Orthodynamic Roundup

[khbaur330162]

Hope I'm not spamming. Idk if anyone is interested in my findings.

I got some better measurements. For some reason I don't think my pads are getting a good seal on the EARS baffles. I've been tying my belt around the headphones and applying slight pressure, not a ton, and getting much much better results that match my hearing more. Measurements are better from top to bottom, imho.

Whoa. Added paxmate to housings and YH-100's and U70's got even sharper and blacker backgrounds. Also sealed up some holes in the baffles where I attached drivers and what not, just sealed up everything with a little blue tac, bass extends deeper in both now and less channel imbalance. I'm going to do YH-1's tomorrow... But right now YH-100's with a little boosted bass and take down the 4kHz energy a couple dB's, they are almost scary good. YH-1's have even more natural soundstage, I can't wait to eek out a tiny bit more detail from those, I think they will still be the best of my 55mm ortho's, but with proper EQ I think YH-100's might eek ahead right now despite less natural soundstage.

I was getting proper seals with Arya's and Chinese planars so those are proper, no trickery, I believe earpad width and height has something to do with it, not sure.

 

[Philimon]

Hope I'm not spamming. Idk if anyone is interested in my findings.

Keep it coming. U70 looks nice.

 

[khbaur330162]

Keep it coming. U70 looks nice.

U70 bass is a little wonky compared to Yammies. Bass is spacious and stuff, bass isn't terrible, just not same caliber imo. Also not as sharp and midrange isn't as forward as Yammies, I just like the Yamahas a bit more, but U70 is no slouch, I listen to them and forget how good the YH-1 sounds haha.

 

[khbaur330162]

Apologize for another double post. Have to say this.

Ok. Idk if bass is "wonky" on U70's, I'm listening to them now and maybe that was unfair to say. But it's a little like YHD-3's, there's almost a slight haze to the sound? The haze disappears after half a song of listening, but direct comparison makes it apparent and this haze possibly even covers up some room acoustics? Bass also has a different texture to it than the Yammies, but I'm not sure which one is "right" anymore. I think YH-100's are cleaner in sub-bass. U70's are very detailed, though, I'd probably take my U70's over like an HD600 or something (I bought an HD535 to restore, so will see how old Senn's stack up). But if U70 tuning is your preference they are honestly very decent cans, when I'm listening to them I'm not thinking they sound hazy or anything, they sound good. I was able to nab my U70's for $60 shipped from the UK which I thought was a darn fine deal; $160 to build the entire headphone... I think my U70's probably smash any dynamic headphone in $150 price range. Maybe budget Hifiman planars can compete. It's just hard to recommend U70 for builds because of how they cut out without center-pin pressure. I'm pretty sure all U70 transplants must take this into account. It's not that hard to rectify in DR-ZX701IP frame, ime.

-Edit-
Idk if I even hear the haze anymore on U70's, it might just be a little extra bass presence that creeps into midrange or something. I'm wondering if this sound is actually preferable to most people, I'm just weird and like the sound sterile sort of. These U70's are really, really good now, definitely recommend this housing. I opened U70's, no damping, just Paxmate on driver housing walls now and angel hair filling enclosures.

-Edit 2-
Modded YH-1's with paxmate on walls, didn't need to tie belt around them to get these measurements, got a good seal without it, these are the flat pads and a little wider than the angled pads on U70's and YH-100's, I think there's something to getting pads that seal around those screws that mount the silicone ears.

And this picture for fun: a comparison between YHD-3's and 55mm ortho's all matched at 300Hz.

It's honestly hard to pick a favorite out of the 55mm's. Even little YHD's are surprising and their small image is kinda nice at times.

 

[khbaur330162]

HD535 restoration complete. They sound... very decent... good even. More detailed than I thought they'd be. Little weightlessness to the sound, kinda classy, little white washed compared to bold colors of YH-1 sound image. HD535's can be a tad sharp with some material/source combos, but plays well enough. I like them quite a bit more than SFI's... Idk why SFI bass rolls off so hard, I can't get them to go flat like YHD's. YHD's sound way better, imo. There's definitely a resemblance in sound, the recessed mids and honky upper mids, but it's even worse? I don't like them. Those cost me $60 to make, what do you expect out of them I guess, but they could be a lot better. I think resolution is better on YHD's, too.

 

[Philimon]

YHD-3 in Koss KHP30i enclosure that I posted earlier in thread.

(Not shown is Geekria Grado style flat foam pads)

 

[khbaur330162]

Hrm. Makes me think maybe the YHD's need Paxmate treatment?

 

[Philimon]

I received Fostex TH500RP today. I’d say its best stock Fostex T50RP driver variant. Biggest difference would be less backwave reflection and resonance because these cups are “open” back and larger cup volume. I would call them semi-open, but a lot more semi-open than regular T50RP enclosure. Surely would benefit from mods but is pleasant with slightly warm tone. A small peak around 8-10kHz which adds a bit of fake detail, but at least its not painful unlike some Hifimans.

The one’s on left are actually TRX00, just replaced ebony cups with TH500RP cups. TH500RP advertises magnesium cups, but they are really just covers for a plastic skeleton cup which is what’s directly coupled to driver baffle.

 

[Philimon]

Hrm. Makes me think maybe the YHD's need Paxmate treatment?

No idea, cant hurt.

Massdrop often has this Koss model on sale for $20 if you’d like to try. $10 coupon for new members could be used too. The KHP30i enclosure clips together, just have to very be careful not to break the tabs when taking apart.

 

[Philimon]

I sent my YHD-3 drivers to @dBel84 . He has a spare YHD-1 enclosure and expect he may combine these parts for creating essentially a YHD-2. No idea if he will be keeping or selling since he is used to superior YHD-1 with the anisotropic magnets.

dB is sending back my (previously @VanHai ’s) Fostex T30. Will be fun to compare to TH500RP. T30 is modded and I may move driver to DT880 enclosure. TH500RP to be modded as well. Some damping and sealing driver baffles will fix the bass roll off. Should have more bass than T30 in end but what else?

 

[khbaur330162]

I opened CD550's and noticed I already put in paxmate. Huh, barely remember doing that. I did however put paxmate over the vents so I removed paxmate over vents and this is the difference.

How did you get yours so flat????

 

[Philimon]

Lots of variables.

Mods: CD550 open or closed cup? Type of pads?

Measurements: Good pad seal? What compensation are using? EAR’s stock heq file I am familiar and I find fine enough. I use slightly modified EAR’s heq file but bass compensation is not altered, only a couple treble points.

I found YHD3 drivers needed very little damping. Had more and good quality bass in more open enclosure than in a semi-open YH-2 enclosure for example. I wonder how YHD1/2 sound in that very open stock enclosure with foam pads. I remember reading Wualta saying he liked the Yamaha YHD drivers more than other Yam ortho and that they output a lot of bass for such small drivers.

 

[Philimon]

TH500RP had a bass imbalance. @spoony advised loosening driver up to trying to reseat membrane. Worked. Slight L/R imbalance (1-2db) but need to check out all the suspects first before blaming drivers (maybe pads as I can already see a slight difference in width).

THX00 cups do not fit well. Cup and driver lip do not touch, like 1/2cm gap.

edit: Determined it's a small imbalance in my measurement rig, and slightly asymmetrical pads. I have another set of pads I'll try to see if that changes things.

 

[Philimon]

Matched pads fixed channel imbalance right up.

T50RP mod Ive always wanted to have a go at: removing rear damping filter paper on back of driver. Without supplemental mods its obviously going to underdamp the driver. I placed a layer of felt on back of cup to act as a dust shield, not to compensate for removed damping paper. The cup has little leaky areas all over not just at the grills. Results are as expected. Lost bass extension, more negative slope frequency reponse. I am hoping no closely placed rear driver damping paper and TH500RP extra semi-open cups means more clarity, less cup reflections and resonance.

 

[Miiksu]

Matched pads fixed channel imbalance right up.

T50RP mod Ive always wanted to have a go at: removing rear damping filter paper on back of driver. Without supplemental mods its obviously going to underdamp the driver. I placed a layer of felt on back of cup to act as a dust shield, not to compensate for removed damping paper. The cup has little leaky areas all over not just at the grills. Results are as expected. Lost bass extension, more negative slope frequency reponse. I am hoping no closely placed rear driver damping paper and TH500RP extra semi-open cups means more clarity, less cup reflections and resonance.

What if you give the membrace more space but still dampering it?

Make a wall like this and then cover it with something.