Beyerdynamic T90 Discussion and Support Thread

[Vigrith]

The Elise is a wonderful amplifier all around, don't think there are many headphones it doesn't pair favourably with - plus, it's an OTL so the T90s should like it very much.

 

[ostewart]

http://europe.beyerdynamic.com/press/press-releases/press-detail/article/amiron-home-new-at-the-tokyo-headphone-festival-2016.html
 
Also Elise works well with the T90, used that pairing at CanJam London 2016

 

[AzraelDarkangel]

I'm trying out the Audeze micro-suede angled pads on the T90. Technically they are too big (don't fit snug) but are usable. The effect I've noticed so far is the increased distance between ear and driver has a couple of differences. First the sound is thicker/warmer which might be interpreted as slightly veiled but could be nicer if you think they are balanced too bright. I'm still trying to decide if the tonal balance change is good or bad. However the upper mids/treble region is still very upfront so it might just be adding warmth to the lower regions. I need to switch pads a couple times to figure out what's going on. The 2nd effect is a very slight hollow effect to the sound but this seems to have a slight enhancement to soundstage.
 
FYI, I'm also using the pad mod where I took the thin foam pad covering the driver and put it behind the driver to reduce unwanted resonances. (The effect is extremely subtle on my system, I only noticed a very tiny increase in microdetail).

 

[casper3127]

http://europe.beyerdynamic.com/press/press-releases/press-detail/article/amiron-home-new-at-the-tokyo-headphone-festival-2016.html
 

Is there a new kid in the block??

 

[ColtMrFire]

As an experiment I put some thin strips of dynamat inside the cups of the T90.

It dramatically improved the bass response. And focused the overall sound in a much tighter and controlled fashion. It also seemed to bring the nasty treble under control, allowing me to take in more of the details since its not stabbing my ears. Imaging is also slightly (but noticeably) better. I'm a huge fan of the change. Its taken them up a level IMO, almost like a super T90. It has slightly darkened the signature so they don't seem as bright.

My guess is there are a lot of unwanted resonances going on inside the big hollow cups. I did this mod after doing it to the HD650, which has the same very popular dynamat mod.

Now all I need is a balanced recable for these for my Jotunheim...

 

[ColtMrFire]

Would anyone know where to start with reterminating the end of my T90 cable for an XLR connection? I am not wanting to do it myself.

 

[Mad Max]

T90's cable has to be replaced completely.  You need 4 conductors to go balanced (L+, R+, L-, R-; or you can look at it as L + R + 2 grounds), and T90's cable only has three (L + R + 1 ground).
 
Where did you put the thin strips?
 
There's probably some unwanted resonances going on, I also think, but they get broken up enough one way or another by the design so the headphone doesn't add audible extra reverb to the music.  Dynamat doesn't cancel out resonances at all, it reduces minute vibrations in the plastic that can color the sound and add treble harshness.  Resonances can be reduced with polyester fiberfill.

 

[ColtMrFire]

I put them on the inside of the cups, behind the driver. It is amazing.

 

[biosailor]

My T90's Jubilee had just been sent off for re-cabling at Forza Audioworks (http://forzaaudioworks.com/en/category.php?id_category=36). The T90 will be re-cabled for balanced operation with mini XLRs installed on each ear cup for easy removal of cable. I'll keep you posted about our progress to balance the headphones!
 

 

[ColtMrFire]

Wow your pads are so full. I really need new pads.

I would've done Forza but I don't wanna ship internationally. BTG-audio in the States does recabling.

 

[ColtMrFire]

Today was a fun day of demoing a bunch of gear I'd never heard (Yggy, Black Widow, Ragnarok, HD800/S)

The main attraction was the chance to directly compare the T90 to the HD800 and 800S.

I was actually pretty shocked. I did not totally care for the HD800.

IMO my modded T90 was (mostly) better. The 800 has a dip in the upper midrange that was very distracting. It almost made them sound muffled compared to T90. Thats an exaggeration of course, as the 800 has a ton of detail/resolution, I just feel like the recessed mids make it almost pointless because some of the definition is buried with the recessed mids.

The T90 is clearer sounding. And it presented more detail because it does not have recessed mids and has a bit more treble.

The HD800S was better. The mids weren't as recessed and it was less sterile with a warmer signature. Using a balanced cable made the differences even more obvious.

I almost couldn't even listen to the HD800 v1 without a balanced cable, because the recessed mids gave it a weird stifled quality. When I would switch back to the T90 I could hear all sorts of detail I wasn't hearing on the 800.

Not to mention the T90 is warmer and much more "fun" sounding. I understand what people mean now when they say the 800 is sterile/clinical. It did not bother me very much, but it did keep the music at a slight distance, keeping it from totally engaging me. Everytime I switched back to the T90 my mood brightened.

The only the 800 seemed to do better was soundstage. The depth and 3 dimensional quality and ability to arrange sounds in space was extremely impressive.

I wouldn't mind owning the 800 but I'd absolutely need a balanced cable for it. It sounds much better balanced.

But the $300 I spent on the T90 is probably the best deal I've ever gotten in this hobby besides getting a Mimby.

 

[XERO1]

I also prefer the T 90 in just about every way over the HD 800 and HD 800S.
 
Especially in the bass.  IMO, the T 90 makes the HD 800 sound anemic by comparison.

 

[Vigrith]

  I also prefer the T 90 in just about every way over the HD 800 and HD 800S.
 
Especially in the bass.  IMO, the T 90 makes the HD 800 sound anemic by comparison.

 
Whilst I cannot wear the T90s for a very long time even with my warm tilted chain, I do agree they are much less thin sounding and actually engaging as opposed to the regular 800 which I find to be super boring and spaced out. I think I may prefer the 800S if I could audition them from what I've heard, but not really sure.
 
That said, if the new Amiron Home fixes the spikes the T90 suffers from and works on the bass a little they should be an absolute steal for $600 (or was it 700?) - I've been itching to add more Beyers to my collection because I love their build quality, comfort, etc. but have not been able to justify anything in their lineup till now; possible I'd enjoy the T1G2 since you've mentioned they are actually fairly warm but if we're getting into the 1k category there are plenty other options I'd rather have like the Elears and LCD-2s.

 

[XERO1]

   
Whilst I cannot wear the T90s for a very long time even with my warm tilted chain, I do agree they are much less thin sounding and actually engaging as opposed to the regular 800 which I find to be super boring and spaced out. I think I may prefer the 800S if I could audition them from what I've heard, but not really sure.
 
That said, if the new Amiron Home fixes the spikes the T90 suffers from and works on the bass a little they should be an absolute steal for $600 (or was it 700?) - I've been itching to add more Beyers to my collection because I love their build quality, comfort, etc. but have not been able to justify anything in their lineup till now; possible I'd enjoy the T1G2 since you've mentioned they are actually fairly warm but if we're getting into the 1k category there are plenty other options I'd rather have like the Elears and LCD-2s.

​I think the HD 800S is really over-rated and its more of a Band-Aid than a top-to-bottom improvement like everyone hyped it up to be.

 
Judging by Beyerdynamic's description of the Amiron Home, it looks like it is going to be voiced much like the T1-2G and T5p-2G.  So it's definitely not for me, but it might be just what you've been looking for.

 

[Mambosenior]

"​I think the HD 800S is really over-rated and its more of a Band-Aid than a top-to-bottom improvement like everyone hyped it up to be." :k_hand_tone5: