A couple of people have asked me about the custom tuning filters I made for the ZS6. I figured I would share the details with everyone, as they are easy and inexpensive to make (<$0.01 each).
I will be continuing to test additional filters, as I had initially only made a few different filters.
My plan is to test more filters made using additional types of material that I didn't test initially - additional desiccate bags, disposable paper coffee filters, stainless nozzle filters, nylon nozzle filters, etc.
As evidenced by the wide variety of BA tuning filters available commercially, it will be possible to target very specific frequencies depending on filter material. At the time I did my testing, my primary goal was to increase sub bass (as an alternative to the Russian methods), not on tuning the BA output.
I feel there are still hidden improvements to be had with the tuning filters, unlocking the ZS6's true potential. Since so many of us have the ZS6 v1 (vs the better tuned ZS6 v2), I think this would be very beneficial to the HF community.
I would greatly appreciate anyone's assistance in getting an IEM testing rig set up (ARTA or otherwise), even if crude and uncompensated. If you can help, please PM me.
Required materials:
Steps:
- M2 stainless steel washers (details here: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kno...essions-thread.698148/page-1847#post-14013143)
- very sharp/small bladed scissors, such as those used for sewing, hair cutting, etc
- tweezers
- disposable food plate
- magnifying glass (optional, as the washers and filter materials you'll be working with are ridiculously small)
- fine sewing needle, sewing pin, safety pin, or "T" pin
- super glue (GEL style, not regular liquid type)
- filter materials
- tea bags
- disposable paper coffee filters
- desiccant bags
- 3.7mm stainless nozzle filters (universal f/Aliexpress)
- 3.7mm nylon nozzle filters (removed f/other IEMs, ie KZ red filters on ZS3, EDR, EDSE, etc)
1. On your disposable food plate, lay out a few washers. This is your working surface. Keep everything on the plate, as this will help keep all of the ridiculously tiny materials organized and contained.
2. Attach your filter material
- If you are using a filter material with adhesive pre-applied (such as stainless or nylon nozzle filters):
- Simply peel and stick them to the washer using tweezers (make sure to center the filter on the washer).
- Press with your finger to adhere the nozzle filter fully.
- Proceed to step 3.
3. Repeat the procedure to make a 2nd filter.
- If you are using a filter material without pre-applied adhesive (such as coffee filter, tea bag, or desiccant bag):
- Use your scissors to cut a perfect square slightly SMALLER than the OD of washer (ie the washer is 5mm OD, so cut the square around 4.5mm)
- Now trim the corners of the square off at 45 degrees, so you end up with a symmetrical 4.5mm octagon. If it ends up as a 'lopsided' octagon, start over until you get it right. The material is trivial - a single tea bag can make probably 500 cut squares.
- Take your GEL super glue and squirt and tiny blob at the edge of the paper plate, out of the way of your working area (ie at the top edge, on the rim of the plate, etc). It only needs to be the 1/4 the size of a single grain of rice (and even that is will be too much).
- Using your tweezers, center your octagon filter on the washer as best as you can (this is easier said than done, as you'll see in the photo below).
- Using the sharp edge of your fine sewing needle, sewing pin, safety pin, or "T" pin, dip it into the super glue GEL and apply a THIN smear to the 12 o'clock position of the filter. The idea is to get half of the smear of glue on the edge of the filter, and half of the smear of glue on the bare washer. Don't use too much glue, or it will soak/wick to the center of the filter where the sound travels through. LESS IS BETTER!!
- Repeat this procedure at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions.
- Let the glue fully dry.
- Proceed to step 3.
4. Congratulations, you have now made a pair of filters.
5. Repeat the entire process using an alternate filter material if you wish.
6. To ATTACH the filters to the nozzle of the ZS6, follow the procedure outlined in Mod #2 at the following link: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/kno...essions-thread.698148/page-1847#post-14013143
Photos of the completed filters.
A completed tea bag filter, showing the BACK side of the filter with the tea bag attached per Step 2 above. See how the tea bag was cut slightly SMALLER than the washer OD? This gives the thin smears of glue an opportunity to stick to both the edge of the filter material and some of the washer in the 12,3,6,9 o'clock positions (seen best in the photo at the 6 o'clock position):
The FRONT of a completed tea bag filter, held up to the light so you can see how the sound will filter through:
The FRONT of a completed stainless mesh filter, showing how the stainless filter looks from the FRONT:
The FRONT of a completed stainless mesh filter, held up to the light so you can see how the sound will filter through:
Let me know if you have any questions.
Which one is your favorite so far? Would I get the best sub bass with just the washer itself or would a filter in the middle make it better?
