Quote:   I haven't been able to listen to a 'black screen' HD650 yet, although I did try a new cable and removing the foam sheet and neither gave any audible difference to my ears. I'd try the de-foam mod on the baffle side of the driver but I'm reluctant as there's no easy way to reverse it.

Quote:   I find the HD650s to be surprisingly neutral, the warm sound has been exaggerated for years and will likely continue

Quote:   HD800?

I've had it a couple of days now and it's actually quite capable, I've compared to the ODAC, Bifrost and E10 so far. It has a louder background than the ODAC or E10 which have zero noise even at high gain, but as black as you'd need it for practical purposes. The SMSL SD-022+ has zero problems...

Looks interesting, I don't know the technical aspects of what to look for in a DAC but it looks apt for the money.

Quote:   Without a stock pair to A -> B against comparing modifications is really a test of sound memory and expectation bias, I'd get a second pair to properly validate your claims, you might even hit gold. Covering the bass port would probably simulate not having the bass port though.

Quote:   The source (DAC, not the files themselves) is usually the least important part of the audio chain, unless it's faulty or suffers from electrical interference then upgrading it will have the least impact, spending anymore than $100 on a DAC is going to give almost nothing for your...

There's a few SMSL products on eBay/Amazon and the well priced SD-022 caught my eye, looks to use the popular TE7022L controller used in the HiFimeDIY DAC.     Anyone have any more information on this? Looks similar to the FiiO E10 in size, has options for either RCA out or...

http://www.accessoryjack.com/sony-mdr-xb1000-extra-bass-headphones-black.html

I've been listening to them back and forth between brighter headphones (HE-500, v6) and I never realized how dark they were having used them solely for quite a while, I can understand why some find it boring, it's a shame because the mids are still perfect.

Quote:   When I looked it had ripped and pulled back, I just stuck it back down but it's a tad loose.   Kimvictor, have you tried any other pads? It's a shame the actual size of the v6's cups isn't larger, I'd love to get some LCD-2/SR007 pads on there. I've been using stock and...

I noticed a tear on material on the baffles today when I took the earpad off, strange how it happened as I baby all of my babies, do you think this will affect sound even in the slightest? My gut feeling is no.   

They're all similar in price, I don't have much experience in closed headphones sadly, does anyone know how they compare to one another? I'm certain answers will be useful to many in the future too.

How do these compare to the K550?

These are very interesting, I've always been apathetic towards 'high-end' headphones and electrostatic offerings having heard a variety, but these might just convert me and a few others if the bass has meat to it.