Bottlehead Forum
Other Gear => Headphones => Topic started by: Doc B. on October 25, 2010, 10:30:07 AM
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I just had a brainfart in the shower this morning for a rather unique headphone idea - unique enough that I'm not ready to share any details of how it would work. The product would probably be composed of the headphones and an amp designed specifically to work with their unique characteristics, but not with other headphones.
Anyone interested in this kind of thing?
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This sounds far-out. An amp - headphones pairing that sounds phenomenal when used together, but each on its own is unable to play with others? Yes! How could this possibly work?
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Doc,
You have become Henry Kloss. Although I am not sure that brainfart and shower should be in the same sentence.
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Sounds like a VERY cool idea.
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I'm sure you thoght it already but you could use a cheapo commercial headphone to modify. Even if only for the headset.
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ok, but why?
The "headphone experience" is fairly well explored and forms a tight cluster with few outliers: in-ear, on-ear, over-ear, head-speaker.
Some of the outliers are interesting, the AKG K1000 comes to mind, Jecklin Float, some Stax models, ... but each of those has characteristics that limit its application.
I would be concerned that any non-standard headphone might run up against similar constraints: head fit, isolation, interaction with the surroundings.
....., but then again, if your brainfart breaks through a few of those constraints, please go for it!
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The product would probably be composed of the headphones and an amp designed specifically to work with their unique characteristics, but not with other headphones.
Anyone interested in this kind of thing?
As I used to listen to and enjoy STAX phones - which have similar amp married to 'phones set up - sure!
However, with SeX, Crack and Quickie all with 'phones orientation are you over extenting yourself in one direction?
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I'm sure it would be a remarkable success if marketed through HeadFi. It's always nice to have new options out there.
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Following the Bottlehead naming tradition you could call it "Head".
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I would be concerned that any non-standard headphone might run up against similar constraints: head fit, isolation, interaction with the surroundings.
....., but then again, if your brainfart breaks through a few of those constraints, please go for it!
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbp0.blogger.com%2F_2OaBJfY-Sc8%2FR_dpc5q0E9I%2FAAAAAAAAAPs%2FEyxkPn9p94M%2Fs400%2Fear_horn_amplifiers.jpg&hash=e35cce3c8e38b6c43b0f97b718893509109fbf79)
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The shipping costs are going to be killer on that one Doc!
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Wow! Deja vu! Doc those are exactly the phones I pictured in my mind! lmao
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Just a quick update - I think I have come up with a fairly reasonable way to try this idea out. I have some potential "drivers in open back housings" on the way and some ear pads that will hopefully fit them. After spending a day looking for a reasonably priced off the shelf headband setup I think I have settled on stripping the muffs from a set of $35 David Clark ear muffs, which seem to use the same headband frame as their multi-hundred dollar, highly regarded aviation headsets. You can trick these out with sheepskin headband pads and other nifty bits, and presumably they are reasonably comfortable to wear for long periods of time. These prototype may be a bit on the heavy side as just the drivers in the housings look to weigh about 6 oz. each and both my K1000s and HD600s weigh about 10-11 oz. total. But there should be ways to trim the fat.
Once I have something assembled that can actually be worn we will start to evaluate the possibilities.
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I dunno, the ones in the picture still look mighty attractive; I bet they're more than 6 oz. per side, though!
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Doc,
You have become Henry Kloss. Although I am not sure that brainfart and shower should be in the same sentence.
late to this thread, but provided one's alone (never a sure thing at casa Schmalle?) wouldn't the shower be the safest place?
Dan, have fun with the "got head?" product, and remember the delicate balance between comfort and performance varies with the individual
I for one await with interest the product display photos
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Here's a quick webcam pic of my prototype headphone mockup. Obviously no cables attached yet, and the drivers are not yet installed in the cans. The head band is a little snug, but other than that they are pretty comfortable. Hope to have drivers in and a proper cabling/impedance matching setup complete this weekend - after I put the damned furnace fan back together. Then we start to find out if this idea is reasonable or completely loony.
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This is yet another case of: "Honey you shrunk the headphones"! Look at Doc's earlier post in this thread and you'll know what I mean.
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Got the initial test set of drivers in the cans last night and hardwired some cable to them. We're in this crazy tool twilight zone right now, with half of my tools at the new unfinished office lab and half of them in the old lab at home. Did yesterday's work at the house lab so today I head for the office to finish the interface and hopefully give them a try.
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OK, they work. The precision of the assembly of the drivers is turning out to be critical, and I need to refine my technique to keep the driver from scraping on loud passages. But when the things are working right the bass is quite impressive. On one recording I was listening to today the rumble of the concert hall HVAC was quite audible. If I can get them to perform consistently I think they can outdo my HD600s in terms of resolution. Haven't AB'd with the K1000s yet.
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Interesting....and in your experiment are you using the unique amp/driver circuit you mentioned?
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Actually I ran some figures and it looked like the Crack might be a reasonable impedance match. So that's what I used yesterday. Seemed to work pretty well as a starting point. Once I get the drivers debugged I will be able to evaluate the response a little better.
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It seems a little belated, but I would like to state my massive interest in a headphone kit.
By the way, I'll be in town from the 23rd til the 29th probably. Might have to stop by and see the new offices.
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You're always welcome to stop by, Max. The prototypes are showing their potential but still need some work. It appears that to really make them work right I need to do a little materials research. I'm going to be talking to some folks in my brain trust to see if we can work out the last part we need to make them work as I would like them to.
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If you need beta testers let me know! Also if you care to have the services of an industrial designer for help of the design let me know I have always wanted to work on a headphone design. Here's some of my work. http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_details.asp?individual_id=184063
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I think this is a really cool idea, I'd be interested. Doc, what about a single side cord entry? My AT's are single side entry and they are so much easier to move around in, granted I don't walk around the house with them or anything but they get caught on a lot less stuff and when Eddie the demon dog leaps into my lap unannounced he manages to miss the cord more often than not since it's coming off the side of my head rather than down the middle of my torso. :)
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C-- Jm
ount me in as interested as well.
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Hello everyone. First post, but longtime lurker. I would be interested in these as well. I am in the market for some headphones as I just finished the Seduction build and am going to get the Crack here pretty soon.
I know it's preliminary but which market would they be competing with? Currently I am looking at the DT800/600ohm and HD600/650, but would be happy to add these to the hunt.
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Trying not to waffle, but this is where I'm at...I'd be willing to build something sonically competitive with the HD800...or maybe the HD650, partly because I need a price break on them, but mostly because that's what I want. On the other hand, I think even a cheaper set (synergistic with the crack of course) would be really interesting to assemble.
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Aural Sex? :P
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earogenous zone...
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I know this thread is a little dated, but is this idea still percolating or DOA? Just entering the world of headphones and thought this would be a cool project to build an amp/can combo and of course here it is on BH.
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would be very cool!!!! if and only if , it was up there with the best, otherwise what is the point.. to me anyway...
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a lot of the kits are stock with an upgrade path, I wouldn't mind that - there are probably a million ways to bring a stock kit up to the "very best" when you consider that you could make upgrades to the amp, cables, or even the headphones themselves.
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Yea, something affordable with an upgrade path to world class like the other Bottlehead stuff. I'd be in for a set once I've purchased a Tode.
Pfenning
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The design I was working on is shelved until I can spend some time doing some materials research. However I have given PB the challenge of putting together an electrostatic headphone kit idea that I have, maybe for the Head-Fi meet here in august.
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Hey Doc,
Has this fallen off the shelf yet? Having got a Crack, it'd be great to put together a kit with some burl accents...just saying.
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We've just been swamped with catching up orders, getting the guitar amp out and some other product development. I think it will be a little while before we can carve out some time for this one.
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It's been a few months... Just poking in and seeing if there's been any rustling in the trees here.
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We're still pretty much up to our necks getting other new products out that are more developed. Consequently I haven't had time to dig into the materials research I need to do to see if the headphone ideas we have kicked around can be made to work.
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I like the idea, myself. I primarily use headphones as a sort of test equipment, i.e. the ultimate hearing experience because of lack of influences from room modes, etc. But, on the other hand, if the headphone amp is junk, then I have to sell it to buy one that is respectable. Been through a few of 'em.
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I'm sure you guys are still busy, but add me to the list of those who are interested. I would almost certainly buy one, even if just for the fun of building it.
Best,
Adam