Superlux HD-681 modifications

[PinkFloyd]

I received another pair of the German red leather pads today modded by our very own Clausdk and they are quite simply STUNNING!

I hated the stock red leather pads, they were hard on the ears (not "soft" leather) and the hole was too small for my ear to comfortably fit in.... they sounded like shite, to be honest.

Claus has sent me the same pair of pads but pads that he has "worked" on what he calls a "cone"...... basically, he has softened the leather and enlarged the diameter of the "hole" to the same size as the stock 'phones...... very labour intensive for Claus but it has paid dividends BIG TIME!

The comfort levels are quite simply "sublime" compared to the stock red leather pads and the SQ is the best I have yet heard through the HD-681.... absolutely phenomenal! Claus, I thought you were joking when you told me you were expanding / conditioning these pads on your "cone".... you have done an amazing job, these pads are just spot on both in comfort and sound quality..... thank you!

The pads on the left are Claus's "coned and conditioned" versions... the pads on the right are the "stock" red leathers:



I, seriously, am over the moon with Claus's red leather pad mods, they have taken my Helliharris, Pinkie cabled, Fran's filtered HD-681 to new heights (seriously good!).

Claus, you want to patent that "cone" of yours.... you know your onions sir... fantastic, thank you SO much


Clausdk "coned" leather pads, Helliharris alu ring modded, Fran's filtered Pinkie cabled HD-681.

No BS.... the BEST headphones I have ever heard bar NONE.

Mike.

[clausdk]

Feb 12, 2010 23:02:58 GMT PinkFloyd said:

I received another pair of the German red leather pads today modded by our very own Clausdk and they are quite simply STUNNING!

I hated the stock red leather pads, they were hard on the ears (not "soft" leather) and the hole was too small for my ear to comfortably fit in.... they sounded like shite, to be honest.

Claus has sent me the same pair of pads but pads that he has "worked" on what he calls a "cone"...... basically, he has softened the leather and enlarged the diameter of the "hole" to the same size as the stock 'phones...... very labour intensive for Claus but it has paid dividends BIG TIME!

The comfort levels are quite simply "sublime" compared to the stock red leather pads and the SQ is the best I have yet heard through the HD-681.... absolutely phenomenal! Claus, I thought you were joking when you told me you were expanding / conditioning these pads on your "cone".... you have done an amazing job, these pads are just spot on both in comfort and sound quality..... thank you!

The pads on the left are Claus's "coned and conditioned" versions... the pads on the right are the "stock" red leathers:



I, seriously, am over the moon with Claus's red leather pad mods, they have taken my Helliharris, Pinkie cabled, Fran's filtered HD-681 to new heights (seriously good!).

Claus, you want to patent that "cone" of yours.... you know your onions sir... fantastic, thank you SO much


Clausdk "coned" leather pads, Helliharris alu ring modded, Fran's filtered Pinkie cabled HD-681.

No BS.... the BEST headphones I have ever heard bar NONE.

Mike.

Thanks

If anybody has the leather pads I can easyli guide them through the proces (send me a pm.), it is mostly violence that is needed and patience, but I do not get why they make the holes so small..

I have kept it quit but I actually like the leather ones better than the AGK ones, they are just more "intimate" and gives a bit of extra punch to the bass and isolates better..

The comfort is a cointoss and depends largely on the length of the listening session, the longer it takes the better the red ones get, but for a short time the velour ones are fantastic..

The downside is that they are not warm enough when I take the dog for a walk

Now I only need those metal rings , but I did not get on the wagon, when they were available and seeing how busy heliharris is doing all sorts of metalwork for our estemed members, I did not want to bother him..

[clausdk]

BTW the "cone" is just a drinking glass turned upside-down
I just lack the vocabulary

[covenant]

Feb 13, 2010 0:51:18 GMT @clausdk said:

BTW the "cone" is just a drinking glass turned upside-down
I just lack the vocabulary

I am glad you told us. I tried Claus's gaping red ring on Google and got some unusual results.

[Deleted]

The German guy that sold the earpads on e-bay is selling them of ebay too:
www.idexmedia.de/
Mind that he stopped making them as only a few of them in certain colors are available.
click 'lederohrpolster' on the left of the website (means leather earpads)

I am having leather pads made by an old friend in the USA who makes leather things.
He is an old worn out guy and will not make more I presume (could ask him)

The black ones I got from Idexmedia were of appalling quality (mailed pics to Mike... he knows).
He did mention he could make good ones too and could send another pair.
DON't ever use the 'dust filters' he supplies in any circumstances ... utter crap (Mike can confirm)

the AKG velour pads (as many people on the forum can confirm) are MUCH better than the stock pads in feel/fit and sonic qualities b.t.w. and am not saying because I do the group buying but just because they ARE.

Mike.. get out your 'cone' and mod the other red pads you have or ship them off to Claus and let his 'cone' do the work as he has done a brilliant job indeed !!!

Frans

[clausdk]

Feb 13, 2010 8:56:43 GMT covenant said:

Feb 13, 2010 0:51:18 GMT @clausdk said:

BTW the "cone" is just a drinking glass turned upside-down
I just lack the vocabulary

I am glad you told us. I tried Claus's gaping red ring on Google and got some unusual results.

I was much younger at the time

[Deleted]

Now I only need those metal rings , but I did not get on the wagon, when they were available and seeing how busy heliharris is doing all sorts of metalwork for our estemed members, I did not want to bother him..

Clausk,

I have just put YOU on the list, and you WILL receive a set when i do the next batch .

Mick.

[clausdk]

Feb 13, 2010 19:08:04 GMT @heliharris said:

Now I only need those metal rings , but I did not get on the wagon, when they were available and seeing how busy heliharris is doing all sorts of metalwork for our estemed members, I did not want to bother him..

Clausk,

I have just put YOU on the list, and you WILL receive a set when i do the next batch .

Mick.

Yes I was not that subtle about it, thank you very much

OT: I would love to make some boxes toogether with you for the ampproject wood and polished metal look so good toogether..
Brass/copper and mahogani is tha bomb..

[Deleted]

OT: I would love to make some boxes toogether with you for the ampproject wood and polished metal look so good toogether..Brass/copper and mahogani is tha bomb..

Yes Clausdk, i am sure i could be of some help to you in that department .

Mick.

[PinkFloyd]

Mick,

I have a spare set of red leather pads, I will send them over to Claus for his cone mods and he can send them to you..... my way of thanking you for the knob .....

All the best,

Mike.

[clausdk]

Feb 13, 2010 21:55:45 GMT PinkFloyd said:

Mick,

I have a spare set of red leather pads, I will send them over to Claus for his cone mods and he can send them to you..... my way of thanking you for the knob .....

All the best,

Mike.

No problem, I will PM you when finshed, to get the adress..

[Deleted]

That`s very kind of you Mike, but if its ok with you, would rather have some of the upgrade bits your putting in the Bravo if you have any spare. I still think its the best SQ value for the Buck that i have heard in my iPod set up, and if it can be improved, i would be happy as a Monk in a Convent.

Just listening to YELLO "Touch Yello" through it with the 681`s, its absolutely fantastic. I LOVE IT.

[PinkFloyd]

Feb 13, 2010 22:26:01 GMT @heliharris said:

That`s very kind of you Mike, but if its ok with you, would rather have some of the upgrade bits your putting in the Bravo if you have any spare. I still think its the best SQ value for the Buck that i have heard in my iPod set up, and if it can be improved, i would be happy as a Monk in a Convent.

Just listening to YELLO "Touch Yello" through it with the 681`s, its absolutely fantastic. I LOVE IT.

No Probs, consider it done.... you're getting the pads too so shut the..........

[PinkFloyd]

Feb 13, 2010 22:26:01 GMT @heliharris said:

That`s very kind of you Mike, but if its ok with you, would rather have some of the upgrade bits your putting in the Bravo if you have any spare. I still think its the best SQ value for the Buck that i have heard in my iPod set up, and if it can be improved, i would be happy as a Monk in a Convent.

Just listening to YELLO "Touch Yello" through it with the 681`s, its absolutely fantastic. I LOVE IT.

Try "Pocket Universe".........

[Deleted]

Havn`t got that one Mike,"Touch Yello" is the only one of there`s that i have, in fact never heard of them before reading the thread, superb recording as well, which is a bonus. Thanks again for the pads, its not necessary to do this, i was quiet happy to make you a knob, enjoyed making it, if you get my drift.

Mick.

[pjc68]

Just want to say thanks to mick heliharris for the ali rings, great
workmanship and when i get the time i am going to fit these on
the 681,s.
I left a thanks on buyer/seller feedback on the 6th feb but wasnt
too sure if you had seen it.
once again mick muchos gratias amigo.
regards
paddy

[jkeny]

guys,
Can I ask - is there a group buy for these headphones/aluminium rings/new pads?

I've tried to order them from amazon.co.uk but they won't deliver to Ireland. Any help appreciated

John

BTW, Has anybody tried these in balanced mode? Seeing as these are going to be re-wired anyway?

[Deleted]

John,
Best (cheapest) place to by headphones is Music King in Halesowen (google it). Rings are the domain of Mick (helliharris) and Solderdude (Frans) may be able to help you with pads.
Hope this helps.

[jkeny]

Thanks davek, I appreciate your info - Frans has been in touch. I just saw that Mick is going into hospital today, let me send him my best wishes & a speedy recovery. I also saw that has just 4 of the last run of MK3 rings on a first PM basis on 1st Mar - I don't expect to catch one of these

I'll probably DIY or improvise with coins - are the end-caps the most important for SQ?

[jkeny]

One other question which hasn't been asked here, I think - has anybody tried these in balanced mode? Does anybody have some balanced headphone cable that I could buy?

[Deleted]

HD681's are being modded !!
Pads are ready to be mounted on these babies too.

Peeps who ordered them can expect an e-mail within the next few days.

<edit> cans are ready and will try to PM those that placed an order this evening when all is ready to ship.

Frans

[puffin]

Frans. Got my pads today. Will fit them tonight.

Thanks.

Rob.

[gomez]

Yep got mine today too all fitted Thanks Frans

[andy]

Frans,

thanks for my muff's!

feel a lot better than the standard ones, though i may have to try a cone modification as the opening is a little smaller then the originals and i appear to have big ears!

thanks again

Andy

[Deleted]

Frans,

Mine have arrived too (though for my AKG K280), very cosey.

Cheers matey.