Performance TIP:  The Sennheiser HD600/580 stock headphone cable is MUCH better sonically than the Sennheiser HD650 stock cable. The HD650 stock headphone cable uses considerably more signal polluting dielectric which degrades the audio signal. If you want to improve the overall sound of your HD650's, change the stock headphone cable to the HD600/580 stock headphone cable. That improvement just scratches the surface as far as how much sonic improvement the E-Series cables offer the Sennheiser HD650, HD600 and HD580 headphones.

Performance TIP:  The HD580, 600 and 650's are essentially the same headphones except for the materials making up the structure which address vibration control. If you analyzed the sound the these three headphones, you will find that the HD580's has the least amount of vibration control technology applied, thus not as an organic and controlled sound but have the best sound-stage of the three. The  HD600 have been refined due to material which controls vibration and sound more organic and controlled but you loose a bit of sound-stage. And the HD650's take that one step further. If you take off the ear pads of the HD650, 600 or 580 and remove the oval foam piece that covers the driver, you will remove some veil especially noticeable in the upper mid range and high frequencies. Many are reluctant because they feel the drivers will get damaged, but the only real threat is that if the outer ridge of your ear is not clean it might touch the frame of the driver occasional and eventually soil it. Most of us keep our tools (ears) clean and I've been doing this for years with absolutely no problem. When traveling or for demonstration, I reinstall the foam pieces.

Maintenance TIP:  The E-Series audiophile headphone cables for Sennheiser HD650, HD600 and HD580's is equipped with an innovative capsule spade modified from the original Sennheiser stock spade connector. Each of the two connectors at the end of each spade undergoes a series of specialized treatments that provides optimum signal transfer to the headphones internal connector. The E-Series spade connectors should remain connected to the Sennheiser headphones for two important reasons:

 - The internal headphone connectors are spring loaded and over time can malfunction if the spade
   connector is constantly connected and disconnected. When the internal connector begins to fail, the
   signal (music) will cut in and out with the movement of the spade which will sometime move with head
   motion. If this happens, you will need to send your headphones to back to Sennheiser to have the
   internal connector replaced. Call Sennheiser at (860) 434-9190.

 - The Stefan AudioArt capsule spade treatment process is very durable. But, after about 50 disconnects
   from the headphones the treatments will start to become compromised and you will experience some
   high frequency roll-off. If this occurs, please contact us at (860) 521-2563 for details on re-treatment. The
   procedure is free and the only charge will be return shipping.
   

Performance TIP:  The Sennheiser HD25 and HD25-1 II headphones have an incredible reputation in the professional world as the most reliable headphone with unmatched isolated and durability. These headphone are used by countless engineers and broadcasters all over the world.  But too few know of the incredible performance these headphones are capable of due to the major sound degrading effects the steel stock has on music.

By simply removing the Sennheiser HD25 stock cable, sliding off each ear piece, turning then around and connecting an E-Series HD25 audiophile headphone cable you can turn these headphones in to one of the most perfectly balanced and rich sounding headphones available. This includes deep full bass, the wonderful "classic" Sennheiser midrange, perfect treble integration and nicely expanded soundstage. With the E-Series headphone cable the HD25's offer the sonic performance of a $1000.00 plus headphone. If fact, soundstage withstanding, the HD25's outperform many headphones costing 5 times the price.

Performance TIP: The E-Series audiophile headphone cables performance can be improved by following  two simple guidelines.

 - Static electricity will build up on all cables over time especially cables in motion such as headphone
   cables. The static energy that surrounds the cable interferes with the audio signal and degrades the
   sound. Removing the static electricity will result in a smoother more natural sound  Use a status gun
   (mapleshaderecords Ionocast is one of the best) applying it to the E-Series headphone cable and all
   other cables in your system (power cables as well). Please read the direction that accompany the
   Ionocast as disconnection of all cables from there components is required before treatment.

 - All cables absorb some of the surface they come in contact with. When this occurs the information
   being transferred is effected. In the case of audio, the music suffers degradation. Best way to avoid this
   is to elevate all the cables in your system and separate your cables at least 6 inches and cross then at
   a 90 degree angle.

Performance TIP: Treating all the cables in your headphone system with Caig Deoxit Gold will yield a significant improvement in the over all sound quality. After treatment, you can expect a natural, smooth organic sound which is very noticeable in the midrange and treble. Disconnect all cables, including power cables and spray the entire conductive surface of each connector. Repeat the process and re-connect each cable. This would also be a good time to remove the static from each cable as well (see above tip). Repeat this process once every three months. A large can of Caig Deoxit Gold cost about $18.00 and should last many year.

Performance TIP: Cables and the Internal Vibration Control of each component are the two most important area to focus on when building your headphone system. For the past 10 years, our team of engineers have researched these to factor extensively and concluded the following:

 - Purchasing modest components ($500 to $2000 range) and fitting them with good cables and vibration
   platforms will result in near perfect sound. As where purchasing expensive components ($2000 to $5000
   range) with poor cabling and poor or no vibration control will sound significant worst and leave the user
   frustrated and caught an expensive loop of upgrading to more expensive headphones, source and amp.
   components obtaining only very small sonic improvements.

When looking for good cabling, one should pay very close attention to how the cable looks. A big thick cable (especially power cables) is the cable to avoid. Big thick cables incorporate a large amount of non-conductive material (dielectric) which absorb the signal and pollute the music. A general rule is that if the dielectric on a cable is thicker than a piece of paper then the signal is being compromised. Connectors which may look great (like jewelry) most likely contain much more conductive and non-conductive surface area than necessary which again effect the signal, slowing it down and polluting the music. Look for cables with a simple design with the least amount of non-conductive material used on the cable and connector and ask the manufacturer if the conductive and non conductive surfaces of the cable and connectors have been treated to maximize the conductivity of the material.

The most effective and least costly way to support the components in you system is to start by placing a  15"x12"x2" thick www.mapleshaderecords.com maple wood platform ($50.00) under each component in your system. If you have a wood floor, place 4 Isoblocks ($24.00 per set of 4 @ mapleshaderecords) under each wood platform with all components side by side and listen. The internal vibration caused by the  current flowing through the circuits is distorting the music much like shaking a camera when taking a shot will distort the picture. If you experience an improvement in the sound going from the place you originally placed your components to the placement on mapleshade maple platforms then you are on your way to getting very significant overall improvement in your present system. The improvements brought about by placing the components on the wood platform with Isoblocks underneath is caused by eliminating the transmission of the internal vibrations which starts inside each component and is caused by the electrical current flowing through the circuitry. For the next steps to making more significant improvements to this simple vibration draining system visit:

             www.mapleshaderecords.com

or call or email us at 860-521-2563 / stefanaudioart@yahoo.com

 

 More coming soon