Don Quichotte

Well, I've read that newbie "welcome message", so... Funny is that 8 years ago when I joined the other forum I had also been lurking for more than a full year before.

I'm surprised to see a thread dedicated to the Stax old vs. new pads issue. It's a good thing, IMO, because unlike some other users I have a pretty strong preference for the old pads with foam, despite the foam durability issue. So I think people should know that, at least according to these ears: 1. old pads > new pleather pads (foam removed from the old pads, both using the same cloth from the new pads package) 2. foam > cloth 3. and old pads with foam >> new pleather pads with cloth I posted about these things in detail on the other forum, do a little search if you like because I'm too lazy to do it myself right now. I must add that I did compare the pads a lot, for several weeks, in my home with my phones. At least another user on the aforementioned forum, namely EddieE, confirmed my preference for the old pads with foam, adding that the 507 real leather pads (with cloth as well) sound better than both.

Sorry for resurrecting a 3 weeks old issue, but I've just read this and I have a hypothesis. I have used my 303's without earpad foam for many hours last year and it made an obvious difference. While in my system and to my ears it was overall not as nice sounding as with the foam, technically speaking it was superior: more precise, more transparent, more detailed at least in the mids and highs. The bass was seriously diminished, though, surprisingly much so. Perhaps with a much better amp and source one could prefer them without foam. Have you listened to a 303/404 with the new style pads with the woven cloth removed?