Sundara closed back damping mod to reduce the mid range peak

I have been playing with the sundara closed for quite a while now and have finally got an easy mod to reign the mids in a bit.
They are still not perfect but the modding options are a bit limited on these
Here is a link to the foam inserts
customcans.co....

[@shinythings7]

Just wanted to say thanks for making the mod. Just got my Sundara CB in and it could definitely hear how bad the mids were. I put a balanced source into it and it helped a little bit it was still not great. Put the foam in with the balanced input and it really did make a difference. I still wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Sundara CB at $400, but with it being $150 in most places, and with the mod and a balanced cable, I think it's worth it. But that's a lot extra to ask, unfortunately.

[@CustomCans]

Glad the mod helped - it is crazy what a bit of foam with some holes in can do ;)

[@s.in.bagger9933]

Just got my headphones today and the hump was the first thing I noticed and thank goodness for you and your wonderful brain! I was just going to tune the mids out, but got to searching online if I could mod them and thankfully I found this video. I bought your ear pad back plates and these dampening pads. I cannot thank you enough!

[@CustomCans]

Glad to help ;)

[@y1ano]

I've just received my sundara closed back and tested them most of the morning as I thought they sounded muffled and not that great . Quickly realised the stock cable is terrible so borrowed the standard meze cable off my neos and Jesus what a difference .tried it on balanced using the other balanced cable from another set of meze 99 noirs and a selection of fiios ka3, btr5 etc . Love the way it sounds now using stock meze cable and fiio ka3 listening to tidal through my phone .might try the foam mod too but I'd urge people to change the pants sundara cable first

[@nicobluestream]

Thanks for these mods 👏🙏😎👍 I received mine and I found that it reduced the soundstage a bit and the sound was slightly more muffled, but that improve the timbre and in terms of sound presentation, you go from the front row to the maestro's seat (a bit like with Audeze), which were the 2 things I was most looking to improve, so well done ! About the stock tuning, I always prefer to use it with an EQ (Oratory Settings), applying corrections in relation to the measurements you've made.

[@PaulBloomlittledevil]

I just fitted these and wow, a fantastic difference 👍 please note removing the square foam first from the cups gives a much cleaner sound.

[@CustomCans]

Thanks for the feedback and really glad to hear you like the result. It is surprising what is achievable with some laser cut foam ;)

[@Casualfulltime]

Sounds way better. Just found your channel and love it.

[@CustomCans]

Thanks ;)

[@mikegreermariner]

Wow! I just installed. Thank you for making these cans sound good!

[@CustomCans]

Glad you like them!

[@jopar3292]

Very interesting. I can hear downfalls and benefits of both! So maybe it will depend on your source but anyway VERY much appreciate your work with mods

[@CustomCans]

Thanks and yes, it is still not perfect but I don't think they have much more to give

[@gigantique]

I think it is great..

[@stevetech5150]

man i am glad i found this right before i pulled the trigger on these. those are exactly the sound signature that i hate. most were saying the mids and highs were a problem. your mod definitely helped from what i heard, but just the driver sound signature is not what i expected. no thanks. i will skip these.

[@nabilhamdi3478]

Love your channel & content man, thank you!

[@CustomCans]

Thanks ;)

[@frederf69]

sound's smoother ✌😎👍good job!

[@CustomCans]

Thanks ✌

[@QOTSAPT]

sounds bright. honky vs bright.

[@CustomCans]

Yeh.. Not perfect

[@dhruvtampa146]

I had a question, do we need to take the black foam square out which is already there ??

[@CustomCans]

I removed the black foam ... I did not test it with both in there so not sure how much difference it makes

[@dhruvtampa146]

@@CustomCans I didn't removed the black from yet, will take it out after the warranty is over but your kit works well. It makes them more isolated, less resonance is there, midrange is sweeter, harshness is less. But I was feeling like the soundstage and layring took a 5-10 percent hit maybe due to the black foam. I'll remove it after warranty and I guess I can place it back if needed.

[@amininkare]

Can you try make them open-back please?

[@CustomCans]

Yes

[@HATEregelt]

Interesting find, sounds a bit like tube vs solid state to me with the tamed sibilance as a bonus. 🙂 Im getting them in the next weeks, do you ship to Germany as well? Bookmarked your homepage already!

[@CustomCans]

Yes, we ship world wide

[@fabsko195]

Hello, thanks for your videos, a question please: does this mod improve insulation as well?

[@CustomCans]

No, Not really. Different pads would probably be the way to change that

[@fabsko195]

Thank you, best regard 👍@@CustomCans

[@tsarbomba1]

So I did the mod - actually sounds more muffled. Mine were different inside. No piece of circular foam, but a small square piece of felt glued inside the cup. Did they make a modification or should I remove the small square of felt?

[@CustomCans]

Hi - yes that is how they are as standard, mine had foam in as I had already modded them. As I mentioned.... It is not perfect - you do lose some of the sparkle in the high end with this but it was the best I come up with at the time. I am waiting for a delivery of these to arrive and am planning on having another look at them in the near future

[@cxmxc]

@@CustomCanswould you be able to post the graphs pre-mod and post-mod seriously I think we might have a flat’ish easy listen closed back - let me know - maybe post the graphs on the foam mod page in the online store?

[@HalRockwell]

It would be amazing if you could make a earpad mounting rings so we could pad roll.

[@CustomCans]

I think HiFiman sell them already

[@HalRockwell]

@@CustomCans They sell mounting rings for the regular Sundara. They're not the same as the Closed-backs.

[@CustomCans]

@@HalRockwell ah.. Yes, you are right. It should not be too hard to make some retaining rings. I will give it a go next week

[@gigantique]

It days Out of stock..how can i get the pair of these?

[@CustomCans]

We killed the cutting machine that made them. Once the parts arrive to fix it we can make more. Hopefully by the new year

[@gigantique]

@CustomCans i will Order as soon as possible

[@antonnilsson270]

The dampening kit seems to be out of stock, are they coming in anymore?

[@CustomCans]

Yes, We will be re-stocking them in a week or so

[@zgreeeg]

Are there original some sponges inside or is there bare wood?

[@CustomCans]

Yes there is a small square of foam inside as standard. As I had already modded that pair before, it was not in there but the measurements we took were with it in

[@arimanwd]

I just got a pair of these and I'd like to know how the dampening affects the passive noise isolation? You also mentioned 3D printed wave guides and that made me think of those triangle acoustic panels and bass traps used in studios. So now im wondering how foam panels scaled down to the wavelengths present in the cabinet would affect the sound, and if it would be similar to the effect had on speakers after a good room treatment.

[@CustomCans]

The damping would not have much effect on isolation - I will be doing some tests on pads soon and they will have an effect.

[@arimanwd]

@@CustomCans thanks. Does the dampening help with the weird reverb from the ear cup? Listening to them it sometimes sounds "hollow" like I can hear the cup itself which is a bit annoying. It's a bit like listening to a good speaker in the boot of a small car. Putting my hands on the cups seems to slightly resolve that, so I'd like to know if the foam mod helps with this.

[@Terra101]

Is the DT 990 black vs silver pads in the making? :)

[@CustomCans]

Maybe... I think we have both in stock so I may give it a go if I have time

[@HalRockwell]

You didn't add a link for the foam disc's product page in the video description.

[@CustomCans]

Sorry, we have just moved the shop to a new server and still sorting out the kinks... should have the product up for sale tomorrow and then I will add a link

[@adriftatlas]

What cover of Moondance is being played in the comparison? Would love to listen to it on mine without the mod.

[@CustomCans]

Marilyn Keller - Moon Dance

[@IISocratesII]

Huge difference listening to those bass strings, sounded overbearing on the stock example, vocals are better too.

[@user-bt1ng8bu1e]

Perhaps you have a good player and it will not affect. The difference between just a computer and a stationary amplifier, the difference is huge. The amplifier gives density, greater clarity of sound and excess sand disappears. I liked the mod.

[@CustomCans]

Thanks... It is surprising what a bit shaped foam can do ;)

[@narkformost867]

nice gonna watch your akg371 custom video! i modded mine and it sounds better than stock to me.

[@CustomCans]

In case you missed it... kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIScnauYnNWcfdk ;)

[@HalRockwell]

How did you come up with that pattern on the foam discs?

[@CustomCans]

a little bit of intuition and lot of trial and error ;)

[@HalRockwell]

@@CustomCans You said that the foam discs are directional. Is there a measured difference?

[@ReisTTT]

Hi, do you sell to Brazil?

[@CustomCans]

Yes, We ship world wide

[@krollpeter]

Those Sundara sound horrible without mod

[@CustomCans]

It is a personal taste thing - I know some people love them ;)

[@krollpeter]

@@CustomCans Must be a personal taste thing. Like 1 billion flies love shxt.