Are DT 990 in the same class as HD 650 & K701??

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by swt61 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can they be had in that price range? If so I might need to put another phone on my must try list.

Cheaper than the RRP of the K701 HD600 and HD650 in the UK at £180rrp. The trouble of course is finding somewhere that has a pair. Stoneaudio is the only place uk based which sells online I know of. The AMT has the £600 price tag without amp on the same site.

I have seen Ergo 2 go for as little as £24 on eBay. That was before people here gave them any credence though. Generally they have a higher "potential bargain" factor factor per ebay appearance than Sennheiser or Stax, however they come up for sale far less often because there's fewer of them about, they are also much more prevalent in Europe than they are the USA.

 

[yossi126]

In my point of view, the presentation and detail of k701 is a few notches above DT990 and HD650.
But, Fun-Factor is more important for me than neutral, "correct" sound.
So i picked the 990's and never looked back.
Soundstage in 990 is the biggest among the three as far as i remember auditioning all of them.

 

[Jeff E]

The OP's question was Quote:

Are DT 990 in the same class as HD 650 & K701??

Although I have owned all three I am not sure how to go about answering the class question. My first inclination was not to respond but than I realized that folks who haven't heard these headphones would get a misleading impression if those of us who were not happy with the DT990 treated this as a 990 appreciation thread.

I am much more comfortable expressing my preference rather than making class distinctions since it seems to me that all three have the potential to shine for some listeners given their gear, music and taste. In my case, the order is K701>HD650 (Silver Dragon cable)>DT990 (600 ohm). Of the three, the 701 is the only one I still own. I find the 650 somewhat too bass heavy/treble light and the 990 unnaturally bass thick. I should point out that I prefer the DT880 to them all. To reiterate, these are not class distinctions, simply my preference.

Disclaimers: Given my evolving collection of music and equipment and that my musical taste is under construction, these audio opinions are derived from a poorly designed experiment. YMMV. Sixty-year old ears.

It's just a hobby.

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawrenzini /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'd ask are the K701's in the same class as the 990's, 650's etc... my answer would be no. I really hate the sound of the K701.

I didn't care for the K701, either. I respected it, but I didn't really LIKE it.

But again, this is a matter of TASTE. Jeff E. didn't like the DT990's. I respect that, but as he indicated clearly, it's a matter of his taste. All 3 of these headphones are good enough they will have fans and detractors. Only an given individual can choose what sounds best to him or her.

But in answer to the OP's actual question, I think the answer has to be YES.

 

[JJ3810]

I have the 701s, 650s & the 990s. Yes, I would say they are comparable, each with their own qualities and deficiencies. Differences that I would site are merely personal opinion. However, (you knew this was coming) I choose my headphone based on what I'll be listening to. For rock music the 650s are my favorite and for Jazz I like the K701s. The 990s don't really do Rock or Jazz quite as well as either of those but certainly does both much better than either. I'd say the Beyers were the best all around headphone but the AKGs are more detailed while the Senns have all that slam at the lower frequencies that make them rock. Your Mileage May Vary.

 

[feifan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 600 ohm Beyers have sonic improvements over the 250 ohm versions, to be sure. But I would strongly argue that the DT990/250's are absolutely competitive with the K701 and HD650. I owned all of these cans, but only the DT990s remain. I prefer the sonic signature of the Beyers, and while not everyone will of course, they are EVERY BIT as high quality sonically as the 650 and 701 - just with a slightly different sound.

[Emphasis above added.] Skylab, I've never tried the DT990, but your broad experience with the other reference hps makes you an ideal commentator on the comparative quality of the 990 over the 650/701. What's the main difference (differences?) that tipped the scale toward the 990? I'm wondering if we hardcore 650/701 folks ought to seriously consider the 990 as a future buy. Apparently, it has something that we may be missing.

 

[wnmnkh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sghound /img/forum/go_quote.gif throw in a few more into the mix, the DIRTY DOZEN would look like that: DT880 DT990 RS1 MS-Pro HD650 HD600 K701 D5000 AD2000 W5000 SA5000 DX1000

Wow, that's really complete list!



Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif I didn't care for the K701, either. I respected it, but I didn't really LIKE it. But again, this is a matter of TASTE. Jeff E. didn't like the DT990's. I respect that, but as he indicated clearly, it's a matter of his taste. All 3 of these headphones are good enough they will have fans and detractors. Only an given individual can choose what sounds best to him or her. But in answer to the OP's actual question, I think the answer has to be YES.

You really like bass, aren't you?

I am interested in 600 ohm version. Are they have different drivers compare to 250 ohm version?

 

[virusvoodoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sghound /img/forum/go_quote.gif throw in a few more into the mix, the DIRTY DOZEN would look like that: DT880 DT990 RS1 MS-Pro HD650 HD600 K701 D5000 AD2000 W5000 SA5000 DX1000

Shouldn't the AKG K601's and Sony CD3000's be in the list as well?

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnmnkh /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wow, that's really complete list! You really like bass, aren't you? I am interested in 600 ohm version. Are they have different drivers compare to 250 ohm version?

Modified ones. Modified to be less sensitive, which again changes the sound.

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by feifan /img/forum/go_quote.gif [Emphasis above added.] Skylab, I've never tried the DT990, but your broad experience with the other reference hps makes you an ideal commentator on the comparative quality of the 990 over the 650/701. What's the main difference (differences?) that tipped the scale toward the 990? I'm wondering if we hardcore 650/701 folks ought to seriously consider the 990 as a future buy. Apparently, it has something that we may be missing.

It's pretty simple for me - I have to have a certain amount of bass to create for me the illusion that music is real. The K701 and HD650 do not have it - the DT990 does. They also differ in the mids and treble, yes, but the main reason I prefer the DT990 is the bass reproduction. The 990's also have nicely extended and airy treble, and very "sweet" mids. The 650's have sweet mids but not airy and extended treble. The K701's treble is airy and extended, but it's mids a bit forward and dry, and it has deep bass, but not enough bass weight.

Again, though, all JMO, YMMV.

 

[feifan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's pretty simple for me - I have to have a certain amount of bass to create for me the illusion that music is real. The K701 and HD650 do not have it - the DT990 does. They also differ in the mids and treble, yes, but the main reason I prefer the DT990 is the bass reproduction. The 990's also have nicely extended and airy treble, and very "sweet" mids. The 650's have sweet mids but not airy and extended treble. The K701's treble is airy and extended, but it's mids a bit forward and dry, and it has deep bass, but not enough bass weight. Again, though, all JMO, YMMV.

Thanks for the personal observations, Skylab. Sounds like a solution to the basic complaints against the 650 and 701 -- complaints that many are trying to address via gear changes in the lineup. It's now on my list of hps to seriously consider.

 

[xenithon]

Does the DT880 have the same extension and air that the DT990 has, but sans the added bass weight?

EDIT: in particular, the 600 ohm version

 

[sghound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by virusvoodoo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Shouldn't the AKG K601's and Sony CD3000's be in the list as well?

is the CD3000 still available? UPDATED:

DT880
DT990
RS1
MS-Pro
HD650
HD600
K701
K601
D5000
AD2000
W5000
SA5000
CD3000
DX1000

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sghound /img/forum/go_quote.gif is the CD3000 still available? UPDATED: DT880 DT990 RS1 MS-Pro HD650 HD600 K701 K601 D5000 AD2000 W5000 SA5000 CD3000 DX1000

D2000

 

[freakmax]

I owned both DT990 and K701.
Most of gendres,I prefer Dt990 to K701.