[TLY]

I'm currently driving my DT990s with my Head Direct EF1, but I feel as though I'm not getting the best out of them. Sometimes the DT990s sound a bit too harsh/bright. I'm thinking of upgrading (or sidegrading) to a full tube amp to fix that problem. (wouldn't mind a bigger soundstage also) The amp I was considering was the Little Dot MK IV. I've also been thinking of trying the DT880s, since many people seem to prefer them to the 990s.

The reason I want to stick with the Beyers is because I feel like I'm really close to the all around sound that I want from my headphones. I've tried many of the top 'phones from the more popular brands out there and these seem like they are really close to what I want.

Does anyone think a full tube amp like the LD MKIV would be better suited for the DT990/DT880? Or would it not make much of a difference at all compared with the EF1. They're both about in the same price range.

 

[TLY]

anyone?

 

[Rainbow Randy]

Bump. I'd like to know more about this too.

 

[driftingbunnies]

The Audiotailor Jade pairs very well with my DT990/600. you also have a lot of options with tube rolling to get the sound you want. I pretty happy with my setup and I don't think i'll upgrade anytime soon.

 

[apatN]

I have the MKIV SE. Comparing it to the solid state Goldpoint then, yes. It does fix some of the brightness. However, I prefer the Goldpoint.

 

[jdmoorman]

I have driven my DT900 600 ohm phones with:
Decware Zen CSP2
Woo Audio WA6
K.I.C.A.S Caliente
The two tube amps (CSP2 and WA6) are very dreamy-liquid, musical and immersive.
The Caliente (ss) is very dynamic, but not dreamy.
My Ming Da MC84C07 is still in early burn in, so no comment, yet.
All would benefit from a tad less bass.

 

[apatN]

^ Same here when I A/B tubes vs. ss. The tubes are dreamy and the ss design is more dynamic. Two different things.

 

[BushGuy]

Only going to address dt990/600 (since I sold dt880/600 used with ASL OTL before getting Ming Da). Originally used dt990 with Corda Prehead MkII - now much prefer Ming Da MC 84C07 w/NOS tubes (orig. Mullard EL84, Amperex 6HU6, and Raytheon 5751/windmills).

The Decware Zen seems interesting - but rather an unusual layout that would be awkward IMO.
or, ask Skylab (since he owns both dt990/600 and D. V. 337) how that combo works for him

 

[fhuang]

i also got dt880 and 990, both 600 ohm with darkvoice 337. still enjoying them with 337 for 2, 3 years now.

 

[Greeink]

EDIT: Oops. Wrong 'Forum.'

 

[Skylab]

600 ohm cans really like tube amps (not hybrids - real all-tube amps). Lots of great recommendations above. I use the DV337 with 600 ohm Beyers on a daily basis, and love it - the Decware CSP-2 is also great with them, as is the Ming Da MC 84C07.

 

[stoutblock]

I bought the DT 880, 600 Ohm and the Decware CSP2 mostly from Skylab's recommendations (and a few others). I also have a weak spot for US built tube amps which helped convince me.

Got the cans today but the Amp is still a few weeks away. Been running them through my ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card (set at 600 Ohms) and after about 4 hours they sound just great.

Now when will that amp get here?

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick,tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...

 

[TLY]

Actually, mine are the 250 ohms. I'm guessing, they would sound pretty much the same right?

And that Ming Da MC 84C07 looks quite interesting. Can I only use it with an iPod/MP3 player? Or can I hook it up to my computer the same way as any normal standalone amp? Like... Macbook-->V-DAC--> Ming Da MC 84C07-->DT 990

 

[BushGuy]

You can use the Ming Da as you would use any other.
.....as it happens - it is one of four amps I have hooked into my "main" computer. You certainly use your dac of choice, or since I'm using Bushguybuilt desktop in this case - using Juli@ card. The fourth amp in this location has a Pico dac hanging from it ...........thus allowing all 4 amps to run from the one computer.

 

[yossi126]

Had the mkiv se and sold the corda opera to get ehha, the opera sounded a thousand miles better than the tubey amp.