How To Build One Of The World's Finest Dynamic Headphones (markl Denon AH-D5000 Mods)

[warrior05]

Markl is playing it safe since he is an MOT now. If asked a direct question about one of your products, it should be fine to answer. The key is that you - as an MOT - aren't initiating as a way of drumming up business. It is a somewhat delicate line but you get the hang of it. And I'm speaking from experience. But as HeadphoneAddict suggested, you can always answer via PM if unsure.

[HeadphoneAddict]

daveDerek, I think the MOT rules say a Member of the Trade shouldn't try to sell anything outside of a paid thread, or compare their product to competetor's product, or review their products, etc.

I don't believe it prevents an MOT from telling people how to do it DIY, although the MOT should have every right NOT to tell people how to do it if the MOT are paying head-fi to allow them to sell that knowledge or service.

Most of the time, the MOT will PM the answers about prices, or what they think about their product, if the thread is not in the proper forum.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by warrior05

Markl is playing it safe since he is an MOT now. If asked a direct question about one of your products, it should be fine to answer. The key is that you - as an MOT - aren't initiating as a way of drumming up business. It is a somewhat delicate line but you get the hang of it. And I'm speaking from experience. But as HeadphoneAddict suggested, you can always answer via PM if unsure.

Wierd, head-fi didn't show me there was another page with your reply, so I thought I was the next poster until I posted.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by warrior05

Markl is playing it safe since he is an MOT now. If asked a direct question about one of your products, it should be fine to answer. The key is that you - as an MOT - aren't initiating as a way of drumming up business. It is a somewhat delicate line but you get the hang of it. And I'm speaking from experience. But as HeadphoneAddict suggested, you can always answer via PM if unsure.

Wierd, head-fi didn't show me there was another page with your reply, so I thought I was the next poster until I posted and saw you ahead of my 12:30 post.

[warrior05]

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

Wierd, head-fi didn't show me there was another page with your reply, so I thought I was the next poster until I posted.

Ah - another victim of my stealth ninja posting prowess.

[Gradofan2]

Originally Posted by xnothingpoetic

I thought the mods were very easy to do.

Maybe getting all the parts puts people off it?

I did about 80% of the mod and I still feel the bass needs a little more improvement- so I will do the rest of it later tonight.

But thanks for sharing your findings!

Did the bass ever become as tight and well defined as the HD580/600s, RS-1s, or AD2000s???

[markl]

Markl is playing it safe since he is an MOT now.

Yes. the line is a very slippery sucker to get a firm grip on, I want to do absolutely nothing to upset the Head-Fi gods. I did answer the question in private, though.

The thing is, the mod evolved yet again from what is posted here (I believe for the last time). The mods as they are in the thread are great and work great; current mods a little better. I've started doing a couple things differently. Now that my activities have essentially forced me to become a "Member of the Trade", and I find myself in business doing the mods, I won't be updating the thread with my latest findings. It's kind of a sh*tty move, yeah, I get that, but I have put the time, effort, risk, not to mention A LOT of money into perfecting the mod. So, until I "retire" from the Denon-modding business, I'm keeping the latest iterations under my hat and hope you all understand.

Didn't start this with any intention of becoming a MOT whatsoever; did this with pure intent of sharing what I found as a hobbyist. As it turned out, to my surprise, many folks felt they did not trust themselves to do the mod on their own and wanted me to do it for them. My choice was, let someone else step in and capitalize on all my hard work, or just do it myself, and I think you can guess what I ultimately chose.

Eek, I hope I'm allowed to even say all that!

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by markl

Yes. the line is a very slippery sucker to get a firm grip on, I want to do absolutely nothing to upset the Head-Fi gods. I did answer the question in private, though.

The thing is, the mod evolved yet again from what is posted here (I believe for the last time). The mods as they are in the thread are great and work great; current mods a little better. I've started doing a couple things differently. Now that my activities have essentially forced me to become a "Member of the Trade", and I find myself in business doing the mods, I won't be updating the thread with my latest findings. It's kind of a sh*tty move, yeah, I get that, but I have put the time, effort, risk, not to mention A LOT of money into perfecting the mod. So, until I "retire" from the Denon-modding business, I'm keeping the latest iterations under my hat and hope you all understand.

Didn't start this with any intention of becoming a MOT whatsoever; did this with pure intent of sharing what I found as a hobbyist. As it turned out, to my surprise, many folks felt they did not trust themselves to do the mod on their own and wanted me to do it for them. My choice was, let someone else step in and capitalize on all my hard work, or just do it myself, and I think you can guess what I ultimately chose.

Eek, I hope I'm allowed to even say all that!

That's how it ended up for me a few years ago when I designed a cold air intake for Subaru Impreza and shared it on the subaru forums back in 2000.

Then people started asking me to make them one, and rather than let someone else copy it, I started to make them. It evolved from an ABS plastic plumbing job to custom bent aluminum, and I became an MOT with banner ads, then I started selling all kinds of performance stuff. I lasted a couple of years until my health got even worse, and I had to quit in 2002 after four months straight with $30,000/mo gross sales! (15% profit margin) I ended up selling SubaruPlanet.com and washed my hands of it - I just got too tired to do it anymore since I wanted to keep working part-time as a pediatrician. I managed to keep working in medicine until last August.

[HeadphoneAddict]

(PS: the steel air intakes actually cost me $45 to build and I got $90 for them, and for the first 6 months I sold 50/month! Later as my costs rose to $65 each to have someone make them for me, I was selling them for $149. I sometimes miss the money, but, Oh well...)

[tev]

Originally Posted by earwicker7

Hey, markl. I'm getting ready to dive back in and update the mod (if you don't remember, I'm one of the first to do the original). One question on the foam that you added on top of the Dynamat... are you using anything to make it stay in place? The picture makes it look like it's sticking to something but I can't find anything in the directions that verifies this.

I used heavy duty double stick tape that I buy in sheet form from an art supply store. It's very sticky. You can get it online from Charrette Art Supplies out of Boston. Maybe this is Markl's secret that he's holding back from us ...he he he.

[Dreadhead]

Originally Posted by markl

I'm keeping the latest iterations under my hat and hope you all understand.

I guess. To be honest your mod was very easy to carry out but took time so I can see you being concerned that people would just copy you. Even at the price I understand you charge it's not unreasonable at all considering the time involved if you were a lawyer it would cost 5 times as much .

I know I'd be interested in knowing the latest iterations details but I'm sure it's just a couple small refinements from what's posted so I'm not too concerned about it, (I made some changes from your plans myself). The phones I have now make me very happy and that's all you can ask for and I thank you for sharing the original plans and good luck with the business

[Gradofan2]

Originally Posted by Dreadhead

I guess. To be honest your mod was very easy to carry out but took time so I can see you being concerned that people would just copy you. Even at the price I understand you charge it's not unreasonable at all considering the time involved if you were a lawyer it would cost 5 times as much .

I know I'd be interested in knowing the latest iterations details but I'm sure it's just a couple small refinements from what's posted so I'm not too concerned about it, (I made some changes from your plans myself). The phones I have now make me very happy and that's all you can ask for and I thank you for sharing the original plans and good luck with the business

So... inquiring minds want to know...

How do they compare to your HD650s in your particular set up (balanced GS-X / DAC-1)?

Do they still have more detail and clarity than the HD650s - as they do in lesser SE setups?

[Dreadhead]

Originally Posted by Gradofan2

So... inquiring minds want to know...

How do they compare to your HD650s in your particular set up (balanced GS-X / DAC-1)?

Do they still have more detail and clarity than the HD650s - as they do in lesser SE setups?

I actually now have both balanced beta22 and a GS-X I'm having a hard time deciding if I can hear any difference between the two amps (more ramblings on that over in the headamp section).

As far as headphones go right now I've been listening to the HD650's for the last week because they are harder to drive and hence should show the lesser amp the door. Also they respond to balancing a lot more noticeably than the D5000s. For the Denons I'm not sure I notice much of a difference between the SE out of the GS-X and the balanced, that being said I only did some minor comparisons since I have a balanced amp to listen to balanced heaphones....

That said the Denons still solidly show the HD650's the door as far as clarity, detail and speed. I really can't see how it gets any better. I was thinking about this with some sadness earlier today, I've pretty much made it as far down the path to transparent audio as you can go with dynamic headphones (sorry no R-10s for me, I personally doubt they can be worth the money to anyone but especially to me). I do not like tubes or the tube sound so there's really no where for me to go and no upgrade on the horizon. On one hand I can settle back but on the other I now have much less excuse to surf head-fi

[stevenkelby]

Originally Posted by Dreadhead

I really can't see how it gets any better.

Nailed my thoughts on my Markl D5000 with Jena cable.

Out of a Pico too. Curious to hear a better amp though.

[Gradofan2]

Originally Posted by Dreadhead

I actually now have both balanced beta22 and a GS-X I'm having a hard time deciding if I can hear any difference between the two amps.

As far as headphones go right now I've been listening to the HD650's for the last week because they are harder to drive and hence should show the lesser amp the door. Also they respond to balancing a lot more noticeably than the D5000s. For the Denons I'm not sure I notice much of a difference between the SE out of the GS-X and the balanced, that being said I only did some minor comparisons since I have a balanced amp to listen to balanced heaphones....

That said the Denons still solidly show the HD650's the door as far as clarity, detail and speed. I really can't see how it gets any better. I was thinking about this with some sadness earlier today, I've pretty much made it as far down the path to transparent audio as you can go with dynamic headphones (sorry no R-10s for me, I personally doubt they can be worth the money to anyone but especially to me). I do not like tubes or the tube sound so there's really no where for me to go and no upgrade on the horizon. On one hand I can settle back but on the other I now have much less excuse to surf head-fi

Well... "that pretty well settles it then" - I'd always thought the HD650s might really clear up, with the right set up in balanced mode... but... it doesn't sound like it. I thought they improved a lot with my DV332, and the various "tweaks" for them (i.e. de-veiling, cable, etc.) - but, they never quite equaled my other phones.

They just aren't ever going to be as clear as a lot of other phones (e.g. AD2000s, RS-1s, D5000s, HD580/600s, etc.) - so, why persist in the pursuit of clarity with them, when we've got so many other really great phones to choose from.

May they "RIP"... HD650s.