2. misc-audio
  3. 150390-100071

Miracles in Audio, by luck, by good choices,by design or by tweaking...

I owned a low cost headphone for many years, the Fostex TH7B, first version( a new one close version exist Fostex TH7BK), semi-open headphone...I was never completely satisfied by any headphones I ever owned: Hifiman 400, Stax basic lamda, Stax 5 gold,Akg 340,Akg 701, beyerdynamic 990, and T150... Because in each of them with all their qualities I never listen to at the same times, a confortable headphone with natural timbre and voicing, with a good imaging and a realistic soundstage(not too close to my ears)...


For the last days I tweaked this Fostex, to damp his internal resonance I used sorbothane, I put some shungite stones at the exterior part of the cups and I use some Herkimer diamond in the interior pads( 3 at 120 degree) … Now this low cost headphones crush all my others if I sum all his qualities... For example his mids and voicing cannot beat the AKG 340 but among all my other headphones it is the best that is near that mids and it is more confortable, and with longer cable than the 340...His imaging is better and more realistic than the 340 etc etc...It is the same if I compare with the others...


His most important qualities is natural timbre and clear imaging,very precise pinned point accuracy and natural, so clear it crush for that ALL the others to dust...In the French audio circle the reviews were more than very positive few years ago...Diapason d’or and choc Classica...I am not the only one impressed buy the ratio quality/price... But remember that thesae reviewers dont tweak their headphone...The difference between before and after the tweaks are staggering...


Yes Miracles happens in Audio: cost is under 100 American dollars... Few years ago they cost me 50 bucks new... I never dreamed that I will go back to headphones...


I will enjoy your miracles stories of any kind ….My best to all...
mahgister

Showing 6 responses by oregonpapa

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
Mahgister ...

The lengths we go to in order to improve our sound systems seem rather silly to many. But ... proper tweaking can really make the difference between a so-so system and one that approaches world-class.

You mentioned using copper foil. I have small copper foil strips around the edges of my large living room (the listening room) windows. Same thing with the artwork on the walls. They are covered with glass and are a reflective surface. Same with the glass fronts on the built-in cabinets in the adjoining dining room. Tim Mrock, the owner of Perfect Path Technologies turned me on to that tweak about two years ago, and it did help with the SQ.

Frank
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
mahgister 

On the outside of the speaker cabinets. 

Frank
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
mahgister ...

If it won't mar the finish on your speakers, try the copper foil tape on the inside sides of the speakers in various locations. There's another possible improvement to be had there.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
geoffkait ...

It continues to amaze me how many folks will just laugh, scoff and dismiss these ideas without trying them for themselves. I mentioned the glass cabinet doors on the dining room cabinets. There's four of them. I found that just by leaving one of them halfway open, I get an improvement. It acts like another room treatment. My friend Robert discovered that when I inadvertently left it open during a listening session one night and he was sitting in the sweet spot. 

Frank

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
Nah. Boo ... 

Copper tape is just copper tape. Copper on one side and adhesive on the other. You can buy it at hobby and crafts stores. 

Frank
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
Geoff sez ...

  • "Oregonpapa, actually it’s not just copper tape. Are you pretending to be dense?"

Hey, I resent that! I don't have to pretend to be dense. Uhh, what? 

Frank  
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
mahgister 

I read your list of equipment that you bought for little money and was nodding my head in agreement with you. 

I've taken great care to reduce noise and vibration from the system to an amazing extent and results. 

When my $10,000 CD player went kaput, I happened to be in a thrift store looking for used CDs, when my eye caught a Kenwood CD player. The clerk let me test it out, and I thought ... what the heck, its only ten dollars, so why not give it a try.

Well, I took it home, took the lid off and treated everything inside, including the entire underside of the lid with PPT's Total Contact. Then, I placed it on some PPT Omega mats. Then, the VPI brick went on top of the unit.

To say that I was shocked, would be an understatement. For ten dollars, the sound I got was close to the 10k unit it replaced. Not as extended in the extremes, but entirely enjoyable none the less.

At the present time, I'm using a used Pioneer Elite DVD player that has been modified with upgraded caps and the PPT Total Contact treatment. This has resulted in a real giant killer and in many ways, it outperforms the 10k player that still sits on the "reserve" shelf waiting for repairs. Once repaired, it will be sold, and I will keep the Pioneer Elite DVD player.

Total investment in the Pioneer Elite DVD player, modifications included? $300.00. 

Take care ...

Frank
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