Vintage Pioneer SE-L40 Restoration log [Finished]

[spwath]

SO i found a pair of these beutys on craigslist for 50$, but they were in not so good shape.

The people I bought them from were sketchy too, as soon as they handed the case to me, they drove off fast. It seemed like they were trying to scam me and there was nothing in the case.

But, the headphones were in the case.

 

So the first problem, the cord. The cord was very ripped, and the end didnt work well.

It needed to go:

 

SO, i opened them up, and cut off the old cable.

I then soldered a female 3.5mm cable to it.

There was not enough room in the earcup for a jack, so i had to use a short cable, like superlux uses.

 

To do:
Polish metal, its tarnished

 

Clean off drivers, they are dirty:

 

Fix up leather a little

Clean case, not pictured.

Replace cloth on pads, its a little dirty, i cleaned them some, I already removed 2 dead crispy lava looking things from the foam

 

This will be updated as I continue to work on these.

[EndlessOyster]

Not a huge fan of the cable, doesnt suit the old school style of the headphones.

[spwath]

1 hour ago, EndlessOyster said:

Not a huge fan of the cable, doesnt suit the old school style of the headphones.

Yeah, i might make it look better, i just had this cable on hand.

 

But IRL it doesnt look too out of place.

 

I might find something more like the orginal black sleeved one though.

[spwath]

11 hours ago, EndlessOyster said:

Not a huge fan of the cable, doesnt suit the old school style of the headphones.

Wait, what part, the style of short cable coming from the headphones, the fact there is the short cable, or the style of long 3.5mm cable?

[EndlessOyster]

9 minutes ago, spwath said:

Wait, what part, the style of short cable coming from the headphones, the fact there is the short cable, or the style of long 3.5mm cable?

the short cable sticking out its  too modern plastic looking for such a old style of headphones.

[spwath]

1 minute ago, EndlessOyster said:

the short cable sticking out its  too modern plastic looking for such a old style of headphones.

Ok, ill see what i can do.

Cloth cord and a better looking connector should make it good.

[Dackzy]

How is the sound in them?

[spwath]

1 hour ago, Dackzy said:

How is the sound in them?

Pretty good, open, wide sound stage.

Only used them for less than a day though.

 

 

Another thing, anyone know how to remove a musty smell?

[Dackzy]

13 minutes ago, spwath said:

Pretty good, open, wide sound stage.

Only used them for less than a day though.

 

 

Another thing, anyone know how to remove a musty smell?

Coffee my friend.

[Dackzy]

I am thinking about getting a pair of B&O U70 and making them great again what do you think?

[spwath]

2 hours ago, Dackzy said:

I am thinking about getting a pair of B&O U70 and making them great again what do you think?

They certainly look interesting.

Not sure how i feel about their looks.

[Dackzy]

Just now, spwath said:

They certainly look interesting.

Not sure how i feel about their looks.

Yeah the look weird but that is also part of the reason why it could be fun to own them.

[spwath]

Whats that?
Stuff to repair my headphones?
I think so. Update within the hour

[spwath]

On 2/29/2016 at 7:19 PM, EndlessOyster said:

Not a huge fan of the cable, doesnt suit the old school style of the headphones.

This better?

Painstakingly hand paracord sleeved by me, as well as the headphones polished.

This took a while.

Working on the pads ATM

[EndlessOyster]

6 hours ago, spwath said:

This better?

Painstakingly hand paracord sleeved by me, as well as the headphones polished.

This took a while.

Working on the pads ATM

a lot better, like the jack plug as well.

[spwath]

Replaced the fabric in the case of the headphones.

 

Pads are almost done, and then Im done. It seems like too much work to sew on new leather, but i might.

[spwath]

Wow, doing some more listning, these things have surprisingly punchy bass. Mids/highs seems kinda veiled, could be due to all the foam in front of them from the ear pads. But overall pretty good. Im tempted not to sell them. I got them for 50$, could sell now for 150$ with all the work I put in, but they are pretty nice. Pics tomorow of the finished product.

[spwath]

Finished!

Final photos tomorow with better lighting, but for now:

[FloRolf]

Good job dude! Would love to try em. 

But why sell them? 

[spwath]

5 hours ago, FloRolf said:

Good job dude! Would love to try em. 

But why sell them? 

I don't really need them, and i Could make a nice Profit

[spwath]

Final pics, unless I decide to make the leather better