[bluemonkeyflyer]

son of a... now I am wondering if I need a second pair just to, uh... have, not do bad things to or anything (that would be wrong), but I could have them for a future... gift! Yeah! There we go, the gift I bought AND personalized, there we go!

Yeah. A gift. Personalized. Now, you're talking! Lol

 

[pilez]

  Angora wool also might be worth trying, easily found option.  Uh oh modders hitting up wool shops now, first it was holding felts and fabrics up to the light in stores and blowing through them, now it'll be  talking into clusters of wool bundles to see about reflections..
 
all the while people watching...

 
please check in with results.

 
I wonder if you could use a transducer to figure out the reflective and absorption properties of any given material, I shall have to do a bit of digging around and see... 
 
Yeah, knitting, sewing, and crocheting nerds rubbing shoulders with headphone ner... I mean audiophiles, what could possibly go wrong? Maybe meet someone who could make custom pads with their eyes closed?

 

[pilez]

Yeah. A gift. Personalized. Now, you're talking! Lol

 
Well, I used to make jewelry, and women LOVE men who make stuff for them to wear, so if you can make something awesome for them to wear that, while it might not be pretty, but is able to give aural pleasure... the only problem is that you might have to have a 3rd pair on hand to show them what you did, just for them... man, this could get expensive...

 

[pilez]

  pilez, welcome to head-fi! Normally, this salutation would conclude with "…and sorry about your wallet." But because your first post is in this particular thread, dedicated to modding the venerable T50RP, I'll conclude with "…and sorry about all the time you'll lose (but not waste) on these headphones!"

 
Thank you for the kind welcome micmacmo, I don't feel like a voyeur anymore, well, not as much of one anyway.

 

[onionskin]

I promised to share my wool experiment a couple days ago.  It is a visual recap of my earlier post:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/618659/fostex-t50rp-incremental-mods-and-measurements/720#post_9916594
My weak attempt at following in the steps of BMF, here it goes:
 
First the denuded driver ear side.  The Alpha's have a nice transparent liner, less stuff between me and the music.  I used my fingernail to 'trace' the driver then cut with a razor.  I thought this made a noticeable improvement in treble clarity:

 
Next the cup lining, approx 4mm adhesive wool felt (from my speaker build, sourced from Madisound) all around the vertical surface.  Next came the cup well.  I then laddered in to build up more surface area ala BMF. 
I let the vent stay wide open at first, but I am playing with that.  I laddered the two middle slots closed leaving 2 slots open currently.  The densely packed wool stuffing (below) seems to allow the vents to stay wide open without bloat, closing them tightens things up a bit (subtle though).

 
The whole kit, Alpha Dogs + comfort strap, a 60 x 140 mm piece of the wool batting folded in half (also from my speaker build, sourced from Madisound).  The big white blob in the background is the piece I cut from.  Cutting the wool creates short fibers at the edge so fewer cuts is better IMO.  I just shook out what loose fibers I could.  I also had to tease it to a donut shape so it would not put too much pressure on the back of the driver.  The wool was aobut 40mm thick uncompressed. 
Typical clay all around the baffle for mass, back of driver is stock (white paper).

 
A really tight fit...worried I would strip screws but not so far.  I rounded the cut corners of the wool, but had to stuff in everything else working around as I closed the headphones back up.

 
Thats it, a very simple mod given I owned all the stuff except the modeling clay and the Alphas. 
Just in love with the sound these make and enjoyed to process of getting there.

 

[onefatsurfer]

Didn't have a chance to do the alpaca mod last night. I'll try to do it during lunch today at work, but I probably won't be able to until the weekend.

BMF, do you weigh all of the materials for your mod, or go off of size only?

 

[bluemonkeyflyer]

Didn't have a chance to do the alpaca mod last night. I'll try to do it during lunch today at work, but I probably won't be able to until the weekend.

BMF, do you weigh all of the materials for your mod, or go off of size only?

 
OFS,
 
I measure dimensions and weight to insure L-R channel SPL and FR balance. I use a digital scale with calibration weight that measures to 0.01 gram increments and a digital caliper. 

 

[onefatsurfer]

The alpaca fur definitely sounds different than the cotton or the fiberglass.  I don't have time to really tweak much right now, and, unfortunately, without any way of measuring, I can't really tell what the differences are.  I'll send some to you, BMF, and let you give it a shot if you want.  I have reverted back to the DBV#3 for the time being, with one small tweak.  I noticed that putting a thin layer of alpaca fiber in the space between the pad and the ear side of the cup tames the slight harshness of the treble and warms up the sound signature.  I'll keep messing around with it, but for the time being, I wouldn't recommend everyone rush out and skin any nearby alpacas 

 

[glorkaglickflic]

Wonderfully detailed post.  I was looking at your profile and musical tastes.  We do share a lot in common regarding that.  I think you might enjoy exploring Música Popular Brasileira (MPB).  I got into Bossa Nova via Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto.  However, Elis Regina took vocals to a whole other level.  She could sing Bossa Nova with the best of them (Astrud's specialty).  In fact, she did an album with "Tom" Jobim which is considered a definitive Bossa Nova album.  But her voice could soar to the stratosphere in other genres as well.  She often sang Ivan Lin's songs, but she was really very unique.  Called the "little pepper' or "little tornado," she sang with passion.  There are other artists, both male and female, that you can explore.

 

[bluemonkeyflyer]

  Wonderfully detailed post.  I was looking at your profile and musical tastes.  We do share a lot in common regarding that.  I think you might enjoy exploring Música Popular Brasileira (MPB).  I got into Bossa Nova via Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto.  However, Elis Regina took vocals to a whole other level.  She could sing Bossa Nova with the best of them (Astrud's specialty).  In fact, she did an album with "Tom" Jobim which is considered a definitive Bossa Nova album.  But her voice could soar to the stratosphere in other genres as well.  She often sang Ivan Lin's songs, but she was really very unique.  Called the "little pepper' or "little tornado," she sang with passion.  There are other artists, both male and female, that you can explore.

I'm not sure who you are addressing but I have all Stan Getz's albums including those with Astrud and Jobim Gilberto...they're terrific.
 
I have not heard Elis Regina but will investigate and sample!
 
Ivan Lins' work is among my favorites including collaboration with Lee Ritenour on his wonderful concert DVD/Bluray - "Overtime" which is exceptionally recorded for both audio and video quality. Ivan Lins' "Dinorah Dinorah" and "She Walks This Earth" - on Overtime -  are beautiful.
 
"Overtime" is one of my all time favorite concert movies along with:
 
Ramsey Lewis' "Legends of Jazz" (Seasons 1-3)
David Gilmour - Live at the Royal Prince Albert Hall; Live from Prague
Abbey Road sampler
Live From Abbey Road
Diana Krall Live in: Rio, Paris, and Montreal
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Jeff Beck - Live at Ronnie Scott's
John Mayer - Where the Light Is...Live in Los Angeles
Joe Bonamassa - Live from the Royal Albert Hall
Fleetwood Mac - The Dance
k. d. lang - Live by Request
Chris Botti - Live in Boston
Chris Botti - With Orchestra and Special Guests
David Gray - Live in Slow Motion
Chieli Minucci - A Night with Chieli Minucci and Special EFX
 
Live From Darryl's House - on line (Google it)
 
Non-concert movies:
 
MicroCosmos
Winged Migration
David Attenborough: In Paradise

 

[glorkaglickflic]

Yes bluemonkeyflier, I am corresponding with you.  Here is a sample of Elis Regina late in her career (she died in 1982 of a drug and alcohol overdose):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIEUw9SuLP0.  Here is a song from her "Elis and Tom" album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF_Ekf6nHj8 Again, she could sing Bossa Nova, but her voice is much more versatile than Astrud Gilberto's (Astrud's voice is quite charming, naive, and child-like, and it has its place in Brazilian music, but I wouldn't categorize her as strictly MPB---she is more "Pop"). Here is Elis at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1979:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwEuzgWHWy8     and   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEQMnuTzaD4  and here is "Cobra Criada" of her at Montreux 1979   (well recorded---you can get the whole album):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PamVOZS6l3g   "Cai Dentro" (again 1979 Montreux):   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vfY-WtD3Wg  Elis singing OU BOLA OU BÚLICA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvY2NB4RtR0   Of Lee Ritenour, I became of big fan of his in 1979 with his "Rio" album.  Great early Proto-Smooth Jazz, and it certainly piqued my interest in Brazilian music again.  Ivan Lins is known in the US, and he's great, no doubt.  I have almost all his CDs.  Here is his discography (Wikipedia):
 

Discography[edit]

1. Agora (1970)
2. Deixa O Trem Seguir (1971)
3. Quem Sou Eu (1972)
4. Modo Livre (1974)
5. Chama Acesa (1975)
6. Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite (1977)
7. Começar de novo (1977)
8. Nos Dias de Hoje (1978)
9. A Noite (1979)
10. Novo Tempo (1980)
11. Daquilo Que Eu Sei (1981)
12. Depois dos Temporais (1983)
13. Juntos (1984)
14. Ivan Lins (1986)
15. Mãos (1987)
16. Love Dance (1988)
17. Amar Assim (1989)
18. Awa Yiô (1993)
19. A Doce Presença de Ivan Lins (1994)
20. Anjo de Mim (1995)
21. I'm Not Alone (1996)
22. Acervo Especial, Vol. 2 (1997)
23. Ivan Lins/Chucho Valdés/Irakere/Ao Vivo (1996)
24. Viva Noel: Tributo a Noel Rosa Vols. 1, 2 (1997)
25. Live at MCG (1999)
26. Dois Córregos (1999)
27. Um Novo Tempo (1998)
28. A Cor Do Pôr-Do-Sol (2000)
29. Jobiniando (2001)
30. Love Songs - A Quem Me Faz Feliz (2002)
31. I Love Mpb - Amor (2004)
32. Cantando Histórias (2004)
33. Acariocando (2006)
34. Saudades de Casa (2007)
35. Regência: Vince Mendoza (2009)

 
 
Many of his albums are out of print as well as his CDs, but I have managed to import most of them.  I love his stuff, he writes pretty music, and his collaborations with Lee Ritenour are indeed classic.
 
Like Astrud Gilberto?  Well, there is Wanda da Sah, a contemporary of Astrud's, another Brazilian girl singer.  Here are samples:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T05yp7hKPds   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpqvv-vh1ok    Her voice is breathy like Astrud's, but she is a better singer, in my opinion (she sings on key, where Astrud might deviate a bit).  She was the original singer with Sergio Mendes and Brasil '65. Yes, there was a Brasil '65 before the commercially successful Brasil '66.  In fact Brasil '65 played Bossa Nova more authentically, but it did not take off.  So Wanda was dropped and Lani Hall (who could only sing Portuguese phonetically) and Janis Hansen were brought in---and the rest is history.
 
I would just suggest that you might do your due diligence regarding MPB.  There were so many artists:  Gal Costa, Chico Buarque, Fatima Guedes (pronounced "Fatshima Gedge")  Here is a duet between Elis Regina and Fatima Guedes (song by Fatima Guedes, circa 1978--Meninas de Cidade--"Women of the City"):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyQHC0MbB1g   Fatima is not well known in the US but well worth knowing.
 
I have to mention Flora Purim (her husband is Airto Moreira, the percussionist).  She is Brazilian, and she sings MPB, but she is more categorized as Jazz Fusion, and she is better known in the United States.  She has a five octave voice and is worth listening to.  I think she is considered the "Queen of Jazz Fusion."
 
I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg regarding MPB.  It is literally a passion of mine.
 
I like Jeff Beck.  I feel one of his best albums was 1977's "Blow By Blow"---a landmark Jazz Fusion Album.  I'm a big fan of '70's jazz Fusion.  Love Miles Davis in his Jazz Fusion period, but his work is not accessible---it takes a lot of work to listen to his music.
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
I'd like to ask you some question about the Fostex T50 RP but I will leave it for another post.  Mine is unmodded, but I like it just the same --- plays beautifully straight off my iMac 2012, but I have audiophile aspirations.

 

[bluemonkeyflyer]

  Yes bluemonkeyflier, I am corresponding with you.  Here is a sample of Elis Regina late in her career (she died in 1982 of a drug and alcohol overdose):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIEUw9SuLP0.  Here is a song from her "Elis and Tom" album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF_Ekf6nHj8 Again, she could sing Bossa Nova, but her voice is much more versatile than Astrud Gilberto's (Astrud's voice is quite charming, naive, and child-like, and it has its place in Brazilian music, but I wouldn't categorize her as strictly MPB---she is more "Pop"). Here is Elis at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1979:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwEuzgWHWy8     and   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEQMnuTzaD4  and here is "Cobra Criada" of her at Montreux 1979   (well recorded---you can get the whole album):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PamVOZS6l3g   "Cai Dentro" (again 1979 Montreux):   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vfY-WtD3Wg  Elis singing OU BOLA OU BÚLICA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvY2NB4RtR0   Of Lee Ritenour, I became of big fan of his in 1979 with his "Rio" album.  Great early Proto-Smooth Jazz, and it certainly piqued my interest in Brazilian music again.  Ivan Lins is known in the US, and he's great, no doubt.  I have almost all his CDs.  Here is his discography (Wikipedia):
 

Discography[edit]

1. Agora (1970)
2. Deixa O Trem Seguir (1971)
3. Quem Sou Eu (1972)
4. Modo Livre (1974)
5. Chama Acesa (1975)
6. Somos Todos Iguais Nesta Noite (1977)
7. Começar de novo (1977)
8. Nos Dias de Hoje (1978)
9. A Noite (1979)
10. Novo Tempo (1980)
11. Daquilo Que Eu Sei (1981)
12. Depois dos Temporais (1983)
13. Juntos (1984)
14. Ivan Lins (1986)
15. Mãos (1987)
16. Love Dance (1988)
17. Amar Assim (1989)
18. Awa Yiô (1993)
19. A Doce Presença de Ivan Lins (1994)
20. Anjo de Mim (1995)
21. I'm Not Alone (1996)
22. Acervo Especial, Vol. 2 (1997)
23. Ivan Lins/Chucho Valdés/Irakere/Ao Vivo (1996)
24. Viva Noel: Tributo a Noel Rosa Vols. 1, 2 (1997)
25. Live at MCG (1999)
26. Dois Córregos (1999)
27. Um Novo Tempo (1998)
28. A Cor Do Pôr-Do-Sol (2000)
29. Jobiniando (2001)
30. Love Songs - A Quem Me Faz Feliz (2002)
31. I Love Mpb - Amor (2004)
32. Cantando Histórias (2004)
33. Acariocando (2006)
34. Saudades de Casa (2007)
35. Regência: Vince Mendoza (2009)

 
 
Many of his albums are out of print as well as his CDs, but I have managed to import most of them.  I love his stuff, he writes pretty music, and his collaborations with Lee Ritenour are indeed classic.
 
Like Astrud Gilberto?  Well, there is Wanda da Sah, a contemporary of Astrud's, another Brazilian girl singer.  Here are samples:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T05yp7hKPds   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpqvv-vh1ok    Her voice is breathy like Astrud's, but she is a better singer, in my opinion (she sings on key, where Astrud might deviate a bit).  She was the original singer with Sergio Mendes and Brasil '65. Yes, there was a Brasil '65 before the commercially successful Brasil '66.  In fact Brasil '65 played Bossa Nova more authentically, but it did not take off.  So Wanda was dropped and Lani Hall (who could only sing Portuguese phonetically) and Janis Hansen were brought in---and the rest is history.
 
I would just suggest that you might do your due diligence regarding MPB.  There were so many artists:  Gal Costa, Chico Buarque, Fatima Guedes (pronounced "Fatshima Gedge")  Here is a duet between Elis Regina and Fatima Guedes (song by Fatima Guedes, circa 1978--Meninas de Cidade--"Women of the City"):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyQHC0MbB1g   Fatima is not well known in the US but well worth knowing.
 
I have to mention Flora Purim (her husband is Airto Moreira, the percussionist).  She is Brazilian, and she sings MPB, but she is more categorized as Jazz Fusion, and she is better known in the United States.  She has a five octave voice and is worth listening to.  I think she is considered the "Queen of Jazz Fusion."
 
I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg regarding MPB.  It is literally a passion of mine.
 
I like Jeff Beck.  I feel one of his best albums was 1977's "Blow By Blow"---a landmark Jazz Fusion Album.  I'm a big fan of '70's jazz Fusion.  Love Miles Davis in his Jazz Fusion period, but his work is not accessible---it takes a lot of work to listen to his music.
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
I'd like to ask you some question about the Fostex T50 RP but I will leave it for another post.  Mine is unmodded, but I like it just the same --- plays beautifully straight off my iMac 2012, but I have audiophile aspirations.

 
Many thanks for all this information and links! I will definitely check them out. I like MPB.

 

[bluemonkeyflyer]

  I promised to share my wool experiment a couple days ago.  It is a visual recap of my earlier post:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/618659/fostex-t50rp-incremental-mods-and-measurements/720#post_9916594
My weak attempt at following in the steps of BMF, here it goes:
 
First the denuded driver ear side.  The Alpha's have a nice transparent liner, less stuff between me and the music.  I used my fingernail to 'trace' the driver then cut with a razor.  I thought this made a noticeable improvement in treble clarity:

 
Next the cup lining, approx 4mm adhesive wool felt (from my speaker build, sourced from Madisound) all around the vertical surface.  Next came the cup well.  I then laddered in to build up more surface area ala BMF. 
I let the vent stay wide open at first, but I am playing with that.  I laddered the two middle slots closed leaving 2 slots open currently.  The densely packed wool stuffing (below) seems to allow the vents to stay wide open without bloat, closing them tightens things up a bit (subtle though).

 
The whole kit, Alpha Dogs + comfort strap, a 60 x 140 mm piece of the wool batting folded in half (also from my speaker build, sourced from Madisound).  The big white blob in the background is the piece I cut from.  Cutting the wool creates short fibers at the edge so fewer cuts is better IMO.  I just shook out what loose fibers I could.  I also had to tease it to a donut shape so it would not put too much pressure on the back of the driver.  The wool was aobut 40mm thick uncompressed. 
Typical clay all around the baffle for mass, back of driver is stock (white paper).

 
A really tight fit...worried I would strip screws but not so far.  I rounded the cut corners of the wool, but had to stuff in everything else working around as I closed the headphones back up.

 
Thats it, a very simple mod given I owned all the stuff except the modeling clay and the Alphas. 
Just in love with the sound these make and enjoyed to process of getting there.

 
Excellent! Thank you for sharing. Great photos, too.

 

[Armaegis]

  Angora wool also might be worth trying, easily found option.  Uh oh modders hitting up wool shops now, first it was holding felts and fabrics up to the light in stores and blowing through them, now it'll be  talking into clusters of wool bundles to see about reflections..
 
all the while people watching...

 
please check in with results.

 
 
 
I have a knitted toque made from acrylic wool and it's remarkable how much it changes sound when I put it on. Female voices are attenuated and it becomes difficult to distinguish words (note to self: this may not be a bad thing...)
 
So now you modders need to take up knitting and experiment with different patterns... 

 

[Hutnicks]

   
 
I have a knitted toque made from acrylic wool and it's remarkable how much it changes sound when I put it on. Female voices are attenuated and it becomes difficult to distinguish words (note to self: this may not be a bad thing...)
 
So now you modders need to take up knitting and experiment with different patterns... 

Stop farting around and go with synthetic shearling.