. Now my ears are not resting on the driver anymore and the sound is to my liking as well. Bought these with a Zen Dac V2 and some balanced cables from Hart Audio.

[@donvittoriosierra]

Z... This is the best! Please ask Dekoni to do this again but with the senn hd6xx/650/600/660s/58x!!! YES!

[@donvittoriosierra]

probably the best video you ever made and I do enjoy your videos

[@VredesbyrdNoir]

Took a punt at the beginning of 2020 and got the Elite Hybrid for my MMX 330's. Oh yeah!

[@emilnagy3549]

Thank you. Bought a pair of Choice Suede for 880 Edit: Holy s!@# these pads. I've been living a lie. Buy them now !

[@V4zz33]

Haha, koszi a tippet, Emil! Apunak vennem kell egy part egy amppel egyutt.;)) Kellemes Unnepeket!;)) Ha teheted, probalj meg szervalni egy hasznalt T1 1st gen. Elkepesztove varazsolta nekem.

[@Assimilator702]

What do the Choice Suede do to the midrange? Some people think the mids get destroyed.

[@V4zz33]

T1 V1 - Choice Suede: Highly recommended!!! Zeos got me a new head phone!;)) It is truly epic! Works like charm! Just got it today. The T1 opens up with an awesome the addition of the sub. Like you'd get .1 to your 2.0 and ending up with a 2.1 system. What I have found, is that this ear pad is not good at low volume because the extra distance it gives you compared to the stock ear pads makes the sound weird, like it would come from a box, so you have to fill up he empty space by raising the volume. I was listening to music for about 2 hours at a decent volume that I'd find fatiguing o the stock pads while it was a pure joy and pleasant experience with these new pads. Oh, if you play games.. you're in for a treat because of the bass! Tanks, prop air crafts are awesome sounding! And the normal booms as well will blow your head off in a gentle way. The base and the lows are just awesome. I feel my ears vibrating at times. The eardrums are the kick drums. The bass guitar is just magic. If you get this, try these: The Hobbit - Misty Mountain //The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (LIVE) - you have to get a pregnancy test after hearing this, regardless of gender, so total LGBTQ etc friendly deadmau5 - Let Go Feat. Grabbitz (Cube 2.1) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Ed Sheeran "I See Fire" [HD] The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - The Last Goodbye - Billy Boyd (Official Music Video) Disturbed "The Sound Of Silence" 03/28/16 Worakls Orchestra live at Château La Coste in France for Cercle Five Finger Death Punch - Wrong Side Of Heaven Kids Cover 46 and 2 by Tool / O'Keefe Music Foundation All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) feat. Warren Haynes | Playing For Change I am in Europe, and I bought my pads along with the Qudelix5K - as good as Zeos says btw, enjoying it with the Ikko OH10 - from these guys - audioheavenstore -: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114156561768 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114271123339 Thanks Zeos and Dekoni for saving my Christmas and giving me a "new" T1 that I've used for more than 12 000 hours already.;)) Zeos' tab so far in 3 weeks: €600 Happy Holidays everyone!!!

[@buster7618]

Captain Ron is a gem, surprised more people don't know about it

[@markperry8601]

I have to say Zeo's you're off on the DT770 and DT880. The Choice Suede on the DT880 is garbage, So muffled, dark and closed sounding. It's so bad. Maybe you had a cold that day? The Elite Velour on the 880 is perfect. No need for anything else. Now on the DT770 you're 1/2 right, the Choice Leather is Fantastic, BUT since I bought the Choice Suede I said "Why Not" tried them on the 770. HELL Yeah, now where talking, Nice deep tight bass, and OMG the sound stage is WIDE open, the imaging is perfect. Hands down the perfect pad for the DT770, slightly beating the leather. You said they were the worst. Trying to trick us, you dog!! :)

[@lczp]

Hello! How would you compare the Elite Velours to stock on the 880s? I've recently got the Brainwavz Velours and felt exactly what you said with the suedes: beyers became dark, which is a complete paradox for me. I don't have access to the stocks anymore, and am wondering if I should buy them or the Eltie Velours from dekoni. I want close to stock sound but with less treble peak, and higher durability than the stock ones. What would you suggest? Thank you!

[@slo2sixty153]

I got my mmx300 because of your reviews and my first decent headphone/headset. Now I gotta get some choice leathers. Awesome vid

[@kvltwalter]

I'm really enjoying the ZMF Universe suede perforated pads on my Beyer T1, 1990, and 880. That one pair of pads makes all three of those headphones sound even better. The Dekoni choice suede sounded too bassy on all of those headphones to my ears.

[@ynstyne]

Nice, your living room is bigger than both your apartments put together. Congrats on the new place, now you have room for a friend for Chewbacca!

[@johnellison3173]

Those are not MMX300 stock pads which is why they sound bad lol you need the 770 pads. The TYGR pads you have on there are the 990 pads which are for the open back beyers only. The 770 pads look the same but are only for closed backs.

[@SlesherHc]

Just got a DT-770 recently and wasn't really satisfied with the stock pads. I Might give the Choice leather pads a try.

[@reeepicheep]

I tried almost all of these on my DT 1990s (the elite velour, elite hybrid, and elite fenestrated sheepskin) and returned all of them! B stock pads ftw imo. The Elite velour i liked the best because they sounded almost the same as the B stock pads. Zeos wasn't comparing these to the actual stock pads.

[@lczp]

Zs greatest quality is also his undoing here. He loves music and coloring it, and doens't inherently hate it when something goes different, so he can actually recommend stuff to a very wide audience. This time, however, that quality makes him prone to some understatements. I have tried Stocks, Brainwavz XL Velours and some chinese knockoffs, and I can see what he hints at, I just completely disagree on the "enhancement" part; they almost all turned my DT880s into bass cannons with a dark signature (like, they're beyers ffs, wtf is happening?). One thing that bothers me about the stocks is that they degrade very quickly; I think I'll be getting the Elite Velours as everybody comments on them being neutral

[@Blue-cq2hl]

@@lczp I actually want to emphasize bass on my 770s and maybe even drop highs a bit and reading some of the comments on these things is hilariously confusing. One person says x boosts bass and another says the exact opposite. Wildly confusing on what can be trusted honestly.

[@lczp]

@@Blue-cq2hl they're all over the place because you can't standardize the effects on the pads themselves, you have to note things with the combination. The 880/990 and the 770 have a different design. The 770s stock pads are stiffer than the 880/990s to improve sound leakage and decrease the bass absorption, for instance. You can't swap the stock 770s for the others and expect good results. The consensus I gathered is that the Velours are the most neutral FOR THE 880, while all others mess up the FR too much (over 10 dB too much). I can't say for the 770 so you will have to do your research, I'd start with the elite hybrids or the fenestrated sheepskin if that is too much. Leather encapsulates the bass much better but an all leather solution might overdo it for you, hence fenestrated or hybrid. Also keep in mind not only the material but the depth of the pad you'll be putting, as Beyers are rather shallow and so intended to make the driver closer to your ear. Deep pads will mess up the sound badly because they'll create a tunnel between the cans and your ears and thus make room for really weird resonances. My experience with the brainwavz was exactly this: they are godly confortable but there's this ringing that almost seems like violins harmonics which completely destroys it.

[@lczp]

@@Blue-cq2hl also keep in mind that people have different tastes, while some seem to be pad deaf, as I found out after going for the brainwavz following a headfi recommendation in which the guy said the changes were subtle: they are as subtle as the difference between beats by Dre and the actual DT880. I'd look for actual measurements of the pads if I were you. Dekoni has them on their site I think, albeit for the wrong models.

[@FrostbyteWuffdsrf45]

So which is better for the 1990s, the choice suede or the fenestrated?

[@D4rkResistance]

Got the fenestrated for my 1990s today. I really enjoy the soundstage, the build quality and overall comfort, but dislike the lower bass (than balanced pads). Someone wrote the fenestrated are like an improved version of the analytical pads. I will keep the fenestrated...maybe i'll try them on my old DT 990 Pro. But also i ordered the 'Choice Suedes' today, for my 1990s. Many comments here said the bass and overall soundstage is the best. Maybe i like those even more. I'll give u an update, after i'd tried them. P.S. Dunno if u are still interested after 4 month, tho? 🤔

[@ScttSt_vocals]

Hello, Z. I hioe you're reading. Remember those t90 you demoed about 5 years ago? Yes, the once with atrocious treble. Apparently, the seemingly nice ear pads were the problem. First of all, without any oads at all they sound pretty well-balanced. Secondly, even the stock pads from 990pros improve sound buy a whole lot. Maybe it's the material in the original pads that absorbs bass & mids while leaving a shit tonn of treble. Idk. But the ear pad swap does make the t90s sound amazing. It should be noted, that I got them second hand for 60$, and I had a spare pair of pads just laying around. For that money - totally worth that, imo. You should revisit them one day.

[@G-O-A-M]

What about the Dt 990? Would like a bit less high pitched hights and maybe a bit more bass. Important is to keep ears cool in hot weather. Which should i choose?

[@EdgeMasterPro]

I am after new pads for me Hifiman 400s. I like the comfort of velour because it’s comfy not hot. What was the coolest breathes the best as far as heat sweat goes In Australia I will be paying 1/5th price for the elite velour pads vs new sundura cans

[@Guitar7885]

Have the Dekoni Elite Velour with my Hifiman Sundaras after the pads fell apart after a year. Sound great!

[@rjsmith2007]

I have the Dekoni fenestrated sheep skin pads for the Audio Technica ATH AD1000X and they are great. Really helps me wear them longer without getting itchy or hot.

[@CleansingLight]

Got the suede and cowhide for the mmx 300s. Now I'm Good to go for both Call of Duty and God of War.

[@Larg_Man]

How are they? I have MMX as well and am debating what to get. Do they keep detail? Also I assume cowhide is leather

[@CleansingLight]

@@Larg_Man The leather is amazing. I actually haven't even tried the suede yet because the leather is so darn comfotable.

[@_PaperbagGhost]

should use this chance to redo that sound demo for the 1990s xD

[@kan1to983]

imagining the pain you went through putting all of those pads on it's more than enough to like and subscribe.

[@_Avrai]

thanks Z, ill get the suede for dt1990 for that improved low end next month time to dig up after buying them with an amp

[@milim3dia965]

how are they? would you recommend them?

[@666relapse666]

Trying the 880's with the Choice Suede, I wasn't quite happy so I removed the original dampening that was over the driver, this opened them up a lot and brought back some of the sound I lost. Still a little unsure if I like the change as it's very different.

[@Assimilator702]

Try the black cloth pads Beyer uses on the Special Edition DT880 and DT990. I have the DT990 Premium 600 ohm and the DT880 250 ohm Chrome Edition. The black pads work well on both. Slightly warmer but no section of the frequency spectrum is a downgrade.Vocals are slightly warmer and a bit more forward on both headphones compared to the standard velour pad. Beyer knows how to design pads for their cans.

[@666relapse666]

@@Assimilator702 Thank you, I'll give them a try next.

[@philchia4764]

Yo @Z Reviews . Choice Leather, Elite Fenestrated, Choice Suede + 2x stocks on DT1990's are like 5 different headphones. Let me put it to you this way: it's like the top 5 contestants of the Miss Universe pageant. All different, all amazingly beautiful. None able to be faulted.

[@tyler6859]

Still no dt990 love ey, Z? Rocking Elite Hybrids on my rad DT990s and the sound is so SWEET. I'm not SALTY at all.

[@HOMER963369]

I wich way did those pads change the sound of the DT990s? I own a pair but their sound is way to harsh for my taste.

[@chefsteve8381]

@@HOMER963369 just replace driver foam with 3mm felt and it quells the highs and costs 50 cents also need 100+ hours burn in!

[@tyler6859]

@@HOMER963369 I'm using a E30 and JBS Labs atom. Honestly, it's feels like the difference of plus up to 6db on low end. Takes the edge off the highs. (can be a bit much) It's also a touch warmer. In addition to that everything sounds closer and there is better imaging. It's definitely a noticable difference to say the least.

[@ElderWillows]

Found you through the MMX review, snagged me a pair of those choice leathers as well, it's very promising to see you still ++ recommend them. I'm slightly sad the earpads arrived before the headphones but holy hell they are soft.

[@andhaiden]

Thanks for this, you’ve turned my 880s into two headphones, a critical pair and a fun pair

[@Assimilator702]

Which pads did you get?

[@andhaiden]

I got the choice suede

[@Assimilator702]

@@andhaiden So does the midrange still retain the detail and presentation?

[@andhaiden]

No, I’d say you sacrifice it (but not much, I just do notice it drops) for the more luxurious bass. I use these pads for edm or anything else that I want more bass presence.

[@shivkars7820]

Zeos, I got a new Beyerdynamic DT1770 Pair, with the Dekoni Sheepskin Pads. Is there a reason to "Upgrade" to any other of these Pads in this Vid (for excample Perforated Sheepskin)? Soundwise I prefer Clean sound (no muddy Bass, no sharp High-Treble), with good Soundstage and excellent Imaging (!!). Do you have any tips?

[@shivkars7820]

Edit: I did buy the Dekoni Perforated Sheepskin Pads and AB-Swapped them with the normal Sheepskin. I was so surprised, my beyers are now completely different Headphones. The perforated ones literally take away the boosted Bass, wich the DT1770s usually have, and really even out the whole frequency spectrum. Especially the lack of clarity and volume in the upper mids from the Beyers (with Stock pads and Dekoni SS) ist now totally "repaired". The Whole Bass Range is now very "professional" i would say. The Bass is definetly there, BUT he doesnt drown the rest of the freqencies. My DT1770s sound now really "analytical" (Good for Gamers!!) and are also really enjoyable for normal Music Sessions.

[@fclp67]

So I got choice leather for my DT770s and choice suedes for my DT880s and they're both a huge improvement

[@AXELVISSERS]

What about the fenestrated elite sheepskins for the mmx300?

[@TheXlen]

DT 770's sound best with P/Leather pads, they nailed it with 32Ohm version.

[@longkick649]

Have you tried? What changes in the sound did you hear?

[@TheXlen]

@@longkick649 I use DT 770 32Ohm, my friend had 80Ohm, the biggest difference between them is pads, 32Ohm ones have the Pleather pads and I like them over the Velours that come with the higher Ohm versions

[@noahbaumgarthen]

@@TheXlen is the sound more bassy? Are the choice leather better?

[@TheXlen]

@@noahbaumgarthen while the pads are fresh the sound is more harsh, but once they wear in they will be closer to harman than what you get with velour, velour won't change the sound as much when they are worn for longer time though

[@SwiftAlpaca]

What would be the closest comparison to the DT 990s for pads? The 880s? The room is the ear pad of the speakers.

[@chefsteve8381]

leave stock they are comfortable and sound good, just replace driver foam with 3mm felt and it smooths them out gets rid of sibilance, and deepens bass and costs 50cents not $50

[@SwiftAlpaca]

@@chefsteve8381 cool, thanks!

[@Kpaxlol]

@@chefsteve8381 where can I get driver foam replacement and which one should I watch for

[@marksafe5463]

Saw the title of this video and got excited! 😃😃😃

[@icyphilippe]

This video could turn into a serie. Revisiting the pads on the m40x maybe ?

[@soundhead18]

Man, this is long! I haven’t heard a Beyerdynamic I liked yet, but I’m still watching this anyway

[@glynkatkin]

I've got a set of Dekoni Hybrid Elites for my DT-880 600ohm's, made a huge difference from the stock pads IMO...yeah I also bought into Zeos's hype and got a Emotiva A100 BasX and am running the "page 11" mod.

[@progste]

I tried the brainwavz XL leather on the 880 600 ohm and I was very surprised by how much they change, they turn into full on bass-head mode, possibly even a bit too dark. It's impressive how much a pair of pads can change an headphone, I probably won't keep them this way because they lose those mid-higs that are so good with classical.

[@valendis]

Nice, I got the elite velour pads for the DT1990, I love them but now I'm curious about the perforated ones =P and the suede!!

[@wyn2208]

Choice Leather was great on my T70s and 770's but on my 1990's I hated it, everything was way too deep/boomy. Analytical pads + a decent EQ does really well for me.

[@elichapter256]

Zeos, are you planning on reviewing the new Shuoer Tape Pros and the BLON BL-01s?

[@ZReviews]

Yes

[@elichapter256]

@@ZReviews Sweet, do you already have them?

[@claouslive]

Holy fk Welp going to fall asleep to the crooning voice of zeos

[@GorillaBohne]

interestingly my DT 1990 pro came with 2 velour pads, no leather ones at all...maybe they are sold differently here in Germany

[@bigjt37]

Zeos, it be cool to see more vids like this tbh. But, maybe that is just me? But, you can do it well. And I've always appreciated your passion for pad rolling 🤘🏼

[@nl_2652]

On my 770s (250 ohm) I actually use the elite hybrid, attached to the headphone, and then I stack the stock pads beside them so the staging is a bit wider and the tonality is more enjoyable in the mids.

[@1TinyHerb]

Im really hoping you decide to make a video like this for the $1000-$1900 headphones. Example like hd800s or th900.

[@Wyd4]

Bought some Elite Velour for my DT880 off the back of this. I wanted to buy the Choice Suede but $70us posted to Australia for the Suede vs $50us delivered for the Velour (from local distro) I am hoping the price saving is worth the small difference in sound.

[@TheHope12322]

Beyerdynamic needs to be the ones testing this! Way too much work!

[@stevechapman6551]

I have tried the Dekoni elite sheepskin pads on my Mk2 T1s and they ruined the sound completely as you say. On the strength of your review I bought a pair of Choice Suede pads which arrived today as I find that the stock pads hurt a little after a couple of hours. Within 10 secondsI knew that although they were a little more comfortable, the sound was much worse than the stock pads. They make them sound hollow and dull and boomy and the music sounds muffled and lifeless like through wet cardboard so I have returned them for a refund. It seems to me that the stock pads cant be improved upon for sound, and I have definitely satisfied myself of that now.

[@fclp67]

well the stock pads on my dt770 32ohm(I know) have gone broken after 3 years of daily use so I'm waiting for shipment on my choice leathers

[@philchia4764]

@z reviews needs to do a tutorial on how to change Beyerdynamic pads quickly.

[@ZReviews]

Don't mount them and just hold them on your head. Attaching the pads is always a pain in the ass

[@philchia4764]

@@ZReviews goddamnit. This is why you are the Master.

[@TarekMidani]

38:02 "I'm not crazy" 😂 I felt that cat thinking the hooman is going crazy again talking to air

[@ernstjakob4394]

Will there be an Episode for Sennheisers? (HD 660s etc.?)

[@ZReviews]

If they want another one, but my guess is it will end in stock pad recommendations

[@rene837]

Don't change to a non Sennheiser pad on the HD 600 line, just don't xD

[@ernstjakob4394]

@@ZReviews just looked at the graphs on their website and the sound changes did not seem desirable at all. So stock pads I'll keep

[@Tripokaridos22]

No dont change HD660s pads, i have tried Elite Velur , Elite Shipskin and sell them over 2 weeks. They just sound bad muddy , some people say they sound ok , but no way ... more like they want to justify the price . I also tried Shure 1540 on HD650 and HD600 these sound better than any Dekoni but again not so good like Originals ( they need rings also)

[@Tripokaridos22]

@@rene837 Exactly the Original Hybrid Sennheiser pads are the best (and yeah they are hybrid , there is pleather inside side and velur all over outside)