[McPanse]

Okay, here's the deal. I bought a pair of Beyer DT-880s at great price and have put nearly 60 hours on them since Wednesday. Very detailed and articulate cans but could definitely stand to be better grounded in the bass department. I'm using a Citypulse 7.2 DAC for my headphone amp and a Pioneer universal player as my source.

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Little Dot MK III or MKIV. I still have the better part of a month to return the DT-880s if I find something better.

So here's the question: if I were to order another pair of cans for comparison's sake, would I be better off ordering Sennheiser HD-650s ($329 less a $50 rebate if I keep them) or the Denon D-2000s ($300?).

As much as I like the clartity and articulation the DT-880s offer, I'm willing to give up some of that for a warmer, more grounded sound.

Do I wait and see what one of the Little Dots do for the DT-880s or should I get one of the other pairs here while I can still return the DT-880s if I decide they aren't for me?

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPanse /img/forum/go_quote.gif As much as I like the clartity and articulation the DT-880s offer, I'm willing to give up some of that for a warmer, more grounded sound.

I would reccomend the HD600 over the HD650 if you're after a naturally balanced, warm and musical sound. HD650 is bassier than HD600, but is also somewhat darker and has a less balanced presentation - at least out of all the amps I've heard it on. I've heard that they improve drastically balanced, but single-ended I much prefer HD600.

 

[McPanse]

I believe I've read here or elsewhere that Little Dot's David Yang is partial to the 600s, so maybe that's worth checking out. I just got an e-mail from David concerning completing my transaction for an LD MK IV. So there may still be time for me to compare the DT-880s against other phones inside my return window.

 

[John E Woven]

Big fan of the HD600. I think you'd enjoy it more than the 650; it's articulate, fast, and not as dark as the 650.

 

[McPanse]

I think what I might try to do is get a pair of HD-600s here quick enough that I can burn them in and compare them to the DT-880s through my Citypulse and my LD MKIV if it arrives in time.

Still, Monday being a federal holiday in the U.S., I've got another 24 hours to make up my mind.

Am I chasing dimes with dollars by buying the Senns as an alternative to the DT-880s? Are there other 'phones I should consider that might be a better match for the MKIV running the stock tubes? (Currently JAN 5654 driver tubes and 6H30EB power tubes, according to David Yang about, oh, 10 minutes ago).

 

[McPanse]

Oh, and just to further complicate matters, what about the AKG K701? Roughly the same price as the HD-650s and D2000 but still $150 more than what I paid for the DT-880s.

FWIW, I like to feel like I've gotten a good deal (Don't we all?).

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPanse /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh, and just to further complicate matters, what about the AKG K701? Roughly the same price as the HD-650s and D2000 but still $150 more than what I paid for the DT-880s.

It DT880 is too bright for you, do not try the K701. Its treble-emphasised, with lots of shimmer, fairly neutral/sterile mids, and a very polite bottom-end.

The HD600 is of a comparable resolution/technical merit to the DT880, but closer fits your tastes as expressed in your first post.

The only other options I would consider worthwhile are more expensive - RS-1 (uncomfortable compared to DT880/HD600, but with lovely, tonally rich mids) and CD3000, which is very hard to find now as they're no longer in production.

The Ultrasone Pro 750 may be worth considering as well. It suffers from slightly hollow mids, but makes up for it with more speed and dynamics than the HD600/DT880, and better, deeper bass than both. I wrote a review comparing Pro 750 against HD600 on these boards if you're curious.

Hope that helps.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Covenant /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Ultrasone Pro 750 may be worth considering as well. It suffers from slightly hollow mids, but makes up for it with more speed and dynamics than the HD600/DT880, and better, deeper bass than both. I wrote a review comparing Pro 750 against HD600 on these boards if you're curious.

Not sure OP will appreciate your advise. Seriously, if even DT880 sounds bright to him, PL750 will be a total torture.

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not sure OP will appreciate your advise. Seriously, if even DT880 sounds bright to him, PL750 will a total torture.

Good point, rule out the PL750. That leaves RS-1, HD600 or CD3000 as my suggestions.

 

[Tiemen]

Sony CD 3000 is also a bright headphone.
I wouldn't advise the D2000, for I found their treble sometimes harsh and sibilant.
For a warmer, but still fairly neutral headphone, I would suggest to go with the AKG K601.

 

[glac1er]

The K601 didn't have enough treble for me and it's a touch too warm. HD600 and HD650 are both excellent choices.

My recabled D2000(w/ D5000 cable) is nowhere as bright as DT880, K701, or Proline 750. I wouldn't even call it a bright sounding headphone. I wonder if the stock D2000 is radically different.

 

[windrider]

If you're getting the darkvoice 332, it has great synergy with the citypulse and hd650 and i would recommend the hd650.

But since you aren't getting the 332, my vote goes to the hd600 for reasons mentioned above already.

Its easier to make hd600 sound decent than hd650 IMO... don't know about balanced systems, but on single ended systems i would only get the hd650s if i was quite sure that my other components would match it well.

Of course it all depends on the genres u listen to and the sound signature you're after. Its quite impossible to know for sure until u listen for yourself, but I would vote for the hd600.

 

[ElephantTLK]

I am in same situation here. I have DT880 & HD595. And as i like DT880 overall sound more than HD595 there is still a bi too much treble. A bit too bright is everyhing. But i am looking for cans that have still good amount of treble but also with more bass. So i am looking for more "fun" phones for mostly rock, progressive rock, metal type of music. And i dont think that any of Sennheiser models are good for that. I dont think that HD600 or HD650 is for this kind of music. And also AKGK601 or K701 is not for that type of music?
So what is left?
Ultrasone HFI-780, Denon D2000 or maybe something else? What about Grado? Are they comfortable enough? Any other phone?

Edit:

and this time i am looking for something closed. Because i will keep DT880 for some of my music.

 

[majkel]

I don't understand suggesting the HD600. They have less trebles - say, unfocused, thus less present, but their midrange is even brighter than the DT880's. I compared them directly several times. To obtain the expected effect HD650, D2000 or K601 are the way to go IMHO.
When you use natural sounding source and amp, providing lots of air and reverb, the DT880's have no sibilance, as it never appears in the real world besides some consonants articulation but no such thing in percussion sounds.

 

[Caution]

The RS-1's are brighter than the 880s from memory :/ The D2000's highs extend higher than the 880 so that may not be what your after, the mid range isn't bright but the bass overtakes the mid range, so it may not be what you're looking for.

I disagree with the comment on the HD600's mid range being brighter than the 880s :/ I've had the 880s at the same time with the D2000s and HD600s, and the 880s and 600s sounded similiar in terms of brightness (FWIW I didn't find the 880's bright at all :/), and the HD600 were way more focused all over the spectrum, it's quite weird that we have completely different opinions of the two O_o

I love this, everyone is contradicting each other