Orthodynamic Roundup - Page 1381

last week I had my 35 year old Yamaha HP-1s re-wired by BTG Audio along with receiving a new DAC and amp. (Schitt Audio) I wonder if I am hearing these cans better than the 1970's designers ever could have imagined? I am sure I am... :)

 

http://cdn.head-fi.org/1/1b/900x900px-LL-1b8dfc9f_P1030695.jpeg

Wow, excellent condition on your HP-1! except that crack on the headband, but that much doesn't affect comfort. Those pads still look plush...

On a side note, do you guys think recabling would be beneficial? I'm not normally the type to bother about cables and stuff, but considering these orthos we're talking about are vintage and sometimes corroded...

On yet another side note, SFI drivers inside the ATH-70 shell now! Still need a huge amount of reworking to get them to sound good. As I did not deface any of the exterior, the SFI drivers are actually sitting about 1mm high from the interior baffle face due to the baffle design, and the baffle is also about 2~3mm thick with some perforation that resemble the ATH-2 magnet perforations. Might have to just cut out the centre of the baffle and fit the SFI directly exposed (with a filter of some sort).

 

Since you've seen the 2002 driver - does it have the same protective plastic wrapping in front of the driver as on the 2000?

The Unipolar as measured (raw data, only compare to the other picture in this post):

 

The sound of the plastic wrap in front of the driver when pressed against the driver grille and let go:

 

Coincidence, or usual physics of thin plastic's sound?

 

I'd upload a WAV of the sound, but my local server's down.

 

Also, it would be intriguing to know whether the plastic was meant to protect only the driver or also the user...

Edited by vid - 11/2/12 at 1:39pm

With plastic wrap (raw data; using AKG pleather pads on the naked baffle):

 

Same thing but without the plastic wrap:

 

Not a big change really - a bit smoother on the non-wrapped version. The ridges seem a bit less high up in volume without the plastic, but... could be within measurement error. Still need to see about the effect of the back disc, which I can now remove at will since the plastic is out of the way. But that's for another day.

Edited by vid - 11/2/12 at 6:17pm

It is (was) on both the front and back - and it's pretty thin, yeah. Not crumpled, though. Sounds like tin foil when you flap it around. Had built up a static charge.

 

I'll figure out a DIY moisture shield to replace it.

Should have stated, new pads were installed w the re wring

Do you know what pads they are? or are they custom made?

Orthos do need dust covers.... at least if they are to resist crumbling 70s foam....

 

Raw measurements; compare only to each other within this post. The graph is from ~100 Hz to 24 kHz or so. First vertical line at the back is 100 Hz, then 1 kHz, 5 kHz, 10 kHz, 20 kHz.

 

The mods in this case were (a) removing the protective plastic wrapping and (b) changing out the rotted foam in the cup. Measurements were taken with the standard baffle and pads.

 

Unipolar 2000 right side original/modded:

 

 

Left side original/modded:

 

 

The ringing on the left side seems to have taken the hint and buggered off somewhat, and maybe a little bit on the right side as well. But the ringing's not been solved at all, just mitigated. Anything below 1 kHz measured noticeably smoother with the mods (emphasis on measured).

 

The disc at the back seems to be something to emphasize the treble. Back disc/no back disc (measurements without baffle):

 

 

I could try taking out the back disc completely, seeing as the Unipolars are treble-heavy to begin with.

 

I tried some basic prodding at the driver by taping up certain parts of the driver grille and taking measurements, but nothing happened to the ringing - seems like it might be laborious to try and find a way to steady the driver...

Edited by vid - 11/3/12 at 8:18am

somebody please do this so i can live vicariously through the thread and not have to do this firsthand.

 Look up the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Black on Amazon and tell me this isn't the coolest transplant shell. ( thanks for pointing it out again Armaegis )

 

Imagine the venerable Hp-1 driver in there  or driver of your preference.

Have to go check what the driver size is.

Customizable exterior ( wooden veneer or special metal backplate,  etc ) cleanly and easily done,

 and the most intriguing aspect is that dang variable tuner port.

 

Only thing would be the pad openings most likely get you a spacious aspect. New pads on this would be best .

 

help me, help us all  by getting one ,somebody...bueller?..........buellller?

 

hmmm why do manufacturers not print their driver size in the tech specs sections? No idea what size driver this is for ease of transplanting.

Edited by nick n - 11/3/12 at 6:30pm

DT770pro seems to be 45mm...? can't say it will apply for these ones but I guess they might be the same or similar driver size considering they seem to have similar shape and possibly size.

And yes they look sweet can't imagine spending $200+ for the shells though :S

I can tell you that they are really quite lovely in hand ..dB

they are around $150 now when you catch a sale.

Placing it into the solid "build a damned nice high quality can cleanly" category

 

I wish you had said:   I CAN'T tell you they are really quite lovely in hand 

 

thanks for checking in.