The JVC HA-S500.. Appreciation, fan thread. - Page 199

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts 

Exactly, this is yet another way to customize just how much bass you want. Poking holes in the vent tape makes sense. The more holes the less bass end.

 

These headphones are simply amazing. They tune with a change of pad and tune even more by taping the vent holes. I am getting max comfort and an astounding sound as I type this. I am very happy to be using my velours again.

Did you try the part where you stuff the paper towels in between the pad to get a better seal? Right when I did that I feel like it made the sound congested, but it did make the bass sound good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts 

The first thing I did this morning is place some scotch tape over the 3 vent holes on the driver cups..So the bass comes back in a big way. For the guys that want the comfort of the ATH pleathers and miss the bass of the stock pads this is a great way to bring the bass back. For me I actually like the less bass of the stock ATH pleathers.. I am gonna try it with only 2 vents taped. ect. But this is impressive just how much bass comes back. Give it a try guys it is as easy as cutting out the right shape of tape and slapping it on the vent holes. Easy.

 

More interesting. I just threw on my ATH velours. The bass is still there..With the tape mod I can use the velours again. Nice. It opens up the overall sound a bit more than the pleathers yet retains the bass end. Nice indeed. For the guys that want ultimate comfort and want that bass. This tape mod does the trick. In fact with this tape mod I actually prefer the velours now.. For the guys that own the ATH velours I hope you all still have them. This tape mod make them perfection. The ever changing HA-S500.

Nice to hear that. I went recently back to ATH velours, as this is the only way I can have anything approaching like decent sounstage - against soundstage champ, AKG K 1000, this was only way  (short of transplant ) not to lag sooooo behind in soundstage as to render HA-S500 mostly unused. Actually, ATH velours on HA-S500 does give the closest match with K1000 in the bass - K1000 never was nor will be bass monster. So, that bit of bass available through taping vent(s) will come handy.

What type of tape did you use ? Something porous, similar to original JVC ( 3M first aid tape comes to mind ) or was it something completely sealing/non porous ?

As the sheer number of possibilities that emerged by now offer about any signature imaginable - did anybody measure various mods like the guys modding Fostex T50RP ? Things are getting somewhat out of hand, as many of us are eventually returning to pads we once thought were "lost case" - like ATH velours that most, myself included, found too bass light - 0.01$ worth of tape and much dedication of those who are tirelessly searching for the best sound possible, these ATH velours are back in the game. Thanks for that !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts 

Just regular scotch tape. But I did some precise cutting to fit the curvature of the cups. Been listening to my HA-S500 with my velours on. Ya this sounds amazing. Now with bass and a bigger sound. Love it.

Thanks for the answer. Just caught up with all the posts and Scotch tape mod pics. Will do it tomorrow .

Been busy with modifiying AKG K 1000 - nothing anyone without the absolutely  burning desire to get them finally right ( those grills tend to start resonating at most inconvinient moments killing the next to perfect illusion you are listening to the real thing in a moment ...) might want in worse nightmare. They are PITA to work with

and can be demaged/destroyed with a single wrong move - yet its singular presentation of well recorded acoustical music  justfies each and every effort in order to make it cosistently work vice-free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts 

Just regular scotch tape. But I did some precise cutting to fit the curvature of the cups. Been listening to my HA-S500 with my velours on. Ya this sounds amazing. Now with bass and a bigger sound. Love it.

Tried the tape mods with my AT leather and AT velours....I lose clarity as the bass seems muffled/conjested, this doesn't sound natural for me, but there is more quantity of bass.  As far as soundstage, the HM5 pads give me the best/biggest soundstage, clearest sound on both the S500 and S400.....HM5 pads awsome, still better than any combination of mods that I have tried!  I have HM5 pads on all three pairs of JVC's 2-S500 and 1-S400......I am getting full size headphone sound and comfort....HM5 works for me!

I don't know how they sound with the ATs or the HM5s but with the AKG pads and the tape mod the bass improved but the sound was a bit off. but by stuffing the pads I was able to bring the balance back with more mid and bass body. If the stuffing is overly done the bass body overwhelms the wonderful highs.