Knee Deep In Epoxy
500+ Head-Fier
Had some fun messing with a stash of Koss headphones, KPH40, Porta Pro Utility, original Porta Pro, Kph30i and KSC75.
Kph40 Vs Porta Pro Utility driver comparison
I put the Porta Pro Utility driver on the KPH40 headband and compared them to the stock KPH40. They sounded different. However I've come to the conclusion (and I could be wrong so don't fight me) that that the difference is in the PPU and KPH40 pads. The PPU pads are thinners and probably less of an obstruction to the sound.
In that comparison, I preferred the PPU driver sound over the stock KPH40. It seems to have more presence and resolution and air across the spectrum.
To Yaxi or not to Yaxi
IMHO... to Yaxi
Spoiler alert: My favourite combination in terms of sound quality of everything I tried yesterday was the KSC75 on Retrospekt headband with Yaxi pads with a hole cut out in of the centre of the pads. More on that below, but that became my target sound for this experiment.
Disclaimer: My preference is for clarity, width, resolution over warmth and punchy dynamics. When I say something is good or best it means it leans towards my sonic preferences. You may be the complete opposite.
So...
I added Yaxi pads to all of the drivers Kph40, Ksc75, PPU and PP (all except the KPH30i) and used them all with Retrospekt/KPH40 headbands. In that configuration the Kph40, PPU and PP all sounded identical to me, and they all sounded best with stock Yaxi pads. They lost a some bass presence and impact but gained space, stage and treble resolution. The mids were also slightly clearer with the Yaxi pads. I didn't mind the loss in the low end because the drives naturally lean warm
(Sidenote: The KSC75 with stock Yaxis was far too bass light)
Without Yaxi pads, my favourite (non-KSC75) combination was the to use the PPU pads (which may be the same as original PP pads, I don't know as I've lost mine) on the KPH40/PPU/PP drivers with the KPH40/Retrospekt headband.
Holey Yaxi?
Next up tried Yaxis with a centre hole cut out.
The hole allows the bass to come through and feel more punchy and dynamic. Meanwhile the thickness of the Yaxi pads creates a little extra distance between the ears and the driver which broadens the soundstage a little. This is perfect for the KSC75 which retains its crispy mids and sparkly treble.
However on the KPH40/PPU/PP drivers the holey Yaxis increased the low end compared to stock Yaxis, but the low end was still less than the drivers with their stock pads. The Yaxis (with and without hole) also widen the soundstage a little. But the drawback of the holey Yaxis on KPH40/PPU/PP drivers was loss of treble resolution and detail retrieval. So I settled on stock Yaxis being the best sound could get out of the (without EQ of course)
Conclusions:
1. I had fun.
2. The KSC75 on KPH40/Retrospekt band with Yaxi with holes combo takes gold.
3. Silver goes to the KPH40/PPU/PP drivers on KPH40/Retrospekt band with stock Yaxi pads without holes
4. The PPU driver (or KPH40/PP with PPU) pads takes bronze
5. Keep in mind, the stock KPH40 with no modifications at all is an awesome package as is (if you can't be bothered with all the mad science). I've been happily walking around with mine for a few months and I love them.
To be continued?...
Mad science part 2 using the porta pro headband?
Kph40 Vs Porta Pro Utility driver comparison
I put the Porta Pro Utility driver on the KPH40 headband and compared them to the stock KPH40. They sounded different. However I've come to the conclusion (and I could be wrong so don't fight me) that that the difference is in the PPU and KPH40 pads. The PPU pads are thinners and probably less of an obstruction to the sound.
In that comparison, I preferred the PPU driver sound over the stock KPH40. It seems to have more presence and resolution and air across the spectrum.
To Yaxi or not to Yaxi
IMHO... to Yaxi
Spoiler alert: My favourite combination in terms of sound quality of everything I tried yesterday was the KSC75 on Retrospekt headband with Yaxi pads with a hole cut out in of the centre of the pads. More on that below, but that became my target sound for this experiment.
Disclaimer: My preference is for clarity, width, resolution over warmth and punchy dynamics. When I say something is good or best it means it leans towards my sonic preferences. You may be the complete opposite.
So...
I added Yaxi pads to all of the drivers Kph40, Ksc75, PPU and PP (all except the KPH30i) and used them all with Retrospekt/KPH40 headbands. In that configuration the Kph40, PPU and PP all sounded identical to me, and they all sounded best with stock Yaxi pads. They lost a some bass presence and impact but gained space, stage and treble resolution. The mids were also slightly clearer with the Yaxi pads. I didn't mind the loss in the low end because the drives naturally lean warm
(Sidenote: The KSC75 with stock Yaxis was far too bass light)
Without Yaxi pads, my favourite (non-KSC75) combination was the to use the PPU pads (which may be the same as original PP pads, I don't know as I've lost mine) on the KPH40/PPU/PP drivers with the KPH40/Retrospekt headband.
Holey Yaxi?
Next up tried Yaxis with a centre hole cut out.
The hole allows the bass to come through and feel more punchy and dynamic. Meanwhile the thickness of the Yaxi pads creates a little extra distance between the ears and the driver which broadens the soundstage a little. This is perfect for the KSC75 which retains its crispy mids and sparkly treble.
However on the KPH40/PPU/PP drivers the holey Yaxis increased the low end compared to stock Yaxis, but the low end was still less than the drivers with their stock pads. The Yaxis (with and without hole) also widen the soundstage a little. But the drawback of the holey Yaxis on KPH40/PPU/PP drivers was loss of treble resolution and detail retrieval. So I settled on stock Yaxis being the best sound could get out of the (without EQ of course)
Conclusions:
1. I had fun.
2. The KSC75 on KPH40/Retrospekt band with Yaxi with holes combo takes gold.
3. Silver goes to the KPH40/PPU/PP drivers on KPH40/Retrospekt band with stock Yaxi pads without holes
4. The PPU driver (or KPH40/PP with PPU) pads takes bronze
5. Keep in mind, the stock KPH40 with no modifications at all is an awesome package as is (if you can't be bothered with all the mad science). I've been happily walking around with mine for a few months and I love them.
To be continued?...
Mad science part 2 using the porta pro headband?