Oppo PM2 mod

Hey guys,
today we look at what the heck happened to this nice headphone.
The Oppo PM2

 

Great work on the mods and great write-up. I cannot wait to hear these next time I see you. I definitely need to mod my PM-2. Even if not ruler flat, I would love for the PM-2 to have a more Audeze or Ether-like sound in a more comfortable/transportable package.

 

I agree with you on the PMx2. My only issues with it are price -- additional $700 I believe on top of the $699 stock cans (not saying it is not worth it, just expensive) -- and non-replaceable pads. Otherwise, AudioZenith did a great job. I liked your modded pair as well, as you know. And I look forward to hearing Maxx134's pair.

Since CS is now gone, it would be cool if you could re-post here your PM-2 mods.

 

Yes please do post your mods here so we can have all great info on one thread!

 

I will also state that this mod would never came if I didn't lust after the PMx2 so a very long time untill I purchased the PM2 in order to have them made into a PMx2. ..

But then I happen to stumble on Tyll innerfidelity review, and lost my fear to open them. .

Then it was a done deal for my PM2 to get violated, lol
I use these babies every day as they are my favorites.
I do not believe any other portable can match them.
That's why I sold my HEX.

 

We better hope they at least try ;-).

 

And if you like the modded PM-2 more than the HEX, in addition to having a preferred headphone, you also saved around $1,000. I am looking forward to the HEX loaner, but based on my very limited demo of it, I liked it but did not think it was worth the asking price.

 

Lol!
To me, I only temporarily saved $700...
Untill I eventually save up for the PMX2 mod.

I still want it.
The PM2 are now livable and enjoyable with this mod, which I consider a nice stepping stone.

Untill I want to squeeze every last bit of potential out of the PM2, then upgrading to a PMX2 is the answer.

This mod shows the immense potential of the PM2, in a lush flavorful way,
but believe the last depth of soundatage resolution still can be improved on, with this current mod.

For that I would need
Audio Zenith level of performance.
So for that I would just get a PMX2.


Still, this mod is still is superior to many headphones, as they are now my favorite.

 

Ok so I was curious and so I went over to old site and read your mods.
Based on what I read, it will not sound like mine.
Your mod takes a whole different approach and starts from ground zero, a very different bold move to make(!)
Anyways you related your mod signature to sound like an hd650.
For mine, I used a HEX as a frame of reference, as I was trying to match the HEX level of soundstaging...
But in the end, I felt it was missing some upper mid emphasis when comparing to the Utrasone ED5,

So I ended up using the Ether as my frame of tonality reference, and "livened" it up, while Bass has oomph without bloat, larger than Ether, but alas, I do not have that last depth of soundatage focus that a TOTL can should have...

See what happens when you don't have a measurement test rig setup and have to rely on tonality of other cans?lol
Kind of how a piano tuner uses his ear..

 

Update on the PM2:

Long story shortened,
I was able to find out what was the problem was with my PM2.

I stated I had a lack of ultimate "reference type" resolution to my PM2 to mod.

So my discovery realized two points:
1- I have come to my limit in modding the PM2.
2- into in order to achieve better,
the only way is to replace stock black material.

I found out that the stock black material used,
was responsible for both the sound advantages and disadvantages.

The stock material was the best material I had to use, because of the most natural mids I could achieve.

But it also gives a trait which is notably complained about in the PM1, a sweetness in trebles.
I returned my PM1 within a week time because of this.

Although it's much less in this pm2 mod, at about 20% of what the pm1 had, yet it is still the exact same issue.

So this is the reason why I cannot achieve further transparency without totally gutting materials,
and trying to do, what is essentially already done to a high degree with the PMx2.

Still, I am very satified for now,
As there is a beautiful mid-range & treble to the sound which makes it large, juicy, alive and sweet.
Test tones revieled bass evenly down to 20hz easily with a perceptable drop of about 6-8db at 10hz.

Plus on portable use it does not exhibit any these issues, and no other portable can touch it.

So my journey with this mod has come to an end.

 

Oh man, the real journey will begin after you get a measurement rig .

 

Haha yes I can see your point!

Yet I feel I hit a "sweet spot" to compliment perceptions of what satisfies the ear.

I remember reading a Vmoda thread which discussed the many trials they did,
to get an headphone response curve, that the majority of headphone users preferred for the m100.

Likewise, I like the way these turned out so I'm satisfied, for now

 

I only got to listen to maxx's pm2 for about 10 min but after leaving his house (and listening to his code x, ether and modded hd800) I told him whatever he does not to sell the pm2s. Yes, they are quite forward sounding but they have this addictive energetic/lively quality that makes you constantly turn it up XD. The bass extends deep and is rich and detailed, the mids are smooth and lush and the highs behave well enough. For a portable, and especially for fun/youthful music I haven't heard anything comes close.

 

That may be because I used the Ether presentation as a reference.
The Ether is also quite forward with much intimacy, (except when modded).

Still, my current PM2 mod has a larger soundstaging & bass than a stock Ether,
and that last veil of transparency it has, just fades into the rear of the soundstage which actuall adds to the soundstage depth.
Regardless I don't consider it better than an Ether,
but I am satisfied for what it is, a portable "upper mid-tier level" solution.

 

I would take your pm2 over the ether by far. I think the modded ether had a bigger soundstage, not sure about stock. The pm2 is just dripping though.

 

Damn I should try this mod... I dislike PM-2's relaxing sound and prefer Edition M over it... I should try this.

 

Well, I found stock mids to sound a bit flat/subdued/restrained, and stock pads only added onto it.

Getting velour pads is the first step to open up the soundstage rather noticably, although it does not adress anything else.

 

I met up with Maxx134 last weekend and I had the opportunity to listen to his modded PM-2. He did a really excellent job, particularly considering that he tuned by ear. We also had the chance to swap out pads and try his modded pads on my stock PM-2 and the stock pads on his modded PM-2.

Maxx's modded PM-2 had three significant differences/improvements over stock to my ears: 1) more open, spacious sounding soundstage, although this was mostly left to right and not as "rounded" sounding as say the HD 800 or AKG K7xx; but still a significant improvement over stock; 2) increased sub-bass; and 3) smoother upper-mids/treble; it mostly got away from that kind of rough quality that the stock PM-2 has.

We also found that swapping the stock pleather pads for the modded velour ones get you about half-way(50%) there. It improves the soundstage and perhaps improves the bass a bit. But the full mod further improves bass and smooth's out the top half of the frequency range.

Maxx was nice enough to offer to help me mod mine. However, I am not sure I am ready to go the full monty yet. I did not have that much time with the modded pair, and without a longer listening time with different types of music, it is hard for me to know whether in solving some problems, the mod creates other ones. I did not have that sense, but just do not know with certainty. Since the full mod would be tough if not impossible to reverse, I am not sure whether I want to do it yet. I am going to order the velour pads though and mod them and live with that for a week or so. Then hopefully I can listen to the fully modded pair again at the upcoming mini-meet as well as get impressions from others before deciding whether or not to go full mod.