Ok people this mod is inspire by some of the fantastic modding threads on this forum.
The “stock” Grado HF2 is a good headphone, but it does have its negatives eg. Overkill bass, congested soundstage and the overall sound is unnatural. I’m still having a hard time getting my head around most of the positive comments about the HF2. The phone is good but not that good, must be FOTM thing….
OK let’s cut to the chase….
First Mods “GS1000 replacement pads” AKA “Jumbo/Bagels Pad”
The mod will increase the soundstage, bass is less overpowering more balanced sounding, sound is very airy and balanced. Better instrument placement, more transparent and increase depth.
The down side of this mods is the increase in treble and add sibilance to the sound. Depending on the amp and recording the sound at times can be too bright.
Too address this problem we have Mod 2, we need to place a thin fabric in front of the drive mash to tame of the brightness. This mod will retain the overall sound, only the level of brightness will change.
Examples...
(Chux wipes)
This brightness on the HF2 using this fabric on my system sounds about right.
Old cotton T-shirt
Using the cotton T-shirt, the HF2 is too dark sound very much like HD650….
Window wipes
Susan Wong vocal was too much for me, way too much sibilance.
Triple action (2 window wipes and 1 chux wipe)
Note, the thicker the fabric and the less holes it has the more it will tame the brightness.
So roll some fabric to get the right sound to suit your personal taste….
IMHO with this mods in place the Grado HF2 is worth more than what is selling now, how much that’s up to the market to decide……….
Update 27 Sep 2009
I like to point out that this mod is not about turning your HF2 sibilance level to the same level as the HD650. The more you reduce sibilance by using thicker fabrics the more treble detail you will lose. That’s why the HD650 is call dark, veil, muddy etc etc , evening driving them balanced with plenty of power on tap. HD650 vocal has no sibilance but the overall sound also lacks treble detail, the HF2 with bagels on other hand has too much treble detail. This mod is about finding the sweet spot where sibilance is tame to a acceptable level that suits your taste in music, and not about getting rid of the sibilance on vocals.
The theory for this mods is the more sibilance you reduce, the more treble detail you rob yourself...
The “stock” Grado HF2 is a good headphone, but it does have its negatives eg. Overkill bass, congested soundstage and the overall sound is unnatural. I’m still having a hard time getting my head around most of the positive comments about the HF2. The phone is good but not that good, must be FOTM thing….
OK let’s cut to the chase….
First Mods “GS1000 replacement pads” AKA “Jumbo/Bagels Pad”
The mod will increase the soundstage, bass is less overpowering more balanced sounding, sound is very airy and balanced. Better instrument placement, more transparent and increase depth.
The down side of this mods is the increase in treble and add sibilance to the sound. Depending on the amp and recording the sound at times can be too bright.
Too address this problem we have Mod 2, we need to place a thin fabric in front of the drive mash to tame of the brightness. This mod will retain the overall sound, only the level of brightness will change.
Examples...
(Chux wipes)
This brightness on the HF2 using this fabric on my system sounds about right.
Old cotton T-shirt
Using the cotton T-shirt, the HF2 is too dark sound very much like HD650….
Window wipes
Susan Wong vocal was too much for me, way too much sibilance.
Triple action (2 window wipes and 1 chux wipe)
Note, the thicker the fabric and the less holes it has the more it will tame the brightness.
So roll some fabric to get the right sound to suit your personal taste….
IMHO with this mods in place the Grado HF2 is worth more than what is selling now, how much that’s up to the market to decide……….
Update 27 Sep 2009
I like to point out that this mod is not about turning your HF2 sibilance level to the same level as the HD650. The more you reduce sibilance by using thicker fabrics the more treble detail you will lose. That’s why the HD650 is call dark, veil, muddy etc etc , evening driving them balanced with plenty of power on tap. HD650 vocal has no sibilance but the overall sound also lacks treble detail, the HF2 with bagels on other hand has too much treble detail. This mod is about finding the sweet spot where sibilance is tame to a acceptable level that suits your taste in music, and not about getting rid of the sibilance on vocals.
The theory for this mods is the more sibilance you reduce, the more treble detail you rob yourself...
