Bass trouble with Beyerdynamic DT770-80 Pro

[thetoe]

I've just bought the Beyerdynamic DT770-80 Pro headphones for use with my PC. The bass in these was referred to as "the best on the market", and they were said to be perfect for gaming and film watching. However, I was slightly disappointed when I heard them. They sound as if they can't handle the most powerful bass, which can be described as roaring. This can be fixed by turning the bass volume down, but then they easily sound flat and boring. Is this just what they're like, or is there something wrong here?

 

[arcadian_soul]

are the tracks well encoded? coz on well encoded/cd listening, there's no problems with the bass on my beyers even at high volume.

 

[phosfiend]

amplification maybe?

 

[blackreplica]

I had a very similar problem to you...bought the 770 expecting much bass but didnt deliver. Try searching for a topic started by me using search terms "770 no bass" and you should find it. To summarize what went on in that thread: There are 2 things probably at play here. The first is amplification: The 770 needs heaps of power to get the right bass out of it. The second is that all the (exaggerated, i would probably venture to say) reviews of these cans in this forum give the wrong impression as to how much bass you can really expect out of these cans. I believe they are probably as bassy as it gets, but at the end of the day, it's still a headphone, there is only so much it can do. I have since 'solved' the problem by getting a supermacro v3 amp with bass boost and use the bass boost 100% of the time now. With that, it is, to me just a little more bassy than what i would consider neutral. But thats just my ears

good luck finding the solution to your problem

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackreplica I have since 'solved' the problem by getting a supermacro v3 amp with bass boost and use the bass boost 100% of the time now

That is crazy.

It is most likely source or lack of amp. If that doesn't help and you need more, get em' Darth Beyered - the most crazy out of control thing that has ever been on my head.

If that doesn't work, stick a subwoofer down your pants.

 

[blackreplica]

Quote:

Originally Posted by virometal That is crazy. It is most likely source or lack of amp. If that doesn't help and you need more, get em' Darth Beyered - the most crazy out of control thing that has ever been on my head. If that doesn't work, stick a subwoofer down your pants.

Hardly crazy IMO! I think there is a general tendency here towards more bass light cans which might lead to opinions about 770 bass being absolutely nuts but i think its wayyyyy overrated. That said, i havent heard a full size can yet that can recreate anything close to realistic bass (realistic not just tonally, but more difficult to achieve is that it is not playing 10db down or more from the rest of the spectrum), aside from the 770. Of course, i havent heard that many cans either

Took this measurement when worn on my head, no EQ. the bass boost i use probably flattens the integration between bass and mids i think. Sounds good to me!

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackreplica but i think its wayyyyy overrated

Actually I do as well. The HD650 had as much impact, but tighter. My 325i has as much impact, but tighter, maybe a smidge less deep. But as far as that rumbling car show bass, the DT770 is pretty much the king. IME, a lack of bass with the Beyer is do to one's source if the cans are amped that is. With those two variables filled, I cannot imagine how anyone would want more. That is why there is chocolate and vanilla though.

Quote:

i havent heard a full size can yet that can recreate anything close to realistic bass (realistic not just tonally

Now that is interesting. I do not find the DT770 bass realistic either. It is bloated, flabby, whatever one might call it. The most realistic I have heard has been the SA5K, but something tells me realistic bass is many different things for many different people.

 

[virometal]

NOW, that is interesting! I have never seen a DT770 graph look like that! Where is the midbass hump?

hmmmmmmmm.........maybe your ears have super bass retardent reflections!

 

[chungsoi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by virometal I do not find the DT770 bass realistic either. It is bloated, flabby, whatever one might call it. The most realistic I have heard has been the SA5K, but something tells me realistic bass is many different things for many different people.

Realistic bass? Is there such thing? If anything, I'd say the dt770's has the most realistic bass, but then again that's entirely subjective. This whole headphone hobby is entirely subjective.

 

[Jahn]

That just shows that graphs don't show what one's ears hear (or maybe yours do lol). For me, that graph should look like a big old "V" where the mids are far less prominent than the highs and lows.

Honestly, the DT770's reputation for bass is no joke. Out of all the cans I've heard, many of which you couldn't call bass-shy, the DT770 is just on another level of all encompassing bassiness. Maybe it's the source/media/amp, but not the can I assure you!

 

[chungsoi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn For me, that graph should look like a big old "V" where the mids are far less prominent than the highs and lows.

Definitely. There is certainly a recession in the mids, which allows for the highs and particularly the lows to STAND OUT from the pack....

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I did this FR graph a while back when I owned the DT770-80. The output is from the DAC1, the input to an EMU 0404, so the response from the electronics is +-0.1 db, i.e. not a factor in this graph, which looks about as I would expect it to from my audible impressions of the headphones:

 

[thetoe]

Amplification, yes. I've thought about that. Currently, I plug the phones directly into my Audigy 2 soundcard. Could this cause such a problem? Since this is the 80 ohms version, I didn't think it mattered too much, but then again, I don't know too much about these things.

 

[chungsoi]

You'll be surprised at how much the DT770-80 will improve with an amp.

 

[blackreplica]

heh, i should amend my earlier words. I meant to say that the 770 is the closest to representing bass at accurate levels. But it, like any other set of cans, has a long way to go before approximating reality! IMHO

Sure, there are 'tighter' , more defined cans. But they play bass 10db down from anything else, where is the realism? Again, please consider i have inexperienced ears.

The 650s i listened to had a mild thump in the midbass, and little-to-no low end extension to speak of. It's owner acknowledged that as well when he listened to my 770 and compared. All this was off the SM3 with bass boost off