I 'recorded' some of my headphones, some modified, some filtered.
you can download the ZIP file which contains a few files.
Download link for the recorded headphones is below (available till may 25th)
www.filemail.com/d/lrphuivpcdwenrn01 = original
02 = original but with 'room correction' it would sound like this on a very good speaker in a 'normal' room.
03 = original HD650
04 = HD650 via portable amp
05 = modified T50RP on a 'normal' amplifier
06 = Modified T50RP played via the filter circuit as described in my T50RP article.
07 = Modified T50RP played via portable amp
When you compare the sounds it is quite obvious the 06 file (filtered T50RP) is closest to the original sound (01 file) almost a 'copy'
The 04 (HD650 via portable amp) is quite close to the 'speaker in room' sound and depending on what my mood is I grab one of these.
The 'unfiltered' T50RP is substantially different sounding.
The T50RP via portable amp is somewhere between 01 and 02 file but also quite pleasant and better than without filter.
08 = modified K551 via portable amp with Bass-boost engaged.
09 = modified HD681-EVO (half felt mod + inductor + Wang Yifei pads) it does actually sound pretty good and prefer this over the original HD681
10 = Modified HD681 which is still V shaped so it retains the bass and treble and actually sounds better than the recording at lower listening levels.
11 = DT1350 with HD25 pads and an active filter circuit.
To record it properly I had to fit 'adapters' but have only one so didn't use it, this makes the recording sound weirder than in real life.
12 = TH-02 in DT330 housing and with filter inside, added it just for fun and do not use this one myself.
the sound samples used are MP3 320kbs (to keep it smaller) and for comparative purposes.
The rig the headphones are placed on has a very poor S/N ratio and is not really suited for this task.
It does show the tonal balance and can be used to measure FR.
Compensated WM61A mics on a board with foam-rubber as coupler (no fake Pinnae)
Weird part is that the brain adapts itself easier to the actual headphone sound than the recorded sound.
In other words the headphones sound 'better' in real life and less 'coloured' than how they appear on the recording.
I am still amazed how accurate the filtered T50RP is and how 'speaker like' the HD650 is.
Also the HD681-EVO with mods is still my budget champion !
All recordings are made for the fun of it and are illustrative.
They are made using FiiO X3 directly or via (unnamed) DIY portable amplifier with trickery.
No high-end gear or calibrated measuring equipment is used so pleas take it for what it is worth (not that much
)
