Hello all,
I have for a time had the Sony MDR-XD300 headphones as listening equipment. While these may not be the high-end headphones some of you are accustomed to, I am quite satisfied with these.
Frequency range: 8-25000 Hz
Impedance: 70 ohm
Sensitivity: 104db/mW
I am currently considering the following modifications:
A. Separate left and right cabling
B. Other possible modifications
On A, I would basically aim towards a balanced cable and a separate shielding for each of the left/right sides. (Of course the shielding could/might be shared between channels, but apart from that nothing...) Basically the idea would be something like XLR-connector on each part of the headphones, but a standard XLR-connector is quite bulky and I am leaning towards something like a mini-XLR or possily a standard 1/8" stereo plug (or something similar).
On B, I am considering conversion from closed to open, but I would like to hear any input from other experiences. Also other modifications are interesting.
Glad to hear your input on this...
I have for a time had the Sony MDR-XD300 headphones as listening equipment. While these may not be the high-end headphones some of you are accustomed to, I am quite satisfied with these.
Frequency range: 8-25000 Hz
Impedance: 70 ohm
Sensitivity: 104db/mW
I am currently considering the following modifications:
A. Separate left and right cabling
B. Other possible modifications
On A, I would basically aim towards a balanced cable and a separate shielding for each of the left/right sides. (Of course the shielding could/might be shared between channels, but apart from that nothing...) Basically the idea would be something like XLR-connector on each part of the headphones, but a standard XLR-connector is quite bulky and I am leaning towards something like a mini-XLR or possily a standard 1/8" stereo plug (or something similar).
On B, I am considering conversion from closed to open, but I would like to hear any input from other experiences. Also other modifications are interesting.
Glad to hear your input on this...
peteran said:
IMO, cable swaps on headphones are pointless unless you just don't like the original cable's mechanical performance, or if it shorts out.
Converting a closed headphone to open will probably remove all bass.
A: The separate left/right cabling is to provide flexibility (among other thins). I've already had to shorten the current cable due to a small accident when rolling over it with an office chair a number of times. Also separating the channels gives me the option to play with running the headphones in a balanced fashion. I'm leaning towards 2x mono 1/8" as it'll take less space and weight, but using mini-XLR would give separate hot, cold and ground. Then again using a stereo 1/8" connector could be wired with left and right as hot and cold. Damn. Can't decide what to do 🙂 Maybe I'll just run a 10" wire out and put a suitable connector there.
B: I was perhaps a bit short on my thinking on this. Yes, I suspected that converting closed to open would kill bass. I was considering something in the lines of the grado headphone modifications. Perhaps something kind of modular design to play with open, closed and different volumes.
C (new): In order to get something more objective than listening tests I'm thinking I will need to build a "dummy head"/"artificial ear". I haven't seen this around much, so if anyone has a link or ideas...
D: In order to do C I would like to measure and store the results on a computer. (As it is I don't even have an oscilloscope at home, but that will soon change. I will buy a used analog one as soon as I decide which one I need.) I am leaning towards either using my soundcard for this or using buying one of the PicoScope 2200 Series oscilloscopes for this. Any recommendations here?
B: I was perhaps a bit short on my thinking on this. Yes, I suspected that converting closed to open would kill bass. I was considering something in the lines of the grado headphone modifications. Perhaps something kind of modular design to play with open, closed and different volumes.
C (new): In order to get something more objective than listening tests I'm thinking I will need to build a "dummy head"/"artificial ear". I haven't seen this around much, so if anyone has a link or ideas...
D: In order to do C I would like to measure and store the results on a computer. (As it is I don't even have an oscilloscope at home, but that will soon change. I will buy a used analog one as soon as I decide which one I need.) I am leaning towards either using my soundcard for this or using buying one of the PicoScope 2200 Series oscilloscopes for this. Any recommendations here?
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