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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 21, 2017 16:41:50 GMT
I see, thanks. I thought the voice coil part was the entire driver. HFM still can't see why they are making the noises - even the stock earpads will do it - so they offered to exchange them for me. Would it be due to the tension of the driver being to high or low? Is it necessary for planars to be fully sealed? Is this even something I should be worried about? (not that it matters if I can get a new pair, just curious) There's plenty of people on the Head-fi thread that have changed earpads - this is the one thing I don't like about them - any nobody seems to have had the same problems I'm having (included people who have used the Brainwavz pads). I am using a 3D printed mounting ring instead of the stock HFM ones: i.imgur.com/iFs4VDd.jpg . Maybe is it because they're don't flex enough to allow leakage or something?
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solderdude
Administrator
measureutternutter
Posts: 4,882
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Post by solderdude on Nov 22, 2017 11:04:36 GMT
For some reason (maybe temperatures ?) the membrane may have stretched or it isn't tensioned any more for an unknown reason. It is unlikely this happens to both drivers at the same time though.
It looks like the seal is intentional to get good bass extension. The HE400i are ever so slightly on the lean side when it comes to subbass with the stock pads. Maybe the velourspads are slightly leaky by design ?
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 22, 2017 18:35:32 GMT
HFM does have a bit of a rep for bad QC so I was wondering if maybe this (tensioning) might have been a problem from the start. Just happened that trying out some different earpads finally brought it to my attention. I can't say that anything bad has happened soundwise, but I also don't have another to compare it with. The only things I've noticed about the sound lately is I seem to need some more volume (probably due to the thicker earpads) and I thought the bass quantity had dropped - that could also be because I've been listening mostly to the X2 and have just gotten used to "dynamic driver bass"
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Post by Mr Trev on Dec 22, 2017 2:06:02 GMT
After getting another pair in exchange - thankfully just under warranty - all the problems I had with funky (not the good kind) noises are gone. I have the HM5 velour pads on now and there is no crinkly-ness to be heard. I guess my old pair really were defective after all.
I have to say HFM's customer service has been damn good dealing with this.
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Post by lobalwarming on Dec 22, 2017 2:26:55 GMT
Good news. Are the HM5 velour an improvement in comfort? Sound? Both? Just looks? ;-)
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Post by Mr Trev on Dec 22, 2017 4:16:06 GMT
Absolute improvement on the comfort field. I find the stock 400i pads are too thin and confining for me. The HM5 aren't perfect, I can't imagine any round earpads will be for me. I wouldn't mind giving some ZMF or Dekoni earpads a try - they get some good feedback - but I can't get past the cost (never mind the Audeze pads). Sound wise, I haven't noticed any change worth mentioning
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Post by lobalwarming on Dec 22, 2017 5:49:24 GMT
Can't imagine any round pads being comfortable for anyone, except those with round ears. It's funny. The headphone industry has had decades to check human physiology to determine the shape of the average human ear. So far, only the Sennheiser HD700 makes the reluctant design acknowledgement that the human ear might be more asymmetrical than initially revealed by the decades of research. Of course, the resulting soundfield from the 700 is designed to round off any high frequency hearing capability of the unfortunate human forced to listen a full round hour to them.
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Post by ronzo56 on Dec 22, 2017 20:55:09 GMT
Can't imagine any round pads being comfortable for anyone, except those with round ears. It's funny. The headphone industry has had decades to check human physiology to determine the shape of the average human ear. So far, only the Sennheiser HD700 makes the reluctant design acknowledgement that the human ear might be more asymmetrical than initially revealed by the decades of research. Of course, the resulting soundfield from the 700 is designed to round off any high frequency hearing capability of the unfortunate human forced to listen a full round hour to them. You made it an entire hour? I think I lasted 10 minutes before I yelled to my wife in the kitchen, “help, these things have paralyzed my muscles, quick, take them off, oh please hurry!” Well that’s at least how it felt.
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Post by lobalwarming on Dec 22, 2017 22:02:44 GMT
Paralyzed? No, not a full hour of audio...probably about 10 mins total sound time. In the quiet time with no audio playing just sat there thinking these are one of the most comfortable phones ever. Then put the audio on, after enduring a few minutes of searing ear pain, stopped the track and sat there thinking these are some of the most diabolical phones ever made, but gawd...so comfortable... I really wanted my ears to like them because they felt so comfy over my ears. If I had paid $200 for them - more than their sonic profile is worth - might have been willing to spend years modding them into a semblance of near tolerable spiky treble irritation.
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