Oooooo, hope it works! What material for the centre piece?Folding headband WIP. Going for an ultimate compact headphone.
![]()
Latest Thread Images
Featured Sponsor Listings
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Home cooked headphones - Come one come all! Anyone welcome
- Thread starter AsciiJC
- Start date
Nixon
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2012
- Posts
- 247
- Likes
- 80
Felt like I was cheating a bit using a pe-made set of housings with the Grado Upgrade Kit from Aliexpress so modeled my own set with skeletonised sides out of curiosity to see if it made any noticible difference to soundstage. Chucked the model through Keyshot to render some glamour shots while I wait for the print to finish. Should be a fin test of the retraction settings on my Ender 3.


Nixon
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2012
- Posts
- 247
- Likes
- 80
Assembled them this morning and giving them a test over a coffee. Still burning in but they're definitely more open sounding with a bigger soundstage than the AliExpress housings.Bass isn't quite as pronounced but I think that might be a mix of them burning in and the Grado G pads that usually reduce the amount of bass. Would have used the pads off the AliExpress pair but their bigger than the standard Grado ones.
Going to order a few more sets of the 40mm Peerless drivers and experiment with driver tuning with a slightly modified version of these housings. Might look at ordering a Sony MDR7506 headband as the clamping pressure of the one I'm using isn't great though that's probably because I have a huge head.
Going to order a few more sets of the 40mm Peerless drivers and experiment with driver tuning with a slightly modified version of these housings. Might look at ordering a Sony MDR7506 headband as the clamping pressure of the one I'm using isn't great though that's probably because I have a huge head.

Oooooo, hope it works! What material for the centre piece?
PETG. Probably gonna go through a few revisions to get the right clamp force. There's gonna be a strap as well which will might be TPU but I'm gonna see if a thin PETG print might be flexible enough.
If I can do all of the parts in a single print it will be a huge plus.
Nixon
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2012
- Posts
- 247
- Likes
- 80
Do you have a link to that driver? Asked you about it on the r/Headphones subreddit but you said you can't share links there.
Denon 9200 Speakers vs Haoyun biodynamic!
Left is the Denon, Right is the Haoyun.
I havent done sound tests on the Denon yet, but if you ever wanted a reference for both, here it is!
The ones from Reddit:Do you have a link to that driver? Asked you about it on the r/Headphones subreddit but you said you can't share links there.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...?spm=a2700.shop_plser.41413.21.277929361BMRGO
The ones in the image:
https://fixpart.co.uk/en/product/so...ted-917325100020s-housing-section?apl=2712403
UniqueName
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2011
- Posts
- 15
- Likes
- 79
DIY estats
Left: fr4 stators 110mmx75mm active area, 3 micron mylar, .6mm fr4 spacers, attached wires.
Right: wire mesh stators w/ 3d printed support rings, 88mm circular active area, 3 micron mylar, .5mm fr4 spacers, 3.5mm detachable wires (mistake should've done mini xlr, touching the bias pin makes your finger go tingly)
pads/headbands are not diy
Left: fr4 stators 110mmx75mm active area, 3 micron mylar, .6mm fr4 spacers, attached wires.
Right: wire mesh stators w/ 3d printed support rings, 88mm circular active area, 3 micron mylar, .5mm fr4 spacers, 3.5mm detachable wires (mistake should've done mini xlr, touching the bias pin makes your finger go tingly)
pads/headbands are not diy

buidoimiennui
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2009
- Posts
- 375
- Likes
- 796
Sorry my english very poor...
Even though I made this mod product a long time ago, after reading this topic, I have more motivation to share my mod product. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k52-from-36-to-360-performance-the-makeover-mods.957060/ I have the same thoughts as him about the cynics.
If we spend money, or pay a lot of money, to buy a groundbreaking headset, I think it's very easy. Even rare products like the Sony R10 can still be bought if you have a lot of money. But to adjust or mod a product to satisfy the sound and usage needs is really difficult.
This mod product was born with the need for bright sound, more detail, and less bass, like other open headphones. but can be folded and has bluetooth.
I used akg 40mm driver. This is a popular driver and easy to find. Surely everyone will recognize it. I placed the driver with open sides all around instead of straight behind. This helps them retain a sufficient amount of bass without lacking it.
The back is completely closed, where I will put it later when I find a suitable bluetooth board. So it's open back and still has bluetooth. and can still be folded compactly when traveling.
I don't confirm that this is a diy product. Because of the headband and housing I got it from the HP h2800. I bought them for only 5 USD. As my original goal, this headband has the ability to fold very well, and their housing is very suitable for me to hang the akg driver suspended with open sides around it.
I don't know what the technical term is, I describe it as semi-open. Same type of driver as above. I have another mod version it is open back. Completely open back. But the sound cannot be digested.
That's what made me want to test this semi-open mod. The audio result was exactly as I expected. The high range is bright, the mid range is just right, and the low range is just enough. it's a headphone I use whenever I'm tired of the bass of other closed-back headphones. If there is a reference ear. I think it sounds very similar to the akg k701. except less bass. This is the bass of the instruments. It is compact, appears and disappears at the right time. Does not produce a persistent buzzing sound.
The soundstage is really wide. There are details it is even better than ad900x and ma900. However, this product cannot accommodate music containing many drum instruments. This is the weakness. At least it's a product that satisfies my curiosity. Thank you for reading and trying to understand what I describe.
Housing HP h2800. Driver akg.
I kept this old HP grill so that part of the sound resonates with the housing. Part of it disperses and escapes to the surroundings. If you remove it, the sound will be dark. It's like talking into an empty beer can.
Driver is in suspended state. The surroundings are completely empty.
Done, they are very compact and are what I take on trips
Even though I made this mod product a long time ago, after reading this topic, I have more motivation to share my mod product. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k52-from-36-to-360-performance-the-makeover-mods.957060/ I have the same thoughts as him about the cynics.
If we spend money, or pay a lot of money, to buy a groundbreaking headset, I think it's very easy. Even rare products like the Sony R10 can still be bought if you have a lot of money. But to adjust or mod a product to satisfy the sound and usage needs is really difficult.
This mod product was born with the need for bright sound, more detail, and less bass, like other open headphones. but can be folded and has bluetooth.
I used akg 40mm driver. This is a popular driver and easy to find. Surely everyone will recognize it. I placed the driver with open sides all around instead of straight behind. This helps them retain a sufficient amount of bass without lacking it.
The back is completely closed, where I will put it later when I find a suitable bluetooth board. So it's open back and still has bluetooth. and can still be folded compactly when traveling.
I don't confirm that this is a diy product. Because of the headband and housing I got it from the HP h2800. I bought them for only 5 USD. As my original goal, this headband has the ability to fold very well, and their housing is very suitable for me to hang the akg driver suspended with open sides around it.
I don't know what the technical term is, I describe it as semi-open. Same type of driver as above. I have another mod version it is open back. Completely open back. But the sound cannot be digested.
That's what made me want to test this semi-open mod. The audio result was exactly as I expected. The high range is bright, the mid range is just right, and the low range is just enough. it's a headphone I use whenever I'm tired of the bass of other closed-back headphones. If there is a reference ear. I think it sounds very similar to the akg k701. except less bass. This is the bass of the instruments. It is compact, appears and disappears at the right time. Does not produce a persistent buzzing sound.
The soundstage is really wide. There are details it is even better than ad900x and ma900. However, this product cannot accommodate music containing many drum instruments. This is the weakness. At least it's a product that satisfies my curiosity. Thank you for reading and trying to understand what I describe.
Housing HP h2800. Driver akg.

I kept this old HP grill so that part of the sound resonates with the housing. Part of it disperses and escapes to the surroundings. If you remove it, the sound will be dark. It's like talking into an empty beer can.

Driver is in suspended state. The surroundings are completely empty.


Done, they are very compact and are what I take on trips

Last edited:
Absolutely lovely!! Love the colours usedDIY estats
Left: fr4 stators 110mmx75mm active area, 3 micron mylar, .6mm fr4 spacers, attached wires.
Right: wire mesh stators w/ 3d printed support rings, 88mm circular active area, 3 micron mylar, .5mm fr4 spacers, 3.5mm detachable wires (mistake should've done mini xlr, touching the bias pin makes your finger go tingly)
pads/headbands are not diy
![]()
Your english is fine! Very lovely and well done. Its something I havent seen before and looks really cool.Sorry my english very poor...
Even though I made this mod product a long time ago, after reading this topic, I have more motivation to share my mod product. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/akg-k52-from-36-to-360-performance-the-makeover-mods.957060/ I have the same thoughts as him about the cynics.
If we spend money, or pay a lot of money, to buy a groundbreaking headset, I think it's very easy. Even rare products like the Sony R10 can still be bought if you have a lot of money. But to adjust or mod a product to satisfy the sound and usage needs is really difficult.
This mod product was born with the need for bright sound, more detail, and less bass, like other open headphones. but can be folded and has bluetooth.
I used akg 40mm driver. This is a popular driver and easy to find. Surely everyone will recognize it. I placed the driver with open sides all around instead of straight behind. This helps them retain a sufficient amount of bass without lacking it.
The back is completely closed, where I will put it later when I find a suitable bluetooth board. So it's open back and still has bluetooth. and can still be folded compactly when traveling.
I don't confirm that this is a diy product. Because of the headband and housing I got it from the HP h2800. I bought them for only 5 USD. As my original goal, this headband has the ability to fold very well, and their housing is very suitable for me to hang the akg driver suspended with open sides around it.
I don't know what the technical term is, I describe it as semi-open. Same type of driver as above. I have another mod version it is open back. Completely open back. But the sound cannot be digested.
That's what made me want to test this semi-open mod. The audio result was exactly as I expected. The high range is bright, the mid range is just right, and the low range is just enough. it's a headphone I use whenever I'm tired of the bass of other closed-back headphones. If there is a reference ear. I think it sounds very similar to the akg k701. except less bass. This is the bass of the instruments. It is compact, appears and disappears at the right time. Does not produce a persistent buzzing sound.
The soundstage is really wide. There are details it is even better than ad900x and ma900. However, this product cannot accommodate music containing many drum instruments. This is the weakness. At least it's a product that satisfies my curiosity. Thank you for reading and trying to understand what I describe.
Housing HP h2800. Driver akg.
I kept this old HP grill so that part of the sound resonates with the housing. Part of it disperses and escapes to the surroundings. If you remove it, the sound will be dark. It's like talking into an empty beer can.
Driver is in suspended state. The surroundings are completely empty.
Done, they are very compact and are what I take on trips
![]()
It's getting to a point where these feel less DIY and more proper. I'm going to incorporate MJF prints in this design for a much more clean look.
0 glue, 0 adhesive or attached parts, all replaceable and adjustable.

0 glue, 0 adhesive or attached parts, all replaceable and adjustable.
buidoimiennui
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2009
- Posts
- 375
- Likes
- 796
This is driver se-a1000?It's getting to a point where these feel less DIY and more proper. I'm going to incorporate MJF prints in this design for a much more clean look.
0 glue, 0 adhesive or attached parts, all replaceable and adjustable.
Heya! It is the same driver featured in vmoda and ollo audio headphones by XDEC!This is driver se-a1000?
Blotto80
500+ Head-Fier
Here's my newest pair. Rings are carbon fiber with gold leaf, aim was to be kind of like the MEST Mk2 but I went overboard with the gold and it's been grating on me. Reprinting some molds now to redo them. Other than that they're using the Audeze CF Headband and ZMF Auteur Lambskin pads, I'm running 50mm Beryllium drivers in them and have them to a place they sound amazing. I've got a pair of Biodynamics showing up this week to test as well. Aiming for a lush, musical tuning.
Attachments
peterinvan
1000+ Head-Fier
I broke the headband on my five year old Elegias, so this is my DIY conversion to a knockoff Audeze type headband. I went for durability and a real leather strap.
However, the much higher clamp force produced a warmer sound. With EQ I can get the sound back to my liking.
Perhaps another headband would have retained the Elegia’s original sound. Another project for another day?
However, the much higher clamp force produced a warmer sound. With EQ I can get the sound back to my liking.
Perhaps another headband would have retained the Elegia’s original sound. Another project for another day?
Attachments
Last edited:
My first 3DPrinter (Bambu Labs A1 Mini, $200) and my first time using Fusion. Im mostly wanting something similar to the above by @Nixon + Grado. I am impatient watching tutorials and wanted to play so here’s a start.:Felt like I was cheating a bit using a pe-made set of housings with the Grado Upgrade Kit from Aliexpress so modeled my own set with skeletonised sides out of curiosity to see if it made any noticible difference to soundstage. Chucked the model through Keyshot to render some glamour shots while I wait for the print to finish. Should be a fin test of the retraction settings on my Ender 3.
![]()



^ Drivers are friction fitted tightly with a small lip to position driver. Uses Grado pads and headband.
To do / to learn / watch tutorials:
- Id like to clamp the drivers in place with an inner / outer sleeve setup with nuts and bolts, seemingly what Nixon did.
- Id like the walls of cup to be perforated / open-cell grid to reduce any reflection but without compromising too much the strength of walls, seemingly what Nixon did as well.

Last edited:
Users who are viewing this thread
Total: 4 (members: 0, guests: 4)