HD800 (S) Ultimate Mod

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by Maxx134, Apr 27, 2018.

?

Are you satisfied with HD800 bass?

  1. yes

    23 vote(s)
    24.0%
  2. Its ok

    27 vote(s)
    28.1%
  3. Not really

    23 vote(s)
    24.0%
  4. Hell no, I want planar bass

    27 vote(s)
    28.1%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    Updated links for "S" mod.
     
  2. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    :drunk:
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2020
  3. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    What's the goop you used to hold the XLR connector in place?
     
  4. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Also can't you just add the dynamat extreme on top of the metal inner ring rather than completely removing the metal ring?

    Wouldn't that have the same effect?
     
  5. MrTeaRex

    MrTeaRex His head's not fat, he's my brother!

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    @Maxx134 if you're going through the trouble to replace connectors, why not just hardwire the cable? Removing connectors from the equation entirely would be even more transparent and less effort.
     
  6. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    I would be worried about strain relief if it was hardwired tbh.

    With connectors at least any impact on the cable will stop at the cups and not possibly travel to those tiny wires and the fragile driver solder connections.
     
  7. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    All the mods were out there in some form or another. I think the dynamat mod was used in the HD650. Using the shelf liner was used in the front, but no one tried using it in to the back of the grill. People used blu tack to seal off the gaps for the earpads in the Hifiman HE-6.

    I'm surprised no one else came up with this before for modding the HD800.
     
  8. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    Hot glue with glue gun.
    Best and fast.

    Most likely NOT.
    The proximity and contact to the source of the vibration is essential.
    The metal ring is but a "washer" for holding driver in place.
    It is a waste of metal in the way, that serves no other purpose.
    We also need the "channel" which the metal ring sits in, for containing the dynamat in place.

    Yes I have done that.
    Its a good option if you don't want to switch cables.

    The dynamat was already done on mine before it was proven on the 650 baffle.

    Mere Usage of materials is not same as the actual purpose.

    For instance The Dynamat is used differently here..

    The Methodology is complete now,
    with usage on both sides, sandwhiching driver in similar locations of both sides.

    Just laying stuff in it does not work.
    Ask member @Serious who tried on one side only, and it failed.

    Same for is the liner.
    It's "how" its used...
    The fine mesh version is used for deflection purposes, not absorbtion.


    And as for random materials you mention like Blue tack, that itis irrelanant, but if you wanna talk other "shitty" materials, I can oblige. Bluetak adds weight.
    I also even tried even sprayed on rubber in the earpads.

    Best thing that worked for me is what I posted.
    That tape, folded and inserted in complete circumference seal for bass to be improved,
    or your wasting your time.
     
  9. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    Nobody wants to experiment on a $1k headphone.
    I had two HD800 to experiment on.
    Using mine as guinipig, while adding the benifits to the second unit.

    I had this mod done almost 2 years already.
    That was plenty of time for others to come up with solutions which exist and all on this site.

    Yet my mods had to be proven with measurements,
    which I did not have at the time.

    What's "better" for some, may not be for others..
    Some people like the exaggerated airy diffused soundstage air of stock HD800 & 800S..
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2019
  10. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    As pointed out before, without before/after measurements, this is all just a lot of talk.
     
  11. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    EDIT:
    I understand the need for a baseline comparison to stock.

    I understand your "doubting Thomas" approach.
    You need to see how accurate is my measurement coupler,
    So that it doesn't look good on every headphone.

    I will have opportunity to test another moded HD800 Today.

    It has both the SD mod, and the Stefan AudioArt Hardwired Endorphin Cable.
    Plus whatever else it has.

    It should be a WAY harder test, to show how much different my mod is,
    In comparison to the uber expensive Stephan mod,
    which is only helped further with an SD insert...

    I don't yet have access to stock HD800 or 800S, but that is only a matter of time.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
  12. coinmaster

    coinmaster New

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    I've personally compared Maxx's modded HD800 to a stock HD800 side by side, It's in another league.
    I don't know what the measurements are but the modded version makes the stock sound dirty and unrealistic in comparison. I'm not easily impressed but I was impressed.
     
  13. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    I will be updating thread very soon with many comparison measurements, done on my same measurement rig against that moded HD800..

    It happens to be a very excellent mod which is superior to most.
    It is a hybrid mod, a HD800 with SDR MOD and my SUBBASS MOD and have HARDWIRE MOD with Stephan Audio Endrorphen cable...

    Suffice to say that is a very, nicley moded HD800...

    THIS WILL be an ultimate test and showdown, for my Ultimate "S" Mod.
    IT should prove beyond shadow of doubt whether my mod is truly worthy.

    The key, is using same measurement rig, on a known proven worthy Moded HD800, to have valid data.
    To be honest, using a stock HD800 would have been way too easy...
    I must test against the best HD800 mods, in order to prove superiority...

    Stay tuned I will post results hopefully tonight.
    Gotta appease the wify with dam errands, ugg
     
  14. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    The tests were justified and long winded,

    But I was suprised in closer in one specific area.

    While the diffuse stage was bad and measurable on the other unit,
    The 6k ringing actually was better than expected on that other unit, which I will post.

    So I will still need to measure a stock HD800, to see how far the ringing lasts when measured with my coupler..
     
  15. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    By the way, how hard is it to clean dynamat extreme?

    That stuff looks like it would need to be scrubbed with a lot of hash liquids & a lot of elbow grease to get perfectly clean.

    Makes me just a tad hesitant in sticking it so close to the drivers.
     
  16. Mdkaler

    Mdkaler Friend

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    Suggestion: use thin double sided tape between headphone and dynamat extreme.

    Anyone tried this before?
     
  17. ThePianoMan

    ThePianoMan Facebook Friend

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    Can confirm I tried this and it didn’t help as much as you’d think. The Dynamat sort of squishes down and spooges/oozes out the sides of the constrained layer over time. Its a nasty material but phenomenal for modding.

    Great work @Maxx134 I happen to think a little more basket damping and damping the crapp ABS outter cup ring and a pad swap (I like ZMF lambskins) a la my fugly mod has a similar effect yours, although I’ve tuned it for a ruler flat response down to 20hz. Potato, potatoh
    But I really do reccomend some of these mods. Its a hugely enjoyable headphone with them.
     
  18. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    :(

    No non-messy alternative to dynamat?
     
  19. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Not at all hard to clean, like zero effort. It prefers to stick to itself than to anything else so comes off all in one lump.
     
  20. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    You get Exactly the same improvements of more linear signature, and 6k ringing reduction as the mod I tested with SDR in place.

    The difference also will be the same.
    You will not control the diffused soundstage which is the highlight of this mod...
    Imagine suddenly a laser sharp focus to the imaging...
    That's a really strong reason to add the dynamat mod to it..

    I have measured and will post this diffuse energy.

    Yes it can look messy if moved or initially removed.
    But as stated, its like clay as it likes to stick to itself more,
    So you can clean up by dabbing it off.

    Also, the thickness of the "Extreme", is such that, with the thin liner in pace under the grill, it all holds together without movement as the two hd800 have been done
    Over a year now, and no problems of shifting.
     

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