Bill-P's Sennheiser HD580 mod

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by Bill-P, Aug 25, 2017.

  1. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    And... this is it. To me, this is the ultimate. Here's the non-3-step version for those who wanna go overboard:

    Materials needed:

    EPE foam sheet (0.5mm):
    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/0-5...-Laser-Warp-Shipping-Pre-cut/32803182359.html

    Shelf-liner:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AS9NB2/

    Medical face mask:
    https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-Surgical-Disposable-Registered-Approved/dp/B01DEMPDJ8/

    Bird cage cover:
    https://www.amazon.com/Sheer-Guard-Bird-Cage-Skirt/dp/B00856MOXW/

    The following stuffs are optional and should only be purchased if you want to fine-tune sound/treble:

    Earphone steel mesh: (you want the 5mm ones)
    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Dus...sh-filter-gum-never-rust-belt/1975223569.html

    Dynamat:
    https://www.amazon.com/Dynamat-10415-Self-Adhesive-Deadener-Speaker/dp/B00020CATC/

    Copper tape:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071LPC99Y/

    Sennheiser's official grills for HD600:
    https://www.audiosanctuary.co.uk/sennheiser-replacement-grille-for-hd600-headphones-each..html

    (alternatively, just call Sennheiser up and tell them you're looking to purchase part # 092815)

    Steps:

    1. Take out the foam in the rear of the drivers.

    2. Cut the EPE foam sheet, shelf-liner, and the perforated layer of medical face mask to this exact shape: (note the direction of the shelf-liner)

    [​IMG]

    3. Cut the bird cage cover to the shape of the stock foam piece, or at least barely enough to cover the elliptical driver thing in the middle.

    4. Avengers assemble! Medical face mask on the bottom, then foam sheet, then shelf-liner on top, use the bird cage cover to keep them in place and just snap the ear pad on. Note: when snapping it on, the ear pad should stretch the bird cage cover out, that's normal.

    [​IMG]

    5. Done. Do #6 if you want to fine-tune treble/speed/whatever.

    6. Replace stock grilles with new grilles from HD600, then put dynamat and copper tape in the following places:

    [​IMG]

    Note: the following 3 photos are specific to the "right" driver. Please "mirror" them (in other words, flip the images) for the left side. It's gotta be symmetrical.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Conclusion:
    I'm crazy. And this is just to replace the stock foam pieces for the most part. It may sound better, it may sound worse, I dunno. You decide. No express guarantee on sound improvement, but at least your HD580 won't have foam in the front and rear anymore. :)

    Also, I use Bottlehead Crack w/ Speedball and a black Schiit Jotunheim to tune this, but it probably won't make a difference (or will it?).

    Oh, and all of the above *may* also work with HD600/650. I dunno. You're gonna have to try and let us know.

    For 3-step mod: (kinda have to use a bit of your imagination here, but no need to go overboard with everything else IMO)

    1. Remove foam thing in the rear of the driver
    2. Use EPE foam sheet with 2mm thickness (Aliexpress will have some, I think, just look around) instead of the 0.5mm thickness as above, no need for shelf liner or medical face mask. Still need bird cage cover. Vary foam sheet thickness if you want more/less bass.
    3. Replace grilles.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2017
  2. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Am I blind? I must be blind. Where did you put dynamat on the first and second pics of step 6?

    Edit: I mean, I see the pics are clearly different, just not sure where the dynamat went. In place of the white felt?
     
  3. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Oops, good point!

    This is what happens when I'm super lazy! Sorry! Here's a pic with some highlight:

    [​IMG]

    Now, back to being lazy...
     
  4. Mdkaler

    Mdkaler Friend

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    The little silver and black at 4 and 6 o'clock, 3rd pic of step 6.

    edit: Ah see annotation above
     
  5. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Can this be applied to hd650 at all?
     
  6. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Please try and let me know. It doesn't sound like a lot but cutting up the copper tape + dynamat + steel mesh pieces was a b*tch, and I'm super lazy so I didn't get to try any of this on anything other than a single specific 580.
     
  7. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    OK, I might actually do that once I rebuild my measurement rig, so I can show the changes more objectively and without my unrefined description of sound (though I will have that as well)
     
  8. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

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    What do you intend to fix on the HD650 with this mod? The 580 and 650 are very different headphones. The 580 needs some work in the upper midrange/treble and the HD650 has the midbass hump.

    Definitely try though....for science!!


    Also, thanks @Bill-P. This is awesome.
     
  9. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    I'm guessing with HD650, you can probably forego the EPE foam sheet piece with some amps.
     
  10. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

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    I'm ordering parts to try the full mod, but I'm wondering what the difference is between the two mods you posted? I guess the 3-step is like a lite version of the first mod so it won't hurt to try that first just to compare.
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2017
  11. numbercube

    numbercube Acquaintance

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    Can you make a pic of the materials laying on the front without earpads?
     
  12. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Yeah, sure thing!

    1st layer: (medical mask paper)
    [​IMG]

    2nd layer: (EPE foam)
    [​IMG]

    3rd layer: (shelf-liner)
    [​IMG]

    4th layer: (bird cage cover)
    [​IMG]

    Note: if you're seeing that these look different from the previous photos, I took these shots while trying out some golden foil tape for the heck of it. I don't think it's worth the extra expense and hassle so you don't have to try this. The previous mod is still where I'd stop.
     
  13. rendyG

    rendyG Acquaintance

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    Very nice, I´m just regrilling my hd580 and planning to do something similar to this.
    I know that replacing the foam on the ear side will have audible differences, but what about the metal tape?
    It should act as kind of treble reflector in the middle of the driver right, but what about that pieces around the driver?
    I want to set up some cheap measurement rig for future moding, but I´m not sure it will be able to pick up differences in high frequencies unfortunately...
     
  14. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    I think the metal foil tape will just reflect midrange for the most part. Mid has the tendency to be reflected the most (also we're most sensitive to that range, I think).

    I honestly tried them and didn't like them on the 580, so I'd be very selective of when and where I use them. They might be good with HD650, though.
     
  15. Vordhosbn

    Vordhosbn Acquaintance

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    Just got 2 pairs of 580's. I'm going to mod one and keep the other stock. Looking forward to trying some of these mods.
     

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