CYoung234,
This is one of the mods I planned to try. This morning, I duplicated your mods described in the quoted text, below. I compared your mod set-up to my Modded Set #4 which served as my Reference Comparison set. My Reference Comparison set is described in this thread on page 205, Post #3058; scroll down for details and a picture ...
Quote:
Some final tuning (for now). I wanted to bump the high end a touch on my pair, so I did the following:
1.) Removed the alternating transpore / micropore I had been using (ala Smeggy). I had Transpore on the corner squares on the backs of the drivers over the stock white material, and Micropore on the other 4 outer squares with the center square uncovered by anything other than the stock material.
2.) Added 1 layer of Micropore over the entire driver.
3.) Added a large reflex clear dot to the center.
4.) Discovered that the layer of Paxmate I have on the front of the baffle under the pads was covering the vent hole, so I uncovered it.
5.) Added a layer of stiff craft felt over the vent openings. I have not closed any of the 4 with electrical tape.
6.) Still using FA-003 pleather pads, stuck on with double-sided tape. I may need to look at sealing these at the edges better, but we will see.
7.) I squeezed the headband a bit more to improve the clamping. I may try out LFF's suspension headband mod as I like the comfort of my AKG K501's a lot, and they use this type of suspension.
Here are a couple of pics:
Baffle Side
Cup (this photo does not show the craft felt, but it was added).
BMF modded set #4, quoted from my post #3058 on page 204 of this thread:
Naked drivers once again. I tried 1 to 3 layers of "3M Nexcare flexible clear tape." The back of the package says "Hospital name: 3M Transpore Surgical Tape." It has numerous perforations that allow just the right amount of air movement/driver excursion and adheres easily. Right off the bat with just 1 layer, I knew I was onto something great. With only one layer of this tape, the cans opened up nicely but still had a tad too much sub-bass, slightly muffled mids on vocals, and veiled treble with no air at all. Two layers was better and three layers much, much better than 1 or 2. With each layer, the sub-bass was progressively controlled and the mids and highs unveiled. Further tuning with a reflex dot better suits my tastes and hearing range. This fourth set of modified T50RP's sound just like my third set used as my reference for these mod comparisons. Closing off 1 to 3 bass port slots with electrical tape over the stock bass port felt allows for fine-tuning the bass: the more slots covered, the less bass you get. Closing all 4, however, resulted in a hollow, "in a well" type of sound effect superimposed over everything.
Conclusion: With my preferred mods (stock white driver felt in place, Paxmate in the cups, plasticine in the baffles, stock black bass port felt in place covering all 4 vent slots, and Paxmate donut under the ear pads) I was able to sonically match their sound signature by substituting "3M Nexcare flexible clear tape (3M Transpore) in place of the T50RP stock white driver felt. This tape may be your solution if you mangled your stock white driver felt and want an equivalent to take yours back to stock SQ. As always, your results may differ.
New and Improved BMF's - Modded set #4
Paxmate Plus in cups, Claytoons plasticine in baffles, Stock white driver felt removed, 3 layers of "3M Nexcare flexible clear tape ( aka Transpore )" over the back of the drivers, furniture bumper for reflex dot at center position of driver grid, Stock black bass port felt in place and no additional bass tuning, and a ring of Paxmate under stock ear pads.
Comparison of BMF mods #4 and CYoung234 mods:
My Comparison set #4 closely matches the sound signature I prefer: Clear, balanced, and wide soundstage; deep, textured, fast sub-bass in ample quantity that is well controlled without bleeding over into the mids; warm, full, silky smooth and detailed mid-range as if sitting two or three rows back from the center stage; clear, detailed treble extension without fatigue.
My set duplicating CYoung234's mods: The CYoung234 soundstage is similar in width to BMF #4 but depth is pushed back way too far; instruments and vocals sound like I am sitting at the back of the theater 30 or 40 rows from the center stage. The sub-bass is significantly diminished in quantity but not so much in quality; the bass is still textured and fast but not as prominent. The mid-range is significantly attenuated, compressed, and thin; instruments and particularly vocals sound hollow. The upper mids and treble frequencies are extremely exaggerated making this set Hot and fatiguing to my ears.
Conclusion: Your mods do not offer the SQ and signature I prefer. I am happy, though, if your mods provide the SQ and signature you prefer.
Next, I will try one layer of 3M flexible clear (3M Transpore) tape over the stock white driver felt.
Cheers,
BMF
Edit 1: I think that placing 3M Nexcare gentle paper tape (Micropore) and a reflex dot over the stock white driver felt markedly increases back pressure, reduces air flow, and limits diaphragm excursion too much producing the sound signature and sound qualities I described after implementing CYoung234's mods.
Edit 2: I removed the 3M Nexcare gentle paper tape (Micropore) and reflex dot. Everything else remained the same. I placed one layer of 3M Nexcare flexible clear tape (Transpore) over the stock white driver felt. Transpore had no negative effects compared to the problems caused by Micropore in this set-up.
Transpore tape over stock white driver felt is a mod worth trying if your stock white driver felt is intact and you want to decrease the bass quantity (no effect on quality of the bass), move the vocals and mids to the 3rd or 4th row from center stage, and increase treble brightness. I think the more favorable results achieved with Transpore, instead of Micropore, over the stock driver felt is due to only slightly increasing back pressure, minimally restricting air flow, and slightly limiting diaphragm excursion compared to stock. Note: Transpore tape has numerous perforations whereas Mircopore has none. As always, your results and opinions may differ.
