Does this Amp pair well with this Headphone?

[schaaf]

Looking at upgrading from my ampless Senn. HD555s to something "nicer."

Been looking for headphones for a while. Looked at grados, and AKGs and AudioTechnicas and ultrasones and just about anything else that falls into that "midrange" headphone land...

But I think that I am going to get:

DT880s with a HeadAmp Gilmore lite

Does anyone have experience with that kind of set up?
Does that HP pair well with that amp?
Which version of the DT880 do I need. (I am not an electrical wiz... I dont really understand the ohms thing.)
I am open to other suggestions.. I was trying to keep this all around 500 or so.
I will probably buy the amp first and just use it with the 555s for a while and then pick up the Headphones a short time later...

Any other suggestions?

thanks
schaaf

 

[achristilaw]

Sounds like you should take your own advice. You have done your homework.
Remember, Any opinion is simply that. An opinion. Your opinion of the money YOU spend. Is the one YOU live with. Trust your ears. They know your musical priorities. Experience isn't always the best teacher. But it is the only teacher. What are your Musical tastes?

 

[Uncle Erik]

Yeah, it's a good combo. I have the 2005 DT880 (pretty similar to the current model) as well as a Dynalo, which is the DIY version of the Gilmore Lite.

The combination is fast, accurate, analytical, and slightly on the bright side. Personally, my favorite pairing for the Dynalo is the Sennheiser HD-650, and I usually put the DT880 on tubes to mellow it out a little.

Still, the DT880/Dynalo combination is not a bad one and lets you listen deeply into a recording. You will hear all the flaws in a recording and it can also show up your source. But if this is what you're looking for, you will get it.

 

[jgonino]

Any version of the dt880 will work. They all have ohm ratings of 250 or more. Basically the higher the ohm rating, the more juice you need to power the headphones.

On another note, Go For IT!!!! You have picked this for a reason, so i think it will sound awesome.

 

[schaaf]

Well I am a huge Dave Matthews fan, with tons of live albums, all the studio stuff and some fan recorded live work. Aside from that; modest mouse, chevelle, blue october, foo fighters, ben folds, live, OAR, smashing pumpkins, Tool, a perfect circle, Led zep, Clapton, billy joel, the beatles, and some 80s stuff.

the source is an Apple iMac G4 "lamp shade" with most music in Apple Lossless and the rest in 320kbps MP3

I have done enough research on Headphones I think, but I am new to the AMP thing, and havnt really heard much on the Gilmore lite. It seems like when its mentioned, its usualy held in a higher reguard than some things out there...

 

[jgonino]

Justin at Headamp does some fine work. You might also look at getting someone to build you a Pimeta or PPAv2.

 

[schaaf]

Hum.... Im not sure that I am looking for analytical.

So would a little dot tube work better with the 880 and some Senn 650s work better with the gilmore?

I am looking for great soundstage and seperation. I love the comfort of the beyers, as I have put on some 770s, but never got to listen to them.

My source probably isnt that great so Im not sure that an amp that brings out all the flaws is something that I am looking for.

On a side note... what does bright mean in reference to music?

thanks
schaaf

 

[schaaf]

so round and round and round and round I go.....

After more reading: if you were just going to listen to music to have fun, relax and jam, which would you get? DT880 or DT990.

As far as I understand, the 880s are more accurate, with better mids and slightly better highs, accurate bass and are more analytical, while the DT990s are a little more bass heavy with slightly recessed mids.

Would that be a fair and accurate "general" discription?

I listen to tons of acoustic with male vocals, so the 990s are fun while the 880s are more precise in the midrange?

This is driving me CRAZY!!!! All I do at this point is search and read about headphones here... I have gotten NO work done for the last several days... hahah