[amandela77]

Can-heads:
 
The sound of my new BeyerDynamic DT- 990s has improved considerably with a little break-in time. The brightness in the upper mids and lower treble, while not banished outright, has tamed significantly. An incredible sense of openness, air and extension has replaced outright glare and a sliver of fine grain.
 
For those who feel that the DT-990s don't need significant break-in time, let me respectfully disagree. My cans sound much better with approximately 30 hours on them, and I expect the sound to improve as I log even more listening hours on the system. 
 
Here are the essentials:
 
Dell 640GB laptop (using the very nice Windows Media Center architecture);

HRT Music Streamer II DAC (Monster Cable USB cable);

Audioquest Black Mamba II interconnect;

PS Audio GCHA (with a PS Audio PerfectWave AC-3 power cable plugged into a Monster Cable power strip);

BeyerDynamic DT-990/600

 

Good listening.....))))))

 

[sugarkang]

The harshness / sibilance on my DT-880 has also decreased.
I attribute that to me getting used to my headphone and not vice versa.

 

[amandela77]

I have often wondered whether the break-in period is a psychological balm that allows one to acclimate to the sound of a new component, or a real, measurable phenomenon. I suspect that it is a little of both...

 

[mojobebop]

curious how these compare to the akg 240 monitor 600omhs?
(the dt 880, or 990).

 

[Argyris]

Quote:

I have often wondered whether the break-in period is a psychological balm that allows one to acclimate to the sound of a new component, or a real, measurable phenomenon. I suspect that it is a little of both...

I'd say this is most likely the case. Headfonia found as much to be true with a semi-scientific test they conducted with a pair of M50s, one well-used and one brand new.

 

[amandela77]

I haven't heard the AKGs, but I can say that the BDs I have heard all have a similar naturalness and ease, albeit with a touch of upper mid-lower treble brightness that softens over time.  

 

[jac3atx]

When my DT990~600 arrived, I popped them on my ears and found them super sibilant and harsh. I took them off my head, but left music running through them at the loud side of my normal listening volume for about 30 hours and came back to a very different set of cans. So I am definitely a burn-in believer as I never gave my ears a chance to acclimate to them. Yes, they are still bright cans, but out of the box "bright" is way too nice of a word...

 

[amandela77]

I don't disagree. Out of box, the BDs scorch the ears. I found that it took a week of burn-in to tame the top end. But when everything clicked, it clicked.....

 

[Connnorrr]

I agree with most said here, I found mine much more tolerable after a bit of burn in as out of the box they were abrasively harsh. Fast forward a few days of listening and I'm hooked on the sound and the comfort. Not bad on the eyes either.