Home-Made IEMs
Feb 4, 2023 at 8:16 PM Post #14,927 of 16,107
Can someone give me a crash course on how dampers are used? I see a lot of recommendations for which dampers to use for specific builds, but not really a lot of info about WHY those specific dampers are used
For example, if I had a build and had a peak around 3k and 10 k I was trying to smooth out, how would I go about damper selection
 
Feb 4, 2023 at 8:23 PM Post #14,928 of 16,107
Can someone give me a crash course on how dampers are used? I see a lot of recommendations for which dampers to use for specific builds, but not really a lot of info about WHY those specific dampers are used
For example, if I had a build and had a peak around 3k and 10 k I was trying to smooth out, how would I go about damper selection
Yellow
orange
red
green
brown
white
grey

yellow = sub

to

grey = tweeter

the closer to the sound bore the more effect it will have.
 
Feb 4, 2023 at 11:16 PM Post #14,930 of 16,107
So say I put a white 680 ohm damper on the sub-is that going to filter everything above 680 and lead to more bass response?
This is from a sonion design guide.
7A4645FC-46F5-4A07-AF5F-56B1632A5B87.jpeg

https://www.sonion.com/wp-content/uploads/Documentation_Designing_Earphones.pdf
 
Feb 6, 2023 at 3:40 AM Post #14,934 of 16,107
How do you approach tubes? I’ve got 5 drivers, but realistically only space for 2-3 tubes in the output
Larger diameter tubes are beneficial for tweeters. Smaller id, longer tubes can act as a low pass for woofers. As for grouping the drivers, just do it in a way that makes sense. For example you should pair drivers up that are close to each other in frequency so that there's no phase difference between them. 2mm id tubes can be stretched over multiple driver nozzles. I highly recommend starting with something simpler like a 2 way configuration. What drivers do you have? Keep in mind that a lot of this is experimentation rather than set rules.
 
Feb 6, 2023 at 9:51 AM Post #14,936 of 16,107
BA driver mounting/securing question... I know these don't function like traditional dynamic drivers, but when playing, do they generate any physical vibration at all, even if very very smalll? When it comes to securing them to the shell, does it make any detectable difference in sound/listening experience if they are secured with a hard attachment like a bit of Fotoplast then cured as opposed to a softer attachment like RTV silicone? I know either way probably wouldn't affect the sound coming out the tube(s), but I would imagine the ear canal is a very sensitive area, so any vibration whatsoever transferred into the shell I would think would be noticeable in some way. And if so it would enhance listening at all or on the other hand create fatigue after a while. Probable overthinking, probably a non-issue, but had to ask.
 
Feb 6, 2023 at 10:33 AM Post #14,937 of 16,107
BA driver mounting/securing question... I know these don't function like traditional dynamic drivers, but when playing, do they generate any physical vibration at all, even if very very smalll? When it comes to securing them to the shell, does it make any detectable difference in sound/listening experience if they are secured with a hard attachment like a bit of Fotoplast then cured as opposed to a softer attachment like RTV silicone? I know either way probably wouldn't affect the sound coming out the tube(s), but I would imagine the ear canal is a very sensitive area, so any vibration whatsoever transferred into the shell I would think would be noticeable in some way. And if so it would enhance listening at all or on the other hand create fatigue after a while. Probable overthinking, probably a non-issue, but had to ask.
I usually mount them using a small but of repair gel, as it thicker and cures out faster without the residue needing to be cleaned off or the use of nitrogen in the final cure.
 
Feb 7, 2023 at 5:45 AM Post #14,938 of 16,107
Mind letting us know? Really curious with your thoughts.
It's in red, orange, yellow and brown - aren't those colors quite close to each other? Plus grey on white background making it nearly invisible, not to mention I only now realized there's 680 ohm damper too, but since it's white and they put white on white you almost can't see it! Graph description is all over the place with no particular order which further makes reading the graph quite hard.
I understand that they tired going for color of damper = color on the graph but then why green is yellow!
 
Feb 7, 2023 at 5:51 AM Post #14,939 of 16,107
BA driver mounting/securing question... I know these don't function like traditional dynamic drivers, but when playing, do they generate any physical vibration at all, even if very very smalll? When it comes to securing them to the shell, does it make any detectable difference in sound/listening experience if they are secured with a hard attachment like a bit of Fotoplast then cured as opposed to a softer attachment like RTV silicone? I know either way probably wouldn't affect the sound coming out the tube(s), but I would imagine the ear canal is a very sensitive area, so any vibration whatsoever transferred into the shell I would think would be noticeable in some way. And if so it would enhance listening at all or on the other hand create fatigue after a while. Probable overthinking, probably a non-issue, but had to ask.
The BAs do vibrate (some more some less) and it's recommended that you glue them to the shell. Otherwise they will rattle, if not from its own vibration then from you moving around.
Filling shell with silicone will change the sound of the BA to a warmer tone and dramatically improve THD (in my measurements typically 4x reduction), but then you can't really use vented drivers such as 3800 etc.
 
Feb 7, 2023 at 7:02 AM Post #14,940 of 16,107
It's in red, orange, yellow and brown - aren't those colors quite close to each other? Plus grey on white background making it nearly invisible, not to mention I only now realized there's 680 ohm damper too, but since it's white and they put white on white you almost can't see it! Graph description is all over the place with no particular order which further makes reading the graph quite hard.
I understand that they tired going for color of damper = color on the graph but then why green is yellow!
Oh my god! I did not see those red flags! I hope I don't bring my blindness in picking a girlfriend! Everything you pointed out is so true. I never paid attention to it but now that you did, I cannot wrap my head around it.
 

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