solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 23, 2016 19:39:32 GMT
Don't worry. SQ is not anywhere near filtered LCD2.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 26, 2016 18:12:16 GMT
Bass modification There is a video on youtube describing a bass modification. This requires opening up the backside (very easy to do, no knife needed ) and removal of the ‘paper’ sticker over the center hole in the magnet. Of course I explored some other possibilities too. Note this HE350 is fitted with a treble filter modification. center hole stickered, center hole open (bass mod described in the video), center hole stickered & hole in the ring around the driver sealed, center hole open and the hole in the ring around the driver sealed. Normal tonal balance, ‘fat’ sounding with wooly bass, analytic/bass shy/midrangy, tastefully warmer slightly bassier. Pick your poison.. Pad change I do find the stock pads not the most comfortable pads around. They are a bit stiff and slightly ‘***ly’ to the touch. They are dirt cheap as well. Have tried a bunch of different pads and it would seem like HIFIMAN made the best possible pads for this headphone. Only one pad did make little change and combined with the filter I would give this modification the ‘nod of approval’. The comfort of these pads is higher and can easily be mounted on the rings. These pads are oval by nature but become almost round when on the rings. The pads I am talking about are velours Shure SRH1840 pads with the order code HPAEC1840, stock pads. Slightly… very slightly more bass and warmth. slightly more ‘presence’ as well (which I find welcome) when using the filter below. The small peak around 5kHz is just +2dB opposite 150Hz and sort-of compensates for the dip around 2.5kHz. The 11kHz peak is the most offensive part and is effectively removed by the filter. To me the headphone sounds somewhat better in the treble (less coarse/grainy) and has excellent bass/mids with somewhat better clarity. To me a worthwhile mod…
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 27, 2016 12:09:18 GMT
Have been listening a whole evening to this one (HE350, SRH1840 pads + treble filter) and deciced to keep this headphone. It's a nice vacation from more 'honest' headphones.
This one sounds very lush/warm/full with a nice treble up top.
Can highly recommend this headphone now.
Note you need the velours SRH-1840 pads, NOT the pleather SRH-840 pads nor any other Shure pads. These pads are the only pads I recommend for this headphone.
HE350 owners: do your ears a favor... get these pads + the filter (obligatory for this mod) and increase comfort AND sound quality.
Nope not as accuarate and flat any more.. more lush and clearer sounding with smooth and slightly, but tastefully, subdued treble
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jello
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Post by jello on Oct 27, 2016 13:03:32 GMT
Note you need the velours SRH-1840 pads, NOT the pleather SRH-840 pads nor any other Shure pads. These pads are the only pads I recommend for this headphone. If anyone fancies giving these pads a go give me a shout. Bought a pair a couple of years ago to try with my Yamaha MT-220 & Pandora. Used for about 10 minutes or so and quickly banished to the cupboard where they've lived to this day. My conclusion....they sounded bloody awful!! But as is sometimes the way with pads it's all about the pairing and it sounds like the HE-350 is a far better match.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 31, 2016 13:14:04 GMT
Have been listening a whole evening to this one (HE350, SRH1840 pads + treble filter) and deciced to keep this headphone. It's a nice vacation from more 'honest' headphones. This one sounds very lush/warm/full with a nice treble up top. Can highly recommend this headphone now. Note you need the velours SRH-1840 pads, NOT the pleather SRH-840 pads nor any other Shure pads. These pads are the only pads I recommend for this headphone. HE350 owners: do your ears a favor... get these pads + the filter (obligatory for this mod) and increase comfort AND sound quality. Nope not as accuarate and flat any more.. more lush and clearer sounding with smooth and slightly, but tastefully, subdued treble Just swapped the pads for a listen. It is good sounding Frans. I snapped one of those blasted rings though. They are a pain but have some more on the way.
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jello
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Post by jello on Oct 31, 2016 14:08:55 GMT
Did you find somewhere selling just the rings Ian? Couldn't find anywhere in the UK that stocked them so had to buy a cheap pair of HFM velour pads and use the rings from them.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 31, 2016 14:49:08 GMT
I did exactly that Mark. They are cheap crappy things and I guess pulling them around to get them into the Shure pads was enough to stress them. (My dodgy hand again!! ) Just got a cheap pair of velours from Analogue Seduction. The Shure pads sound good though.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 31, 2016 17:32:57 GMT
To me the treble lost the coarse character and the bass got a slightly bit more prominent. Comfort is somewhat higher as well.
Very lush sound with those pads. Working on a Kameleon filter that extends the bass and fills in the 2kHz dip (thus adds clarity)
I broke half of the ring here while trying to fit HM5 pads. When it breaks I will just glue some sturdy foil over that part or use some wire and melt it together, braced by that wire.
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jello
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Post by jello on Oct 31, 2016 17:44:34 GMT
I had one break on me too when trying to fit the HM5 pads. These rings seem an awful lot flimsier than the ones Audioquest use on the Nighthawk.
Cutting Duck tape into thin strips and then wrapping it round the split part a few times also seems to work okay as a repair job.
On my second attempt I stretched the 'lips' of the HM5 pads a bit beforehand to make them more elastic and that seemed to help them go over the rings a bit easier. Or perhaps I'd just got the knack of it by then. Tight fit either way though!!!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 31, 2016 18:10:18 GMT
Oh well, I'm in good company then!! It's the last bit that did it for me. I got three quarters in and the last section formed a 'hump' which I tried to push down and into the pad. They're not really a great arrangement for pad swapping....
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 31, 2016 18:12:19 GMT
To me the treble lost the coarse character and the bass got a slightly bit more prominent. Comfort is somewhat higher as well. Very lush sound with those pads. Working on a Kameleon filter that extends the bass and fills in the 2kHz dip (thus adds clarity) I broke half of the ring here while trying to fit HM5 pads. When it breaks I will just glue some sturdy foil over that part or use some wire and melt it together, braced by that wire. Yes, they do seem 'fuller' Frans although they're not extended down below. Almost Senn like smooth up top, but not as even I guess. They're definitely not as scratchy either!!
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 31, 2016 22:35:22 GMT
Kameleon filter cures the lack of extension and 'repairs' the lack of clarity. The 'werid softness' in instruments is gone.
More on this in a few days.
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jello
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Post by jello on Oct 31, 2016 22:54:41 GMT
It sounds like it's gone from a headphone you didn't rate too highly to one you now rather enjoy Frans. But perhaps one that would be hard to recommend to others simply because of the amount of extra effort and expense involved to knock it into shape? ps. Ian, it was when the 'hump' formed in the ring that mine snapped too. Guessing the strain was just too much.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Nov 2, 2016 7:59:13 GMT
The research has taken a lot of time and effort. Just like the Philips I saw the potential there. Didn't expect the treble to improve in quality (a bit coars/raspy/not well defined with stock pads) The SRH1840 pads finally found their usage... they have been in my drawer for ever and could find no headphone that it 'works' on in a positive way. In the HE350 it does... slightly more bassy and soft and smooth treble. That dip at 2.5kHz is worse though so more 'lushness'. Fortunately it's nothing that a little EQ cannot cure (as is the bass roll-off) Below the HE350 (stock pads with filter) on the Kameleon Below the HE350 (SRH1840 pads with filter) on the Kameleon One would say the stock pads measure better. They do.. but the 1840 pads sound better and have better comfort.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 2, 2016 16:33:43 GMT
Well, there's the bass!! It doesn't actually look too bad now......
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