Sennheiser HD 555 to HD 595 Mod – mike beauchamp
This web page will present you the right way to flip a $199.95 (Canadian – Prompt Retail) pair of Sennheiser HD 555 headphones right into a pair of Sennheiser HD 595‘s that price $349.95. And all you want is a screwdriver.
Intro
As an alternative of designing a very new product to suit a sure worth vary, massive scale manufacturing dictates that it’s usually cheaper to easily “cripple” an present high-end product. This manner the producer can use present molds, elements, meeting strains and coaching, and so on. In digital merchandise, firmware is normally crippled to omit/disguise sure options. For instance, digital digital camera corporations reserve capabilities (like RAW output, publicity and white steadiness bracketing, lengthy exposures, and so on.) for his or her greater priced cameras, though their least expensive digital camera has the identical capabilities (See the CHDK project for more information).
Evaluating HD555 to HD595
Due to the folks at head-fi.org, I used to be capable of finding somebody keen to take aside their costly HD595 headphones so I might examine them to my reasonably priced HD 555 headphones. Listed below are the images:
What are the variations?
Other than the aesthetic variations, the one bodily distinction was a further piece of froth contained in the cheaper HD555 headphones, blocking about 50% of the outside-facing vents. Since each the HD 555 and HD 595 are designed to be “open” headphones, lowering the vent with this foam would alter the frequency response barely. So to save lots of your self $150, open your HD 555’s up and take away the froth. Achieved.
Find out how to do the mod
The froth cushions are eliminated just by pulling on them. From there, use a screwdriver to take away the driving force meeting. As soon as open, take away the black foam caught onto the again of the outside-facing vents and put every part again collectively. Whilst you have the froth cushions off, it’s a great time to provide them a cleansing (damp material).
Is that it?
Sure. The precise sound distinction could be very slight, however it’s noticeable. My guess is that the froth is there solely to barely alter the frequency response of the headphones in order that the 2 fashions have their very own “character” and response curve when examined (some internet sites really graph this as a part of their evaluations, akin to headphone.com). Whereas each headphones sound good, the HD 595’s protect their extra fascinating flatter frequency response curve. It’s this flatter frequency response curve that some individuals are keen to spend the additional cash on, and Sennheiser know this.
Fairly a number of folks speculated in my Original thread that the costlier HD595 headphones should even be utilizing a costlier driver. Nevertheless, Head-fi member MCC posted the smoking gun; an image of the unique Sennheiser alternative driver labelled “HD 555 / HD 595”.
Contact me in case you can assist examine different merchandise. Due to “Ivant”, “MCC” and others for all their assist!