solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 16, 2015 12:07:00 GMT
All it needs now is some felt in front of the driver (that will get rid of the treble nasties) and perhaps the volume control bypass IF the volume control starts acting up.
Another thing is the internal felt/small amount of wool but that effect is very small.
My all black SHL9515 arrived and will be comparing it to SHL9505 grey+music seal + 2x brown black older version.
Can't work on it now though as I just received the Superlux HD562 and it is currently on the rig for at least 48 hours to do a 'break-in' test (see if something changes)
After that the Philips's will get some TLC and may put some of them up for sale here.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 16, 2015 12:42:39 GMT
The Philips once modded sound extremely good Frans. Taking the treble down with felt and damping does make it flatter in the top, but it does sound pretty good with pads alone as well.
I don't know the SHL9515 or at least, I can't find that number.
The volume control is no longer there in newer versions. It just has a stop/start button. No up/down so they must have seen the error of their ways! I have a new black one with brown band here so I just swapped the pads for new ones.
Didn't you do a sneak preview of the Superlux? They quote the size of the drivers as 39mm not the standard 40mm often quoted. They look like an attempt in the Senn hd25!!!
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 16, 2015 13:40:59 GMT
The SHL9515 = SHL9505 but without volume control. In both cases they are called 'Philips Cityscape Uptown' and look exactly the same except for the remote control. The Superlux HD562 is an attempt to copy HD25 BUT in real life it looks like a very cheap plastic toy where the HD25 looks highly professional. Can't say anything about the sound yet... need to measure first (I want to check for break-in) and evaluate and mod later. It will get a separate thread. I have the red one b.t.w.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 16, 2015 14:05:51 GMT
Oh ok Frans. Perhaps I have a 9515 then since its just has a pause button.
I put two Senn foam fronts in each cup of the newer one. The treble was too detached without inserts.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 17, 2015 9:34:52 GMT
Slightly curious thing. I've got a black one with brown strap which has the same pads as the one that you modded, Frans. I put Senn foam in the front to take the top down a fraction. It's not as much as yours but quite 'sparkly' as a result.
The curious bit is the bass. It's even deeper than the modded one. I haven't opened up and put wool in yet or the ring, but my goodness, it rumbles down really low. I went directly from yours to my new version and there is a bigger kick, really low down. Does the internal wool dampen the bass a bit? I can almost 'feel' bass drums in rock. Not the sound, but the initial attack of the pedal on the skin. It dies quite fast but it has a very strong slam, so I was curious about the damping and how much effect that this might be having on the bass.
Or whether there is yet another quality comtrol issue. Or perhaps bass could be over damped? Same music, same volume. My new one is fractionally brighter since I haven't gone inside yet, but the bass is noticeably hater hitting, but very low down, not up in the mid bass.
Mine also has a lead with just a stop/start button and no volume control in line. It may not be 'flat' but it's rather nice actually!!
Does anyone know of a way to shrink the plastic surround of the pads on headphones? I was thinking of heating it up, but I don't think it will shrink. The 940 pads are a bit loose.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 17, 2015 11:18:43 GMT
The treble differs because the foam doesn't do very much damping, it does just a tad as it is supposed to keep out dust and pass audio unaffected.
The Bass difference is there because the one you have has felt inside + a small amount of wool. This lowers the bass 'hump' it has with the new pads.
The bass hump is nice though (the one I have also has the hump) and only adds some weight but doesn't bleed in the sound. The felt inside lowers reflections from the rear and is just audible.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 17, 2015 11:36:34 GMT
Oh, I see. It's retained a hump in the bass. My goodness, it seems low. It really does add weight and you say, it doesn't creep elsewhere. Very pleasant. Maybe I'll try some other foam, although having the treble edge does give it a pleasant 'u' shape and mybe with the hump, it could seem too bassy without the edge up top to kind of balance it.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 18, 2015 15:54:40 GMT
All 3 'models' in one plot. the grey SHL9505-GY version has the 'music seal', the black/brown SHL9505-BK version doesn't have the 'music seal' both of of these have the volume control. The all black SHL9515-BK version has the 'music seal' but lacks the volume control. The differences are very small (what one would expect for product and positioning issues) although the BK version appears to have about 2-3dB more bass and a higher treble peak around 6kHz.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 18, 2015 15:58:25 GMT
That's what I must be hearing, Frans. Mine has no volume control and I felt that bass level and treble were slightly higher. Not unpleasant at all though. Pads still bring it down though.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 18, 2015 16:13:00 GMT
The plots are of the unmodified versions.
When the pads are replaced the bass lowers dramatically but the treble remains peaky. The bass in the grey one you have are lowered also because of the wool inside and felt inside. The treble is improved by the felt... this removes the peak.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Apr 19, 2015 14:14:53 GMT
I updated the article (http://www.mediafire.com/view/cv5wevv94gpajrj/Philips_Cityscape_Uptown_SHL9505_modifications.pdf) 2 ways of securing the Shure pads are added to the article while keeping the ability to remove the pads easily when needed. Makes it a lot easier to use than with the sloppy pads.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 19, 2015 17:22:42 GMT
I looked at the article, Frans. Undid the plates and fiddled around. Got the pads in fine but finding the damned screws under the felt is a pain, so I took the pads off and cut the felt off from the pads so that I could esoly see the screws and all is fine.
The bass level is higher but actually,it's very nice. That leakage does lose some of the impact down there, but once they're screwed down, it hits really hard.
Trouble with the pads is that you have to keep pushing them in while you screw the plates down because they are quite loose.
After getting the pads on, I got some old Senn inner felts and cut where the edges of the Senn lip makes a mark on the felt so that the ovals were a bit smaller and placed them into the cups on the Philips, with the pads holding the felt down after I tucked it under.
Anyway, more room for the lugs and no less comfortable with a BIG bass.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Apr 19, 2015 17:54:25 GMT
That's why I used the cellotape.
You tuck the flap under the cup and temporarily fix it with cellotape. Then you can tighten the screws and once tightened remove the cello tape and its done.
I had been fiddeling with the screws through those holes myself but once I got the hang of it, it became easy.
Sturdy (elevated) bass but not bleeding or overpowering and incredibly low.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 19, 2015 17:55:37 GMT
Sorry Frans, we overlapped. I added Senn inner foam to cover the drivers as well once the pads were on.
Your modded headphone is better in the bass than my black one without the mods. The bass on yours is more under control and not as big as the one which only had the pads changed.
Both are REALLY good headphones with that incredible bass.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 19, 2015 18:08:00 GMT
They're still just about going on Amazon at £50 - £60 and comparing these to other headphones around the same price that I still have here, these are streets ahead Frans. So really, I think they're worth buying and modding still.
They easily match dearer headphones and actually have a way superior bass reproduction. I do prefer the pads screwed down for that bass.
Really comfortable to wear as well.
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