The Beyerdynamic DT880 Appreciation / Discussion thread - Page 128

The Valhalla 880 combination was fantastic and if I didn't suffer from the need to try new sound signatures, I could have been extremely happy with it for many years. However, I just had to try the SPL Auditor with my headphones so I had to sell the Valhalla (still waiting for me Auditor). I was so impressed with the Valhalla that I will likley try a Lyr for the tube rolling ability, and certainly a Bifrost when I have the need. Anybody who stumbles upon this thread can rest assured that the Valhalla/880 is a great combo. At a recent meet here in Ottawa a very experienced head-fier listened to his T1 with my Valhalla and thought it sounded better than with his Mapletree Mad Ear + amp (The Purist I think?). Another head-fier at the meet thought the Valhalla held up really well against his Woo Audio WA2. Suffice to say that despite selling my Valhalla, I am a huge fan. The sound just won me over.

Thanks for that - I definitely need to co-incide my next US business trip with a planned Head-Fi meet somewhere!

No worries mate, hope you can travel during a head-fi meet somewhere. All the best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

Head Fi is filled with facts AND BS, does anyone think they can really filter all the BS out of Head Fi?

again no - the point I was making about any ludicrous blanket assertions (in this case about bass in particular) is that it depends on the amplification to a significant extent. no all amps are equally fit to drive a 600 ohm headphone; lower output impedance allows for better bass damping. it will also give you a more accurate frequency response. and amp designers will tell you that the difference in bass performance is noticeable enough, making the bass tighter and more controlled. so people reading this thread might like to consider that, and side-step the nonsense

Quote:

Originally Posted by melomaniac 

again no - the point I was making about any ludicrous blanket assertions (in this case about bass in particular) is that it depends on the amplification to a significant extent. no all amps are equally fit to drive a 600 ohm headphone; lower output impedance allows for better bass damping.

Output impedance has only minor effects on the bass response of the DT880-600, unless it is extremely high (well above 100 ohms). It is rather predictable when someone dares to criticize a headphone, its fans will blame it on the source/amplifier, even though more often than not it is just a desperate excuse. Large frequency response anomalies are usually caused by the headphones themselves, and exceptions are typically highly reactive low impedance drivers (e.g. balanced armature IEMs).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie_X 

That's hilarious man, I spoke to him via e-mail about the Auditor and the challenge and he stopped responding. I even posted on his blog about it once and I think he deleted it. In the e-mail he said no one has ever challenged him to a test because they knew better, so I replied saying I'd take him up on the offer and no responses since. I sent him three additional e-mails with no replies. I'd find it hard to believe if he says he never got them.

It is off topic, but there is a response to your post at the "Feb 1 Update" blog article (link not allowed), posted at June 20, 2012 6:33 PM.

How do you know you need an amp with these?

Is it to power them or to smoothen the sound?

I'm using mine with an HT Omega eClaro.

In that very link, HT Omega claims the listener can...

I can corroborate that I can't listen to these at greater than 50-60% of max volume because they're too loud past that, so I'm assuming I don't need an external amp just to power these.

What I'm wondering is if I need an external amp or perhaps a different opamp to reduce the brightness of these cans as they can easily be too bright for me with tracks such as "Born to Lose" by Sleigh Bells or especially the opening notes of "Young Blood" by Naked and Famous.

I'm listening to Windows Media Player at 100% volume. My files are WAVs ripped at 1411kbps and the opening notes of "Young Blood" seem much brigher coming from those WAVs than the youtube video of the same.

Any help would be great as I got these for a good price and like how detailed they are but I don't want to hate them due to their brightness.

If you want a darker sound, try using equalization, or different headphones (e.g. Sennheiser HD600, or even HD650). Swapping op amps "improves" the sound mostly by placebo effects. Some amplifiers may have a rolled off treble response and thus work as a crude "equalizer", or using one may fix clipping if the power is not enough after all. But if you do not like the idea of equalization, a less bright headphone is probably the best solution.

Hello guys,

I decided to get some DT-880 600ohm Beyers this past weekend. I had never

heard these before and am glad to say that I really am enjoying them quite a bit.

Quite a nice neutral can this is. And I think it's much more versatile than my

T1's. The T1's are more picky with the source material and can sound quite

aggresive in the treble sometimes. Even though the T1's midrange is so much

more clear and natural. These just seem to be better for the type of music I

listen to most.

I gotta say these might just replace my T1's......

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixnobu 

Hello guys,

 

I decided to get some DT-880 600ohm Beyers this past weekend. I had never

heard these before and am glad to say that I really am enjoying them quite a bit.

Quite a nice neutral can this is. And I think it's much more versatile than my

T1's. The T1's are more picky with the source material and can sound quite

aggresive in the treble sometimes. Even though the T1's midrange is so much

more clear and natural. These just seem to be better for the type of music I

listen to most.

 

I gotta say these might just replace my T1's......

Hey, are you serious?

I am NO expert on the T1, I have only heard them for a few minutes.

I own a pair of DT880s, so I'm just wonderin' ya know?

It would be great if you can continue to expand on your impressions a bit more?

Congrats on the DT880!

You find the T1 more aggressive? That's odd as their treble is more subdued than the DT880. Also the DT880, in my opinion, is a lot more picky with amps. The T1 just goes with the flow and sounds pretty good out of mostly anything. The DT880 can sound like poo on some gear or can even sound brighter, but I don't have this issue with the T1.

Also could you elaborate by what you mean as "more versatile"? Yet again that should be the T1 IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixnobu 

Hello guys,

 

I decided to get some DT-880 600ohm Beyers this past weekend. I had never

heard these before and am glad to say that I really am enjoying them quite a bit.

Quite a nice neutral can this is. And I think it's much more versatile than my

T1's. The T1's are more picky with the source material and can sound quite

aggresive in the treble sometimes. Even though the T1's midrange is so much

more clear and natural. These just seem to be better for the type of music I

listen to most.

 

I gotta say these might just replace my T1's......

There is apparently significant random manufacturing variation in Tesla drivers. Some T1 pairs reportedly have more peaky treble than others, this can also be seen on the Inner Fidelity graphs and in the CSD thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stv014 

There is apparently significant random manufacturing variation in Tesla drivers. Some T1 pairs reportedly have more peaky treble than others, this can also be seen on the Inner Fidelity graphs and in the CSD thread.

For a $1k+ headphone, that is disturbing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonkulator 

 

For a $1k+ headphone, that is disturbing.

Measuring headphones is hard work, measuring treble is even harder: 

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/expert-tests-innerfidelitys-headphone-measurement-repeatability-and-reproducibility

Oh yes, plenty of power for the DT880 600Ω. Now, if you really are bent to blow your eardrums, then maybe no. There are some here who want to listen to volumes of more than 90dB, and to them, I say: you won't be using headphones long, you'll be using hearing aides. 

You'll get all the resolution you need at any frequency and any reasonable volume.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmundtyw1 

Hey i was wondering if my SR71b could power the DT880 600OHM adequately? Or should i get a more dedicated amp?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stv014 

There is apparently significant random manufacturing variation in Tesla drivers. Some T1 pairs reportedly have more peaky treble than others, this can also be seen on the Inner Fidelity graphs and in the CSD thread.

It's funny you should say that. Because that seems to be the consensus. And maybe why I'm finding that my T1's are a brighter than my 880's. When a lot of other people have stated the opposite. But I guess it could also be do to amping. Who knows.