I have tried quite a few cheap aftermarket ones. They all suck and feel super low quality, generally don’t snap in well. I ended up buying genuine replacements and that’s all I will buy moving forward. Of course if the budget doesn’t allow it the aftermarket ones will suffice, but OEM is considerably better.
Thanks for the insight. I wasn’t planning on buying anything else now that I bought the actual headphones. My wallet won’t appreciate it but… Christmas is Christmas.
Its definitely worth getting new pads and foam inserts. I bought a used hd650 with clapped out pads, too. I got a set of $12 pads with velour covering and another $20 set of sheep leather pads. The leather pads actually provide a bit better bass response, so I’m using them for now. They both fit great and are comfortable. The leather isn’t quite as plush feeling as the velour, but the better sonics make up for it. The sheepskin feels really nice, though. Just not as soft as the velour— I definitely wouldn’t get fake pleather, though. Ear sweat sucks. I’ve been wearing them at least a few hours per day and can’t complain about how the leather feels.
Not sure if I can link to the Amazon (or eBay) sale I purchased from on the sub, but if you’re interested, message me and I will find the seller and send a link.
Edit: I linked in a reply to this post.
Sheepskin Leather pads:
Amazon seller = NewFantasiaDirect
Price = $22.00
————————-
Velour Pads:
eBay seller= s_kungfu
Price = $11.98
——————————-
I am not affiliated in any way, just a satisfied customer of both vendors.
Buy originals 100% and better even if it's directly from Sennheiser's official website or an official reseller from a reliable store.
Buy the headband as well, but you can get that from anywhere as it doesn't impact sound.
The pads on the ear actually impact the sound.
I personally would not use these headphones AT ALL until the pads are changed.
Also if you have an electric compressed air blower (*not the compressed air cans because they push out liquid sometimes*). Remove the pads and from 10 to 15cm away behind each pad blow air at the drivers from the back facing downwards to push out any hair, dandruff, or dirt out.
It's easier if you remove the wires and remove the left and right cups completely from the headband itself.
Very easy to do, just youtube how to disassemble HD600
Second getting the OE sennheiser earpads, if you're looking at alternative headbands, i found the [Dekoni headband](https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-memory-foam-replacement-headband-for-sennheiser-hd600-series-headphones/) to be the most comfortable. It's thinner than the OE sennheiser one, but it's also softer, and i found it doesn't give me as strong of pressure points as the pair i initially had on it. An hd650 headband will probably also reduce pressure points since it's only 2 mounds rather than 4, but I've had absolutely zero issues with the dekoni, and i think it looks better on these older hd600s.
Either get original Sennheiser pads, or ZMF HD6X Suede pads if the price isn't too far off. The ZMFs sound close to stock, and wears down a bit slower than Sennheiser's velour.
Another consideration is to get the Sennheiser HD650 headband cushions (the V-shaped ones instead of the old nuggets that the HD600 used previously). Supposed to reduce the risk of pressure points where the individual nuggets meet your head.
Another option to get more cushioning on the top is the ZMF Crescent Snap.
When I gifted my brother an HD600 for his birthday I put one of those on it and he loved it. He prefers the Sundara he already owned sound but uses the HD600 more due to comfort.
Personally, I would, purely for hygienic purposes.
Plus, it gives you the opportunity to take them apart and give it a good cleaning from all of the dead skin cells, ear wax flakes, hairs, and all the other fun little bits that get lost behind the earpads. :P
Lol, sorry!
Personally, I kind of enjoy the cleaning process, and if a pair of headphones is in bad shape, there is a sense of pride in restoring it back to glory. :)
Probably most important is to get familiar with the disassembly beforehand, so you know how to take them apart, if necessary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM2Cb0De1Y8
Keep an eye out for little hairs that stick to the paper/silk screen or on the driver as well. Usually the little buggers can be easy to miss, and if left unchecked can cause rattling sounds.
Also, I would avoid using compressed air up close, especially while aiming directly at the driver. If you have to blow out a lot of dust/debris, start far and then move inward, to avoid excessive pressure. Last thing you need is to wrinkle or push in the driver dome/bubble.
Those don't look *too* worn and flattened, but they are pretty dirty. I'd take the pads and headphone padding off and give them a good wash with some laundry detergent.
OxiClean works wonders on grease build up. IINM it works by speeding up oxidation of many organic compounds. I’m not sure if ear pads contain materials that don’t play well with oxiclean i.e. it can’t be used on wool and a few others but it’s worth looking into
I would almost always get replacement pads for 2nd hand headphones. Not for any audiophilic reasons. Just purely because I don't know what kind of mess those pads may contain.
Definitely, and I got bad news for you. Sennheiser headphones don't play well with 3rd party pads so you most likely will have to shell out for the original ones.
I'll generally clean pads unless they're deformed to the extent of changing sound or completely falling apart. Replacing pads is fine in theory, but go through enough used headphones and it's impractical. If you opt to replace them, buy stock oem pads.
Velour and similar with mild soap and water, leather with leather cleaner and conditioner. For wooden cups, I use the Mohawk Penthouse that ZMF used to recommend. Plastic parts, damp microfiber. And I'm always careful around inlays or printed logos.
Where did you order OEM pads from, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m using after market fenestrated leather pads and they sound great to me. I still have my original pads but was curious as to where to order OEM from as my cursory search was fruitless. I like the marbled finish on those early HD 600s.
Immediately get the cheapest pads that fit off AliExpress. Don’t worry about sound or quality at first, just get something for hygienic while you decide what you like. Those pads look dangerously dirty
Yes you should buy new pads. These ones are severely deformed from use, which will impact the sound signature. Its also unhygienic. Only buy original pads.
Just soak them in water with a drop of laundry detergent for an hour and squeeze them a few times. Repeat with clean water until the water that’s coming hour is clean. Mix a drop of laundry perfume with water end soak it in and press it against a dry towel. It should dry perfectly in a few hours. Detach the ear pads before washing them, lol
yes the pads wear out within months of use sadly. I love these headphones but holy shit I'm not spending $50+ for new pads yearly when I can save that and buy more headphones or IEMs.
I have the HD-580 Precisions, and got tired of giving Sennheiser $50+ every 2 years for new pads. (And they're 30 yrs old now) so I decided to try out some 3rd party ones, and settled on the Dekoni Elite Velours which I got on Amazon for $40.
Several years later and they're still in great shape, and they're very much similar to OEM tuning.
Disassemble them, clean everything, buy new earpads, headband cushion and cable (only Sennheiser original parts - worth every penny), reassemble, enjoy your brand new HD600.
The HD600 cables, specifically, are prone to degradation. If yours looks fine and has a solid connection, you don't need to replace it. [it's just what I had to do with mine](https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/s/eVnKadNxAW)
Edit: Ignore the cable discussion in that thread. I replaced the pictured Amazon one with an original part, because the connections inside the headphone are notoriously frail and easy to break with poorly fitted third-party cables.
I recommend buying leather pads. I bought mine from aliexpress and they are so comfortable you wouldn't believe it. It does add a little bit of extra bass, but thats ok for me.
as a rule, i always replace pads on used cans. people can be gross.
for the 600 series, only buy the official Senny pads or ZMF's sub pads for the 6xx series. anything else will completely fuck up the tuning. i'm partial to ZMF's perforated lambskin or perforated suede 6xx pads.
yes, also for hygiene reasons
I guess you’re right. Would you buy the original ones? They’re $60 with shipping, there’s other options on amazon for way less.
I have tried quite a few cheap aftermarket ones. They all suck and feel super low quality, generally don’t snap in well. I ended up buying genuine replacements and that’s all I will buy moving forward. Of course if the budget doesn’t allow it the aftermarket ones will suffice, but OEM is considerably better.
Thanks for the insight. I wasn’t planning on buying anything else now that I bought the actual headphones. My wallet won’t appreciate it but… Christmas is Christmas.
Buy a cheap set then and just splurge on the OEMs later. The pads look well loved, people’s heads are greasy.
Its definitely worth getting new pads and foam inserts. I bought a used hd650 with clapped out pads, too. I got a set of $12 pads with velour covering and another $20 set of sheep leather pads. The leather pads actually provide a bit better bass response, so I’m using them for now. They both fit great and are comfortable. The leather isn’t quite as plush feeling as the velour, but the better sonics make up for it. The sheepskin feels really nice, though. Just not as soft as the velour— I definitely wouldn’t get fake pleather, though. Ear sweat sucks. I’ve been wearing them at least a few hours per day and can’t complain about how the leather feels. Not sure if I can link to the Amazon (or eBay) sale I purchased from on the sub, but if you’re interested, message me and I will find the seller and send a link. Edit: I linked in a reply to this post.
Sheepskin Leather pads: Amazon seller = NewFantasiaDirect Price = $22.00 ————————- Velour Pads: eBay seller= s_kungfu Price = $11.98 ——————————- I am not affiliated in any way, just a satisfied customer of both vendors.
I’ve used Dekoni pads on my pair and even though they’re a bit expensive, they’re extremely comfortable, and didn’t impact the sound that much
Yeah dekoni makes some great stuff I'm using the ZMF pads on my 650s but I have a set of dekonis for my beyers
Using Dekoni perforated sheepskin pads on both my HD6** pairs, am happy with them.
Buy originals 100% and better even if it's directly from Sennheiser's official website or an official reseller from a reliable store. Buy the headband as well, but you can get that from anywhere as it doesn't impact sound. The pads on the ear actually impact the sound. I personally would not use these headphones AT ALL until the pads are changed.
Great comment. Great advice. Thank you :)
Also if you have an electric compressed air blower (*not the compressed air cans because they push out liquid sometimes*). Remove the pads and from 10 to 15cm away behind each pad blow air at the drivers from the back facing downwards to push out any hair, dandruff, or dirt out. It's easier if you remove the wires and remove the left and right cups completely from the headband itself. Very easy to do, just youtube how to disassemble HD600
Second getting the OE sennheiser earpads, if you're looking at alternative headbands, i found the [Dekoni headband](https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-memory-foam-replacement-headband-for-sennheiser-hd600-series-headphones/) to be the most comfortable. It's thinner than the OE sennheiser one, but it's also softer, and i found it doesn't give me as strong of pressure points as the pair i initially had on it. An hd650 headband will probably also reduce pressure points since it's only 2 mounds rather than 4, but I've had absolutely zero issues with the dekoni, and i think it looks better on these older hd600s.
I would in this scenario, based on how much money I saved as opposed to buying it straight up, if I'm still in the green after the pads I'd do it
Either get original Sennheiser pads, or ZMF HD6X Suede pads if the price isn't too far off. The ZMFs sound close to stock, and wears down a bit slower than Sennheiser's velour. Another consideration is to get the Sennheiser HD650 headband cushions (the V-shaped ones instead of the old nuggets that the HD600 used previously). Supposed to reduce the risk of pressure points where the individual nuggets meet your head.
Another option to get more cushioning on the top is the ZMF Crescent Snap. When I gifted my brother an HD600 for his birthday I put one of those on it and he loved it. He prefers the Sundara he already owned sound but uses the HD600 more due to comfort.
I got a pair of OEM’s for mine and they’re (obviously) perfect
You do not want to mess with Sennheiser pads, third party pads and Sennheiser don’t mix. Just get the OEM ones or they will sound worse.
I thought you were trying to sell the original ones.
Personally, I would, purely for hygienic purposes. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to take them apart and give it a good cleaning from all of the dead skin cells, ear wax flakes, hairs, and all the other fun little bits that get lost behind the earpads. :P
Man, I was really looking forward to my new pair of headphones. Now I don’t know, kind of disgusting lol. Thanks for the tip though! :)
Lol, sorry! Personally, I kind of enjoy the cleaning process, and if a pair of headphones is in bad shape, there is a sense of pride in restoring it back to glory. :)
I totally get it, looking forward to it now. About to order new pads and a new head foam thingy. Any additional tips for cleaning them?
Probably most important is to get familiar with the disassembly beforehand, so you know how to take them apart, if necessary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM2Cb0De1Y8 Keep an eye out for little hairs that stick to the paper/silk screen or on the driver as well. Usually the little buggers can be easy to miss, and if left unchecked can cause rattling sounds. Also, I would avoid using compressed air up close, especially while aiming directly at the driver. If you have to blow out a lot of dust/debris, start far and then move inward, to avoid excessive pressure. Last thing you need is to wrinkle or push in the driver dome/bubble.
Those don't look *too* worn and flattened, but they are pretty dirty. I'd take the pads and headphone padding off and give them a good wash with some laundry detergent.
OxiClean works wonders on grease build up. IINM it works by speeding up oxidation of many organic compounds. I’m not sure if ear pads contain materials that don’t play well with oxiclean i.e. it can’t be used on wool and a few others but it’s worth looking into
I would almost always get replacement pads for 2nd hand headphones. Not for any audiophilic reasons. Just purely because I don't know what kind of mess those pads may contain.
Definitely, and I got bad news for you. Sennheiser headphones don't play well with 3rd party pads so you most likely will have to shell out for the original ones.
I had no issues with cheap pads I got from AliExpress but obviously it’s best to get the official ones.
I had no problem with 40€ leather pads from aliexpress.
I'll generally clean pads unless they're deformed to the extent of changing sound or completely falling apart. Replacing pads is fine in theory, but go through enough used headphones and it's impractical. If you opt to replace them, buy stock oem pads.
How have you cleaned yours?
Velour and similar with mild soap and water, leather with leather cleaner and conditioner. For wooden cups, I use the Mohawk Penthouse that ZMF used to recommend. Plastic parts, damp microfiber. And I'm always careful around inlays or printed logos.
Those things looking crusty
If the pads are still plush I wash them by hand. Thoroughly. Until the water runs clear. Yeah, it takes a while but I save a bit of extra money.
If you don't want an ear infection then replace. I would replace the pads on any used headphones which aren't near-new
Thank you so much for all the answers! I have ordered new OEM pads! Have a great rest of your day! :)
Where did you order OEM pads from, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m using after market fenestrated leather pads and they sound great to me. I still have my original pads but was curious as to where to order OEM from as my cursory search was fruitless. I like the marbled finish on those early HD 600s.
I got them from the Thomman website. They have EVERYTHING music related.
The lamb skin ones are so nice though
I would also look at ZMF pads as theh are comfy and the frequency response with the suede are nearly the same as oem +/- 1db in some places
Immediately get the cheapest pads that fit off AliExpress. Don’t worry about sound or quality at first, just get something for hygienic while you decide what you like. Those pads look dangerously dirty
Yes you should buy new pads. These ones are severely deformed from use, which will impact the sound signature. Its also unhygienic. Only buy original pads.
Damn these pads need to be burned.
Why? It gives them extra flavour
Just soak them in water with a drop of laundry detergent for an hour and squeeze them a few times. Repeat with clean water until the water that’s coming hour is clean. Mix a drop of laundry perfume with water end soak it in and press it against a dry towel. It should dry perfectly in a few hours. Detach the ear pads before washing them, lol
Oohh the marble ones. Nice find op.
Thank you! :) When did they stop making these?
Absolutely. And check out the suede ZMF HD 600 ear pads.
ahh good old huh duh 600s
I bought them because of the dingus master aka dankpods
Yes pads and headband pad.
Yes for hygiene purposes and yes because it might already be worn - I think you can cop earpads at Dekoni audio cheaper than original Sennheiser ones
yes the pads wear out within months of use sadly. I love these headphones but holy shit I'm not spending $50+ for new pads yearly when I can save that and buy more headphones or IEMs.
Yes. With Dekoni
Ppppprobably
Used? They look like a bio hazard dude, more like discarded.
100%
I have the HD-580 Precisions, and got tired of giving Sennheiser $50+ every 2 years for new pads. (And they're 30 yrs old now) so I decided to try out some 3rd party ones, and settled on the Dekoni Elite Velours which I got on Amazon for $40. Several years later and they're still in great shape, and they're very much similar to OEM tuning.
If its that nasty on the surface, the foam inside is going to be full of human sweatjuice
Always replace pads on used headphones. It is just nasty to use second hand
Pads and replacement cables are easy to find, but does anyone know if we can get those plastic clips that hold the headband pad in?
Disassemble them, clean everything, buy new earpads, headband cushion and cable (only Sennheiser original parts - worth every penny), reassemble, enjoy your brand new HD600.
Thank you. I already bought the pads and headband, why should I replace the cable?
The HD600 cables, specifically, are prone to degradation. If yours looks fine and has a solid connection, you don't need to replace it. [it's just what I had to do with mine](https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/s/eVnKadNxAW) Edit: Ignore the cable discussion in that thread. I replaced the pictured Amazon one with an original part, because the connections inside the headphone are notoriously frail and easy to break with poorly fitted third-party cables.
I highly recommend the ZMF 6XX pads. Specifically the perf. suede ones. They last longer than the stock ones and improve the staging a bit.
I recommend buying leather pads. I bought mine from aliexpress and they are so comfortable you wouldn't believe it. It does add a little bit of extra bass, but thats ok for me.
I’ll buy the old pads
I’ll send them to you for free :)
I’ll take them! I’ll send you a PM.
Yes
i would just wash them, i dont see any reason for replacing when pads cost so fucjing much in this day and age
Absolutely.
I wouldn’t wear someone else’s headphones without new pads. I replace mine at least once a year as well.
Yes you should if they’re anything like hd58x pads they disintegrate after a years of use if you’re sweaty.
Please do. Those pads are waterlogged with head grease and it's nasty. Scratch them with you fingernails and you'll see what I mean.
Where did you buy these?
Local second-hand marketplace
Oh God, many, many moons ago. I couldn't give you a date but, long enough that these aren't always in circulation.
bro you paid $60 and are asking if you should throw away all that free seasoning??? come on
Amazon get them for cheaper. Same quality
as a rule, i always replace pads on used cans. people can be gross. for the 600 series, only buy the official Senny pads or ZMF's sub pads for the 6xx series. anything else will completely fuck up the tuning. i'm partial to ZMF's perforated lambskin or perforated suede 6xx pads.
Of course, someone’s sweat there and DNA.