Cleaning Open Back Headphone Mesh

[IsaacOscar]

I have the Sennheiser HD 558, I absolutely love them but they don't look very good at all:

This is what they are supposed to look like:

I have been able to clean everything about them in the past, except for the back meshy part of the cups (i.e. the side that doesn't touch your ears). This is unfortunately the worst looking part.

I have two questions:
1. Is there likely a sound difference caused by all the dirtness of this mesh?
2. How do I clean them? (I can easily unscrew the headphones to get access to the inside part of the mesh. I have previously tried a can of compressed air and painting it with methylated spirits, but that was mostly useless)

 

[staticV3]

Is there likely a sound difference caused by all the dirtness of this mesh?

Possibly barely measurable, but definitely nothing that would significantly affect listening experience.

How do I clean them?

Disassemble, then blast the mesh with a shop compressor and agitate with a soft, fine brush.

I'd avoid any liquid cleaning solutions.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Possibly barely measurable, but definitely nothing that would significantly affect listening experience.

Yeah what I thought, just checking. Thanks!

Disassemble, then blast the mesh with a shop compressor and agitate with a soft, fine brush.

Yeah I'm not going to go and buy a compressor that is more expensive than my headphones....

 

[respice finem]

Being a lazy ass, I would try to vacuum it gently (lowest power) with a small soft brush.
What is the recommendation in the manual?

 

[IsaacOscar]

Being a lazy ass, I would try to vacuum it gently (lowest power) with a small soft brush.

I think I tried that as well actuality.

What is the recommendation in the manual?

There are headphones that come with manuals???

 

[respice finem]

I think I tried that as well actuality.

There are headphones that come with manuals???

The German ones used to - at least when I bought my headphones, though different brands / models.

 

[AnalogSteph]

I would check whether it's possible to pop out the grilles as a whole. Then some warm water with mild (color) laundry detergent and an old soft toothbrush followed by a rinse should go a long way, I imagine.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Thanks everyone for your advice! Uunfortunately I completely failed to clean them again (I think they look slightly worse, as I've now spread the dirt around more):

So I'll just have to accept them the way they are (they sound great, so no point buying new ones, unless they sound better of course, but I've not been able to try any that do).

Disassemble, then blast the mesh with a shop compressor and agitate with a soft, fine brush.

It turns out my father does have a compressor I could borrow, but I was too scared it might break it. I tried a can of compressed air and much more powerful hair dryer (with heat off), and they made no difference whatsoever.

I'd avoid any liquid cleaning solutions.

I tried brushing and spraying isopropal alcohol, things looked nicer, until it dried and then back to normal.

Being a lazy ass, I would try to vacuum it gently (lowest power) with a small soft brush.
What is the recommendation in the manual?

I tried this, it did nothing, even holding my hand against the outside and vaccumming the inside (thus increasing the suction) did nothing.

I would check whether it's possible to pop out the grilles as a whole.

I can, but I'd have to de-solder the wires going to the driver to remove it completely, and I didn't feel like doing that (even though it's easily fixable with a soldering iron).

Then some warm water with mild (color) laundry detergent

There is foam, which is stickied to the inside of the cups, so I'm worried this would damage them.

and an old soft toothbrush

I tried a soft brush, that did nothing. I tried a hard brush (which I subsequently broke), but that just spread the dirt arround.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Absolutely dumbass question, but would trabsfering the foam and drivers to a similar frame keep the same sound?
E.g. the HD 560S, which uses a metal grill so probably more cleanable: