Orthodynamic Roundup - Page 186

The damping procedure, being resistive, does burn up some of the acoustic energy output, making the drivers noticeably less efficient. You may have reached the point of intolerable clipping on your amp.

Ericj is of course correct on the correct orientation of the YH-1 drivers. Smooth side out. And use just the slightest amount of blu-tack to make the baffle seal. You don't want to recess the driver into the cup.

Super felt will, on the YH-1, take away the bass (it'll be there, just at a lower level) and put a bubble (though some would say blister) in the treble. Slight overdamping will give a listenable 'phone that appears to lack bass, but the payoff is incredibly acute transient response. You could electronically EQ back out to a flat response if your religion allows EQ, but chances are you wouldn't like an overdamped 'phone-- it's like living with an obsessive perfectionist.

Always damp to get a more or less flat response through the bass and midrange, then tweak the extremes. Try a reflex dot directly on the back magnet to prop up the high treble. To add just a smidge of extra damping and a slight treble boost, try a reflex disc behind the felt disc. Material not at all critical as long as it's not air-permeable.

Got photos yet?

Like he said. The outer edge of the face of the magnet that points at your ear. We're just making damn sure no bass backwave can sneak into the earcup and shortcircuit your hard-won bass. This is the same sort of gasketing speaker manufacturers do, and for the same reason.

Not a known HFer? Maybe he/she will make him/herself known to us when the 50A arrives at its new home in the UK. Eric, what's your "final" take on the HP-50/HP-3/YH-3? Is it really a poor man's YH-100, or just an intractable little bastard?


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You may change your mind about that later and decide that more damping is called for, so keep listening and letting your ears educate themselves.


Just a bit, but not in the center-- the diaphragm is pinched or contrained in the center and doesn't move. Offset it so that it's near the top of the magnet in wearing position. I started with a 19mm circle because that's what I had on hand. Not a bad size to start with. I wouldn't go larger than that, though. If after the dotting you feel the need for more treble, chances are you're still underdamped. This is not set in stone, just a good starting point. Don't be afraid to experiment!

In that sandwich, the paper is the reflex disc. It's the same size as the felt damping disc, which is the same size as the magnet. It makes the damping disc damp a little harder by making the air turn sideways and emerge from the edges of the felt disc, and it also reflects a small amount of treble and midrange. Try the reflex disc before you go for the dot.


That's precisely what we want. Happily, neatness doesn't count here, as long as all the holes are covered, the felt is pressed firmly against the magnet, and the screw threads aren't stripped.

What we're doing is is not too unlike plumbing, except with air. We're plugging leaks, making sure the air goes only where we want it do, and flows in a controlled, not chaotic, manner. We also want to maintain pressure (= bass) in the earcup. Nothing magical about any of it, just basic stuff.


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