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

[SkinnyPuppy]

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Some thoughts on the CottonDryers..
 
Their voicing reminds me of the the RE262 in a few ways.. but the similarities are very general though.  Aside from a slightly mid-forward sound and some tonal characteristics in places, they occupy different places, sonically.
 
What the CD is though.. is a cross between the RE262 & HD650.. on steroids.. the finest steroids Barry Bonds could buy.  It's not as liquid, colored, or warm as the RE262.. it's (relatively) more accurate from end to end.  Bass is faster, goes deeper, has more impact, and has much better presence.  Mids are crisper, more detailed (

), cleaner, and neutral.  The CD's soundstage isn't as wide as it is on the RE262, but it's every bit as deep, and the CD's enjoy a little better imaging, front-to-back.  I haven't had an extensive amount of time with the HD650s but the CDs have that kind of immersive, hypnotic, well balanced, bass presence.. albeit several times more technically superior & effortless.
 
I'm hearing a slight spike somewhere in the RE262's midrange that causes (male) some vocals to sound slightly honky at times.. not so with the CDs.  The CDs are certainly colored, mainly in the bass area, but not to the extent the RE262s are.  I've always been impressed with the incredibly articulate nature of the RE262's midrange coloration though I find them too smooth & liquid for some heavier, grittier genres (rock, metal).  The CDs on the other hand, while maintaining an impeccable smoothness to them, don't suffer from the same problem.. Listening to Tool's Lateralus is an aural experience with the CDs.  Incredibly immersive.  Adam Jones' guitars just punch you in the face with their crispness, but the CDs take some of that edge off with a touch of smoothness & the T50RPs inherently gorgeous mids never allow them to get harsh or uncontrolled.  Just how effortless these sound is something else
 
The treble on the CDs really impressed me too.. it's smooth, but not as smooth or rolled off as on the RE262 or the HD650.. it has much more sparkle and detail retrieval is easier while sitting a quarter step behind the mids.
 
I think the CottonDryers are a fantastic alternative to those who want to hear LFF's tweak the pinnacle-of-neutrality Paradox into a slightly colored, fun (but very controlled) phone that's every bit as versatile as the Paradox.  It isn't as accurate or analytical as the Paradox.. but it's not tuned to be so.. but you'll still get to enjoy all the technical muscle of the T50RP.

How do I build CottonDryers?
 

 

[Stevesebastianb]

Would actually like to purchase a pair of TP-50r's and do the "Thunderpants" mod to them, I have been reading so much about how much better they are after modification.

 

[RexAeterna]

tp-50r? must be a new model from the future. maybe it's an already fully dampened t50-rp but with round drivers instead!

 

[LFF]

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Nice impressions! Would I be incorrect in guessing that this particular mod uses cotton wool in the cups and dryer sheets behind the drivers? Wondering what else might be used in the mod and how they differ from the Paradox. I don't expect an answer for that.

Close but no cigar....

 

[SkinnyPuppy]

so lff made cottondryers and again wont tell anyone HOW to make one

 

[RexAeterna]

biggest flaw with the fostex is so simple. i finally figured it out. it doesn't have a green cable! i need to jack someone's Quincy's so i can make my fostex sing and you guys will totally be uber jealous cause of my neon green fostex.

 

[purrin]

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Close but no cigar....

The semen of a virgin silverback gorilla?

 

[RexAeterna]

The semen of a virgin silverback gorilla?

this...just...might...work!

but thinking over and over again analyzing the density of the silverback, there might some ringing issues in the upper region. we need to get back to the drawing board and find a purer breed.

 

[RexAeterna]

dumb question. if planer drivers are known for their treble speed and response, why is the LCD2 so rolled off for? seems like a total fail for such an expensive headphone.

 

[LFF]

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dumb question. if planer drivers are known for their treble speed and response, why is the LCD2 so rolled off for? seems like a total fail for such an expensive headphone.

That's always been my main criticism...that and the ridiculous price for such a flawed headphone. Same goes for the LCD-3. However, people never seem to hear those recessed mids....

 

[symphonic]

i find it a little strange that the rear of headphone cups are parallel to the driver plane. Shouldn't they be at an angle to avoid reflecting the backwave through the driver? B&W speaker enclosures do this kind of thing (like the funky snail box). Any benefit to a cup that deflects the backwave at 45 degrees or so, perhaps upwards where there is space on a headband to accommodate some extra volume?
 
Like a transmission line speaker I guess.

 

[Nevod]

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I did.  Not a good idea. 

Gets underdamped? Or something else?
 
 
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I'm happy to hear these tips are helpful to you. The rubber bands make mod changes much faster as well as avoiding stripping the threads.

Could you provide some photos please? I, particularly, don't know how these bag ties even look...
 
 
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i find it a little strange that the rear of headphone cups are parallel to the driver plane. Shouldn't they be at an angle to avoid reflecting the backwave through the driver? B&W speaker enclosures do this kind of thing (like the funky snail box). Any benefit to a cup that deflects the backwave at 45 degrees or so, perhaps upwards where there is space on a headband to accommodate some extra volume?
 
Like a transmission line speaker I guess.

I think it's possible to place some diffusing cones/pyramids on the cups. However, there's not a lot of place for them.. I suspect that, actually, cotton wool + paxmate already eat reflections efficiently enough, judging by CSD plots of RP2i.. So the real deal is the damping.
Ah, though.. It's all much more intricate. Reflection treatment also plays its role in damping. And again, as I believe in progressive damping.. All the honeycombs, diffusers, sponges are worth a shot.
Hopefully, my wife approves spending some money on the T50s that month, and I'm gonna get them.
 
 

BTW, is anyone here using Beyer gel pads? I'd like to know how easy they are to fit onto a T50, and if it's posiible to lift them with rigid risers like SRH840 pads.
 

 

[hans030390]

Wait, I thought we were talking about the CottonDryers...?
 
Still, though, the Paradox does measure incredibly well. Nice job! Why does the graph Tyll posted not look as flat? The LCD-2's graph on that page seems to match up closely with Tyll's measurements.

 

[bluemonkeyflyer]

 
To fix stripped plastic threads in the headband hanger receiver: This is a ~ 1/2 inch piece of plastic bag produce wire tie with blue /white plastic. I bent it into a horseshoe shape and hung it over the lip of the headband hanger receiver. Insert it onto the headband and tighten the screw.
 
 

 
This shows the produce rubber band holding the cups and baffles together. This makes changing out mods faster and avoids stripping the threads of the 4 cup receiver compartments. The skinny blue object to the right is a produce wire tie encased in blue/white plastic sheath. Leave the plastic sheath on for the headband hanger. An X-acto knife can be used to remove the plastic sheath for bare wire insertion into stripped cup receiver threads.
 
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Gets underdamped? Or something else?
 
 
Could you provide some photos please? I, particularly, don't know how these bag ties even look...
 
 

I think it's possible to place some diffusing cones/pyramids on the cups. However, there's not a lot of place for them.. I suspect that, actually, cotton wool + paxmate already eat reflections efficiently enough, judging by CSD plots of RP2i.. So the real deal is the damping.
Ah, though.. It's all much more intricate. Reflection treatment also plays its role in damping. And again, as I believe in progressive damping.. All the honeycombs, diffusers, sponges are worth a shot.
Hopefully, my wife approves spending some money on the T50s that month, and I'm gonna get them.
 
 

BTW, is anyone here using Beyer gel pads? I'd like to know how easy they are to fit onto a T50, and if it's posiible to lift them with rigid risers like SRH840 pads.
 

 

 

[purrin]

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dumb question. if planer drivers are known for their treble speed and response, why is the LCD2 so rolled off for? seems like a total fail for such an expensive headphone.

The driver is too big. Way too big.