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Author Topic: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod I (Anax 2.0)  (Read 32120 times)

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maverickronin

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #10 on: September 08, 2012, 06:07:00 PM »

Pretty damn cool.

Good work.
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MuppetFace

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #11 on: September 08, 2012, 06:11:40 PM »

That's crazy!

I hear the Paradox manufacturer tunes the same way.  ;)

Wait a sec. I thought all you measurement guys didn't listen to music and just fondled your charts and graphs? Music is incomprehensible and serves as kryptonite to you objectivist types with your boring straight lines.

(By the way, congrats on this. Looks extremely promising!)
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ultrabike

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #12 on: September 08, 2012, 06:18:26 PM »

Indeed, great work! :)p5
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LFF

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2012, 06:52:12 PM »

That's crazy!

I hear the Paradox manufacturer tunes the same way.  ;)

Wait a sec. I thought all you measurement guys didn't listen to music and just fondled your charts and graphs? Music is incomprehensible and serves as kryptonite to you objectivist types with your boring straight lines.

(By the way, congrats on this. Looks extremely promising!)

We do like to fondle....  :)p2

We be pirates in this here forum!  :)p4
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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #14 on: September 08, 2012, 06:54:01 PM »

Doods. Nice.

I wish to see the specifics once it's closest to perfection.
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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #15 on: September 08, 2012, 09:26:14 PM »

Very impressive!
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arnaud

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #16 on: September 08, 2012, 09:44:27 PM »

Looks very promising! Can you describe in more detail? You're covering the screen mesh To increase the bass? Also, you're using a combination of materials to tackle the 5kHz in priority and not shelve the highs too much?

The melamine foam mod I had simulated was to reduce the whole upper mids / HF response. Adding more or less impervious top layer can have surprising effect such as boost in absorption at the resonance frequency of the layup (like what a bass trap does with room LF modes).
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Marvey

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #17 on: September 08, 2012, 10:08:21 PM »

  • Not covering the entire mesh. We discovered if too much of the mesh is covered, we lose depth and openness, especially in conjunction with #2 below. We actually backed off a bit on the Creatology from the original. This version is actually slightly less bassy than the original Anax mod.
  • In addition to the Creatology, we are using another more porous material to further absorb the high frequencies. An accidental side effect was that it also helped to effectively lift up the region between 2k-5k making the transition to the 6kHz resonance much smoother. The nature and the exact cutout and placement of this material remains secret for now.
  • One of the issues with the original Anax mod was that while it lifted up the bass and lower mids, it also left the 2k-5kHz region just as if not more recessed. The  increased thickness was a nice balance to the elevated treble shelf of the HD800, but that wierd sounding 5k to 6kHz transition was always there. Since we've now gotten this transition a little smoother, we can back off on the bass/lower mid increase, so we cut back the diameter Creatology ring around strategic spots.
  • It's still a bright headphone. Just less annoying and less weird.
  • These ideas had actually been floating around for some time based on measurements of on the effect of specific pieces of the original mod. We had some inkling on what to do, but didn't get around to it. I stopped caring after stats, but thanks to the mystery of Jason's really bad sounding HD800, it rekindled my interest. Also Mike held me prisoner for most of the day and insisted on trying yet a 13th variation of the mods. Yes, that is about how many different trial-and-error configurations we tested. Both subjective and objective methods were used to arrive at this version which we feel is close to final.
  • It's called Rabid Dawg because we ended up using some material that my dogs may have pissed on.
  • The mods will eventually be publicly released. Mostly likely we will release templates. We may offer cheap kits for sale to recoup the cost of  my wife giving me the evil eye for the next few days. (Ignoring the family to organize a big meet already really pushed the limits.)
« Last Edit: September 08, 2012, 10:23:16 PM by purrin »
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maverickronin

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #18 on: September 08, 2012, 10:21:10 PM »

I was looking at those graphs again and you guys managed to make an amazingly well targeted mod.  It pretty much looks like a physical PEQ.  Even better since and EQ couldn't help the CSD any.  It's pretty incredible you managed to do that just by putting stuff in the ear side of the cup.

Makes you wonder why Senn released the HD800 the way they did with the enclosure letting down the driver so much.  It makes me curious about raw HD800 driver measurements.  Is that even possible without destroying it?  Is the HD800 as easy to take apart as the 580/600/650?

I'm also kind curious about exactly how "targeted" this mod is.  Like if it relies on the consistency of a certain mass produced material, like the melamine arnaud mentioned, matching up exactly with frequency of the dip in that particular HD800.  If so, other people might not be able to replicate you results because the available materials don't match up with their HD800.

I'd like to hear an HD800 with those mods and see how well it deals with the issues I had with last pair I listened to.

Anyway, take you time with the refinements and don't take this as rushing you or anything.
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arnaud

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Re: Introducing the HD800 Rabid Dog Mod (Anax 2.0)
« Reply #19 on: September 08, 2012, 10:25:16 PM »

  • It's called Rabid Dawg because we ended up using some material that my dogs may have pissed on.

Oh, obviously! This should have been mentioned first and foremost, the rest had no influence I am sure. I understand it's difficult to market around. Maybe more challenging than the TP mod on the LCD3. But you can do it marv. The future of the HD800 depends on you, and your dog for that matter.

Really curious to hear it at some point, awesome job as usual guys!
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