[G_T_J]

The headband looks a bit out of shape. Don't know if you can get it back in shape with the help of a flat iron? I am going to put back together a Sextett today or tomorrow and will take some pictures for you and post them here.

That would be ideal! Thank you.
If I wasn't worried the silver plates would be damaged, I would also try to dismantle it but I'll have to be 100 % sure before doing anything..

 

[G_T_J]

Has anyone tried Dekoni leather pads on the Sextetts and if yes, which series? Any alteration in sound?

Any other possible hq after market options?

@GreenNeedle could please.tell me where and how much did these mods cost you (headband and pads)? I'm also in the UK.

 

[thee mutz]

For taking off the headband you just have to remove the four round plastic thingies.

For replacing the rubber loops I will add some photos i made yesterday . When you have the loops replaced and re-tightended the screw in the middle, make sure that you can move the rubber loop (that it's not stuck between the screw and the housing.)

 

[G_T_J]

For taking off the headband you just have to remove the four round plastic thingies.

For replacing the rubber loops I will add some photos i made yesterday . When you have the loops replaced and re-tightended the screw in the middle, make sure that you can move the rubber loop (that it's not stuck between the screw and the housing.)

Great. That's very helpful!

I think I got it. So essentially to change the headband and the elastic bands you have to pry off the silver plates. I'm worried I'll damage them. Is there a trick to doing this other than gently prting them off with a flat knife? Are they glued down or they will just snap off if they are pulled out?

Is there a vendor in the eu to buy those elastics? I can't find anything .

 

[larcenasb]

You will see a little notch on the left side where you can insert a knife or boxcutter tip. My advice is not really to pry because that will increase the chance of bending or deforming the badge. Instead, slowly ease the knife straight in and that should be enough to detach it. If not, you can rotate the knife like the seconds' sweep of a clock.

EDIT: They do have glue attaching them and should snap off quite easily. I recommend using Elmer's School glue when reattaching them. Definitely don't use super glue haha.

 

[G_T_J]

You will see a little notch on the left side where you can insert a knife or boxcutter tip. My advice is not really to pry because that will increase the chance of bending or deforming the badge. Instead, slowly ease the knife straight in and that should be enough to detach it. If not, you can rotate the knife like the seconds' sweep of a clock.

EDIT: They do have glue attaching them and should snap off quite easily. I recommend using Elmer's School glue when reattaching them. Definitely don't use super glue haha.

I thought about using B-7000 for re-glueing the badges but from what you say I'd better use something even less permanent.
What about elastics? Ideally I want to change them and not use the hair grip mod.

Thank you.

 

[thee mutz]

Remove the plates like larcenasb said, i used a needle to do this. I marked the notch on the photo.

To buy the elastics or other spare parts you can contact one of these mailadresses:

sc.spareparts@thomann.de ( thomann is a big music shop who has parts like the AKG K240 earpads on stock. For other serviceparts you need to contact them.

Info@multicare.org.uk ( i got this adress from the harman kardon support desk as their AKG spare parts specialists. I did not contact them as i got the parts i needed from a german service center)

Make sure when you contact them that you give them the correct part numbers.

https://www.akg.com/on/demandware.s...219b0/pdfs/K240_monitor_studio_df_service.pdf

I'm also going to try to make my own elastics ( rubber loops)
I found a file for a 3D printer to print the plastic holders, and it's easy to attach new elastics to them.

 

[G_T_J]

Remove the plates like larcenasb said, i used a needle to do this. I marked the notch on the photo.

To buy the elastics or other spare parts you can contact one of these mailadresses:

sc.spareparts@thomann.de ( thomann is a big music shop who has parts like the AKG K240 earpads on stock. For other serviceparts you need to contact them.

Info@multicare.org.uk ( i got this adress from the harman kardon support desk as their AKG spare parts specialists. I did not contact them as i got the parts i needed from a german service center)

Make sure when you contact them that you give them the correct part numbers.

https://www.akg.com/on/demandware.s...219b0/pdfs/K240_monitor_studio_df_service.pdf

Thanks a lot. I'll get in contact with Thomann first. I always use Thimann as I'm happy with the service I have received so far. I would have already sent them a query but the part is not available. Hopefully they are able to provide those bands upon request.

 

[G_T_J]

I'm also going to try to make my own elastics ( rubber loops)
I found a file for a 3D printer to print the plastic holders, and it's easy to attach new elastics to them.

Could we possible re-use the plastic holders like the guy in the video or is it K501 constructed completely differently ?

 

[thee mutz]

No. the holders are very different. The guy in the video can easily put a new elastic in the holder and then secure it with the two bolts.

The holders in the K 240 are very small and you can't attach the elastic band with screws. I think it's only possible with a knot or maybe glue?

But it must be possible to use the old holder with new elastic, but i think it is a PITA to do so as the holder is so small and thin. ( and I don't have a whole lot of patience )

Theoretically i would say that you could create ( carve out) 2 "lanes" ? ( don't know the english word) in the holder, put a new elastic band in them and tie two knots at the right length to secure the loop. See picture with in red my fantasy lanes with knots The holes where the knots would fit are spare anyway.

 

[G_T_J]

No. the holders are very different. The guy in the video can easily put a new elastic in the holder and then secure it with the two bolts.

The holders in the K 240 are very small and you can't attach the elastic band with screws. I think it's only possible with a knot or maybe glue?

But it must be possible to use the old holder with new elastic, but i think it is a PITA to do so as the holder is so small and thin. ( and I don't have a whole lot of patience )

Theoretically i would say that you could create ( carve out) 2 "lanes" ? ( don't know the english word) in the holder, put a new elastic band in them and tie two knots at the right length to secure the loop. See picture with in red my fantasy lanes with knots The holes where the knots would fit are spare anyway.

Right, I see... There should be a workaround though. Your theory with the knots is worth a try.When I get my unit I will definitely experiment.

As a side note, I decided to contact the uk address you provided as well with regards to replacements.

 

[GreenNeedle]

Has anyone tried Dekoni leather pads on the Sextetts and if yes, which series? Any alteration in sound?

Any other possible hq after market options?

@GreenNeedle could please.tell me where and how much did these mods cost you (headband and pads)? I'm also in the UK.

I redid the elastics as shown above. I cut gently with a fine blade (finer than a stanley blade) and threaded some standard elastic thread through, knotted ends in the holes. Elastic dobbins are £1 from Boyes. I used contact cement because it will hold like a demon but doesn't cure so you can get the discs off without bending them. As stated above be careful trying to take them off. They will bend easily.

EDIT: Those contact numbers and advice above r.e. the elastics!!! I first checked Thomann because they had them in a couple of years and like a fool I didn't buy them. They were about £2.50 each back then. This year I though I would get proper ones before selling the LP and Thomann was out of stock so I contacted HK whose rep stated they had now stopped making (and supplying) them. So I checked out fullcompass? who said they would be happy to send to a US address if they could send to me which was fine as I have friends in the US. When they sent me the quote it was $14 + shipping, I think or might be more...............anyway at that price I stuck with my knotted ones.

The headbands I made from 3mm - 4mm Belt leather I have a few spares around if anyone wants to buy some. lol. £16 ish for each length which will make circa 4 headbands. I made some standard length and some others that were 3cm shorter (1.5cm shorter each end.) I am using the shorter ones. If you (or anyone else) is interested are interested they I can post up the ones I have in a box somewhere and I'll sell them off cheap in the for sale section. Just costs + shipping. Should be under a tenner shipped.

The left (LP) is antique brown (love how the creases show) and the right (MP) is oiled black. I also made some Saddle tan ones. Thes 2 were my favs though.

The Paracord is cheap. A lot of Faff though. This is purely aesthetic. I just unsoldered the original cables, fed them through the paracord after removing the threads in the paracord and then heat shrunk the ends. IF you choose to do this prepare for the possibility it may take a long long time, lots of swearing and mega frustration. The second one I did quicker. The first one took many tries and quite possibly a total of 3-4 hours to get the whole cable threaded through.

 

[G_T_J]

I redid the elastics as shown above. I cut gently with a fine blade (finer than a stanley blade) and threaded some standard elastic thread through, knotted ends in the holes. Elastic dobbins are £1 from Boyes. I used contact cement because it will hold like a demon but doesn't cure so you can get the discs off without bending them. As stated above be careful trying to take them off. They will bend easily.

The headbands I made from 3mm - 4mm Belt leather I have a few spares around if anyone wants to buy some. lol. £16 ish for each length which will make circa 4 headbands. I made some standard length and some others that were 3cm shorter (1.5cm shorter each end.) I am using the shorter ones. If you (or anyone else) is interested are interested they I can post up the ones I have in a box somewhere and I'll sell them off cheap in the for sale section. Just costs + shipping. Should be under a tenner shipped.

The left (LP) is antique brown (love how the creases show) and the right (MP) is oiled black. I also made some Saddle tan ones. Thes 2 were my favs though.

The Paracord is cheap. A lot of Faff though. This is purely aesthetic. I just unsoldered the original cables, fed them through the paracord after removing the threads in the paracord and then heat shrunk the ends. IF you choose to do this prepare for the possibility it may take a long long time, lots of swearing and mega frustration. The second one I did quicker. The first one took many tries and quite possibly a total of 3-4 hours to get the whole cable threaded through.

Sweet!
Thank you for all this info

Did you cut the headband from the belt leather yourself?

Cable cover also looks very cool. I'm considering re-cabling but I'll wait to assess the condition of the stock wire first. If I do proceed with it eventually it will be balanced (2.5mm). I've heard that the actual cores are 4 in the stock cable. If that's true then re-cabling should be fairly straight-forward.

BTW, I also have the HD650. How do you like the Sextetts against the Sennheisers?

 

[GreenNeedle]

Sweet!
Thank you for all this info

Did you cut the headband from the belt leather yourself?

Yes I had an idea to make them and sell then ebay...........but I didn't. But I do have a fair few that I did make. Not sure how many. They are in a box in a cupboard. Not as easy as you think to make them

Cable cover also looks very cool. I'm considering re-cabling but I'll wait to assess the condition of the stock wire first. If I do proceed with it eventually it will be balanced (2.5mm). I've heard that the actual cores are 4 in the stock cable. If that's true then re-cabling should be fairly straight-forward.

Not sure on the 4 core thingamy? Was a long while ago. I just photo'd it when I opened it up and resoldered it back as it was after.

BTW, I also have the HD650. How do you like the Sextetts against the Sennheisers?

These are 580s with 600/650 grilles and 650 cable. They both have their strengths. Sometimes surprising. The Sextetts normally win for older/more traditional rock. The Sennheisers for modern stuff/orchestral or congested tracks. For example ACDC, the Sextetts will win. For Depeche Mode the Senns win. The Senns sound sensational on modern EDM. One surprise this week was Rush Fly by Night sounds better on the Senns but in general the Sextetts tend to be better for the music I most like which is in the Hard Rock/old metal genre.

 

[G_T_J]

Yes I had an idea to make them and sell then ebay...........but I didn't. But I do have a fair few that I did make. Not sure how many. They are in a box in a cupboard. Not as easy as you think to make them



Not sure on the 4 core thingamy? Was a long while ago. I just photo'd it when I opened it up and resoldered it back as it was after.



These are 580s with 600/650 grilles and 650 cable. They both have their strengths. Sometimes surprising. The Sextetts normally win for older/more traditional rock. The Sennheisers for modern stuff/orchestral or congested tracks. For example ACDC, the Sextetts will win. For Depeche Mode the Senns win. The Senns sound sensational on modern EDM. One surprise this week was Rush Fly by Night sounds better on the Senns but in general the Sextetts tend to be better for the music I most like which is in the Hard Rock/old metal genre.

Great to hear. I might ask you to sell me a headband (or two) if I eventually figure how to dismantle the whole thing without damaging it!
The unit I bought seems to have a rather deformed headband and I'd also prefer to change it anyway(along with pads) both for hygiene and aesthetic reasons.

We basically listen to the same things and the Sextetts were bought with this music in mind - classic rock / hard rock and heavy metal / progressive rock 70's-80's up to early 90's before the dreadful remasters and the loudness war bursted. I'm very glad to hear you like them on this kind of stuff.