[ZimBlabim]

I received a pair of Beyer DT-880 headphones from Meier Audio yesterday, and decided to do this comparison with my Grado SR225 cans. The Beyers are a gift I'm giving to someone (already gave them away) along with a Corda Blue (bought from a Head-Fier) my old Rotel 885 CDP, and some homemade interconnects (DH Labs BL-1 cable). That is also the config used for this comparison. I was going to use my computer/Audiophile 2496, but when checking out the old Rotel I found it had a substantially bigger soundstage. I like that. So decided to use the 885.

Important Note: Grado 225's are tested with modded Senn Pads (414's with hole punched out). These Senn Pads transform the Grados into a completely different headphone.

Here's some tunes I cranked, and brief impressions:

Emerson String Quartet
Mozart: The "Hayden" Quartets-

The Beyer 880 has a bigger soundstage (both wider and taller). I can hear more resonance in the strings. The instruments sound more expensive under Beyer Power. DT-880 wins the String Q. challenge. No contest.

Christopher Parkening: The Great Recordings
Bach: Fugue from Violin Sonata #1-

Though the Grado does a fine Classical Guitar, The Beyer does it a bit better.

Keith Jarret
Bach: Well Tempered Clavier-

This took me by surprise. The Grado 225 won this one with its richer tone and a more dynamic sound. The 880 sounded compressed to me.

Chicago Symphony/G. Solti
Prokofiev: Romeo + Juliet (1st chunk of Act II)-

Both cans do Orchestra well. The nod goes to the DT-880 though, for its more realistic soundstage, and overall smoother delivery.

Buddy Rich: The Roar of '74
Time Check-

I listened back and forth, over and over again, trying to pick a preference. It's a tie. The Beyer breaks this tie due to its extreme comfort.

Adrian Belew: The Young Lions
Gunman-

Kick Drum is a huge part of "Gunman". Grado delivers with a nice attack and deep bass. Beyer has a great attack, but the bass falls short for my taste. Beyers detail is sharper, cleaner. a nice overall delivery. The Grado, though less detailed, has a very smooth and plain old fun delivery. I prefer Grado for this record.

Tom Petty: Wildflowers
Wildflowers-

Grado 225's acoustic guitar is full bodied, nice legs (it was in my notes!), nice percussive attack. Vocal sounds great. Good, even bass. Beyer 880's acoustic guitar is crystal clear, sparkling highs. nice percussive attack. Makes the Grado sound a bit muddy in comparison. Vocal sounds nice untill the occasional sibilance kicks in. That's irritating. High Hat, Tamborine, the percusion instruments sound phenomenal. Bass sounds slightly weak for me. If it weren't for Petty's sibilant S's, the 880 would clean clock on this song. Still, Ill take the S's along with the sparkling detail, and listen to this tune with the Beyer any day.

Tom Petty: Wildflowers
A Higher Place-

This recording is hard for me to pick a favorite can. The bass on the Grado's is so deep and smooth. The mids and highs are decent. The highs on the Beyer are splendid. Makes the Grado sound dull in comparison. The mids are a close call. The bass is weak on the 880 next to the 225. I appreciate them both for the differences they bring to the table on this song.

Conclusion:

Grado SR225 w/Senn Pads-

I think this Grado is a really good bang for the buck can, and just a really good can as well. I love the bass it puts out. The 225 is a fun headphone to listen with. I just need to get around to dying those damn yellow pads!

Beyer DT-880-

I really like this Beyer headphone. I remember the first time I heard the guitar solo in The Beatles: Nowhere Man. The Fab Ones had broken the EQ barrier, applying layers of high end equalization to the instrument, far, far, far exceeding the maximum allowed by English Recording Law. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard, and have had a great respect for treble ever since. THe DT-880 reproduces highs with authority, while keeping good balance with the mids and bass. Cymbals have never sounded as good to me. Acoustic steel string guitar is awesome through this can. It delivers an overall very nice presentation.

Things to be aware of using the Beyer 880 in a system like the one used in this comparo:

1.If sibilance is lurking or laying dormant in a recording, the 880 will find it. Could be a problem for some.

2.I find the bass to be a bit on the light side for my taste.

I think it would be an outrageously good time to, have the money and, go searching for the perfect amp/source for these cans. They ooze quality and, when paired with these components I'm using here, untapped potential.

 

[Guyferd]

heh I totally agree with you
beyer's greatest forte: in reproducing string instruments. Acoustic guitar sound very very realistic, trounce the grado, which sounds plain and dull.
i agree though that for vocals grados can be better due to their more upfrontness. I like this too.
But overall, dt880 is a much better can. much better soundstage too

 

[blessingx]

Great review. Thanks.

 

[Hiker]

How would you compare the bass of the DT880 with the HD600?

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally posted by Hiker How would you compare the bass of the DT880 with the HD600?

Leaner, cleaner, more accurate, less punchy, similar extension (slightly deeper in my case).

 

[JaZZ]

Nice review, ZimBlabim!

Welcome to Head-Fi!

 

[Beagle]

Quote:

Originally posted by ZimBlabim ......The highs on the Beyer are splendid. Makes the Grado sound dull in comparison.

And music in real life (live unamped music) makes most cans sound bright. Any experimenting with the bowl pads? Perhaps the top end would be more in line with the DT880?

Good job on the comparison. I liked your findings and found it interesting that one 'phone won out over the other for certain choices of music or tracks from the same record. This helps to understand each headphones strong suits.

I find comparing headphones (esp. different designs) is like comparing notes at a concert, where you are sitting front row and a friend is sitting more towards the rear. You hear the same concert/music but the sonic perception is different. I find that different headphones (of good quality) are often only different seating positions at the same concert. And for certain music/performers, I would not want a front row seat. But for solo performer, or small jazz combo or string quartet, I would. For classical, about halfway back, rock music probably 10-15 rows back. So circumaural phones like Beyer or Senns are like sitting a bit further back from the front. Grado is being right there.

 

[ZimBlabim]

Thanks Guys!

Hiker - I've never heard the HD600. I kind of feel like I've heard it after reading so much about it in this forum.

Beagle - I did put the bowl pads on my 225 for a quick listen yesterday, and I remember thinking to myself,these are like mini dt880's. The highs do seem a bit more clear and brighter. But, to me, the soundstage is so much smaller, and the bass response, that I love, is gone. Definitely prefer the senn pads.