Brainwavz HM5 is one of the top headphones that I mentioned in the closed-back circumaural category. I used to have this way back last year before deciding to give it to a good friend of mine as a gift. But of course I always don’t mind getting that back. :p
I was browsing some forums and found that you can actually get an unbranded version of the Hm5 for more than half of its price. Yes you read that right!
I sort of feel bad that I just learned this now as this could’ve saved me some money when I purchased the product couple of years ago. But not a big deal really. The company that sells this is called Jaycar Electronics and as you can see, it just costs $50. Just like what everyone else would do, I did research on whether if I’m losing out on anything by purchasing this unbranded version and my quick research revealed no. Actually most people said that the sound signature is the same and the only difference is the branding part. This has lead to me another interesting thing which is….
…modding the cups. I’m not talking about heavily modifying the headphone like what DIY’ers do but I’m referring to a simple rebranding of the design in the cups. It, being a circumaural full size headphone means that there’s plenty of space to play with in terms of designing the cups. So its more of just an aesthetic change rather than a total modification.
The problem though is that I don’t really have an idea or any know-hows on how to paint headphones or do any prints on it. I really do not consider it as ‘painting headphones’ but rather just putting a different logo/design in it. I wish there’s a technology where I can just grab a special type of sticker, stick it in the cups and then the design from that would be engraved to cups permanently. But is that even possible?
Well, all in all I am patiently waiting for a stock. Hopefully I can get one as soon as possible, and putting my own design would be another story for now.
Wow, what a useful article. I wish.
You go on and talk about Head-Fi, yet you can’t even mention the LOCAL forum you got this info from?
Oh, and just so you know, the DIY people of that forum will be able to aesthetically change these cups, no problem. Metalsmiths, Cablesmiths, Woodcrafters, and people who can do great paint jobs.
Hmmm. headphiles? 🙂 Oh well sorry bout that,
Well that means I will have to do some more browsing there if that’s the case. I’d love to do all those modifications but for now i would just focus on the paint stuff.
Thanks!
Jaycar isn’t even the main source of it. Its actually from a Chinese company called Yoga and the headphone is called CD-880 http://www.yoga.com.tw/style/content/CN-10-2c/product_detail.asp?lang=2&customer_id=2000&name_id=78810&rid=45198&id=292588#. Brainwavz, Fischer, Lindy’s, they’re all that headphone.
Hmm. Interesting!