Orthodynamic Roundup

[LarsHP]

The "best option" is the one that fixes the most-obvious problem you see in your headphone. Define the problem and then it'll be possible to work toward a solution. In the meantime, search outside this thread for info specific to the HE-6. I imagine not that many people own them yet.

The primary target is to lessen upper frequencies (above 4kHz) by about 6dB. Secondarily to boost the bass, but if the upper frequencies are lowered by 6dB or a little more, then I would be satisfied.

I have been following the different HE-6 threads for more than a year and except for changing amp, cables or pads there's no other mods mentioned - even when I asked. Pad changing could be an option, however.

When you say not many own the HE-6 yet, I was a little puzzled at first, because it has been on the market for about two years now iirc. I guess you may think compared to the Fostex orthodynamics and older ones ...

 

[leeperry]

 
Quote:

I have been following the different HE-6 threads for more than a year and except for changing amp, cables or pads there's no other mods mentioned

It takes brass balls to damp a $1.3K phone because you will need to open it dozens of times to make it right and these are more than likely fragile drivers. You could easily bust a screw thread after a while. The manufacturer could also refuse to honor the warranty if you opened them.
 
So the HE-6 is underdamped, huh?

 

[LarsHP]

It takes brass balls to damp a $1.3K phone because you will need to open it dozens of times to make it right and these are more than likely fragile drivers. You could easily bust a screw thread after a while. The manufacturer could also refuse to honor the warranty if you opened them.

So the HE-6 is underdamped, huh?

There's no screws to take out and back again. On the inside it's just the pad which is clip on. On the back there's a plastic ring to clip off and then the back is opened. I could break the plastic ring, but I expect it's a cheap spare part. Anyway:
On the back there's a black foam plus some wool (I expect). On the inside there's only the pad with a very thin fabric - like a fine netting.

At the moment I have put a felt piece between the driver and the pad/netting. Sounds like it actually has taken some of the excess upper frequencies without overdoing it. However I am a little worried that it compromises transparency: I just added FELT between the diaphragm and my ears! Veil! Hello! On the other hand I do want to tame the highs.

 

[leeperry]

Well, achieving a perfect balance between clarity and veiled trebles is very hard....why not using some EQ to tame down your ear canals resonances? http://www.head-fi.org/t/413900/how-to-equalize-your-headphones-a-tutorial
 
It's pretty hard to damp open designs w/o veiling the sound IMHO, EQ'ing your ear resonances could be far more fruitful.
 
More infos on that matter: http://www.davidgriesinger.com/headphones.htm

 

[LarsHP]

Well, achieving a perfect balance between clarity and veiled trebles is very hard....why not using some EQ to tame down your ear canals resonances? http://www.head-fi.org/t/413900/how-to-equalize-your-headphones-a-tutorial

It's pretty hard to damp open designs w/o veiling the sound IMHO, EQ'ing your ear resonances could be far more fruitful.

More infos on that matter: http://www.davidgriesinger.com/headphones.htm

Well, that's the obvious solution. However I am using Squeezebox and the EQ is practically non-existant. That is, there is a 3rd party EQ called Inguz, but it's not working properly. I have it installed, but it seems to work and not work when it likes, and this is quite annoying. Also, there's no on/off function, and when it kicks in it's after several seconds or when the next track starts. All in all this means I never know if it's on or not - or soon will be on - or what.

 

[leeperry]

If the drivers were tuned to be on the bright side, no damping in the world will ever be really effective for your intended purpose, that's my point. EQ can be extremely precise, more than a random piece of felt will ever be ^^
 
anyway you can always try TP, gauze compresses(several layers crossed) and so

 

[LarsHP]

If the drivers were tuned to be on the bright side, no damping in the world will ever be really effective for your intended purpose, that's my point. EQ can be extremely precise, more than a random piece of felt will ever be ^^

anyway you can always try TP, gauze compresses(several layers crossed) and so :wink_face:

Ups, that was not good news. I thought that a bright sounding headphone always could be tweaked.

I just did a check with sine waves, and the frequency respinse seems actually quite close to what I would like. However, it does seem as a pretty stupid thing to do to put felt between the ear and the driver when you are buying a $1300 headphone. What I am thinking of is of course not the frequency response, but transparency, resolution, soundstage etc. that I might compromise. Anyway, I consider making holes in the felt to make sure that the quality aspect is not down the drain. These holes should let the "stock" soundstage, resolution and transparency come through, but tame the upper frequencies of course.

BTW: What is TP? Short for tape?

 

[nick n]

Just out of curiosity how large is that diaphragm in the HE6? And it's square or circular?

 

[LarsHP]

Just out of curiosity how large is that diaphragm in the HE6? And it's square or circular?

I don't know the size exactly, but I think its about two or two and a half inches or something like that. And it's circular.

 

[scompton]

If you're driving them directly from your Squeezebox, that might be your problem.  They're not easy to drive. My STA-2200 was just enough and it's a 60 watt receiver.
 
Edit:  I just saw in the HE-6 thread that your not driving it from the Squeezbox so that's not the problem. 

 
Quote:

Each time I read ppl complaning about the ipod(I've never tried one, nor do I plan to), I think about this nasty little toy: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-RockStar-3-5-mm-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B0017PG8KS
 

 
How about plugging five HE-400 simultaneously then?

 
I wasn't complaining about the iPod.  I love it, but it is a battery operated portable.  There's only so much it can drive.  What I'd really like to do is set up a couple of listening stations around the house, but Wife Acceptance Factor will be pretty low on that.
 
 

 

[nick n]

Quote:

U70 as an instrument of torture

Apropos of absolutely nothing:

YouTube - The Young Ones - Boring, s1o3, cz.2/4 Napisy PL
Those of you who've been fans of the '80s Britcom The Young Ones will recognize this; others will be mystified. At 3:41 into this clip (with Polish subtitles!) you'll see a man wearing a U70 being tortured by the music he's being forced to listen to. And by the headphones themselves, perhaps. The demon on the right is the late David Rappaport, one of the Time Bandits.

What a great response to something I was just going to ask. Clear concise and in bold red. And the Young Ones, have to hit that up again.
 
If I recall seeing briefly somewhere, the drivers even after liberated from the torture device are also hard to haul much out of? Confirm or deny please and thankyuh.
 

 

[Nevod]

Quote:

Ups, that was not good news. I thought that a bright sounding headphone always could be tweaked.

Just use a bass lens. That would increase the bass relative to treble.
Cut out a circle of self-adhesive thin felt about the size of the driver, then cut out a hole, say, 3 centimeter in diameter in the centre of felt circle, and attach the ring on the front of driver (on the ear-side). Decrease or enlarge the hole if you feel the balance is too much off. You may also use non-adhesive felt, it's more transparent for the sound, as adhesive felt may overdamp the driver.

 

[leeperry]

 
Quote:

I wasn't complaining about the iPod.  I love it, but it is a battery operated portable.  There's only so much it can drive.

You can find very capable portable headamps that happen to be battery powered, it's more like the output stage and the headamp of these things are prolly of the cheapest kind Apple was able to source. I would guess that >95% of its users keep the stock ibuds and listen to 128kbit audio. 
 
Some companies modify them with better parts, improving what matters to us....there's prolly a good reason to that.

Quote:

What is TP? 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/581132/lcd3-kirkland-bath-tissue-edition-a-k-a-toiletpants 

 
I could easily see it turning bad due to sweat, but still worth a shot I guess? IME, gauze compresses work great too.
 
There's only one way to find out what works, and yes apparently the HE-6 needs a monster amp...and poorly driven it could very well sound shrill.

 

[wualta]

Quote:

1 ) The primary target is to lessen upper frequencies (above 4kHz) by about 6dB. Secondarily to boost the bass, but if the upper frequencies are lowered by 6dB or a little more, then I would be satisfied.
I have been following the different HE-6 threads for more than a year and except for changing amp, cables or pads there's no other mods mentioned - even when I asked. Pad changing could be an option, however.

2 ) When you say not many own the HE-6 yet, I was a little puzzled at first, because it has been on the market for about two years now iirc. I guess you may think compared to the Fostex orthodynamics and older ones ...

 
1 ) Me, I'd go for the EQ option, since I have good EQ. But if I didn't, I'd be tempted to try the felt disc on the ear side of the driver. That's a lot of treble to soak up, the top two octaves. Does the response rise from 4k on up, or is the response stepped or shelved? If it's shelved, you might-- might-- be able to boost the bottom end with earpad tuning [and Nevod's bass lens idea-- earpads with a small hole, for example] and raise the midrange by removing some of the existing absorbent material, if any, and meet the 4k shelf. If the response rises from 4k up, felt or mineral wool on the ear side would be the simpler answer.
 
2 ) How many HE-6 owners are there? 
 
 
As a confirmed member of Team Cheap 'n' Crusty Bastards, I know I won't be owning one anytime soon, which is not to say that I blame the mfrs for the price of these things.
 
Quote:

I wasn't complaining about the iPod.  

If you value your life, don't even think about complaining about the iPod. 
 

 

[wualta]

 
Quote:

 
If I recall seeing briefly somewhere, the drivers even after liberated from the torture device are also hard to haul much out of? Confirm or deny please and thankyuh.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and simply say that I lost patience with them and went on to easier mods before really wringing them out. In their arty stock enclosure, they didn't have a bass hump that further damping could cure. Outside that enclosure, well, you don't have a Jacob Jensen work of modern art anymore, which pains us design freaks down to our withered little black patent leather souls. But if you've got hold of a U70, pop out the PMB drivers and clamp 'em in a decent pair of cups.