Beyerdynamic DT880: 2003 vs 2005 Versions plus AKG K701

[mrarroyo]

Yesterday (Saturday, March 22 of 2008) I had the opportunity to compare a 2005 version of the DT880 with its previous version. Both units were 250 ohms and had plenty of burn-in.

The 2005 version sure is a pretty looking can, much so than its previous sibling. Furthermore the newer version comes with a nice carrying case. Here are a couple of pictures of the old version followed by the newer version:

Both cans are equally comfortable thanks to the excellent ear-pads used on them. The plush velour sure is nice!

So how do they compare? If I had let myself be guided by most posts I would say the new version was going to come out ahead. However that was not the case.

I found the new version of the DT880 to have some of the traits of the new DT990 which I had and sold. Basically the new version has way to much bass to my liking, so much so that it makes the mids sound recessed. So at the end of the day you have a can with lots of bass and highs but no mids.

This description is becoming more the norm than I would like. The new version of the DT880 joins two other cans with the same sound signature of too much bass and highs w/ recessed mids. These are the 2005 DT990 and the Grado GS1000.

On the other hand the older DT880 is much more balanced sounding. Just the right amount of bass to allow the mids and the highs to come through w/o overpowering the music the composer and the musicians wanted to deliver. I like them so much I may buy me a pair of used older version DT880.

Since I could not hold myself I decided to compare the old version of the DT880 w/ my AKG K701. It was a good fight but the K701 came out triumphant. I will not say it was a trash, there are more similarities between them than there are differences. I guess the biggest area of difference is the openness and airiness of the K701, it is immersing.

In the past when I try a bottle of wine and I think it is great of lousy I will try it again. Why? because the company, food, or my mood influences how much I like or disliked the wine. In other words, the right company and meal will make or break a bottle of wine. Thus I will give a loved or hated wine a second chance to validate the initial impression or find out if it was external reasons instead of the wine itself. ;D

Well I pretty much apply the same to other aspects of my life. Thus I will be listening to the DT880 over the next week or so. I certainly hope to make a decision if I will keep them or not by next weekend.

 

[scompton]

This makes me want to get rid of my 05 and get an 03. The 05 is the bassiest headphone I own and I really have to be in the mood to listen to it. Or need the comfort after listening to a less comfortable headphone, which is every other headphone I own. AKGs are close in comfort, but not quite there.

I have real problems switching to listening to the DT880 after listening to the AKG K500 or MB Quart QP85. If I switch directly from either of those, but especially the QP85, the DT880 sounds muddy.

 

[naamanf]

I also much prefer the '03 over the '05. I found the upper end to be just too bright on the '05s. I just couldn't bear listening to anything with cymbals. The '03 on the other hand I find to be very well balanced.

I also prefer them to the K701s. The openness and air on the K701 is just a bit much.

 

[dr dougie]

I compared 2005 DT880, DT880 Pro and DT990 with AKG701 and a few others over a couple of months when I was looking around.

In the end I went with DT880 2005. The 701s are excellent cans, love the transparent high end, and in a perfect world I would own both haha.

The DT880s do have very full bass and it can be slightly overpowering, I still can't believe some reviews say the bass is weak. However the answer for me is EQ, I deemphasize the bass a little. I didn't like the DT990 bass as much.

One reason I went with DT880 is that when you hear these phones on good amps and good tube amps the mid treble and vocals sound like pure honey and the soundstage is otherworldy. Good as they are I never quite got there with the 701s personally.

 

[scompton]

Are the Pros the same as the 2003?

 

[eruditass]

i've heard many different things regarding the mids and highs quality of the two versions, which is what i care about. bass is easily eq'd and always done depending on the listening level.

from a couple sources i heard the mids were a little warmer in the 05 which is why i went with it. as for the highs, many say they are the same, and i dont see how a different enclosure would effect it much unless they used different foam or drivers which i dont think they did. there are a couple people that insist they are not as extended and more peaky.

i think the pros are the 03's with a stronger clamp, which to some say makes the sound more intimate and less expansive.

 

[majkel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr dougie /img/forum/go_quote.gif I compared 2005 DT880, DT880 Pro and DT990 with AKG701 and a few others over a couple of months when I was looking around. In the end I went with DT880 2005. The 701s are excellent cans, love the transparent high end, and in a perfect world I would own both haha. The DT880s do have very full bass and it can be slightly overpowering, I still can't believe some reviews say the bass is weak. However the answer for me is EQ, I deemphasize the bass a little. I didn't like the DT990 bass as much. One reason I went with DT880 is that when you hear these phones on good amps and good tube amps the mid treble and vocals sound like pure honey and the soundstage is otherworldy. Good as they are I never quite got there with the 701s personally.

The post above should replace the opening post. Saying that the DT880 '05's have too much bass and recessed mids is faaaaaar from being true. Looks like the OP is using bass focused equipment, having issues with midrange presentation and upper end. The AKG K701's are strangely colorated in higher midrange and their trebles live their own life in another space. Maybe on a bass oriented amplification they shine some...

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by majkel /img/forum/go_quote.gif The post above should replace the opening post. Saying that the DT880 '05's have too much bass and recessed mids is faaaaaar from being true. Looks like the OP is using bass focused equipment, having issues with midrange presentation and upper end. The AKG K701's are strangely colorated in higher midrange and their trebles live their own life in another space. Maybe on a bass oriented amplification they shine some...

X2.. No way in hell are the mids recessed.. Thats one of their strong points.. Want recessed mids, try out the DT 990 05..

 

[MaZa]

I have owned both 05 and 03. 03 a year ago, and 05 model a month or two ago. From memory there isnt that much difference. And sure as hell I didnt find the bass of '05 as strong, more like balanced. I would love to have both side by side though, but the moment I received '05 model it the sound was very familiar for me,

 

[mrarroyo]

The post above should replace the opening post. Saying that the DT880 '05's have too much bass and recessed mids is faaaaaar from being true. Looks like the OP is using bass focused equipment, ...QUOTE]

Perhaps you should read my post more carefully before you go out on the offense.

I wrote:

Code:

[left]...Basically the new version has way to much bass to my liking, so much so that it makes the mids sound recessed...[/left]

Not quite the same, as being recessed. Only that the over abundance of bass makes the mids sound recessed. BTW, I have tried all of the above cans in more amps (tube amps, hybrid amps, and SS amps) that I care to remember so no I do not have "... bass focused equipment ..."

At the end of the day what I think/hear or what you think/hear is irrelevant. We all hear differently and thus each one of us needs to make the final decision if a particular piece of gear sounds good or not.

 

[cooperpwc]

This is an unusual thread. I do not question the op's creds. So this is proof that one must be careful about jumping to conclusions which in this case really are really not indicative. If someone is complaining about too much DT880 bass, something has gone awry in the sound chain.

 

[scompton]

In my case it's not necessarily something awry in the sound chain. They are, with the HD580, the bassiest headphones that I own. And compared to my QP85, not detailed.

 

[majkel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperpwc /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is an unusual thread. I do not question the op's creds. So this is proof that one must be careful about jumping to conclusions which in this case really are really not indicative. If someone is complaining about too much DT880 bass, something has gone awry in the sound chain.

Exactly, And what I dislike is not the different hearing of mrarroyo which I totally accept, but starting such topic which may mislead newbies treating the Head-Fi.org as a trusty source of information. Before you learn who's right and who's wrong in your opinion, you need to read lots of threads and sometimes make a wrong purchase.

Guess why I never started a thread "AD2000's and K701's suck!".

Maybe because I'm in the minority... or maybe I realized that these headphones make many people happy?

 

[ricmat]

man, I totally agree with you!

I own a pair of DT880 03' and have listened to 05' version (as I was considering to upgrade) - I was disapointed! I love so much more my '03 version!


And I agree with you again when you say K701 are different, more "airy"... true! that's why I love them to more analytical listening and classical listening, while keeping my DT880 to other musical styles.




Just one question, what was the amp to feed them?


Cheers!

 

[upstateguy]

Had them both at the same time, which is critical in making an evaluation like this (IMHO), and I agree with Miguel.... the '05s went to Virginia and the '03s stayed.

Too much boomy bass and the balance was way off. I think the '03s are much better cans. There was a thread about this a while back and if memory serves, Skylab liked the '05s better, but I don't think he had both of them at the same time.......

USG