[aloi]

Hi, I've used K450 for 6 months, and K480NC for 3 months.
 
at first they were OK, but now I feel their bass is too muddy.
 
the amount of bass and reverb is both excessive, causing masking of mid-high range.
 
I disassembled them, and found some ducts behind the unit.
 
by blocking them with tape, the amount of bass and reverb has decreased.
 
this mod is just trial. that is, this mod still needs to be improved to sound better.
 
procedures are as following.
 
(It's too simple to be a procedure, though.)
 

 
 
1. pull the rim of earpad to remove earpad. there's sticky tape between capsule and earpad. be careful to prevent damage on earpad.
 
2. remove all three screws.
 
3-4. (sorry for low resolution) cut a clear tape into a piece of about 4mm x 6mm. use them to cover one duct.
 
cut a same size of mesh bandage tape(http://www.enasco.com/prod/images/products/2F/AC061349.jpg). block other duct with it.
 
5. the ducts are covered.
 
results : bass is clearly reduced. and high came closer. but midrange is still not clear.
 
reverb of timpani is cleaned up. sound of flute is clear. still french horn sounds muffled.
 
as i mentioned, this mod is just trial.
 
one clear tape/one bandage tape is the best i got, and i am satisfied with it.
 
still, i haven't tried many types of material.
 
plus, i'm really not good at listening and tuning.
 
i need help in trying different materials and best tuning point.
 
if anyone in this forum is interested in it, please try to apply and improve it.

 

[aloi]

And no one's using k450s?
thought there'd be more than 0 people who can help me..

 

[jackrabbitslim0]

Quote:

And no one's using k450s?
thought there'd be more than 0 people who can help me..

aloi:
 
Probably coz K450 is a kind of old model... so less ppl pay attention to it.
But recently I got one as I need a good portable & foldable & quality on-ear phone as an alternative to my IEMs.
 
I did similar stuff to my Ultrasone and V-moda M80 & LP2 to reduce Bass and Increase some noise isolation.
 
Instead of using tape, I use Blu-Tack,
Coz it's a porous plastic, 
If I use plastic tape, it is like a diaphragm and still have much "Reflection" or "Reverb"
I consider such reverb may lead to confusion or congestion in sound.
 
But Blu-Tack is soft but still kind of bouncy. 
 
My purpose is to:
1. Reduce Bass
2. Keep the Mid
3. Reduce the S[size=medium]ibilance[/size]
4. Increase the Noise Isolation
 
To me, I feel the Sound Signature becomes more "Round" or "Smooth"
and Most importantly, I can commute on Train, without letting others conversations leak into my headphones.
 
Improvement is not significant (of course), ~ 10%+ I feel.

 

[jackrabbitslim0]

Btw, I suggest you can try listening to 
 
1. Ultrasone Demo CD
it's a vivid demo CD that the 1st track let you test whether the headphone's soundstage is compromised or not after MOD.
 
 
2. THTST Percussion Album
it has wide range (frequency) of sound effect,
Can test the Highs, Lows :  Speed, Extension, Decay... blah blah.

 

[gimi]

Do you get other improvement with K480NC AKG regarding mid-high range area? I mean, 2KHz-12KHz  zone sound not very clear (kind stuffy) but the bass area is very strong. Regards.