The JVC HA-S500.. Appreciation, fan thread. - Page 273

Yeah WAYNE I think i am done buying headphone cuz of this LMAO!!! Too much comfort, too much soundstage, too much micro details, too much simple mods to change the sound signature with these S500s with pad changes.  Do as you like to them and they still sound great! WOW.

 

Promise pics of my set up tomorrow unlike our someone cough *cute* cough. haha

 

I could always use a bit more bass but these sound perfect already, can't ask for much more, oh maybe i wish the damn HM5 pads looks less stupid pressed against my head. haha No sex appeal with these pads whatsoever but who needs them when they sound this godly.

Edited by sfwalcer - 1/5/13 at 12:32am

OMG WHAT IS THIS MAGNIFICENCE THAT I AM HEARING, NEVER HEARD MY MUSIC LIKE THIS BEFORE!!!

 

 

/spazzing sorry.

 

AND THE STUPID THING TRANSFORMS LMAO!

 

Ok i think i am going crazy here haha, can't wait to report back tomorrow.

Edited by sfwalcer - 1/5/13 at 1:09am

Oh wow. Move over PowerAmp, there's a new high-quality Android player in town. Anyone using an Android phone as their source, do yourselves a favour and try Neutron. It's fairly complex, but you get crossfeed settings, parametric EQ (which I've got to admit I have nooo idea how to use properly yet) and other goodies. Highly recommended.

I would really like to get these rubber o-rings. Lol. I wonder what else would do that doesn't look too terrible. Then again, I am currently walking around with coins taped to the outside of these cans in an experiment to reduce resonance. Ah, I love working from home.

EDIT: I will warn that Neutron's UI is rather poo, though. I find it hard to navigate. I think the nicest player I've come across in terms of UI is the Walkman, but its power is nothing in comparison. PowerAmp is also more user friendly, not as pretty as Walkman, but not as powerful (IMO) as Neutron.
Edited by hatefulsandwich - 1/5/13 at 2:01am

 

Why pass on the power amp?  Use Neutron, and get the amp. 

 

I'll see if this app is also available on Google Play, and give it a whirl.  Thanks.

 

If the newer player proves to be fruitful, and one can really take hi-fi on the road with Neutron, a smaller power amp and the HA-S500 headphones, I could take the rig to work for my listening pleasure.  The only issue would be that I could get too involved with my working environment, and never leave to go home.  I just don't see that happening, though.  

PowerAmp is a music player, not a physical amp . Currently my Samsung Galaxy S + Voodoo + Neutron = fantastic. The only thing PowerAmp really brought was a more powerful equalizer and ENORMOUS bass boost potential. Using Voodoo and S500s, I hardly need the additional bass boost.

One day when I'm better off financially, I'll look into awesome DACs and amps. For now it's my Galaxy S with its cracked screen. The thing sure has taken a beating from me .

Well, Neutron isn't new - I've been using it on my Galaxy S since 2011. It's always been the best sounding music app IMO but in the beginning its UI and features were the bare minimum - it has really improved. Btw my Galaxy S is pretty much in mint condition after 2 and a half years of abuse and is still great after all that time - too bad I had to retire it as a DAP because the colorfly C3 is a lot better. Also, I don't know about you but I found the s500 sounding underpowered straight from the Galaxy S

Ah, I only discovered it recently, but I've only recently started really getting into the higher quality audio thing. I don't even know when my screen broke. But I am rough on the thing and don't use a case or anything on it, so what could I expect? Still a champion, though, and I'll probably use it as a dedicated audio player when I finally upgrade.

The S500 may well be underpowered, but I honestly just don't have anything better. I'm still waiting on that ELE DAC which rather seems like it got lost or nicked in the post by now .

Just out of interest, did you use Voodoo with the Galaxy S? It really makes an extremely big difference.

Yeah, I've even listed it in my profile here. I've been using Voodoo since it was initially released in 2010 and I'm a bit of an Android fanboy and geek, so I've tried everything.

Then you must be registered on xda 

Yes, I am although I've been a lot more active in local Android forums and not over there whe it's full of idiots not using the search button. I've tried to be an Angroid Guru for a while but the past year I've been kinda inactive it that field - I haven't flashed my SGS for like 7 months. Anyway, if it wasn't for SGS and Voodoo I probably wouldn't be here now enjoying my s500 (sadly not with the aforementioned combo)

I have to agree wayne.

 

I've had the ATH Pleathers on for 2 days, 1 day with the vents taped and I really don't like how the bass sounds in this situation. It's really unnatural... and without the vents taped, it still feels very light even on eq2.

 

I guess I'll be going back to stock pads as I'd rather swap the bigger more airy soundstage for a fuller, more punchier sound. Which is what I get on stock pads.

 

Yeah that is true mate, you need a lot of patience nowadays to survive on xda.

 

Add me on there if you feel like it. Nick is the same. 

Ah, I don't really make it a point to check out profiles. Yeah, so this is pretty much what I've got to play with for now. I still enjoy flashing new ROMs and whatnot just because I can't leave well enough alone .

For ELE-Dac owners

Are you satisfied by the synergy with s500? I still feel that lacks clarity, bass and it is a tad muddy

Could it be the songs I choose?

Ok as promised, pics galore after the break. My set up is really basic actually: S500s stock pads with taped bass ports/ HM5 pads over them with tissue stuffed mod which are held secure but the rubber-O-rings.

 

Source is straight from ipod classic/ nano on flat EQ and it sounds oh so glorious.

 

........here is how it looks like with the complete setup.

 

...................with everything stripped off. All 3 Bass Ports are taped with masking tape.

 

.................with stock pads back on/ Rubber-O-Ring thing from my local hardware store, this one is actually slightly smaller in size since they didn't carry the 2-5/8" one cute got, but fits real snug on the lip of the pads nonetheless. If they don't carry the exact size go slightly smaller because the rings can stretch a bit.

 

.............goes on like so.

 

.................fits perfectly.

 

................put the HM5 pads over it like so.

 

................Rubber-O-Ring holds the HM5 pads in place due to the increased size of the diameter.

 

............To make it even more snug fitting use some rolled up paper towels and stuff them under the HM5 pads. This makes the soft/ squishy HM5 pads retain their shape while worn. The gap/ space between the stock pads and the HM5 pads is extremely ideal for the stuffed paper mod actually. This mod has increased the soundstage even more so for me. Stuff as much as you like i guess but for me i used like two rolls as pictured above on each pad. 

 

.........This is really the best mod I have tried on these S500s and the sound is simply glorious. Sounds like a full size set of cans with amazing comfort/ soundstage. All the original amazing qualities of these CNT drivers are retained but this mod drives it into the next ULTIMATE level. Sadly this mod is for home use only since these HM5 pads look stupid as hell on your head haha, but thank god I have my other modded S500s for portable on the go use. SIMPLY PERFECTION!!!

 

Oh and the Transformer part is not the mod itself, but when you wear the HM5 modded S500s over your ears, simply push the cups back towards your neck so it fits tight/ snug to get a nice great seal, which gives you great bass-slam and isolation. But when you want a more balanced/ airy sound simply swivel the cups back to a straight angle to open up its soundstage. Try it, it's pretty interesting to say the least. LoL

 

.........The S500 Ultimus Prime boi!!!

Edited by sfwalcer - 1/5/13 at 9:53pm

 

Fantabulous!  Thank you for taking the time to take the pictures.  I was able to read plenty of comments using the various combinations, but to seem them implemented is priceless.  Thanks again !!  

 

Edit: In regards to the comments regarding the HM5 pads "collapsing" a bit, there has been some previous discussions on the Fischer Audio variant of the pads, which is referred to as the MK I flavor.  This variant has a slightly thicker amount of foam that was utilized for more comfort and depth, but the inner wall of pleather on the inside of the ear pads (driver area / vertical piece of pleather) was slightly thicker, which allowed the pads to retain a bit more of their thickness while wearing them, and they'd collapse a bit less.  The sad part is, that the MK I variant is virtually impossible to find new at this point in time, and is awfully rare to locate them on the secondary market.

Edited by wje - 1/5/13 at 3:30pm