The JVC HA-S500 thread.

Quote:

musubi1000 said:

Here it is.
I feel the stuffing is important for body of the bass. So don't skip this step

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Yeppp, just go a few pages back WAYNE all the info you need should be there.
 
The STUFFING MOD is THE MOST IMPORTANT, especially if you are using the S500s with stock pads. Sadly the stock pads is what is holding back these S500s, that and it being on-ears which is a big comfort issue for many. But when it is modded by stuffing, it gives the sound more room to operate, therefore there is less congestion esp. with the mids and the highs.  The sound really opens up.  The great thing about these mods is it is so so simple and cost you literally NOTHING, since stock pads when stuffed makes these S500s sound great with AMAZING bass. And if you want even better bass tape the dame thing up like musubi1000. LoL These things are truly nuts!!!

where do you buy these for a good price?
on ebay, im seeing these for $70 with shipping
and amazon is roughly the same
 
also are there any other worthy competitors with these around the same price range?
thanks

fuzzyash said:

where do you buy these for a good price?
on ebay, im seeing these for $70 with shipping
and amazon is roughly the same

also are there any other worthy competitors with these around the same price range?
thanks

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Mine were $75 with shipping.

I know they are iem's but how do the MH1C's compare to the S500's? Do they come close or not?

Quote:

gee simpson said:

I know they are iem's but how do the MH1C's compare to the S500's? Do they come close or not?

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yes im wondering about this too

S500 + AKG K518 pads+ stuffed cushions+ taped ports= AAHHHAHMAAHHZZZIING BAAAASSSS HHOOWWW SSWWWEEEET THE SSOOUUND.
Ok the stock S500s are awesome. They decimated all but a few in my collection of HPs. but after the mods it brings them to a whole 'nother level ! Before the S500 my absolute favorite HPs were my AKG K181 DJs for their mad bass and mids.The 181s can surprisingly play just about any kind of music but these modded S500s are on a level or two above these in each and every category. About 4x more bass , bigger impact, more treble sparkle, more efficient, lighter in weight, more portable, details all across the board, better mids and all the textures of each and every instrument whether real or electronic. The S500s stock had good rez from the mids on up. But the resolution on the lower octaves was meh. Anyway after mods not only can you totally hear the improvement in resolution but you can feel it! The impact improves so much that each and every reverb from the bass guitar to the kick drum, to the dropping bass line will resonate throughout your chest! These mods will make you stain yo shorts. So will someone else please just try this completely reversible method. It only takes about 10-15 mins to do. I'd really like to hear another ears opinion to verify that these mods I've done to my phones have truly rung out every ounce of pure sound from these CNTs.

Edit: you guys have no idea what you're missing. It will be too much for some I just know

Have anyone tried dampening the cups? I feel like i need reduction in the bass, only noticed how bass heavy it was when a friend with untrained ears said the bass was too much. I'm not a basshead myself and listening again after my sugar rush had passed confirmed I'm not really into bass heavy things. Sub bass still kicks ass though, just not the one that makes you feel like in a bass echo.
 
I feel like my friend in the other room pumping his subwoofer up and its quite annoying.
 
Probably should use velours + HM5 pads.

penmarker said:

Have anyone tried dampening the cups? I feel like i need reduction in the bass, only noticed how bass heavy it was when a friend with untrained ears said the bass was too much. I'm not a basshead myself and listening again after my sugar rush had passed confirmed I'm not really into bass heavy things. Sub bass still kicks ass though, just not the one that makes you feel like in a bass echo.

I feel like my friend in the other room pumping his subwoofer up and its quite annoying.

Probably should use velours + HM5 pads.

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I was feeling exactly the same way until I got the $12 ath pleather pads. Now audio Nirvana. Its that simple (oh, and a good dose of burn in).

Quote:

musubi1000 said:

S500 + AKG K518 pads+ stuffed cushions+ taped ports= AAHHHAHMAAHHZZZIING BAAAASSSS HHOOWWW SSWWWEEEET THE SSOOUUND.
Ok the stock S500s are awesome. They decimated all but a few in my collection of HPs. but after the mods it brings them to a whole 'nother level ! Before the S500 my absolute favorite HPs were my AKG K181 DJs for their mad bass and mids.The 181s can surprisingly play just about any kind of music but these modded S500s are on a level or two above these in each and every category. About 4x more bass , bigger impact, more treble sparkle, more efficient, lighter in weight, more portable, details all across the board, better mids and all the textures of each and every instrument whether real or electronic. The S500s stock had good rez from the mids on up. But the resolution on the lower octaves was meh. Anyway after mods not only can you totally hear the improvement in resolution but you can feel it! The impact improves so much that each and every reverb from the bass guitar to the kick drum, to the dropping bass line will resonate throughout your chest! These mods will make you stain yo shorts. So will someone else please just try this completely reversible method. It only takes about 10-15 mins to do. I'd really like to hear another ears opinion to verify that these mods I've done to my phones have truly rung out every ounce of pure sound from these CNTs.

Edit: you guys have no idea what you're missing. It will be too much for some I just know

Click to expand...

L.................................O........................................L
 
I am with you all the way buddy, but you got to give us some juicy pics of your set up and what you did. Cuz when i put my stuffed AKG pads on these S500s it turns ULTRA HD in sound but the bass is ULTRA tight/ fast and lean as well.  Even when I taped the ports up the bass is still extremely lean with this combo.
 
What you are describing above sounds like my stuffed stock pad S500s with the felt piece cover on the driver disk. The bass is really controlled, but it is a lot bigger than with the AKG pads and it hits hard and deep.
 
Damn it I need another set of S500s to do your mod ASAP, should have gotten 2 sets when there was that $24 price mistake ahaha.

Just checking if I am still banned from the S500 thread...........?

Quote:

doc-holliday said:

Just checking if I am still banned from the S500 thread...........?

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You can redeem yourself by trying musubi1000s mod and give us a full report back on the results. LoL
 
Nah doc you know we love ya' can't stay mad at those puppy eyes. LMAO

doc-holliday said:

Just checking if I am still banned from the S500 thread...........?

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No, you can come back. We had a board meeting and decided that it's not your fault that your hearing has gone wonky. So welcome back Doc!

Quote:

sfwalcer said:

L.................................O........................................L
 
I am with you all the way buddy, but you got to give us some juicy pics of your set up and what you did. Cuz when i put my stuffed AKG pads on these S500s it turns ULTRA HD in sound but the bass is ULTRA tight/ fast and lean as well.  Even when I taped the ports up the bass is still extremely lean with this combo.
 
What you are describing above sounds like my stuffed stock pad S500s with the felt piece cover on the driver disk. The bass is really controlled, but it is a lot bigger than with the AKG pads and it hits hard and deep.
 
Damn it I need another set of S500s to do your mod ASAP, should have gotten 2 sets when there was that $24 price mistake ahaha.

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Yes I think the bass response you are speaking of is the same I'm hearing.  I'm still using the exact same set  up as originally written about. In your felt set up you had already passively sealed the ports and grills so I believe it has the same or similar effect. I tried it with and without tape and noticed a big increase in impact with the tape covering the ports. Stuffing the cushions with a rolled up paper towel was originally to improve the cushion but discovered how much it improved a lot of things to remember in detail. I used a plain bounty paper towel.sheet. but together the mods unleash the true potential of these drivers on your ears!!! You say the AKG cushions are lean/thin but did you do the EXACT same things as I  did with mine? Scotch tape, seal attaching side of pad with rolled pt, stuff cushions with rolled PT and make sure they cover the fabric grills underneath or use a felt pad (Sfwalcer) but keep open area of grill open. This is all I did.  I remember you saying something about you taped up your grills, and you liked the masking tape better,and will try my mod later.?

Guys, when you make felt discs with a hole in the middle or taping up the ports, those are called Bass Lenses. The bass lenses basically work just how you all had described, the high frequencies just shoot straight through the material with little difficulty, but the lower frequencies get reflected back into the chamber and resonate until they are 'allowed' to go out through the cut out opening in the middle. That explains why the lower end enhanced when you create a smaller opening with whatever means you had done.
 
But my humble opinion is that the bass will resonate long enough to be a little 'slow' for the rest of the music. So it kinda got left behind when the other notes had reached your ears. I've only tried making lenses out of sponge and nothing denser like felt, paper/fabric, or others, so I didn't get as much bass enhancement.
Sure changing pads is alright, but I wouldn't want to change the opening of the drivers. I believe the engineers have something in their heads when they created the vents in the outer layer of the inside plate.
 
Anyway just my two cents.
 
Thanks WAYNENUMM for the heads up on the pleathers, but I think the price after conversion + shipping to me is quite steep, so I guess I'll pass.
Also my old Sony pads do tame the bass significantly at the expense of outside noise leaking in. Expands the soundstage though so I don't think I could complain much.
 
Good job everyone

penmarker said:

But my humble opinion is that the bass will resonate long enough to be a little 'slow' for the rest of the music. So it kinda got left behind when the other notes had reached your ears. I've only tried making lenses out of sponge and nothing denser like felt, paper/fabric, or others, so I didn't get as much bass enhancement.
Sure changing pads is alright, but I wouldn't want to change the opening of the drivers. I believe the engineers have something in their heads when they created the vents in the outer layer of the inside plate.

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Yes after I taped the ports I listened to them and noticed it didn't sound quite right but after I stuffed with the PTs it sounded perfect. I've noticed that if the cushions are stuffed a little off you may hear the difference. This is how I discovered the port interaction when one of the untapped ports became uncovered when the PT left it open. As for what the engineers had in mind I believe it was to reduce the impact to make them more long term listening. The sound signature sounds similar to stock but with a fuller balanced more powerful lower end that restores the balance with the AKG pads and reveals all the lower resolutions.