I'd be pretty surprised if there is any difference whatsoever between the M1570 headband and the headband on the M1570C. Perceived difference might be attributable clamp, but since (1) the headband steel is so malleable / flexible, and (2) Monoprice's QC on headbands is not exactly legendary, I suspect that even a difference in clamping force could be random from the factory (or Monoprice tightened the initial clamp in response to complaints about M1570 sliding off listeners' heads, or to offset the increased weight (approx 50g) of the M1570C) . . . choose one of the above
On the one hand, before I received them, based on reviews and comments from other owners, I was prepared for the M1570 & M1570C (and their headbands) to be way more uncomfortable than they are actually feel in daily use. On the other hand, I don't think the headband design is appropriate for cans that weight at least 645 grams.
The weight of the M1570 & M1570C is made worse, of course, by Monoprice's puzzling decision to use a Focal-style headband versus a suspension strap system. You would think they'd pay attention to how people had been modding their prior planar headphones -- I mean, was anyone --ANYONE? -- using cushion headbands to mod their M1060 / M1060Cs?
And, yes, the M1570 headband design is much, much better than the terrible stock headband on the M1060 & M1060C . . . but, that's not saying much. Sure, it's easy to find feedback from reviewers & consumers commenting on how comfortable the Utopia, Clear, Radiance, Elegia/Elex are for long listening sessions, despite the fact that the Focals weigh 450g. I suspect the designers at Monoprice, conceding that the M1060 / M1060C headband was a fail, thought to themselves, "Hey, folks seem to like these Focal headbands. Let's go with something like that for the M1570 / M1570C." Which, in theory, was not a bad thought . . . except that they obviously failed to consider what adding an additional 200g would do to the legendary Focal comfort.
So, I knew, before they even arrived on my doorstep, that I was going to need to mod the M1570 headband. Gave some thought to buying an Audeze LCD2C headband, or even the carbon fiber version, but balked at spending $150-250 on a headband upgrade for the M1570s that I had only paid $360 to purchase new.
So, after researching the options, I went with this clone of the Hifiman Sundara / HE560 suspension headband from Ali Express. (The old Adorama $10 deal on the original HE-560 headbands has long since vanished.) Several vendors on AE sell this headband at varying prices, I've bought mine from this store:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...cfCb23n&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US. My verdict, after completing the M1570 headband swap? I think the Ali Express clone is surprisingly good.
Some of these AE vendors will claim that this Hifiman clone headband fits the M1570. NOT EVEN CLOSE. So, you will also need to replace the (removable) metal yokes with these 3D printed yokes, designed by u/stealthwang to fit the larger diameter M1570 / M1570C 106mm earcups and discussed on this Reddit thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/xhpkmg/m1570_replacement_headband_3d_printed_yokes/. The STL file is available here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5519570. I don't own a 3D printer, so I had my yokes fabricated by JawsTec in Idaho (
https://www.jawstec.com). I specified black, vapor-polished MJF Nylon 12. Inexpensive, strong and they fit the Hifiman clone headband perfectly. Remember: you need to order two yokes.
When you're ready to replace the headband / yokes, you'll find that those two tiny threaded yoke pins are easily removable by pulling them straight up & out with needle nose pliers. They do have a tiny Allen socket on one end, but it doesn't seem as though they're actually threaded into place (in fact, you're likely to find that Allen-socket end is inserted the wrong way.) In effect, they're really just miniscule retaining dowels glued in to hold the yoke pins in place. You can find very helpful instructions and photos for removing these pins and replacing the headband by Head-Fier Jotaku here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mon...ack-balanced-planar-headphones.915053/page-18 and also here:
https://forum.hifiguides.com/t/monolith-m1570/7630/30 (starting at post 28). Overall, this was a MUCH easier, and less nerve-wracking, headband swap than dealing with the tiny e-clips on the M1060.
I'll post a photo of the completd mod as soon as I get a chance, but the difference in comfort is huge -- the Sundara headband design (including initial bending of the spring steel to dial in the proper clamp for your size head) eliminates the hotspot issue with the M1570 / M1570C stock Focal-style headband and goes pretty far to neutralize the weight issue. When I wear them now, I'm never conscious of the weight, and because the clamp is dialed in, they're not sliding around (as did the stock Focal-style headband). They have, easily, become multi-hour headphones, which seems a fairly astonishing thing to say about a set of cans that weighs 645+ grams! In contrast, before the mod, when I was still using the stock headband, I was ALWAYS aware that the M1570s were on my head, and that I was needing to shift them every so often when I started to feel a hotspot.
Thanks and kudos to u/stealthwang, Jotaku and samshaver @ hifiguides.
And, fingers-crossed, maybe Monoprice will equip their next generation planars with headbands that are as well-designed as the drivers. It sure would be nice to finally own a set of headphones that I didn't have to mod to fix the design issues.