Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio - Blogs - FLACvest's Any Manner Of Things... by FLACvest

JUST got FLAC working on my T-Mobile G-1 (HTC Magic) Android Phone...

FLACvest — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:20:41 GMT

Sounds really VERY GOOD!!

I'm again, now that I can hear what uncompressed 16-bit FLAC sounds like, am quite impressed with the audio quality and character of this Handset.

The UI of the Music app is quite good for ANY Music player. It will be the fifth "DAP" (I suppose) that I own...

1) COWON D2 Classic 16GB Black [Sold]

2) iPhone 3G 8GB Black [Sold]

3) COWON O2 32GB Black [RMA]

4) iRiver iHP-120

5) T-Mobile G-1 (HTC Magic) Android Handset

I've mentioned the Sound Character before to other's as "Bamboo-ish" in the Timbre, and "Soft Hitting" in the Bass Attitude, and "Welcoming" in the Overall Atmosphere. You could say it's a very relaxing experience to listen to this Android Device's Musical Playback capabilities...

Very Fun.

SO WORTH "root"ing, "flash"ing, and getting to know and "own" my Handset...

JUST for FLAC.

Although I'm experienced enough at Linux, getting used to the Android experience, and all the different (and lets face it, some of them were bad, guides) made for a trying experience...

HOWEVER,

I'm using the CyanogenMod 3.9.7 which is shaping up to be pretty good. Is reported as very stable, everyone's pretty pleased with it (the userbase of the CyanogenMod, I mean).

I used THIS guide located HERE:

Beginners Guide For Rooting Your Android G1 To Install Cupcake*|*Android and Me

Also using these tools:

root.apk by Mike Moussa

HTC Radio Image ota-radio-2.22.19.26I

Latest SPL

cm-recovery-1.4.zip by Cyanogen

LASTLY I installed the CyanogenMod 3.9.7:

update-cm-3.9.7-signed.zip

Haven't done anything "Crazy" JUST wanted a "Normal" Handset Experience "With FLAC, TM" on my T-Mobile G-1...

Hope some of this helps those of you keen enough to have gotten on the Android (?DroidWagon??) and get you enjoying 16-bit FLAC on your Android Device!!

Bon Appetit!

How does one start up a TEAM here on Head-Fi.org??

FLACvest — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:32:27 GMT

YO! got wood? then I want to TEAM up with you! If there isn't a dedicated TEAM wood-fi then there ought to be!

Let me know how to do this properly!!

Does there need to be like a Headphonus Supremus sponsor or something?? I dont know how the Head-Fi club really works yet as I just got over my 100th post recently!! (xcited about that!!) and I want to get more involved in the community.

I am really really _really_ enjoying the Victor HP-FX500 wood dome & housing Dynamic Driver IEMs and would like to kick off Team wood-fi...

Please help!

RE: Beyerdynamism...

FLACvest — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:15:58 GMT

Pretty isn't it? I wonder how it stacks up to the audio-gd compass with the earth module... Made in Deutschland... Nice enough 849.00 ouch! The compass is the better, yet less stylistic deal here. Stylistically I could hump this thing's leg and get it a bone and play fetch with it all day long... w00f!!

Oh and thanks to some careful reviewers of my musical genre choice in my "Quest for Beyerdynamism" thread, I think I've narrowed my needs down to the Bassiest of the Beyerdynamics. Beyerdynamic; say that three times fast!! Anyway, it is the one with the Bass Reflex system, and has the Closed sound which should prevent me from hearing any annoying knocks on my locked door. I've never been into closed sound, but my cousin Juan is really really into it and extoles the virtues of it to me. Besides I already have the Grado SR60, and the modded, cored out ports of the little v-moda bass-freq in bling bling black when i want really open sound. So I guess closed sound can't hurt.

Here's what the stock Premium 600 ohm DT770 look like:

Bon Appetit!

Remembering the PAIN of being IRRESPONSIBLE WITH MY MUSIC COLLECTION!

FLACvest — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:44:45 GMT

See this post:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f9/how...ml#post5766090

And weep at how I lost the cornerstone of every album I had collected on CD since Junior High Scool. My entire Nine Inch Nails collection. Ministry. gone just like _that_... Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, The Sliver Soundtrack, Neneh Cherry, so MANY others...

200 in total. All pre Electronic Music. Gone. Just like _that_. It's hard not to bust out in tears just writing about this right now. Stupidest thing I EVER did. Taking my CDs in my car with me that day...

Went to the My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult & The Bomb Gang Girls show, with Zeromancer opening, and Pigface in tow, and it was a great industrial show, but... My trunk lock failed. I had to lock my Backpack, my friendses backpacks and m musick up in the cabin of the car... and the rest is Pure PAIN.

I'm considering a Beyerdynamic Full Sized Headphone, but which model???

FLACvest — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:14:27 GMT

My Quest for Beyerdynamism begins today! See below!

Here's the post:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/im-...4/#post5720403

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLACvest

Hi Everyone,

To be truthful I <3 my IEMs, BUT there are times when I want a less "invasive" experience. Also I read about Moon Audio's NEW Variable Cable Mod for the Beyerdynamic DT990, DT880, and DT770 models, whereby you can have them custom designed at beyerdynamic MANUFAKTUR*-*MANUFAKTUR Build Your Own and have them sent directly to Moon Audio for recabling!!! I have a Black Dragon Interconnect and love what it did for my Sound Quality: It's just full and BIG and different than my Silver iBasso CB01 Interconnect. That got me interested in Cable Qualities, etc...

I have a variety of musical palettes, or moods for listening: sometimes in the mood to listen to the bass, sometimes the mids, sometimes the analytics of the treble. I like bass hum rather than punch, and "bass-ey treble" rather than "sharp treble"... Mids I prefer to be full and detailed.

So here we get to the meat of the issue, I've read about the Beyerdynamics a bit, and compared to the other fullsize cans, whereby I have firsthand experience with Sony (tepid response from me; preferred the factory fresh stuff over the broken in stuff, the V6 over the newer-fangled DJ expensive stuff) Sennheiser 650 (HATED it!!!) and Grado SR60 (bored by it, but keep it as a "reference" along with my etymotic ER*4-P) I'm looking for this new Experience.

So folks, I submit to you with the above requirements and preferences which ones do you think are best suited? Why? Detailed descriptions welcome!! :-D

I will be using it with a COWON O2PMP, or my Auzen X-Meridian which has the Texas Instruments Burr-Brown OPA627AU OP-AMPs on all 4 channels.

I have only portable amps, for now, and wonder what would be an appropriate amp to get... with this Headphone I don't mind a Home Only system. I know the Headphones come in 32ohm, 250ohm, and 600ohm flavours, and want to know which ones give the ultimate in fidelity, and what it takes to drive them?

Any reccomendations for Yours Truly?? Don't be shy...

As you can see I have maxed out my IEM collection pretty much: I think the Victor HP-FX500's will be the last pair I NEED to buy unless I get a pair of Atrios or UE's at some point... but alas I'd rather go for a bit DIFFERENT listening Experience.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions and reccomendations!

Just got the Shure Olives Medium Black Foam Sleeves... Pairs well with Sleek Audio SA-6!!

FLACvest — Thu, 07 May 2009 23:13:49 GMT

Hello,

In my Everquest (not that I played the game, just heard how addicting it was) for perfect rendition of articulate Musical Sound, I ordered a few different tips this month.

One of them was the Comply whic work well with the v-moda bass freq, T-200, their supposed to work for the JVC HA-FX300 but I couldn't get them on. Fooey.

On to the Shure Olives... Wow. As nice and very different than the Phonak Audeo PFE Silicone Tips. Very different. These animals really fill up the bass drum ear drum for the dumb dumb. Don't Laugh. Too hard, anyway...

These fit well with the Sleek Audio Treble Stems. In fact they Lock On Tight. So, I'd suggest buying a pack of your favourite stems, and trying the Fabric Diaphragm mod on them... Cuz They WORK FANTASTICALLY WELL With Them!!

I have heard Well Rendered Treble with the Phonak Tips and the Fabric Diaphragm Mod, but this time with the Shure Olives, I've heard what would have to be called no, not "rolled off" treble, but "BASSY TREBLE" [!!] wow... Distinct, clear, as _black_ as any plugged in, fully amped, IEM, no-noise on the line, CD-source, perfect audio reproduction black sound (as in zero on the levels) absence of tone black depth. Nice. With treble that c-r-a-w-l-s up out of that with perfectly modeled resolution, and enough speed to feel special.

The sparkle doesn't hurt with all that yummy midbass up around it to round it out. I've listened to it with my reference FLAC, Orbital's "Doctor" (the Doctor Who theme song remix) off of 'The Altogether' disc one.

Colour me impressed.

Make sure if doing the Fabric Diaphragm Mod to use 2 strips of adequate length to cover the Sleek Audio treble stem from side to side (tall wise) and have the strips be at least 6 mm wide. For adhesive I used Nail Finishing Gel Acrylic. You can experiment with Krazy Glue, etc. Just let the "O" of the treble stem mouth seal to the Diaphragm Fabric for at least 2 hours before trying to lock it into the Shure Olive Foamie Sleeve, as it _will_ exert some pressure on the seal before going over and while sliding down the treble stem before locking in place.

I myself am very very very happy with this new "tip" for my Sleek Audio SA-6 IEM System.

My Audio Fingerprint is Still "Homespun" just now a bit of a tossup... the "Homespun a la Phonak" or "Homespun a la Shure" fingerprint...

Decisions Decisions...

Best in Any Manner Of Things To Ya!!!

Me in O2PMP reflection while taking Photos of Sleek Audio SA-6 IEM System...

FLACvest — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:07:46 GMT

And Here's the Shot:

Phonak Audeo PFE Silicone Tips... All Yuor Tips Are Belong To Us!

FLACvest — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:32:22 GMT

"What You Say?

We Get Signal.

Ha Ha Ha!

Yuor way is to destruction!

All Yuor Tips Are Belong To Us!"

- jokingly excerpted from A.Y.B.A.B.T.U.

Anyway...

So I've basically converted my entire collection of IEM earphones over to using Phonak Audeo Silicone Sleeve Tips this morning... They're great at cleanliness, bass articulation and rendering due to some sort of magicalness in the density or elasticity of the silicone material, nod to Phonak's Audeo group, and they play well with others.

IEMs that have been 'modded':

Phonak Audeo PFE 122 IEMs (medium size to fit in the PRE canal)

Sleek Audio SA-6 IEMs (small to fit IN the canal)

etymotic ER*4-P IEMs (small size to fit DEEP IN the canal)

v-moda bass freq IEMs (medium size to fit in the PRE canal)

What I Like: The Bass and Midtone RENDITION as well as the articulate _wIgGgLLy_ treble.

Smoothie piano like range and elastometric soundfont on the Phonak Audeo PFE 122 IEMs.

Silky humming ported amped bass cabinet speaker truck setup with the Sleek Audio SA-6 IEMs

Kindly yet densely HaRsH rendition well kempt with the etymotic ER*4-P... like a driving 303 kick drum, classic! IEM goodness tempered with a stretchier gummier celing. an IMPROVEMENT over the pain my smaller canals felt with the stock sized flanges (silicone) and less painful but shorter lasting foam tips that were a pain that I went through like cigarettes (i don't smoke).

v-moda bass freq: Here's a HAPPY 'lil camper for 'ya. DEFINITE audio GRADE improvement, enhancement, enmellowment and rendition improvement overall, as well as a slight comfort and cleanliness improvement. Although the default silicone BLISS material from v-moda is great, the stuff from the Audeo group at Phonak is just plain SPECIAL and MUSICAL it's an Order finer in its wigglability and capacity to move with the harmonics of the music and create subharmonics with the music. Great Great stuff this is. On my favourite traveling companions the bass which sounds so big and round and deep gets smoother and bouncier. LUV it.

Phonak's Audeo group also releases some Silicone Ear guides which work excellently with the:

Phonak Audeo PFE 122 IEMs: very comfortable! a Treat!

and

surprisingly well with:

v-moda bass freq IEM earphones... :

they AIM the earphones MAGICALLY right into my ear canal and bop me in the ear drum with pinpoint precision. No more sloppy aiming which was a problem with the default positioning and BLISS tips... no slop! FAN-effing-tastic! Like a high caliber listening room, from _i know_ inexpensive heavily copper-dense, ported, deep-bass (down to 8Hz) IEM earphones. Go v-moda!

I feel like a cheerleader. whoops! a baloon under my shirt just popped! The LEFT one. HOW embarrassing. *shame* erm... *wilt* *running away* *hiding*

Hope You Found this Any Manner of Amusing or Useful...

SUPER PORTING your Sleek Audio SA-6 Bass Port Caps... + EDIT

FLACvest — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:29:05 GMT

NOW I've thought of a good reason to have my "=" Bass Port Caps around: Modding...

Here's the skinny, or is it pH@tty on SUPERporting the Sleek Audio SA-6:

BE VERY CAREFUL:

Use Scissors if you're not a Super Careful Crafts Person, or have someone do this for you instead:

Take your "=" Bass Port Cap, and cut halfway up the back, through the rear of the tube. Then fold the tube out of the way, and cut the Rear of the Cap off, so you have only half of the cap wall left.

You should see a big half circle hole now when you look at your Bass Port Cap from the top.

You want to still have the "=" symbol remaining or you risk the newly modded cap not coming off your resonating chamber.

Do So AT YOUR OWN RISK.

EDIT:

For a silky-er eXperience I now use the following setup with the Sleek's (as I find people like to call their SA-6 IEM's):

Sleek Audio "+" Treble Stems || adorned with Phonak Audeo Small Silicone Ear Tips || Sleek Audio SA-6 Housings / Chambers || Sleek Audio "+" Bass Port Caps (with the filter packing popped out, easy enough to do, they're rubber , just bend and the filter packings can be pried out - no glue) bassier rendition - open air " bass port" (does this qualify as a "++" bass port??) || Sleek Audio Cables (there IS a wireless (RF option I believe) )...

The HARSH ness I was getting out of EVERY source was effing up my perception of Music with the "++" Treble Stems... I no likey after giving the "-" Treble Stems, then subsequently the single "+" Treble Stems a go round. Now my ears feel like I'm not in the dog or bat realm of sonar. I would swear I could hear dolphins chattering out at sea in my dreams. No kidding I had a dolphin dream last night! anypoo...

I like the "+" Treble Stem rendition a tad smidgen better. It feels less tweeky, I'm already intensely treble literate already. If you feel a lack of treble rendering in your personal hearing system (biological) by all means try the "++" stems. They are quite a unique tonal rendering. I will be playing with them when I lose more hearing as I get OLDer. It's nice to know I don't need them yet.

And the Phonak Audeo PFE Small Silicone Ear Tips. Make MUCH better eXperience for me than did even the COMPLY Foam Tips (I tried those because the setup of the Sleek SA-6 resembeled the etymotic ER-series IEMs, and the COMPLY Foam Tips made ALL the difference there). Silky. Smooth. NOT kinky. Promise.

Just exemplary material for audio rendering. It shivers with the soundwaves better than the v-moda BLISS silicone material IMHO.

...and with the Small sized tips they slide right in my ear canals (you may need Medium or Large tips depending on the size of your particular ear canal but I dobut it)... Making for a Perfect Fit Experience! Comfy, Filling, yet not TOO MUCH large or pressuresome or pushy-out-ish on the inner surface of my ear canals. It doesn't feel like I've had some Navy Skipper park a Battleship in My Friggin Ear, OK! Mind out of the Gutter PuhLease! ;-)

So I now have a Sleek (feeling and sounding) companion and analogue to my Phonak Audeo PFE IEMs and for my COWON O2PMP, and I'm sure it will at last image from my very nice Auzen X-Meridian High Definition Sound Card Very Very nicely. Thanks to everyone at: COWON, Phonak, Audeo, Sleek Audio, Auzen, Texas Instruments, Burr-Brown, etymotic, v-moda, Grado Labs, HeadRoom Corporation, Wolfsom, C-Media, Gentoo Foundation, etc, ad infinitum, oh and the folks who connected me to WordPress: the people who make WordPress happen, and my friend Vincent who gave me the nerve and confidence to put word to web and create Any Manner Of Things... Last but not least, the Anything But iPod folks who helped me find COWON and the D2, and now the O2PMP, and the crowd at iAUDIOPHILE forums for posting and lending a helpful ear and word or three of interest and encouragement and well, for posting Any Manner Of Thing COWON and iAUDIO and AUDIOPHILE. Bestest!

damb I feel Like I Won An OSCAR!

Here's the original recipe post:

Here's a post I placed on the iAUDIOPHILE Forums where I guess I was eargasming again over a new set of 'phones... This time I like them better with a player than with the Audio Card, but hey, they sound good plugged into the 'pewter too. It's just that they seem, for lack of better words: _designed_ for the O2PMP from COWON's iAUDIO line of Flash RAM based PMP's (Personal Media Players)... See Below:

I'm EnJOYing my O2PMP even MORE now... New IEMs seem like a DREAM for the O2PMP

I _finally_ recieved (I know, you're all barfing from looking at my sig right now thinking I have major toy problems or MPD syndrome with my preferences on sound rendering) a pair of Sleek Audio SA-6 IEMs to play with.

Wow, talk about a weird experience to cap off a great day.

So many little configurable pieces. Just like Linux and its kernel modules... Mix and Match...

In the end I found a recipe that rivals my joy experienced with the Phonak Audeo PFE 122's for their discerning highs and whisperingly elastic bass, though the bass profile is WAY different on the SA-6's...

Also the joy found from sheer BASSology (but not as round, bouncy or warm... I swear they melt a nickel's worth of pennies down for enough copper for the insides of a pair of v-moda bass freqs) that sounds like a ported truck bass cabinet... in a way...

Here's the config I settled on:

wired, not wireless (which is a cool option to have available!), the Treble ++ tips, capped with Phonak Audeo Comply Foam Medium Tips, not the REALLY painful default dual flange thingies that come with the Sleek's (I learned to hate flanges from my etymotics). As for the bass port cap:

I chose a choice between the + (bassiest) and the absence (yikes! nude!) of a bass cap as it had more hum and BIGger (not more kick) sound in the bottom end of the spectrum. But in the end I thought: why expose (No pun intended!) the delicate contacts inside to the elements? so I fiddled with the bass + caps and the filters wedged inside them just wiggle right out if you pry them out: so I chose to mod them to open-air unfiltered porting, albeit more protected than completely bare.

They now have QUITE a hefty bit of authority in the punch and kick drum department and so much more of an articulate hum than when left totally "nude" or wide open. I'm a happy camper.

My O2PMP settings are:

EQ: POP, BBE: 10, Mach 3 Bass: 2, MPEnhance: ON, 3DStereo: 4

Firmware : USA 1.25C

I think I've found a match made in bliss. I was planning on amping my O2PMP with a HeadRoom Total AirHead, but I'm now getting enough volume due to lowered impedance in the Sleek SA-6 IEM's to *turn down* the volume from 50 or 45 to something more _reasonable_....

Go figure.

Just thought I'd share my lil piece of heaven with you.

I'm having a tough time going to bed my ears are having so much gosh-darned fun!!!

Best to ya!

__________________
Best in Any Manner Of Things...
-FLACvest

[ACTIVE]
COWON O2PMP BLACK 32GB
Phonak Audeo PFE 122 w/ NO FILTERS, ear guides & silicone tips
etymotic ER*4-P
v-moda bass freq rocker red
Grado SR-60

[RETIRED]
COWON D2 BLACK 8GB
etymotic ER*4-S
HeadRoom Cosmic Traveler Amp
HeadRoom Micro Amp
HeadRoom Micro DAC

[WISHLIST]
Headphile Modded Jaktoba Cherry Terminator V4 Beyerdynamic DT880's BlackGold
AKG 701
Sleek SA-6 IEM
HeadRoom Portable Desktop Amp

I guess when I mentioned "truck bass cabinet" I was referring to those "kicker" bass cabinets... they're "yummm" 'ported' and the bass is "ooooh" 'filtered' or in this case... it is 'UNfiltered' so it just 'breathes'...

Ah well. I'm goofy. And YOU. You enjoy. Stay withinside or withoutside the specs retain or void your warranty at your

ER*4-P with COMFORTABLE TIPS: What and Wherer to Buy...

FLACvest — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:23:45 GMT

Hi Folks,

This time I had the crazy Idea, boy I really really really hate the triple flange silicone tips on my Etymotic ER*4-P IEMs... And so I swapped them out for the foam plugs. Which worked until I remembered that it felt like a cadillac was being crammed into my ear canal. UGH. So I thought, well... ...the Phonak Audeo's come with Comply Foam eartips... I wonder if I can swap the Etymotic foams for those. I had already tried swapping the silicone tips of the Etymotic type with the Phonak Audeo type with no success, so I was a mite skeptical. Not familiar with these techical marvels? Find more info here:

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.aspx

Oddly enough the 'straw' size of the plastic tubes inside the foam tips were nearly identical in size, so I tried them on the stems of the Etymotic ER*4-P's. To my surprise they JUST BARELY FIT.

Now for the test that tells all, will they expand to seal properly inside the ear canal and provide BASS and the Ety sound???

BINGO!!! YEA! They Do!. If anything they are a tiny tiny smidgen louder because all the way in, the filter of the stem is a tad farther in than they would be than with either of the Etymotic tips. I can hear a bit more high pitch twinge of sound instrumentation with them than normal which makes them sound a bit Ety+

The Bass Signature is Just Fine for an ER*4P, and the FEEL is W-O-R-L-D-S more Comfy.

This mod is highly reccomended by yours truly. I might actually keep my Etymotics instead of selling them like I had planned. The BASS sounds great when amplified by either an Auzen Tech X-Meridian (or similar) audio card with swappable OP-AMPs upgraded to Texas Instruments Burr-Brown OPA627AU OP-AMPs which are excellent for classical music, display very good open instrumentation, are quite bassy, with a rich smoothness that drools high end hi-fi stereo quality, and great detail across the broad spectrum, as well as posessing an extremely fluid and MUSICAL quality to them. Now, if you don't have one of these boards, or can't get your mits on one, you CAN get another Auzen Tech board that has upgradeable OP-AMPS such as the X-Plosion, etc...

http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...ion_cinema.php

OR you can look up HeadRoom at:

http://www.headphone.com

and get an amp and DAC combo that will work for your budget and tastes. They know their audio, and Mike O. really knows his tech. I talk to him frequently. There's cool things available like these OP-AMPs in the amps, and some really nice DACs (Digital Audio Converters) which hook up to USB > Digital CoAxial > TosLink Optical (TosLink being best quality) bypassing the soundcard and processing the digits from your audio stream then feed it to the yummy OP-AMPs in the Amplifier to give you PRISTINE, Beautiful, Audiophile, Stereophonic grade sound from ANY computer. Windows, Mac, Linux... Bring It.

So that covers how I like to mate bass to the Etymotic signature microphonic extreme bright treble detail. They'll basically stay clear and true and soak up whatever bass you throw their way with a balanced proportion, as a good headphone/earphone should in an ideal world!, and let the user customize the sound staging with the setup, aka, amps, dacs, filters, eqs, etc...

So... If you happen to be lucky enough to own the FANTASTICALLY Graciously supported Etymotic In Ear Monitors, be they ER*4-S, ER*4-P, ER*6, etc... (Made in the USA btw) enjoy them better with the OH so COMFY Comply foam ear tips available from Swiss Made Audeo, brought to you by Phonak at:

http://store.audeoworld.com/shared/S...t=products.asp

EDIT: I also very much like the Small Silicone Phonak Audeo Sleeves which seal AMAZINGLY WELL.
ARE COMFORTABLE. AND DONT GUNK UP...

Signature

FLACvest — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:25:38 GMT

* COWON O2PMP BLACK 32GB
http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/cowon/o2/
http://iaudiophile.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=84
http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t=26321

* Sleek Audio SA-6 (w/ cable, "+" Treble Stems adorned w/ Audeo Sm Silicone Tips,
"+" Bass Port Caps (with filter packing removed for extra breathing and bigger bass image)

Fabric Driver Mod

* JVC HA-FX300R (adorned w/ Audeo Sm Silicone Tips)

Fabric Driver Mod

* Phonak Audeo PFE 122 (w/ NO FILTERS, Audeo Silicone Ear Guides, & Audeo Silicone Tips)

Fabric Driver Mod

* etymotic ER*4-P (w/ Audeo Comply Foam Tips)

Fabric Driver Mod

* Grado SR-60 (stock)

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/blogs/flacvest/

http://www.amot.wordpress.com/

Speaker Cone Diaphragm Fabric "Driver" Mod for IEMs, both Dynamic and Balanced Armature type... Try It!

FLACvest — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:56:13 GMT

Hello All,

After the tremendous successes I've had testing out these modifications, I've made them permanent on quite a few of my IEM models; the JVC HA-FX300R, The Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphone, The Sleek Audeo SA-6 2009 edition, and the etymotic ER*4-P...

I originally was inspired by JVC's wood diaphragm in the Victor HB-FX500 "woodies" after seeing a diagram of their driver assembly and thought , well why not use a paper cone? So I was able to use a cap on the treble stems held in place by the Phonak Audeo Silicone Tips locked in place to act as a speaker cone diaphragm made of Receipt Paper, letting it become brighter as needed and speedier, too, by allowing air to pass through micro perforations made with a sewing needle.

That was the basis for the Mod's redefinition today: Using the fabric that holds paper speaker cones together in real speakers as the diaphragm material.

What a SMASHING SUCCESS!!!

My IEMs sound easily $100 to $200 bucks more expensive, and more like stereo speakers than headphones.

In addition the Balanced Armature model IEMs have the best of both world sound characteristics... the airy treble and precision of a balanced armature, and the layered bass subwoofing of a real dynamic driver. YUM!!

The JVC Bi-Metal HA-FX300R's sound like a total Hi-Fi sound setup, 2.0 Stereo System nestled inside my skull rather than IEMs. They pound the crap out of any BIG BOY Can I've EVER had resting on my head.

I believe that's due to the direct funneling and amazing design of the Bi-Metal Driver, coupled with the Fabric Driver Diaphragm stretched over the treble nozzle, effectively making it a dual-dynamic driver.

I'm going to be very judicious as to whether or not to micro perforate the JVC's Fabric Diaphragm Mod, as it already has enough sparkle in the treble. It could open the mids if I did very tiny pinpricks, maybe four.

How to acheive the Modifications:

1) Obtain a good speaker, smallish size. I repurposed a dead SONY Bookshelf system's speaker for this purpose.

2) Open the Speaker, with whatever tools are necessary, I only needed screwdrivers...

3) Remove the Speaker Driver from the Wooden or Plastic Housing: You just want the fabric diaphragm & paper cone.

4) Use an X-Acto knife and cut that stuff carefully (so as to avoid injury to self and material) from the Speaker Driver (you'll need to free the paper and the fabric from the center of the Cone and the edge of the Frame.

5) Once free, you'll want to cut squarish sections for your IEM nozzles from the surrounding Diaphragm Fabric surrounding the Paper Cone.

6) Use Krazy Glue, Liquid Skin (which I used) or anything that bonds anything to anything quickly...

7) For Example we'll cover the JVC HA-FX300 series Bi-Metal Dynamic Driver IEM.

8) Use the X-Acto knife to cut the paper covering the nozzles / treble nozzles (after removing the sleeves) from the IEM Drivers.

9) This is similar to the Kramer Mod you'll find on HeadFi.org, but decidedly different...

10) Once free of the stock paper which tore really soon after using the Bi-Metal's anyway, adding a wee bit too much sparkle in the extreme treble range, you'll need to clean the housing of the treble nozzles with denatured alcohol or I suppose rubbing alcohol will do.

11) Make sure the glue that held the paper in place is clear from the rim of the treble nozzles. Scrape with the X-Acto knife if you must.

12) If you scraped, or sanded, please re-clean with alcohol.

13) Make sure your piece of Diaphragm Fabric is Oversized for the rim of the treble nozzle of the Bi-Metal.

14) OK, now use the glue/bonding material of choice and apply copiously (i.e. generously) to the rim of the treble nozzle of the Bi-Metal.

15) Press the Nozzle against the Inside Curved side of the Diaphragm Fabric (Back Side) for at least 60 seconds, and pick up the Fabric which should now be somewhat bonded to the Bi-Metal treble nozzle, and press your finger against it and hold it making sure there's a lot of pressure exerted for a good bond for another 60 - 120 seconds. Good.

16) Now Do the Other Driver's treble nozzle...

17) Let the bond settle for around 2 to 3 hours.

18) Now it's time to glue down the extra fabric in a foldover/circular pattern until satisfied with the overall shape and security of the gluedown.

19) I suggest gluing 2 opposing sides at a time so your finger and thumb pressure gets the job done quicker.

20) About 3 min for each "pair" of bonds here... Don't go quickly, you'll only risk the fabric lifting, and get frustrated if you peel it off the treble nozzle completely. Be patient!!

21) After both Drivers have the Diaphragm Fabric glued down totally to the treble nozzles all the way around, it's time to use some Clear Nail Polish to seal the fabric bonds down && recuce any likelihood of the new Diaphragm Fabric Driver Mod from ever coming free. We want a permanent thing here.

22) Once coated with 2 or 3 heavy coats which have sit well enough (dry to touch) between each coat, Let the IEMs sit & cure for a Day or Two before further modification. We want that Polish to cure.

23) Once cured, we want to use a sharp skinny pointed needle and put four very tiny micro-holes in a square pattern in the center of the new Fabric Diaphragm. ONLY do this if the volume coming out of them is very low from your player/source, or if the highs/treble sounds muffled.

24) A safe and sane way to approach this is to try one hole total, then four holes total, then 8 holes total, then if still not enough, punch a full needle diameter hole in the center of the diaphragm. The volume should go up as well as top end sparkle in a big way. but the other micro perforations should give enough mid to counteract and provide a smooth tonal range for your musical pleasure.

25) For Tips: Use the Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphone Silicone Tips in the size that provides the best seal for your canal. I use the Small size. Its easy enough to get them on the JVC Bi-Metal: THEY STRETCH A LOT!! Peel back the rounded part so it is inside out, then push & force the end of the Phonak Tip over the very edge of the rather large treble nozzle of the JVC Bi-Metal and force the Phonak Tip up, around, & over the JVC nozzle. It'll wiggle on when you push gently with enough even pressure. It stays on tight too.

26) You could use other Tips if you like I guess, but You WONT want to go back to other tips after trying the Audeo PFE tips. They're the best out there. Cleanest, Most Musical, Most comfortable, Best sealing. And, they jiggle with the music.

Notes: There�s quite a bit of OVERALL sound quality enhancement, rendition improvement, range smoothing and extension, and bass resonance enhancement, as well as treble detail articulation from these mods. You should really really really consider it!!

Best In Any Manner Of Things!

And Happy Listening!!!

Modified Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphone IEMs

FLACvest — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:25:44 GMT

Hello Again,

I'm a big fan of the Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphone...

I've DONE quite a few things to these midrange priced puppies to trick them out.

I've Ported them by drilling holes into their housing to let them "breathe" as you would have a port in a subwoofer.

I've even proceeded to ballsishly or foolishly bi-port them, by drilling a second set of holes into them where the sound would spill out to the treble-catching portion of the ear, well not lobe, i guess "wing"??

So sound leaks out of them in 3 directions basically. Like a mini stereo rig. a 2.1 setup. Ha Ha Funny.

Onward...

The problem is that they DO sound bassy. But they leak too much treble tone, and are left, "pitchy" as the American Idol judges would critisize...

Now, I've just read some interesting things about the way JVC makes their IEMs. They cover the treble stem with a paper covering of some type.

Kind of like having a paper diaphragm cone in front of another metal diaphragm driver... kinda odd, somewhat interesting.

So I thought what the hay. Paper is cheap...

So I tried the same thing out with the "normal" treble stem or regular "nozzle" end of the Audeo PFE. I tried glueing paper to the rim of the nozzle. With a ported bass (black) filter in place on each of the driver units. Ported? MORE PORTED CRAP to these mods. Yes. I poked a hole in the passive black filter with a needle. To let more bass and as it would be, treble, through. Whilst blocking or filtering most of it out/through the "bass"/black passive filter.

Basically Funneling the air passed from the driver into the ear canal through a tighter hole. Then there's the manually drilled ports which allow the driver assembly to "breathe" as I've converted it into an "OPEN" type driver/armature assembly... Air gets sucked in, and squeezed through a funneled hole. It also passes back through the ports but hey, nothings 1:1 in physics.

So on to the new filter in front of the modded filter. The paper was too thick. I poked a hole with a needle in the center, and since the paper was TOO THICK it FAILED to act as a wiggley giggley diaphragm. it just leaked pitchy trebly noisy bass. ugh.

So I had a brief flash of bryallunce (dyslexic for brilliance!) and thought, vellum? no, Receipt Paper!! That is THIN but not Toilet Paper!! it might work...

Sure enough it kind of did.

However. Yes Caveat Emptor. It also quieted everything and I mean EVERYTHING down A HEAP. fooey.

So I thought If I can Pinprick instead of put full HOLES into the center of the Receipt Paper cone diaphragms... to funnel or "port" the sound aperature just enough... Maybe...

One hole didn't cut it. But an array of four in the center of each one did!!!

I have mini paper cone diaphragm drivers in front of my Audeo PFE's Single Balanced Armature assembly. !! ... Um. Expletive. Neato. It sounds unique too!

Like an older Record Player // Fisher Price Turntable quality layer on top of REALLY CLEAR SOUND from the Audeo PFE as you'd expect, along with the Bigger Bass Imaging, and spaciousness from the extra throws from the biported arrangement caught by the human ear structure itself.

Don't count out the human equation.

Wow. Colour me impressed. I've tamed the pitchy beast, "elastomer" as I've ended up having named the pair of IEM earphones previously. They now have a Victorola flavour on top of that beautiful elastic range. And now they are de-shrilled. Nice!!

Well, The only other thing left to say is that the Medium Silicone Tip is wedging the Reciept Paper Cone Diaphragm in place so I'll prob'ly never be changing these bad boys again.

I'm done.

With this pair anyhoo. anypoo.

I might pick up a second pair and have them recabled or systematically recableable via interconnect sockets/terminators for the cables and be able to EQ or colour the sound via cable type if I can figure out how to DIY or pay for a Modsmith to do it for Moi. That would rock!! I'd really have to consider the placement and size of the port aperatures too, if I did that to the new pair. What I'd really like is to retrofit the Sleek Audio SA-6 Bass Port Cap assembly onto the Audeo PFE. That'd rock! VQ'able, Cable EQ'able New-Oldsound One-Off Craftspieces...

Dreaming a little Dream...

Hope you enjoyed the rant!

Best in Any Manner Of Things...

-FLACvest

My Audio Fingerprint...

FLACvest — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:45:58 GMT

This is a Post regarding the Sleek Audio SA-6 IEM System.

They truly are a Marvel of the IEM world. They really do bring something to the party!!!

The VQ system is fun! it's modular, well thought out, accommodates Any Manner of Listener, and is quite detailed. Oh, and you may as well throw in "neutral" into the mix. As neutral in colour as the chrome that adorns them...

Quite a hefty endorsement, no? Well, I may be new to Head-Fi, but I'm Not new to IEMs. I've been playing that game since Etymotic only had ER*4-S models, and they cost north of $499 USD and required an amp to drive them, because your uber whimpy CD-player just wasn't going to cut the mustard.

We're in a Modern Renaissance of the In Ear Monitor, the Earphone, the Earspeaker, and In-Ear Transducer, and In-Ear Balanced Armature. Culmination? Probably the Sleek Audio SA-6.

Why? The VQ System. The colourless renditon of sound. It's almost too neutral for me... sometimes I need to grab my other IEMs... LOLZ...

Back to task... What else makes the VQ System so successful? Choice, Tunability. You can bass-weight or treble-weight or wideband these puppies (or felines/panthers) as YOU see fit. That's the beauty of it all.

You are given a Toolkit for Listening not simply listening to Music not just sound. sound is what comes out of the source, Audio is what comes out of the Device, but these IEMs are musical Instruments: they play Music to mate to the Instruments inside your skull; the natural drums {most} of us LUCKY humans get to enjoy naturally...

This Toolkit consists of the:
_______________________________________
Treble Stems:
----------------------------------------------------
(++) Treble Stem (black; no filter packing) (I swear I can hear sonar with this one)

(+) Treble Stem (clear; grey filter packing)

(=) Treble Stem (clear; green filter packing)

(-) Treble Stem (clear; yellow filter packing)

________________________________________
Bass Port Caps:
-----------------------------------------------------
(+) Bass Port Cap (hole, yellow filter packing)

(=) Bass Port Cap (flat, rubber cap @ outer end)

(-) Bass Port Cap (hole, rubber cap @ innner end)
________________________________________
Ear Tip Sleeves:
-----------------------------------------------------
(Small) Silicone Dual Flange Sleeve

(Medium) Silicone Dual Flange Sleeve

(Large) Silicone Dual Flange Sleeve
________________________________________
Comply Foam Tips Available:
-----------------------------------------------------
(T-100) Comply Foam Tips (One Size)
________________________________________
Your Choice of Wire/(less) Connector:
-----------------------------------------------------
(Standard Wire Connector)

(Phone Wire Connector) this has a mic & answer button

(Wireless CD-Quality system) for wireless use
________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------
Then there are what I call the 'Essential Mods' which you can do without ruining your drivers.

The Bass Port Cap:
-----------------------------------------------------
the "Virtual ("++") Bass Port Cap":

The (+) Bass Port Cap with the Yellow Filter Packing removed.

Easy to accomplish with a toothpick. Just pops out. filter is the size of a rice grain.
-----------------------------------------------------
the "Manually Ported ("+++") Bass Port Cap":

NOW I’ve thought of a good reason to have my “=” Bass Port Caps around: Modding…

Here’s the skinny, or is it pH@tty on SUPERporting the Sleek Audio SA-6:

BE VERY CAREFUL:

Use Scissors if you’re not a Super Careful Crafts Person, or have someone do this for you instead:

Take your “=” Bass Port Cap, and cut halfway up the back, through the rear of the tube. Then fold the tube out of the way, and cut the Rear of the Cap off, so you have only half of the cap wall left.

You should see a big half circle hole now when you look at your Bass Port Cap from the top.

You want to still have the “=” symbol remaining or you risk the newly modded cap not coming off your resonating chamber.

Do So AT YOUR OWN RISK.

________________________________________

OH, aftermarket Sleeves/Tips: Who can forget these?
-----------------------------------------------------
I use Phonak Audeo Small Silicone Tips. They are the most comfortable fitting, and seal best. Also compared to the v-moda BLISS silicone: Just exemplary material for audio rendering. It shivers with the soundwaves better than the v-moda BLISS silicone material IMHO.
________________________________________

SO, my personal Audio Fingerprint

Sources: {Auzen X-Meridian w/ OPA627AU OP-AMPs :: COWON iAUDIO O2PMP} ---> Sleek Audio SA-6 System

SA-6 Config: {Audio Wire :: Drivers :: Modded "("+++") Bass Port Caps :: (-) OR (=) Treble Stems :: Phonak Audeo Small Silicone Sleeve Tips}

Killer Comfortable Combo!

I tend toward the eccentric, but I LIKE Music rather than simple Audio get it?

FLACvest — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:29:20 GMT

That's why I'm _HERE_. I'm also a bit of a Headphone (IEM) Junkie. I've started with a pair of (for the '80's) expensive Fontopia Earbuds, and moved up from In Ear since (hey I started out as a kid, I didin't have good 'phones of ANY manner until I found HeadRoom).

That's when I got my HeadRoom Cosmic Traveler Class-A Biased Portable Amp complete as a system with the "Red Brick" which I traded.

As a side note a no-longer-friend-of-mine ACTUALLY threw it at me out of his front door because he was "sleeping" or whatever. Talk about NOT respecting someone else or their prized posessions... 'Nuff Said.

I hope it has a happy home now.

Along with that purchase I got my "backup" headphones, a pair of Grado SR-60's for the neutral "copper sound" and clean reference reccomendation, as well as value-o-meter.

And best, me being ahead of the curve, though now EVERYONE seems to love One Manner Or Another Of In Ear Monitor... my Etymotic ER*4-S which, when paired with the Cosmic Traveler, sounded niiice indeed. Just bass "real" enough to keep me interested, like an electronic musician driving a '202 rather than a '303 or an '808 kick drum, or maybe that toy thing in "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" an Excellent movie, btw.

Post Cosmic Traveler, I've traded In my ER*4-S for an ER*4-P downgrade for lowered impedance and deeper & bigger bass. Never found them comfortable until finding my Phonak Audeo's though. More on that later.

So that's my intro into Audiophile Music Listening, and my "Hello Head-Fi.org" Community.

:beyersmile: