Audio-technica ATH-2 troubles

[iFox90]

Hi there,

A few days ago I bought these Audio-technica ATH-2 headphones...They sound quite ok to my ears (neutral, a good balance of bass en treble tones)
It came with a 6,3MM jack, however I wanted to use it with my Cowon D2, so I made a Neutrik 3.5MM minijack on it....

Now this works fine, however there is another problem:
the cable to the right "ear" (i'm dutch, so forgive me my English) needs to be replaced. It only works when I hold the cable in a certain position, so it is likely that it needs to be reconnected...
The problem is that the cable don't seem to be removable, so my question to you guys is: what's the best way to fix this (retro-looking) headhphone?

I added some pics to make it more clear...

FYI: the white cable is loose, probably somewhere in the right "ear" or in front of that...It needs to be resoldered...

Thanks in advance! If you need more info, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[Caution]

best thing to do would be to open up the headphones, desolder the curent wires throw em out, and solder in some new ones ;]

 

[ludoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iFox90 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The problem is that the cable don't seem to be removable, so my question to you guys is: what's the best way to fix this (retro-looking) headhphone?

You should head on over to the Orthodynamic Roundup thread. Your phone has an orthodynamic driver, and quite a few people in that thread have dismantled it and can point you in the right direction. Also, there are a few simple mods that make them sound much better than stock. Post there, and do some searches while you wait for a reply.

 

[scompton]

The cable is removable by removing the baffle and desoldering. There are 2 screws at the top of the baffle that hold it on. But definitely go to the ortho thread. These are very easy to improve the sound of. There's also a thread just on modding the ATH-2. All you need is some felt and springy foam and they sound a lot better.

 

[iFox90]

Thanks for all your reactions so far!
I'll have a look later tonight, can't wait to enjoy my headphones 100%

 

[iFox90]

Alright...
I fully fixed my ATH-2 and I do and don't like the sound..

On the one hand the sound is pretty balanced, it does have a balance between bass, mid and trebles..
On the other hand all music sounds a little bit "muffled" : like i'm standing behind a wall, with loud music...

Maybe I should mod it

Thanks

 

[ludoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iFox90 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Maybe I should mod it

You should definitely mod it. Post in the ortho thread and ask around.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iFox90 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Alright... I fully fixed my ATH-2 and I do and don't like the sound.. On the one hand the sound is pretty balanced, it does have a balance between bass, mid and trebles.. On the other hand all music sounds a little bit "muffled" : like i'm standing behind a wall, with loud music... Maybe I should mod it Thanks

That's my main complaint with them as well. They work well with loud, funky music and not so well with quieter music, ballads, chamber music, etc.

It's the thick baffle. wautla recommends cutting a hole in the baffle and move the driver up to the edge of the baffle. So far no one has done it. I own 2 so eventually I'll do it, but it's low on my list of things to do. I'm not sure what to use to cut the baffle for one thing. It may really require making a new baffle like smeggy is doing for most of his mods. That'll probably be easier than cutting the metal.

 

[wualta]

Maybe we should define terms for iFox90. The baffle is the big circular chrome piece with holes in it. You're looking at it when you look at the part of the ATH-2 that faces your ear. As you've discovered, the driver is stuck to the other side of it. The driver is the 38mm round thing that makes the sound, and it should be mounted flush with the surface of the baffle, as close as possible to your ear. But in the ATH-2, it isn't, and that's a problem, though not a great one.

So do the damping modifications first. They're described (though not well photographed) in this thread.