toad
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Post by toad on Mar 19, 2010 13:43:50 GMT
The following is a description of how to mod your Skytronics to produce something IMHO better than the Superlux HD681 and close to the AKG K701 for SQ. The mod is very simple and just requires the removal of the paper from some of the holes in the baffles with a stanley knife or similar. All I done was remove the pads and then opened some of the holes. Basically I opened more holes at the front of the baffle rather than the the back i.e. those that sit nearer the front of your head rather than the back of your head. The reason for doing that was to help project the sounds forward and out of your head. I tried all sorts of hole removal between 1 and 7 holes per cup and I've settled on opening 5 holes. I've just used sticky tape to cover the holes where I got too enthusiastic (although the top end was great at 7 holes ). So the pattern I have is now as follows. I opened the 2 holes nearest the bottom front baffle screw. 1 nearest the top front baffle screw. I also opened a hole closest to to the bottom rear screw and then skipped one hole and opened the one above that almost back centre of the baffle thus giving a slight bias to the front of the headphone if you see what I mean. The deep bass has suffered a little but I'm not a bass head so I'm fine with it. I may try loading the cups with some foam or Claus' wool stuff in an attempt to bring back a little of the bass but not if it reduces the excellent soundstage. It seemed to work for me and I now have a soundstage that is on par with but different to the AKG K701s. If anything it has more depth and height but not quite as much width. A tremendous sense of 3D. Overall they have excellent SQ. TBH these are spending more time on my head than my K701s, not because they are better but just different. I now have 3 pairs. One here at work, one at home and a spare pair because for £13 I can I urge any of you with the Skytronics to try these mods one hole at a time, stopping when you find the sound you like, If you go too far just use sellotape to cover the hole, you will not be disappointed. ;D Ian
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2010 13:55:03 GMT
OK Ian, you have convinced me, i will give them another go with your mods
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 19, 2010 14:11:34 GMT
Yeh..... count me in too It's just the "feel" of the things that put me off Ian, they are definitely NOT the most comfortable of animals.
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toad
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I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Mar 19, 2010 14:17:53 GMT
Yeh..... count me in too It's just the "feel" of the things that put me off Ian, they are definitely NOT the most comfortable of animals. I've got a dab hand at bending them into a comfy shape, having done 3 pairs now They aren't as comfy as the modded 681s but they are way better than the unmodded for comfort levels IMHO
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Post by puffin on Mar 19, 2010 16:23:44 GMT
Bend the headband until the top of the ear pads are a snug fit over the ears and hugging your sideburns (remember sideburns gentlemen?!) The band will look more rounded and less flat. It is quite springy and quite a bit of force is required.
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toad
Been here a while!
I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 12:35:17 GMT
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Post by MaN227 on Mar 22, 2010 12:44:08 GMT
any others do these mods?
impressions?
just seen your pic, man mine are more bent than yours both at the top and sides.
I've decided to try black elastic , had from a fabric store, at minimum one inch, thinking 1 1/2 inch will be good. cut it to half inch wide on both ends , wrap that half inch ends around the padded arms and i'm just gonna hand stitch this elastic onto the arms. should be very easy to do.
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toad
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I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 12:48:01 GMT
Go for it one hole at a time. If you don't like the mods... And trust me you will then just put tape over the hole and the sound returns to what it was. Ian
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Post by MaN227 on Mar 22, 2010 12:51:53 GMT
thinking of holes . would not more highs come from center holes? vice outside holes?
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toad
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I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 13:07:05 GMT
Possible the reason is the open holes tame the bass and let the sound of the highs through. Whatever the reason the result is dramatic.
FYI I have
AKG K701 Fully Modded Superlux HD681 Stock Superlux HD681 Sennheiser HD595 Sennheiser 280 Sennheiser PX-100 Koss Porta Pro
and other lesser cans.
IMHO the skytronics out performs all but the K701s with this 5 minute mod.
Ian
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Post by clausdk on Mar 22, 2010 14:29:14 GMT
thinking of holes . would not more highs come from center holes? vice outside holes? I think that the added highs comes from the baskside of the drivers, because it is a pass to the backside that this mod makes, it also explains why it is the highs, everything from a headphone is highs from a distance.. also explains the bigger stage greater distance to your ears will do that to.. It will most likely also reduce the bass having holes in the listening chamber, amkes the "room" much bigger, but since we have bass in spades we probally won't notice it.. Putting on the AKGpads also gives some extra highs, for the same reason. Just my thougths on this
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Post by MaN227 on Mar 22, 2010 19:13:45 GMT
i just opened the back , and I bet my hole in the center comment seemed odd lol I was just looking at the holes you see when the earpad is still on DOH! listen to a speaker close up and highs are in the center not the outside , my comment was based on that. now that I got the dummy MaN out of the way lol we are talking just cutting out the squares ? or just a hole within the squares? as far as replacement of the hole cover. that feels very similar to medical 'paper tape' . not sure its quite sticky enough to stay in place on its own though. I shall wait for clifacation before donning my Dr's hat and gloves ;D the mids are not as bad as the highs being recessed, they are better sounding . if I play the 701's then these , the skytronic feels like its buried underground it seems so muffled. hope this modding helps it in that regard. all told though I never have found the skytronic fatiguing, as a higher can like the 701 can be for some music. The bass I quite like, hope to strike a nice balance.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 19:56:57 GMT
Ian, HP`s had arrived when i got home today, and have now warmed up to room temperature( the drive units in these do not like the cold . First impression is WOW!!, can this be the same make and model as my first pair, listening to Nirvana Live in N York, and they are definitely live, what a transformation, what a nice pair of HP`s these are now, well done, and thank you
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toad
Been here a while!
I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 20:13:17 GMT
i just opened the back , and I bet my hole in the center comment seemed odd lol I was just looking at the holes you see when the earpad is still on DOH! listen to a speaker close up and highs are in the center not the outside , my comment was based on that. now that I got the dummy MaN out of the way lol we are talking just cutting out the squares ? or just a hole within the squares? as far as replacement of the hole cover. that feels very similar to medical 'paper tape' . not sure its quite sticky enough to stay in place on its own though. I shall wait for clifacation before donning my Dr's hat and gloves ;D the mids are not as bad as the highs being recessed, they are better sounding . if I play the 701's then these , the skytronic feels like its buried underground it seems so muffled. hope this modding helps it in that regard. all told though I never have found the skytronic fatiguing, as a higher can like the 701 can be for some music. The bass I quite like, hope to strike a nice balance. I removed the complete square of paper from 5 holes. I did contemplate doing half holes etc but I think that's going a bit farther than is necessary. You will be gobsmacked by the difference Chaz. They end up a a very nice sounding can. I am liking mine more than my AKG K701s at the moment but I'm sure some of that is new toy syndrome but not all of it that's for sure. Do the mods and enjoy Ian
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toad
Been here a while!
I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
Posts: 1,223
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 20:16:16 GMT
Ian, HP`s had arrived when i got home today, and have now warmed up to room temperature( the drive units in these do not like the cold . First impression is WOW!!, can this be the same make and model as my first pair, listening to Nirvana Live in N York, and they are definitely live, what a transformation, what a nice pair of HP`s these are now, well done, and thank you Glad you like them Mick. They only had an hour on them so they'll get better over the next few days use. They are a different animal after the mods that's for sure. I could hear that potential in them before the mods but couldn't put my finger on why I liked them so much LOL
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 20:36:18 GMT
Hi Ian & Mick, What are these mods of which you speak? . Have you done anything other than remove the paper covering some of the holes? I have 'invested' in a set of these and currently rate them well down on the HD681s, even straight out of the box. Dave.
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toad
Been here a while!
I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 20:54:26 GMT
Hi Dave. It's purely a matter of removing the paper from some of the holes in the baffles. See my first post for details.
The mods basically open out the sound, tame the bass and improve the highs no end.
Very easy mod to do. Just open the holes one at a time until you get the sound you like and then relax and enjoy the best £13 you ever spent on audio
Ian
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 20:59:41 GMT
Ok Ian, will leave them playing to themselves over night, and all day tomorrow
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Post by puffin on Mar 22, 2010 21:16:19 GMT
Hi Ian & Mick, What are these mods of which you speak? . Have you done anything other than remove the paper covering some of the holes? I have 'invested' in a set of these and currently rate them well down on the HD681s, even straight out of the box. Dave. Dave. They need at least 3 weeks serious use, judicious opening of some of the holes and "rob's magic compound" behind the drivers and some sticky backed plastic to make them virually sealed back. If you want them modded, you know where I live! I thought they were rubbish when I got mine. I rate them over the 681s now.
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toad
Been here a while!
I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
Posts: 1,223
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Post by toad on Mar 22, 2010 21:23:33 GMT
Rob, have you tried them with just the holes and no other mods? Because if your mods lift them even a little above what I'm hearing now then they will be the best cans I've ever heard. If you haven't tried them with just the hole removal mod let Dave mod his then compare the two and please let us know your thoughts.
Ian
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Post by puffin on Mar 22, 2010 21:37:40 GMT
Ian. I have tried them by just opening the holes. Not as good as with the other tweaks as well. However it is all subjective. I suppose others may not like what I like. I think what I have now is very well balanced and sounds far far better than I thought they ever would. Bass is not as deep as the 681s, but then most cans aren't.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 21:54:57 GMT
Hi everyone, So, a fully loaded Skytronics has a little less paper on the inside, a ring nest of aquarium filter under the layer of paper and some sticky sheet material on the outside? All that I can probably muster myself as long as there's no magic dust involved . Dave
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Post by puffin on Mar 22, 2010 21:59:36 GMT
Oh yes..the magic dust. Forgot to mention that. Only one source I know of is the gusset of pantie wearing transylvanian wood nymphs. Mind you a bloke I know said they did have some in his local supermarket?
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Post by clausdk on Mar 22, 2010 22:20:34 GMT
I got a bucket full of magic dust, it was on sale last week, mine are from water nymphs in Timbuktu, would that be good enough ??
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 22, 2010 22:29:55 GMT
Ian..... My "day off" tomorrow...... I'll dedicate it to the Skytronics Mike.
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