solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 23, 2017 4:51:11 GMT
Most buy these for their warmth and bass.
So I just removed the excess of it and kept some of it so it is a bit.
I only listen to my TH-X00 with Kameleon as well.
Otherwise they are too bloated and the top is a bit sizzly.
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juke
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Post by juke on Jun 23, 2017 17:43:00 GMT
Most buy these for their warmth and bass. So I just removed the excess of it and kept some of it so it is a bit. I only listen to my TH-X00 with Kameleon as well. Otherwise they are too bloated and the top is a bit sizzly. That sums them up nicely! Probably one of the most marked differences I have heard the Kameleon make. |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 24, 2017 12:07:59 GMT
IMO the Kameleon just opens up the perceived clarity of the headphone that they drive. There's something way more comfortable about the sound of them that enables you to relax much more with a headphone because it sounds more natural. I use my mains driven Kameleon all of the time with my hd650 and to be honest, if I take the amp out, I actually find the headphone really lacking. That unit has the 'Gold Knob' award and it has one of my gold volume controls on it.  Without the Kameleon, the sound seems to close in, deep bass goes and the treble isn't anything like as well defined. In fact, it sounds comparatively 'boxy' without the amp although you can 'adjust" after a while and no longer notice. The Kameleon makes the hd650 just fly with a top notch sound. Another that I use with the Kameleon is the DT770. That is massively improved as well, without knocking the DT sound out. I love the comfort of the dt770 and it's luscious bass. I find the top a bit edgy sometimes. The Kameleon takes that edge away and the bass is profoundly deep and again, the whole experience is way more comfortable. I must go about getting one for the Polaris I think eventually, when I feel flush because it's the Kameleons that I go straight to more than anything else. I keep the Polaris there for other headphones that I don't have a filter for. Thanks to Syd, I heard the portable version today for the first time. My initial misgivings are lack of volume pot so you had to use the headphone out to control the volume. Well, I have to say, that impressive sound remains and isn't harmed by coming from the headphone socket. Drove the hd650 beautifully and that same deep bass and extra clarity comes back on a portable amp!! I've got the amp for someone else, but I'm not sure it's going to him now. It's too good!!! |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 27, 2017 12:08:57 GMT
I currently have a flock of them and the Sennator is on a Dutch holiday at the moment......  Each one drives a different headphone!! One is supposed to be going though ......... |
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Post by ronzo56 on Jun 27, 2017 19:15:07 GMT
I seem to recall when you retired you were going to simplify and reduce your headphone gear. Starting to look like your planning a small recording studio.  |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 27, 2017 19:32:02 GMT
I did simplify Ron!! No floorstanding speakers, amp, CD player, surround tv system. Hi-Fi gear is totally headphone based and tv now has a soundbar!! Moving to a small house from a larger one meant that a lot of stuff just had to go because I no longer have the room. Had to so that I could retire before I burst a gasket!! Each one of those is dedicated to one headphone, one closed, one open and the other's supposed to be going but I like them too much. The portable units are way better than I first though tbh. Powerful little beasties. Work on USB power or battery. (Better on battery) Makes the Senn portable for sure with a sound that is just as good as the Sennator. What a fickle beast I am. From telling Syd I wasn't interested to now not wanting to lose any because I like them so much. Not forgetting an Ember andPolaris above that lot and a V8 next to them. (And a hidden Fiio A5)  |
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Post by ronzo56 on Jun 28, 2017 10:52:05 GMT
You are probably descibing my future situation when I retire. But my floorstanders? I gave up on the surround thing as every mid-range driver in every speaker crapped out. Harmon USA denied there was a defect. Harmon UK, fixed the speakers free of charge. Not mine, UK folks only. You just can't beat American capitalism when it comes to customer disservice. Anyway, I went back to two channel a few years ago. Just simpler to deal with. Looks like you are pretty much set. Perhaps just one more Kameleon? Sent you a PM. O.K. Lots of typos to fix . PM now sent. |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 28, 2017 11:11:41 GMT
I did miss my old floorstanders and actually, the CD player. I also had a room for a studio and a mini cinema room which has all gone and been scaled right down to a TV with a soundbar!!
I think if you hit a good headphone combo, it's not too bad and so far, for me it's been the hd650 on Kameleon. It's just the evenness that I like a lot and is very hard to get even from speakers in a room.
One thing I continued with though is filming, which I've always enjoyed. From the old Super 8 days with no sound!! Nowadays, once you have some gear, it's basically free to produce new films although microphones can be objects that you obsess over. Like headphones, they are extremely variable in noise and pick up patterns, let alone the timbre of them. That consumes a lot of time though.
One I'd like is an hd800 I think, but I'm not going to chuck a grand out just to try one out. They all seem to have their problems but the hd800 on a Kameleon is very tempting.
Actually, maybe I'll do a Kameleon video? Trouble is, what do you say about an amp that alters its timbre to suit the headphone? I don't know if you get the same thing, but I do find that I can hear much further io music with the Kameleon which seems odd because it's an eq change and I'd imagine the detail remains the same. For some reason, I notice the 'insides' of mixes much easier with it. I can also listen at very low volumes with ease.
I've really fallen for these battery units. Makes the hd650 portable and retains that fantastic sound. I also plug my hd600 into it with a shorter lead for outdoors. Sounds good too, with the hd650 filter!!
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Post by ronzo56 on Jun 28, 2017 11:27:01 GMT
One I'd like is an hd800 I think, but I'm not going to chuck a grand out just to try one out. They all seem to have their problems but the hd800 on a Kameleon is very tempting. Actually, maybe I'll do a Kameleon video? Trouble is, what do you say about an amp that alters its timbre to suit the headphone? I don't know if you get the same thing, but I do find that I can hear much further io music with the Kameleon which seems odd because it's an eq change and I'd imagine the detail remains the same. For some reason, I notice the 'insides' of mixes much easier with it. I can also listen at very low volumes with easer!! I am tempted to get a Kameleon for my HD 800's as well. Other money priorities getting in the way at the moment. The H650 with the Sennatar? I think you described what I am hearing exactly. I am finding little things deeper in the mix than before. The sub-bass, and I know some are of the opinion the driver can't do sub-bass well, is really where I find a big difference. And like you I can turn down the volume without losing anything. And a plus is I can run it as a pre into my other amps. |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 28, 2017 11:38:23 GMT
Have you just got the Sennator, Ron? That's a pity because the filters aren't expensive to change. I use the dt770 for closed listening and again, on the Kameleon, it's way superior to just as it is with the treble peak and big bloat taken down.
Funny thing is that if you use some of the eq settings that people put out on the internet, they don't seem to be anything like as good as the Kameleon eq. It's probably a bit tricky to get just right and knowing what's most significant in the FR to adjust rather than create a load more jumps and bumps!! Proper eq'ing is an art in itself. Easily overdone as well.
To me, the hd650 is a lesser headphone without it. I never realised just how good the drivers were until I heard it on the Kameleon.
I'm still waiting for my batteries to arrive since I'm driving them using USB power which isn't ideal.
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Post by ronzo56 on Jun 28, 2017 11:58:16 GMT
Yes Ian, at the moment only the SeNNator. Next will be the Kameleon with HD800. But I would like to upgrade my Gungnir DAC to multi-bit first. Fell in love with the sound of the Yggdrasil the first time I heard it, and the 2nd and 3rd times, but it's out of my price comfort level. The Gumby as it's called gets you 90-95% of the way so that's my plan.
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Post by ronzo56 on Jun 28, 2017 21:59:09 GMT
O.K. I decided to change things up a little. Went a little retro. Running my Creek Audio CD player into Gungnir DAC to SeNNater to EC Black Widow...HD650. Listening to Joni Mitchell Hits CD. The difference I here with SeNNater? I can clearly hear her vocals. Sometimes I had a little trouble hearing her voice in full form. Really had to listen on some tracks to catch all the lyrics. Now easy, clear, no work. I think it's that the filter removed some of the "warmth" of the 650. I think I'm beginning to understand what folks have been saying about the black drivers "veil". I agree Ian, Frans really hit the EQ for HD650 on the nose. Can't seem to stop listening today. I just keep putting on more CD's.  |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 29, 2017 7:01:28 GMT
For all of the really deep bass that it produces, it doesn't bloat up mens' voices on the radio either. The audio from the BBC has a 'chesty' kind of sound quite often and the Senn is one of the few that actually captures it without mid bass bloom. I was listening to a classical station yesterday (Radio 3) and honestly, its timbre is spot on to me. If there's not much bass in the recording, the Senn doesn't manufacture any bloom. That's what I really like about it plus the fact that it just seems more natural and open than it would from something else. Perhaps Kameleons should be sold along with all headphones? Would sort out a lot of woes for some people. |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 29, 2017 13:56:40 GMT
Two batteries arrived today, so the first one is now being charged. I think the batteries were already charged though because the yellow light on the back is extremely dim. Barely on, but I'll leave it for 14 hours anyway.
So one is off as a portable now which is great.
Another set should arrive tomorrow for the other one.
I aim to try not to run the batteries flat and will keep them topped up, but does anyone know the amount of time that a full charge will give? At least then, I might have an idea of how much power I've used before plugging in again.
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Jun 29, 2017 15:27:24 GMT
Two batteries arrived today, so the first one is now being charged. I think the batteries were already charged though because the yellow light on the back is extremely dim. Barely on, but I'll leave it for 14 hours anyway. So one is off as a portable now which is great. Another set should arrive tomorrow for the other one. I aim to try not to run the batteries flat and will keep them topped up, but does anyone know the amount of time that a full charge will give? At least then, I might have an idea of how much power I've used before plugging in again. Ian, it is a good idea to keep the batteries topped up, I have had a few sessions cut short when the batteries run low and the unit just shuts down. Hopefully Frans new mod prevents this from happening - but havent had the time to find out. I don't know how long you get from a full charge but from previous listening I would guess at 6 / 10 hours? maybe a bit less. To be on the safe side I think I would top the batteries up every 4 hours of listening. Frans may know better on how long you may expect from a full charge? |
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Without the Kameleon, the sound seems to close in, deep bass goes and the treble isn't anything like as well defined. In fact, it sounds comparatively 'boxy' without the amp although you can 'adjust" after a while and no longer notice.
