Post by solderdude on Apr 27, 2015 20:23:33 GMT
There is some talk here and there about an amplifier called 'the SeNNator'.
Does it exist ? Is it available somewhere ? Can it be used for the HD600 ?
Well ... it does exist. There are 2 of them that are built.
Oops.. there it is.
Why are there only 2 of these built ?
The reason for that is that this came out of a discussion somewhere in this forum about the HD650 combined with the Kameleon.
It was mentioned that an amplifier that could only 'support' the HD650 was enough.
I kind of agree ... the HD650 is a fine headphone but plays exceptionally well from the Kameleon.
So ... when the idea of the 'HD650 only amp' was born and names were spouted the name 'SeNNator' came up which I found really funny and distinguished at the same time while covering the load.
That alone was worth building one (or two) on filter PCB's I still have kicking about in a drawer.
As the HD650 is 300 Ohm it can be driven directly from an opamp and doesn't need the power a Kameleon can deliver.
So ... I built it, just for fun.
After I made the first one. Also I had 2 similar enclosures (from a modem) around and as the first PCB was sort-of an experiment I wanted to make another one on a board and take some pics on how to make it.
Not needing these amps (I have 3 Kameleons myself) I sent one to the USA and one to the UK.
Nope ... I am not building more of them.
The reason for that is the Kameleon is already out there and does the same (and much more).
The SeNNator was really just a 'joke' from that thread.
That doesn't mean someone else cannot BUILD one themselves.
Also the circuit is NO secret.
Almost all other 'high-end' brands do not disclose of their schematics afraid others (Chinese ebayers ?) are going to make cheap copies of it OR people finding out there is no magic in these amplifiers after all, just ordinary components.
So HERE it is ... the schematic for the HD650 SeNNator.
so YOU can build it (or have it built, just not by me)
There are 3 (slightly) different versions of the schematic.
The reason for that is that over the years the HD650 slightly changed (became less 'veiled') so you have to figure out which version you have and build the circuit JUST for that headphone.
The early version had 'black' silk screen around the driver (easily seen from the screen when looking through the grille).
It had quite soft and compliant pads which sound different from the newer and less compliant pads.
This creates the possibility of
A: old HD650 (black driver) + original pads (if not decayed yet)
B: old HD650 (black driver) + new pads.
The newer version has a 'silver/white' screen around the driver so this is version C
C: New (white) driver + new pads.
Choose wisely.
Now ... if there is some interest in building this amp (I recommend to build the Kameleon instead) you can do so and I can supply you with a PCB.
It needs some parts mounted on it and some 'modifications' and parts on the bottom of the PCB as well though.
IF someone wants to build this I will make a small tutorial to do this.
For now only the 'schematic' is available.
Then there is the question of which headphones this amp can drive.
Here is the catch ... while you can connect many other headphones it is really ONLY suited for the HD650 (version 'A', 'B' or 'C').
You can connect the HD600 for instance and it will have more bass but will become too 'bright'.
The HD600 is not the same headphone, though quite similar.
As soon as I have actually measured an HD600 (don't own one but may pay me a visit in a week or so) I can create a (very accurate) HD600 SeNNator circuit or accurate Kameleon filter for this headphone and it will then sound the same as the HD650 through the Sennator.
A tad less 'warmth', subbass type lows (not exaggerated but real) and the 'somewhat sharpish edge' the HD600 has compared to the HD650 will be gone.
This difference in 'edge' is most audible in female voices and instruments like piano and guitar when the higher notes are reached.
Do not bother connecting other Sennheisers though... they will never reach the quality of the HD600/HD650.
Before one asks ... nope no can do on the HD800 reason for that is I don't own one nor have access to one so I can measure it and find it too expensive to ship up and down.
Also I suspect the treble peak(s) it has are not as easy to compensate with a simple passive/active filter circuit.
Does it exist ? Is it available somewhere ? Can it be used for the HD600 ?
Well ... it does exist. There are 2 of them that are built.
Oops.. there it is.
Why are there only 2 of these built ?
The reason for that is that this came out of a discussion somewhere in this forum about the HD650 combined with the Kameleon.
It was mentioned that an amplifier that could only 'support' the HD650 was enough.
I kind of agree ... the HD650 is a fine headphone but plays exceptionally well from the Kameleon.
So ... when the idea of the 'HD650 only amp' was born and names were spouted the name 'SeNNator' came up which I found really funny and distinguished at the same time while covering the load.
That alone was worth building one (or two) on filter PCB's I still have kicking about in a drawer.
As the HD650 is 300 Ohm it can be driven directly from an opamp and doesn't need the power a Kameleon can deliver.
So ... I built it, just for fun.
After I made the first one. Also I had 2 similar enclosures (from a modem) around and as the first PCB was sort-of an experiment I wanted to make another one on a board and take some pics on how to make it.
Not needing these amps (I have 3 Kameleons myself) I sent one to the USA and one to the UK.
Nope ... I am not building more of them.
The reason for that is the Kameleon is already out there and does the same (and much more).
The SeNNator was really just a 'joke' from that thread.
That doesn't mean someone else cannot BUILD one themselves.
Also the circuit is NO secret.
Almost all other 'high-end' brands do not disclose of their schematics afraid others (Chinese ebayers ?) are going to make cheap copies of it OR people finding out there is no magic in these amplifiers after all, just ordinary components.
So HERE it is ... the schematic for the HD650 SeNNator.
so YOU can build it (or have it built, just not by me)
There are 3 (slightly) different versions of the schematic.
The reason for that is that over the years the HD650 slightly changed (became less 'veiled') so you have to figure out which version you have and build the circuit JUST for that headphone.
The early version had 'black' silk screen around the driver (easily seen from the screen when looking through the grille).
It had quite soft and compliant pads which sound different from the newer and less compliant pads.
This creates the possibility of
A: old HD650 (black driver) + original pads (if not decayed yet)
B: old HD650 (black driver) + new pads.
The newer version has a 'silver/white' screen around the driver so this is version C
C: New (white) driver + new pads.
Choose wisely.
Now ... if there is some interest in building this amp (I recommend to build the Kameleon instead) you can do so and I can supply you with a PCB.
It needs some parts mounted on it and some 'modifications' and parts on the bottom of the PCB as well though.
IF someone wants to build this I will make a small tutorial to do this.
For now only the 'schematic' is available.
Then there is the question of which headphones this amp can drive.
Here is the catch ... while you can connect many other headphones it is really ONLY suited for the HD650 (version 'A', 'B' or 'C').
You can connect the HD600 for instance and it will have more bass but will become too 'bright'.
The HD600 is not the same headphone, though quite similar.
As soon as I have actually measured an HD600 (don't own one but may pay me a visit in a week or so) I can create a (very accurate) HD600 SeNNator circuit or accurate Kameleon filter for this headphone and it will then sound the same as the HD650 through the Sennator.
A tad less 'warmth', subbass type lows (not exaggerated but real) and the 'somewhat sharpish edge' the HD600 has compared to the HD650 will be gone.
This difference in 'edge' is most audible in female voices and instruments like piano and guitar when the higher notes are reached.
Do not bother connecting other Sennheisers though... they will never reach the quality of the HD600/HD650.
Before one asks ... nope no can do on the HD800 reason for that is I don't own one nor have access to one so I can measure it and find it too expensive to ship up and down.
Also I suspect the treble peak(s) it has are not as easy to compensate with a simple passive/active filter circuit.
