I just gotta add my 2¢ worth here.
I grabbed some (relatively) large cell foam that was 5mm thick and modeled up a template to use to cut the foam into the appropriate pieces. I used small pieces of double sided scotch tape and put it all together.
(NOTE: I reversed the placement of the triangulated piece so it doesn't cover over the SS mesh metal but does cover the mounting structure. In other words the top of the T (of the triangulated foam) doesn't connect with the ring but the narrower 'base' does.)
I turned on the amp and started to listen.
HUGE improvement. I stayed up till 3am listening to a wide variety of music I am VERY familiar with. From old (relatively) poorly recorded music to new and some 'purist' recordings as well.
Before I could hear details and resolution and easily listen to the music.
After I could hear MORE details, MORE resolution, and effortlessly listen INTO the music.
Before I was hearing the notes and the voices (instruments) all playing together.
After I could hear each instrument, their harmonic structure, their 'character', AS the notes were played for each voice independent of the others.
In other words with the mod in place I could audible identify each voice for what it was.
For example, a wood block (hard wood) AND the striker, a bass guitar string AND the body of the guitar that was being played, etc.
I could far more easily hear the rest of the audible information that provides the identity of each voice regardless of what ever else is being played at that moment in time. This ability to isolate a particular voice among the rest of the voices and hear INTO it to identify it and how each was expressing itself (musically) is remarkable.
Now I am listening into and hearing the sources of the sounds not just the resultant sounds themselves. Put another way, before I could hear the notes, the individual voices themselves. Now I am hearing the richness of the instrument that creates the note along with the musicianship of the musician as he shapes and tailors each note as it is created.
In short I am not just listening to the music but instead I am immersed / sucked into, the entirety of the musical performance. And yes with the added ability to be immersed within the music the heightened ability to hear the nuances and subtle cues make the experience all the more satisfying.
Yes, all of the warts and poorly audible aspects are even more appearant. But you know what? It doesn't matter near as much, because even these imperfections are fascinating in their own way because you can hear into them, hear much more clearly just what IS there, instead of it merely being a fuzzy annoying distraction.
This is a MUST DO mod. And in Tyll's next InnerFidelity post he'll provide even more fun filled facts and some numbers and evidence to demonstrate what some of the effects this mod is having.
JJ
Edited by johnjen - 2/20/12 at 5:10pm
