MrSpeakers ETHER C

Ether C Pad Impressions

Here are my impressions of some alternative pads, If you would like to try them, send me a PM to be on the tour. All you have to do is post impressions, and pay to send them to the next person.

Setup
Mac -> Uptone Regen -> Oppo HA-1 -> Liquid Carbon -> Balanced Cable -> Ether C


Treble sounded pretty good to me for all the pads. I’m just not the sensitive to it, but I like it.

Also note it takes a few minutes to switch pads, so it was really hard for me to do direct comparisons.

Brainwavz Hybrid Memory Foam Earpad - Black PU/Velour
Amazon price: $29.50
Comfort: 8/10. excellent for long listening. Pads do not warm up like the leather ones
Bass: 6/10. Tight, controlled, but not very impactful. Certainly not bad, but not emotional relatively easy to EQ, if desired, but still pretty close to stock
Mid: 6/10. A little recessed relative to the stock MrSpeakers ETHER C angled pads
Soundstage: 7/10. good, but not excellent.
Isolation: 5/10
Ease of pad installation: hard. lots of stretching
32/50

Brainwavz Angled Memory Foam Earpad - Black Velour
Amazon price: $26.50
Comfort: 7/10. excellent for long listening. Pads do not warm up like the leather ones. area of the ears is a little smaller than stock. I think because they are a little than the stock pads, there is a little more pressure on a smaller area around the ear.
Bass: 5/10. Tight, controlled, but not very impactful. Certainly not bad, but not emotional. relatively easy to EQ
Mid: 6/10. A little recessed relative to the stock MrSpeakers ETHER C angled pads
Soundstage: 6/10. good, but not excellent.
Isolation: 4/10
Ease of pad installation: hard. lots of stretching
28/50

ZMF Cowhide
ZMF price: $49.00
Comfort: 5/10. Thick pads, so more clamp. Warms up quickly
Bass: 9/10. The bass might extend lower, but is recessed (not as impactful to me)
Mid: 7/10. A little recessed relative to the stock MrSpeakers ETHER C angled pads, but fuller than the brainwavz’ pads
Soundstage: 9/10. excellent. I think these actually expand the sage a bit; makes it a bit more 3D. Not sure I like the change.
Isolation: 8/10
Ease of pad installation: moderate
38/50

MrSpeakers ETHER C angled
MrSpeakers price: $79.00
Comfort: 7/10. they are leather, so they do warm up relative to the velour pads
Bass: 7/10. Controlled, tight, still some emotional impact, but not not pounding. I guess that means they don’t extend as low as the ZMFs
Mid: 8/10. best sounding mids
Soundstage: 10/10. excellent. instruments sound like they should, and are in just the right position
Isolation: 7/10
Ease of pad installation: relatively easy
39/50

So, what pads do I use? I prefer the Brainwavz Hybrid Memory Foam Earpad with one black tuning pad and a 3db boost from 125 down



Brainwavz Hybrid Memory Foam Earpad - Black PU/Velour


Brainwavz Hybrid Memory Foam Earpad - Black PU/Velour




ZMF - Ether C Stock - Brainwave Angled - Brainwavz Hybrid




ZMF - Ether C Stock - Brainwave Angled - Brainwavz Hybrid




ZMF Cowhide




ZMF Cowhide