A few days ago, I removed the inner and outer (metal) screens of the 009s. The associated o-rings are still in place. The inner, fabric, dust screen had been previously removed, so now, “with screens” means without the inner dust screen. In both cases, the cups are held to my skull with 3 1”-wide elastic bands adjusted as tightly as I can enjoy over several hours of listening. Call it “snugly” !-) Also, ~3oz of tungsten beads are glued to each ear cups, for additional damping (which whose efficacy has not been verified with ABA…testing).
The following comparisons were done in the space of 24 hours without touching the volume control, so I had good aural memory for this simple A-B test. All statements are about the new screenless configuration wrt the old configuration with screens. Subsequent listening over several days confirms the improvements heard in the A-B test.
Linda Ronstadt, Hasten Down the Wind, S2
Linda’s voice is even purer, more beautiful and more “immediate”: i.e., it “is like” a veil has been removed, and, of course, that is the physical case. Nuances of her singing technique and her expressions are clearer. The direct and ambient components of her voice are more easily distinguished. Expanding the scope to the whole gestalt, including Linda, everything is “easier” and more relaxed at the same time that it is clearer, cleaner and more defined. It is easier to understand words. It is easier to hear the whole lines of background performers and how they play with and against the main line. It is easier to hear the vocal characteristics and nuanced expressions of individual members of vocal backup ensemble. Turning attention to the various accompanying instruments, the piano is “purer” and more beautiful, impact on drums and the effects of their components (like skins) are more apparent, giving a sound that is simultaneously more impactful and relaxed, metallic percussion is cleaner.
L’Histoire du Soldat, Reference Recordings, S1
Improved purity of timbres, clarity of technique, expression and instrumental “action” (e.g., skins, bows), more relaxed sound yet with greater impact, greater continuity and individuality of secondary and/or parallel main musical lines: pretty consistent with “Hasten Down the Wind”. However, the first thing that hit me was in the gestalt domain: stereo. I use the word “stereo” with emphasis on its root meaning, “solid”, in the sense of having a clear illusion of “solid” performers and their instruments in a real acoustic space. The improvement of the stereo illusion on this recording done with minimalist miking is striking: without their screens the 009s do a better job of transporting you to the event recorded.
Manhattan Transfer, Extensions, Birdland
From the drop of the needle, aaah, and Wow: a gestalt that is simultaneously more relaxed and impactful. Details would be repetitive of descriptions above. Notable improvements are the richness and beauty of the piano, and delicacy of cymbal work.
Peter, Paul and Mary, Album 1700
Ditto. Aspects I found particularly outstanding without the screens was “openness” of the soundscape, i.e. the “spaces” between performers (presumably in their own tracks) were bigger. I think that some reviewers refer to what I was hearing as “blacker backgrounds”, which is a good description of the impression. Also, counter intuitively; the bass line was easier to follow with more definite pitches.
Wagner, Das Rheingold, London, Solti
Ditto. The prelude is Wagner’s musical picture of the Rheine as it flows in the narrows around the Lorelei. Tthe intrinsic sonic beauty of various choirs in the orchestra are more manifest. Diction is clearer. The Rheine maidens are more distinctive from one another. Notable from the last of 6 sides was the purity of Wotan’s voice and the stereo stage presentation.
Beethoven’s 9th, Solti, 4th movement
Removing the screens increases both the power and clarity of the opening’s lower strings, improves the consistency of suspension of disbelief re. being present in a large hall with many performers, clarifies the individuality and interplay of musical lines, allows singers to sound less shouty and more beautiful, improves intelligibility of words even when there are multiple lines being sung. I.e., ditto.
Realistically, all the improvements described above without the screens do not change the basic character of the 009s all that much. After all, these are improvements to an already world class transducer.
I cannot recommend that people repeat this at home, as it leaves the 009s much more open to serious damage. I have not experienced any shocks during this exercise. I am glad that I acquired (at least) a (cheap) headphone stand, to keep the 009s safer when not in use. If anyone knows of any danger to the listener, please let me know, asap.
