Senn Veil = 1/8th Inch Foam

[Rob80b]

I've replaced the inner foam with stretched nylon stocking (black of coarse) a few days ago.
(I know this has been covered quite a bit already here http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...r+veilser+veil
and a few other threads but thought it was prevalent to the current post on the Senn Veil)

I have to honestly say the this has to be the best tweak so far, much better than swapping the plastic grills on my HD580's for the metal grills a while back, the sound stage has greatly opened up, bass has become less bloated but with the same extension, midrange and highs are very good, the balance is just about perfect.
This was most obvious on live recordings, there is more apparent depth and a better three dimensional aspect to the music.
I had always had a tendency to throw on the K501’s but with the removal of the foam I’ve become addicted to my HD580’s and can’t seem to get them off my head, for me the veil is gone.
So for the time being anyway, the Senns seem to everything I’ve been looking for in a headphone, (for the time being)

 

[bigshot]

The foam on my HD-590s is much thinner than 1/8th inch. Perhaps they're different than other models. I haven't ripped the housing apart to check, but I would bet that if I replaced the foam on just one ear, I wouldn't be able to hear the difference between the channels... at least with the foam on my cans. Besides, the transducer is so close to it... and so is your ear... even a finer mesh or thicker foam wouldn't make much of a difference.

See ya
Steve

 

[Rob80b]

Ah, but it does!

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

Removing the foam makes them sound harsh.

Biggie.

 

[Rob80b]

Haven’t noticed any harshness, in fact the music has taken on a more liquid like flow, must be that notorious Creek OBH-11se Rev B of mine.

 

[GlowWorm]

What's the best way to attach the stockings?

 

[rodbac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlowWorm What's the best way to attach the stockings?

Begging for a one-liner...

 

[Thaddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlowWorm What's the best way to attach the stockings?

I just layed more than enough over my earcup, and then put the ear pad back on. you don't even have to stretch it very tight. Then with scissors, cut off the excess

 

[GlowWorm]

Thanks, Thaddy.

Although I'll never understand what the hell people mean by "veil", it's worth a try if it can increase the resolution of my HD580's. If a good thing can get better, I'm all for it.

 

[JaZZ]

Yes, removing the foam pad really works if you want your HD 580/600 to sound more open and liquid. The downside is less bass and a small loss of accuracy, spatial depth, warmth and intimacy. In fact I've modded both my HD 580 and HD 600 the same way years ago -- with some nylon gauze instead of the foam -- right from the start, without caring much for the stock sound. But after a source change (from Theta Pro Basic II to Bel Canto DAC2) I began to like the sound with the foam-pads better than without.

 

[GlowWorm]

JaZZ, do you think that the "stocking mod" smoothed out the midbass hump as well?

 

[Thaddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlowWorm Thanks, Thaddy. Although I'll never understand what the hell people mean by "veil", it's worth a try if it can increase the resolution of my HD580's. If a good thing can get better, I'm all for it.

Yeah I could never understand that as well, I just thought they were non-fatiguing. However, I'm liking the new sound so far. It's definately more aggressive, which I like. I'm not gonna toss around terms like Jazz, since I have no clue what the hell they mean, but now my music sounds better. And that...is what this hobby is all about

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlowWorm JaZZ, do you think that the "stocking mod" smoothed out the midbass hump as well?

Definitely. Because the whole bass region is attenuated to some degree -- a consequence of the now unrestricted phase cancellation (rear sound waves from the drivers have opposite phase in relation to frontal sound waves).

 

[Rob80b]

Wouldn’t say there was less bass, just cleaner with the same extension.
The foam appears to mess up the micro dynamics from the bass up by dispersing the audio waves in way weird way and also has a tendency to muffle the sound (veil). Left nude there was just a touch too much high frequency energy, the nylon mesh seems so far the best compromise, which for me was no compromise at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlowWorm What's the best way to attach the stockings?

In reference to attaching the nylon stockings, it takes a bit of playing around. Cut a piece large enough to stretch to the outsides of the ear pads, carefully start to snap the ear pads back into place while keeping the stocking stretched tightly around. Any excess can be cleanly cut away by pulling on the excess and snipping it away, any edges will then snap back under the pads out of site.