ZMF pads for HD8xx Series

I really enjoy the HD800s stock. Perhaps this sentence needs some qualification as I enjoy my HD800s, stock -- since there have been, apparently, silent revisions during the lifetime of the HD800s, before they were usurped/coup de'tat'ed by the HD800S.

But anyway, I like my 800s -- no SDR, no EQ. I even prefer it to the HD800S'es which are, by comparison, woolier, tamer. The HD800s are (to me) an intoxicating mix of resolution, holography, transparency, engagment. I don't like them with the SDR mod as the 800's reverberant, enveloping lower bass presence is much-muted by the SDR mod. I feel the HD800S'es are similar-sounding, albeit actually worse than HD800+SDR as they are also darker and more diffuse.

Preamble out of the way -- I was really curious to hear the new ZMF replacement pads Zach'd recently put out for the 800-series. I asked him for a loaner and, ever the gentleman, he generously obliged, and so I've been enjoying the HD800s with the leather pads for the last couple of months.

My impressions are very positive. I'll discuss changes in comfort first -- these do elevate the already-pleasant HD800 wearing-experience to even greater heights. I personally prefer leather to velour or velvet or whatever the Sennheiser pad material is. The ZMF pads seem to be thicker in depth while also a bit wider which seems to add a welcome amount of clamp while also dispersing some of that clamp force across a wider surface area, so the headphones feel more secure, while also managing to feel even lighter than they already did. ZMF's leather is always super comfortable and (for me) never gets too warm or muggy, even in Southern California summer. I don't experience any stickiness.

Soundwise, there is a difference. It's a tricky change to describe because it's subtle, yet still significant. I would describe the change in sound as basically an overall refinement, at the expense of a tiny amount of more aggressive engagement. I initially wasn't sure if I liked it, but after spending some time with it began to really appreciate the way the ZMF pads actually smooth out the HD800s timbral qualities a little -- I haven't really done a proper A/B (I simply haven't wanted to), but to my ear it does help the HD800s relax just a smidge that allows its excellent transparency to really shine through. The overall tonality, beyond that, doesn't change a lot -- the aforementioned enveloping bass is still present, albeit a touch deflated, but without detracting from midbass punchiness.

For my tastes in sound, I wouldn't even go so far as to call it an 'improvement' from stock pads per se -- it's just a different flavor, but a welcome one -- which is honestly perfectly fine with me. I like pads to reveal new personalities locked away in a pair of headphones, without necessarily rendering other pads entirely obsolete. However, I'd imagine if you have an 800 lying around gathering dust because it's turned out to be too bright for your tastes, the ZMF 800 leather pads might just be the trick -- a splash of water to cut the concentrated moonshine that can be the 800's upper range. For me, to lean into a car metaphor, it's like adding a 'luxury' mode to the HD800s alongside its stock 'sports' mode that is, yes, fast and aggressive and impressively energetic -- but sometimes you want to sit back and relax with some tunes and just enjoy the ride.

 

Is there any chance we could snag a pair of both the suede and solid for a quick loaner tour? I know these have been out for a minute, but they fell off my radar for curios and sundry accessories.