From DT770 to Darth Beyer

[Darkshift]

So after prowling around on these forums for a while I finally decided to shell out some cash for DT770's (they should be arriving tomorrow, yay!). Can't wait to experience their awesomeness.

I've seen plenty of people rave about the DT770, and plenty of people rave about the Darth Beyers, but no real before/after comparisons.

So I was just curious for those who have experienced both stock DT770 and the Darth'ed version, what kind of difference I would expect to hear by having mine Darth'ed compared to the original sound, and is it really worth spending that much to have done (awesome woody looks aside)? It's more than I spent on the phones themselves just for the woody/recable and I'd be hesitant to even consider doing this in the near future, but it would definitely be nice to know what kind of potential there is in Darth'ing the DT770.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[silverrain]

Which DT770?
Th (05-version) latest DT770. or the still-produced DT770/80 Pro?
Either way, peeps that have them Darth'ed say it is an improvment.
Do a search on whichever model you got, and also search on Darth Beyer.
Tons of info.

 

[Dork Knight]

I think Larry may state how the sound changes from stock to the Darth Beyer on his site.

 

[grawk]

Larry pretty specifically doesn't say how the sound changes. He markets what he does as art. I found the improvement to be not subtle, but at the end of the day I decided to move in a different direction. If you like the dt770 sound, but want it "better", darthing is a good solution. Especially if you like the looks.

 

[spacemanspliff]

As an owner of no less than every model of darth save the skybeyers I can say with some authority that Darths are really, really fun headphones. For the $$ they excell at low level listening b/c they have full range capability. In short, Darths own. Try the entry level model if you want to save some $$ but do get at least a 1.5 M cord if not 2m.

 

[Dork Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Larry pretty specifically doesn't say how the sound changes.

I just checked his website and he says;

Quote:

Plenty of bass with more mids and taming of the high end by the time I am done converting them. I recommend V3 highly, as a headphone with enough bass to sound real and speaker like, unlike many headphones that can't produce a credible bass to my ears.

Source: Beyer Modding, Darth Beyer, DT770, DT880, DT990, Beyer Cables, BeyerDynamic Modding

Not much information but it does give you an idea of how he believes the sound changes after the mods.

 

[ph0rk]

Were I the OP, I'd spend money on an amp, first. Dac second.

If, sometime down the road, you want to try the darths, I guess I'd order them new (w/ a new pair of 770's) from larry and compare them myself and sell off whichever one (stock or modded) failed to please me.

I'm not really a huge fan of darths aesthetically, I like the spartan look of the 770 pros more than the wood. To each their own, of course.

 

[BushGuy]

a few observations:
Headphones should be chosen, initially, because of their sound quality - not the wood you've chosen (or not). I luv the choices I've made - but others may hate my choices.
Statements culled from Larry's site are very conservative and fair - particularly if you assume they are based on Darths built from dt770 Pro 2003 (always my choice).............also it should be noted the mids are appropriately more forward than stock dt770.....and.........I remember he also used to make a statement re their standing/quality for under $1k that was entirely fair. It ain't simply just putting on a wood shell and recable. Why should he (or even I) tell how he does it? Pay the man - it's worth it!
The cost effective way of going Darth is NOT to buy dt770 and later sending them to Larry - but to do deal #18 right off the bat................or finding a pair on the Head-Fi F.S. pages that you like.
IMO - I do not consider stock dt770 suitable for music without being "Darthed" (though be best for gaming). Yes, I've had/have 4 pairs (both open and closed).
If you do get a pair of Darths - allow them 125 hours to burn-in.

 

[Mik]

I may be in a good position to comment on the differences since I have new Darth Beyers, older Headphile-recabled DT880 and stock DT770 pro 80 headphones. I haven't listened to the DT770 much since getting the Darths, but between the recabled DT880 and Darths, the Darths make music sound much more "live" once broken-in, but the DT880 is obviously more open. Between the two of them, I can't say whether one is better than the other. Even though they each have their own strengths, they both share a similar Beyer character sound. Like two sets of high-end speakers, they're both excellent, just different. Oh and if you get Headphile's black velour pads, note that they have a very powerful dye smell that has diminished over the last couple of weeks, but is still very noticeable compared to stock Beyer pads.

As for the stock DT770 pro, I'm planning on doing a proper comparison when I have some free time so specific comments about differences in sound will have to wait. One thing I do remember though is that the stock DT770 pro has a much stronger clamping force than the Darth Beyers do. I assume Larry must loosen up the DT770 death grip when he makes his mods.

 

[Darkshift]

I did order the DT770/80 Pro (it was a good eBay deal). I haven't even had the opportunity to try mine yet, they should be arriving any time, but based on the comments I've seen so far, I guess I'm not too reluctant about not opting for Darths. For one, this is my very first high quality headphone purchase (unless you would consider the MDR-V700DJ's high quality... the headband broke after about 5 months

), so I'm pretty sure that just the stock DT770's is going to be a mind blowing difference to me.

But who knows, sometime in the future I may get that oh-so-common upgradeitis you head-fi'ers seem to spread rampantly.

 

[troymadison]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BushGuy /img/forum/go_quote.gif a few observations: Headphones should be chosen, initially, because of their sound quality - not the wood you've chosen (or not). I luv the choices I've made - but others may hate my choices. Statements culled from Larry's site are very conservative and fair - particularly if you assume they are based on Darths built from dt770 Pro 2003 (always my choice).............also it should be noted the mids are appropriately more forward than stock dt770.....and.........I remember he also used to make a statement re their standing/quality for under $1k that was entirely fair. It ain't simply just putting on a wood shell and recable. Why should he (or even I) tell how he does it? Pay the man - it's worth it! The cost effective way of going Darth is NOT to buy dt770 and later sending them to Larry - but to do deal #18 right off the bat................or finding a pair on the Head-Fi F.S. pages that you like. IMO - I do not consider stock dt770 suitable for music without being "Darthed" (though be best for gaming). Yes, I've had/have 4 pairs (both open and closed). If you do get a pair of Darths - allow them 125 hours to burn-in.

Stock DT770 is absolutely fine for me. Especially for drum & bass. They are so juicy for that genre

 

[Darkshift]

Quote:

Originally Posted by troymadison /img/forum/go_quote.gif Stock DT770 is absolutely fine for me. Especially for drum & bass. They are so juicy for that genre

That's encouraging! I mainly listen to electronica... (mainly trance and house) so this is good news.

 

[troymadison]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkshift /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's encouraging! I mainly listen to electronica... (mainly trance and house) so this is good news.

They're good for those genres too. However, I wouldn't EVER listen to any kind of rock/metal with them. Just saying

 

[deviationer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkshift /img/forum/go_quote.gif unless you would consider the MDR-V700DJ's high quality... the headband broke after about 5 months )

I owned those 2 awhile back for a long time and my headband didn't break but the swivle joints and that area cracked. I saw a co-worker DJ guy have the same issue.
MDR-V700DJ > MDR-XD400 > DT 770 Pro 80ohm

 

[greggf]

The stock DT770/80 sounds just fine to me, too.