Beyer 880 vs AKG K501 Shoot out

[BrokenEnglish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrea In fact there's no separation to be maintained between form and function ... So when you like a particular 'sound signature', you'll like anything else about its source, and when you're intrigued by anything else, you're bound to like the sound either. There's no conclusion to be drawn, it's pretty straightforward actually.

no... there's more than just form and function of a particular can: there are reactions of somewhat important persons surrounding the listener... temporary fluctuations in the mains... one's got the cold or is otherwise impaired, has permanent stress... to be continued...

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenEnglish no... there's more than just form and function of a particular can: there are reactions of somewhat important persons surrounding the listener... temporary fluctuations in the mains... one's got the cold or is otherwise impaired, has permanent stress... to be continued...

Statistics will come and help the poor help seeker then...

 

[BrokenEnglish]

well... what i'm trying to say is that there's a purely subjective component on making decisions. modern psychology/neuroscience teaches us, that we're more driven by emotions than by reasoning there. although.. we tend to justify our decisions afterwards rationally.

 

[Bill Ward]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenEnglish no... there's more than just form and function of a particular can: there are reactions of somewhat important persons surrounding the listener... temporary fluctuations in the mains... one's got the cold or is otherwise impaired, has permanent stress... to be continued...

You're right actually. I bought the DT880 initially because of the earpads. There was just something about that mouse fur plush I found irresistable.

BW

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenEnglish well... what i'm trying to say is that there's a purely subjective component on making decisions. modern psychology/neuroscience teaches us, that we're more driven by emotions than by reasoning there. although.. we tend to justify our decisions afterwards rationally.

Ah, now it's clearer. But no-one discussed the "superiority" of emotive acts over rationality in the first place.

Consequently, no-one can deny the overwhelming prevalence of subjectivity over objectivity when it comes to matters of taste. Uh, sounds a bit tautological.

 

[NeilPeart]

I've owned both and they are both excellent at what they do; the DT880 is simply a better overall headphone, IMO. The K501 is the airier headphone by far, and it has a shimmer that the DT880 lacks (only the K1000 has a better shimmer; I consider the K1000 a super-K501 because its unconventional nature allows it to achieve what no other headphone can). The K501 has a wider, if less deep soundstage than the DT880, and its midrange is sweeter than the DT880s (whose midrange is already excellent so this is quite a feat). That said I could never use the K501 as an all-around headphone because its inability to reproduce deep bass affects many of the pieces I love (yes, there are plenty of classical pieces with low-extending bass that the K501 could not produce). This lack of bass extension imbued a hollow characteristic upon certain songs, as if I were listening to the silhouette of the track, as Hirsch would say. While the DT880's midrange is not quite as beautiful and its treble a tad less shimmering (though still sparkling) than the K501, it is the better headphone, IMO. The DT880 has a very well rounded sound that is rarely fatiguing yet still exciting. Its soundstage is not as wide as the K501, but it is deeper, and the instruments are better integrated; its great bass response results in a balanced, cohesive sound. I think of the DT880 as an HD650 with more treble energy and less mid-bass, and I can easily understand why some could prefer the DT880 to the HD650. The K501 was a bargain when it could be had for $100-125 (which is why I bought it back then, but I still preferred the more balanced sound of the HD580 at the time) but its current price renders it less appealing to me. The DT880, however, prompted me to consider offing the HD580, but the prospect of the HD650 quelled that notion. At its current price the DT880 is a steal and one of the best buys in Headphone-Dom. The K501 used is also a great buy, especially if one loves air and glitter and has an aversion to deep bass (I know several audiophiles that love the K501 and prefer it to nearly ever other ‘phone around).

A quick summary of German/Austrian 'phones, IMO: HD650>K1000>DT880>HD600>DT931>K501

EDIT: I must concur with Mr. William Ward the mighty percussionist: there is no earpad more hospitable than the Beyer silver velour.

 

[BrokenEnglish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrea [...]But no-one discussed the superiority of emotive acts over rationality in the first place. Consequently, no-one can deny the overwhelming prevalence of subjectivity over objectivity when it comes to matters of taste. [...]

sorry... i don't get your point, andrea...

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenEnglish sorry... i don't get your point, andrea...

Sorry ... my point is, I see no point.

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilPeart I've owned both and they are both excellent at what they do; the DT880 is simply a better overall headphone, IMO. The K501 is the airier headphone by far, and it has a shimmer that the DT880 lacks (only the K1000 has a better shimmer; I consider the K1000 a super-K501 because its unconventional nature allows it to achieve what no other headphone can). The K501 has a wider, if less deep soundstage than the DT880, and its midrange is sweeter than the DT880s (whose midrange is already excellent so this is quite a feat). That said I could never use the K501 as an all-around headphone because its inability to reproduce deep bass affects many of the pieces I love (yes, there are plenty of classical pieces with low-extending bass that the K501 could not produce). This lack of bass extension imbued a hollow characteristic upon certain songs, as if I were listening to the silhouette of the track, as Hirsch would say. While the DT880's midrange is not quite as beautiful and its treble a tad less shimmering (though still sparkling) than the K501, it is the better headphone, IMO. The DT880 has a very well rounded sound that is rarely fatiguing yet still exciting. Its soundstage is not as wide as the K501, but it is deeper, and the instruments are better integrated; its great bass response results in a balanced, cohesive sound. I think of the DT880 as an HD650 with more treble energy and less mid-bass, and I can easily understand why some could prefer the DT880 to the HD650. The K501 was a bargain when it could be had for $100-125 (which is why I bought it back then, but I still preferred the more balanced sound of the HD580 at the time) but its current price renders it less appealing to me. The DT880, however, prompted me to consider offing the HD580, but the prospect of the HD650 quelled that notion. At its current price the DT880 is a steal and one of the best buys in Headphone-Dom. The K501 used is also a great buy, especially if one loves air and glitter and has an aversion to deep bass (I know several audiophiles that love the K501 and prefer it to nearly ever other ‘phone around). A quick summary of German/Austrian 'phones, IMO: HD650>K1000>DT880>HD600>DT931>K501 EDIT: I must concur with Mr. William Ward the mighty percussionist: there is no earpad more hospitable than the Beyer silver velour.

Thanks, Neil !

I'd also be pleased if I could sometime read some thoughts from you about one favorite phone of mine, the HD595.

 

[Gigabomber]

Gunna wait til highflyin9 compares his cardas fatboys with his cardas 880s

 

[Gigabomber]

bump