Kameleon

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Kameleon headphone enhancement



The Kameleon circuit is basically a custom analog equalizer module that corrects a number of headphones in frequency response. It can’t perform miracles and iron out all peaks and dips, but it can improve the tonal balance.

This is done on a pure analog basis so no DSP or digital manipulation is used.

No PC or other processing is needed, it just works from every DAC output.

This is where the Kameleon differs from all the different software solutions out there.

There are a few different Kameleon devices around. The amplifiers (a portable and desktop version) are Do-It-Yourself only and PCB’s can be ordered directly from me (solderdude) via the contact form.

There is also a DIY version of the inline kameleon (pictured above) bare PCB only

Below a list with the supported headphones (v 2.1 updated: April, 2019).

A description of what the filter does for that particular headphone is also given.

When you agree those are exactly the points where your headphone is lacking then the Kameleon may be something you could like.

Linear amplifier with (3) different amount of gains in case you want to boost the signal of your source. Bass boost with a few different (fixed amount, not adjustable) types of bass boost of your choice. AKG K501 (lowers treble peaks and lifts bass, gives more body to the sound) * AKG K550/K551 (reduces the warmth and lowers the treble peak)* AKG K612 (K601) (lowers treble peaks and adds subbass) * AKG K701 (removes the 2kHz treble peak, lowers the upper treble and adds missing bass) AKG K702 (removes the 2kHz treble peak, lowers the upper treble and adds missing sub bass) AKG K712 (adds subbass, lowers warmth a tiny bit, removes slight treble peak) AKG K7xx (adds subbass, lowers warmth a tiny bit, removes slight treble peak) AKG K812 (adds subbass, lowers warmth somewhat, removes slight treble peak) AKG Q701 (lowers warmth, removes the 2kHz treble peak and adds missing sub bass) Audeze LCD2 F azor (adds slight subbass and improves clarity) * Audeze LCD3 F azor (adds slight subbass and improves clarity) * Audeze LCD4 F azor (adds slight subbass and improves clarity) * Audeze LCDX F azor (adds slight subbass and improves clarity) * Audeze Sine Closed (removes the ‘hollowness’ from the lower mids and the treble peak) * Audio Technica ATH-M40X (lowers bass hump and treble peak and extends subbass) * Beyerdynamic DT770-Pro 32 (lowers the bass somewhat and removes the treble peak) Beyerdynamic DT770-Pro 80 (adds subbas lowers the bass slightly and removes the treble peak) Beyerdynamic DT770-Pro 250 (lowers the bass somewhat and removes the treble peak) * Beyerdynamic DT990-600 (old version) (lowers the bass and treble 'hump' and extends subbass) * Beyerdynamic DT990-Pro 250 (lowers the bass and treble 'hump' and extends subbass) * Beyerdynamic DT990-Edition (lowers the bass and treble 'hump' and extends subbass) Beyerdynamic DT1350 with EDT1350-NL pads ( adds the (sub)bass that is removed by the larger pads ) * Beyerdynamic DT1770 (lowers the bass and treble peak and extends subbass) * Beyerdynamic DT1990 (lowers the treble peak and extends subbass) * Beyerdynamic T1 (mk2) (lowers warmth, extends the bass and removes the treble peak) * Beyerdynamic T5P (mk2) (removes the treble 'peak' and corrects treble response as well as lowers bass warmth) * Denon AH-D2000 (removes the treble issues, improves clarity/presence) Focal Elear (adds some sub-bass and adds clarity) * Focal Clear (adds some sub-bass and removes the slight ‘stridency’ in the treble) * Focal Utopia (adds some sub-bass and removes the ‘stridency’ in the treble) * Modified Fostex T50RP is ONLY intended for T50RP's with SRH940 pads fitted) * Fostex T50RP stock (adds bass and midbass bloom, extends treble and removes treble peak) Fostex T50RP with HM5 velourspads (adds bass, extends treble and removes treble peak) Fostex T50RP mk3 stock (adds subbass, adds body to bass, improves clarity and extends treble)* Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany (adds subbass, adds some clarity and improves the treble quality) * Fostex TH-X00 PurpleHeart (adds subbass, lowers bass levels, adds clarity, improves treble quality) HIFIMAN HE5 (adds some clarity and equalizes the treble peak) HIFIMAN HE350 (adds subbass and removes treble peak) * HIFIMAN HE350 with passive treble filter (adds subbass and improves clarity) and a version with SRH1840 pads * HIFIMAN HE400i (adds bass and warmth, removes the treble peak) * HIFIMAN HE400S (adds bass and warmth, removes the treble peak) * HIFIMAN HE500 (adds some clarity and removes the treble peak) HIFIMAN HE560 (adds some subbass, clarity and removes the treble peak) * HIFIMAN Susvara (adds some subbass and clarity) * Master & Dynamic MH40 (lowers the excessive bass and lower mids and adds ‘sparkle’) * Meze 99 Classic & 99 Neo ( lowers the excessive bass and lower mids and the treble peak) * Monoprice M1060 (adds some bottom end and clarity as well as upper treble, lowers the 4.5kHz ringing) Mr Speakers Aeon Flow Closed (adds some subbass and clarity) * Mr Speakers Aeon Flow Open (adds some subbass and lowers the ‘warmth’) * Mr Speakers Alpha Dog (adds some clarity and adds 'sparkle' up top) Mr Speakers Ether Flow (lowers ‘warmth’ and the upper treble peak) * Philips SHP9500 (adds some bass and body and clarity, removes some treble) * Philips Fidelio X1 (adds some sub bass and clarity) * Philips Fidelio X2 (increases clarity and removes treble peak) Philips A5Pro stock pads (corrects the overall tonal balance towards a more Hi-Fi signature) * Philips A5Pro velours pads (adds some sub bass, clarity and treble extension) * Sennheiser Momentum OVER - ear (shaves off some bass, adds sparkle up top and extends sublows) Sennheiser HD555 / HD595 (adds some subbass) Sennheiser HD58X (Massdrop) (adds some subbass and lowers treble peak) * Sennheiser HD598 (adds some subbass and lowers treble peak) Sennheiser HD580 / HD600 (extends subbass, removes slight upper mids peak) * Sennheiser HD650 old (black driver, old pads) version (extends subbass, removes excess 'warmth') * Sennheiser HD650 new (silver driver, new pads) version (extends subbass and removes slight midbass hump) * Sennheiser HD6XX (Massdrop) , (extends subbass and removes slight midbass hump) = current HD650 Sennheiser HD660S (extends subbass, removes excess 'warmth') * Sennheiser HD700 (adds subbass, lowers warmth, removes treble peak) * Sennheiser HD800 (adds (sub)bass and lowers the 6kHz and 10kHz peak) * Sennheiser HD800S + HD800 with SDR mod (adds (sub)bass and lowers the 10kHz peak) Sony MDR-1A (removes overly warm signature and slight edge, overall improvement in clarity) * Sony MDR-Z7 (removes overly warm signature and adds upper treble extension)

Crossfeed module (Narrows the stereo image) *

* = verified by own measurements, other filters are based on measurements made by others.

More headphones will be added to this list.

When you want your headphone (when not yet listed) measured and have a filter module created for it then it is possible to send your headphone in to be measured.

It will be returned of coarse. Only possible within the E.U.

To arrange this contact me via the contact form.

prices of bare (not populated) PCB’s & boards in stock (June 2019):

Kameleon in-line board (black) = € 9.10 now € 8.30 in stock: 13

Kameleon 2.1 amplifier board (black) = € 9.10 now € 7.10 in stock: 10

Power supply board for Desktop Kameleon = € 12.30 ordered

Filter Module PCB (SMD, black) = € 2.85 now € 1.70 in stock : 33

Crossfeed Module PCB (SMD, green) = € 4.60 in stock :5

Kameleon v 1.0 board = now € 3.00 in stock : 3

Filter Module PCB (TH, green) = € 2.85 now € 1.00 in stock : 13 (not suited for inline Kameleon)

Shipping costs depend on weight and destination. Goes through ‘normal’ mail in an envelope so NO exuberant shipping costs, ranging from just a few Euros to 24.- depending on weight and destination.

Payment through IBAN for E.U. customers, outside the E.U. using PayPal®

The construction manual for the inline-Kameleon can be downloaded HERE

Supported headphone list and more information is found HERE

The Kameleon is a spin-off from a headphone correction filter I started developing end 2012. That filter had to be purpose built for each headphone and only worked with that specific headphone.

The Kameleon can be used for a number of headphones and thus is a lot more versatile.

commercial version

There is also an in-line version that is connected between the source (RCA line-level) and a headphone amplifier (line level input RCA).

There is a commercial version Kameleon from Garage 1217

The Kameleon accepts filter modules. These modules are basically a plug-in EQ module tailored to specific headphones. No need to find an EQ yourself, just pop in a module.

These modules apply a ‘gentle’ and simple EQ which addresses the overall tonal balance issues of that headphone. For some headphones this works out better than for others.

You can download a list of supported headphones and a few ‘generic’ modules HERE

In that pdf you can also find measurements of several headphones with the ‘before’ and ‘after’ plots to give an idea of what the circuit does. Below some examples, stock / Kameleon

More headphones will be added to this list.

When you want your headphone (when not yet listed) measured and have a filter module created for it then it is possible to send your headphone in to be measured.

It will be returned of coarse. Only possible within the E.U.

To arrange this contact me via the contact form.

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