[Sophonax]

Okay, here's what I remember Mark saying about the different wood cups:
 
The softer woods, such as the Silky Oak and Kalantus Cedar, typically produce a more euphonic sound -- lusher, fuller bass, and great extension on both ends of the spectrum.  I had a pair of LA2000 Lites with the Silky Oak, and I'd agree with this assessment.  The reason I parted with them was because the treble became a little too harsh for my liking.
 
The harder woods, such as the Bubinga and Jarrah, supposedly produce a more refined, laid back sound.  Bass won't be as bombastic with these woods, and treble is a bit softer as well.
 
The Australian Sheoak is a medium-hardness wood and is therefore somewhere between the two above.  I find my LA7000 with Sheoak to have a little bit less bass than the stock D7000, a little bit more treble, and a little more forward mids.  Bass quality is drastically improved, though I think this might be due more to the markl mods than to the wood cups themselves.
 
Keep in mind that these descriptions are for the wood cups ALONG WITH the markl mods...I have no idea how they would sound if you put a pair of these cups on a D2000 without performing the markl mods.
 
Sorry for the minor thread derailment...keep the pretty 'phones coming! 

 

[turimbar1]

that was really interesting sophonax, that merkl mod is something else, wow, reminds me of smeggys works.

 

[m3ta1head]

Quote:

Okay, here's what I remember Mark saying about the different wood cups:
 
The softer woods, such as the Silky Oak and Kalantus Cedar, typically produce a more euphonic sound -- lusher, fuller bass, and great extension on both ends of the spectrum.  I had a pair of LA2000 Lites with the Silky Oak, and I'd agree with this assessment.  The reason I parted with them was because the treble became a little too harsh for my liking.
 
The harder woods, such as the Bubinga and Jarrah, supposedly produce a more refined, laid back sound.  Bass won't be as bombastic with these woods, and treble is a bit softer as well.
 
The Australian Sheoak is a medium-hardness wood and is therefore somewhere between the two above.  I find my LA7000 with Sheoak to have a little bit less bass than the stock D7000, a little bit more treble, and a little more forward mids.  Bass quality is drastically improved, though I think this might be due more to the markl mods than to the wood cups themselves.
 
Keep in mind that these descriptions are for the wood cups ALONG WITH the markl mods...I have no idea how they would sound if you put a pair of these cups on a D2000 without performing the markl mods.
 
Sorry for the minor thread derailment...keep the pretty 'phones coming! 

I am indeed performing the markl mods...thanks for the information, should help me make a decision.  
 
Time to end this derailment with more markl porn
 

 

[brasewel]

I have the LA2000 with the Silky Oaks + J$ Pads and Jena Cable. I found a pretty dramatic difference between stock and after the mods. Soundstage is bigger, mids and highs and better and bass is just immense yet controlled. 

 

[m3ta1head]

How do your cups look in comparison to the pictures on his website?  Are they just as good looking or inferior? Obviously grain pattern will differ slightly but I'm more concerned with the fit and finish of the cups.

 

[brasewel]

Here are some pics. They look pretty close to what he shows on his website. The craftsmanship that went into the mods and cups are very impressive.
 

 

 

[m3ta1head]

Wow they look stunning!  The Jena cable is really good looking.  I actually had a similar cable made up for mine, with slightly frostier tubing (looks a little less pink)

 

[brasewel]

Just note that the cups and J$ Money pads make these big headphones even bigger and heavy. 

  If you have a small head these would just fall off 

 

[Sophonax]

From the two sets of Lawton wood cups I had, I can also attest that they are pretty similar to what is shown on his website.  The workmanship is indeed very good.  Perhaps the only thing I noticed that is worthy of mention is that the wood isn't glossed / lacquered as much or as smoothly as the stock D7000 cups, which have a very glossy, almost mirror-smooth finish.  Some might see this as a flaw, but it doesn't bother me at all.
 
And yes, they do become heavier after the mods.  As a result, the modded Denons aren't quite as comfortable as the stock ones, but they're still very comfortable.

 

[buffalowings]

Quote:

From the two sets of Lawton wood cups I had, I can also attest that they are pretty similar to what is shown on his website.  The workmanship is indeed very good.  Perhaps the only thing I noticed that is worthy of mention is that the wood isn't glossed / lacquered as much or as smoothly as the stock D7000 cups, which have a very glossy, almost mirror-smooth finish.  Some might see this as a flaw, but it doesn't bother me at all.
 
And yes, they do become heavier after the mods.  As a result, the modded Denons aren't quite as comfortable as the stock ones, but they're still very comfortable.

sounds like he didn't use a varnish as glossy as the D7000's for a more natural look or he just didn't polish them enough

 

[Rasmutte]

AKG K701, Sennheiser HD598, Ultrasone Edition 8, Ultrasone Edition 10

Good headphone taste.

 

[EternalEmpire]

I can't remember if I've posted a headphone here yet but I don't think there's much that can beat the AKG K601.
 

 

[MRiNiCK]

 
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AKG K701, Sennheiser HD598, Ultrasone Edition 8, Ultrasone Edition 10

Good headphone taste.

hoping for Edition 8 by the summer. Cant waitt untill then..for right now im happy with HD 598 and 750 pro
 

 

[sphinxvc]

Some runner-ups:
 
The AKG K701 with the white, just scrumptilicious.  
 
HE5 woody looks like sex from some angles, it has a bit of LCD2 going on (which looks like...from all angles).  That honey comb filter housing: lovely.
 
Audio Techinica ESW9 has a bit of nice styling.
 
My vote for most unassuming sexiness is my current pair: HD650.  
 

 

[Proglover]

Quote:

 
 
Audio Techinica ESW9 has a bit of nice styling. 

I thought it's far less beautiful in real than on the pictures. I was very dissapointed by their looks when I got them. B&W p5 was the other way around.