When I sent my Enhancement modded 560s to Purrin for measurements, they turned out to measure near the exact same as the stock Focus Pad 560s. The measurements were definitely too close to be conclusive.
If something like that particular mod, which cuts out the mesh liner on the focus pad, introduces an entirely new element-- the liner placed over the diaphragm, and cuts lots of damping holes in the interior of focus pad itself, shows no noticeable difference in measurements, then what makes anybody think two very thin pieces of wire moved away from the rear of the driver would create a noticeable difference in measurements?
Those measurements taken of the 560 pre and post movement of the wires are definitely inconclusive. There's absolutely no way something so small would cause a noticeable difference in measurement that's large enough to surpass the threshold of measurement variability itself.
This also isn't to say that inconclusive measurements means no difference in sound, and I can't comment personally about the subjective difference of the 560 with cable pushed aside or not, but a .5db difference in the 8khz region (which we're far less sensitive too than 3-4khz), shown by measurements is definitely not proof of difference.
Well, just to note...
I'm not sure if Purrin tried to move the wires back when he reverted your modded pair for measurements. If he didn't, it might still be there.
The difference is noticeable for me, and I think more likely because my sources are generally darker -> any rise would become noticeable since the whole sound is darker.
So don't buy it, nobody really cares. But it's not just a 8khz difference though. There were several points of difference which may or may not sum to more than their parts. There is also more to measure than simple FR. We also don't know how it would have been affected if I measured with the grills on, but that would have been much harder to do consistently so I didn't bother. There could be also variations on how long the wires are, where they stand etc.
There is no way to know what Bill hears and double blind test on this matter would obviously be extremely hard to do consistently, so let's just leave it at that. But please people stop thinking black and white, like I did thinking there wouldn't even be any difference.
Oh yeah, I remember now. Those measurements were yours, right?
Thanks again for doing that. At least it confirmed I wasn't going crazy.
Messing around with the wires doesn't do jack. It's all in our heads. When I put just my index fingers up next to the drivers, I have to strain to even detect a minor difference. What makes you think that a couple of tiny little wires would create enough resonance to be audibly significant? Let's just...get over it. Instead of trying to invent new voodoo in audio, just accept that the laws of physics don't change just because our head-fi mojo wants it to. I swear...
Well, if fazor, which is on "top" of a surface that's already blocking the sound, can cause a difference, then again, it wouldn't be too far fetched to consider the wire having an audible effect in some cases.
It's really not voodoo. This is at least feasible when you consider how sound wave hitting the wire can bounce back and augment the forward-facing wave. In practice, only high frequencies will be affected by this, but then... that's just what I'm hearing.
The laws of physics actually would support what I'm claiming. And this is beyond the regular amp/DAC/cable voodoo, as you put it, because it's in the acoustic domain and not the usual electrical domain. If it's electrical, I'd agree that there is a lot of voodoo, but acoustical? My ears have taught me that even 1mm of thickness can make a difference. As is the case with the various mods done to the HD800.
Then again, it's up to you whether you would like to believe or not, of course. I'm not claiming it to be audible in general. Just that it is audible to me, and there has been some measurements on it.
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