HD 558 Wire Mod Possible?

H4X3R · July 9, 2014

So a pair of HD 595s had the wire mod done to it here and claims great improvements.

Is this also possible with the 558, will it make a difference and could someone link me to a video / a set of pictures / or even a set of instructions on how to do it?

Thanks

NannerBeans · July 9, 2014

It's possible with pretty much every headphone but it won't sound any better and doesn't the 558 already have a detachable cable?

Edit: After actually listening to the video I get it now. Yeah it's doable but idk if it'll make an improvement or not.

ShearMe · July 9, 2014

If you need a guide to a simple mod like this, you shouldn't be modding your headphones. :unsure:

H4X3R · July 9, 2014

If you need a guide to a simple mod like this, you shouldn't be modding your headphones. :unsure:

I am new to audio. You only get better by learning.

PS No need to insult me.

ShearMe · July 9, 2014

I am new to audio. You only get better by learning.

PS No need to insult me.

Sorry, I don't mean to insult!

I just mean you shouldn't be tearing apart perfectly functioning headphones to do a cable mod if you don't already have soldering skills. I know from experience you'll likely just end up damaging something. Heck, even the guy in the video only did the cable mod because he damaged the original wire in an attempt to do another mod.

If you have a pair that are already damaged, or you really want to go ahead with this despite the risk, we can help you out. I just don't like to proceed with this kind of stuff without a fair warning.

H4X3R · July 9, 2014

Sorry, I don't mean to insult!

I just mean you shouldn't be tearing apart perfectly functioning headphones to do a cable mod if you don't already have soldering skills. I know from experience you'll likely just end up damaging something. Heck, even the guy in the video only did the cable mod because he damaged the original wire in an attempt to do another mod.

If you have a pair that are already damaged, or you really want to go ahead with this despite the risk, we can help you out. I just don't like to proceed with this kind of stuff without a fair warning.

I have done a lot of soldering (built my own miniature car (can't drive but has cool light effects )).

Fair enough (to the rest of your arguments).

I'll probably not attempt it then, but i'd like to know how (just in case i do break them).

ShearMe · July 10, 2014

I'll probably not attempt it then, but i'd like to know how (just in case i do break them).

The jack of most headphones is called a TRS jack. It has a positive wire for each channel (left or right sides) and a common ground which is shared. You can find these pretty cheap on eBay if they're not available at your local electronics shop. The type of female jack shown below have a nut to screw to a panel of some sort, not sure what kind was used in the video's mod.

Then, once you get inside the headphone cup, you will see the back of the driver (ie speaker) has two terminals. It does not matter which one you treat as the positive and which you treat as the negative, as long as you do it the same for each side of the headphone. Below is a picture of what the inside of your headphone looks like on the inside. Opening the headphones is easy - just grab under the pads and pull outwards (I thought it was easiest near the top on a pair I had for awhile), then unscrew the few screws holding the driver to the cup.

All in all, I think it's pretty easy - soldering the new wires to the driver (and not overheating the pcb) will be the most difficult part. I'm pretty sure all he did was drill the necessary holes for cables to pass through the cup and then ghetto-tape everything down on the outside once all the soldering was done.

Lemme know where you want more clarification!