Orthodynamic Roundup

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

Quote:

It is written fully in Russian, Im not sure if you can translate it all well. I can try to do it later if I have some spare time. But anyway, you can find it here - http://www.doctorhead.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=124&t=15330
Basically in two word. You must take driver completely apart, make all magnets even (grind them, or order new ones) and place it as even as possible. Then make all geometry perfect, and remove (grind) all unnecessary driver housing parts that can additionally interfere the sound waves. Then place it in open housing and make new ear cushions from leather.
 
Not an easy task for sure. Possibly more complicated than Thunderpants mod. But results must be even better.
 
Ssnorry measurements:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e206/Thrakhath/Headphones/TDS-15stock_zpsccad7e98.jpg
TDS-15 stock
 
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e206/Thrakhath/Headphones/TDS-15Feltdamp_zps9160aa20.jpg
TDS-15 alternative variations. Green - graph to match HE-5
 
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e206/Thrakhath/Headphones/TDS-15modded_zps88f9b786.jpg
Flattest response.
 
He also making LCD-2-ish mods, but I did not spot a graphs.

 
Thank's for sharing the links! This makes me very curious about how the TDS-15 will sound with new ear pads.

 

[vid]

Quote:

I guess first ortho iem Yamaha YH-5M

 
Earbud orthos would be my dream.

 

[Armaegis]

Not quite as exciting as some of those Russian guys, but once again I'm hacking things up... http://www.head-fi.org/t/648893/ortho-transplant-t50rp-drivers-into-v-moda-crossfade-in-progress-lots-of-pictures

 

[Drakkard]

Quote:

 
the traces are superimposed but the connections between the clusters are opposite. 

Thanks. Can you clarify how they are opposite?
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/89870766.jpg/ - here i marked one possible version, yellow color is one side, and green - another. Like this?
Quote:

Originally Posted by wualta /img/forum/go_quote.gif
When you said your friends were getting LCD-2 sound from the TDS-15, I can believe it, but what I primarily want to know is, what was holding the TDS-15 back, preventing it from sounding more like an LCD-2? was it merely attention to details, such as the flatness of the magnet array, or did the designers miss something fundamental?

There are some details, but nothing fundamental. There are different versions of TDS-15 (revisions). Basically:
1. Earliest version, non-corrugated diaphragm, driver parts hold together by screws. Metallic protective plate at the back is placed along the magnets
2. Non-corrugated diaphragm, driver parts hold together by clips. Metallic protective plate at the back is placed across the magnets (for better sound, need to rotate it)
3. Same as #2, but with corrugated diaphragm
4. Something in-between 2 and 3 (half-corrugated). Possibly a defect.
 
Corrugated diaphragm have a bit more bass, but non-corrugated seems to provide flatter response and better micro-details. Variant #4 is something in-between the two.
 
Basically, as I get it, most problems with this soviet drivers is bad housing design (aside from bad quality control). It uses bad plastic, and many unnecessary protrusions, which cause addition reflections. Basically the idea to damp the driver with solid plastic is flawed.
 
Also a bi about TDS-5(m) - drivers can be bass-heavy and bass-light. Bass-light drivers seems more common. Bass-heavy seems to be closer to Yamaha drivers in sound. I think this difference is due to different diaphragm tension. There is no visual difference.
There is also kapton and lavsan versions, but I do not know if there is any sound difference. If there is any, it seems it is very minor compared to usual sound fluctuation
 
Quote:

I guess first ortho iem Yamaha YH-5M
http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/index.php?title=Yamaha_YH-5M
 

Bigger size can be found here - http://s40.beta.photobucket.com/user/Thrakhath/library/Headphones
This photos is from time I spend trying to mod YH-5m. This housing is hard to work with =\ Possibly I'll return to them later..
 
By the way, if anybody steps on this headphone - http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e206/Thrakhath/Headphones/1ad5_3_big.jpg (Beag FDS-26-600) I recommend to try them out. While it is dynamic driver, they sound very very good. All details is there, and sound overall is balanced without any problems. Pretty flat bass response. I think they are comparable with modern headphones up to about $200-250 if you are looking for monitor sound.

 

[wualta]

Drakkard: very interesting to see the different TDS-15 versions and hear that someone rotated the rear magnets so they didn't reflect.
 
I must be one of the lucky ones with a bass-heavy TDS-5M. Is the 5M's diaphragm corrugated, as in the PMB driver it's modeled on, or is it flat and smooth?
 
Bad housing design seems to be a common, almost universal, problem. Thanks for the information.

 

[Armaegis]

Quote:

Not quite as exciting as some of those Russian guys, but once again I'm hacking things up... http://www.head-fi.org/t/648893/ortho-transplant-t50rp-drivers-into-v-moda-crossfade-in-progress-lots-of-pictures

 
Finished the main build and initial tweaks. Updated my build thread. So far I'm really liking it. I was expecting it to sound similar to other modded Fostexen, but it's very different. In a way it almost feels like an Audio Technica with an airiness to the sound.

 

[pbal]

Wow. I loved seeing those photos and diagrams, absolutely amazing to me.

 

[Drakkard]

Quote:

I must be one of the lucky ones with a bass-heavy TDS-5M. Is the 5M's diaphragm corrugated, as in the PMB driver it's modeled on, or is it flat and smooth?

No, they are not. Just a flat diaphragm =)

 

[wualta]

Aha! So it's flat, single-sided and clamped in the center. That makes it similar to the TDS-16 driver (and no others that I'm aware of). Nearly unique.

 

[vid]

Mucked around with the Unipolars. Took out the filter material from the back of the cup and replaced it with a foam disc. I think the original material is too impervious, seemed to have been creating some echo. Who knows. Also, gave the baffle an oval-shaped pad. Better sound.

 

[khbaur330162]

Drakkard: Awesome photo's, man. Thanks a lot for the opportunity to familiarize with a different perspective.
 
Care to divulge what your avatar is a picture of? Looks pretty.

 
Hey! You guys got a picture of one of my ECR-500 Ortho circuits.

What are you guys up to?

 

[vid]

On second thought, got rid of the cup.
 

 
Excuse the high photomanship.

 

[nick n]

Vid how are those sounding now minus the cup?

 

[wualta]

Quote:

Finished the main build and initial tweaks. Updated my build thread. So far I'm really liking it. I was expecting it to sound similar to other modded Fostexen, but it's very different. In a way it almost feels like an Audio Technica with an airiness to the sound.

Sounds encouraging-- it's risky to attempt open-back, but there are other pitfalls attending vented-closed, and it sounds like you stepped around them nicely.
 
As for the name, I suggest hyphenating the heck out of it: CrossTex-FosFade, or even CrossTex-FosFade: The Headphone.

 

[nick n]

ha! great idea for the name it makes complete sense, in a strange way