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The Headphone Driver Pics Thread
Jan 26, 2024 at 5:15 PM Post #2,147 of 2,228
The, unfortunately disappointing Audio-Technica ATH-M9X. Absolutely tiny and flat soundstage that ruins an otherwise very respectably performing headphones. The cups on these are casted zinc alloy!

Unfortunately the front baffle is glued so I couldn't get a good shot of the ceramic coated 46mm driver, but it definitely appears greyish rather than transparent.

The wool inside feels almost exactly the same kind used in the CD900ST.

I'm not sure what the copper contacts near the hinges do.
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Jan 26, 2024 at 9:06 PM Post #2,148 of 2,228
Awesome, thanks a bunch for this post.
I am guessing since they were for fancy studio use, those contacts get pressed down when you wear them and when you take them off it breaks the circuit contact and stops the music.
There is another headphone that also does that but I forget what it was ( maybe an AKG that has a small button there? )
I never had the guts to bid and secure one of these, plus they are not that common.
 
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Jan 27, 2024 at 2:21 AM Post #2,150 of 2,228
Yes I see that now upon closer inspection of the photos. Good call!
 
Jan 27, 2024 at 9:57 AM Post #2,151 of 2,228
nick n said:
Awesome, thanks a bunch for this post.
I am guessing since they were for fancy studio use, those contacts get pressed down when you wear them and when you take them off it breaks the circuit contact and stops the music.
There is another headphone that also does that but I forget what it was ( maybe an AKG that has a small button there? )
I never had the guts to bid and secure one of these, plus they are not that common.
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Quite rare and well, I got two!

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They're... disappointing. Resolution and clarity are superior to the CD900ST and they have a sound signature akin to other studio monitors before the digital era, so they are more neutral and less bright. But the imaging on them is absolutely terrible, very 2D, and lacking depth to the point where it's unlistenable. I have other headphones with smaller soundstages but they have depth, these don't!

I wonder if filling the cups with wool might help.

frank2908 said:
I dont see any wiring to those contact, so my guess is to apply friction to the hinges, to make them feel better when picked up. This would be in line with the casted zinc cup
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It would make sense. These are extraordinarily well-built and feel amazing in the hand.
 
Feb 2, 2024 at 10:45 PM Post #2,152 of 2,228
Sony DR-S5 Bought off ebay for under $20.

Sound was cutting in and out on both sides, it has volume and tone control on both sides. I guess they expected channel imbalances from the factory?

I don't have much experience with these old headphones but I find it hard to believe this came from the factory soldered like this. The soldering work is not even amateurish, its like someone who started soldering the first day. I suspect someone tried to repair this at some point, ear pads are glued on, ugh.

Was going to use this headphone as a test bed to see if making it balanced would yield a significant improvement in sound and possibly replace the driver. Most likely won't since I cant stand glued on ear pads. Its not a bad looking headphone but its quite uncomfortable.

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Feb 6, 2024 at 12:11 PM Post #2,153 of 2,228
Eh... probably some trash...
Stax Lambdas.

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Feb 7, 2024 at 4:56 PM Post #2,157 of 2,228
Bingturong said:
Just amazing they fit that large of a driver into that small of a headphone
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It's like opening up the MDR-CD999 all over again... but even more extreme.
 
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