Just listened to some Fostex T50RPs today... WOW!

[Nevod]

Quote:

So I got my calibrated mic and ran some tests and it definitely affected the output results.  Here is my latest RP 02.  

What's your measurement setup like? 

 

[Remior]

Hi all.
 
Since few days ago i've been thinking to buy a new headphones, a new Top headphones that make me feel it deserves the money i'd pay for it.
I have read soo much post here and other forums and i really have a big amount of options on my head.
My top budget will be over 500-600$. So i have been thinking mostly on the Sennhesier HD650 but when i read something like: "Moded Fostex T50RP > Sennheiser HD650" i came in doubts an ask myself: "Really, or people just saying crazy things?"
 
I haven't read all this post about the Fostex but i will apreciate some imformation or help about it. I have read about some various mods on the Fostex but don't know what it's the best for me and the way i like to listen music.
 
 

 

[Magick Man]

Hi all.

Since few days ago i've been thinking to buy a new headphones, a new Top headphones that make me feel it deserves the money i'd pay for it.
I have read soo much post here and other forums and i really have a big amount of options on my head.
My top budget will be over 500-600$. So i have been thinking mostly on the Sennhesier HD650 but when i read something like: "Moded Fostex T50RP > Sennheiser HD650" i came in doubts an ask myself: "Really, or people just saying crazy things?"

I haven't read all this post about the Fostex but i will apreciate some imformation or help about it. I have read about some various mods on the Fostex but don't know what it's the best for me and the way i like to listen music.

Yes, if modded properly, Rasta 2 mod, the T50RP is better than the HD650*, IMO. Heck, mine sound on par with my friend's HE-500s, and that's just crazy stuff. Not to say they sound just like the HE-500s, but they are in the same league. Not bad for ~$120 and some tuning, I say.



*The HD650 is too dark for me anyway, I need more sparkle in my treble.


Peace,

 

[proid]

I wonder how can CD3000 has incredible soundstage that can rival open headphones. Inside the cup, there is nothing special except the angled driver, you can also read how to make a very nice looking suspension headband here: http://www.geocities.jp/myaudiolife/mdrcd3000/reconstruction1.html

 

[glorydays]

Ah *****, this tread is long. But very informative. I believe in dispersion combined with absorption... so far. I made some dispersor panels from balsa wood, but I'll rather try labyrinths made of paxmate stripes as they probably absorbs better. Perhaps bass traps made of tungsten+paxmate in the corners might help aswell. Combine that whole **** with mineral wool around the edges or something... Fooling the driver, thinking It's sitting In a bigger enclosure or what...So many feuk'in waves bouncing around canceling and destroying the original sound coming from the driver, I'm getting so tired of this mod like whathafeuekk...

 

[Magick Man]

I wonder how can CD3000 has incredible soundstage that can rival open headphones. Inside the cup, there is nothing special except the angled driver, you can also read how to make a very nice looking suspension headband here: http://www.geocities.jp/myaudiolife/mdrcd3000/reconstruction1.html

Dude has some mad sewing skills, just sayin'.



Peace,

 

[Lurkumaural]

That fork thing really helps keep the holes uniform. I wonder how much it costs. Or if a baby fork would work (I got a bunch of those).

 

[LFF]

Quote:

Dude has some mad sewing skills, just sayin'.

Peace,

Everything is easy when you have the right tools and know how to use them.

 

[Magick Man]

Everything is easy when you have the right tools and know how to use them.

I'm getting old and blind, and I have pretty bad RA (luckily my hearing is still top notch). I'm just jealous.

 

[wje]

Quote:

Dude has some mad sewing skills, just sayin'.

Peace,

From viewing the pictures, the key seems to be the little pickle fork that he's using to pre-punch the holes prior to sewing them with a needle and thread.  Also, using the punch tool, ensures the holes stay properly spaced, too.  I'll be selling off my harness machine this weekend, due to lack of use.  Instead, I should just invest in some hand tools to do the work on a small basis as that guy has done.  Additionally, using some good thread - e.g. nylon thread or polyester in size #138 would be ideal for making a rugged head-band or ear pads.  You can get 1.5 Lb. spools of size #138 for about $18 plus minimal shipping on the Internet.
 

 

[mrspeakers]

Quote:

What's your measurement setup like? 

Dayton Audio calibrated mic
 
Incredibly crude styrofoam block with Mic embedded in it, tip just past the styrofoam
 
M-Audio DA/AD converter with 48V Microphone power supply
 
FuzzMeasure software on the Mac
 
What's interesting to me is that Tyll uses a dummy head which boosts the HF response and requires use of a transfer function to normalize the response curve.  I'm essentially measuring using a baffle, which is generating similar results but does not require equalization.  However, his setup will likely be more accurate because the heads' ear shape and volume will effect the response somewhat (I would expect this actually will increase the very low bass.  I could model it by putting some material in approximate ear-volume), maybe a modeling clay "ear"?).
 
Also, my measurements would be expected to have stronger standing wave modes at high frequencies because the styrofoam is flat and will be more reflective than his molded ear.  All that said, I was rather surprised at how much I could see in common in the response curves.
 
Tyll, if you're watching, it would be great to get your feedback on the setups and their relative effects on measurements.  Headphone measurement is still new to me.

 

[BGRoberts]

Similar punches can be found from Tandy Leather Company (and I'm sure other leather supply places)
 
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/Tools/Punches/Punches.aspx

 
Quote:

From viewing the pictures, the key seems to be the little pickle fork that he's using to pre-punch the holes prior to sewing them with a needle and thread.  Also, using the punch tool, ensures the holes stay properly spaced, too.  I'll be selling off my harness machine this weekend, due to lack of use.  Instead, I should just invest in some hand tools to do the work on a small basis as that guy has done.  Additionally, using some good thread - e.g. nylon thread or polyester in size #138 would be ideal for making a rugged head-band or ear pads.  You can get 1.5 Lb. spools of size #138 for about $18 plus minimal shipping on the Internet.
 

 

 

[Taowolf51]

Quote:

I wonder how can CD3000 has incredible soundstage that can rival open headphones. Inside the cup, there is nothing special except the angled driver, you can also read how to make a very nice looking suspension headband here: http://www.geocities.jp/myaudiolife/mdrcd3000/reconstruction1.html

That's interesting, it's the same concept that Ultrasone uses with their S-logic pro (except ultrasone angles the holes in which the sound passes through to get to the ear, which is not as effective). S-logic standard simply uses a standard offset driver. It'd be really cool if they picked up actually angling the driver as their new S-logic (if that mod does give it the amazing soundstage they say).

 

[wje]

 
Quote:

Similar punches can be found from Tandy Leather Company (and I'm sure other leather supply places)
 
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/Tools/Punches/Punches.aspx
 

 
Bob,
 
Thanks.  I think I can spring for the $25.00 set after selling off the big ol' machine.  In fact, the harness machine was rather intimidating to use - for fear of getting one's finger stuck in there.  However, the motor was a servo motor, so one can easily adjust the RPMs on the motor to their specific sewing speed.

 

[iowercase]

I'm really starting to sympathize with the guys a few pages back complaining about ringing in their ears.  After listening on these a while at even less-then-normal volumes I definitely do experience some strange fatigue... like some tiny unidentified range of my hearing gets knocked out of commission for a while or something.  Not exactly ringing, though not too dissimilar from it either.  My SR80s and M50s would fatigue me too but it was much more like simple exhaustion and a bit of a headache afterwards, where this almost feels like weird pressure points getting worked on in my brain, like a funnybone sort of tingly feeling. 
 
I'm preeetty sure this wasn't there on stock, so I don't know if I should blame the mods, the burn-in, or brain cancer (or hypochondria!) for this one.  I thought it was a frequency spike thing (maybe the infamous 10khz spike) but generous EQing doesn't get rid of it, though it somewhat attenuates the effect.  I'm loathe to revert the phones to stock but maybe it'd be worth it if it meant being able to build them back up again without this weird spikey fatiguey effect getting in the way of prolonged listens.