E_Schaaf
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E_Schaaf

MOT: E.T.A Headphones, from Staten Island, NY

Pyrate BWC

What are some of your earliest memories regarding noticing good or bad sound quality? Jan 16, 2024

    1. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Just got notification from Full Compass that TH900 drivers will be back in stock by week's end. Gonna get a few pairs for an open back mod.
      1. Cryptowolf, Hammy, Merrick and 4 others like this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        might ditch the old headband and pad ring completely and just build a wood baffle extension to fit different pads. Going for a totally different look for the open back mod.
        Sep 16, 2020
    2. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Re: @Philimon's HD580s. Jeez these are hot in the mids. Maybe the papery black screen? Haven't seen this type before. Gonna roll 6xx drivers
      1. Philimon likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I'll probably transplant the drivers to a silver screen, or do a partial baffle damper with microfiber cloth like with my other pairs. Maybe even cover the whole baffle with micropore tape, or stuff some acoustic wool in the little nooks on the rear side.
        Sep 15, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Sep 15, 2020
        Philimon likes this.
      5. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Now HD580 drivers in a 2020 silver screen: https://i.imgur.com/z7ko86Y.png definitely the best config without additional mods, though relatively speaking (sub level vs midbass level) the sub rolloff is worse. So maybe paper screen with some baffle mods will be the best of both worlds.
        Sep 15, 2020
        Philimon likes this.
    3. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      On EARS + SBAF comp curve, my modded HD600 shows almost no sub rolloff through the Super 7 with a CV181 in the driver spot. Totally smitten.
      1. yotacowboy, Lyander, nishan99 and 7 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. spwath
        spwath
        How is that graph hd600? What did you do?
        Sep 13, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Lots of mass loading, no front or rear foam, fresh set of pads with risers, microfiber cloth partial baffle damping. It's in the 650 thread a few pages back
        Sep 13, 2020
      5. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Subbed
        Sep 14, 2020
    4. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Sometimes on FB a friend will tag me on a thread where OP is asking for hp recs. Always get drowned out by DT990 and MDR7506 shills. UGH!!!
      1. dubharmonic, Jinxy245, Case and 4 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Huhnkopf
        Huhnkopf
        Hm, so the days of the ATH-M50 are over.
        Sep 11, 2020
      4. Vtory
        Vtory
        Do they want cheap mixing or tracking hps? If so, I'm not against either of them. For any other purposes, I'd avoid them at all...
        Sep 11, 2020
      5. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        @Golmang Mostly when they became in the $150-$175 range.
        Sep 11, 2020
        Huhnkopf likes this.
    5. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Survey for loaner ESX900 - assuming a smooth and balanced tone, how much sub boost and wood timbre / decay would you prefer?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        @Jinxy245 what would you want to improve about the Eikon presentation?
        Sep 10, 2020
      3. Jinxy245
        Jinxy245
        The mids & highs are more uneven/peaky...the low mid dip never really bothered me as much as some, but occasionally the treble was fatiguing for me. I still really enjoyed it while I had it
        Sep 11, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Thats helpful, thanks!
        Sep 11, 2020
        Jinxy245 likes this.
    6. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Best and worst part of modding for Friends: their headphones end up sounding better than mine at least a few ways, and then they have to go.
      1. Huhnkopf, JellyRhino, Hammy and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. DEATHxMACHINE
        DEATHxMACHINE
        I think it is the wood.
        Sep 8, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Palo Santo is a part, but also this is the first time I've used a few materials. Met the perfect balance of stuffing volume and material combination. These have more bloom than mine but also more linear in the lower mids and mid treble.
        Sep 8, 2020
      5. imackler
        imackler
        Do the headphones have to go... Or your friends?
        Sep 8, 2020
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
    7. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Record I want released on cassette + 2XLP. Cassette was $8. Vinyl would've been $30. Hope the dub quality meets or exceeds pressing quality
      1. dubharmonic and LetMeBeFrank like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. YMO
        YMO
        Tons of tape hiss, but who cares really with EDM.
        Sep 4, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Hiss isn't too noticable if the master's smashed and the tape's constantly soft-clipping at +3dB. Which is kind of my preferred way to dub EDM tapes.
        Sep 4, 2020
        YMO likes this.
      5. Melvillian
        Melvillian
        IMO EDM belongs on vinyl, but tapes are cool too.

        Not that it matters since DJs don't spin records anymore
        Sep 4, 2020
    8. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Dumb question - Why not use 2.5" 'full range' speaker cones instead of typical pancake headphone drivers for an OB earspeaker? Just weight?
      1. BenjaminBore likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. spwath
        spwath
        Only one way to find out.
        Also weight problem could by solved by pulleys and weights attached to ceiling
        Sep 3, 2020
        obsiCO, Lyander, ergopower and 3 others like this.
      4. Serious
        Serious
        I think the drivers would still need to be somewhat customized for better LF extension, but the ones you mention seem like a good choice.
        Sep 4, 2020
      5. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        680g for a pair. LCD-4 weighs 600g. Attach a helium balloon to the headband?
        Sep 4, 2020
        BenjaminBore likes this.
    9. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      New lead on a supplier for custom wood cups. Maybe even vented for semi-open design. Some great wood stock too - katalox, bubinga, af. blkwd
    10. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      The pads I'm using have a slant from bottom to top as opposed to front to back. Interesting sonic changes when they're flipped upside down.
      1. tommytakis and Cakecake like this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I also have identical fresh pads with less compacted foam. The compacted foam is both more comfortable and smoother in the highs. Upside-down (thicker on top) sounds best - just better tactility in the lows despite identical seal. Hmm...
        Sep 1, 2020
    11. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Polynesian slide guitar is a great way to test mids. Love that texture.
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Is this the opposite of the Slayer test?
        Aug 28, 2020
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        A true A-level headphone should also be able to handle Emptyset S/T and Godspeed You Black Emperor! Opposite ends.
        Aug 28, 2020
        jexby likes this.
    12. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      TFW the pads you ordered from AliExpress 4 months ago finally show up, but they don't match (one's perforated, one isn't).
      1. View previous comments...
      2. penguins
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        It's just inner perforations. Wondering if I can use some felt or foam to tape over the perfs and balance it out.
        Aug 28, 2020
        Huhnkopf likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Aug 28, 2020
        Huhnkopf likes this.
    13. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone tried N52/N55 magnets transplanted into Senn 600 series? W/ spider removal it just slips out. Should work with the right size.
      1. BenjaminBore and 9suns like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Weird! When I modded my 6xx that magnet just wanted to slip right out when I turned the headphone around, I had to use dynamat as 'glue' to hold it down. Thankfully I've got some drivers I don't mind breaking once I've settled on a magnet. I just hope there aren't massive minimum order quantities...
        Aug 26, 2020
      4. MLegend
        MLegend
        It's probably going to depend on where you order them from. I was able to order a single magnet from magnetshop, but the more you order the cheaper it's going to be per magnet.
        Aug 26, 2020
      5. MLegend
        MLegend
        Just to report some information for possible future modders, .875 magnet is a little too large for the 6xx driver capsule. The next size down, .750, will probably be an exact fit.
        Aug 28, 2020
        Philimon and E_Schaaf like this.
    14. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Neutral doesnt exist when mixing and mastering are all over the map. 1988 by Knxwledge - murder on FDX1, lively and tight on modded Fostexs
      1. ergopower
        ergopower
        Good observation. For whatever reason, have been into the blues and 90's Britpop lately. Jimmy Vaughan, Johnny Lang, T-Bone Walker vs. Stone Roses, Blur, Manic Street Preachers - like 2 different art forms
        Aug 24, 2020
      2. Elmer Danilovich
        Elmer Danilovich
        Mmhm, truth! An this is the exact reason I've more than one headphone as do many of us I imagine
        Aug 24, 2020
    15. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      New mod - use surgical tubing to route driver vents to ports or filters. Might help with phase-related FR dips from cup reflections? Hmm...
    16. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Upscale Audio is now a Grado dealer! Stocking soon. Tempted to get a pair to mod - pretty attractive at dealer cost. Which one to pick...
      1. Gazny, Merrick, Vtory and 3 others like this.
      2. YMO
        YMO
        SR225e
        Aug 21, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      3. DEATHxMACHINE
        DEATHxMACHINE
        If you want custom cups, I know a cool guy in southern California who does beautiful work and is great to work with.
        Aug 21, 2020
        tommytakis and penguins like this.
      4. penguins
        penguins
        Death machine could you PM me the guys info?
        Aug 21, 2020
        Gazny likes this.
    17. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      (just another meaningless ADHD musing)
      1. tommytakis likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. YMO
        YMO
        What's the catch?
        Aug 20, 2020
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        They're not TH900s and probably would cost about as much as a new TRX00 EB if they were still available, just given my cost on parts. No removable cable.
        Aug 20, 2020
        YMO likes this.
      5. YMO
        YMO
        I love removal cables, so no go for me.
        Aug 20, 2020
    18. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone else find the FDX1's 3-4k area almost too pushed to tolerate? Even w/ blue nozzles. Makes it sound thin and spotlit. 4k dip > 4k push
      1. obsiCO and BenjaminBore like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Biodegraded
        Biodegraded
        My take on these is that though there's a bit of a 4k peak (which is exaggerated by the most-stuffed filters cf the others), most of the effect is because of their fast transients in a part of the range where we're sensitive. Many well-regarded BAs (fast transients) have a dip in the FR in this area (eg Andromeda, various UEs).
        Aug 18, 2020
        imackler likes this.
      4. tommytakis
        tommytakis
        I actually like the 4k push, but maybe because I'm a weeb and a sucker for HD6x0-esque signature
        Aug 18, 2020
        YMO likes this.
      5. shotgunshane
        shotgunshane
        What Biodegraded said. Plus FDX1 peaks at 4K instead of 2 to 3k like most In-Ears. 4K is really transition to lower treble. At med to lower volume it’s fine but I can see it being a problem at louder volumes. Put a piece of micropore tape over nozzle, covering 60% or so of opening.
        Aug 18, 2020
        obsiCO, Poleepkwa and YMO like this.
    19. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      The Nak 500 -> Super 7 synergy reminds me of 35mm high ISO color film - a bit grainy, but tastefully vibrant and contrasty as hell.
      1. k4rstar likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Vinyl's like large format 4x5 low iso chrome films (gorgeous and incredible DOF rendering). Digital is like a micro 4/3 - less color shift but more color noise, flatter DOF, and slightly chopped dynamic range.
        Aug 16, 2020
      3. k4rstar
        k4rstar
        I have an opportunity to get a mint Nakamichi 1000 later this year - can't wait
        Aug 16, 2020
    20. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      One of my partners is even more treble sensitive than me. Today's the first time she didn't wince when listening at my normal ~85dB level.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        No changes to the system aside from the Super 7. Way too easy to crank this thing. Loving every second, already played through like half my tapes.
        Aug 14, 2020
      2. DigMe
        DigMe
        Are we talking about romantic partners or business partners?
        Aug 14, 2020
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  • About

    Home Page:
    https://www.etaheadphones.com/
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Occupation:
    Sonic Optimizer

    Signature

    skunkworks headphone enthusiast - discovering new sounds