Hello, I also got my shortly used pair ESS 422H last week, the Shure Pads and the Sennheiser Headband is still installed.
Before them I used DT-880 Edition 250 Ohm, AKG K702 and ATH-911 (my first own Headphones in the 90's, still like new) they all Sound linear in my ears.
The ESS 422H Sound completely different, much more bass and less treble and mid.
I think Voices Sound a Little bit like behind a curtain.
Can you agree with this?
I wish they had a little bit more treble and mids, is there anybody else who thinks so?
Is there a way to tweak the Headphones to get the Sound more linear?
Marc
Hello, I also got my shortly used pair ESS 422H last week, the Shure Pads and the Sennheiser Headband is still installed.
Before them I used DT-880 Edition 250 Ohm, AKG K702 and ATH-911 (my first own Headphones in the 90's, still like new) they all Sound linear in my ears.
The ESS 422H Sound completely different, much more bass and less treble and mid.
I think Voices Sound a Little bit like behind a curtain.
Can you agree with this?
I wish they had a little bit more treble and mids, is there anybody else who thinks so?
Is there a way to tweak the Headphones to get the Sound more linear?
EDIT: I found the thread in head-fi.org community, it Looks so that I'm not the only one who has this perceive of the Sound.
The Question is, will there be a solution to improve Sound with a change in the crossover between the two Drivers?
Will a resistor Control the dynamic Driver for better, more ballanced Sound?
Will a better filter does more improvement in Sound?
I think it's a diy community… ;-)
Marc
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Sorry, it was a joke as answer for this detailed tip I got. ;-)
I haven't opened them till now.
I think I will try a resistor in line of the dynamic Driver at first.
If it works it would be a solution to put some dip switches or a Rotary switch under the cushions where you can switch between different resistor values for personal Sound tweaking.
Another Question is if the dynamic Driver should be cut off in the treble so that we have a real simple two way crossover like the one in a Speaker.
I haven't opened them till now.
I think I will try a resistor in line of the dynamic Driver at first.
If it works it would be a solution to put some dip switches or a Rotary switch under the cushions where you can switch between different resistor values for personal Sound tweaking.
Another Question is if the dynamic Driver should be cut off in the treble so that we have a real simple two way crossover like the one in a Speaker.
Yesterday I found the Time to open up the ESS422H and tried a mod for less bass.
The Dynamic Driver has 27 Ohm and the AMT has a capacitor with 10µF in line with +.
I changed the Layout of the Little Board on the Dynamic Driver.
At first i made a cut, see the attached Picture.
Then I changed the capacitor Location and insert a 10 Ohm resistor instead.
The capacitor went to an other Position and the + in and the +AMT cables have to be changed.
I hope you see it on the second attached Picture.
On the top you see the changed layout and on the Bottom you see the Standard layout.
I tried some resistor values, and the 10 Ohm Version was the best in my eyes.
The bass is always good (like in the DT990 i think) but much less than before.
The treble and bass are at the same Level now and it sounds much better then before.
I think the next step will be damping of the naked Wood in the Cups.
I also will take a try with a coil instead the resistor in front of the Dynamic Driver.
I also will do a balanced mod on them, but I'm not sure how I should do that.
I could Change the 3,5mm 3pol with a 4pol or a XLR Mini 4pol.
Or I will add a second 3,5mm Connector on the Right Can, than I could use my Sundara Cables.
If I open the cans next time I will make a Picture of the changes, yesterday I was so busy with listening after the mod, so I forgott the take Pictures of the done mod.
The Dynamic Driver has 27 Ohm and the AMT has a capacitor with 10µF in line with +.
I changed the Layout of the Little Board on the Dynamic Driver.
At first i made a cut, see the attached Picture.
Then I changed the capacitor Location and insert a 10 Ohm resistor instead.
The capacitor went to an other Position and the + in and the +AMT cables have to be changed.
I hope you see it on the second attached Picture.
On the top you see the changed layout and on the Bottom you see the Standard layout.
I tried some resistor values, and the 10 Ohm Version was the best in my eyes.
The bass is always good (like in the DT990 i think) but much less than before.
The treble and bass are at the same Level now and it sounds much better then before.
I think the next step will be damping of the naked Wood in the Cups.
I also will take a try with a coil instead the resistor in front of the Dynamic Driver.
I also will do a balanced mod on them, but I'm not sure how I should do that.
I could Change the 3,5mm 3pol with a 4pol or a XLR Mini 4pol.
Or I will add a second 3,5mm Connector on the Right Can, than I could use my Sundara Cables.
If I open the cans next time I will make a Picture of the changes, yesterday I was so busy with listening after the mod, so I forgott the take Pictures of the done mod.
Attachments
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I think I also have 2mm at home, I will give it a try.
Another thing that could be modded are the two Ventilation holes on the Cups.
That are a Kind of bass-Reflex holes, I will try to cover one or both Openings and it would be interesting if the bass will get a little more control.
Btw. I ordered these cushions from Ebay, they Sound and feel good:
Ohrpolster Ohrkissen Ohrpads Fur Sony MDR ZX770BN, MDRRF985RK , MDR-RF6500 | eBay
Another thing that could be modded are the two Ventilation holes on the Cups.
That are a Kind of bass-Reflex holes, I will try to cover one or both Openings and it would be interesting if the bass will get a little more control.
Btw. I ordered these cushions from Ebay, they Sound and feel good:
Ohrpolster Ohrkissen Ohrpads Fur Sony MDR ZX770BN, MDRRF985RK , MDR-RF6500 | eBay
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Yes they are, I got my second pair of cushions yesterday and installed them on the ESS422H and together with the 10 Ohm Resistor they Sound great.
And the cushions feel very comfortable, because they are very thick and soft, more comfortable then the sure ones I also own.
The leather is the same material like the headband is, so it looks original.
Two weeks ago i testet the cushions before I added the resistor.
I ordered the cushions for my Sony MDR-ZX770BN and when I saw that they fit on the ESS I ordered another pair for them.
And the cushions feel very comfortable, because they are very thick and soft, more comfortable then the sure ones I also own.
The leather is the same material like the headband is, so it looks original.
Two weeks ago i testet the cushions before I added the resistor.
I ordered the cushions for my Sony MDR-ZX770BN and when I saw that they fit on the ESS I ordered another pair for them.
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Mine arrived.
I'll be honest, the cushions need to be replaced and there is a thin layer of foam on top of the pad that needs to be removed. I bought the Dekoni Velour for the Sony MDR-7506 as advised by somebody before and I found a big improvement. They don't look as beautiful as the original though.
The replacement of the cushions is a pain but feasible.
My headphones had an issue with the jack. One of the soldered cable was bent and shorting when wearing the headphone. I had to open the main cup to bend one of the cable and put a small piece of tape between them.
I didn't like the inside:
1. Soldering quality is not good.
2. The cabling arrangement and the cable quality inside the cup is not up to the exterior.
3. The frame surrounding the main driver has been roughly melted to make space for the jack and avoid the frame itself to overpush the soldered cables on top of the jack.
This is a clear sign of layout problems and QC issue. It's a shame considering the sound after the cushions replacement.
If I consider the sound and the exterior, these are headphones worth much more than their price, although, due to the issue I found I think they are worth of a ~150$ tag.
I'll be honest, the cushions need to be replaced and there is a thin layer of foam on top of the pad that needs to be removed. I bought the Dekoni Velour for the Sony MDR-7506 as advised by somebody before and I found a big improvement. They don't look as beautiful as the original though.
The replacement of the cushions is a pain but feasible.
My headphones had an issue with the jack. One of the soldered cable was bent and shorting when wearing the headphone. I had to open the main cup to bend one of the cable and put a small piece of tape between them.
I didn't like the inside:
1. Soldering quality is not good.
2. The cabling arrangement and the cable quality inside the cup is not up to the exterior.
3. The frame surrounding the main driver has been roughly melted to make space for the jack and avoid the frame itself to overpush the soldered cables on top of the jack.
This is a clear sign of layout problems and QC issue. It's a shame considering the sound after the cushions replacement.
If I consider the sound and the exterior, these are headphones worth much more than their price, although, due to the issue I found I think they are worth of a ~150$ tag.
can they handle good recordings of percussion at high levels? The dynamic HE350 HiFiMan headphone distorted like hell on bass drops which would be of ease with Superlux's cheap HD562. (- had Stax nearly 40 years ago - lovely midrange - depended on interface, power amp or dedicated Stax amp too)