Review: Beyerdynamic DT880 03' w/ comparison to my beloved AD700's.

[fraseyboy]

Those who have read my posts will know that I absolutely love the Audio Technica AD700's! They're comfortable and sound AMAZING with the most immersive soundstage I have ever experienced. Strangely though, my favorite sound comes from the ER6i's. The detail, the instrument separation and the neutrality makes what I consider the perfect sound. Only problem is, my ears do not seem to like having bits of foam stuffed in them (I use the Shure Olives) and after 10 minutes or so I begin to experience pain.

And so my quest began, to try find the sound of the ER6i's (maybe with some aspects of the AD700's) in a full sized can. Through vast amounts of googling I came across reports that the DT880's were very detailed and neutral, but with a slight exaggeration in the treble, and lots of soundstage. They sounded near perfect. So I bought a set of 03's (mostly due to people saying the 05's had a more bass which wasn't what I was looking for.)


Out of a sea of foam peanuts...


A Beyerdynamic monster appears!


They come with a nice but fairly useless case. It's quite big compared to the headphones themselves but I guess it would be handy if I were to transport them somewhere (like to a LAN party).

Unzip it...



And there they are! I have to say I quite like the silver and black styling. It makes them look kinda oldschool, in a good way. While the 05's look more modern, I still prefer the style of the 03's.



The build is quite good. None of the creaking that I experience with my AD700's. They seem rock solid. The only part that's not perfect is the swiveling mechanism of the cups. Could just by my pair, but the left one seems to catch on something and make a clicking sound when twisted the right way. Not sure what's going on there, but it doesn't seem to affect the comfort or placement.



And what comfort! The velour pads are EXTREMELY soft, softer (and deeper) than my AD700's. They're sized perfectly to surround my ear and don't reach down to my upper cheek like the AD700's do. By the way each cup automatically touches together you would think that they clamp. In truth, they clamping force is almost zero! They're also VERY VERY light (alot more than they look). They feel like they're about the same or maybe a touch heavier than the AD700's. Since they don't have the 3d wing headband of the AD700's, they put more pressure on the top of your head but it's still not bad. Overall I think they're just as comfortable as the AD700 and would probably suit smaller heads better.



Now, the part that you've all been waiting for... SOUND!

To make thing's simpler, I'll break it down into the different aspects of the sound. I recommend reading it all though, not just the aspects that are of interest to you.

Highs

The treble is quite prominent with lots of 'sparkle' and is exceptionally clear. Some may find this too much but I personally don't mind. The AD700's don't have as much treble sparkle and, in comparison, it sounds grainy. Cymbals are more 'real' on the DT880's. In extremely bright recordings they can become fatiguing due to the amount of sparkle. Very very clear though. They do acoustic guitar VERY well.

Mids

Less prominent, slightly recessed compared to the rest of the music. I personally can't stand recessed mids. Luckily it's not TOO bad on the DT880's. I originally thought that the AD700's had recessed mids, but that seems to have been fixed with burn in. One thing about the mids though is that they seem to be separated from the rest of the music. The mids are in your head and the rest of the music is like around you. The tone of the mids is less bright than the AD700's as well. Overall they seem more natural but less fun.

Bass

DT880's have exceptional bass. It has about the same extension as the AD700's but much more slam and presence, yet still remains totally tight. Very very nice bass. Nicely textured too.

Soundstage

Quite interesting... They do have soundstage, not all in your head like a Grado. It's just interesting soundstage. While the music in the AD700's is front back, left right, all around, in the DT880's it's just left to right. It seems more 2D. Still, it's much more natural and probably more true to the recording.

Tone and Upfrontedness

DT880's are more... Mellow, perhaps warmer. AD700's in comparison seem very bright. I've heard people say the DT880's are cold and thin. While the treble does lead to a slightly thin sound, I don't think they're cold at all. Could just be my amp. They say that tubes do good things to the DT880's... To my ears the AD700's are on the stage and the DT880's are in the front row. They're not like senns so they still suit rock quite well.

Detail and Separation

MUCH MUCH more detailed than my AD700's. Nothing is lost. The seperation is quite good too, but not up to the standard of my ER6i's. On the ER6i's you can focus on one part of the music and it's like in it's own 'part'. Very hard to explain but it's something which I think must be exclusive to Ety's.



Overall I think the DT880's are great totally natural cans. They reveal EVERYTHING and it's always good to have those types of cans around. However I think the AD700's have a more 'fun' sound which suits rock better. Less natural and real, but more enjoyable. As for whether the Beyers do what the Ety's do... I don't think so. Moreso than the AD700's but they just ain't ety's. Probably no full size can has that ety sound... But if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them!

So are they a keeper? I'm really not sure yet... It amazes me how well the AD700's perform for there price. They are greatly underappreciated IMO. I find it funny that this has turned into a battle to find a pair of headphones that can beat a set of $120 AD700's. But in comparison to the DT880's I must admit the AD700's sound blurry, coloured, unnatural and lacking in bass while in comparison to the AD700's the DT880's sound extremely clear, more natural but the midrange sounds recessed and they seem slower with less energy.

[Caution]

Looks like you got the '05 edition case rather than the '03 edition case

I had the chance to compare my old 880 '05 editions with the AD700s, once you amp both sufficiently (the 880's are a picky with amps) the difference between the AD700s and 880s become a lot bigger, they aren't even in the same league in my unbiased opinion.

If you want the ety sound, the K701s are what you're looking for. They sound like a full sized Ety, the 880s and etys aren't very similiar at all.

[ATHFan]

Very nice review!

Makes me wonder if I should get the ATH-AD900 afterall in stead of the DT 880. I plan to connect them with a Yamaha RX-V663 amplifier/receiver and use the headphones for gaming, movie watching, anime watching and Hip Hop and R&B listening.

For more details, read the following thread:

Yamaha RX-V663 Amplifier/Receiver: Yamaha RX-V663 Amplifier/Receiver

[ast]

.....

Soundstage

Quite interesting... They do have soundstage, not all in your head like a Grado. It's just interesting soundstage. While the music in the AD700's is front back, left right, all around, in the DT880's it's just left to right. It seems more 2D. Still, it's much more natural and probably more true to the recording.
......

so ture, so ture, ........



...

[fraseyboy]

Originally Posted by Caution

Looks like you got the '05 edition case rather than the '03 edition case

I had the chance to compare my old 880 '05 editions with the AD700s, once you amp both sufficiently (the 880's are a picky with amps) the difference between the AD700s and 880s become a lot bigger, they aren't even in the same league in my unbiased opinion.

If you want the ety sound, the K701s are what you're looking for. They sound like a full sized Ety, the 880s and etys aren't very similiar at all.

You would think a Little Dot MK II would be able to drive them nicely though wouldn't you?

Yeah, the K701 was going to be my next option if I didn't like the DT880's.

Originally Posted by ATHFan

Very nice review!

Makes me wonder if I should get the ATH-AD900 afterall in stead of the DT 880. I plan to connect them with a Yamaha RX-V663 amplifier/receiver and use the headphones for gaming, movie watching, anime watching and Hip Hop and R&B listening.

For more details, read the following thread:

Yamaha RX-V663 Amplifier/Receiver: Yamaha RX-V663 Amplifier/Receiver

Well the AD900's are incredible for gaming and movies but since they lack bass the hip hop might not do too well on them.

[ATHFan]

Originally Posted by fraseyboy

Well the AD900's are incredible for gaming and movies but since they lack bass the hip hop might not do too well on them.

This makes my choise even harder. I really hate the fact that, on paper, one of these headphones is perfect for me, but I can't find a place to audition either of them.

When you say "they lack bass", is it really that bad? You wouldn't be able to enjoy music types like Hip Hop and R&B?

Would you say the ATH-AD700 and ATH-AD900 are far better for gaming and movie watching? How well would Dolby/DTS emulation (Like Dolby Headphone or Silent Cinema) work on the ATH-AD700 or ATH-AD900?

Which of these headphones is more comfortable on larger size heads (my hat size is 7.5)?

[fraseyboy]

Originally Posted by ATHFan

This makes my choise even harder. I really hate the fact that, on paper, one of these headphones is perfect for me, but I can't find a place to audition either of them.

When you say "they lack bass", is it really that bad? You wouldn't be able to enjoy music types like Hip Hop and R&B?

Would you say the ATH-AD700 and ATH-AD900 are far better for gaming and movie watching? How well would Dolby/DTS emulation (Like Dolby Headphone or Silent Cinema) work on the ATH-AD700 or ATH-AD900?

Which of these headphones is more comfortable on larger size heads (my hat size is 7.5)?

The Audio Technica's don't work too well on small heads so they'd be perfect on yours. I don't see why the DT880's wouldn't be uncomfortable either.

Hmm... Well the bass goes deep enough but doesn't really have much slam. Has a little bit... It depends what your priorities are. I don't listen to hip hop so I don't know whether it needs it.

I've never tried any of that cinema stuff but I suspect it would work very well on the AD's. They have an amazing soundstage that's all around you. Definatly far better for movies and games (unless you value bass alot).

[Caution]

You would think a Little Dot MK II would be able to drive them nicely though wouldn't you?

I haven't heard the MK II, so don't quote me on this, but I don't think think it would be sufficient to get the most of the 880s.

[ATHFan]

Originally Posted by fraseyboy

The Audio Technica's don't work too well on small heads so they'd be perfect on yours. I don't see why the DT880's wouldn't be uncomfortable either.

Hmm... Well the bass goes deep enough but doesn't really have much slam. Has a little bit... It depends what your priorities are. I don't listen to hip hop so I don't know whether it needs it.

I've never tried any of that cinema stuff but I suspect it would work very well on the AD's. They have an amazing soundstage that's all around you. Definatly far better for movies and games (unless you value bass alot).

Thanks for the quick reply.

I guess I'll have to think about my priorities again.

[nickchen]

I also love my 2003' DT880, but lately, I've found out that its genre bandwidth is a bit restricted. It doesn't behave so well for "hard hitting" stuff, and it lacks a bit PRaT for complex music.

Due to its brilliant but warm presentation, I find it ideal for slower electronica. I love the mood of peace it provides, and its level of detailling is great, but never overboarding.

The DT880 is a creature to get used to. If I put it on after, say, one Beyer-less week, it can sound strange and distant. Vice versa, after longer Beyer sessions, my other cans sound a bit rude and of exagerrated speed.

[glac1er]

Thanks for the review, the DT880 is great! And you get the '03 version

I haven't listened to an ER6i before, but I have an ER4P with P/S cable. As for Ety sound in a full-size frame, I think Ety sounds quite different from most full-size I've tried. A more natural progression from the ER6i might be an ER4S. As for next full-size to try, AKG701 is a logical choice.

I love the ER4S, but I don't love the K701. They share similarities but the coloration in the upper mid and treble region is a bit different. That said, I seem to find an upgrade of some of what I love about the ER4S (speed, clarity, and instrument separation) in the Stax SRS2050 system. They don't sound exactly the same, the Stax has a less clinical coloration, but the overall image of the music is less blurred and compressed than the ER4S.

[fraseyboy]

Originally Posted by nickchen

I also love my 2003' DT880, but lately, I've found out that its genre bandwidth is a bit restricted. It doesn't behave so well for "hard hitting" stuff, and it lacks a bit PRaT for complex music.

Due to its brilliant but warm presentation, I find it ideal for slower electronica. I love the mood of peace it provides, and its level of detailling is great, but never overboarding.

The DT880 is a creature to get used to. If I put it on after, say, one Beyer-less week, it can sound strange and distant. Vice versa, after longer Beyer sessions, my other cans sound a bit rude and of exagerrated speed.

I totally agree. I'd probably like them more once I get used to them... They have quite a 'different' sound. Very unique.

I think the K701 would probably be more what I'm looking for but are also significantly more expensive than anything head-fi related that I have bought so far. I don't think I'm willing to spend that much on headphones...

[Punnisher]

Good impressions.

Some compare Grados to the 880, though I don't think they sound similar at all. Completely different beasts.

Also, the clicking you experience with the swiveling mechanism is normal. Both of my beyerdynamic cans do it.

[wolf18t]

Nice review and I totally agree with it. I have the '03 DT-880 and the only other HP I could compare them to is my vintage HD-560 Ovation. The DT-880 are all around way better cans except in the midrange department where the Senns have much more resolution and transparency.

With a more present midrange and a little more punch in the low register they would have been a perfect rock HP. But they are still very nice for their street price.

[PWilson]

Originally Posted by Caution

Looks like you got the '05 edition case rather than the '03 edition case

I had the chance to compare my old 880 '05 editions with the AD700s, once you amp both sufficiently (the 880's are a picky with amps) the difference between the AD700s and 880s become a lot bigger, they aren't even in the same league in my unbiased opinion.

If you want the ety sound, the K701s are what you're looking for. They sound like a full sized Ety, the 880s and etys aren't very similiar at all.

All of this x2

Except to add:
I haven't actually heard Ety's, so I'm only going on the impressions I've gotten of their signature.
701's will immerse you in soundstage. It's definitely all around you, not just L/R.
They're the very same 880's I now use >_<. But not that often. I can't put the 701's aside long enough to do serious comparos.

I do agree with Caution's AD700 vs DT800 comments, though, and then for me the 701's are a step up again.