Help me decide on a beyerdynamics headphone model (along with some general headphone questions)

In response to why some people prefer a distorted frequency response, it's all about personal flavors with the sound signatures. Some people, like myself, can't stand an overly-bright treble. It's more fatiguing than forward mids or exaggerated bass, so I lean away from some Grado's for that reason. Aside from personal preference, it also comes down to what you're listening to. If you're a big fan of club music with massive bass, you might to hear that through some cans that can accurately recreate the punch and impact that you would get from being in the club itself. But if you're more a fan of classical, maybe you want the soundstage and separation that you'd get from being in the concert hall itself.

My only point is that it's all personal preference. And the only way to find out what you do/don't enjoy is to listen to different headphones.

I don't know how much the 990's leak, but I'd definitely be interested in finding out, because I'm considering them myself.

As for the difference in impedance, a higher ohm will usually mean less interference from your source. So, if you're use to hearing a low 'hiss' sound when nothing's playing through your phones, then you could benefit from getting the 250ohm version, which probably won't have that hiss. Then again, if you've never noticed it, or if it's never bothered you, then you'd be fine with the 32ohm.

I think any kind of open or semi open phones would irritate your colleague. I know it gets on my nerves when I'm trying to work and I can hear tinny leakage music.

My roommate used to wear a pair of 990's to watch TV, and when I was within 10 ft of her I could hear tinny buzzing sounds and they BUGGED me. Don't know how sensitive or tolerant your office mate is.

I have the DT990 and it leaks very much. You can hear it quite well even from a distance. I would not consider wearing it - or any other open or semi-open headphone - in the office.

I think the best option for you is closed. It also helps when you want to listen to some tunes at night and your significant other wants to rest. A closed set of cans usually has a bigger bass presence (this is the case with the 770), but with some minor EQ you can bring down the low frequencies and get a more neutral sound. All of them are excellent cans. I use my open grados only when at home and nobody is there. Hope this helps.

My DT880s leak way less than my Sennheiser HD-650s, but still enough for my wife to not only hear them across the room if I have the volume pumped to the high end of reasonable (i.e. before fatigue kicks in), but she can hear them well enough to identify songs by lyrics.

If I have them at moderate volume, she says they don't bother her at all.

"(i.e. before fatigue kicks in)"  

I think you mean before tinnitus kicks in, don't you?

Neutral can be described as boring.  If you heard Piano on Pro-900's you'd hear what a difference a little bit of music can make.

Also be aware that DT990 have very bright highs

^ which goes away after a good 200 hour burn-in. From that point they're "just" bright, not "very bright"

Agreed.  There is an adjustment period where your ears become accustomed to the DT-990s sound.  After that it's musical bliss!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jupe 
I don't know how much the 990's leak, but I'd definitely be interested in finding out, because I'm considering them myself.

 

I use the DT990/250 at work, and I sit in a low-wall cube farm. No one has ever complained that they could hear my music. Then again, I do try and protect my ears from damage, so I don't have them that loud; just loud enough for my boss to scare the living daylights out of me when he taps me on the shoulder

I should note that there are white noise generators in the ceiling of the large room in which we sit. Perhaps without them, the leakage would be more pronounced, but I've taken off my 990s while they were running, and could not hear them from around 1.5-2 feet away.