2. Removing Audio Module
Date: Aug 4, 2020
Based on Guide By: @Milopapa
- Removing the SMAS speaker is very easy: you need to peel off the foam padding on the sides, and this will reveal a single screw holding the speakers in place:
- I have to give it to Pimax, these really are modular: all you need to do after unscrewing that single screw(Philips PH000 Screwdriver) is pull the speakers out:
- They pop out very easily:
- Be careful not to lose the original screws - my solution was to screw them right back in to the speakers which went back to the 8K-X box:
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3. [MOD] SMAS - Sound Cup
Date: Sept 24, 2020
By: @Virtualmisterl
Hey guys.
I’ve been working on a cup/cover for the SMAS to direct the sound to the ear & improve the standard audio.
So far, here’s my solution which I am very happy with.
This is how the ear cups look from the inside.
The top narrower end circle piece slides over the top of the smas speaker & sound is essentially kept from escaping & at the bottom (wider) end, it is deflected in toward the ear.
They hover about 1-2 cm away from my ears.
The internal cup is probably in line with the headstrap itself.
& they clip on & unclip very easily anyway
To me it’s a night & day improvement & hopefully some of you will think so too.
My partner described the difference as 10x better
For those of you rocking a 3d printer, here’s a link to the stl file on thingiverse!
For those without a 3d printer, i will likely be making & selling these in the near future (if there is interest) once I can get some batches printed.
I’m in the UK.
I do print & sell things on eBay worldwide anyway but unfortunately due to the width of these pieces, although light they will be classed as a small parcel.
I’m not sure of shipping yet as I normally sell large letter sized parcels.
I will have a look at prices.
UK delivery prices should be reasonable, but I think small parcel prices start from about £10 for europe & will be more for some countries.
I’m currently printing sets on both my printers, but I would like to hear feedback before I sell any, in case there is a compatibility problem
Enjoy!
4. [MOD] Installing Vive DAS Speakers
Date: Aug 4, 2020
Based on Guides By: @Milopapa & @Fresco
Hi everyone,
this guide is fully based on Fresco’s post, showing that the HTC DAS speakers can in fact be added to the SMAM. After finding the default SMAS speakers underwhelming, I decide to try to mod my SMAS, following his footsteps. Since a lot of people were asking for pictures, I documented the process and now sharing the results
-
After following Steps 1 to 4 in: Post #2 “Removing Audio Module”
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Next up: removing the DAS speakers. This also starts with removing the foam padding:
- Again, you need to remove one screw to free the speakers (leave the side screws alone):
- They come out easily - hold on to the screw, it will be important!
- Next, we pull out the cabling, including the little T-junction (I used a small screwdriver to pop these out):
-
Out you go:
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Other side, same deal:
- Notice how the screw sizes differ between HTC and Pimax:
- So now we have the whole DAS assembly out:
- This is where it gets complicated. The central core of the HTC solution relies on this metal thingie to go into a crevice on the speakers, which the Pimax solution completely lacks.
- You can proceed and simply screw it on with the original HTC screw, but the result will be quite wobbly - the speaker will only be held in place by this central core and lacks proper support. Also, this damn little thing can move in and out on its own, so on top of sideways wobbliness, you get later movement also:
- The solution (also mentioned by Fresco) is to put some washers around the metal thingie. How big? You need 10mm of thickness:
- … and 22-23mm diameter. The core is roughly 6mm in diameter:
- Spacer Options:
A) Washers:
- I first tried these:
- Looks like a great fit, doesn’t it?
- They also stack up nicely but go over the central rise and don’t eliminate the wobbliness. Not to mention the little plastic pin which is responsible for the swivel range on the original DAS design (completely useless here):
- As a normal human being, I should have gone to a hardware store to find bigger washers… but as a family man, tinkering time is when everyone’s asleep and shops are closed, so I’ve decided to create my own custom risers from this hard rubber that I had lying around from a previous project (anti-swivel mechanism for swivel chair pedal action… don’t ask):
- I cut it up into nice 25x25mm squares:
- Then came the custom made butchering. It would have made great entertainment (for you) to record this process but holding a smartphone while attacking thick rubber with an Exacto knife is recipe for an accident so I decided not to. The result was this:
- Neat, huh?
- Only took me about an hour to carve them all up. Luckily, for the second and third layer I only needed a hole in the middle:
- Now the real fun began: trying to hit the metal thingie with the small screw and remember - the metal thingie can be pushed inside very easily. The process was not unlike trying to dock a steam locomotive to the International Space Station, but I eventually succeeded:
- Now repeat for the other side, and we’re almost done! Few cosmetic tweaks to secure the cables:
B) Garden Hose Washers
C) 3dprinted Spacer By: @Teigue
Oct 2020
Designed a spacer thanks to OP comprehended info with all the measurements, I have no SMAS myself so couldn’t test the print, but my guess is that it should work fine.
Pimax SMAS - Vive DAS Mod (Spacer) by pruban - Thingiverse
CAD: Onshape
Pimax/Pimax SMAS - Vive DAS Mod - Spacer.stl at master · pavel-ruban/Pimax · GitHub
Updated Info & Pics!!
thanks for feedback,
So it was
10mm
I reduced it to 8.5mm
Feel free to print & share results, thanks
D) 3dprinted Improved Spacer - By Sidekick
Oct 2020
I made the spacer fill the hole and added the grove for allowing easy rotation. Also added the line-up groves with one on each end. The grove faces the back.
I printed with PETG
Pimax 8KX Speaker Spacer for DAS by SideKick - Thingiverse
- Had to unplug the original cables and plug the DAS cable in on the left side only:
- Right side was much cleaner, no twisty cable:
- I simply twisted the original plugs around the swivel know until I can think of something cleaner:
- The cable connecting the two speakers go under the back foam:
- And so after a mere 4 hours of painstaking work, I now have a fully functioning Pimax 8K-X with Vive DAS headphone:
Couple of things:
- The speaker work great, as anyone with DAS experience will tell you, it’s a night and day difference
- I no longer have volume issues, the DAS are loud enough so I could finally turn it down to about 50% (I’m on the latest 2004 version of Win 10)
- The swivel mechanism kinda works… it’s stiff but you can rotate the speakers back and forth
- I do NOT recommend making your own “washers” unless you enjoy hours of meticulous work and take pleasure in ugly solutions
Summary:
- The DAS replacement is relatively simple process, no advanced mechanical or electric skills are needed. The only catch is creating some sort of spacers to prevent the speakers from wiggling around (due to the differences in the mounting solution HTC and Pimax respectively chose).
- The audio upgrade is HUGE. I finally have my aural immersion back.
Enjoy!
5. Audio Module Alternatives
After following Steps 1 to 4 in: Post #2 “Removing Audio Module”
1. (a) Oculus Quest 1 Speaker Adapter - By Sidekick
Date: Oct 31, 2020
By: @Sidekick1
MAS speaker replacement with inexpensive clip on VR Earphones Sound kit for Oculus Quest (Amazon). The sound quality is much better than the original SMAS speakers above your ears.
Pimax 8KX Sound Kit Spacer by SideKick - Thingiverse
Slimversion:
I re-designed for a closer fit so it does not protrude.
This is a tight fit but you could use a 2mm or smaller screw to hold it into place. Watch the base layer expansion or you will need to lightly file the bottom edge.
Pimax 8KX Sound Kit Spacer Slim by SideKick - Thingiverse
Amazon Oculus Quest 1 Speakers. Should also work for other Oculus Quest 1 speakers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DNZFQJH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1. (b) Oculus Quest 1 Slim Adapter - By Drowhunter
This is a remix of the original Pimax 8KX sound kit sized exactly to avoid having to file. (Remix of 5A By Sidekick)
The little clip has been rounded to match the headphone. And diameter scaled to the exact dimension of 34.7mm
fits like a glove
Pimax 8KX Sound Kit Slim Mod No Filing by drowhunter - Thingiverse
2. Mod-Free Oculus Cv1 Speaker Adapter -by u/ynfive (reddit)
6. [MOD] KDMAS Bass Extenders
Date: Dec 19, 2020
By: @grodenglaive
This mod replaces the ear cups that attach to the headphones on the PImax deluxe modular audio strap (kickstarter edition) also called the KDMAS.
The headphone-to-ear distance on the KDMAS is not adjustable, so they can sit too far from your ears if you have a narrow head. This results in the loss of a lot of the bass. Extending the length of the earcups to push them closer to your ears will restore the bass and sound a lot better
Version1: 5mm option : moves each earcup 5 mm closer towards ears.
Version2: 10 mm option : moves each earcup 10 mm closer towards ears.
Version3: Adjustable version (6-18 mm) : moves each earcup 6-18mm towards ears.
Link to Source on r/pimax
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KDMAS BMR MOD
So now I’ve got the new boxes.
But there doesn’t seem to be a big difference.
The new boxes sound very good. I have the feeling the sound is a little deeper. but only minimally.
It is not worse than DMAS.
I tested both with an amplifier. It gets louder … but somehow I don’t like the bass yet.
But first I installed a box.
will continue testing.
next i will install the other box as well and then i will change the distance to the ears 
.
Down:
ORIGINAL Pimax DMAS
MOD KDMAS and Index Speakers
Finish
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