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How do you compare headphones?

post #1 of 3
2/12/12 at 6:19am
Thread Starter 

I've often tried to compare my HD650 to my DT880 (just for fun) to see which of the two has the fuller bass response.

 

Everything I've read suggests that the HD650 has fuller bass. However my attempts to compare the two headphones goes a little like this;

 

1). Play the DT880 through an amp, play music, listen.

 

2). Don't touch the volume controls on the amp, take out the DT880, plug in the HD650, listen to the same music. HD650 seems to have more bass.

 

3). Hang on, I think the HD650 is louder for a given volume setting on the amp, turn down volume on amp. Now HD650 seems to be the same level as the DT880, has equal bass.

 

4). Switch back to DT880, it sounds lacking in bass, but I think that's because it's playing quieter through the amp at a given volume setting. Turn the amp up, volume increases, now I think it has equal bass to the HD650.

 

It goes round and round, do you see my problem comparing the two headphones...?

 

It made me think if anyone has actually done a volume matched comparison between the HD650 and the DT880, because despite constantly reading that the HD650 are bass hyped, and the DT880 are bass anemic, I find them extremely close - the difference in bass seems to be just because the HD650 plays louder out of an amp at a given volume setting? Perhaps I just have a faulty HD650?

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post #2 of 3
2/12/12 at 6:34am

Looks like the DT880 are harder to drive. Even though in Theory, the HD 650s should be a tad bit harder to drive. But still, you shouldn't change the volume, a pair of headphones will offer  what it has to offer, volume included, you have to take the volume into count when comparing. Maybe they are just quieter than your Senns, or maybe they need better amplification. Also, if the headphones are faulty, they will most likely give lower volume. So, IF one of the headphones is faulty, I think it should be the DT880, but you are saying that they are close, so they are probably in good condition.


Edited by markzi - 2/12/12 at 6:36am
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post #3 of 3
2/12/12 at 7:28am

With the right amplification, the 880's have very nice bass.  They definitely CAN sound bass-anemic but I'm listening to them now through my WA6-SE and they're almost as clear and punchy in the bass as my LCD-2's. 

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