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...
128x128mahgister

Showing 50 responses by thecarpathian

Imagination and small money are the essence of innovation...
A nice mate sounds good today!
Mahgister, even though I've no miracle stories to share, I very much enjoy reading about your tweaks and the passion you have for your pursuit of better sound.
I sure hope so, these new fangled transistor radios are the bee’s knees!
Where do you see STD’s in your future?
Two things happen, it gets reflected to wherever depending on the angle it struck it at, and a bit gets absorbed and dissipates as heat. That's why most shielding also has a heat sink capacity.
Ah, an absorber is also considered a shield. I was getting into semantics where one would reflect the signal more and one would absorb the signal more than the other. Sorry for the confusion.
@whostolethebatmobile, I must say, they look really cool! Also, very generous of you to give them out for free.

Geoff, he's recommending products he doesn't sell. You on the other hand, are consistently squeezing your wares into many a thread, including this one. Not saying it's wrong, I'm saying that giving away what he makes and at the same time recommending something you pay for are mutually exclusive. Don't be a cube, Rube!
Kudos to me! Mahgister, I thank you for your kindness and generosity, but I must say you deserve the prize more than I. You have a kind soul. I am sure you can win the whole prize.
Think of the room itself as the stereo cabinet, and the headphone speakers the drivers contained in the cabinet, albeit pointed directly into your ears. Just as you want to eliminate or control unwanted resonances within your speaker cabinets so they don’t interfere with the drivers, you want to control unwanted resonances within your listening room so they don’t interfere with the headphone drivers. And that is why you employ acoustic resonators in your room.
Actually, geoff is rich and generous enough to send us both a prize! That way all three of us win...
You mean besides me and mahgister....I hope you weren't up too late packaging up our prizes!
Well mahgister, it appears no answer is forthcoming from geoffkait.
How will I ever sleep tonight?
Oh, I know how! I don’t care....
Have a good night, my friend.
Sounds like wonderful dinner music.
Okay Professor, let's hear your explanation about room resonators with headphones.
Indeed! When one has scarce resources and is forced to improvise, the result can be excellent.
He's the one who should be apologizing to you. Not that it's ever going to happen.....and trust me, you didn't hurt his feelings.
Mahgister, I suggest a private message to him if you really want to know the answer because I don't believe you will receive one here.
Sorry, I meant in the picture you posted. The shungite pyramids are sitting on what exactly?
Mahgister, what type of electronics are your shungite pyramids sitting on?
Meant to ask you earlier but I was enjoying being a pain on another thread...
I'm partial to the milder curries. Of course, a roast rack of lamb rubbed with fresh garlic and rosemary with mint jelly is hard to beat...
You are right, my friend. I shall not allow his sour apple attitude to spoil our musical metaphor meeting.
Not a highjacking, I'm simply employing a gastronomic metaphor for the exquisitely delicious sound qualities of the crystals nourishing the soul...:)
As coincidence would have it, I had curry lamb for lunch and am also experiencing the Backfire Effect....
Good night, my friend. May the beautiful sound of your stereo curry you off to sleep....:)
I would say what your wife thinks is much more important than what anyone else thinks. I applaud your passion for good sound and your very interesting experiments. 
mahgister, I am still reading with interest your experiences in your meticulous experimentation. I once again doff my hat and raise a glass of yerba mate to you!
Thanks, Geoff. I also use it to keep slugs and snails out of my vegetable garden, works a delight. Feel free to try it. Don't be a cube, rube. Go ape!
Somebody put crazy powder in your blue plate special?? Anyone can use copper tape for any purpose they wish without fear of legal retribution within the limits of the law. I really don't think taping it to your speakers and windows qualifies as an illegal act or (ridiculous) patent infringement. 

You, my friend, have some fascinating ideas. Again, thank you for sharing your ideas and experiences. A hot mate' toast to you!
I am happy your hard work and dedication are paying off with greater musical enjoyment, my friend. Even though I think that it is less hard work for you and more enjoyable work!
My friend, you have many "ghosts" haunting this thread. They are silently listening, but they are there.......
antigrunge2,
Sounds interesting.
Why don’t you try it and report your results....