any interest in a headphone kit?

[Doc B.]

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?

[rchristie]

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?

[Grainger49]

Doc,

You have become Henry Kloss.  Although I am not sure that brainfart and shower should be in the same sentence.

[xcortes]

Sounds like a VERY cool idea.

[xcortes]

I'm sure you thoght it already but you could use a cheapo commercial headphone to modify. Even if only for the headset.

[grufti]

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!

[Wanderer]

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?   

[HF9]

I'm sure it would be a remarkable success if marketed through HeadFi. It's always nice to have new options out there.

[dbishopbliss]

Following the Bottlehead naming tradition you could call it "Head".

[Doc B.]

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)

[vladimirwolfe]

The shipping costs are going to be killer on that one Doc!

[glennn111]

Wow! Deja vu! Doc those are exactly the phones I pictured in my mind! lmao

[Doc B.]

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.

[JC]

I dunno, the ones in the picture still look mighty attractive; I bet they're more than 6 oz. per side, though!

[chrisby]

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