Blown HD555 drivers? "farting" under 100hz

[Shatter]

Hello, i have a bit of a problem. I have a paird of Senn HD555s that i use at very reasonable listening levels. The source is an Audigy SE (I know, I know)

From about 100hz downwards, i hear a "flutter", something resembling a farting sound. Worse than that, the "flutter" seems to remain constant in volume even when i turn the master volume down or up. Over 100hz it disappears almost completely, and it completely dissapears around the 150hz mark.

I've tested this with computer generated tones.

The only times i used them at a high volume level were when i used them as a mini speaker, on the desk, when my speakers were in service (but they leak a lot anyway, I could stand them being on my head, nothing exaggerated), and during burn-in, but that was at a decent level, only a little bit over my normal listening volume.

With normal music, only very bass-heavy, poorly recorded music such as 10ft Ganja Plant's "Engine trouble" points out the flaw , but... still, i'm bothered by this.

Any opinions? Are replacement drivers in order? Could some hairs have gone through the nylon screen? (I have fairly long hair, got me in lots of trouble with the PX100s). Could they just be going through one of those dreaded burn-in transformations that i've heard about?

 

[mbd2884]

What music are you listening to? Maybe your music has farts, hehe. Does sound like maybe you should take em apart and check that your drivers are clean. If that doesn't work, maybe call Sennheiser for replacement drivers.

 

[Shatter]

I thought about the music being the culprit, but the flaw is obvious with uncompressed computer generated 20-100hz tones, so that's not it.

 

[CDBacklash]

If you're talking about gaps between the sound, I'm sure someone would like to give an explanation about the wavelength etc resulting in the "farting". Happens on pianos as well, though 100 hz seems quite early for that to happen (should be 30 or so)
Could also be playing too loud (resulting in drivers flexing past their baffle point - i think thats what its called) resulting in the sound because the drivers have to move the most for bass.
good luck in finding a solution

 

[Shatter]

No, it's not a "gap". I forgot the exact word, but it sounds like blowing air through the mouth with tightly closed lips. "Raspberries", was it?

It happens at ANY volume, that's the problem. If it only happened with the volume turned up then i'd be sure i ruined the drivers, but I can hear it damn close to the lowest audible volume.

 

[CDBacklash]

I guess it's not a warble then. Can't help sorry.
Do not give up [:

 

[nff]

de-hair your drivers if it dosent help then its most likely blown

have you tryed other phones on the source see if its your output not the 555's.

 

[Shatter]

I seem to be able to duplicate the issue with my PX100s, and those have NEVER been abused in the slightest, so maybe it's the output, maybe it's the hairs. I'll let you know, thanks for all the help

By the way: is this something that could happen because of the amp, or do amps clip just at high volumes, never at low ones? Pardon my physics, i know that i'm not supposed to plug nails into wall sockets and that's about it

 

[Rick]

why don't you plug a pair of headphones directly into the back of your computer? if no clipping, then its obviously the amp.

 

[Shatter]

I think you've misunderstood me, i am driving them directly from the soundcard. Anyway, in case anyone hear has blown or damaged a pair of headphones... has the problem manifested ONLY in the lower bass registered? I don't have that many a source on hand, and my mp3 player isn't quite up to par, i think most headphones behave badly on it (it's a lowly Iriver T60)

 

[MrKazador]

Could be an EQ or DSP enabled that is causing it to clip and sound bad. Try another source to confirm.

 

[AudioCats]

the driver diaphragm might have collapsed (due to being over driven or the driver being blown upon). Check its surface for fold/wrinkles.

They have never been cleaned with a vaccum, right?

 

[jayeshrc]

just reading the thread topic made me laugh! damn you just put a smile on my face after a very tiring day! thank you.

 

[FourierMakesFunk]

Them there headphones is broke.

Blown driver, collapsed, "gone on to a better place", deadsy, gone the way of the Do-do, have a new kind of Sennheiser veil (a black one). All these other answers seem hilariously not likely. I would recommend rotating the tires or getting underbody rust proofing.

 

[Shatter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioCats /img/forum/go_quote.gif the driver diaphragm might have collapsed (due to being over driven or the driver being blown upon). Check its surface for fold/wrinkles. They have never been cleaned with a vaccum, right?

Nothing like that, they're nice and tight, don't even move from what one can see (ya, i know they actually are moving) without bass at a decent volume level. Never cleaned them with a vacuum, can't see any hairs.

It still plays bass correctly at 20-100hz, but then there's that sound on top of it.

I'm too ******* lazy to pull out my soundcard and try them on the onboard card, but it seems that i'm going to have to do that. My PX100s have the same symptoms, and those have VERY few hours on them, with NO forcing whatsoever.

Could be that the sound has always been there, but i've only recently paid any attention to it.