But…
This is a typical 3D printing alternative/iterative testing situation. One could change cup thickness, density, fill patterns, plastic type, space for damping material, attachment methods for damping material, vents, etc. Tuning, yep. Small CAD tweaks to tune, followed by prints and test assemblies.
The basic shell and dimensions would be unchanged. CAD works great for changes large and small.
I have already invested several years and quite a lot of money in producing 3 development models and a 3D printed model which looks and feels exactly the way I want it, however because it is made of plastic the sound is not right. Also, even with the 3D model, the finishing material and things like the headband have not been decided. I feel like I need to have these things in a finished product with the functioning inner parts before being able to attract investment on a crowdfunding platform, which is ultimately my goal here.
What do you think?
I have a CAD design already. As mentioned in my reply to @generic I just feel like I would need a more fully functioning prototype to attract people to buy the product via a crowdfunding platform like Indiegogo…
Do you think if I paired the CAD drawing with someone who knows how to tune headphones and has a good knowledge on what the best way to finish them would be - combining this work with a spec list for buyers on the likes of Indiegogo would be enough to drive the investment needed to bring them to life?
Thanks @
Could a CAD expert take a list of components and determine if those would fit within the CAD design I have?
I’m going to bow out of this conversation and wish you well. In some ways this project seems nearly complete while in other ways we’re going over the basics of the headphone market.
Execution requires a technically-qualified team and adequate funding. Any given idea can succeed or fail based on the quality of the team. This isn’t merely about finding the best driver, or finding the right materials, or finding a qualified CAD expert. It’s about synchronizing skills, testing with real people, bringing all the answers together, and delivering a real product through a specific manufacturer and process.
Answering your questions – usefully – requires joining your team and doing the hard work needed to provide a quality answer. We are just outsider armchair quarterbacks tossing off quick answers. As I understand his prior comments, @antdroid has serious materials and manufacturing experience. He may have something to say.
Thank you. I appreciate all of your info and time. @antdroid I’d love to hear from you if you have time.
@generic, @Polygonhell and @SenyorC have raised valid points. My perspective is a bit different. I do think you will have your work cut out for you if you try to bring your own product to market in the target price range. Further, it sounds as if you are seriously underfunded. Yes, miracles happen, and yes people who are dedicated to having their own company go in hock up to their eyeballs, and mortgage their homes to do it. Crowdsourcing is not a panacea.
Before I get to the important parts, you say that it does not sound right because of plastic cups. While not a fan of plastic shells, there are plenty of headphones that are excellent and use plastic. I think, like @Polygonhell, that it has more to do with positioning, damping, signal processing and so forth than the material. As your design puts some restraints on the above, you may have difficult choices.
There are people on this forum who design headphones. @nectarsoundnet comes to mind, I have a pair of his HIVE headphones that were 3D printed and that are respected, albeit in the $700 range.
What you have that is valuable now is a patented design for headphones that are comfortable for eyeglass wearers. Perhaps you should look to partner with a company that has some resources to produce the headphones, and you live with license fees and a lot less headache. Before you’re ready for that partnership, you may need to work with or pay someone with the experience to put the right pieces into tune within the scope of your design. I would not be surprised if changing the type of plastic used in your existing design might make some difference in sound. You could even find a wood carver to try a one-off in wood.
But bottom line, it sounds very much like a long shot with the direction you’re indicating, especially crowdsourcing.
This is a very good idea that I would say will give you a much better chance of success.
There are people out there who will tune and basically design the sound part of the headphones for you, ranging from overseas to local freelance, but the cheaper ones have risks and the less risky ones aren’t cheap.
Teaming up with a company that already has the infrastructure in place sounds like a less risky option that may not make you as much money but will probably cost you less money in the long run.
Thank you everyone. You have given me a lot to think about. Ultimately, I fear that you are right and that I need to get these to another level before potentially going down the route of crowdfunding, and even then I still need to get an expert that has the experience to put the right pieces into tune within the scope of my design. With that in mind, I think my preference would be to partner up with that kind of individual and give them a stake in the product - I believe that’s the best way to get the best out of someone and have them truly invested in making it a success. That type of person would be key to a successful fund raise, should I decide to go that route.
On the other hand, perhaps approaching the bigger companies with a view to some sort of partnership or licensing may be the route I need to take - does anyone here have any experience or advice in approaching that type of situation?
@nectarsoundnet @antdroid I would love to touch base with you guys.
Really happy to be a part of this community. Thanks all.
Hi GrooveyMan – just saying hi since you ping’d me. I’ve been quite busy at work and family stuff, so I haven’t had a chance to go through this thread yet, but I’ll try to take a look and comment back.
@generic probably overstating my qualifications 
but, ya, I am a Materials & Process engineer by day, and audio-nerd by night. My main background is in composites/polymers and adhesives materials development and manufacturing and qualifications/certification in aerospace industry. Been working in this industry for 18 years, though more recently been trying to see what “normal” consumer industries do to incorporate into my job.
Anyway, i’ll read through this when I have a spare moment. Looks interesting either way!
Great to e-meet you Anthony. Really looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks again everyone for your help.
Why aren’t there too many reviews of the Neumann NDH30s out there?
I know a lot of people have said they are just repackaged Senns, but I would love to actually see some reviews anyway.
Agreed. These are supposed to be very comfortable. I’m tempted to try a pair for my all-workday non-focused music listening.
Which ones? They don’t look like any Sennheiser I know.
Same owner and I believe the driver is similar but not the same as the Senn 560 but with different damping, etc.
Anyway, the number of reviews are pretty limited. There is one on ASR and some by random YT reviewers I have never heard of.
I have bought Sony & Koss headphone my whole & am 56 years old & never a problem always great sound & longativity.
Decided this time to change up this time & bought a pair of JBL for $169.00 on sale. First time that i bought headphone with no cord or jack it was strickly Bluetooth which was okay with me, ut then i started getting a problem with pausing of my videos on phone & lap & bought the headphone 6 months ago & has just got worse over time. It is so frustrating sometimes goes into fits & stops video every 10 seconds & sometimes goes for hours with no stoppage. Went on to JBL web sight same problem with other people buying the 460 JBL .One guy sent his to the company & they sent him new pair guess what same problem never again will i buy Jbl. Next month back to Sony. JBL Need to stop making headphones & go onto something else or atleast have an option of plug in.
Welcome, Arguello. One of the problems with Bluetooth headphones, particularly ones that have a lot of technology features is that it can be easy to cause unwanted behavior.
For example, my Sennheiser Momentum 4 senses that it is on my head. If I take it off, it will pause a YouTube video. It also has noise reduction. So if I move it so I can hear with one ear because my wife is moving her lips, it freezes the video. If I scratch or adjust it, it may freeze the video.
The sensitivity of the headphone to movement or loss of contact is the problem. Your JBL may be even more sensitive. Perhaps it is faulty, but also people may be doing things that the headphone is picking up.
Neumann is a pro audio brand, and has virtually no mindshare in the hobby audio market. Sennheiser is known to both markets. Neumann’s website clearly aims its headphones at audio professionals.
Headphonesty states that Sennheiser has owned Neumann since 1991, so this positioning is surely intentional. Their review of the NDH 30 is not great, describing them as technical studio monitors that lack impact. While the reviewer mentions the HD 650, the description makes them come across as a junior HD 800 (not 800 S).
Thanks however My Sony headphones had basically the features & had them for 7 years no problems will go back to them next month then will take a hammer to the JBL LOL. If you can’t make headphones for $180.00 without video stopping every 10 seconds then shouldn’t make them try something making else. Not mad at you just venting appreciate the advice.
Many here, including myself, use digital parametric EQ. It can make a drastic improvement. There are a number of ways to do this in both software and hardware depending on your setup. Schiit makes a few Loki analog EQ products that are well regarded. See link below.
Since “EQ” is too short for a search term here you’ll have to search for things like “software EQ”, “parametric EQ”, etc. Here are a few links you can start with:
https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/
Just to add to what @AudioTool already provided, those tone controls are another form of EQ that can help. Geshelli labels them as “Baxandall,” which goes back to the early 1950s. It’s a very simple circuit (4 caps, 3 resistors, 2 pots if implemented passively), but because of that simplicity it doesn’t really provide fine-grain control. When you increase the bass, for example, it boosts all frequencies below the center and it boosts more the lower you go.
For small adjustments those sorts of controls work fine. If you’re really trying to match a predetermined curve, you’ll need something more elaborate.