Beyerdynamic M380 from Parts

[frans]

Sorry thecr4ne - i didn't notice your reply earlier. The pic on reverb showed the capsule naked - snapped into its cradle you got the metal cover on front - there are capsules that have a kind of "cap" behind the magnet, sometimes with a fine mesh, sometimes with some felt/cotton pad - these are from headphones. It prevents little hair and dirt a bit from getting on or behind the membrane, but in the mic these aren't needed as you surely won't put you precious mic somewhere on the couch.
Yes, i could send you a sweep to compare. Let's use the PM function for that. I got a reference M380 to check everything against and throw away anything that's too far off. Most headphone capsules are too full of dust and stuff to deliver 100%.

 

[OneRoomStudio]

Resurrecting an old thread.

I managed to grab a TGX50 body for a good price and I'm hoping to convert it into an M380. I know I need a 600ohm driver from a DT880/990, which aren't too hard to track down, but I've also read that the new versions aren't the same as the old ones. Is this true? How are they different? What years had the "old ones?" Do the drivers need to be modified in any way (i.e., removing material in front of the rear ports to make them figure-8)?

If anyone has any more info and or pictures, that would be great. Thanks!

 

[signalflow]

If I recall correctly the new ones have 200ohm drivers and the old ones have 600ohm. So, you just need to find a vintage pair. Probably easier said than done I’m sure. The figure 8 comes from both of the drivers being placed back to back.

 

[OneRoomStudio]

If I recall correctly the new ones have 200ohm drivers and the old ones have 600ohm. So, you just need to find a vintage pair. Probably easier said than done I’m sure. The figure 8 comes from both of the drivers being placed back to back.

New 600ohm drivers are readily available: https://consolidated-sound-services.myshopify.com/products/system-600-ohms-2
Supposedly, they're different somehow than the "old" drivers though.

Also, I don't think it's true that there are two drivers back-to-back. I've only ever seen one driver, open to both sides (single diaphragm).

 

[OneRoomStudio]

Just adding data. Here's a picture of an old (circa 1980's) pair of DT-990s (from this thread):


...and here's a picture of the modern driver replacement:


They sure LOOK similar.

On HiFi forums, some people have compared the sound of them in headphones, and the consensus seems to be that there's some subtle differences in the mids, but that they're definitely in the same ballpark.

So...is the "only use old drivers to repair M380's" idea just an internet rumor?

@thecr4ne / @frans - Any input?