spritzer

Vincent, here is a picture from one of my old listings showing the different pads: The black ones in the picture are Sigma pads bur the SR-202 look very much alike. Thanks for your help and lets hope they'll get back to you. Looking at the insides of the 007 pads it is easy to just remove the soft foam from the backing material and cut a new piece from any foam you'd like to use.

I hope you are ready for some rather large pics... I forgot that the HC albums don't resize and since I've been up for 20 hours now and working 15 of those I can't be bothered to do this again: Here are SR-007 pads opened up to end all this nonsense. For comparison is a set of SR-Omega earpads which do use high quality artificial leather: Happy now? Their site is riddled with inaccurate details which they never bother to fix. One of the reasons I don't buy from them any more... None that I can think of. I do like the sound of the "breathable" pads a bit more as the bass is more even but the difference isn't earth shattering.

One problem with those RK40's , they are all linear and not log. While you can certainly make them work a RK50 might be easier in the end...

The foam is in two layers so it can most definitely be diy'ed. I'll open up a set of Mk1 pads later and post some pics if only to silence out baby elephant... The SR-202 pads ar eblack and the replacement for the L-Pro's. It even says so on the pads. The 303 pads are this gray/green color and use the same material as the 404 pads which is a bit nicer to wear. The 404 pads are indeed brown but not like the stock pads. They are long sold out in Japan but Yama's might have some. That would be great if Deepak comes up empty

I'm already working on those... I did do it in an SR-Ω shell if that counts...? Didn't do much to tame the inherent resonance in the Omega housing so I removed most of it. I do like to properly secure drivers though as the driver must get rid of all excess vibrations as quickly as possible or the sound will suffer. Mass damping would surely change the properties of the housing which can be beneficial if you don't want to spring for some custom machined aluminum shells.

Thanks, much appreciated. The leather will last a long time with some care but the foam is toast after a few years. The Mk2 foam does fit but paying 100+$ for leather pads and only use the foam is very stupid... even for me. I have done it though with SR-Ω earpads as the new black pads are uncomfortable and look horrible. Some good vinyl care products will do wonders to the old SR-Ω pads...

I've thought about this and my preferred way would be a Lambda frame with a new back section. Both drivers would be run full range and act as a line source. Another option is to use 3 drivers per side, one run full range pointing at the ear while the other two are angled at the ear and fed through a low pass filter. Some type of bass reflex enclosure would probably be needed though. The only problem I have is that I've yet to come across a Lambda I couldn't fix...

Compared to the Sony R's they indeed are. Me want a Sony CDP/DAS-R10...

That would be brilliant and Yama's is still the US distributor.

USA and Europe

I just don't know if they are any different since I've never had a set here. I could perhaps persuade you to buy a set or two from the UK distributor on my behalf...? Last I knew they were but in usual Stax fashion they will probably be phased out in favor of Mk2 pads, hence the reason for me stocking up. I've use the stock Michael mentioned a few times but you do need a deputy service so I always bought 20-40 sets at a time. You could also speak to Craig at KuboTen as he might be able to get them cheaper then AC2.

If there was any difference then it was very small so I'd say go for it. Btw. If you do change them I'd love to buy your old pads from you as they are the only Omega pads I haven't ripped apart and Stax Japan won't sell me a set... Congrats... That's why he's our favorite elephant. I do think that he may change his mind once a certain package arrives from Headamp...

The only problem I have with the mk2 pads is the pleather surround as it is too big but otherwise the pads are very comfy. Now you are making me want to buy a set of Mk2/A's again to mod... Imagine installing the pads after bending the metal spring so that is it sits flat to the drivers... I never said it was good quality leather but leather it is. Look at the grain pattern if you do not want to rip them off your set as artificilal leather can never mimic the irregular grain of real leather. PS. They do smell like leather but only very slightly. Me thinks our baby elephant needs to buy a spare set or two to be sure...

Does that cost extra as an upgrade over the ferrite crap they normally use?

The HD600 is balanced and nice sounding but it doesn't do anything well except perhaps comfort. Ditto. It's definitely not easy to do thought the stranded wires of the later versions (and also used on the SR-Omega) are easier to work with.

Nice to see I live in a more civilized part of the world, analog will be in use here for at least 10 more years.

Ahhh ok... The XF4's are the last of the Mullard EL34's and not as good as the rest but no slouch though. They are worth less though.

Leather can be made to what ever finish the customer wants and cheap leather is often this soft and lacking in texture. Those that have seen Nissan leather car seats know what I'm talking about. It's easy to check though, just pull off the pads and look at the underside. The Mk2's leather is better where there is actually leather but the rest is pleather. I do think the Mk2 pads are more comfortable but that is partially due to the stiffer foam inside. I've opened up all of the Omega pads so stop arguing with me until you've done the same...

Those EL34's are definitely Mullards, most likely XF2's or XF3's. You can see the markings etched into the glass on the RCA tubes on the bottom left side but I can't read it from the pictures.

Indeed, curse him!!! I am building an Egmont but it is no more Rudi's amp then one at Tubecad is. That design is as old as electricity...

He was here and is the reason why you can't edit your posts. We don't want that ignorant fucktard here pushing his crappy Ultrasones.

I too would blame this on the source as the Mk1 is as smooth as the come but will reveal everything the source spits out. The noise level at the meet may have been too high but they are almost impossible to miss. It sounds like a high pitched plastic squeal though.

Wait what??!!?? Etch on the Mk1? The SR-Omega has it but that's something I've never heard from a 007, be it a Mk1, Mk2 or my hybrid.

Most headphones are indeed easy to measure but electrostatics are special. The amps are far from sufficient and the fit makes or breaks the sound... now you know why I call normal dynamics boring. Ask Smeggy to whip up for you a SR-007 earpad adapter and find a Gamma headband. That makes them far more comfortable.