Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, I faced with the same problem, in 2020 and this thread is one of my sources for making the decision. I made a blind choice and pick a 32 ohms DT 880. Yes it can be driven from my handphone, at that time it was a OnePlus 6. Fast forward to 2024, I have upgraded my sources, now using SMSL D400 EX, Singxer SA-1 and Schiit Valhalla (SA-1 serves as a pre-amp for Valhalla). I also have an Astell & Kern Kann Ultra for portable.
A friend suggested me to sell my 32 ohms and go for the PRO version, and his suggestion kept lingering on my mind, until I found an online store has a 250 ohms edition and is willing to trade my 32 ohms with his 250 ohms. So today I spent half day for traveling and tested his 250 ohms, for testing I used Kann Ultra in high gain mode, playing "Alive and Kickin" by Mr Big (it has all sorts of instruments required for the testing, and the slam and cymbal at the last 1 minute is very good). For those who has a similar problem, here is my comparison. I will go directly to the differences which is very subtle
- Mid to low, DT880 250 ohms version is warmer by a touch, the one most prominent is the mid-bass and it is only +1db. The drum slam at the last 1 minute has a better impact.
- Mid to high, DT880 32 ohms version has more clarity, the cymbal at the last 1 minute has the resonances, it did not occur at all in 250 ohms version and I have retried 5 times for each of headphones to reconfirm and find those resonances.
Now, at home, I use Focal Clear MG only to find that cymbal resonance, and yes it is there.
Next about volume, not much differences between 32 ohms and 250 ohms version, in Kann Ultra High Gain and listening outside a famous burger junction, I need 120 to do critical listening there using 32 ohms version, and I need 130 to get the same level using 250 ohms version, please note that Astell & Kern always have a max of 150.
Additionally, using Schiit Valhalla at home, I confirm that there are no such thing as confusing treble in 32 ohms version (yes I decided to cancel the trade, not only I like the 32 ohms version, his 250 ohms are in a worse shape than my 32 ohms). So I conclude that I am happy with 32 ohms version and I do not need to upgrade to 250 ohms, since 600 ohms is not available on my country, I will wait until the time to sell my 32 ohms version come and then I will try the 600 ohms.
A friend suggested me to sell my 32 ohms and go for the PRO version, and his suggestion kept lingering on my mind, until I found an online store has a 250 ohms edition and is willing to trade my 32 ohms with his 250 ohms. So today I spent half day for traveling and tested his 250 ohms, for testing I used Kann Ultra in high gain mode, playing "Alive and Kickin" by Mr Big (it has all sorts of instruments required for the testing, and the slam and cymbal at the last 1 minute is very good). For those who has a similar problem, here is my comparison. I will go directly to the differences which is very subtle
- Mid to low, DT880 250 ohms version is warmer by a touch, the one most prominent is the mid-bass and it is only +1db. The drum slam at the last 1 minute has a better impact.
- Mid to high, DT880 32 ohms version has more clarity, the cymbal at the last 1 minute has the resonances, it did not occur at all in 250 ohms version and I have retried 5 times for each of headphones to reconfirm and find those resonances.
Now, at home, I use Focal Clear MG only to find that cymbal resonance, and yes it is there.
Next about volume, not much differences between 32 ohms and 250 ohms version, in Kann Ultra High Gain and listening outside a famous burger junction, I need 120 to do critical listening there using 32 ohms version, and I need 130 to get the same level using 250 ohms version, please note that Astell & Kern always have a max of 150.
Additionally, using Schiit Valhalla at home, I confirm that there are no such thing as confusing treble in 32 ohms version (yes I decided to cancel the trade, not only I like the 32 ohms version, his 250 ohms are in a worse shape than my 32 ohms). So I conclude that I am happy with 32 ohms version and I do not need to upgrade to 250 ohms, since 600 ohms is not available on my country, I will wait until the time to sell my 32 ohms version come and then I will try the 600 ohms.
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