[tdockweiler]

Quote:

i agree that mp3 is not the problem.  its more about the recording/mastering process.  yes the beyers do reveal flaws but so does every good headphone i've heard.

Yeah, but some of even the more expensive headphones are good at covering up the flaws of bad recordings. Such as the HD-600/650, but to a point. Don't hate me! I do like these headphones and it's not really a negative. The HD-600 is one headphone that could make lots of my "bad" music quite listenable. Of course the HD-650 did become more more revealing with a better cable and different amps.

 

[Rawrbington]

i agree that there are some good cans that don't expose the flaws as much.  they are probably the more veiled sounding cans.  and the beyers are one of the more revealing cans in the price range.  but the main thing is to me, its not the mp3.  a flac will show the same bad recording only even more clearly than the mp3 sometimes

 

[jmkarthi]

OP, I recently acquired a DT990/600 with plans to drive it with my Sony receiver STR-SE501 but it had a horrible hiss when plugged in. But my Yamaha HTR drives it without any noise. So give it a try it might work out with your receiver.
 
 

 

[Graphicism]

OTL tube or a really nice fully class A amplifier for 600 Ohm and similar demanding cans. You're all having a laugh with these built in receivers and plastic toys.
 
Just because the volume can go loud doesn't mean the headphone is sufficiently amped.

 

[blacknile]

Some integrated amplifiers drive 600ohm headphones (the DT880 600ohm in my experience) better than some OTL tube amps. For example, the Little Dot MKIII is nothing special in my experience.
 
Instead of going around repeating like a parrot the same mantra "600ohm headphones NEED an otl tube amp" let's be more honest and discuss what we have owned and what we have tested. Otherwise people out there will throw away money for no reason.
 
Quote:

OTL tube or a really nice fully class A amplifier for 600 Ohm and similar demanding cans. You're all having a laugh with these built in receivers and plastic toys.
 
Just because the volume can go loud doesn't mean the headphone is sufficiently amped.

 

 

[jupitreas]

This is an example of extremely bad advice. An OTL tube amp that has performance that approaches a good solid state amp is going to be extremely expensive since the technology is so prone to distortion that it takes a lot to make an amp that has as little as a solid state amp. 
 
You should give us at least some semblance of objective proof for your clain that we're all "having a laugh with these built-in receivers and plastic toys."
 
Quote:

OTL tube or a really nice fully class A amplifier for 600 Ohm and similar demanding cans. You're all having a laugh with these built in receivers and plastic toys.
 
Just because the volume can go loud doesn't mean the headphone is sufficiently amped.

 

 

[TMRaven]

I have just as good a time with my 600Ω beyers coming out of an iPod compared to an OTL tube amp, so, eh.  I don't say it's a requirement for 600Ω cans.  One thing they do is give you absurd amounts of volume overhead, but I kinda question their dynamics.

 

[Thommohawk]

So do Amps and DACs really make that much difference in quality then or is it just that they sweeten the sound up if you get the synergy correct for your headphones/taste ? Because one would surmise that the only thing an amp should do is to amplify said signals, yet any amp can do this. The one in your television can do this, the one in your laptop can do this. Same for the DACs in each as well, they do their jobs in cheaper equipment, so why the need to spend 200+ or more on stand alone specialist equipment ? Really that much difference ? 
 
Because the difference between cheaper speakers and headphones vs more expensive ones yields a monumental difference, I can't honestly see a $300 DAC or Amp bringing as big of a difference to be honest, not that I'd know but on the cheaper end it doesn't make that much difference to me. Kind of makes me reluctant to spend significantly more money on them. Yet curious to see for myself what the fuss is really about. 

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

Some integrated amplifiers drive 600ohm headphones (the DT880 600ohm in my experience) better than some OTL tube amps. For example, the Little Dot MKIII is nothing special in my experience.
 
Instead of going around repeating like a parrot the same mantra "600ohm headphones NEED an otl tube amp" let's be more honest and discuss what we have owned and what we have tested. Otherwise people out there will throw away money for no reason.
 

The LDIII was really disappointing with the 600Ohm DT880s, I'll give you that. When I refer to an OTL tube amp I'm talking about those that have the big 6AS7 power tubes like Woo Audio and Darkvoice. As far as what I've owned and auditioned; an array of both solid-state and tubes as well as the odd integrated receiver. I've had more expensive amps and auditioned much more expensive amps but find the DV336i sublime with the DT880s, therefore I recommend an OTL tube amp and would be happy to give specifics to anyone interested.

Quote:

This is an example of extremely bad advice. An OTL tube amp that has performance that approaches a good solid state amp is going to be extremely expensive since the technology is so prone to distortion that it takes a lot to make an amp that has as little as a solid state amp. 
 
You should give us at least some semblance of objective proof for your clain that we're all "having a laugh with these built-in receivers and plastic toys."
 

That's not at all true. An OTL tube amp can be had for around $200 while a competing 100% class-A solid-state would cost closer to $1,000. Solid-state is great if you have less demanding cans, back when I owned the HD580/600s I couldn't tell a difference between an expensive tube amp and a cheapo solid-state. Members that have heard the DT880/990 on say a solid-state and a Fio E7/9 may say the Fiio can drive them just fine, simply because it gives you volume. Ultimately however they've never heard it sufficiently amped in the first place.

 

[jupitreas]

What you're trying to say is pretty typical subjectivist garbage, I'm afraid. The Fiio E7/9 drive the cans just fine and there is no such thing as more sufficient amping for these cans. Instead, the boutique amps you mention simply color the sound in a way that you find more pleasing to hear (or you have convinced yourself that they sound better through confirmation bias).
 
If I want to have a colored sound, I use an equalizer, not a 1000+ USD boutique amp without any published specifications. 
Quote:

That's not at all true. An OTL tube amp can be had for around $200 while a competing 100% class-A solid-state would cost closer to $1,000. Solid-state is great if you have less demanding cans, back when I owned the HD580/600s I couldn't tell a difference between an expensive tube amp and a cheapo solid-state. Members that have heard the DT880/990 on say a solid-state and a Fio E7/9 may say the Fiio can drive them just fine, simply because it gives you volume. Ultimately however they've never heard it sufficiently amped in the first place.

 

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

What you're trying to say is pretty typical subjectivist garbage, I'm afraid. The Fiio E7/9 drive the cans just fine and there is no such thing as more sufficient amping for these cans. Instead, the boutique amps you mention simply color the sound in a way that you find more pleasing to hear (or you have convinced yourself that they sound better through confirmation bias).
 
If I want to have a colored sound, I use an equalizer, not a 1000+ USD boutique amp without any published specifications. 

 

Are you speaking from experience, i.e. you have auditioned both the Fiio and the 'boutique amp' as I have or are you making a blind assumption? To say that there is no benefits to be had whatsoever is saying the Fiio E7/9 is the be-all and end-all in headphone amplification, typical subjectivist garbage aside this sounds like fanboyism.
 
Tell me, if a headphone amp adds soundstage and instrument separation would you consider that coloration?

 

[Rawrbington]

ive also heard conflicting information about the schiit valhala on this board.  it seems to me a lot of people will simply support what they have sometimes.  idk.
no need to argue i don't think.  and certainly no need for anyone to be condescending about what equipment or opinions someone else may have

 

[Ultrainferno]

Quote:

it seems to me a lot of people will simply support what they have sometimes.  idk.

 
That's one of the biggest problems. People should try to give honest neutral opinions, not suggest only the products they own (and certainly not suggest/criticize the ones they never heared themselves)
But that's just human psychology: we always try to defend the choices we've made, even after buying products, and convince ourselves it was the right thing to do.
 
 

 

[derbigpr]

Um, I have a question about Dt990 600 ohm.  Does anyone know how much  power (mW) they need to work properly?  My amp has 70 mW @ 600 ohm, is that enough?

 

[Ultrainferno]

The beyer site says: Power handling capacity. . . . . . . . . . 100 mW
 
http://europe.beyerdynamic.com/shop/media//datenblaetter/DT990_DB_E_A3.pdf
 
But I'm not an electronics guy, I honestly can't answer you but you now have the datasheet anyway