[Dawgfish]

Problem with the argument is there are two sets of stock pads on the DT 1990 which are fundamentally different, with analytical pads it's a bright/analytical monitoring headphone. But with the balanced pads it's more of a fun sound honestly. The two pairs I had came with the balanced pads pre-installed. Not sure if they still come with the balanced pads pre-installed, but all earlier DT 1990's came with the balanced pads installed out of the box which indicates to me the balanced pads were likely intended as the main pads when the headphone was released.

Exactly. Last I checked there was no law saying I had to listen to them stock.

 

[Dawgfish]

I find it rather amusing how you are using aftermarket foam discs and pads to alter the DT1990s’ fundamental character. This will fail. The 1990s are bright, analytical monitoring headphones. That is what they do. It’s like saying a 911 GT3 sucks off road!

I’m leaving mine absolutely stock. If I want “neutral” headphones, I reach for the R70x. If I need “musical” ones, it’s the W1000z…

I bought the 1990s used and they already had the Dekoni pads installed when I bought them. For grins and giggles I tried both sets of stock pads and preferred the Dekonis.

If you like them stock that's awesome! Do what you like. I like to have options and if I do want to hear them in their stock form I have the option to do so as the mood strikes me. No harm in that.

 

[SHIMACM]

I'm not sure if it's a scalability thing versus the sound signature of a particular amp matching up with the sound signature of the headphone better. The 1990 does scale well, no doubt about that. I wouldn't say the BHC is on another level over the Sansui AU-719 however in terms of overall performance. The cerca 70s/early 80s vintage receivers and integrateds were built to very high standards and most have excellent headphone stages (especially for higher impedance dynamic cans which there was a predominance of at that time). If you never heard a higher impedance dynamic driver can on one of the quality receivers/integrateds from that era from the likes of Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, Tandberg, etc., you should do yourself a favor and do so. I guess that's a long-winded way of saying the warmer, lusher tone of the BHC matches better with the 1990 than the more neutral (but still warm) tuning of the Sansui. Both are technically excellent amps.

A good case in point is I also have the Amiron which also uses the 250 ohm Tesla driver like the T1 and 1990. It has a smoother, warmer tuning than the 1990 with thicker mid-bass and more relaxed highs. To my ears the Amiron matches better with the Sansui and Schiit Lyr than the BHC. The Amiron becomes a little loose and sloppy bass-wise with the BHC crack while the bass is better damped and controlled with the Sansui and Lyr.

Nice collection of tubes btw! I was also looking at the Darkvoice but found a good deal locally on the BHC. The Chatham 6SA7G is on my list of tubes to try.

My special little tube collection.

Only the photo is not very good.

Powers:

GEC CV4079
TS 6080
Sylvania 6080 GB
Chatham 6as7g
Bendix (Chatham) 6080.
Mullard 6080


Drivers:

Fotons 50's
Melz 1578 (59 e 69).
Brimar 6sn7gt
TS 6j5g
TS 6j5gt
Fivre 6C5g
GEC L63

 

[Dawgfish]

Very nice! I use a lot of other equipment that use a lot of different types of tubes but the BHC is the first piece of equipment I've used that uses the 5998/6SA7G/6080 type tube. Going to have to do some searching. That's a really nice collection. It's nice to have options!

 

[Cevisi]

Yes use your 1990 like you want but the dekoni pads are better then stock sound wise and comfort wise and since the tygr 300 there was never a beyer released without the new foam pads because they are an improvement for any beyer i tried them on

Just take a look at the new 700 pro x and 900 pro x

Looks like they did our dekoni + foam disc mod

Its like saying your gt3 wont benefit from any new technologies

 

[kunglaux]

Just curious (and sorry if it’s been discussed before - this is a long thread), but who is using any pad at all under their elite velours? I have mine installed with nothing under them (other than the nonexistent dust fabric cover incorporated into the velours). I never liked the amiron foams - they cut down the top end too much and took away what makes the 1990s standout. Now I’m just mainlining the driver into my ear and love it - it’s the best they’ve ever been and I’ve been through lots of experimentation with this headphone. I use EQ however as well - always have (newest oratory1990 profile for the velours specifically - chefs kiss).

 

[supadupaninja]

Just curious (and sorry if it’s been discussed before - this is a long thread), but who is using any pad at all under their elite velours? I have mine installed with nothing under them (other than the nonexistent dust fabric cover incorporated into the velours). I never liked the amiron foams - they cut down the top end too much and took away what makes the 1990s standout. Now I’m just mainlining the driver into my ear and love it - it’s the best they’ve ever been and I’ve been through lots of experimentation with this headphone. I use EQ however as well - always have (newest oratory1990 profile for the velours specifically - chefs kiss).

Just like you I dont't like how the amiron foam sound. Yes, it eliminates the ear bleeding peak. But IMHO messes with other things in return too much. My solution is similar to yours. But I kept the original foam disc and instead cutted out the fabric out of the elite velours. This way its a way better balanced pad for me. (sound and comfort wise). The rest is done by the oratory1990 Dekoni preset (not the AutoEQ one) with Qudelix5K in BT mod. This is how I mostly use them for basically all. The wired solution is a passvive filter from diyaudioheaven. I bought the parts only and DIY it into the stock one.

 

[spookyshan]

This is how the foam sits right? Just overthinking a little lol


Edit: realized I had it backwards

 

[Cevisi]

Yes thats backwards

 

[Dawgfish]

Got the Dekoni Elite Velours in. Y'all were right these are better on the 1990s than the Elite Hybrids imho. The hybrids I still think are better than either stock pads but the velour is even better. I think the sound stage is a little wider with the hybrids and the bass is more prevalent than the velour also, but a lot of times the bass was a little too much with the hybrids. The velour also tames the 8 khz spike a little more than the hybrids while retaining the nice 1990 midrange. Other than the soundstage I like everything else better with the velour.

 

[thehexagonal]

Hello wise citizens of the DT 1990 thread.

Anyone here with long experience with the DT 880 600? If so, I would love to know what I stand to gain if I get a 1990.

I currently own a 1770 but I have come to notice that I enjoy more, and work better with, the 880 600. So my interest towards the 1990 is the obvious next thing...

Edit: noticed 800 instead of 600...

 

[CJG888]

1990 = 880-600 with better bass extension, increased treble resolution and better dynamics. The 880 still wins (by a narrow margin) in the midrange, IMHO, which is why I keep both… This is all based on performance with tube amps, though, so YMMV.

 

[thehexagonal]

1990 = 880-600 with better bass extension, increased treble resolution and better dynamics. The 880 still wins (by a narrow margin) in the midrange, IMHO, which is why I keep both… This is all based on performance with tube amps, though, so YMMV.

Thanks!

So, would I be right to encompass the 1990 as "a refinement of the 880 600 sound bar a small loss of the mids in exchange for the extension of the bass and treble"?

What left me more surprised of the 880 600 (which I recently acquired as I had doubts of my 880 250 pros) is that there is a certain speed to them which my former 770 32s and current 880 250s don't have. This is why I was wondering how much was there to gain with the 1990.

Sounds to me like a side-grade instead of an upgrade.

 

[CJG888]

It’s definitely an upgrade overall, but there are some things only a DT880-600 (or T1 Mk1) can do…

 

[Dawgfish]

Thanks!

So, would I be right to encompass the 1990 as "a refinement of the 880 600 sound bar a small loss of the mids in exchange for the extension of the bass and treble"?

What left me more surprised of the 880 600 (which I recently acquired as I had doubts of my 880 250 pros) is that there is a certain speed to them which my former 770 32s and current 880 250s don't have. This is why I was wondering how much was there to gain with the 1990.

Sounds to me like a side-grade instead of an upgrade.

Can't comment on DT880 but to me the DT1990 is a clear upgrade to the HD600. In addition to the other attributes listed above the 1990 is also vastly superior to the 600 in terms of soundstage and Imaging.