Headphones

Sony MDR-7506 headphones earpad replacement

Posted by glbpro

The Sony MDR-7506 headphones have long been a stage and studio standard, despite having been around since 1991. One of the main issues of the stock headphones is the vinyl earpads, which look and feel cheap and wear out extremely quickly, developing cracks and flaking away. They are also very hot in use, especially in warmer climates such as where I am.

In this video I show how to replace the stock earpads with an aftermarket set of velour pads that I got off Amazon. Fortunately these are widely available and very affordable. The process is also relatively straightforward, requiring no tools apart from a bit of patience. The results really do transform these headphones in my opinion – they don’t sound any better but boy are they more comfortable!

Shortly after posting this video I got a comment asking if I had measured the headphones before and after the new pads were installed, and whether I was concerned about changes in the high frequency resonance of the units as well as the sealing of the earcups around the ear and hence the bass response. My response was, frankly, no 🙂   Continue reading →

Replacing the earpads on my Beyerdynamic DT770s

Posted by glbpro

When doing live sound my headphones of choice have long been the Beyerdynamic DT770s. These closed-back built-like-a-tank cans have a brutally honest sound that hides nothing and flatters nobody. If there a problem, you’ll hear it on these! The earcups are big and comfy and the headband pressure is just perfect for all-day wear and the constant on-off convenience that live sound engineers require. And these cans are built to LAST – my first pair is now well over ten years old and has shown only cosmetic wear and tear – the drivers have been rock solid, as have all the connections and internal wiring. These headphones are a great example of old-world craftsmanship and are very rare in today’s world of throw-away plastic electronics. In keeping with this they are designed to be fully serviceable, with all parts able to be replaced as they wear out. My 770s have gone through two pairs of earpads and one headband pad in their long life.

Replacing the earpads is a relatively straight forward process and Beyer provide comprehensive instructions with every set of replacement pads. The pads themselves are thick velour with a perforated vinyl backing and are available in either the original silver or stealth black.

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