Sent a PM to @third_eye to volunteer. Looking forward to trying a few more ZMF headphones this year. Might bring my modded THX00 to compare!

Many thanks to @AnAnalogSpirit for the tips on modding. OOB - muddy, closed-in, restrained. Took off the rear clear sticky disc - immediate improvement in the mids and treble but still muffled. Cut a disc out of the front pad foam - treble restored, really clear, no sibilance or harshness...

Many thanks @BillyZee for this pictorial guide. I have successfully MMCX balanced my TH-X00 with these connectors. The only fiddly bit for me was trying to solder the grounds to the connector - I just wrapped the wire around the thread and tightened the nut on it. Balancing makes the sound...

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They are 100mm or 105mm circular pads, no problem getting the attenuator and fixing ring on. They have a rectangular earhole - I originally bought them to try on my T50RPs.

Tried the knockoff THX00 AE pads - slightly larger earhole than stock pads, softer foam. I used 3D printed mounting rings and attenuators from thingiverse - it's the attenuator that gives the deeper sub bass and more mid bass than without. Overall though, there is a loss of sparkly treble, whole...

Whilst waiting impatiently for the bits and pieces to MMCX balance my X00, I decided to have a go at tuning. I looked at the Lawton gear and tried my own: 6cm disc of flash tape into the cup - no change by itself. Added a 5cm felt disc (actually a furniture leg felt disc to protect your...

I'm coming round to your analysis. The pads I tried I had hanging around but I don't really want another rabbit hole.... The original pads that came with are in pretty good shape.

I think these are the ones I bought. If not, I'll get these as well. If Zack comes to CanJam London I'll take my THX00 to the show and try them out. He should have some T50RP cups for me as well....

Tried some AE knockoffs of the Brainwavzs HM5 angled pads - lovely fit but loss of that sweet sweet subbass (probably due to increased pad depth) and elevated treble at the limit of comfort. Tried flat leather internally perforated pads, similar but boomier midbass. Tried a pair of DT770 velour...

Just picked up a pair of TH-X00 Mahogany from Ebay - love the sound. Deep bass, not overwhelming. Crispy treble and thinnish mids but I can live with that. Shame the pads are so hard and painful I get face ache almost immediately. I've got a few pairs of AE softer pads that I'll roll once I get...

I was really surprised too, that's what I thought initially but the test was fine. I had glued up the original 3.5mm socket as it is effectively another bass port and I think some of the cotton wool had shifted around. Once I opened them up and adjusted the cotton wool everything was good.

1 minute fast headphone test

I always check any modded headphones with a 1 minute fast headphone test on YouTube. Steering, phase and polarity were fine.

The journey continues... I decided to balance my X2HRs with a 3.5mm 4 pole PCB mount socket as I had an extra 3.5mm-4.4mm cable I made for my T50RPs (that's why there's a right angle jack). I love balancing work - I have balanced all of the headphones in my signature. Panel mount 3.5mm /...