Project FrankenSixFifties(tm) (w/pics)

[linuxworks]

I got my sennhesier hd650 drivers in today! one day after my cable and earcushions came in.

here's the photo trail..










now onto the disassembly and reassembly:




(in the pic, above, the shiny driver that is not installed is the new 650 element)


(in that pic, again the uninstalled element is the new 650 driver)


(the bottom trim prys off with your fingers. the bottom socket area angles up first, and then the whole thing lifts off.)




(this is the final step in disassembly. unhinge the pivot points with your fingers - they just come straight out with a little hand-force.)


(old 580 element fully removed)

and then simply reverse for this side and do both parts for the other side

the first side took me about 15 minutes or maybe 1/2 hour. I was taking pics the 2nd side literally took me 2 minutes, if even that.

[FallenAngel]

Looks great. Just toss on some HD600 grills and you're done. Now it does beg to wonder, isn't it cheaper to get an HD650 than HD580 with HD650 drivers?

[linuxworks]

Originally Posted by FallenAngel

Looks great. Just toss on some HD600 grills and you're done. Now it does beg to wonder, isn't it cheaper to get an HD650 than HD580 with HD650 drivers?

my incremental cost says this way was cheaper

my hd580: $0.00 (I already owned it, you see)
upgrade drivers: 2 @ $39.48
shipping was a sawbuck

total: about $90

what's not to like??

[FallenAngel]

Originally Posted by linuxworks

my incremental cost says this way was cheaper

my hd580: $0.00 (I already owned it, you see)
upgrade drivers: 2 @ $39.48
shipping was a sawbuck

total: about $90

what's not to like??

Ah, but there is also the HD650 cable

Or... sell HD580 for $150, buy HD650 for $240

[digger945]

I like the "Franken SixFifties™" title.

[linuxworks]

Originally Posted by FallenAngel

Ah, but there is also the HD650 cable

Or... sell HD580 for $150, buy HD650 for $240

the cable was a pure treat to me but certainly not needed! it was so cheap it was hard to say no to. I would enjoy the same sound, I'm pretty sure, with even the 'old' cable. the old cable also had red for right - and I actually find that USEFUL!

the cushions were redundant and I'll have those as spares when my original ones finally wear out. I'm still on my very old orig's though.

I also saw no reason to not use the orig baffle. it does its job and I'm sure its as transparent as the other styles. no need to replace what already functions fine.

I didn't want to sell anything, though. this gives me the freedom to 'go back' if I want with no loss of - well - anything

given that I would not sell my 580's, I had 2 choices:

1) do the franken thing
2) buy a whole new hd650 setup

2 was NOT the best use of my money right now. I picked 1

[linuxworks]

Originally Posted by FallenAngel

Or... sell HD580 for $150, buy HD650 for $240

where can you get 650's for that kind of money? used, you mean? I'm not sure I like the idea of used phones so much.

[FallenAngel]

Originally Posted by linuxworks

where can you get 650's for that kind of money? used, you mean? I'm not sure I like the idea of used phones so much.

Yep, I always quote used prices because everything I own is either used or built myself.

With headphones, a good wash of the pads and headband is required (well, recommended, but I'd say required). That price is pretty average for used HD650 I think; well, I'll be selling one at that price next week.

Nice job on the log though

[linuxworks]

wow, selling one next week and you're local to me, too. that's worth a LOL I think

still, I like the idea of having gone thru a poor man's DIY. it ALWAYS makes the music sound better (heh).

[willne1]

Pretty Cool....I have 580's. Do the modded phones sound that much better?

William

[linuxworks]

Originally Posted by willne1

Pretty Cool....I have 580's. Do the modded phones sound that much better?

not sure yet. they are said to have a different sound (bit of a dip in the midrange, I think) and I wanted to see what the hype about the 650 was all about, too.

they don't sound THAT different from the 580. I could tell immediately if I put some sony cans on; but the 580 to the 650 is not day and night.

[rogerlike]

Hey Linuxworks, nice job and nice project title

Originally Posted by linuxworks

they don't sound THAT different from the 580. I could tell immediately if I put some sony cans on; but the 580 to the 650 is not day and night.

It's my understanding that what made the HD580 Jubilee special was the use of (anti-resonant) carbon fibre for the frame and headband, and reportedly makes a big sonic difference (subsequently used in both HD600 and HD650). The step up from a standard HD580 to an HD600 is supposed to be pretty non-subtle.

[linuxworks]

thanks rogerlike

CF is so trendy but also kind of expensive too.

I never got a chance to see these jubilee models. I bought my 580's from headroom.com back in 2000 or so - right around the time the dot-coms were dot-bombing at the time they had some special where they gave away some sennheiser handheld effects box of sorts. I am not even sure I ever hooked it up to be honest.

[rogerlike]

Originally Posted by linuxworks

... at the time they had some special where they gave away some sennheiser handheld effects box of sorts. I am not even sure I ever hooked it up to be honest.

Ohh, that sounds interesting. Go get it out, use it, and report back!

[willne1]

linuxworks...how did you get these elements? I don't even see them on there web site. Any updates on the sound comparison?

William