Headcoverage Woodie vs Liberator?

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickchen /img/forum/go_quote.gif What is really strange about Liberators or DIY distancers is the fact that their effect differs widely from utilized pads. I've tried flats, reversed 414s, stock 414s and Bowls - with all these pads, you get at least a bit more soundscape, but nothing spectacular. But you do get a bit strange coloured mids with all these. I favour stock sound meanwhile. Now the GS1000 pads. The soundscape suddenly gets absolutely monstrous (K1000 territory), the bass diversifies, the treble increases (depending from model), the mids lose a bit energy (at least with MS1, SR225 and RS1 - not MS Pro). I do not really understand the topic of this thread though. A distancer or the long gone Liberators are one thing to alter/improve sound, whereas a woody is something completely different out of the "boutique / voodoo hifi" scene. Woodying my MS1 did next to nothing for the sound - it only pushed my ego.

What I meant was that getting a woody that is a longer chamber would have a similar effect soundstage wise. If I ever get my hands on some liberators I shall get a pair of jumbowl pads down the track to see if there is an improvement for the sr80s.

 

[nickchen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by renugaid /img/forum/go_quote.gif What I meant was that getting a woody that is a longer chamber would have a similar effect soundstage wise.

Definetely not. I had the same approach and therefore made my woody almost 2 cm longer than stock. No effect but important looks.

 

[filipelli]

^^ Hmm that is really interesting. I was always under the impression the woodies gave some kind of smoothing out/silkening effect. Glad to have that cleared up.

 

[jinp6301]

Well, the woodies I have give more bass then stock and enlarges soundstage a little.

 

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickchen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Definetely not. I had the same approach and therefore made my woody almost 2 cm longer than stock. No effect but important looks.

Wow.. If that's the case then I will have to turn towards liberators or distancers.

If I ever want woodies I guess I'll turn to the RS series one day. hehehe ^^'

 

[exe163]

how about woodie + distancer? I wonder what it would sound like...

 

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by exe163 /img/forum/go_quote.gif how about woodie + distancer? I wonder what it would sound like...

I believe nickchen has done some extensive work with both. I'm sure he can have some input here.

 

[Blackmore]

I was the first one up here, however not sure, who tried the LIBERATORS with SR225 and I like it. After a while I have send some to headfiers for free and I believe some of them still have them. I agree that the improvements arent mega big, but still there and in good way. What I am trying to say is if I still have them, I would use it. They never get a big love up here, cos the guys who made them are in Poland plus some delays with orders. And now they are not longer made, I believe.

 

[nickchen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by exe163 /img/forum/go_quote.gif how about woodie + distancer? I wonder what it would sound like...

Simple. It sounds like stock + distancer.

That is the state of my personal MS1000.

BTW, everybody can simulate the effect of a longer woody: Just press a short piece of cardboard pipe with roughly correct diameter onto your Grado or Alessandro and listen.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackmore I was the first one up here, however not sure, who tried the LIBERATORS with SR225 and I like it. After a while I have send some to headfiers for free and I believe some of them still have them. I agree that the improvements arent mega big, but still there and in good way. What I am trying to say is if I still have them, I would use it. They never get a big love up here, cos the guys who made them are in Poland plus some delays with orders. And now they are not longer made, I believe.

Yes, I was one of your followers.

I also liked the effect of the Liberators on my MS2, especially with my non-rock stuff. That's why I built the distancers for my MS1. However, a side by side comparison with my buddy's stock MS1 showed some vices and some limitations (a genre and taste question at least). IMO, only the addition of GS1000 pads brings the mod to the full effect dark audio propably had in mind when getting the idea of Liberators.

Allover, the more neutral Alessandros and the darker SR225 seem to be better candidates for modification, as both bass and treble increase a bit. Cosmopragma's RS1 turned out to be unlistenable shrill, and I was also a bit underwhelmed in that respect by a full modded MS2 (Liberators + GS1K pads). But we also have one treblehead in the german forum who loves his MS2000. Obviously, again a question of taste.

 

[Blackmore]

I always wonder what kind of effect would be if LIBERATORS were made from high quality wood. I even asked the guys to make one for me, but never got them there.

 

[nickchen]

I personally doubt that choice of materials will have a prominent effect on things, especially not with Liberators or distancers, where the inner diameter is normally coated with felt. My buddy's PVC Liberators and my DIY wood distancers sound 95% identical. The 5% difference results only from slightly different dimensions IMO.

 

[lisztian420]

Hey guys,

So I am really interested in this topic. I have been reading a lot about the headcoverage woodies and it's effect for SR325i from: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/rev...97/index2.html
So... are the woodies only good for our own ego stroking?? I mean,.. With the link above the thread starter loves woodie 325i and claims that it really improves the SQ. SO what do you guys think??

 

[nickchen]

I've read that thread too.

I am a bit sceptical about the conclusions. Problem is IMO a "psychoacoustical" one: If you spent a heck of a lot money for such things and have lots of owner pride, your brain tends to push your perception towards your expectations.

That could have happened to me as well after the woodying (damn, how pride I was), but thanks to my buddy, I had the opportunity to compare woddied with stock and thus remained earthed.

I am not the bat ear type though (my buddy as well) and I am not exactly young. Maybe there are minor sonic differences below my personal level of cognition between different housings, cables and codecs, but I don't care too much about such ant football.

 

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickchen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Simple. It sounds like stock + distancer. That is the state of my personal MS1000. BTW, everybody can simulate the effect of a longer woody: Just press a short piece of cardboard pipe with roughly correct diameter onto your Grado or Alessandro and listen. Yes, I was one of your followers. I also liked the effect of the Liberators on my MS2, especially with my non-rock stuff. That's why I built the distancers for my MS1. However, a side by side comparison with my buddy's stock MS1 showed some vices and some limitations (a genre and taste question at least). IMO, only the addition of GS1000 pads brings the mod to the full effect dark audio propably had in mind when getting the idea of Liberators. Allover, the more neutral Alessandros and the darker SR225 seem to be better candidates for modification, as both bass and treble increase a bit. Cosmopragma's RS1 turned out to be unlistenable shrill, and I was also a bit underwhelmed in that respect by a full modded MS2 (Liberators + GS1K pads). But we also have one treblehead in the german forum who loves his MS2000. Obviously, again a question of taste.

So adding liberators to something like the GS1000 would result in something less than desirable?

 

[nickchen]

I don't know, possibly yes. I wouldn't regard the GS1000 as a #1 candidate that screams for modding towards more soundscape.

But you never know. Look at the modded MS Pro / RS1 couple, quite on par stock, one became absolutely glorious, the other catastrophical. Trial and error is the way.