Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Denon/Fostex Ear Pad Guide
search
close
Sort by: Newest
keyboard_arrow_downcanuckavelli
8
Jan 14, 2021
How does TH610 pads on TH-X00 sound? I am thinking of buying a pair to increase comfort and soundstage while retaining stock sound. I tried 3rd party pads but none were good enough for me. Thanks
canuckavelli
8
Jan 15, 2021
Thanks for replying, it was helpful.
Like you I also had a D2000 and live in Canada. It sounds like the 610 pads did make the X00 sound closer to a D2000 (recessed vocals and more air), so that sounds good to me. ZMF Eikon, I don't know. A lot of people said similar things about ZMF Ori. I got clone Ori pads and sound changed pretty drastically even with attenuation rings. ZMF pads also cost a lot to buy in Canada, and no chance for return. 610 pads also aren't cheap but once they return in stock at Amazon at least there is a chance to return. But with the extra cost, I could even sell my X00 for a 610...
Hyde
1138
Jan 17, 2021
canuckavelliHeyyy sorry for the late reply, but glad to know you find it helpful.
But yeahhhh being in Canada make a lot of items (Schiit, ZMF...... etc) extra expensive that normally would be otherwise more accessible to people who live in the states.
https://www.amazon.ca/Sheepskin-Replacement-Compatible-Massdrop-Headphones/dp/B07X1L287G/ref=sr_1_29?dchild=1&keywords=d2000+ear+pad&qid=1610862086&sr=8-29
Is this the "kind of" Ori pad you talk about? Because I was considering of trying it too but ultimate decide against it because it looks like it's much thicker than stock and most likely will change sound.
TH610 pads aren't cheap either I got them from Amazon Japan for $80 ish? (I think I got away with customs) However it's one of the pads that worked well with D2000 so I'm still glad I got them.
I do have Yaxi pads laying around that I'm not using at the moment. I could ship them to you if you want to try them (since we're both in Canada might be cheaper). It's up to you.
Otherwise buying TH610 seems like a good option too, LOL I think I might have trial almost all the Fostex/Denon variants at this point but I haven't get to try TH610 yet. So if you do ever buy it please let me know your impressions haha.
Otherwise since drop doesn't allow direct messaging, you could message me on Hyde0000 on Reddit or Hyde00 on Head-Fi if you want to try the Yaxi pads.
Cheers!
Koole
3
Dec 28, 2019
On the Denon AH-D2000-k (2012) ...
... I discovered this by testing used and nicely flattened Beyerdynamic DT-990 pads:
- Fixed the annoying bass hump @ 80-110 range for more flatter bass response
- Mids and high-mids are nicer and vocals sound more intimate
- Sound stage wider and can hear details in mixes better
- No fatigue on longer listening sessions
HawkingIsDead
3
Jan 15, 2020
Kooledt990 open velour pads? are you sure? ive tried them and dont like the soundquality. no mids, no bass but treble.
Koole
3
Feb 6, 2020
HawkingIsDeadDT-990 pads yeah I'm sure.
Mine are 10+ years old, very worn out and flattened.
I do get thin and treble sound without an amplifier though.
MacBook Pro (late 2015) headphone out was just awful.
Moonsand1
470
Jun 1, 2019
Hyde
1138
May 29, 2019
Bought the TH610 pad and updated the article a bit with new pictures. But in short for anyone looking to replace their ear pad with D2000/D5000/D7000, the TH610 pad is almost an entirely identical match. I say almost because it's not 100% the same, but the difference is sooooooooo minor and sound almost identical so you'll be happy either way.
Oh bear in mind the new pics are taken with phone camera so it's a bit fish eye looking and the perspective is a bit wonky, but hopefully it's still enough to show the difference lol.
(Edited)
drewcandraw
0
Jun 21, 2019
Hydewhere did you end up purchasing the th610 pad? I need to replace mine as well. Any links for it.
Hyde
1138
Jun 21, 2019
drewcandrawOkay as I listen to it more I did noticed more difference, but it's still about 5% ish difference. My assumption is that the difference being my old pad is softer and more "flaky" which might result it being more exposed fabric so more "open" vs the new leather which is very new and sealed so it's more "closed".
The difference being old pad the treble a bit sharper, vocal a bit closer, bass a little bit looser, and soundstage a bit wider, the new pad being treble is smoother, but vocal a bit further, overall bass is tighter, but soundstage is a tiny bit narrower.
So I like the higher frequencies better in old pad and lower frequency better in new pad lol.
As for me I bought it from Japan Amazon I find even after exchange rate it's still cheapest place also got shipped to Canada in 3 days (yes Japan to Canada in 3 days).
https://www.amazon.co.jp/FOSTEX-EX-EP-61-%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-TH610%E7%94%A8%E4%BA%A4%E6%8F%9B%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A4%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%83%91%E3%83%83%E3%83%89-%E3%83%9A%E3%82%A2/dp/B01FBZ5C60/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=EX-EP-61&qid=1561153832&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Though if you're in the states they also sell it at American Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Fostex-USA-Replacement-Headphones-AMS-EX-EP-61/dp/B06X6JPJF5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=th610+pad&qid=1561153695&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Fostex EX-EP-61 is the product model number. Let me know how it goes!
:)
rslatara
287
May 17, 2019
I think Lawton's or Dekoni TH900 lamskin with the attenuation ring would be my favorite. I have a completely custom pad that is like a hybrid of the original and a Lawton. I found the Ori pad to extremely plush but like you mentioned it was very thick sounding and felt it changed the sound too much, it did widen the sound stage so it might work well with a LA cup. I had the TH610 and now have an EMU teak. Nice write up BTW.
(Edited)
Hyde
1138
May 17, 2019
rslataraNice! I think I still have to experiment more with attenuation rings, so far I haven't had any good luck yet.
Also how do you like between TH610 and E-Mu Teak? I thought the Teak was quite nice but the deal breaker for me was that the vocal sounded too far for my liking, I like vocal upfront and personal. Also I wish it had more sub bass (I think I've been spoiled by Denon AH-D2000 sub bass). Also does TH610 has wider sound stage?
Never got a chance to try TH610 but I've always been curious about it.
Hyde
1138
May 15, 2019
Uh previously I've also had Philips SHP9500, Philips Fidelio L2, Fostex T50RP MK3, TH-X00 Mahogany, TR-X00 Ebony, and E-Mu Teak. Now I've sold all of them and only kept the Denon AH-D2000.
My wife has Bose SoundTrue (both On Ear and Around Ear), V-Moda M100 and now Sony MDR1AM2.
As for DAC/AMP I've tried FiiO E10K, Schiit Fulla 1, NuForce uDAC-3, SMSL M3, iFi Nano Black Label, and Massdrop SDAC/O2, I've also since then sold all my DAC/AMPs. Right now I just run it straight from my phone LOL.
Related Posts
Evshrug
Audiophile 101: Essential Gear Overview
Image credit @zhugunic https://drop.com/talk/67372/gl-2-k Do I need an amp? What are these acronyms like DAC, DSP, or DSD? What even are all the components that make up an audio chain? Let’s take a beginner’s look at the core, essential building blocks of a digital audio chain, and lay it plain what each piece does. We can cover the major pieces separately, but I’ll still include a few tips to optimize playback here. Please hit the little bookmark button and feel free to check and share this guide whenever you need a reference! For people who need a visual and audible explanation, or are worried it would take too long to get a working knowledge of the audio chain, here is my YouTube video on this subject that is just 7 minutes long! I like writing though, so let’s get started with an overview, then break it down into what each piece does and how an upgrade would benefit the final sound quality. Signal Path Image credit @SpeleoFool https://drop...
Mar 22, 2023
eyestech83
5 Ways to Fix Jio Cinema Not Working – Expert Tips for Seamless Streaming
If you’ve been trying to watch your favorite movies and shows on Jio Cinema, but things aren’t working as expected, jio cinema not working you're not alone. Streaming issues are common across platforms, but the good news is that many problems with Jio Cinema can be resolved with a few simple fixes. In this expert guide, we’ll walk you through five effective solutions to help restore your Jio Cinema streaming experience. 1. Check Your Internet Connection A stable internet connection is essential for uninterrupted streaming on Jio Cinema. Slow speeds, intermittent connectivity, or poor network strength can cause buffering, freezing, or even prevent the app from loading. What to do: Test your connection speed: Open a browser and run a speed test to ensure you're getting the bandwidth required for HD streaming (usually at least 5 Mbps). Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data: If your Wi-Fi connection is unstable, try switching to mobile data. Alternatively, switching to a stronger Wi-Fi...
Nov 22, 2024
HoffmanMyster
New Feature—Product Tagging in Photos (+ Giveaway! - Audio Rigs Edition)
Ahoy, audiophiles! Hot on the heels of the launch event for the mech keys community, we are kicking off the Audiophile Rigs product tagging launch event (with a bonus giveaway for those who participate!). Check out all the Rigs submissions thus far! Audiophile Rigs What’s this about a giveaway? More details can be found at the end! The short version: we will be giving away $100 Drop Rewards credit to one lucky winner (randomly selected) from all participating users who contribute and tag their Audiophile photos using the "Rigs" flair! In order to be eligible for giveaway prizes, your photo must include at least two tagged items (not required to be Drop products—see Tagging Non-Drop Products below). Post must be made in the first two weeks (by 2023-05-10 11:59PM PT) in order to be entered. What is Product Tagging in Photos? Product tagging allows you to tag any products in a Photo post—both those found on Drop currently, as well as write-ins that will be manually approved and...
Apr 26, 2023
dekoni
Introducing Dekoni University
Dekoni Audio is excited to introduce our new Dekoni University video education series. Check back frequently to see our latest videos.
Aug 10, 2021
krist0f
DAC/AMP choice - please help
OK... I am going thru forums, reading and watching reviews for DAC/AMP combo for my pc and... seriously i do not know which one to choose. Here is my 'wish list'... maybe you can help... Main goal is to... like everybody i guess: listen to music / watch movies / gaming. Gaming is priority. I am not audiophile (sorry). But I do appreciate good sound quality. Wish List: will not 'break the bank' - preferable under $200... I would prefer it to have mic input but it is not a 'must' requirement. I would prefer it to be 'external' device. Not a must though. Need controls on the desk though. I would prefer it to work 'driverless'. So... hardware-based. I would like it to have some kind of hardware equalizer. I would like to be able to connect (computer) speakers and headphones the same time it does not need to be 5.1/7.1 etc. I prefer good stereo over these systems. Does anything like this exist? Closest to all checkmarks is Sennheiser GSX1000... i guess... not the newest technology...
Jan 5, 2021
Evshrug
Thoughts: The BEST Gaming Headphone for All Time?
Pairing up a gamer with the right headphone is a bit like playing matchmaker! In this video, linked at the end, I boil down over 10 years of community advice into 3 Personality types: • Competitive • Entertainment • Immersion I share a few keywords to look for, as well as some software and settings suggestions. I think everyone has a little bit of each type in them, but which type is dominant for you? Thanks to the sponsor of this video: DekoniAudio.com Dekoni is a headphone accessories company, unique for providing frequency response graphs on their website so you know what effect their various pad options will have. Thanks also to Drop for giving me permission to share here. I hope it helps everyone! The video: https://youtu.be/42SRsSlIj-c
Sep 29, 2020
Trending Posts in Audiophile
magica
What lead/cable do i need?
i own a Drop + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset and i need a new cable that connects the headset to the computer. i dont know what its called and i cant work out what to look for on amazon etc. could someone please help me with this
Dec 21, 2024
MrChiSox
New addition to the stable.
I made the decision to take advantage of the $600. price on the HiFiMan Arya Stealth, here pictured with the Meze 109 Pro. I think 2025 is going to be a really uneventful year so far as new purchases. I've also upgraded my Fiio BTR7 to the newly released BTR17 and I purchased the Earmen stack which consists of Amplifier, Linear PS, DAC & Streamer.
Dec 19, 2024
RNT47
Until when will the Sennheiser 58X and 6XX will be at discount price?
I'm planning on buying either one on the 18th and i'm worried i'll miss the discounted prices
Dec 16, 2024
MusicLvr
Drop x Campfire Audio Darkstar Review
The Darkstar definitely has a a unique sound that has an audiophile sub-bass bias. It is a balanced sound with open sounding mids and well extended treble. There is no mid-bass bloat thanks to...
Dec 4, 2024
bill.davies
BMR2 discounts for BMR1 owners
How about providing a BMR2 discount for BMR1 owners? Most of the "improvements" in the next gen should really have been there in the first which was a pretty big disappointment for most of us. UPDATE: 40% discount offered. That's great, I'm in. Thank you DROP.
Dec 3, 2024
drPOGI
DROP BMR1 Broken?
Can anyone help me with this? Went away for dinner and came back home to my speakers making this static sound(Video Link). Its like this both in Line In and Bluetooth mode. These speakers were super super hot but I was told that it was normal for it to be this way. Sucks that literally I am just about two months out of the 1 year warranty :/ If anyone can help me that'd be great.
Dec 3, 2024
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionFollow Drop
Top: TH600/TH900 Pad
Middle: TH610/D2000/D5000/D7000 Pad
Bottom: TH-X00/E-Mu Teak Pad
Top: TH600/TH900 Pad
Middle: TH610/D2000/D5000/D7000 Pad
Bottom: TH-X00/E-Mu Teak Pad
Left: TH600/TH900 Pad
Middle: TH610/D2000/D5000/D7000 Pad
Right: TH-X00/E-Mu Teak Pad ================================================================================ Denon AH-D2000/AH-D5000/AH-D7000/Fostex TH610: Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I gathered is that all 3 of the old Denon headphones shares the same pad, and the new TH610 also uses this style of pads, which is a tiny bit thinner and the opening is a little bit wider than the TH-X00 pads. This pad has less vocal intimacy but better sound stage than the TH-X00 pads. Fostex TH-X00/TR-X00/E-Mu Teak: So all the TH-X00, TR-X00 and E-Mu Teak uses the same pads. As I mentioned earlier the difference between this pad is that it's a little bit thicker and ear opening is smaller than the Denon pads, the good thing about this is that you get cleaner sound and closer vocals, drawback being the TH-X00 series has noticeable less sound stage than the Denon series due to pads (I've tried pad swap to test this out). Again the wood cup also contribute to the sound difference but for the most part this is what the pads do. Fostex TH600/TH900/TH900 MKII: Denon and TH-X00 series uses angled pads with oval opening, while the TH600/TH900 pads are basically big circular opening (still angled). The trade off is that these get much better sound stage and imaging however you get sharper treble and loses bass impact/quantity when swapping between the pads, vocal is slightly more distanced but not too bad. I'm assuming by default the TH900's driver tuning is enough to offset some of the drawbacks (except sharp treble). I've tried swapping them around to see if you get better results, the answer is no. The engineers did their homework and the stock pads are designed that way for a reason, so stock pads still sound the best. ================================================================================ Now we gonna talk about 3rd party pads, but before I start there are some general guidelines. This is a little bit counter-intuitive but in general velour ear pad works better for open headphones and works terrible on on Denon/Fostex headphones. Also in general any pads with bigger opening will increase treble and loses bass impact (though you gain sound stage), any pads that are thick will bloat the bass and will loses vocal intimacy. So effectively any pads that are more comfortable probably will make it sound worse. But you might ask, is there no pads that are more comfortable but still keeps the same sound? Well I wouldn't say exactly the same but there are a few that's sort of passable. Brainwavz: I've tried the Pleather Oval Angled, Pleather Oval Flat, and Pleather Round pads so far, the Oval pads are basically too small to fit properly, you can stretch it to fit though. However Oval Angled is still too deep and sounds horrible (remember, thicker = sound bad), Oval Flat is a little bit better and Round pads are exactly 10 cm (same as stock pads) so this works the best, I would say this is the best one from Brainwavz if you really want one from this company. BUT compared to stock there's still noticeable difference. So I'd say Brainwavz pads are a pass for me, just in general too thick. Dekoni: I've tried Dekoni Pleather, Leather, Hybrid pads for TH-X00. To my ear the pleather sounded the closest, but compare to the stock the sound is still less crisp and vocal a tiny bit further away, but it smooth out the treble so if you're treble sensitive then this is not bad, sound stage widens and bass become less clean/tight. But relative to all the other pads pleather is still the best. Next in line Leather is not bad, it "clean up" the sound but to my ears it just feels like some frequencies are missing, some might perceive it as tightens the sound, though with attenuation ring I find it's close ish to stock sound. Hybrid I don't recommend it reduced the vocal intimacy too much and treble is sharp. Never tried fenestration but from what I read people describe it as "treble murder" so I'd say probably a no go. Don't have experience with any of the Dekoni TH900 pads. Also I've tried their attenuation ring, the only one where I thought it might work is with Leather, any other pads I've tried with it is kind of side grade (you gain something, lose something). ZMF: Keep in mind ZMF pads are actually 11 cm while Denon/Fostex pads are 10 cm, so it will stick out a little bit. But so far the best I've read (sorry never owned any ZMF pads) is the Eikon pads. Apparently this is the closest to stock sound while smooth out treble and widen sound stage. Sound people previously tried Ori pads but the consensus is that it's still too thick too. I think now there is also ZMF Universe pads which I haven't heard anyone recommend yet so I can't comment on that. Lawton Audio: Lawton Audio is probably one of the first one to mod Denon headphones, they were like the OG modder company for Denon. However their pads is too thick and opening too wide so you'll lose bass impact (hence a lot of reports saying it kills the bass), I think it's meant to go with their deeper cups so if you throw those pads on stock Denon/Fostex I don't think it would work that well. JMoney: JMoney pads were also born around the era of Lawton pads, however they're discontinued and impossible to find now, I've heard some good reports of them but can't confirm any of it now. Mr Speakers: I've heard people using Alpha Pads but from what I've read that ZMF Eikon is better. Stax: I've read one review mentioning something about Stax pads but I think they were really expensive and I don't remember how good the results are. I'd probably try something else that's more tested and proven. Chinese 3rd Party Pads: I bought a generic AH-D2000 pads off Amazon and ironically it's actually the best one out of all the other 3rd party pads I've tried (however stock pads still better). If you're really desperate then this is your best choice, the treble is a little bit sharper, and bass quantity is a bit reduced, vocal is a tiny bit less intimate. Since this is the case so even though my AH-D2000 OEM pads is flaking like crazy I still keep using the OEM pads simply because it just sounds better. So in short, most of the 3rd party pads have their own issues but so far the best from what I read is ZMF Eikon followed by Dekoni Pleather, and if you have Denon then get the generic Amazon/eBay pads. ================================================================================ I'm looking to buy the new Denon AH-D5200, so once I get them I'll update you guys on if they still have the old pads compared to the older Denon series or if they changed it up. Also in general I'd say the older Denons were probably not as clean but definitely wider sound stage and the newer Fostex while being cleaner/more refined sounding I find sound stack is lacking (due to pads), unless you get the TH610/TH900 then it's probably wider. Again I'll update this article as it goes, in the mean time feel free to give me any feedback/comment and I'll update the article accordingly. The reason why I'm writing this is hoping you guys wouldn't need to throw that much money down the drain through trial and error like me lol. Cheers! ================================================================================ UPDATE: I've bought the TH610 pad as my last resort to replace my D2000 pad, and FINALLY it's a perfect match, I mean there might be a less than 5% difference but it might be just an old pad vs new pad type of thing, dimensional wise they're identical. Except the TH610 foam is a bit firmer and the D2000 foam is softer, also the backing of the TH610 pad is light blue as oppose to normally just white.
Top: TH610 Pad
Bottom: Original D2000 Pad
Top: TH610 Pad
Bottom: Original D2000 Pad
Left: TH610 Pad
Right: Original D2000 Pad ================================================================================ I've listened to my D2000 with the new pad all day and like I said there's probably less than 5% difference in sound signature. So for anyone who's in the same boat looking to replace the original D2000/D5000/D7000 pads? Just buy the TH610 pad and save yourself the headache! Cheers!