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

[Twinster]

I'm on my fourth alteration for my T50rp and the final configuration is the best for me so far. I did a comparaison yesterday with my HD-650 and for the first time after listening for an hour with the Fostex when I tried the HD-650 I found them less engaging an fun. I put the T50rp back on and here what I found sound wise:

1. Instruments separation was very good.
2. the mid are more forward and fun. Very detail also. This is where it win me over from the Sennheiser.
3. the bass is good but not as refine as HD-650. 
4. The high a good but not enough to my liking. Similar the HD-650. *Updated* After bass port update it's better now.
5. got better air and do not sound muffled like previous configuration.
6. Imaging is very good on these.

 
Here's my setup now:

1. Plasticine the back driver. Same since Alt#2.
2. White filter intact. Removed previous stiff felt.
3. Small reflex dot in the middle. Silicone pad.
4. removed all Paxmate in cups. Very hard to removed.
5. add Dynamat on bottom and side walls of cups.
6. Stock felt on bass port intact.
7. Bass port with one slot open. Using black tape from outside * Update * Now completely coverted by black tape but with a pin hole in middle.
8. add a layer of wool felt on bottom cups.
9. remove the felt on front driver baffle.
10. use SRH-840 pads.
11. add a 4" long of a rubber tube of half inch under the back side of pads. Provide good angle.
12. I have also removed the connector from left cup and hard wire with SPC (Silver Plated Copper) 24awg.

 
As mentioned above they sound very good and fun but I'm still trying to stretch the top so any recommendation is welcome. I'm also comparing them with my Shure SRH-940 and I very much like the high and mid of the Shure. The T50rp have pretty good mid but do not extended and do not have the level of detail of the 940.
 
I'm thinking on making a hole in the middle on the fabric of the pads but not sure if the result would the same as regular dynamic drivers.
 
Help please??
 
* Update *  I'm listening to Diego Barber - Desierto song and the cymbal  are coming nice and clear with very good shimmer and the bass line is also very detail. The best I have heard them on the Fostex. I can hear the finger sliding on the string (very nicely) it's just adding to the live presentation. I never heard the LCD-2 but read that they were lacking on top too but  people still like them for all the rest they have to offer. I think I can live with this configuration on the Fostex because they are very musical and engaging specialy with Jazz & Downtempo genre. I have to say that I switch from using the amp from the DACmini to my MAD Ear HD+ tube amplifier and it seem to add to the presentation.

 

[sphinxvc]

Quote:

So what's their diameter?  Looks like they are a circle diameter about the same as the long side of the T50rp baffle.  Cool about the seal!

4.4 inches.
 

 

[SkinnyPuppy]

Hello everybody, this is SP.
 
I've been wondering about T50rp mods since yesterday when I heard one that sounded so warm and sweet with the midrange, so laid-back. I'm looking for a mod to compliment my Ultrasones. I'm looking for something that focuses on the mids and highs more than the bass, but still has bass. These are the configurations I heard of,
 
RastaPants
Paradox (we know thats not gonna happen)
ThunderPants
 
and a bunch of nameless mods.
 
So head-fi, which mod would suit my needs?

 

[sphinxvc]

Quote:

Hello everybody, this is SP.
 
I've been wondering about T50rp mods since yesterday when I heard one that sounded so warm and sweet with the midrange, so laid-back. I'm looking for a mod to compliment my Ultrasones. I'm looking for something that focuses on the mids and highs more than the bass, but still has bass. These are the configurations I heard of,
 
RastaPants
Paradox (we know thats not gonna happen)
ThunderPants
 
and a bunch of nameless mods.
 
So head-fi, which mod would suit my needs?

Which one are you talking about?  The one with the brown O2 pads or the one by LiqTenExp's table?
 

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

Can you repost your config? Some pictures will be great too 

 

Sorry, no pictures.  I don't want to open them up again right now.
 
As far as the configuration goes:

1. SilverStone acoustic foam in the back most plane of the cup, bass port felt untouched and uncovered, no foam on the walls or edges of cup
2. Stock bass felt, all ports open (all open sounds much better, that's where the detail came in)
3. Plasticine mass loading baffles, including BMF's ridge between the baffle and the driver housing, plasticine also around driver
4. 1.5 layers of Transpore in BMF configuration with the 0.5'th layer acting as one strip going across the middle 3 rectangles of the back of the driver
5. slightly less than half of a "triple sized" cotton ball in each cup, very thinned out, very transparent
6. FatMat layer on the ear side of the baffle with some material over it to help kill a few reflections
7. Shure 840 pads with one cotton ball in "hot dog" configuration (pull it to make it long) stuffed behind the backs of the pads to push the rear of the pad up and out

 
That's all, sounds fantastic through my Bijou tube amp (which alraedy helps a lot with imaging and detail -- I recommend a good amp here).
 
 
 
 

 

[Twinster]

If you don't mind me asking where have you got the chance to experiment all these variation of the Fostex?
 
Also can you please summarize these sound signature for each of them?
 
Thanks!
Quote:

Hello everybody, this is SP.
 
I've been wondering about T50rp mods since yesterday when I heard one that sounded so warm and sweet with the midrange, so laid-back. I'm looking for a mod to compliment my Ultrasones. I'm looking for something that focuses on the mids and highs more than the bass, but still has bass. These are the configurations I heard of,
 
RastaPants
Paradox (we know thats not gonna happen)
ThunderPants
 
and a bunch of nameless mods.
 
So head-fi, which mod would suit my needs?

 
 

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

Quote:

4.4 inches.
 

wow, even bigger than I remember.  Thanks!

 

[Armaegis]

^ wow out of context when you only see the last post in the thread, this is... uh...

 

[drez]

Any hints on desoldering the hookups from the drivers?  Should I use a heatsink?

 

[fishski13]

Quote:

Any hints on desoldering the hookups from the drivers?  Should I use a heatsink?

wet the tip of your iron with a little solder.  this will help the solder blob on the driver pad flow/melt more easily.  touch the iron tip on the blob for 1 sec and lift - this is a "pre-heat" to reduce the time the the iron is on the driver.  wait a couple of seconds and touch again.  the solder blob should melt and you remove the old wire.  i don't know if you have a temp controlled iron, but i wouldn't leave the tip on the driver for more than 2 sec.  good luck!

 

[fishski13]

more messing around tonight.  in addition to lining the insides of the cups with floor protector felt, i placed a piece for the headband mounting posts a while back.  the mid-range and upper mid-range was a bit too smooth over time and lacking some bite and blat when appropriate.  so i removed it placed a piece of electrical tape over the post to act as a reflex spot of sorts.  much better now.  i'm getting crisper transients and better treble as well.  
 
i also tried playing around with more cotton tonight, reducing the quantity and density.  it does reduce some cup resonances, but i'm hearing a reduction in tone.  if the tone i'm hearing is actually a "coloration", it's a pleasant one.
 
i'm also planning on a re-wire, dual entry, directly to the drivers.  i think i'll end up with some enameled copper or SPC.

 

[200poundsofamp]

Quote:

more messing around tonight.  in addition to lining the insides of the cups with floor protector felt, i placed a piece for the headband mounting posts a while back.  the mid-range and upper mid-range was a bit too smooth over time and lacking some bite and blat when appropriate.  so i removed it placed a piece of electrical tape over the post to act as a reflex spot of sorts.  much better now.  i'm getting crisper transients and better treble as well. 

Have you tried a reflex dot or some felt on the back of the driver instead of using the binding post? To me it does the same thing but sounds even better.

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

^ wow out of context when you only see the last post in the thread, this is... uh...

Was sexy the word you were looking for? 

 

[Armaegis]

Quote:

Was sexy the word you were looking for? 

 
Every inch counts!

 

[Raguvian]

I really want to try modding, but it looks like getting my hands on some of this material will be hard and kinda expensive.