Superlux HD-681 modifications

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2010 10:20:46 GMT Will said:

Jan 9, 2010 23:46:59 GMT PinkFloyd said:

Have you ever polished a two pence piece Chris? Takes a fair bit of elbow grease.... you need the Brasso, you need kitchen roll (absorbent paper), and you need the "time" to do it.

Try leaving the coins covered in brown sauce over night, it'll do most of the work for you

Can I claim this as most bizarre advice given on an audio forum?

OR , Coca Cola !

[cege]

Jan 10, 2010 7:52:20 GMT @sandyk said:

[quote author=cege board=review thread=4769 post=59

cege
Are you talking about a continuous hiss, or sibilance on certain words, especially with the letter "s" ? If it is sibilance, then "solderdudes" filter is likely to assist in that respect.
SandyK

Hi SandyK,

I think is sibilance? Have check what is means now (translating).
Especialy when female talks or sings, do i hear this sharps Ssss-sound
I will try Solderdudes filter in the future.

cege

[Deleted]

I feel a modified end ring and end cap combined coming on, out of 316 grade stainless steel, have the design in my head, will try and get some sorted next week, and up to Mike for a try.

[andy]

I was wondering when Mick would start making end caps!
The stainless will give even more solidity.

should look great as well.

[PinkFloyd]

Well..... I've given these leather pads a few days head time and will be going back to the stock pads. The "hole" is too small for my ears and the leather is no more comfortable than the stock pleather pads.... I'm not too sure about the SQ with the leather pads either the sound is not as "large" with them fitted.... oh well, no big deal apart from the fact the pads cost more than the 'phones themselves!

Just goes to show that throwing money at something doesn't always make things better and can be a backward step.

Anyone out there with small ears (and a small head) needs a pair of leather pads.... PM me

[Deleted]

I am really fond of the AKG velours pads and have returned my leather ones to the seller.
Hate the stock pads as they are warm and sweaty.
The AKG pads also cost more than the whole headphone but is welllll worth it.
Much more comfy, less warm and no sweaty sticky circle around my ears.
I find the sound not to alter when installing the velours pads but expect others may hear great differences.
The sound with the leather pads was affected a bit in a bad way and they didn't feel as nice as the velours pads as the leather wasn't soft.

Frans

[clausdk]

Hi Mike
Do you know if the leather pads that is on the way to my house is the same as those you got ??

[PinkFloyd]

Jan 10, 2010 23:40:20 GMT @clausdk said:

Hi Mike
Do you know if the leather pads that is on the way to my house is the same as those you got ??

Yup..... same pads Claus..... they may suit your ears better than mine though so please don't consider my dissatisfaction with them as a written in stone no no.....

They are very well made but nowehere near as comfy as the stock pads (IMO)..... the SQ is also compromised with these pads (IMO)..... as I say, my ears are too big for them, they are not comfortable..... smaller ears may find them more pleasing.

Mike.

[clausdk]

Jan 10, 2010 23:47:02 GMT PinkFloyd said:

Jan 10, 2010 23:40:20 GMT @clausdk said:

Hi Mike
Do you know if the leather pads that is on the way to my house is the same as those you got ??

Yup..... same pads Claus..... they may suit your ears better than mine though so please don't consider my dissatisfaction with them as a written in stone no no.....

They are very well made but nowehere near as comfy as the stock pads (IMO)..... the SQ is also compromised with these pads (IMO)..... as I say, my ears are too big for them, they are not comfortable..... smaller ears may find them more pleasing.

Mike.

The pads I have ordered is NOT from AKG, but homemade by some german.
My main problem is that I have a pair on the way for you too and seeing you do not like them, it feels stupid to send them at you..

Hopefully they will arrive today, I will take some photos and messuremennts, then we can decide what to do from there.

[matt7941]

Evening all.

After recabling the 681s I thought the treble was still a little harsh, so have implemented Frans' filters and fitted Mick's rings. What a difference, these things were great before but now they are utterly astonishing given the price.

True, I don't have the wealth of experience with other cans that some on here do, but they are so far removed (in conjunction with the Aune using the AD744s) from any headphones I've heard previously in terms of overall sound quality it makes the ££££s that some manufacturers are selling their (inferior) products at to be ridiculous.

In conjunction with the Aune, including recabling and a new power supply, I have a cracking headphone setup for less than £170!!!

Thanks to Mike, Mick, Frans and all other contributors to this thread as these are simply fantastic with just a little effort and have put a huge smile on my face.

Cheers

Matt

[PinkFloyd]

Jan 12, 2010 17:17:08 GMT matt7941 said:

Evening all.

Hello.

After recabling the 681s I thought the treble was still a little harsh, so have implemented Frans' filters and fitted Mick's rings. What a difference, these things were great before but now they are utterly astonishing given the price.

I will be trying the filter mods as soon as this weather clears, the workshop is "freezing" and I am only doing the work I "have to" out there at the moment.... it's taking me 3 times as long to do everything cause I have to keep coming inside to get warm! What were the main differences with the filter in place Matt and did you fit in onboard or offboard?

True, I don't have the wealth of experience with other cans that some on here do, but they are so far removed (in conjunction with the Aune using the AD744s) from any headphones I've heard previously in terms of overall sound quality it makes the ££££s that some manufacturers are selling their (inferior) products at to be ridiculous.

I do have experience of a good few other 'phones and totally agree with you here.... the HD-681 (done right) make the £££ 'phones seem a damned rip off.

In conjunction with the Aune, including recabling and a new power supply, I have a cracking headphone setup for less than £170!!!

I concur! I have been listening to the Aune (AD744) / HD-681 as my main computer based "rig" for a good while now and the combo is astonishing VFM (especially fed Apple lossless files).... this side of "crazy money" there's nothing about the rig I can fault.... it's brilliant!

Thanks to Mike, Mick, Frans and all other contributors to this thread as these are simply fantastic with just a little effort and have put a huge smile on my face.

Excellent stuff Matt That's what it's all about. I will be experimenting with replacements for the OPA 2134 (in the Aune) soon so keep your eye on the Aune thread.

All the best,

Mike.

[matt7941]

Good evening Mike.

Prior to fitting the filter there was a slight prominence to the treble/upper mid that made listening to certain tracks fatiguing, indeed at times I had to reduce the listening level to feel comfortable. This seemed to particularly affect remastered tracks that sounded fantastic through speakers. The treble also seemed to have a slightly harsh, not quite sibilant, edge. The overall balance was still just a touch too aggressive for me

The filter mod has smoothed this right out, but not at the expense of detail, dynamics or becoming boring and flat. Everything just sounds so natural. There is wonderful decay on cymbals in particular, they "shimmer" as they should rather than splashing as they can do in some set ups and without being a touch bright as they were before the filter. The filter also appears, although this could also be due to Mick's rings, to have opened up the midband, there is so much detail even more than before. The soundstage, as far as headphones can go, is pinpoint and quite expansive. I wasn't aware the music could escape from your head in this fashion with cans. Even the bass has improved, both seemingly in weight (although this is probably now more prominent as the top end has reduced) and certainly in focus, agility and timing.

I fitted the filters internally, this seemed the quickest and neatest way to go. There isn't much room in there and the only caps of 1uf value I could lay my hands on were Wima 1uf 63V polyesters. I had to use a "leg" cut off a spare resistor to lengthen one of the cap's legs (on the parallel filter) as they were only 6mm long originally, but no real dramas. A steady hand is definitely required, mind. It was a bit of a tight squeeze, but Frans' instructions were excellent and even I could follow them easily.

I would now go so far as to say that I'm getting as much enjoyment out of this set up with late night listening (using both Micromega stage 1 or PC as source, the Micromega as transport only) as I get using the speakers during the day, but in different ways. They complement each other so well, speakers to excite during the day, headphones to relax in to the small hours, and I can have quality tunes 24/7. All for such a modest outlay (even less as I got the Aune for Xmas off she who must be obeyed ).

Cheers

Matt

[Deleted]

Hi Matt,

You're spot-on.
The character of the can remains and everything just becomes more balanced.
Your remark: (although this is probably now more prominent as the top end has reduced) is spot on.
Because the highs have been reduced to the level they should be (original HD681 puts out around 10dB too much treble even though it doesn't seem that way when you listen to it) the mid's are 'masked' by this 'over the top' treble.
You're brain will sorta try to balance the unnatural frequency curve but can do this only with a very small slope not on the exact spot what the filter accomplishes.
Thus the mid's and a little bit of lows will be reduced by the brain (causes listening fatigue because you're brain has to work real hard to get it to sound right in your head)
Good cans and speakers do not need this 'processing' and therefore your brain (and YOU) can relax and enjoy instead of tire and constantly feeling something isn't quite right.

Perhaps people will recognise this effect.
When you're used to listening with loudness on and have always experienced it as 'straight' (like most young people) and all of a sudden you are confronted with audio without loudness and find this reproduction boring, no bass no treble,... but after a certain time you will get used to it and don't like the loudness anymore and your brain accepts this reproduction as 'normal'
Has to do with your brain adjusting slowly and how it interprets it's input (ears, eyes (the looks of apartus can do that to your brain) and in case of speakers nerves in your body that also interprets low frequencies.

If you experience(d) the same as Matt, do the filter mod (internally or externally, the effect will be the same) and just like me and Matt enjoy the sound of it even more.

I know it is hard to believe but a filtered HD681 comes ridiculously close to the HD800's representation and saves you a shitload of cash and on top of it all has much deeper base as the HD800.

For more comfort the AKG velours pads are highly recommended.

Frans

[Deleted]

I took Frans (Solderdude) up on his offer to supply ready-modified 681s, including AKG pads.

I won't attempt an analysis as Matt has done that superbly.

I have sent Frans the following email, which is a frank view of the change. I wouldn't consider keeping the 681s without this work, there was just something lacking, to my mind.

Hi Frans

'Phones arrived today. I have only played 4 or 5 tracks on them, using a couple of Alex's high res direct from USB stick and a few direct from Linn to USB.

Already, they really sound like a different pair 'phones. I was impressed only by the value of the unmodified phones and would not have used them regularly as I felt they sounded 'light', incohesive and at times a little sibilant. Now is different. I feel on short acquaintance that they gather the best of my 701 and 650 phones which of course have very different presentations.

I'm delighted. The velour pads are a major improvement. I would not have continued to use the plastic ones.

Regards

Syd

[andy]

Would someone be able to give me part number for Frans modification?

I have ahd a look on Rapid and found the 39Ohm and 56 Ohm resistors but am not sure what capacitors to get (electronics was never my strong point!)

Dont even mind going to another supplier.

Thanks

Andy

[Sol]

Mike - just going back to cleaning 2 pence pieces with brasso requiring elbow grease ... if I remember my youth coin collecting, the easiest way to clean coins is to drop them into some coca cola - leave over night, and remove in the morning to an as new sparkling vista! I wouldn't recommend drinking the cleaning fluid afterwards though!

[Deleted]

Filter components:

Resistors:
use wirewound, Metal film, carbon whatever you like or feel will be better.
Not of any importance really in this application as long as the wattage is ABOVE 0.25W (which most resistors are)

capacitor 1uF:
Multicomp MCRR50105Z5UM00050 = Farnell order code 121-6447
or:
Multicomp MCRR50105X7RK00050 = Farnell order code 121-6443 (used by me)
or:
AVX SR305C105KTR = Farnell order code 110-0398
or:
AVX SA305E10MARTB = Farnell order code 110-0420

Inductor (choke coil):

EPCOS B82144A2474J = Farnell order code 517-070 (used by me)
or:
EPCOS B82144B1474J000 = Farnell order code 164-4320
or:
EPCOS B82145A1474J000 = Farnell order code 164-4331

or any other small coil, inductor, choke with 470uH and a resistance of equal or lower than 2.5 Ohms.

I will be buying in large so you can order them from me also which might be cheaper as shipping these parts will cost max. 1 Euro and I get a discount for ordering more parts at the same time.

Just PM me.

Parts are not in stock at this moment but will be placed soon.

Solderdude (Frans)

[andy]

Thanks for that,
I have ordered from Farnel with free delivery, there wher a couple of other bits i was after as well so work has paid for this!!

Andy

[clausdk]

Jan 10, 2010 23:47:02 GMT PinkFloyd said:

Jan 10, 2010 23:40:20 GMT @clausdk said:

Hi Mike
Do you know if the leather pads that is on the way to my house is the same as those you got ??

Yup..... same pads Claus..... they may suit your ears better than mine though so please don't consider my dissatisfaction with them as a written in stone no no.....

They are very well made but nowehere near as comfy as the stock pads (IMO)..... the SQ is also compromised with these pads (IMO)..... as I say, my ears are too big for them, they are not comfortable..... smaller ears may find them more pleasing.

Mike.

Mine is the same, but not anymore I drilled them to 62mm ;D ;D

I am working on your pair now

[Deleted]

I must be one of the last people to fit Mick’s (Helliharris) aluminium rings to my 681’s and I would like to say a big, big thank-you to him.
He has made a pair of cans that sound like they cost £200, now look like they cost £200!

Thanks Mick, you’re a star!!

[PinkFloyd]

Jan 14, 2010 19:47:44 GMT @clausdk said:

Jan 10, 2010 23:47:02 GMT PinkFloyd said:

Yup..... same pads Claus..... they may suit your ears better than mine though so please don't consider my dissatisfaction with them as a written in stone no no.....

They are very well made but nowehere near as comfy as the stock pads (IMO)..... the SQ is also compromised with these pads (IMO)..... as I say, my ears are too big for them, they are not comfortable..... smaller ears may find them more pleasing.

Mike.

Mine is the same, but not anymore I drilled them to 62mm ;D ;D

I am working on your pair now

Ah Claus..... excellent stuff! Please PM me with how much I owe you and I will Paypal you immediately.... what a talented bunch of people we have here

[PinkFloyd]

Mick, BTW.... your recabled HD-681 are on the way to you.... I fitted black Evolution Pro cable, it's less tarty looking than the red

[PinkFloyd]

After cracking open Mick's fresh pair of HD-681 I cracked open another pair all ready for the Fran's filter mods and was SHOCKED when I listened to them (fresh from the packaging)..... they were VERY sibilant and screechy, nothing like the stock HD-681 I am used to (I have heard about 9 pairs now) but just shows that variations between batches do exist.

[andy]

cheeper and faster manufactureing as demand goes up?

[covenant]

Do you think the manufacturer would be willing to replace the screechy ones? Mine are still absolutely crap-I was going to do the filter mod but I wonder if its worth it.