beyerdynamic DT880 + HeadRoom Total BitHead?

[voyaging]

How would a combo of beyerdynamic DT880 + HeadRoom Total BitHead work with my PC as a source? I need that fits my budget perfectly.

First, as to headphones, I need a neutral pair capable of reference listening, but also not boring. A neutral but fun pair would be ideal. I've heard the DT880 to have these qualities. Did I choose right?

Are there any significant upgrades I can get to those for say, no more than $50 that would really be worth it?


MY QUESTIONS IN A NUTSHELL:

Is DT880 + Total BitHead a good combo?
Are there any neutral but fun headphones better than DT880 in the price range? (How would the AKG K701 compare?)
Would there be any significant upgrades you would get instead of the combo?

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyaging /img/forum/go_quote.gif How would a combo of beyerdynamic DT880 + HeadRoom Total BitHead work with my PC as a source? I need that fits my budget perfectly. First, as to headphones, I need a neutral pair capable of reference listening, but also not boring. A neutral but fun pair would be ideal. I've heard the DT880 to have these qualities. Did I choose right? Are there any significant upgrades I can get to those for say, no more than $50 that would really be worth it? MY QUESTIONS IN A NUTSHELL: Is DT880 + Total BitHead a good combo? Are there any neutral but fun headphones better than DT880 in the price range? (How would the AKG K701 compare?) Would there be any significant upgrades you would get instead of the combo?

Wouldn't drive them well.. & the 880's are anything but fun.. I'd recommend the Grado 225 or Ultra 780i.. Both are easy to drive & fun..

 

[voyaging]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wouldn't drive them well.. & the 880's are anything but fun.. I'd recommend the Grado 225 or Ultra 780i.. Both are easy to drive & fun..

Hmm, maybe fun's the wrong word to use. I'm going to be using these for enjoyment, but I also need to use them as reference phones, because music is my career and I need to know the true sound of the music. However, the music also needs to be enjoyable to listen to and not boring.

 

[cooperpwc]

Not a bad combination but not perfect. DT880s are excellent but not actually the definition of "fun". Thet are great for classical. For pop and rock, they can be a bit dry. (I stopped listening to them until I got a very warm bassy DAC - USB Monica. Now thet are my favourites again.)

The other issue is that the Total Bithead is fabulous value with its DAC but the amp is not all that clean. It's frankly not good enough for the DT880s. Can you save a bit and get the Corda 2Move? (DAC is meant to be good and based on my Headsix, I can attest that the amp is very transparent.)

Corda 2Move plus DT880s should be a fine computer kit.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyaging /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm, maybe fun's the wrong word to use. I'm going to be using these for enjoyment, but I also need to use them as reference phones, because music is my career and I need to know the true sound of the music. However, the music also needs to be enjoyable to listen to and not boring.

The 880's are great reference cans..But I find them boring & lifeless with music.

 

[voyaging]

I've found that the K701 have a much lower impedance than the dt880, so maybe they could be driven with the BitHead amp. How would those work together, and do you think that could be what I'm looking for in a neutral and accurate, yet enjoyable sound?

 

[nylan8301]

I really try to not judge my DT-880's too harshly without first getting a tube amp. So, until that time, they do exactly what I want them to do: Play classical well and be a good "all-arounder" for everything else. When I want to listen to rock, I bust out my grados and PA2v2.

I'd get them, get maybe get a cheaper amp for the time being (like a cmoy)...then save up for a better desktop amp.

But, that's just my opinion.

Nylan

 

[gilency]

I listened to Vivaldi today with my DT 880's and a Headsix. Enough power to drive them, great sound, although not as good as a non-portable amplifier.

 

[argentum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyaging /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've found that the K701 have a much lower impedance than the dt880, so maybe they could be driven with the BitHead amp. How would those work together, and do you think that could be what I'm looking for in a neutral and accurate, yet enjoyable sound?

It has been discussed to death here that K701 , despite it's low impedence are one of the hardest cans to drive .These are very power hungry cans and without beefy amp they sound quite inferior .

 

[Rednamalas1]

Volume does not equal sound quality. Bithead amp may be able to drive both DT880 and K701 in volume but not in sound quality.
Those two cans deserve better amping than total bithead IMO.

 

[voyaging]

Well then, what would be a good headphone + amp + DAC (built-in or whatever, doesn't matter) would be a neutral and accurate but enjoyable listen and around the $600-800 or less? Thanks for the help so far, it's greatly appreciated!

 

[Rednamalas1]

I don't know much about DACs... but DT880 + Meier Arietta comes to mind.

 

[pdennis]

You could consider Stax 2050 or SR-001 systems from Pricejapan. Add a decent DAC and a 120v power supply and you're there.

I haven't heard these particular Stax phones, but when I was looking for accurate but musical headphones a few folks pointed me to Stax (vintage in my case) and I've been very happy. Just trying to return the favor. They tend to get overlooked by newcomers here because the electrostatic community is, to a degree, insulated from the Head-Fi mainstream. See the various Stax threads for specific reports on the 2050a or SR-001 systems.

 

[Ekstasis]

I am interested to buy either DT880 or K701, but one important question, how well will these headphones work with my Go-Vibe V7 headphone amplifier ?
I was told...that this amp is one of the best in it's price range and beyond...

I am currently using AKG 240Studio, and have never really been satisfied them, they sound just very dry and boring in general.

 

[fuzydice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyaging /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well then, what would be a good headphone + amp + DAC (built-in or whatever, doesn't matter) would be a neutral and accurate but enjoyable listen and around the $600-800 or less? Thanks for the help so far, it's greatly appreciated!

I'm using the Moodlab 'concept' DAC ($300), little dot mkIII tube amp ($240), and the 2005 DT880 250ohm ($230). This setup sounds pretty damn good to me with every genre. You could probably find a better DAC for less, though I'd recommend a Little Dot MKIII (or IV), Darkvoice 336i or some comparable or better tube amp for use with the 880's.

The 880s won't transform music that's boring into something fun, and they won't take fun music and make it boring. If it's relaxed music, it'll drench your ears in relaxing sounds; if the music is bursting energy with every kick drum hit, power chord and primal scream, the 880s won't hold any of that rawness back, and such and so forth. They let the music come through.

Good luck!