[appar111]

I'm thinking of picking up another set of quality cans, and here's my short list:

Beyer DT880 (what's the best price on these? ~$250?)
Senn HD600 (~$179-189 refurb'd)
Grado SR225 (~$200 + $15 for adaptor cable)

I'm also toying around with getting the HD580's again (instead of the HD600) since it would be cheaper, although refurb'ed HD600's can be had for around $179 now. And the SR225 alternate would be the Alessandro MS-1 - a good taste of the Grado sound for about half the price of the SR225's. No comparable alternate for the DT880 at the moment.

I've also toyed around with the idea of getting some Ety ER4's, but the price seems to have shot up from $199 to $230 recently, and I don't know if I want to go that route yet (cleaning tips all the time, etc.).

I've got a decent amp (JMT Pimeta w/ single buffers, AD8620 and biased to class A), so I should be covered no matter which can I choose.

Been happy w/ the DT770-80's, but have the urge to get something either really excellent for rock, or something really good for things that are, well, not rock (Bjork, Cibo Matto, various soundtrack stuff, Terence Trent D'Arby).

So which would be the best bet?

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by appar111 No comparable alternate for the DT880 at the moment.

Oh, indeed there are, that is, the HD595. HD595/DT880>HD600 , 'they say'.
And do I agree !

 

[acs236]

Tough choice. Do you have comfort issues with Grados? I haven't heard the 225s. I really liked everything about the Beyers, comfort, balanced sound, very durable. The HD600 are nice, but it's been a while.

 

[appar111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by acs236 Tough choice. Do you have comfort issues with Grados? I haven't heard the 225s. I really liked everything about the Beyers, comfort, balanced sound, very durable. The HD600 are nice, but it's been a while.

I don't find them as terribly uncomfortable as alot of people do... they just feel sort of cheap to me (except the 325's which felt more solidly constructed to me).

The DT770's that I have feel alot more durable than the 580's I had earlier this year. The Beyer velour pads are tough to beat for comfort too... but the Senns were pretty comfy in their own right, albeir a tad tight on the grip..

 

[appar111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrea Oh, indeed there are, that is, the HD595. HD595/DT880>HD600 , 'they say'. And do I agree !

Really? I know that the DT880/HD600 battle comes down to preference for the most part (more airy/spacious vs/ warmer/thicker), I guess I didn't realize the HD595 was in the DT880 and HD600 league.

 

[EdipisReks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by appar111 Really? I know that the DT880/HD600 battle comes down to preference for the most part (more airy/spacious vs/ warmer/thicker), I guess I didn't realize the HD595 was in the DT880 and HD600 league.

i haven't heard the 650's, only the 600's, but i think the DT880's and the 650's are significantly better cans than the 595's. that isn't to say the 595's are bad, which they aren't at all, but i don't think they compete. the 600 should be pretty close to the 650's, in which case i think they would be quite equal to the DT880's, but different. if you had the 580's and liked them, i think the refurb 600's would be an easy choice.

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by appar111 Really? I know that the DT880/HD600 battle comes down to preference for the most part (more airy/spacious vs/ warmer/thicker), I guess I didn't realize the HD595 was in the DT880 and HD600 league.

If you could ignore the whole "your mileage may vary" thing, and come to an univocal conclusion, that would be HD650 > HD595 > HD600. You see, I don't deem the 600 and 650 as close as some people do, and I recognize the 595 its full merit.

 

[Jmmmmm]

I say get the ms-1's

Listening to my sr80's, I could be happy with them as my only headphones.