----------------- Now back to your regularly scheduled thread programming -----------------
I picked up the
3M "flexible clear" tape tonight, along with a box of Kix (just trying to be thorough
) & replaced the 3M "gentle paper" tape in my T50RP. I found, again, that 3 layers of the Flex Clear tape is the right amount.
For the sake of brevity, GP = Gentle Paper modded T50RP, FCT = Flex Clear tape modded T50RP.
Compared to my GP, the FCT took some of the hotness off the lower treble, upper midrange. It still might fatigue from time to time (based on the quality of your source material), but I was really impressed with the control from the upper midrange through the treble. While the GP phones had more air and sparkle up top, the FCT phones had a smoother, natural treble tone.
The midrange sounded very similar between both the GP & FCT phones, taking slightly different twists on a similar presentation. If I had to describe the GP's midrange in a few words.. dynamic, high energy, crisp, airy.. are what comes to mind. The FCT by contrast.. (relatively) smoother, controlled, cohesive. The FCT phones' midrange had excellent weight lending to a more natural sound than the GP phones. Positionally.. vocals sounded in line, if not very slightly behind the instruments on the FCT. In contrast, vocals on the GP phones were slightly in front of the instruments (akin to a live setting). While the GP phones midrange had a more dynamic, engaging sound, listeners could suffer from fatigue depending on the recording quality & genre. While the FCT phones had a more constrained, controlled sound, listeners benefit from a smoother more natural tone.
The bass on the GP phones is tight, incredibly quick, and has good punch.. what it lacks is greater weight & overall presence. The FCT phones by contrast, have a lovely, robust bass response. It's impressively well controlled but punchy and thick. Quantitatively, the FCT phones have more midbass than the GP phones. There is no overt midbass hump but one can hear midbass notes better from the FCT phones than the GP.
I found the GP phones to be more detailed, airy, and brighter overall.. The FCT phones possess a warmer, more natural, smoother, weighter sound.. with a better bass presentation than the GP phones.
I've got to hand it to BMF cause he's done a really nice job with all the different permutations, well-controlled testing methodology, and detailed reports on his results... the latest BMF variation sound fantastic. I like it more than my GP modded phones, in fact (despite it giving up some ground on dynamic presentation).
I think BMF's T50RP mod captures all the wonderful things the T50RP can do in a very natural, cohesive overall presentation while sacrificing very little elsewhere. It's achieved impressive control of the lower midrange spike without significantly impacting upper/mid bass presence & midrange tonality (in a negative manner). To my ears, I'l like to tweak it to have a less constrained midrange through treble sound.
Overall though.. no real complaints.. great job, BMF!
