Samson SR850: how much different from the HD681?

[Deleted]

For techno, drum and bass e.t.c. the bass extension of HD681 is unrivaled but might be o.t.t..
Would not recommend the modded HD681 for mixing or producing as people that will be listening to the end result will experience lack of bass and upper treble.

For listening 'lively' most engaging listen, rumbling depth of bass and extended highs the modded HD681 beats the SR850
For mixing or more realistic listening the modded SR850 is better suited (better mids too, warmer).

If you do not want to mod the SR850/HD668B will be best but both lack treble extension and rumbling bass.

both need (scream) for the velour pads as it also sweetens the sound.

More bass extension for SR850 needed ? (drill the 350 holes in the back up to 1.8mm)
Less bass level on HD681 ? (cover one or more holes to suit the taste)

the HD681 needs the filter to get rid of the piercing highs.
The SR850 needs a filter to extend the highs and in this case to rid a small peak.

Also consider the HD681B (Stay away from the F, it has no bass and thus sounds shrill)
The B has a nicer color scheme too as the red HD681 (without suffix)
the bass will be more in the direction of the SR850.

[psilocybe]

Thanks for the reply. I listen to a lot of jazz and classical, as well as house/dance music. I think it's split pretty evenly between them, with a little classic rock thrown in.

I decided to go for the SR850's, as there was only one left in stock at $37, and if I don't like it, I can always return it and get the 681's. Still, it'd be really nice to hear Frans' opinion.

I think I might go ahead and get the components to mod the 850's, but it's nice to know that it sounds good without it, as I probably won't have time to do it until quite a bit later.

Edit: Haha, beat me to the punch Frans, thanks for your advice! Maybe I'll soon get the 681's as well, for my listening pleasure when I have more time to mod

I think I'll definitely have to give the mods a go on the SR850's, I do love deep bass. It sounds like they're the right choice though, as I listen to a lot of jazz vocal and classical stuff and plan to mix with them.

I can't wait to hear them!

[psilocybe]

Oh, and do you happen to know where I might find these AKG pads for relatively cheap? I've only been able to find one place that sells them for $40 dollars (for my $37 pair of HP's XD).

[elysion]

Nov 28, 2010 13:09:00 GMT elysion said:

I'll try to get/make textile headbands for them. I hope to get also some neon colours headbands for the SR850's. I think that would match them quite good since they are very "camouflaged" otherwise. I'm thinking also of other design elements in eye-catching colours.

These corporations are on my list for searching the right textile materials:
www.lantal.ch/
www.mammut.ch/
www.dakine.ch/
www.hess-sattlerei.ch/
www.swisstextiles.ch/mitglieder/

If I'm successful in searching the right textiles, I intend to produce (or to let produce) at least a few dozens headbands in different colours. Since SR850/HD7/HD681/HD662B/K240/K271/K272 all have the same type of headband, those headbands should be usable for all of those 'phones.

Perhaps I can convince the audio shop who's selling the SR850's to me to make a bundle with the SR850's sold there. I've talked rather long with one of the owners yesterday and I've suggested that the make bundles with an SR850, 2x AKG velours pads and (perhaps) a replacement headband. They are generally interested to sell big quantities since they don't make much money with just one headphone.

I don't have the finished textile headbands now. But I've advanced a step. I buyed 4x 1m of textile bands. I was in a small sewing shop today. They sell all kind of stuff that is needed for sewing and also a wide variety of textile materials.

Basically, there's no need to go to some big companies (like some of those mentioned above) unless you want to go for big quantities.

I've paid 4.40CHF for 1m of 4cm wide textile bands. This wide should be enough to make headbands for a couple headphones. I guess 1m is enough for about three headbands, but I have to calculate it exactly later. Perhaps I can get even wider textile bands

I've asked them also if they could do sewing work that is needed to seal the ends of the textile bands and the edges of the areas that have to be cut out. First off: They can't. They do only things like sewing new zips into pants etc. But what the woman there told me afterwards was very interesting. The textile bands are made from synthetic fibre. You can seal the ends of the bands easily with normal lighter since the fibre is sensitive to strong heat.

I'm already thinking of something like a branding iron to cut out the needed holes and sealing the edges of the holes and the ends of the bands in just one work step. That would offer a lot of new possibilites to create cheap headband replacements and small series at low cost.





Big advantages of textile headbands are good comfort, low costs, a lot of available wides and colour variants. The textile bands can also be washed without problems.

BTW: I asked her if a special sewing machine is need to handle the textile bands. She told me that a normal sewing machine should be fine. In case the "branding iron" doesn't work, I have at least another possibility to do the work.

[Deleted]

By request...

a tutorial how to solder in the parts in the SR850

in the blue inlay you can see the original insides.
Solder the red wire free and carefully remove the red wire from the hotmelt glue or sticky gui (whatever is used)



Then solder the parts as displayed in the drawing towards the free pad on the left.

Solder the red wire that came off onto that left pad too together with the components and it should work.

DON'T overheat the pads.
DON'T bend the parts after they have been soldered onto the pads otherwise you will tare off the traces.
Prebend the parts and then solder.

Also drill the holes a bit bigger (as stated above) to get a bit more lows.

This is a bit what it should look like a bit.
The picture below is NOT the SR850 filter but a different HD681B highs filter, it's just displayed for an impression.

[Chris53]

Thanks for this solderdude. This looks nice and fiddly I might give it a go. Would these inductors of the right value fit inside? tinyurl.com/6b2solm

If not, where did you source the ones you used? I've picked Maplin purely because I'm in the UK.

[Deleted]

The resistance of these coils is too high (they are too small physically and current wise)

I use Fabrikant: EPCOS B82144A2474J = Farnell order code 517070
I could order a few of those in a few weeks time after my holiday.

Perhaps a coil like this will also be fine: Farnell order code 1848274

[vodka]

Hi there guys, excellent headphones! Upgraded from a pair of modded HD202s, the SR850 is amazing.

I wanted to build this filter for my SR850, so I bought everything but the coils. I couldn't find them anywhere around here (I'm in Argentina). Could I build the filter without the coils? I think it won't work, but I could try...

[Deleted]

The inductors are an essential part of the filter.

Try to obtain a small inductor of 470uH with a DC resistance between 1.5 and 2.5 Ohm
Any of these inductors will do.
If you are making the filter externally you can go for bigger sizes that can handle higher currents.

[islubio]

Btw solderdude can the filter mod for the sr850 be applied to the 668b?

[Deleted]

The 668B is 64 Ohm the SR850 is 32 Ohm so values will have to be changed, it can not be used directly.
a Russian guy has been filtering his 668B but this only has the notch filter and not the extra highs.
www.mediafire.com/?3vz7pd9h2pjzwl9
here is some info on that filter

[audiohipster]

Thanks for this post... very informative, the SR850 in the picture the open perforated back looks different then the current SR850 on sale today? is more like the 668B... is that a MOd as well? and curious to see if Superlux used an existing driver... so far none of the 50mm drivers sound anything alike... i Think my favorite so far is the HD-662F. Superlux Makes 24 different kinds of ear monitors, today i looked into special ordering all the pro 50mm headphones and in ear monitors... they manufacture.. i thought it would be nice to offer these as a working recording studio, and some models seem herd to come by. Anywho THanks for the IBfo: I mean Info... Cheers Doyen :~)

[elysion]

May 10, 2011 23:01:58 GMT audiohipster said:

the SR850 in the picture the open perforated back looks different then the current SR850 on sale today? is more like the 668B... is that a MOd as well?

The picture of the SR850's you see in many advertisements doesn't show the actual SR850's. Maybe it's a kind of prototype or simply a retouched photo of other Superlux 'phones.

Since I bought my first SR850's quite early, I'm almost sure it's only the advertisement picture that looks not like it should. I'm a bit suprised that Samson didn't post a corrected image later.

I've three SR850's. The first one was followed by two others. I've bought the newer SR850's a long time after buying the first one. At least the stock pads have been improved (almost no vinyl smell, better comfort since their are not sweaty) and the packaging has changed. I can't much comment on the SQ of both variants, since I didn't have enough time for that.

[islubio]

elysion do u mind take a pic of the new packaging
would like to know whether mine are new. I find the pads to be very hot.
Just got my hd660 and the pads are a lot better much softer.

And thanks for reply solderdude
will let others on another forum know the mod.

[islubio]

The replacement pads can't be found in where i live in
N it's way too expensive to ship them over
So i did some searching n found the following pads on taobao for very cheap
They are suppose to fit the dt770,880 n GMP phones. But i managed to fit them on the samson tho they are a little smaller compared to the original pads

Some photos on the pad

item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8578517957






The velour pads vs original pads


Top - Taobao pads
Left - HD660 pads
Right - original

[Deleted]

How does the smaller hole you get with these pads (and height ?) affect the sound/comfort ?

You can increase the bass a bit by drilling the holes in the back a bit bigger.
Won't become a bass monster like the HD668, 668B, 669 e.t.c. though, just a bit more extension/body

[mrarroyo]

It would be those with big ears that should worry.

[elysion]

May 12, 2011 14:30:56 GMT islubio said:

elysion do u mind take a pic of the new packaging
would like to know whether mine are new. I find the pads to be very hot.
Just got my hd660 and the pads are a lot better much softer.

And thanks for reply solderdude
will let others on another forum know the mod.

I'll try to make pics of the new packaging and of the old and new vinyl pads this weekend. I don't have the older packaging anymore.

To clarify it somewhat: The new vinyl pads are slightly better than the old vinyl pads. At least the smell was almost not noticeable with the new pads. The new pads are still sweaty though and the AKG pleather pads are still better (although only slightly). The AKG velours pads are much better than the original pads. I can't comment much about the SQ with the original pads. I couldn't wear the first original pads for long and since I have velours pads as alternative, I'm not to fond of trying the stock pads for serious comparison.

[islubio]

May 13, 2011 11:28:04 GMT @solderdude said:

How does the smaller hole you get with these pads (and height ?) affect the sound/comfort ?

You can increase the bass a bit by drilling the holes in the back a bit bigger.
Won't become a bass monster like the HD668, 668B, 669 e.t.c. though, just a bit more extension/body

Well they are pretty comfortable n also slightly thicker then the stock pads. I think my ears are avg or small n fits in the smaller hole nicely.

As for how it affect the sound i will do a comparison later but they are for sure not sweaty like the stock.

I fell aslp while wearing them so thay should be pretty comfortable.

It's actually meant to replace the dt770 n Gmp phones so if ur ears can fit nicely on the dt770 these are pretty darn good

[Deleted]

The AKG K240 pads also have smaller holes and are slightly thicker the the original pads (which I have never used)
The AKG pads do make a sonic difference for the better, though not a huge diffference but enough to notice.
I figure these pads will be about the same.

Original DT770 pads will not fit on the Superluxes.

[islubio]

hmm after a little listening. The base seems to be a little weaker on these pads.
u don "feel" the impact when listening compared to the stock pads.
i have only listened to 1 song during comparison n have only paid attention to the bass so far.
Still not very sure which sq i prefer but comfort goes to these velour.
Song - Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

solderdude maybe u can give a comparison between the stock n the akg pads?

Hmm someone have managed to fit the dt770 pads on the 668b tho.
but these are handcrafted pads that fit the beyer n german mastero.

[islubio]

Btw solderdude can u take a pic comparing the akg pads n the stock pads?

[Deleted]

pads:
left original, middle K240 velours, right velour pulled over original pad (velour is warm red as HD681 is red in the picture it looks pink)

K240 pads are most comfortable.

[elysion]

May 13, 2011 15:57:51 GMT elysion said:

I'll try to make pics of the new packaging and of the old and new vinyl pads this weekend. I don't have the older packaging anymore.

Sorry for the delay with the pics. Since Frans already posted a few pad variant, I'll concentrate on the slightly different stock pads and the new packaging. I'll make the pics ASAP.

[elysion]

I know: I'm damn late... I hope not too late:


The handbook of my first pair of SR850's says "Printed June 2009 v1.0", I guess they are really from the first batch:


I have a second and a third pair, which I've bought together and a lot later. I've bought them primarily for doing some modding on them and for having good (and cheap) 'phones for visitors at home.
I did not compare the older and newer SR850 variants acoustically so far. My focus was on other headphones in the last few months.

The packaging of the new SR850's says "SASR850C". Does "C" mean this is the third (improved?) model?


I'm almost sure that my first pair is the original model. There are almost no visual difference between both variants. Same colour, same design and same quality. But the packiging is different. I didn't keep the packaging of the first pair, it was a annoying box made from clear plastic with a printed cardboard inlay inside. The old packing was noticeable bigger. IMO the main difference are the pads. The first pair had HORRIBLE smelly vinyl pads with a totally flat surface. They've sounded bad and they've felt even worse – YUK!
The newer pairs have new pleather pads that have some wrinkles. They are very similar to AKG K240 pleater pads, but the AKG pads feel still slightly better than the new Samson pads. The AKG pleather pads are much better than the old vinyl pads, but the newer Samson pleather pads are so good that you don't need to buy AKG pleather pads. The AKG velours pads, on the other hand, are much better than all those pleather and vinyl pads. So the recommendation is clear: Buy AKG velours pads. Forget about everything else unless you need really something other than velour.

Background (from left to right):
– newer SR850 packging
– newer SR850's with stock pleather pads
– old SR850's with leather headband from ClausDK and AKG velours pads
Foreground (from left to right):
– smelly vinyl stock pads of the old SR850's
– AKG pleather pads



And a few closeups: