Beyerdynamic DT234 pro... meh

[Sink]

I have been trying my headphones, DT234 pro and comparing them to my old philips headphones which i got with my CD player. I have found that the pillips are better. At first i could not believe this, but after trying out various music styles there is a difference. It is not greatly noticable without quickly pausing and switching headphones, but it is there. Difficult to describe sound.


Korn (heavy base)
DT234: Base is louder, cymbals sound tinny.
Phillips less base, but a more balanced fuller sound. Stronger.

The Darkness (high pitched vocals)
DT234: Again, just doesnt sound right. High pitched singing sounds lower.
Phillips: More vibrant, guitar sounds more twangy, vocals clearer and more distinguished.

Tracy Chapman (vocal and guitar)
DT234: Louder base guitar, sometimes louder than other sounds (as in instead of a "twang" in the background, louder.) Flat souless vocals
Phillips: richer sound, vocals louder, less base. Vocals a LOT better. Strong, vibrant, rich.

In flames: Reroute to remain (heavy metal with "melody" in songs)
Again phillips just sounds better. DT234... hard to explain - fuzzy, flat.


The DT seems weak at the middle and upper ranges of music, but stronger at base.


but there are some things to consider:

I tested this on my phillips CD player, maybe it is calibrated for phillips headphones? Though I have not tested on the PC i would suspect i could come up with the same conclusion.

The phillips was without its extension, and has a individual wire for each ear piece. The extension for phillips consolidates both into a thin wire and oes reduce sound quality (also it is falling apart). The beyer though has only a thin long wire for both headphones.

The beyer was quieter than the phillips (on same volume), and sound quality was much, much worse than the phillips at low volumes (i dont usually listen to music on high volume) when volume was turned up sound quality got better. Even with a lower audible volume than beyer phillips sound better. (turning volume up when putting beyer on)



I will continue using the phillips until the fall apart, and then use the beyerdynamic. Am disapointed.

Sink

 

[aeriyn]

Why not sell the DT234s and use the proceeds to buy something better?

Most of beyerdynamic's headphones are very good though. They have a few bad apples like any manufacturer. I've been nothing but pleased with my DT440s.

 

[enemigo]

Not tried the DT234, but it's supposively the same as the DT231, which I am very sattisfied with. Not found anything else I'm more sattisfied with for sealed below $150 yet.

Try dampening the enclosures if you are keeping the headset, this will thighten the bass. See my signature for 231/234 mods.

Knut

 

[Sink]

The funny thing is that everyone said that the Beyer where really good. Maybe its me??? Could it be that i am so used to the phillips that i think that they sound better even though they dont?

Or maybe the phillips are good quality. I got them off an uncle a couple of years ago, who works for phillips. The CD player is a red philips 45 esp jog proof manufactured in july 2002 type AX5123/17. and it rocks.

The thing is my labtec speakers (which are a POS) sound similar. They are pulse 475.

 

[Necros]

I didn't like the bass from these phones either (231 which look similar), just too pronounced. At least it wasen't too boomy bass. Midrange & treble seemed ok. Not bad for £40 I guess. Isolation and leakage is not brilliant. Only had them a couple of days though.

 

[Andrea]

According to Beyer's specifications the DT234pro isn't exactly like a DT231 with a microphone. 5 dB more sensitive, in particular.
For how much it can mean, this could account for it.