MattTCG
Headphoneus Supremus
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- Jan 22, 2012
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I wonder what the difference in sound stage is attributed to. Pads?
I wonder what the difference in sound stage is attributed to. Pads?
When I had the PM-1, been a few weeks though, they didn't have this huge, fantastic soundstage with the velour pads. IMO, it was muffled/veiled with a drop off on the treble. The PM-2 with the Creatolgy foam rings in the velour pads have a very different sound to these ears. This is not possible with the PM-2 stock pads. The PM-2 with velour pad mod sound more like an open Alpha Dog, beats the Alpha Dog hands now, and not just in open vs closed headphones. My PM-2 now beats the HE-560 I just sold to get them in both width and depth of soundstage. This is my opinion, and on another setup the results may vary. But I have tried them on my two other solid state amplifiers, and I don't lose a thing in the sound sig on them. I am going to give this some time, but I do like it very much right now!
The PM-1 stock velour pads on the PM-1 did not have the air and sparkle that I am now hearing on the PM-2 with the mod that I did to them!
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I purchased the creatology type foam from Michael's, picked up several different samples trying to match the material used by Mr Speakers "Dog Treats", kit that I used in my Alpha Dogs, the material I used is slightly thicker though. I am in the process of making another set, what I have works very well, just need a little better workmanship. I will post pictures when I get material, and cut some new ones that will fit a little tighter without glue. It is real easy to do, just need the material and a sharp scissors, an make sure the outside diameter matches the ring on the back of the ear pad. I made a pattern for that, but need to be more precise on the inner hole of the ring, and I may experiment with a more thin foam, shopping today, will keep you informed. I think the foam ring that Oppo uses really kills the soundstage on the PM-1 velour pads, the foam I used allows the soundstage with the velour pads to be as wide as the PM-2 pads. I am sure Oppo experimented a lot with the material they used, and they tried their best to please every one. I won't say that others would have the same results that I obtained because the changes can depend on the individual gears/setup, and your ears. I think it is worth trying though, if you don't want to worry about reversing the mod!
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I guess the surprising thing to me is Oppo's decision to only include the new alternative pads with the PM-2. Would love to know why they only chose the one pad, although there are surely many reasons (including making money selling the others). However, including only the alternative pad is a pretty strong statement about the changes they have made.
Also, if everything about the driver and any dampening materials is the same, it seems weird, to me at least, that suddenly the act of holding your hands over the grill is now making them sound different (whereas it made very little difference previously). I wonder if any changes were made with the dampening materials, such as behind the driver and against the grill.
Either way, I'm excited to hear them, although I would be leery about them if they were changing more than that, but not talking about it.
I won't be terribly surprised if we have a Oppo PM-1/PM-2 tuning thread soon here. Surprised we don't get more opinions yet on the PM-2 from the LA meet.
I was afraid this was going to happen.........I love the Oppo PM-2!
I wonder what the difference in sound stage is attributed to. Pads?