Donald North Audio — Owners Thread

@Mystic

IMHO - the HD650 + Sonett pairing is good but not quite as good as the HD800 + Sonett pairing. The HD650 doesn't mind "aggressive" amps to bring it alive, something which the HD800 doesn't like. Although if you mod the HD650 it becomes more toooobe suitable.

 

I haven't modded my 650 but I have a 6xx coming specifically for me to tinker with.

Maybe my 600 would pair better, but I'll find all that out this weekend.

 

@Mystic

I've modded my HD650 to where it's now very similar to Marv's KISS mod. That is to say: mass dampening, about 50% of stock rear foam dampening, no coin mod. This is IMHO an EXCELLENT pairing with the Sonett, very nice. But the stock HD650 likes a little bit more "kick" to perform it's best. I can see 100% why a lot of people like stock HD650 + Jotu SS amp. However - as you mod the HD6XX it responds better to tubes, and the overall sound fidelity goes up a notch too.

 

@Mystic @Griffon Yes, definitely try to get a pair of modded HD800s to use with the Sonett. Much better pairing imo, despite the modded HD650s still sounding very good.

Edit: Just realized that @Mystic has a hd800.

 

Without mods, the HD 600 pairs better with the Sonett than the 650. The 650 isn't without its charms, but the 600 sounds more transparent.

One thing I'm noticing about the Sonett 2 is that it's easier to discern sonic changes when swapping the 5AR4 rectifier. I had a difficult time doing that with the original, previously. But the Bugle Boy (big shout out to @sheldaze) sounds noticeably different than the Sylvania that I had been using previously. Smoother, a bit more even. I prefer the Sylvania with the 650, but the Bugle Boy with the 600 and TH-X00 PH.

Roughly, the Sylvania has a v-shaped character that I hadn't previously noticed. Gives some more verve to the unmodded 650.

 

DO IT!!

His amps have given me hundreds upon hundreds of hours of enjoyment. When I consider the cost on a per minute bases, a DNA amp is far less than renting a movie. Not that anyone rents movies anymore... But you know what I mean.

 

Stock Elear with re-terminated XLR jack running pretty darn good results from Sonett ver 1, 120 ohms z out. This is pretty much what I would call good, "wet", lush tube sound. Thick, dark, bassy, quick, clean and clear... Elear's somehow recessed mids is very nicely compensated by the mids emphasis of the Sonett ver 1. Planktons are pretty damn good as well!

 

I was surprised as well. Basically it sounds like a fixed TH900 if my distant memory serves. Call it blasphemy, but that's what I've heard.

 

True, I have been a devoted TH900 lover, and I have just wanted a pair of can which is un-neutral, extremely coloured, but in a tasteful way.

 

@Griffon @sorrodje

Ok, now I'm curious. What was it about TH-900 that needed fixing? Treble?

And why don't you like the TH-900 SD?

We can take the discussion over here if you prefer: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/fostex-th-900.879/

 

I tried the Elear briefly with the original Sonett (i.e. @Mystic) via SE output, @Griffon. Did not care for the pairing whatsoever, even at 28R. But if you're diggin' it, then more power to you.

Mind you, I don't think the Sonett 1 is necessarily incapable of handling lowish impedance loads. The TH-X00 sounded decent, although its presentation improved greatly from the S2's 11R output. But the Elear has certain, er, unusual characteristics which the Sonett did little to improve. Nor did any of my other amps, for that matter, but that's a different ball of wax.

In general, I don't find myself using the 120R setting on either Sonett. It has a varying range of effects that I don't much care for. But I do like that it's available, as it's a unique feature that can yield serendipitous results depending on one's tastes.

 

(Too lazy to post elsewhere)

TH900 is essentially a super clean Beats, with a midrange depression, and a fucked up treble. The soundstage, timbre, synergy with solid-state amps, and clarity are impressive, but the more I listened to TH900, the more I found that it lacked texture - note presentations were brutally simplified. I just found as bloated/coloured/fucked up as it may be, the Elear out of 120 ohms z out fixed every other thing I mentioned above for the TH900. And I did not like Elear a lot out of the Black Diamond.

 

I haven't found anything I liked out of the Sonett 2's 120ohm output impedance tbh. The TH-900 is known to match well with tube amps like the zana deux and stratus though.

 

That's.... surprisingly spot on. Haha. But I did like it for it's deep clean bass with electronic music, and the soundstage is impressive for a closed can. Soundstage is important to me so that was a big plus. But I agree the midrange is somewhat recessed (stock HD800 *cough*) and the treble was more strident than I'd like (stock HD800 *cough*). Didn't much think about the texture when I tried it, I'd have to audition it again. I'd say the TH-900 is probably a good choice if you only listen to rap or electronica and specifically want a closed headphone with good soundstage. It is a bit pricey though... oh well.

Back to DNA?

 

Well yeah, what I'm seeking out of the Elear-Sonett combo is simply a good bass cannon, and it sure as hell delivers.

 

Sadly, no more Sonett.