Clamping force and heaphones

Submitted by angelf2704 t3_ye8gq3 in headphones

Hello, I want to share some thoughts about a recent experience with the HD 600s. I year ago I bought a pair of brand new HD600s (new version) directly from Amazon. I also bought a Schiit Magni and used my Hiby FC1 as a dac. I was very happy with those but I had a surgery and couldn't listen to headphones for some time so I sold them. In July, I saw a used pair (1997 version) and decided to buy them. I tried them with the JDS Atom amp but I had a diferent experience with those. Bass was less punchy and fuller and high mids and trebble were a llitle bit piercing with some recordings. I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong until I realized the clamping force was terrible. Apparently, they guy used some books to make them bigger but now clamping force was dissapointing. My question is, does higher clamping force affects sound signature? I belive this happens wiht iems and eartips sizes.

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blargh4 t1_itwlpyb wrote

Yes, you need a seal to not leak bass, though the HD600s aren't that sensitive to it IME, as long as it is more-or-less in full contact with your head. Pads generally have a pretty considerable effect on sound signature, and if they are replacements/old worn out ones it would definitely have some effect.

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angelf2704 OP t1_itwmoz6 wrote

I used the HD 58X pads to test the HD600s, theyguy put a terrible third party replacement pads. I was never able to get a full seal since they headband wasn't as rounded as in the pictures.

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dawdler84651 t1_itwngeu wrote

You can bend the metal part of the headband inward to regain some of the clamping force back. There are some tutorials for this online if you need a visual example, it is simple to do.

The HD600 and other models in that line of headphones are notorious for the pads having a significant impact on sound as well: if the pads have been worn-in, sound signature is noticeably impacted so you will want to look into a pad replacement, only genuine Sennheiser ones though as third-party pads don't play well with these.

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angelf2704 OP t1_itwoewp wrote

I tried it but it's very difficult to get it back :( Besided, I didn't want to destroy them. I tried the with HD 58X pads, I don't know if those are exactly the same.

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AntOk463 t1_ityh7zo wrote

If I was in this situation, I would use something to hold them more closed than they are, and have them sit like that for a day or 2, this should make the metal reform into this tighter shape and increase the clamping force. It's basically to undo what he did. I've done this for non audio products many times.

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dawdler84651 t1_itwqp84 wrote

You won't destroy the headband if you bend ONLY the metal, don't worry about it. Do it as shown in this video (but since you want it tighter just do the bending the opposite way).

I am not sure about the earpads the Drop edition of Sennheiser headphones use honestly... however I do believe the ones in the 500 series are different than the 600 ones but don't take my word for it.

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RedmondBoyle t1_itxibbg wrote

Worst case scenario you could just buy a replacement headband from sennheiser. Pretty sure HD 600/650/660S ones are all interchangeable.

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