[AzraelDarkangel]

How much would re-cabling typically cost and how do you know it's even possible to do so? Seems it a bit risky to buy and then have to worry about whether re-cabling is feasible.

Several companies online will recable about any headphone. Cheapest I saw was $11/ft I think but around $75-200 for 6ft+ is typical or as much as $500 for super fancy wire.
 
http://btg-audio.webs.com/recabledetails.htm
http://www.headphone.com/pages/headphone-repair-and-upgrades
http://apuresound.com/v3.html
http://www.lawtonaudio.com/cableservice.html

 

[Decel]

Interesting, thanks [u][color=rgb(0, 102, 204)]AzraelDarkangel[/color][/u]
 
Is APureSound still operating? Their page's update doesn't go past 2012. I originally wanted them to recable my phones.

 

[LaCuffia]

Just a heads up that I recently picked up a SA5000 in almost new condition and will be placing them for sale. They sound and look great but perhaps too close in sound signature to my CD900st closed back to justify keeping. Let me know if this will be of interest to anyone. As you know these are very hard to find right now.

 

[LaCuffia]

I just listed this in the classified thread...only $475.  Please see posting for further details.  Thanks

 

[nlse]

wondering if you want to change pads, does the fostex pads work?
 
are there any good quality ones, that you can use that works?

 

[Whitigir]

Brainwaz probably fit, just use slim version and try it yourself.

 

[nlse]

@Whitigir do you know if any fostex pads will fit or, zmf protein or lamb?

 

[Whitigir]

That I can not help you as I have no stock Fostex pads . From my guess, the Brainwaz have a good chance

 

[Roderick]

Hm5 pads are bit too small but can be fitted on sa5000.

 

[Paul Graham]

The velour SA3k pads will fit. I did it with mine and they're fine

 

[hiholto]

Finally got me a pair of these cans! I'm so stoked. I have always thought these were one of the most beautiful headsets made (with the Qualia being my true love that I'll never be able to afford), and so I took the plunge on what was probably an overpriced used set.
 
I got them, and of course, despite the listing, there was a dead side. I inspected the cable and Y connector and no dice... THE DRIVER WAS DEAD. 
 
Sooooo... I looked, and searched and couldn't find anything. Read on the forums here that the SA-3000 was the same driver essentially. Went online to the Sony parts listing and lo and behold it lists the same part number for the driver in both.
 
I went on eBay, and, being out of my mind, bought a perfectly good pair of SA-3000s for 150.00 and did a driver transplant. Haven't soldered in years, so was of course terrified I'd burn up the voice coil. I tested my skills on the damaged driver a few times and took the plunge.
 
Boom! Perfectly functioning SA-5000s. I'm so stoked I can't stand it.
 
I've got them hooked up to my Mojo and I'm running them from my Mac at the moment using Tidal.
 
Fairly flat on the bass, I tried EQing them a bit. Holy crap. They can go from studio flat to nearly sounding like my old massive XBR-700s. It can get a little boomy at that level, but backing it down can still have the tightness while giving you some punch.
 
They definitely have that stage and crazy high end though. Holy crap. Love the details. 
 
I did the "wash off" someone gave an example of on the pleather part of the original pads. It was fine, but I wasn't nuts about the look. I swapped them for a pair of brainwavz sheepskins. They feel great but tweak the sound a little too much. I need something more shallow. I'm considering sewing myself a pair. 
 
Lucky me, I went onto the 3rd party parts distributor that Sony uses and was able to order two drivers from them due to ship from japan in 15 days. I'll let you know if everything is good to go when I get them. I'm happy because now I can fix the SA3K too and I'm going to sew a leather headband cover for those. I'm going to mod the 3ks with Sugru to seal them up. 
 
My headband on my 5ks is a little "wobbly" like it has been bent around a bit by someone. If anyone has a spare band or even a busted set of these cans they want to sell, definitely let me know.
 
The treble, after extended listening can definitely fatigue a little. Although I definitely love having some detail listening sessions for a couple hours. 
 
My gotos for long listening are still my 99 Classics for now, but I'm super happy to have these awesome 5ks finally.
 
Thanks for everyone's contributions on these threads, the forum really helped me not only decide to finally get a pair of these, but there was plenty of info for me about repairs, modding, etc. Really amazing resource.
 
Thanks all!

 

[purk]

Don't forget to recable them with a really good copper wire and you will love it even better.

 

[SHAMuuu]

Finally got me a pair of these cans! I'm so stoked. I have always thought these were one of the most beautiful headsets made (with the Qualia being my true love that I'll never be able to afford), and so I took the plunge on what was probably an overpriced used set.

I got them, and of course, despite the listing, there was a dead side. I inspected the cable and Y connector and no dice... THE DRIVER WAS DEAD. 

Sooooo... I looked, and searched and couldn't find anything. Read on the forums here that the SA-3000 was the same driver essentially. Went online to the Sony parts listing and lo and behold it lists the same part number for the driver in both.

I went on eBay, and, being out of my mind, bought a perfectly good pair of SA-3000s for 150.00 and did a driver transplant. Haven't soldered in years, so was of course terrified I'd burn up the voice coil. I tested my skills on the damaged driver a few times and took the plunge.

Boom! Perfectly functioning SA-5000s. I've so stoked I can't stand it.

I've got them hooked up to my Mojo and I'm running them from my Mac at the moment using Tidal.

Fairly flat on the bass, I tried EQing them a bit. Holy crap. They can go from studio flat to nearly sounding like my old massive XBR-700s. It can get a little boomy at that level, but backing it down can still have the tightness while giving you some punch.

They definitely have that stage and crazy high end though. Holy crap. Love the details. 

I did the "wash off" someone gave an example of on the pleather part of the original pads. It was fine, but I wasn't nuts about the look. I swapped them for a pair of brainwavz sheepskins. They feel great but tweak the sound a little too much. I need something more shallow. I'm considering sewing myself a pair. 

Lucky me, I went onto the 3rd party parts distributor that Sony uses and was able to order two drivers from them due to ship from japan in 15 days. I'll let you know if everything is good to go when I get them. I'm happy because now I can fix the SA3K too and I'm going to sew a leather headband cover for those. I'm going to mod the 3ks with Sugru to seal them up. 

My headband on my 5ks is a little "wobbly" like it has been bent around a bit by someone. If anyone has a spare band or even a busted set of these cans they want to sell, definitely let me know.

The treble, after extended listening can definitely fatigue a little. Although I definitely love having some detail listening sessions for a couple hours. 

My gotos for long listening are still my 99 Classics for now, but I'm super happy to have these awesome 5ks finally.

Thanks for everyone's contributions on these threads, the forum really helped me not only decide to finally get a pair of these, but there was plenty of info for me about repairs, modding, etc. Really amazing resource.

Thanks all!

That was cool story. I did not realize the 3000 shared the same drivers. I had a chance once to buy new 3000 but I didn't because I thought meh it's below both qualia and 5000. Such is life

IIRC some r10 owners preferred this with cable upgrade (guessing balanced) and matching amp (as in the one with best synergy)

Must be in the r10 owners thread.

Anyway good stuff.

 

[hiholto]

Thanks everyone.
 
Yeah, I'm pretty jazzed. I'm kind of blown away by all the posts that say no low end. I'm assuming they are listening completely vanilla and not amping or EQ'd at all. 
 
What's crazy is the 3Ks sound so different. Just goes to show the power of the structure enclosing it. One thing I also noticed is that the 5Ks have a pretty much solid baffle covering the mesh on the side behind the driver. The 3Ks just have a little piece of thin mesh, so definitely more open in the back. I have a hard time thinking there's that big of a difference because of the metal/plastic case disparity, but it's pretty stark to me how far apart they are.
 
One thing I'm considering is trying to design a headband and print it in carbon fiber on my 3D printer. If I pull it off and others are interested I'll consider printing a bunch.
 
i have two mods in mind. The brainwavz are a bit deep for me, so I'm considering working with a friend of mine whose handy with a needle and trying to make a fully leather set of earpads. If I can pull that off I'll then do a headband that keeps with the beauty of the design but is fully leather as well and solves the issue of the rubber edges.
 
I think the magnesium would look pretty gorgeous with some nicely stitched deep brown or black leather. 
 
I'm SO tempted to try some sound mods with the sugru (by the way, if you've never used that stuff make sure you get some, it should be in every hacker/maker's toolbox) but right now just ecstatic that I managed to get the set working. hahahaha. Maybe I'll play around a bit with the 3Ks.
 
Really a bummer that Sony half-assed the pads with only partially real leather. 
 
Would love to get them re-cabled with some of that beautiful copper braided. I'm just still recovering from my 200.00 "spare part" which was a perfectly usable SA3k. hahahha
 
Maybe once I repair those I'll go for it. Could at that point I've pretty much got a collectors item I can pass down. Maybe I'll stash my spare drivers somewhere safe to guarantee long life.
 
Has anyone had experience adding their own hardware to make the cables detachable? where can I find some nicer hardware for that type of project?

 

[franci2105]

Hi, I just bought a sony mdr sa5000 in brand new condition. Is it worthed to upgrade the cable with a xlr connection since I have a iFi Audio Pro iCan. I would notice a great improvement in terms of quality or I can just leave it the way it is? Regards