A self-confessed Sennheiser fanboi, but only really of the 90's era 'Made In Ireland' stuff, specifically the HD5**/6**.
I don't exactly know why I do this, I just do. But it's become a mission to save and restore as many of these unsung and uncelebrated heroes of aural audatiousness as I can.
There are about 42 pairs of various restored-by-me models just languishing in boxes in the workshop. The HD565 is a particular favourite of which I now have 12... yes 12 pairs. Bonkers!
I think it may have something to do with a value system I've developed over the years. I bought a pair of HD565's new in 1995 and they served me well for years until the foam cushions died and they went back in the box. I didn't realise until years later that you could buy replacement cushions but I subsequently bought some and set about replacing the old, crusty foam bits.
Sadly, one of the drivers had given up so I called Sennheiser direct and asked if I could buy a spare one. The Sennheiser dude then let me into a little secret: 'you know you can put any driver unit in them headphones right?' me; 'No, really? coooool!'. He persuaded me to replace the drivers with some HD-650 units and the sound was transformed into something magic.
That started an almost 30 year love-affair with these modest brain-wobblers and I just love finding old pairs for buttons and restoring them to as-new condition.
...'kinell, this intro is longer than planned. Ok, let's call it the back-story and move on swiftly to the present day, where browsing Marktplaats.nl today I came accross an ad for the Sennheiser LUCAS headphone surround amp. I have a few of these and as a 'surround' experience they're pants, but a very decent stereo headphone amp nonetheless. Reading further I realised that it was actually 'THE SET'. The amp AND the HD-580 headphones. A cheeky bid was offered, accepted and I was round there immediately. 22km in the zed to Weesp and the lovely houseboat of the seller.
She whipped it up onto a table explaining that it was her fathers' and he had died a few years ago (aint that always the way with stuff this old? made me feel a bit old too tbh). But it was actually, amazingly in perfect, brand-new, unused condition. Hens teeth! I've never seen a HD580 in this condition. Even the foam cushions are still intact and springy-like new! Just amazing!
Senn fanboi fantasy come true!
Love a good box set
Feels like Christmas
Come to Butthead
Still in the plastic, never used. Amazeballs
An HD-265 resto in-progress. Maybe it's theraputic to go picking out other people's encrusted earwax and hairs, clean, wash the plastic bits, decontaminate the other bits, re-foam the drivers and then box them up. I dunno.
Eww! Crusty, dusty and a little bit musty
Just 2 random boxes pulled from about 12/13 boxes with 2 sets of restored headphones each. These are HD565's on the left and what looks like an HD600 and HD650 on the right.
With a Tascam MH-8 it's fun to go comparing them
About a quarter of the collection. I may be a borderline headphone hoarder. Concur?
I don't exactly know why I do this, I just do. But it's become a mission to save and restore as many of these unsung and uncelebrated heroes of aural audatiousness as I can.
There are about 42 pairs of various restored-by-me models just languishing in boxes in the workshop. The HD565 is a particular favourite of which I now have 12... yes 12 pairs. Bonkers!
I think it may have something to do with a value system I've developed over the years. I bought a pair of HD565's new in 1995 and they served me well for years until the foam cushions died and they went back in the box. I didn't realise until years later that you could buy replacement cushions but I subsequently bought some and set about replacing the old, crusty foam bits.
Sadly, one of the drivers had given up so I called Sennheiser direct and asked if I could buy a spare one. The Sennheiser dude then let me into a little secret: 'you know you can put any driver unit in them headphones right?' me; 'No, really? coooool!'. He persuaded me to replace the drivers with some HD-650 units and the sound was transformed into something magic.
That started an almost 30 year love-affair with these modest brain-wobblers and I just love finding old pairs for buttons and restoring them to as-new condition.
...'kinell, this intro is longer than planned. Ok, let's call it the back-story and move on swiftly to the present day, where browsing Marktplaats.nl today I came accross an ad for the Sennheiser LUCAS headphone surround amp. I have a few of these and as a 'surround' experience they're pants, but a very decent stereo headphone amp nonetheless. Reading further I realised that it was actually 'THE SET'. The amp AND the HD-580 headphones. A cheeky bid was offered, accepted and I was round there immediately. 22km in the zed to Weesp and the lovely houseboat of the seller.
She whipped it up onto a table explaining that it was her fathers' and he had died a few years ago (aint that always the way with stuff this old? made me feel a bit old too tbh). But it was actually, amazingly in perfect, brand-new, unused condition. Hens teeth! I've never seen a HD580 in this condition. Even the foam cushions are still intact and springy-like new! Just amazing!
Senn fanboi fantasy come true!
Love a good box set
Feels like Christmas
Come to Butthead
Still in the plastic, never used. Amazeballs
An HD-265 resto in-progress. Maybe it's theraputic to go picking out other people's encrusted earwax and hairs, clean, wash the plastic bits, decontaminate the other bits, re-foam the drivers and then box them up. I dunno.
Eww! Crusty, dusty and a little bit musty
Just 2 random boxes pulled from about 12/13 boxes with 2 sets of restored headphones each. These are HD565's on the left and what looks like an HD600 and HD650 on the right.
With a Tascam MH-8 it's fun to go comparing them
About a quarter of the collection. I may be a borderline headphone hoarder. Concur?
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