I’m going to share a simple and reversible mod for HD58x that should improve the sound quality with no damage to the headphones as far as I know. However, do it at your own risk.
Now put it on the back of the driver. Since it’s steel, you don’t need glue to paste the mesh.
Note: the back foam should be removed. Don’t put the foam back because it ruins the sound.
I don’t have any measurements rig so I don’t know if the effects are placebo or not.
I only have one pair of HD58x so switching quickly between modded and unmodded was impossible for me.
I didn’t do any blind test.
Once again, do it at your own risk
However
I’ve used the modded headphones for three months. I decided to remove the stainless steel and use the headphones in stock form. With and without the foam, the sound was similar but with much less soundstage.
That’s what Sennheiser did with HD660s and HD700. Both have stainless steel on the back of the drivers, and bigger soundstage compared to HD600 and HD650. For people who think it’s impossible that a simple stainless steel changes the sound, remember that HD800 to HD800s mod is almost as easy and cheap as this mod.
I used a cheap colander that I had at home. You can check if it is steel by a magnet (obviously) or if your smartphone has compass, use apps like Metal Detector to make sure it’s steel.
Stainless? Well, I guess every colander should be stainless because they’re going to touch water anyway.
Why the mesh I use has a hole
When I first put the mesh, I found the bass to be a little less than I’d like. The hole made the bass to my taste. Again, I don’t know if it’s placebo but diyaudioheaven said different holes change the sound signature while using foam on the back of the driver. I believe that’s the same for any material on the back of the driver.
There are thousands of types of steel, stainless steel and other alloys.
And there are types that can stick to magnets, there are also types that don’t.
Another aspect: Copper does not interact with magnets, unless you put some current through it. Eddy currents are very interesting Link. Or throwing a pipe through a magnet Link
