Had to share two modifications that seem to have resulted in (7), identifiable changes for the positive with the A1000 hp.
First mod is the Bluecell ATH-AD400/700/900 earpad, which runs $7 and change online. Big difference in comfort here, no more slippage as with the stock ones, and ears are much happier! Some impressions…
The bass seems to be extended another 5Hz, and there is much more of a tactile response within the cup, on leading-edge transients, and synthesized bass has a slower decay, giving the impression of more bass. Focal Lab sine waves at 31Hz are flat relative to the midrange, and trails off quickly 25Hz and below.
The softer inner material of these pads seem to have tamed the somewhat forward treble, and as a consequence, the midrange is now unreal! Details in familiar songs have been brought forward, and even at volume levels of 80%+, the stridency, and edge that fatigued before has been tamed significantly.
3)
External noise rejection… definitely improved, during some pauses in between songs and what-not, I noticed I was not hearing the fan of my laptop nearly as clearly as I usually do. Was happy to see this added bonus with the cups.
Second mod was the damping of the drive baffle (see video) with Van Aken Plastalina, runs $10 or less online, I bought the earth tones one. Impressions here are…
1) Less resonance with bass heavy material, in a good sense, quieter hp? maybe too? May even contribute to the cleaner midrange and top end due to less internal reflections? This is just a subjective guess.
2) Forgot to note the damping of the headband ‘cups’ that attach to the baffles, not sure if this is even needed, but while I was in there, I hit them anyway.
Listening was done late in the evening, and early morning, with an average background level of Leq(C) of <38dB… in other words, very quiet. Source was my Toshiba i3 laptop running JRiver MJ14, USB out to a Soundblaster 1095, and RCA from there to a Schitt Magni (possible the best $100 I have ever spent).
Tracks (most of them) used for this comparison, as pulled from my ‘A1000’ playlist in MJ14 are… [see Google doc]...
Video... /watch?v=u8vAGWlX5I4 / Full review... https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8VKWw5stc_CSmNDQ1ZTNk9pcnM/view?usp=sharing
Word seems to have copied the objects from MJ14, instead of the text to this, so if you can open them, great, otherwise, you can search for these online, as most were FLACs from torrents.
Hope this brief synopsis helps out. I have to say, I cannot wait to get the Philips X2, as per Tyles review, the “accentuation of all frequencies” by those is how I would characterize the Pioneers with these two, relatively simple, as-well-as inexpensive (not cheap, IT ! J) mods. The HD600 needs to be head-to-head’d as-well, for the sake of thoroughness.
Happy listening!
post script... posting from Word has screwed with the formatting, some things are not displayed, others are mis-displayed, sry... just hit me up with any questions.