The Beyerdynamic DT880 Appreciation / Discussion thread - Page 171

Hi guys,

Tested the 880 and 990 32ohms and the T70p .The shop doesn't have the 250 or the 600 ohm variants.

Overall the 880 and 990 sounds pretty similar. The 880 sounds more neutral and detailed. The 990 bass is just there with a lot of oomph and presence and also sounds much fuller compare to the other 2.

The T70p to me is too bright but very detailed as compared to 880.

In this sense, the 990 is the one for me. But I'm scratching my head now if I were to get the 600 or 250 of the 990. I'm running on o2/odac .

Thanks

Main thread for DT880.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snip3r77 

Hi guys,

 

Tested the 880 and 990 32ohms and the T70p .The shop doesn't have the 250 or the 600 ohm variants.

 

Overall the 880 and 990 sounds pretty similar. The 880 sounds more neutral and detailed. The 990 bass is just there with a lot of oomph and presence and also sounds much fuller compare to the other 2.

The T70p to me is too bright but very detailed as compared to 880.

 

In this sense, the 990 is the one for me. But I'm scratching my head now if I were to get the 600 or 250 of the 990. I'm running on o2/odac .

 

Thanks

600.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

Quote:

Originally Posted by devhen 

Random question... has this pretty much become the DT880 thread or is there somewhere else 880 Pro/Premium-250 users have been posting?

This here's the DT880 600 Ohm.......
 

I would consider it just the DT880 thread, I do!

Actually I think it's time this point was clarified. The assumption of the title, and apparently of most 600ohm owners, is that the 600 ohm version is the "audiophile" version and other versions aren't really worth discussing. Yet many people who've heard both 600 and 250 ohm versions ( including yours truly), would dispute that there's any great difference at all, and that includes some very experienced ears. Personally I think it's time this silly snobbishness was dropped and the title was changed to make this thread all inclusive.

A better point of debate than ohmage would be just how much difference the tighter clamping of the Pro version makes. Clamping force is directly related to sound quality, yet one rarelly sees it debated in that context.

@pp312

As a former owner of the 250 ohm, and current owner of the 600 ohm ...... I totally agree.

Can anyone compare the DT 880 to the Hifiman HE-400?  I've noticed that only one person who liked the DT 880 more than the HE-400. The few others I have asked through PM said that the HE-400 is better. Can anyone else comment?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pp312 

Actually I think it's time this point was clarified. The assumption of the title, and apparently of most 600ohm owners, is that the 600 ohm version is the "audiophile" version and other versions aren't really worth discussing. Yet many people who've heard both 600 and 250 ohm versions ( including yours truly), would dispute that there's any great difference at all, and that includes some very experienced ears. Personally I think it's time this silly snobbishness was dropped and the title was changed to make this thread all inclusive.

 

A better point of debate than ohmage would be just how much difference the tighter clamping of the Pro version makes. Clamping force is directly related to sound quality, yet one rarelly sees it debated in that context.

Ohmage?

Seriously?

Regular DT880/600 Ohm are tight enough.

No a big fan of heavy clamping headphones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudu 

Ya, ohmage.

Like this thread pays ohmage to a great set of cans.

Personally I hate clamping - and 880s are about as light as I've experienced, except maybe the ATs.

LOL!

Ya, one of the best things about the DT880/600 Ohm (the version I have, I'm not an expert on the various versions) is the comfort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pp312 

Actually I think it's time this point was clarified. The assumption of the title, and apparently of most 600ohm owners, is that the 600 ohm version is the "audiophile" version and other versions aren't really worth discussing. Yet many people who've heard both 600 and 250 ohm versions ( including yours truly), would dispute that there's any great difference at all, and that includes some very experienced ears. Personally I think it's time this silly snobbishness was dropped and the title was changed to make this thread all inclusive.

 

A better point of debate than ohmage would be just how much difference the tighter clamping of the Pro version makes. Clamping force is directly related to sound quality, yet one rarelly sees it debated in that context.

Well, I am all for reduction in snobiness.   

There are some instances where the 600 ohm DT880 might sound better- and that is when used with some OTL tube amps with rather high-ish source impedance. YMMV!!!

• The 600 ohm 'phones won't load the amp down a whole lot- these amps want to deliver voltage, not current so much.  So the amp should maybe sound a little better- MAYBE. (I am thinking Bottlehead Crack here- they like higher impedance 'phones.)
• The 600 ohm 'phones will  damped more on these amps than the 250 ohm ones.  Now, this is an electronics 101 type Ohm's law kind of thing, the math shows more damping, not sure you can hear this.

So, maybe the 600 ohm 'phones could sound a little better in these instances.  The operative word here is MAYBE.  

I had the 250 ohm DT880's, I sold them and got the 600 ohm.  But I did not sell them because of impedance- I sold them 'cause my old 250 ohm ones had a very fancy rather costly and REALLY REALLY STIFF cable on them.  I COULD NOT STAND THAT CABLE, IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN LIKE A SNAKE.  The cable was fancy and $$$, like I said, so I sold those phones and bought a new pair of DT880's  with the stock flexible cable.  As long as I was getting a new set, I opted for 600 ohms- because MAYBE they will get along just a smidge better with my Bottlehead Crack/Speedball amp.  Maybe. In theory. 

Maybe they do.  Without the old 250 ohm headphones for A/B, I dunno.  The new 600 ohm jobs sound good on the Crack.  So did the old 250 ohm ones.  The DT880 is my favorite "premium-but-not-top-of-the-line" headphone.  And they are just about THE most comfortable headphones I have.

So the sound is maybe improved.  Or maybe it isn't.  But WOW do I like the "regular" cable, it hasn't tried to strangle me once, nor has it tried to flip my amp off the desk.  Which the old cable routinely tried to do.