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Author Topic: Open Source Headphones?  (Read 896 times)

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Jamey Warren

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Open Source Headphones?
« on: April 18, 2015, 06:47:19 PM »

Hello Pirates,

I’m at Startup Weekend where I just pitched an idea for Open Source Headphones and got enough votes to work on it.

We are designing an open source, build your own headphone kit that includes interchangeable ear cups, ear pads, and drivers allowing you to tune your own sound. Included is information about the driver response and how the rest of the components affect the sound.
I’m wondering if you guys are interested in the concept and hoping to get some feedback.

Do you think Open Source Headphones are a good idea?
Would you contribute to such a project?
Would you buy a headphone kit?
How much do you think said headphone kit should cost?

We would of course send our prototype to Purr1n to put on his C.U.N.T.

That’s it for now, I’m sure we’ll have many questions along the way but hoping to get some initial impressions and thoughts.

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MuZo2

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2015, 09:58:02 PM »

idea is not new, I think I have seen it before. Need to dig and search.
There is an iem with 32 tunings and lets say it not a success.
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Claritas

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2015, 10:21:53 PM »

Thanks for asking. I think it's better to develop one really good sound than risk 2-3 (or more) lesser tunings.

I'd suggest building a great closed portable over ear phone in the $250-400 range. If you look at that category of Tyll's WOF, there are some good-sounding phones but fit and build are generally still poo. It's a very big gap that's currently best-filled with Fostex mods. On the one hand, that's a testament to the prowess and achievement of commercial DIYers. On the other hand, that indicates the industry's overall failure--and an opportunity for great future success.
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Marvey

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2015, 10:44:43 PM »

That would be a fantastic idea.

The most difficult portion for DIYers would be handband, gimbals, cups. I can see generic cups (open and close) and perhaps a set of baffles to mount different kinds of drivers on them. Cost should be $400-$700 depending upon options. I like what Mr. Speakers did with the Ether, taking aspects of the TH900 and AKG for the ergonomics.
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Jamey Warren

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2015, 03:37:48 PM »

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Startup Weekend was a ton of fun and I learned a lot in the process. While the idea didn't get a ton of traction at the event, I still think the concept is cool and will be hacking away on my night and weekends. I'll let you know as things progress.
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Drakkard

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2015, 05:15:40 PM »

We've had this idea for a while. But with our (lack of) promotion skills I doubt it can be a success..
Unless it is an Ortho. I had idea of making relatively cheap drivers for modders. It's not hard to outperform t50rp. Still, we are focusing on other stuff now, and no money to invest into it.
Good luck with it, I wonder about the outcome
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keanex

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2015, 05:54:09 PM »

Thanks for asking. I think it's better to develop one really good sound than risk 2-3 (or more) lesser tunings.

I'd suggest building a great closed portable over ear phone in the $250-400 range. If you look at that category of Tyll's WOF, there are some good-sounding phones but fit and build are generally still poo. It's a very big gap that's currently best-filled with Fostex mods. On the one hand, that's a testament to the prowess and achievement of commercial DIYers. On the other hand, that indicates the industry's overall failure--and an opportunity for great future success.
I haven't spent too much head time with the Audio Technica MSR7 as of yet, but the time I have shows a clean driver with impressive quickness. Upper midrange is too forward but some EQ could fix it. At $250 I'm thinking they're a great deal for those wanting big "portable" headphones with style and sound.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Open Source Headphones?
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2015, 09:25:24 PM »

Take a KSC-75 and go Stratocaster on it for example.

You can even take an old PX100...
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