[200poundsofamp]

Quote:

Anyone have any idea on reducing the sibilances on the 990s???/
 

 
To sound like a dick, stop listening to terrible recordings! I went through the same thing for the first few weeks I had these. If the recording is sibilant these wont hide it.


Quote:

 
Going triples here, hehe.
 
That surely sounds good, although I would use vocals as the last tool for evaluating headphones. For some reason here on head-fi, vocals for some are a synonym for mid-range (not saying that for you, just making an observation). Some TV-enthusiasts talk about skin tone and not absolute color reproduction, which by my logic would consist that sub-category. But I guess it's something of an emotional thing. To me, mid-range is everything. I listen to a lot of Miles Davis and Frank Zappa kind of stuff, and it's all mid-range basically. And the better everything is distinguishable, the better the mid-range.
 
So I take it no one has done a comparison between these and the K271/272s... *sob*
 
 

No idea if they'd beat the K271s, but sounds like you wouldn't mind these too much! Midrange is out front and center, everything is very defined sounding, and there's a great sense of transparency I never felt on my other headphones. Every sound seems to have a clear edge against the background, and the imaging is very precise with decent depth, which gives things a sense of realism and you don't have to strain at all to figure out where things are in a recording. The 840s seem hazy and the HFI-680 is flat and dull in comparison when it comes to imaging and separation, which weren't complaints I'd ever have before I listened to the 940s. Didn't know what I was missing.

The only issue is that the treble Beyers out a little bit, which is its bit of flavor, so you get some extra sizzle on cymbals and the upper midrange, and how good that is varies by recording. It's not harsh or sibilant, but it can sound sharp sometimes. To me though they are not very bright, which makes me wonder if the treble peak comes out very differently for some people.

That's about it though, they're such nice sounding headphones. They do everything my other headphones did well and do it even better, which I think is really nice considering the MSRP.

 

[c540]

 
Quote:

Quote:Originally Posted by superman0390 

"mod? care to share? "


Here's a link to the mod:


http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/533716/shure-srh-940/825#post_7630468

Tell me your impressions if you try it.

Hello Baka1969,
 
I appreciate reading all of your post here and especially enjoyed your review of the Woo WA2 vs the WA6SE. I hope you do not mind a a word of caution concerning the use of plummer's putty in the modding of headphone drivers.
 
I followed the post and saw a picture of the Oatey Putty that T-Willi used on the headphones. I do not know if you are using that specific putty also?
 
I would be careful about using that putty on a pair of drivers. I do not know if you are aware of this, but the spec sheets on that particular putty has a warning in capital letters "DO NOT USE ON PLASTIC" and the Material Safety Data Sheet on that putty states, "[SKIN] CONTACT MAY IRRITATE SKIN. LONG TERM CONTACT MAY LEAD TO DERMATITIS. [EYE] CONTACT MAY CAUSE IRRITATION."
 
That putty also contains fish oils and has a "mild petroleum sent." Even though the Putty says stainless on the label it is known to penetrate marble and plastics.  Oatey makes another putty product specifically for porous surfaces (though I am not recommending it's use for modding headphones either)
 
I am no expert, and it might not do any harm, but I thought you or anyone thinking of doing this mod might like a heads up.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[baka1969]

 

Hello Baka1969,
 
I appreciate reading all of your post here and especially enjoyed your review of the Woo WA2 vs the WA6SE. I hope you do not mind a a word of caution concerning the use of plummer's putty in the modding of headphone drivers.
 
I followed the post and saw a picture of the Oatey Putty that T-Willi used on the headphones. I do not know if you are using that specific putty also?
 
I would be careful about using that putty on a pair of drivers. I do not know if you are aware of this, but the spec sheets on that particular putty has a warning in capital letters "DO NOT USE ON PLASTIC" and the Material Safety Data Sheet on that putty states, "[SKIN] CONTACT MAY IRRITATE SKIN. LONG TERM CONTACT MAY LEAD TO DERMATITIS. [EYE] CONTACT MAY CAUSE IRRITATION."
 
That putty also contains fish oils and has a "mild petroleum sent." Even though the Putty says stainless on the label it is known to penetrate marble and plastics.  Oatey makes another putty product specifically for porous surfaces (though I am not recommending it's use for modding headphones either)
 
I am no expert, and it might not do any harm, but I thought you or anyone thinking of doing this mod might like a heads up.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I believe it says not to use it on plastic for it's intended use. Remember the container it comes in is indeed plastic. I inspected the inside of the container and there are no stains. I also reinspected the inside of the cups and there seems no ill effects. As for skin contact or whatever, many products contain such warnings. That said, anyone who does this should use caution obviously wash their hands after doing the mod. Just as caution should when soldering. That's lead after all.

common sense should prevail of course. Happy modding everyone!!!

 

[baka1969]

Just in case the use of plumber's putty isn't what you want to do, the use of Blue-Tack is the obvious replacement.

 

[antikryst]

thanks. was really looking at the e11. that or the jds cmoy though? which would be your pick? leaning towards the e11 since it looks like its built well.. simple looks too.
Quote:

Warm, portable, under $100
 
Either a Fiio E11 or JDS Cmoy.
 

 

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

thanks. was really looking at the e11. that or the jds cmoy though? which would be your pick? leaning towards the e11 since it looks like its built well.. simple looks too.


 

I'm biased - I have the Fiio and really enjoy it.  If you want a good comparison try this one:
 
http://www.headfonia.com/music-on-a-budget-sub-100-portable-amps-shootout/
 
Mike's favourite was the JDS Cmoy - though he did say the E11 was a fun sound.  You'll get different opinions depending on who you ask 

 

[antikryst]

have you heard the 940s un-amped? and the 940s on the e11? on a portable music player?
 
really curious on how the 940s sound unamped... and how it will improve with the e11.
 
still waiting for my 940s to ship. at the end of the day i may hold off getting an amp if im ok with it unamped. but im now tempted to order the e11 so they arrive a few days apart from each other haha.
 
Quote:

I'm biased - I have the Fiio and really enjoy it.  If you want a good comparison try this one:
 
 

 
http://www.headfonia.com/music-on-a-budget-sub-100-portable-amps-shootout/
 
Mike's favourite was the JDS Cmoy - though he did say the E11 was a fun sound.  You'll get different opinions depending on who you ask 

 

 

[Brooko]

Sorry mate - haven't heard the 940's - on my list for next time I'm in the US though.  I only have the 840's - and they're a different beast.
 
There's a few 940 owners on head-fi now - so no doubt one of them will be able to answer your question.

 

[antikryst]

thats why i jumped the gun. im in the US now. last time i was here (2.5 years ago) i got the 440s and they just came out. 3.5 years ago i got the e4c. 
 
this is becoming a bad habit out of my US trips.
 
ive been getting mixed feedback on the need for an amp for the 940s. now that im open (not sure yet though) to getting a portable amp... im curious on how much of an upgrade the 940 + e11 would be vs just the 940 on an ipod.
 
for those who have experiences with that combo... would appreciate it if you could chime in. 
 
Quote:

Sorry mate - haven't heard the 940's - on my list for next time I'm in the US though.  I only have the 840's - and they're a different beast.
 
There's a few 940 owners on head-fi now - so no doubt one of them will be able to answer your question.

 

 

[c540]

Quote:

I believe it says not to use it on plastic for it's intended use. Remember the container it comes in is indeed plastic. I inspected the inside of the container and there are no stains. I also reinspected the inside of the cups and there seems no ill effects. As for skin contact or whatever, many products contain such warnings. That said, anyone who does this should use caution obviously wash their hands after doing the mod. Just as caution should when soldering. That's lead after all.

common sense should prevail of course. Happy modding everyone!!!

When I read the warning I think it specifically means to keep it away from plastic:
 
"Restrictions and Cautions:

Plumbers putty contains oil. Do not use on marble, granite, plastics
or any porous surfaces. A silicon caulk or Hercules Sta-Put Ultra
putty is formulated for those surfaces."
 
( I did not underline the "do not use" sentence for emphasis, that is how the company wrote it.) I know that it stains marble and granite. 
 
There are a wide variety of materials, natural and synthetic, that are called plastics, all with widely differing characteristics and chemical make ups. The container for Plumber's Putty is intended for it's containment and it's properties do not directly translate to another type of plastic.
 
You may be correct that it is not doing any harm to the materials in the headphone.
 
 

 

[MalVeauX]

Quote:

have you heard the 940s un-amped? and the 940s on the e11? on a portable music player?
 
really curious on how the 940s sound unamped... and how it will improve with the e11.
 
still waiting for my 940s to ship. at the end of the day i may hold off getting an amp if im ok with it unamped. but im now tempted to order the e11 so they arrive a few days apart from each other haha.
 
 

Heya,
 
I just listened to my 940's unamped via my Sansa Fuze through 6 hours of airport/cab two days ago. It sounds great. They don't need an amplifier. When I use my portable amp, a Vivid V1 Tech, I didn't notice much difference other than the ability to go higher on volume, but at that point, it was already higher than my comfort level (the highs are bright, there's a breaking point where you just can't do it without fatigue/piercing). I use a desktop amp at home. I still haven't noticed a vast difference, but that's because the Sansa Fuze has a decent amplifier built in already. So I should be more specific that a discreet portable headphone amp is not necessary for the 940. For the desktop, I've tried both a solid state and my tube amp and I prefer the solid state for my 940's. The tube adds a little bit of a bloom to it that I find reduces detail a bit, and I like the 940's due to detail.
 
Very best,

 

[antikryst]

thank you. ill hold of buying the amp then until i can check if the volume and dynamics i get off my macbook and ipod is enough.
 
Quote:

Heya,
 
I just listened to my 940's unamped via my Sansa Fuze through 6 hours of airport/cab two days ago. It sounds great. They don't need an amplifier. When I use my portable amp, a Vivid V1 Tech, I didn't notice much difference other than the ability to go higher on volume, but at that point, it was already higher than my comfort level (the highs are bright, there's a breaking point where you just can't do it without fatigue/piercing). I use a desktop amp at home. I still haven't noticed a vast difference, but that's because the Sansa Fuze has a decent amplifier built in already. So I should be more specific that a discreet portable headphone amp is not necessary for the 940. For the desktop, I've tried both a solid state and my tube amp and I prefer the solid state for my 940's. The tube adds a little bit of a bloom to it that I find reduces detail a bit, and I like the 940's due to detail.
 
Very best,

 

 

[Pratt]

Quote:

ok so i took the plunge and ordered the 940s. got it for $235 shipped from electronics-expo with a coupon (SUMMER30). had to phone in the order though since the system wasnt taking the coupon online.
 
i know these are good cans. but i may not be impressed since i dont have a headphone amp and i just plan to use them on my ipod and macbook.
 
any good "warm" portable amps i could look at? looking at $100 or under new. just in case.

I think you'll like them. And like others have said, I don't think an amp is even necessary or probably even that big of an improvement. They sound great straight out of my Cowon D2 and sound great out of my M-Stage as well via my computer setup. Better on the latter, but I wouldn't be jumping on any amp if I could only use them out of my D2 (maybe I'd try one after some time).
 
Quote:

This is a good way to spell out my feelings on details vs. overall presentation. Nice, Pratt.
 

Thanks!

 

[Dan S]

I need to disagree slightly here. I recently reduced my work setup to an iPod Classic and the 940s, and I'm noticing a difference now that they're no longer amped, not even from an inexpensive Total BitHead. The bass is noticeably quieter, so the treble emphasis is stronger. And the iPod's treble is a little brittle sounding to me (compared to a DAC). The soundstage is also a touch smaller sounding, I think.
 
At the same time, the 940s are still very clear, detail oriented, and sound very good overall.
 
The difference might be that I'm using an iPod, while the other guys might be using better sounding music players, like Sansas and Cowons.
 
Having said all of this, antikryst, I'd recommend holding off on the amp purchase until you're used to the sound of your new headphones through your MacBook and iPod. That way, you'll know better what you'd like to get out of upgrades, and will be better positioned to judge the various amps you consider.
 
Also, I like to upgrade one piece at a time. The wallet likes to spread the purchases out over time.
 
For any iPod listener, I'd recommend getting some kind of DAC and amp eventually. Together they improve the sound tremendously, especially the DAC.
 
Quote:

I think you'll like them. And like others have said, I don't think an amp is even necessary or probably even that big of an improvement. They sound great straight out of my Cowon D2 and sound great out of my M-Stage as well via my computer setup. Better on the latter, but I wouldn't be jumping on any amp if I could only use them out of my D2 (maybe I'd try one after some time).
 

 

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Quote:

The difference might be that I'm using an iPod, while the other guys might be using better sounding music players, like Sansas and Cowons.
[...] For any iPod listener, I'd recommend getting some kind of DAC and amp eventually. Together they improve the sound tremendously, especially the DAC.

I'd rather get a "better sounding music player", if that's enough.