oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 3, 2015 19:44:24 GMT
If you want a pretty powerful amp on the go, the Mont Blanc e12 is extremely good Simon. It's flat as well so. An be strapped to the dap. The only two I use nowadays portable are the O2 and the Fiio e12. O2 isn't as convenient on the move since its a bit more cumbersome. I was mowing the lawn in the Summer with the K550 attached to the e12 from my dap. I wrap the lead around me and tuck it through my belt!! i was looking at the e12 the other night and it does look a nice unit. i believe it is similar in size to the x5 though. Thing is,i actually fancied something designed by Frans and built by Javier though, following my experience with Project Ember and my headphone filter. |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 3, 2015 19:56:15 GMT
Yes, bigger than the X1. I strap them together.
With the Kameleon, you have to know which headphone you're going to use it with so the correct board is inside. The sound will be lovely and flat in fr which is what it's designed to do basically.
In my case, I think I'd need ten cards because I can never decide which headphone to use.
One headphone that is very good but needs extra power is the DT250. Not the 80 ohm version. Now that's worth amping and if Frans has designed a suitable card for it, it would be a great combo. (Although it has a coiled lead) the DT250 is a really nice headphone which to me is
partially Portable and partially home. Portable in that it's fairly small. Home because of its impedance and sensitivity. The Kameleon would give that enough power and even better if the top end could be extended further with a suitable eq card.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 3, 2015 20:43:51 GMT
in an ideal world what i would like is a Kameleon with 2 switchable filters plus a filterless option.
ie lcd-2, ah-d600 and flat.
if this makes sense.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 3, 2015 20:51:03 GMT
An ah-d600 flat would be lovely. As it is, it's too bassy really. It might also be too big for your head. That's not a joke. The designer must have had a massive coconut. I use a Beyer headband to hold it higher.
Actually the d600 would work well. It's extended for sure and comes with a removable lead and a short one. It's also very sensitive and very comfortable.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 2, 2015 18:10:52 GMT
Frans, I've been thinking about the DT990 and Kameleon. I know that you took the 10KHz peak down in the top, but am curious as to whether you got the low bass to be more obvious with it at all. It doesn't need a mid bass boost, but sub bass could be nudged if it were possible.
Looks like it's ringing nicely at 10khz in any case.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 2, 2015 18:32:23 GMT
The Beyerdynamic DT990-Pro has big bass but lacks sub-bass extension and also shows a considerable peak around 10kHz.
The filter below drops the (somewhat overblown) bass by 2dB and adds a bit of sub-bass.
This also means the mids, that may seem somewhat recessed because of this, will be improved.
The peak around 10kHz is completely removed, fortunately this doesn't remove details and the typical nice highs which characterize the 'Beyer sound'.
A much more balanced sound is the result.
Just give it a try and see what you make of it.
It is build upon plots of my old 600 Ohm DT990 beyer which is not exactly the same as the later 'pro' version which has more mids presence.
Give it a whirl anyway.
The DT1350 filter adss the (sub-bass) and removes the cuppy sound somewhat.
I should measure the headphones + when corrected (as I did with the HD650) but don't know if I have some time for this.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 2, 2015 20:06:12 GMT
Sounds good. I quite like the DT250, which from what I gather is a well behaved headphone with regards to FR and it looks like that is kind of what the DT990 might become similar to perhaps.
I just wondered if you'd got a double whammy with the 10KHz peak and the bass ramp and it looks like you have!! That'll be interesting. I'll have a free week soon to test it all out which will be really nice as well.
It's such a clever idea to incorporate it all into the amp as well. Also, if there are people who don't like a flat headphone, then at least there is the 'Neutral' insert which will let the headphones do as they normally do, which is great.
The funny thing is, since I've been using the T40 and the adjusted K550, I've quite adjusted to the sound and find some headphones sound too 'rich' by comparison as a result. Like having the colour set too high on a TV!!
Still don't mind the D600 and its massive bass though. Great for movies. It does have cup resonances which isn't great for a headphone that retailed at such a high price originally, but it's a 'fun' listen for me.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 2, 2015 20:19:49 GMT
I made a few quick plots of my DT990, DT1350 (NL pads), T50RP and HD650 stock and on the Kameleon. It shows the changes the amp provides. The DT990 will be tweaked a bit further if I have some time, not happy with the subbass yet. T50RP: It still has a fairly big 3kHz dip but a dip isn't that audible and makes it more mellow sounding. The subass is better and more linear and the treble extension is great ... lots of 'air'  DT990: The subbass is enhanced a bit (need to see if I can get a bit more gain there) but above all the treble peak (also present in DT770 and DT880) is removed. Not completely but substantially lowered. You thus still hear the Beyer sound but not exaggerated.  DT1350: It just adds the bass here and alters the lower mids slightly. Just enough for me to like it.  HD650 (old pads): No comments here and should be obvious why I feel a HD650 is the best headphone around when a tiny bit of the excess 'warmth' has been removed and the subbass is extended. Sounds like ... reality.  As can be seen the Kameleon cannot make perfect corrections for all headphones. The filter circuits can make much better compensations as is most evident in the T50RP. |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 2, 2015 20:39:07 GMT
Just look at that HD650 graph though! Mouth watering!!!!
The DT1350 still looks a bit odd though with that mid shelf, although it is improved.
You know, the DT990 filter may well work (up to a point) with the DT770 as well. Same impedance, same peak at 10KHz, with a bigger hump on DT770. Roll off in the bass is similar, so that filter may well improve the 770 too. Quite funny how people perceive the DT990 has having big bass but in reality it has no proper deep bass, just that hump!!
The Senn plot is just terrific though. It's the one headphone that stops me buying expensive ones.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 2, 2015 20:55:59 GMT
The DT990 is more like a slightly bassier DT880.
The -5dB 'suckout' around 1kHz makes it a bit warmer and V shaped sounding compared to the DT880.
The DT1350 will always be a bit odd but feel I can listen to it better this way.
I prefer it on the 'portable filter amp' I constructed for it a bit more though as that one compensates better.
Same for the T50RP... still the T50RP sounds great from the Kameleon.
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Post by deireleire on Feb 3, 2015 9:04:55 GMT
I listen to the modded T50RP's on a kameleon every single day and never get tired of them.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 3, 2015 19:39:17 GMT
I like both the t40 and 50 a great deal. Soon to hear them 'karma karma Kameleoned' very soon!!
I'm particularly interested in those two and my Senn hd650. Frans has made a mains driven version which looks rather tastey!!
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 3, 2015 19:54:19 GMT
Changed the DT990 filter:  Not quite as good as HD650 but 'getttin' there' No more over the top treble, warmth removed, clarity thus improved.... hello Subbass where had you been hiding |
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 3, 2015 20:00:58 GMT
Wow !!! That is looking quite amazing from 800 down. Flat as a pancake.
Interesting that both hd650 and DT990 start to 'wiggle' from 3 KHz upwards. Senn is a little better in that respect though. It looks like the Beyer and Senn are getting close to each other now.
Have you compared both with each other on the head Frans?
I just compared with the old DT990 graph and that is one heck of an improvement in the bass actually!!! The mids rise a fraction so perhaps it is still a fraction brighter than the Senn?
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 4, 2015 6:00:54 GMT
I like the comfort of the DT990 but prefer the HD650 it simply is more 'real'.
The DT990 is slightly ramped up in the treble (still) so it remains 'Beyerish' but in style.
I could very easily lower the amount of treble but wanted to 'keep' the Beyersound.
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