Orthodynamic Roundup

[wualta]

 

Originally Posted by e2pathos:
...I only have one more day to decide if I want to save 50 bucks on the he-400 preorder special, they have a 30 day return policy, so if I really hate the sound I can just return em and lose only 14 bucks shipping and buy the d2000s. Hope somebody can shed some light for me

 
I think you've answered your own question. Risk the $14 and try the 400s. I know nothing about the 400s myself, of course, but based on very general experience, you're more likely to get strong clean bass from a big-diaphragm ortho. You may end up preferring the dynamic-- that kind of thing happens too. But at least you'll have a crack at a Neo Ortho. One thing-- be sure to tell us what you found.

 

[e2pathos]

Quote:

 
 
I think you've answered your own question. Risk the $14 and try the 400s. I know nothing about the 400s myself, of course, but based on very general experience, you're more likely to get strong clean bass from a big-diaphragm ortho. You may end up preferring the dynamic-- that kind of thing happens too. But at least you'll have a crack at a Neo Ortho. One thing-- be sure to tell us what you found.

Eh, I have had some other insight from a different thread leading me to the D2Ks, I'm too much of a bass head for what I see about the other HE-XXX cans, being stronger in the mids and not feeling the sub that much. Planning on getting these sometime in the distant future after my D2Ks though, once there are plenty of reviews.

 

[wualta]

     Quote:

 A lot of people shot me down after I used Rock Wool insulation (Roxul Safe n Sound) in mine, but it ... kept the highs nice, focused the mids, and didn't kill the bass. Since it's in the cup, I really can't imagine there being health concerns either.

 
[Hides thirty-aught-six behind back] Well, I wouldn't have shot you down. I'm surprised I don't see more examples of people using cheap, proven acoustic absorbent materials like rock wool and fiberglass. I know there's a safety issue with them, but the precautions required are elementary. 
 
 

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

Quote:

Hey everybody, I tried making a thread about this but nobody seems to want to reply.
 
I have had my M50s for a few months past a year now and I really like them, but it's time to start ugprading.
 
I have narrowed my choices down to either the Denon D2000s(Dynamic) or the HifiMan HE-400(Brand new ortho). I just have a few questions I hope some knowledgeable ortho-heads could answer for me.
 
I really like electronic music and a strong sub bass, now I know that nobody has really listened to the HE-400s yet, I hear they have a really good low end though. But comparing other planars to dynamics, how do they work with low/sub bass, do you get a deep smooth rumble, or is it just kinda lacking in that end? Don't get me wrong I love the whole spectrum of sounds and I know that the HE-400s are definitely more balanced than the D200s, but people say that the sub bass o the D2000s is so nice, especially for electronic music, but sometimes can mud up the more quiet highs in a song.
 
So my ultimate question is, with your guys' prior knowledge to planars compared to dynamics (since we don't have a real grasp on the he-400s yet). Might I be disappointed with the low bass end of them compared to dynamic headphones? I will be driving either of these cans with an E7/E9 combo since both of them are easy to drive.
 
I only have one more day to decide if I want to save 50 bucks on the he-400 preorder special, they have a 30 day return policy, so if I really hate the sound I can just return em and lose only 14 bucks shipping and buy the d2000s. Hope somebody can shed some light for me

 
I personally really like the LCD-2 for electronic music. But, the HE-400 does have a more attractive price. I haven't heard it though, but if you have $14 to spend, why not?
 
 

 

[e2pathos]

Quote:

 
I personally really like the LCD-2 for electronic music. But, the HE-400 does have a more attractive price. I haven't heard it though, but if you have $14 to spend, why not?
 
 

While I am aware that you can return within 30 days, I'm only losing 14 bucks on shipping which isn't a big deal (provided I even return them.) but then I don't get the try to D2000s either, and from all I've gathered it seems like I will definitely like the D2000s more, so instead of trying the one I'll like less, waste a few weeks with the shipping back and forth process, I'd really rather just get what I know I'll like first and be done, thanks for the help everybody.

 

[gurubhai]

Quote:

     Quote:
 
[Hides thirty-aught-six behind back] Well, I wouldn't have shot you down. I'm surprised I don't see more examples of people using cheap, proven acoustic absorbent materials like rock wool and fiberglass. I know there's a safety issue with them, but the precautions required are elementary. 
 
 

+1

I have been using rockwool to fill the cup.With higher tuned orthos, it can used as sole damping agent as well.
BTW, any one know where we can get material similar to yellow fiberglass of NAD/T30?
 
 

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

Quote:

While I am aware that you can return within 30 days, I'm only losing 14 bucks on shipping which isn't a big deal (provided I even return them.) but then I don't get the try to D2000s either, and from all I've gathered it seems like I will definitely like the D2000s more, so instead of trying the one I'll like less, waste a few weeks with the shipping back and forth process, I'd really rather just get what I know I'll like first and be done, thanks for the help everybody.

Perhaps, at this point, I should add that I didn't like the D2000. You might like it though - it's got heavy bass, strong highs, and what appeared to be a fine headstage.

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

Quote:

 
@ DAC: while the LCD2r1 is the better headphone technically, there are plenty of things that I enjoy more out of a modded HP1.
Of-course the LCD2 has the potential to be improved by modding as well....
 
Today I revisited my HP50 transplant (in PMB80 shell) & finished working on them. The initial impressions are great. Soundstage is huge & overall balance is excellent. There is slight loss of bass quantity compared to stock shell but everything else is a clear improvement.
I'll follow it up with some pics later.

I do not doubt this. At times, the raw vintage sound is perfect. Especially the RT-10.
 
However, the perfection of the LCD2r1 is not too bad either. I do not think I can improve on a flat response like this. Especially, when I can hear nothing to fix.
 

 
Perhaps a different measurement could result in a different graph. But, to my ears, this sounds just excellent. There is supposedly a resonance somewhere, that other people have shown with their waterfall plots. But so far, those graphs doesn't ruin the fun for me. I hear no evil. It's just music to my ears. Perfection sounds good. It's good for you. I recommend it.
 

 

[vid]

I emptied the HOK cups. I cut up a cotton t-shirt (had no better material for the moment) to get a vent-damping disc for the bottom of the cup. On top of that I put the original wire disc. Then I cut up a piece of 80 g paper the size of a 0.1 euro coin to act as a reflex dot (I assume paper would work for that purpose?), put it against the driver (which still had its black cloth thing glued to it), then on top of that I put the original felt puck, and on top of that a fresh open-cell foam puck of the same diameter (about 2 mm thick). Then assembled.
 
The soundstage is quite a bit better as it now doesn't hit a brick wall 2 cm off the ears but rather fades away more gradually – though it's not large by any means. There's about enough bass for me. Highs are decent, although on a freq sweep the reflex dot (I assume) causes a noticeable hump around 8000-9000 Hz, which I don't think was there before.
 
It seems that if I leave out the original felt puck from that setup, vocals sound better – more sweet, or less dry in other words. But at the same time I think the overall sound gets less defined...
 
If I leave out the reflex dot (and this is the reason I put it in there), the cloth at the bottom of the cup eats up the highs too much and things sound dull.
 
I tried filling the baffle holes with blu-tack, but that makes the sound a little bit hollow. No idea why.
 
I also listened to them with nothing in the cups or against the driver, and basically there was no big veil in the highs but no bass either.
 
Overall, the HOKs seem to have this persistent plasticky tinge to them, and I imagine it's the cups.

 

[dBel84]

any ideas on drilling a hole into ceramic magnets that doesn't trash my drill bits. ( and doesn't need insane diamond bits ) ? ..dB

 

[nick n]

How do you plan on getting all the tiny shavings off of it after? Sort of curious how they do that at the factory.  I think they are all prepped first with a low charge then after drilling out and shaping they get the big dose to embed the magnetism.  You going to try to use a rare earth/supermagnet to pull off all the bits?  Let us know how it works if you find a bit that'll do it.
 
post #5 here http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/62616-drilling-ceramic-magnets.html
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=370108 a warning against heat wrecking the charge.
really good info here! fumes, methods, blutak/other for removing bits etc:http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/archive/index.php/t-38612.html

 

[dBel84]

Excellent - I have a diamond cone shaped grinder, never thought of using this. 
 
Plan is to convert some fostex T20 drivers into a center pinned yamaesque driver. Only way I can see getting some function back into some drivers I have ..dB

 

[nick n]

Oh wow that will be interesting if it all works out. Be sure to check back in. I did pick up a few dremel sized bits from a glass shop specifically meant for tiles and glass sort of a burred post thing. Worked out well for glass. Good luck.
 
Will that work ok? The magnet faces aren't bowed in the center slightly are they? Just a thought.

 

[wualta]

Ah yes, diamond bits. That oughta work. Don't crack the magnets, though. And no, I don't believe the inner faces of the Ortho magnets are curved. And don't ask us how to tap threads in the holes.

 

[gurubhai]

Quote:

Perfection sounds good. It's good for you. I recommend it.
 

It does sound good, dunno if its perfect though. I do think that LCD2 are the most wholesome package among the orthos I have heard but I do enjoy stuff out of other lesser packages.