Jan Meier
King Corda
Member of the Trade: Meier Audio
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2001
- Posts
- 854
- Likes
- 182
Dear Headfellows,
Finally the opportunity was found to write down my impressions on the DT880. Please be aware that this reportis not intended to be a full review. I simply didn't have the time to listen very much lately (X-mas period hasbeen "killing"). Please also be aware that impressions and reviews are a very personal thing. My taste might differ considerably from yours, so do not be offended when I compare the DT880 to your favourite headphone and "crush" this beloved toy to the bottom.
Upon receiving the phone, the first appearance was an impressive one. Each DT880 comes in an anodized aluminium box which looks and feels very cool. I guess you have to be very carefull for scratches and dents, as the plate-work isn't very thick, but it certainly has style.
Open the box and you find the phone, embedded in a cushion of foam. The phone has classic looks with some elements of modern design (anodized aluminium), nice thick paddings (although smaller than those of the DT831/DT931) and a headband with a leather cover that can be removed.
The cable is relatively thick, one-sided and of the well-known spiral type. Some like it, others don't. I tend to believe that the Beyer cables are sonically superior to the thin ones that are used by e.g. Sennheiser, but a straight wire will be preferred by many. The spiral cable tends to exert some tension if stretched to longer lengths. It might be for this reason that Beyerdynamic added an extra extension cable to the box! This cable is a straight one and seems to be of very decent quality. I didn't test it though. My only complaint is that the contacts of the extension cable are not gold-plated. Gold doesn't sound better, but it surely prevents cracks and plops due to poor contact (oxidation).
The phone got 72 hours of decent break-in before I started serious listening. The first thing that you notice is the bass. This one goes deep, very very deep indeed, without losing texture or getting slobby. The second thing you notice is that the upper frequencies are rather recessed. This phone clearly belongs to the same line of phones as the DT770 and DT990. Tonally the differences to the DT831/DT931 are very large.
Next I got myself a DT770, DT990, DT931 (modified, driven at 120 Ohm) and HD600 (modified) to do some
comparative listenings.
DT880 versus DT770
(Warning, people who love their DT770 should NOT read this section).
I have to admit that I never have been able to get on good terms with the DT770. In my opinion this phone has a bloated bass that is very colored and shows very little refinement. The mids are recessed and the acoustic soundstage produced gives me claustrofobic feelings. No surprise that the DT880 is much better. Its bass goes deep without being bloated, shows texture and is well defined. Soundstage is also superior by three classes.
DT880 versus DT990
The DT990 is a clear family of the DT770 but bass is not as strong and better defined. Soundstage is also more open (not so surprisingly, as the DT770 is a closed headphone and the DT990 is of the open type). The first model DT990 was released about 15 years ago, and although a new driver was spend last year, one feels its age. This phone remembers me of a period when loudspeakers tend to be on the gloomy/sandy/dark side. It's a very nice sound if you like a relaxed and warm presentation of music. I once had a DT990 and loved it, but technology since then made a few steps forward and general taste also changed towards a more analytical sound. Although the DT880 and the DT990 are somewhat similarly balanced, the DT880 clearly showed is superiority. Bass was better defined and sonic details are more easily presented, even although the highs are slightly more recessed
DT880 versus DT931
The DT931 has long been my personal favourite. It's fast, uncolored, and presents you all the details of the musical performance. It's slightly on the bright side but this has the advantage that details are not lost when you listen at lower volumes. I don't like to cranck up sound as I do like to care for my ears. The DT880 is completely different from the DT931. The upper frequencies are recessed and bass is more overwhelming. It made me turn up volume to a level that I normally don't like, just to hear more details.
DT880 versus HD600
For many the HD600 is a golden standard. This phone has a silky midrange and the upper frequencies, although a little bit subdued, are also of high quality. Nonetheless, in my opinion this phone has one flaw; its bass. The upper bass is a little bit bloated and the deepest bass is too weak. Bass is also somewhat on the slow side. With the HD600 the lower frequencies and the upper/midrange are sonically always a little bit separated. Not so with the DT880. This phone has a seamless transition from the mid frequencies to the deepest bass that makes this phone very easy to listen to. The HD600 is superior though in presenting the fine details of the performance.
Conclusions:
The DT880 is a very fine headphone, ideal for those who like high sound volumes and deep bass. For slightly more refinement the HD600 seems a better choice. A relaxed presentation while still offering many musical details.
For a very dynamic presentation that shows you everything that's on the recording or for listening at lower sound volumes the DT931 still stays my first choice.
Cheers,
Jan
Finally the opportunity was found to write down my impressions on the DT880. Please be aware that this reportis not intended to be a full review. I simply didn't have the time to listen very much lately (X-mas period hasbeen "killing"). Please also be aware that impressions and reviews are a very personal thing. My taste might differ considerably from yours, so do not be offended when I compare the DT880 to your favourite headphone and "crush" this beloved toy to the bottom.
Upon receiving the phone, the first appearance was an impressive one. Each DT880 comes in an anodized aluminium box which looks and feels very cool. I guess you have to be very carefull for scratches and dents, as the plate-work isn't very thick, but it certainly has style.
Open the box and you find the phone, embedded in a cushion of foam. The phone has classic looks with some elements of modern design (anodized aluminium), nice thick paddings (although smaller than those of the DT831/DT931) and a headband with a leather cover that can be removed.
The cable is relatively thick, one-sided and of the well-known spiral type. Some like it, others don't. I tend to believe that the Beyer cables are sonically superior to the thin ones that are used by e.g. Sennheiser, but a straight wire will be preferred by many. The spiral cable tends to exert some tension if stretched to longer lengths. It might be for this reason that Beyerdynamic added an extra extension cable to the box! This cable is a straight one and seems to be of very decent quality. I didn't test it though. My only complaint is that the contacts of the extension cable are not gold-plated. Gold doesn't sound better, but it surely prevents cracks and plops due to poor contact (oxidation).
The phone got 72 hours of decent break-in before I started serious listening. The first thing that you notice is the bass. This one goes deep, very very deep indeed, without losing texture or getting slobby. The second thing you notice is that the upper frequencies are rather recessed. This phone clearly belongs to the same line of phones as the DT770 and DT990. Tonally the differences to the DT831/DT931 are very large.
Next I got myself a DT770, DT990, DT931 (modified, driven at 120 Ohm) and HD600 (modified) to do some
comparative listenings.
DT880 versus DT770
(Warning, people who love their DT770 should NOT read this section).
I have to admit that I never have been able to get on good terms with the DT770. In my opinion this phone has a bloated bass that is very colored and shows very little refinement. The mids are recessed and the acoustic soundstage produced gives me claustrofobic feelings. No surprise that the DT880 is much better. Its bass goes deep without being bloated, shows texture and is well defined. Soundstage is also superior by three classes.
DT880 versus DT990
The DT990 is a clear family of the DT770 but bass is not as strong and better defined. Soundstage is also more open (not so surprisingly, as the DT770 is a closed headphone and the DT990 is of the open type). The first model DT990 was released about 15 years ago, and although a new driver was spend last year, one feels its age. This phone remembers me of a period when loudspeakers tend to be on the gloomy/sandy/dark side. It's a very nice sound if you like a relaxed and warm presentation of music. I once had a DT990 and loved it, but technology since then made a few steps forward and general taste also changed towards a more analytical sound. Although the DT880 and the DT990 are somewhat similarly balanced, the DT880 clearly showed is superiority. Bass was better defined and sonic details are more easily presented, even although the highs are slightly more recessed
DT880 versus DT931
The DT931 has long been my personal favourite. It's fast, uncolored, and presents you all the details of the musical performance. It's slightly on the bright side but this has the advantage that details are not lost when you listen at lower volumes. I don't like to cranck up sound as I do like to care for my ears. The DT880 is completely different from the DT931. The upper frequencies are recessed and bass is more overwhelming. It made me turn up volume to a level that I normally don't like, just to hear more details.
DT880 versus HD600
For many the HD600 is a golden standard. This phone has a silky midrange and the upper frequencies, although a little bit subdued, are also of high quality. Nonetheless, in my opinion this phone has one flaw; its bass. The upper bass is a little bit bloated and the deepest bass is too weak. Bass is also somewhat on the slow side. With the HD600 the lower frequencies and the upper/midrange are sonically always a little bit separated. Not so with the DT880. This phone has a seamless transition from the mid frequencies to the deepest bass that makes this phone very easy to listen to. The HD600 is superior though in presenting the fine details of the performance.
Conclusions:
The DT880 is a very fine headphone, ideal for those who like high sound volumes and deep bass. For slightly more refinement the HD600 seems a better choice. A relaxed presentation while still offering many musical details.
For a very dynamic presentation that shows you everything that's on the recording or for listening at lower sound volumes the DT931 still stays my first choice.
Cheers,
Jan
