= Hifiman Regrilling Mod =

[hemipowered007]

I have a original HE-5, will it benefit from the regrilling and focusA pad. Heard about code-x thing, but that’s beyond my financial means now.
Anyone any experience? Thanks.

You have the actual wood he5?

 

[hyperactiveaudiophile]

Yes, the one in my avatar. I’m an early adopter.

 

[hemipowered007]

Yes, the one in my avatar. I’m an early adopter.

Lucky

 

[Deckard916]

I am looking to mod my HE400i, what would be a good cloth to cover the grill? I've seen a lot of posts on here but not sure what to use.

 

[Sage Encore]

Thank you guys for this, i feel like I have just bought a new HP. Its so simple, just remove the grills and go commando......the soundstage just opens up and the highs just opens up and reveals so much more details. The airyness is just so nice. Looking to do a Morel kinda grill.

 

[Sage Encore]

Looking to copy this grill design. Its a Morel CDM 88 Mid range speaker for car. Just removing the grill and going commando, man, I just bought myself a new HP. The airyness and soundstage is a major change. Nice. Thank you guys. Must be careful not to damage the drivers when going commando though.

 

[RenZixx]

Well I know am late on this thread but how about a closed he 400, because am working on a closed headphone case and I really want to try planars in there. Tell me if its a good idea. Oh and an other thing is that the drivers are going to be angled and there are gonna be bass ports. Thanks in advance

 

[ilmothedude]

Well I know am late on this thread but how about a closed he 400, because am working on a closed headphone case and I really want to try planars in there. Tell me if its a good idea. Oh and an other thing is that the drivers are going to be angled and there are gonna be bass ports. Thanks in advance

I don't know if there is any closed planars in the market, but considering Hifiman HE400, I can say closing the back of driver absolutely destroys the sound. The whole point of regrilling is to remove much as possible from blocking the back of the driver. I was very surprised myself how much impact that does with planars. Basically even placing index fingers in front of grills impact the sound, let alone covering most of the grill, that completely destroys the soundstage, imaging, sound signature, basically the whole sound. I don't know if closed planar headphones exist, but with experience of HE400, I certainly don't think so.

 

[RenZixx]

I don't know if there is any closed planars in the market, but considering Hifiman HE400, I can say closing the back of driver absolutely destroys the sound. The whole point of regrilling is to remove much as possible from blocking the back of the driver. I was very surprised myself how much impact that does with planars. Basically even placing index fingers in front of grills impact the sound, let alone covering most of the grill, that completely destroys the soundstage, imaging, sound signature, basically the whole sound. I don't know if closed planar headphones exist, but with experience of HE400, I certainly don't think so.

Well there are some closed planars like the ether c flow, Oppo PM-3,LCD-XC,etc. Well if planars don't do well in closed shell then which drivers should I use?

EDIT: what about the 400S they are pretty cheap used on eBay, around 110-160 for dem sweet deals.

 

[ilmothedude]

Well there are some closed planars like the ether c flow, Oppo PM-3,LCD-XC,etc. Well if planars don't do well in closed shell then which drivers should I use?

EDIT: what about the 400S they are pretty cheap used on eBay, around 110-160 for dem sweet deals.

Oh there are closed planars, cool. I guess it's alot dependant of it's enclosure, damping and everything afterall, but I think HE400 can't be properly made a closed headphone. I can't say if any of open back headphones have drivers that should be transfered to closed headphone enclosure, because I believe those open drivers are always optimized to work best as open headphone, and you'll lose some performance when doing otherwise. But generally I believe that dynamic drivers are not as sensitive to closing compared to HE400 planars, but take this as a grain of salt, I don't have too much experience with planars anyway. If you are completely out for modding and stuff, then I could recommend buying some closed headphones which have poor uncomfy design but praised sound quality and you could try transferring those drivers into better closed headphone enclosure. That way you might not lose the performance of drivers and get more comfy and custom design.

 

[RenZixx]

Oh there are closed planars, cool. I guess it's alot dependant of it's enclosure, damping and everything afterall, but I think HE400 can't be properly made a closed headphone. I can't say if any of open back headphones have drivers that should be transfered to closed headphone enclosure, because I believe those open drivers are always optimized to work best as open headphone, and you'll lose some performance when doing otherwise. But generally I believe that dynamic drivers are not as sensitive to closing compared to HE400 planars, but take this as a grain of salt, I don't have too much experience with planars anyway. If you are completely out for modding and stuff, then I could recommend buying some closed headphones which have poor uncomfy design but praised sound quality and you could try transferring those drivers into better closed headphone enclosure. That way you might not lose the performance of drivers and get more comfy and custom design.

Well good idea maybe I can buy some MDR 7506 drivers from aliexpress. Also the enclosure what I am currently working on is massive, like close to LCD-X big so that may help the planar breathe better, and I also don't mind working for months straight trying to perfect it. So if I do happend to buy he 400 or he 400S I will surely post it here.

 

[chrismini]

I don't want to kick a dead horse but planars are dipoles meaning the emit sounds in both directions. To block the rear would be to ruin/destroy the sound. There are a plethora of closed back dynamic headphones that are designed for that configuration. After doing some research I found a pair of closed back planars: (sorry but this was the result of the copy and paste). Do a Goggle and you'll find them. I have never heard them, but if I had $1800 to spend on a new pair, these wouldn't make the top ten. BTW I removed the back grills on my He-400's and never installed any protective screens. I'm just very careful.
MrSpeakers Ether C Flow Planar Magnetic Headphones for $1800.

 

[bagwell359]

Thank you guys for this, i feel like I have just bought a new HP. Its so simple, just remove the grills and go commando......the soundstage just opens up and the highs just opens up and reveals so much more details. The airyness is just so nice. Looking to do a Morel kinda grill.

OK, using the MassDrop 4-x00 I found taking off the mesh to be a major fail in three ways. The rear of the sound stage was literally missing. The other thing is most easily heard on the finger snaps on "Grandma's Hands" by James Taylor on the Chesky Test CD.- the space, overtones, and gestalt of the snaps was radically altered and not at all in a good way. Other things mentioned - more open, freer, etc. was there. Other very detailed vocal harmonies seem to be missing crucial elements of definitions.

The other thing I noticed is the stock mesh is magnetic. Maybe that's an issue too in some way.. Also I know the designer said he likes them with the mesh off, but, that could just be a way to draw more attention to his remarkable line of ear speakers?

I haven't really messed with my HE-500's yet, and I'd like for this too work. I'm cool with mods, but, I want one that does good w/o any ill.

 

[hemipowered007]

Well good idea maybe I can buy some MDR 7506 drivers from aliexpress. Also the enclosure what I am currently working on is massive, like close to LCD-X big so that may help the planar breathe better, and I also don't mind working for months straight trying to perfect it. So if I do happend to buy he 400 or he 400S I will surely post it here.

Just buy some t50rp drivers, they're planar, and they do well in larger custom enclosures.I can personally vouch for that performance. Way better than you'd ever get closing off he400 drivers.

 

[RenZixx]

Just buy some t50rp drivers, they're planar, and they do well in larger custom enclosures.I can personally vouch for that performance. Way better than you'd ever get closing off he400 drivers.

Yea been thinking about those T50rps after ditching the he400 idea. Those will probably be better.