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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
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
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
12,987 posts
 
oregonpapa
Thanks greatly for this confirmation and participative advice that will help me and all others... I will try this with some reflective surface ( I had already use them with windows  and wall sockets).... My thanks to you, and the best for you...
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
12,987 posts
 
oregonpapa

It seems that your advice was indeed very good... I have many reflective surface in my audio room and I applied to them the copper band tape and after one hour of listening the improve in S.Q. is evident...More so audible in the regular speakers listening distance than in nearfield...I have metal plate, and glass reflective surfaces where I tape the copper band and thanks to you I enjoy now more than ever the regular distance listening position for my speakers...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I’m always encouraged when folks copy my ideas like using copper tape around the room. Machina Dynamica’s Flying Saucers for Windows and Flying Saucers for Unused Wall Outlets have been around for quite some time, since 2013. But a word of caution. They are not what they seem. I hold the secrets, I’m afraid.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 🤡
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.

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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

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