Happy Camper
Headphoneus Supremus
Take it somewhere else guys.
HD800 modification thread
- Thread starter IPodPJ
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Take it somewhere else guys.
manaox2
Headphoneus Supremus
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Accidental post, but I honestly appreciate the effort to get back on topic.
The Monkey
Monkey See, Monkey DAC
A really sick dud
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Back OT:
1) iPod, what made you decide on that exact position for the material (it's just in that one position, right, not all the way around the inside of the cub)?
2) Have you removed the earpads?
1) iPod, what made you decide on that exact position for the material (it's just in that one position, right, not all the way around the inside of the cub)?
2) Have you removed the earpads?
IPodPJ
MOT: Bellatone Audio
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Quote:
I started with a position that was slightly higher which was where I had cupped my hands around the earcups, when I discovered that it helps to focus the soundstage. But when I put the material in, it didn't work exactly the same way and I had to try different positions around the earcup and then trip some of the original length off. The sound was muddy when the strip was too long and not in the proper place.
If the HD800 owner has a high-fidelity amplifier and put the strip in the right place, the sound is not muddy. If their positioning is off, this will cause the sound to be muddy.
As you know I use the Phoenix for the time being. It sounds muddy unless music has been playing through it for a few hours. At that point the fidelity is very good.
The tonal balance I have chosen which works beautifully with my other equipment may not be ideal for everyone and their gear. That is what makes this mod great -- you can adjust the height and length of the strip as well as the thickness of the cloth to tune it to your taste. With a brighter amp you may choose to add thicker or more material, whereas a darker amp may require thinner or less material.
Regardless of your personal preference, the number one goal is to focus the soundstage. However, it results in added detail and a smoother tonal balance.
Regarding the earpads, no I have not removed them. I see where they detach but they do not come apart easily. I'd rather not remove them unless I have to. They do gather a lot of lint, so the best way to clean that is to use scotch tape, a lint brush, or a sticky-tape lint roller.
| Originally Posted by The Monkey /img/forum/go_quote.gif Back OT: 1) iPod, what made you decide on that exact position for the material (it's just in that one position, right, not all the way around the inside of the cub)? 2) Have you removed the earpads? |
I started with a position that was slightly higher which was where I had cupped my hands around the earcups, when I discovered that it helps to focus the soundstage. But when I put the material in, it didn't work exactly the same way and I had to try different positions around the earcup and then trip some of the original length off. The sound was muddy when the strip was too long and not in the proper place.
If the HD800 owner has a high-fidelity amplifier and put the strip in the right place, the sound is not muddy. If their positioning is off, this will cause the sound to be muddy.
As you know I use the Phoenix for the time being. It sounds muddy unless music has been playing through it for a few hours. At that point the fidelity is very good.
The tonal balance I have chosen which works beautifully with my other equipment may not be ideal for everyone and their gear. That is what makes this mod great -- you can adjust the height and length of the strip as well as the thickness of the cloth to tune it to your taste. With a brighter amp you may choose to add thicker or more material, whereas a darker amp may require thinner or less material.
Regardless of your personal preference, the number one goal is to focus the soundstage. However, it results in added detail and a smoother tonal balance.
Regarding the earpads, no I have not removed them. I see where they detach but they do not come apart easily. I'd rather not remove them unless I have to. They do gather a lot of lint, so the best way to clean that is to use scotch tape, a lint brush, or a sticky-tape lint roller.
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Man, this is the funniest thread responses I've ever read. Thanks guys, we should have more thread like this. I'll keep this thread
Beagle
His body's not a canvas, and he wasn't raised by apes.
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Quote:
I'm loathe to tinker with my HD800. I swore I'd leave this one alone. If I do one tweak, I'll try many. Then I'll be lost.
But I do believe you regarding the "added detail". I recall when I demo'd the HD650 against the 600. I initially thought the 600 had more detail and the 650was reticent in the top. Then I realized the 650 was actually more detailed. Maybe your mod is the same sort of thing.
| Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif It doesn't subtract detail, it adds it. (Unless you perceive extra treble and improper imaging to equal more detail, which just isn't the case.) I'm glad you're open to trying it though. |
I'm loathe to tinker with my HD800. I swore I'd leave this one alone. If I do one tweak, I'll try many. Then I'll be lost.
But I do believe you regarding the "added detail". I recall when I demo'd the HD650 against the 600. I initially thought the 600 had more detail and the 650was reticent in the top. Then I realized the 650 was actually more detailed. Maybe your mod is the same sort of thing.
IPodPJ
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Quote:
This tweak will not hurt your headphones in any way and will take you 5 minutes to do.
| Originally Posted by Beagle /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm loathe to tinker with my HD800. I swore I'd leave this one alone. If I do one tweak, I'll try many. Then I'll be lost. But I do believe you regarding the "added detail". I recall when I demo'd the HD650 against the 600. I initially thought the 600 had more detail and the 650was reticent in the top. Then I realized the 650 was actually more detailed. Maybe your mod is the same sort of thing. |
This tweak will not hurt your headphones in any way and will take you 5 minutes to do.
DoYouRight
Headphoneus Supremus
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explain more beagle im confused?
Beagle
His body's not a canvas, and he wasn't raised by apes.
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You mean regarding detail? Some people confuse brightness with detail. I realized that the slight exaggeration in the HD600's lower treble obscured some of the fine detail in the extreme highs. The HD650 was more balanced in the top and fine detail emerged.
If IPodPJ's mod does this sort of thing, he would be right about it being more detailed.
If IPodPJ's mod does this sort of thing, he would be right about it being more detailed.
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I don't really see how slightly muffling the driver could possibly increase detail though
robm321
Headphoneus Supremus
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Quote:
Dude has a piont
| Originally Posted by n3rdling /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't really see how slightly muffling the driver could possibly increase detail though |
Dude has a piont
IPodPJ
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Quote:
You're not muffling the driver at all. Your blocking the outer mesh to allow less sound to escape from the earcup.
Instead of everyone who owns them making all these assumptions, why not take 5 minutes and do it.
| Originally Posted by n3rdling /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't really see how slightly muffling the driver could possibly increase detail though |
You're not muffling the driver at all. Your blocking the outer mesh to allow less sound to escape from the earcup.
Instead of everyone who owns them making all these assumptions, why not take 5 minutes and do it.
ctemkin
100+ Head-Fier
IpodPJ,
I seem to recall that you not so long ago recommended adding resistance to the cables. Are you still going with that?
I may give this a try if only because of how nice it would be to have just a little bit more bass.
I seem to recall that you not so long ago recommended adding resistance to the cables. Are you still going with that?
I may give this a try if only because of how nice it would be to have just a little bit more bass.
AtomikPi
500+ Head-Fier
Quote:
Both would accomplish the same goal - that is muffling the highs a bit and increasing the bass. Even if highs are unaffected, bass would definitely increase meaning perceived treble would decrease. Honestly, both are just different types of equalization and probably the same results could be achieved with high quality equalization.
| Originally Posted by ctemkin /img/forum/go_quote.gif IpodPJ, I seem to recall that you not so long ago recommended adding resistance to the cables. Are you still going with that? I may give this a try if only because of how nice it would be to have just a little bit more bass. |
Both would accomplish the same goal - that is muffling the highs a bit and increasing the bass. Even if highs are unaffected, bass would definitely increase meaning perceived treble would decrease. Honestly, both are just different types of equalization and probably the same results could be achieved with high quality equalization.
IPodPJ
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Quote:
Well, I will be having a second pair arriving soon. The first pair used Mills resistors and provided 100 ohms of resistance. While it definitely smooths out the sound, it kills detail.
The next pair will be using nude Vishay resistors with 82.4 ohms of resistance. Perhaps they will provide more detail.
Quote:
This is incorrect. The modification to the headphones is far superior to what the resistors provide. The resistors decrease the level of detail while the modification increases detail, soundstage, and a smoother more natural tonal balance.
| Originally Posted by ctemkin /img/forum/go_quote.gif IpodPJ, I seem to recall that you not so long ago recommended adding resistance to the cables. Are you still going with that? I may give this a try if only because of how nice it would be to have just a little bit more bass. |
Well, I will be having a second pair arriving soon. The first pair used Mills resistors and provided 100 ohms of resistance. While it definitely smooths out the sound, it kills detail.
The next pair will be using nude Vishay resistors with 82.4 ohms of resistance. Perhaps they will provide more detail.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by AtomikPi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Both would accomplish the same goal - that is muffling the highs a bit and increasing the bass. Even if highs are unaffected, bass would definitely increase meaning perceived treble would decrease. Honestly, both are just different types of equalization and probably the same results could be achieved with high quality equalization. |
This is incorrect. The modification to the headphones is far superior to what the resistors provide. The resistors decrease the level of detail while the modification increases detail, soundstage, and a smoother more natural tonal balance.
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