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Post by chinook9 on May 17, 2016 4:39:16 GMT
I really enjoyed visiting with Frans. We got a chance to chat for a while and then I was able to visit his home, meeting his family, and listening to his assorted audiophile goodies. Most on the forum are aware of his exploits with headphones but his accomplishments with speakers are probably equally as impressive. I know I was impressed.
On our way out from Gouda, we (barge) sailed by Frans' house but I didn't see anyone fishing. Not sure if the canals are good for that, although I do recollect seeing fishermen along a few of the canals during our visit. I didn't bring any fish home, but I did bring an assortment of aged gouda and 5 different kinds of licorice. I will remain in my wife's good graces as long as the licorice lasts. She likes it a lot and apparently the Netherlands is the place to go for it.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on May 17, 2016 6:11:33 GMT
Yes, Gouda is everywhere!!! Whenever I've been to Holland, it was even served for breakfast in hotels....... Frans told me that there was a milk surplus in Holland so that's why it features so much!! I didn't know about the licorice.
Glad you enjoyed your visit. I spoke to Frans on Skype a couple of months ago or so now and met his family over the airwaves. It was a tonic to me. Was very down at the time. What is amazing to me as an Englishman, is just how well Frans speaks English and his understanding of colloquisms and even some slang. His spoken English is as good as his written which has always impressed me!! Why are the English so lazy with language?
Sailing by barge is very appealing. Holland must be ideal for that. If you kept bikes on board as well, you could moor up anywhere and go exploring villages and towna as well, with no parking fees!!!
I've driven to Holland a few times but it's funny how we don't see the 'closer' places as much as we do the further away places. I really like Holland a lot because it's such a beatiful country and I have always found the people to be hilarious. Great sense of humour.
One place I stayed in was a place called Volkenburg which is very close to Germany. In my hotel, there was a very large bar girl and I tried clogs and said to her that I couldn't wear them for too long. She told me that they do because after an hour, the pain reminds them that they're still alive......
She drove to the hotel on a tiny moped which was hilarious because you could barely see it due to her size. One morning she turned up and I saw her outside. She stopped to say hello and then said, 'Where is my moped?' Then she stood up and said, 'Oh .... I was sitting on it!!!' I wasn't sure whether it was safe to speak at that moment and she laughed, saying 'You English are so diplomatic.....'
There is a set of caves there which has doors that are so thick, that they could survive a nuclear explosion. I asked a guide whether they'd really wanted to live down there if there was one and he said that it would give them a little more time to think about it .....
They are very funny in a dry kind of way.
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Post by chinook9 on May 28, 2016 5:04:57 GMT
Hello Ian, been gone for a few days.
I enjoyed reading of you exploits in the Netherlands. I really enjoyed my visit even though the weather was not biker friendly. I still have a bit of the cheese left but it won't last much longer.
I have had my HD800 for a few days and have done a bit of listening. The signs are positive but the jury is still out. I'm quite sure my LCD-3s will be on the market soon but I don't know about the K812. I'll have to do some more listening. I want to make a filter for the HD800 but it will probably take me a while to find the correct components in the billion item Mouser catalog. Picking out the correct resistors and capacitors takes me quite a bit of time. Hopefully I can find comparable components in invoices from my previous Mouser orders.
Its interesting that you mentioned "how we don't see the 'closer' places as much as we do the further away places." That is definitely true for me. For some reason I don't feel as though I'm taking a "significant" journey unless I'm on an aircraft for 8+ hours and cross an ocean. My puts up with me but she has mentioned this propensity of mine a few times.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on May 28, 2016 6:12:21 GMT
Mouser order numbers are in the Kameleon manual. They will also be in the in-line Kameleon module (whenevr I have some time to start working on it)
HD800's are quite comformtable and lightweight, that last part cannot be said from the LCD3.
Never heard the K812 but reckon it sounds a bit like an HD800 but with more and deeper bass and a bit warmer in general. Maybe the treble on the HD800 is a tad more refined.
You could use some toilet paper (2 plies ?) between the driver and the dustfilter. Very easy to do. You can grab the dustfilter between 2 fingers and just pull it out. It is sitting loose in there (preformed material).
Perhaps the K812 could benefit as well but may become to 'dark'... maybe one ply ?
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Post by chinook9 on May 29, 2016 1:12:50 GMT
Hello Frans!
Thanks for the reminder. The HD800 are definitely more comfortable than the LCD3. About the same as the K812 which are also very comfortable.
I believe you have the comparison of the K812 and the HD800 pretty much spot on, although the HD800 may be a couple of tads more refined and a bit more laid back. At least, that my initial assessment.
I will try the toilet paper in the HD800. I recycle a lot but in this case I will probably use new paper.
I was initially thinking of building the inline active filter and then later deciding between the Kameleon and the Ember as an amp. Am I correct in thinking that they both have similar power output and either would pair well with the HD800?
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on May 29, 2016 6:34:57 GMT
The inline filter + Ember will have the same amount of power. They also share the same output stage. The Kameleon will not have the 2nd harmonic additions the Ember brings to the table though.
I hope to have some time to start working on a PCB.
Using recylcled (as in previously used) toilet paper could sound like shite.
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Post by chinook9 on May 31, 2016 13:13:25 GMT
Hi Frans!
I will put together a couple of Mouser orders but I won't have much time to build projects in the near future so I won't rush.
Do you personally prefer the addition of the 2nd harmonics in an amp when listening to a headphone such as the HD800? I'm thinking I might but I'm not sure.
Still haven't tried the toilet paper. I had been using the PC/Foobar combination and I switched to the Mac/JRiver combination. I immediately thought the latter sounded better so I started a comparison of the two setups. No verdict! A single db change in the SPL makes such a difference that its difficult to decide. At least any difference is not that great to my ears.
Which PCB is it that you will start working on?
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z3d
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Post by z3d on Jan 29, 2017 14:05:01 GMT
I couldn't resist anymore and I got myself a 2nd hand pair of HD800 headphones a week ago; here some comparative measurements: Stock: headphone in stock configuration, with dust cover 1ply: 1ply of toilet paper adapted to cover properly the driver and the metallic ring around it; with dust cover 2ply: 2ply of toilet paper adapted to cover properly the driver and the metallic ring around it; with dust cover SDR: "SuperDupont Resonator", which is a mod made by member Sorrodje at superbestaudiofriends.org I will try other materials in order to rise a bit the 4khz region and to tame further the 6khz peak. I need some listening sessions right now to evaluate how much the >9khz frequencies decreased by the toilet paper affect the perceived soundstage and imaging. Distortion plots: And Waterfall plot, comparing SDR vs 2ply toilet paper:
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z3d
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Post by z3d on Jan 29, 2017 20:42:49 GMT
Dustcover effect on HD800 with SDR mod. Left Channel Right Channel
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Post by marveltone on Jan 30, 2017 1:42:26 GMT
So, how would you describe the sound of the various mods compared to stock? What is your preference at the moment?
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z3d
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Post by z3d on Feb 10, 2017 17:37:16 GMT
During last couple of days (well..nights) I had some time to have a good listen so I have some preliminary opinions about SDR and 1-ply toilet paper mod. If I should rate them somehow, here how: SDR mod with dust cover > 1ply toilet paper mod with dust cover > SDR mod without dust cover
The SDR mod without the dustcover doesn't sound right to me, the sound gets a bit metallic sometimes and I don't like it honestly.
More to come, listening impressions and mods aswell.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 10, 2017 18:56:18 GMT
I'd like to get a Senn hd800 but the cost of it is very high for something that I am unfamiliar with. The raised treble wouldn't be such a problem to me as think, it in any case, I have a Kameleon which could come to the rescue if it was a problem.
I'm very drawn to them because Senn headphones are often very well thought out imo for their target audience at different levels.
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