Pics: –Dt660 headphone. -The rig.
Pioneer Dv563a => Techlink Rca-Rca => Grado Ra1 Clone => Dt660/Ath-Fc7
Disclaimer: This headphone isn’t fully burned in yet, but I decided to write my impression anyway.
Before you bash the Ra-1 clone and say it’s just a Cmoy with bigger caps, I say it profoundly improve the music for me. Giving more realistic bass and improved on details better than the Supermini or MintVibe I’ve used. Lastly, it gave the music a more energetic and lively sound. The Ra1 was meant to drive low impedance headphone, which both the Dt660 and Fc7 are.
When I decided to put down my money for these cans I thought I knew what I was getting. Here you have a bulgy looking headphone, painted silver, but really made of mostly plastic. Designed with that flashy look to fit the modern day trend. The specification even claimed “suitable for surround sound”. So I was expecting something that will be designed to play well with the general popular music: rock, pop, rap, etc. Knowing all that I decided to throw down roughly $200 for it anyway, hoping it will deliver some audio fidelity to satisfy me. I was looking for a circumaural, closed cans that will finish my home setup. Also to mark the end of my crazy audio spending, at least for a while. Lastly, I always prefer underdog headphones that aren’t usually mentioned in head-fi discussions. This one fit the criteria since there hasn’t been much ownership and hype for it.
The first thing I did when I got this cans was getting out the screwdriver and loosen the screws on the headband, which was recommended by a head-fier to prevent the headband from cracking. A wide known issue for this new Beyerdynamic series. Secondly, the cloth earpads it came with was horrifyingly itchy. Luckily it came with another soft leather pairs and I replaced it over the cloth one. They are now so much more comfortable than before. The headband can stretch to a very wide length, I use the minimal setting. Even though its circumaural, my ears touches the side, but no comfort problem there. Probably one only thing that bother me is its weight. I’d say its about 11oz or .70lbs. The weight distribution is very good though. There is no microphonic effect for the cable, beside the section very near to the driver.
After hearing about two dozen of headphones I’ve established a well-understood sound preference for myself (even though what I’m about to say might contradict itself). Deep and controlled bass, no flabbiness or liquidness. Neutral, smooth mids that isn’t obtrusive, although strong midrange drum preferred. Neutral low-treble so avoid cymbals to be too present. Makes the trebles sweet and give them body, but not overly sharp. Extend the high as much as possible, but avoid sibilance. Overall, good soundstage, balances across the spectrum and avoid analyticity. The Audio Technica Ath-Fc7 by far is the one that comes closest to these preferences. It was very fun and satisfying. You’d think listening to music through headphones is just sitting back and letting the music hit your face. But some headphones don’t do the presentation well and you actually are forced to pay attention to the phone to enjoy the music. This is how the Dt660 makes me feel right out of the box. The Fc7 music is right there in your face, lively, but it doesn’t act obtrusively. You just sit and let the music flow to you. Smooth and very fast treble transient. Deep and tight low-bass that is audible. Acoustic guitar flows smoothly and sweetly. The string plucks yield a bassful impact to it, not just a high pitch noise alone. That’s how the Fc7 was. The Dt660 on the other hand, brighter than necessary and bass doesn’t go deep, but is liquidy. Lastly, what makes the Fc7 so good sounding is how emotional the music sound through it, that’s all I’m listening for nowadays. No matter how good or expensive it is, if it can not drive my emotions then it doesn’t worth it. But I haven’t had the Dt660 for more than a couple hours, so I have to let it burn in first before making some serious judgements.
One interesting thing to note is how that night I fell asleep while listening to the Dt660 and was woken up to change the batteries for my amp because the music was distorting, due to the power running low. It’s almost an unconscious act to satisfy the unconscious urge for good music.
So it’s the 8th hours into the burn-in process. I notice something very different from what I was expecting. I’m actually listening to songs that I would generally always skip. Except these songs aren’t boring songs, but they having something in common: weird instruments. By weird I meant flute, violin, piano, synthesizers, etc. This phone seems to perform so well on these symphonic(?) instruments. They extend and flow nicely. The soundstage or instruments placement for this cans is very strange, but it’s mystifyingly attractive somehow. On one of the Tenhi song (neo-folk), I hear the water stream flowing from the left ear, through the back of my head, to the right ear. Normally on the Fc7 I would just hear water. I also try some live Anathema songs (rock) and behold some nice, believable atmosphere. Indeed I felt the claim “suitable for surround sound” might be true for this phone. I imagined this phone might do well for movies as well. I’m not too happy about the bass currently, but it’s growing on me. The Fc7 bass was very defining and I can easily hear when it changes tune. Right now the bass on the Dt660 is more monotonous comparing to the Fc7. It has the impact, but not the tightness. However, on the Fc7 you either hear the low bass or you don’t. On the Dt660, the low bass is half felt. It has a weight and reflex that can be felt and measure. It sorts of rumbles sometimes, strange feeling. I realize this headphone is highly suitable for jazz when I listen to the Ken Burns Jazz collection CDs. The bass sounds so right for jazz, maybe not just the bass, but everything else too. Unfortunately, I know nothing about jazz music to testify more specifically, even the CDs were given by a friend, but the instruments seem spaced out correctly and the type of bass correctly give the music that relaxful atmosphere found in most jazz songs. The vocals are neutral and detailed, but could be sweeter and it doesn’t extend too far. It is very unobtrusive and placed just in the middle of the stage. Mid-treble needs to smooth out a bit, as Spanish guitars sound a bit sharp. Right now the impression is the Dt660 is a slightly bright headphone, more emphasize and details in the upper range, with neutral mids, flowing yet impactful bass, and sufficient soundstage.
I have yet to conclude if these cans worth its price of $190, but I’m certaintly enjoying something different. I will get back to this once my headband cracks and break or when the sound improves.
Pioneer Dv563a => Techlink Rca-Rca => Grado Ra1 Clone => Dt660/Ath-Fc7
Disclaimer: This headphone isn’t fully burned in yet, but I decided to write my impression anyway.
Before you bash the Ra-1 clone and say it’s just a Cmoy with bigger caps, I say it profoundly improve the music for me. Giving more realistic bass and improved on details better than the Supermini or MintVibe I’ve used. Lastly, it gave the music a more energetic and lively sound. The Ra1 was meant to drive low impedance headphone, which both the Dt660 and Fc7 are.
When I decided to put down my money for these cans I thought I knew what I was getting. Here you have a bulgy looking headphone, painted silver, but really made of mostly plastic. Designed with that flashy look to fit the modern day trend. The specification even claimed “suitable for surround sound”. So I was expecting something that will be designed to play well with the general popular music: rock, pop, rap, etc. Knowing all that I decided to throw down roughly $200 for it anyway, hoping it will deliver some audio fidelity to satisfy me. I was looking for a circumaural, closed cans that will finish my home setup. Also to mark the end of my crazy audio spending, at least for a while. Lastly, I always prefer underdog headphones that aren’t usually mentioned in head-fi discussions. This one fit the criteria since there hasn’t been much ownership and hype for it.
The first thing I did when I got this cans was getting out the screwdriver and loosen the screws on the headband, which was recommended by a head-fier to prevent the headband from cracking. A wide known issue for this new Beyerdynamic series. Secondly, the cloth earpads it came with was horrifyingly itchy. Luckily it came with another soft leather pairs and I replaced it over the cloth one. They are now so much more comfortable than before. The headband can stretch to a very wide length, I use the minimal setting. Even though its circumaural, my ears touches the side, but no comfort problem there. Probably one only thing that bother me is its weight. I’d say its about 11oz or .70lbs. The weight distribution is very good though. There is no microphonic effect for the cable, beside the section very near to the driver.
After hearing about two dozen of headphones I’ve established a well-understood sound preference for myself (even though what I’m about to say might contradict itself). Deep and controlled bass, no flabbiness or liquidness. Neutral, smooth mids that isn’t obtrusive, although strong midrange drum preferred. Neutral low-treble so avoid cymbals to be too present. Makes the trebles sweet and give them body, but not overly sharp. Extend the high as much as possible, but avoid sibilance. Overall, good soundstage, balances across the spectrum and avoid analyticity. The Audio Technica Ath-Fc7 by far is the one that comes closest to these preferences. It was very fun and satisfying. You’d think listening to music through headphones is just sitting back and letting the music hit your face. But some headphones don’t do the presentation well and you actually are forced to pay attention to the phone to enjoy the music. This is how the Dt660 makes me feel right out of the box. The Fc7 music is right there in your face, lively, but it doesn’t act obtrusively. You just sit and let the music flow to you. Smooth and very fast treble transient. Deep and tight low-bass that is audible. Acoustic guitar flows smoothly and sweetly. The string plucks yield a bassful impact to it, not just a high pitch noise alone. That’s how the Fc7 was. The Dt660 on the other hand, brighter than necessary and bass doesn’t go deep, but is liquidy. Lastly, what makes the Fc7 so good sounding is how emotional the music sound through it, that’s all I’m listening for nowadays. No matter how good or expensive it is, if it can not drive my emotions then it doesn’t worth it. But I haven’t had the Dt660 for more than a couple hours, so I have to let it burn in first before making some serious judgements.
One interesting thing to note is how that night I fell asleep while listening to the Dt660 and was woken up to change the batteries for my amp because the music was distorting, due to the power running low. It’s almost an unconscious act to satisfy the unconscious urge for good music.
So it’s the 8th hours into the burn-in process. I notice something very different from what I was expecting. I’m actually listening to songs that I would generally always skip. Except these songs aren’t boring songs, but they having something in common: weird instruments. By weird I meant flute, violin, piano, synthesizers, etc. This phone seems to perform so well on these symphonic(?) instruments. They extend and flow nicely. The soundstage or instruments placement for this cans is very strange, but it’s mystifyingly attractive somehow. On one of the Tenhi song (neo-folk), I hear the water stream flowing from the left ear, through the back of my head, to the right ear. Normally on the Fc7 I would just hear water. I also try some live Anathema songs (rock) and behold some nice, believable atmosphere. Indeed I felt the claim “suitable for surround sound” might be true for this phone. I imagined this phone might do well for movies as well. I’m not too happy about the bass currently, but it’s growing on me. The Fc7 bass was very defining and I can easily hear when it changes tune. Right now the bass on the Dt660 is more monotonous comparing to the Fc7. It has the impact, but not the tightness. However, on the Fc7 you either hear the low bass or you don’t. On the Dt660, the low bass is half felt. It has a weight and reflex that can be felt and measure. It sorts of rumbles sometimes, strange feeling. I realize this headphone is highly suitable for jazz when I listen to the Ken Burns Jazz collection CDs. The bass sounds so right for jazz, maybe not just the bass, but everything else too. Unfortunately, I know nothing about jazz music to testify more specifically, even the CDs were given by a friend, but the instruments seem spaced out correctly and the type of bass correctly give the music that relaxful atmosphere found in most jazz songs. The vocals are neutral and detailed, but could be sweeter and it doesn’t extend too far. It is very unobtrusive and placed just in the middle of the stage. Mid-treble needs to smooth out a bit, as Spanish guitars sound a bit sharp. Right now the impression is the Dt660 is a slightly bright headphone, more emphasize and details in the upper range, with neutral mids, flowing yet impactful bass, and sufficient soundstage.
I have yet to conclude if these cans worth its price of $190, but I’m certaintly enjoying something different. I will get back to this once my headband cracks and break or when the sound improves.
