Sennheiser HD250 Linear II

Hmm, I think I get it (at least, comparing how I'd perceive things that measured that way on my own rig). Sure, there's a bit of a bump in the low mids on the first pair; but the second pair having the broader trough in the upper mids combined with the even upper bass through lower mids, and the roll-off below 100 Hz, would seem to me to be consistent with what you heard.

 

Just ordered a pair of mkI for $100.
What would you suggest for pads for this, that are not crazy expensive the hd800 pads?

 

I used the Brainwavz 'large' round velour (100mm OD, 55mm ID):

https://www.amazon.com/BRAINWAVZ-Round-Velour-Memory-Earpads/dp/B07238XHCX/

They took the worst off the treble peaks of the thin non-stock pleather ones that came with my pair. Equivalent size Dekoni would probably also fit fine, but are of course more expensive.

 

Thoseare too large and won't fit, I've tried but there's no way.

Get the ZMF pads, Universe will be good. You'll have to salvage the plastic ring of the old pads and transplant it to the ZMF ones.
The issue is, just like with HD650 anything but the original pads will change the sound. If you want bass canons use leather, neutral even sound with fabric.

Seal is super important with the HD250 so if you have glasses bass will roll off significantly.

 

$60, a bit high, but ok I guess.
Ideally I want good isolation, I like bass, but I don't need like a ton.
Luckily I am glasses free.

 

These are the 'large'. Maybe you tried the 'XL'?

 

Damn, you're right. Have you tried leather pads? The bass with kennerton ECL-2 is pretty skull shaking.

 

No, I haven't; I wanted to get the treble down and smooth out the bass, so was using @stratocaster 's mods as a starting point and then playing with different filters on the rear port. Might have a go though, the Brainwavz pads are cheap enough that it'd be worth experimenting with the leather version of those.

 

Yeh, the treble can be piercing and harsh. I salvaged this felt ring from another old senn which does the job remarkably well.

 

What kind of materials come in these stock?

Mine look modded, took off the pads, and I get these white felt rings and these not exactly round cut with scissors pretty thick foam pads

 

The stock black foam usually disintegrates due to age so people adapt.

 

Is the white ring stock? If so, it might explain why my pair was initially so bright - it was missing...

 

I thought I got it from another pair as all old senns have one form or another of felt rings but looks like it comes stock. Here's a disassembled view of one:

 

Those small white rings are from behind the driver though, not in front - the ones in @spwath 's and your earlier photos are bigger and in front. So not stock, it seems...

Edit: there is another wide white ring behind the driver, but as I learned, that one's not to be extracted.

Edit 2: aha, a front white felt ring is indeed stock. See @giovampi 's post #40 below.

 

I can see why pads are important, it measured very different with different levels of seal, but I forgot to save those measurements. Here is it VS my HD6XX (red is obviously HD6XX)

 

Now I remember, I've got them from a pair of old HD530s that had them in the front. Unsure if that's how the HD530s are as standard.

 

Mine have a somewhat odd cable. The pins that go into the headphone look like hd6xx pins, but are flat instead of round. The 1/4" connector does say made in Germany though, so it seems like it could be authentic Sennheiser. The connectors that go into the headphone are both black, not one red like I see in pictures

 

@spwath just want you to know the pads are oval, not round. Still willing, but the phones look closer to round to me.

 

They are round, but I would think I would be able to put oval pads on, using the original mounting plastic thing. But maybe not, I didn't think too much about it...

 

This is probably of interest If you haven't seen it.
Great headphones BTW