= HE-560 Enhancement Mod (v1.5) =

[Soundsgoodtome]

I think with the 4k lowered the imaging greatly benefits as well. This seems to be a hit or miss with people though, so ymmv.

 

[Bill-P]

So I finally got the chance to properly set up a system to measure the HE-560.
 
Here's the actual difference between Focus and Focus A pads as my system "hears" it:
 


Bass does indeed go up centered around 30Hz with Focus Pads A. 4KHz goes down, and then 5-10KHz gets quite a boost. That's well in line with how I actually hear the differences, too.

 

[jerg]

  So I finally got the chance to properly set up a system to measure the HE-560.
 
Here's the actual difference between Focus and Focus A pads as my system "hears" it:
 


Bass does indeed go up centered around 30Hz with Focus Pads A. 4KHz goes down, and then 5-10KHz gets quite a boost. That's well in line with how I actually hear the differences, too.

Could you test to make sure that the 30 Hz difference is not an earpad-to-microphone coupling variance? I.e. measuring each earpad with the pad tightly cupped on the mic, vs having it more loosely on without a good seal.

 

[Bill-P]

Both are actually tightly coupled. I made my measurement rig to my head size... with a cardboard box, and a small pillow on the measurement side, on which the microphone rests and it touches the ear pads directly, leaving some small opening underneath on a 45-degree angle, which I think is quite realistic, so unless there is some oddity with clamping force, measurements are made with the ear pads as tight as possible. I know the HE-560 can have bass distortion that rises with less clamping force, but... I'm sure I've minimized that in this case. One way to check is to hear if there's any "fluffing" at lower frequencies, right?

 
Also I tried the same measurements at different positions to make sure those graphs were right, because I couldn't believe the lift from 5-10KHz in the treble. That should be very audible, but even shifting the headphone on the coupler doesn't really cause that region to dip. The A pads do have more energy from 5-10KHz than the stock Focus Pads.
 
What's interesting is that the stock Focus Pads do cause that 10KHz peak to rise slightly at some positions. Since it's a peak, it stands out... and I think that's why some are claiming the Focus Pads to have better imaging than Focus Pads A.

 

[pauldgroot]

My Focus-A pads are on their way too so I will be able to verify the measurements soon.

 

[Stillhart]

So I was right.  There is more treble in a certain range, which could be the range where I'm sensitive to peaks.  Normally, the 560's treble doesn't bother me at all, but I find it fatiguing with the Focus-A pads.  The graph also shows more bass, which I was hearing.  Interesting.
 
Does anyone know off the top of their heads where the treble peak is on the HD700?  That one was bad for me too.
 
Anyways, I may be doing the mods with the stock pads if the shelf liner doesn't address that treble on the Focus-A pads.

 

[jerg]

  So I was right.  There is more treble in a certain range, which could be the range where I'm sensitive to peaks.  Normally, the 560's treble doesn't bother me at all, but I find it fatiguing with the Focus-A pads.  The graph also shows more bass, which I was hearing.  Interesting.
 
Does anyone know off the top of their heads where the treble peak is on the HD700?  That one was bad for me too.
 
Anyways, I may be doing the mods with the stock pads if the shelf liner doesn't address that treble on the Focus-A pads.

Just so we are clear on this, Bill's measurement shows a treble peak with Focus pads at 9~10kHz, while Focus-A pads have no such peaks and is instead quite linear throughout the lower~mid treble.
 
Sennheiser HD700 has 2 major peaks indicated in measurements, first one at ~5kHz, second one at ~10kHz; between these two peaks are (of course) deep valleys.

 

[Bill-P]

Yeah. Technically, I'd think the Focus-A pads should be smoother and more linear with regards to treble since no peak stands out.

Focus Pads cause a peak centered around 10KHz that stands out, and also has resonance around 4KHz.

I heard the differences as such, but I thought Focus Pads are more fatiguing/sibilant than Focus-A.

 

[Stillhart]

Just so we are clear on this, Bill's measurement shows a treble peak with Focus pads at 9~10kHz, while Focus-A pads have no such peaks and is instead quite linear throughout the lower~mid treble.

Sennheiser HD700 has 2 major peaks indicated in measurements, first one at ~5kHz, second one at ~10kHz; between these two peaks are (of course) deep valleys.

It may not be a peak, but it has significantly more treble from 6-10k. Certainly enough to account for a perceived increase in treble, wouldn't you say?

 

[Bill-P]

Yep. It should be audible. The difference is as little as 1.5dB, but also as much as 3.5dB at some positions. If you're getting that much, then I think you fall into the 3.5dB group.

Different positions on my coupler kinda accounts for different ear structures, and also different ways the headphone fits on most folks. What you're seeing up there applies to me specifically, but other folks will experience the 4KHz and above range slightly different.

 

[jerg]

It may not be a peak, but it has significantly more treble from 6-10k. Certainly enough to account for a perceived increase in treble, wouldn't you say?

Increased but less piercing/harsh treble, in principle.

 

[Stillhart]

 
Increased but less piercing/harsh treble, in principle.

I know I am sensitive to certain treble areas so it's possible that it's just that region and that's why I'm finding it more fatiguing.

In other news, after speaking with @Soundsgoodtome
, it turns out HiFiMan sent me one of each pad (one Focus and one Focus-A).  I thought I mixed them up while swapping and that's why it seemed like I had one of each in my hand, but I couldn't figure out which was the other Focus-A.  Well thankfully it wasn't me this time.  lol  I know what to look for now and it's clear as day that they sent me one of each.

I left them a message, let's see how they handle it...

Until then, I'll shut my trap on the differences.  Hopefully it sounds a little better (to me) when I've got the same pad on both sides.  lol

 

[Terja]

O crap . . .!

 

[gauchotodd]

Has anyone done any sort of comparison of the modded 560 to the similarly-modded 500?

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

Hey guys I'm about to order the Alu trim ring, does the $10 item on Head-Direct come with a pair or is that price for a single ring?