[halcyon]

I have read quite a few articles on these two cans and the upgrade cables.

I will highly likely buy either HD600 with the Cardas cable or the DT931 with the Equinox cable for my personal musical enjoyment (not testing).

From what I gather the relative downsides of each can are:

HD600
- A bit lacking in lowest bass (alleviated by Cardas cable?)
- Slightly dark presentation lacking in highs (alleviated by Cardas Cable?)
- A slight mid/bass and/or mid-frequency hump

DT931
- Not the most controlled bass, sometimes too much (alleviated by a 120 Ohm source and even Equinox cable?)
- Can be too bright (alleviated by 120Ohm source + Equinox??)

I'd be driving the headphones with Corda Headamp, which has both low and high impedance outputs.

What I'm looking for is a big and spacey sound with hopefully as little coloration as possible, non-fatiguing listening (can't be *too* bright) and with good comfort.

Unfortunately I can't get both units (especially with the aforementioned cables) to demo, so I have to order blind (or 'unheard').

I'd appreciate any comments that would help me to choose. I don't want to know which one is the best as I don't believe in such a thing, but I'd appreciate descriptions about each phones relative merits with the aforementioned cables.

Best regards,
Halcyon

PS Yes, I'm still considering Audio Technica and Sony cans for other purposes...

 

[jpelg]

Halcyon -

It is my understanding that the Equinox cable is not available as a finished product for the Beyers. I think there was one Head-Fier who purchased a custom cable from SA and DIY-ed the connectors himself. He may be the only person who actually owns such a setup at the moment, so this may make comparisons difficult.

I know there are at least a few Head-Fi-ers who can compare the HD600+Equinox/Cardas against the stock 931's+120ohm output.

Do you already own the Corda?

 

[halcyon]

jpelg,

You're of course right about the Equinox DT931 dilemma. I hadn't even thought of that

I don't have Corda Headamp yet. I just sent a price query to Meier-Audio yesterday.

As a matter of fact, if I end up with HD600 + Cardas, I will have to buy the new Corda preamp (as I understand it both Cardas and the new Corda come with 1/4" connectors).

So, for me DT931 + Equinox + HA-1 would probably be a lot cheaper.

I just need to find a reseller of Equinox inside EU, otherwise I'll end up paying $300 USD for the Equinox cables

Still, I'm open to all ideas and would like to hear comments on either unit.

I already have HD590, which my wife has pretty much kept for herself, but I find it a bit too stingy in highs and causing slight listening fatigue for me.

regards,
Halcyon

PS American made amps/headphones are out of my price range. Due to all related costs, a set of headphones (or an amp) costing $100 USD would end up costing me c. $200 USD. Hence I will have to limit myself to European headphones and amps.

 

[mr man]

Quote:

Originally posted by halcyon What I'm looking for is a big and spacey sound with hopefully as little coloration as possible, non-fatiguing listening (can't be *too* bright) and with good comfort. [/B]

Man if only you didn't need low bass as one of your needs because the akg k501 perfectly fits what you posted there. There are several ppl w/the k501+corda combo maybe they could give their opinions. Maybe put this into your list of possibilities.

Oh well, good luck with your search.

 

[JaZZ]

halycon...

...if you remove the HD 600's foam driver protection pads, as an addition to the cardas cable tweaking, the sound isn't dark anymore. Instead the treble has a beautiful shine, without being inaccurate. And you will like the thus even increased spacyness. The «midbass hump» isn't really bad at all; btw, I locate it rather in the upper bass/low mids. If you give the HD 600 enough time (and loud low-frequency signals!) to burn-in, the low-bass extension will become quite satisfying.

The 1/4" plug on the Cardas cable isn't worth exaggerated attention. You can easily replace it by a 1/8" plug. So there's no problem for the cooperation with the Corda HA-1. (I know, kelly e.g. would have scruples to slaughter the holy cow...)

I don't know the DT 931. From what I read about it, it's worth to be taken into consideration. But other than you stated, it isn't known to have an inaccurate bass, but a very lean one, and at the same time a slightly exaggerated treble. But this can obviously be corrected by the Corda's 120 ohm output.

JaZZ

 

[halcyon]

I just had a listen to HD600 and Sony MDR CD2000 (no CD3000 available here for demo). Listening conditions were subpar (Onkyo CD player with a Yamaha integrated with unknown, but probably high output impedance).

I must say that with these conditions (high output impedance, stock cable) HD600 was a serious let down for me personally. The mid hump is very audible, upper bass is overbearing and lo bass is almost non-existant. Mids are too recessed for my taste. While the highs do not have any bad edge, I think they are too low in level with the stock unit. Triangle sounds die almost instantly. Soundstaging wasn't anything great, quite small in fact and inside my head. Very hard to analyze in layers or depth.

CD2000 on the other hand was much better than expected for me. I didn't find the highs too bright, although they do any recording noise to surface and as such perhaps not the best option for non-optimal recordings. Bass was much better in control: tighter, less emphasized and with low end extension that was still audible. Mids were perhaps were more alive, but I'm not sure if they were equally neutral. Soundstaging was so much more natural and better than HD600 as far as headphones go. More outside my head and with a bigger and more easily layered soundstage.

If I had to buy based on that audition and fortunately I don't, I'd have gone with CD2000 over the HD600 in an instant. The difference was so remarkable to my own ear. YMMV, of course.

But like I stated, that conditions were suboptimal, so I will go and find a better place to demo HD600 even in stock condition against DT931 (hopfully HD600 with <10 Ohms and DT931 with 120Ohms).

What I'm really looking for now is an open or semi-open design so I'm really removing CD2000 as an alternative. I'll buy either CD2000/CD3000 or an Audio Technica model for my closed cans.

Then there are those testing cans that I still need to find... Had I known what I bargained for when I entered this site, I'd probably have run with my hand on my wallet.

Thanks for all the comments. Keep them coming.

regards,
Halcyon

PS If I end up with HD600, I will surely try a replacement cable and maybe even removing the foam as suggested. Thanks for the tip.

 

[kelly]

Jazz
Man, taking out that mini to 1/4" connector is like buying a new amp! The value of this upgrade competes with some $500 power cables. ... Ok, so I can't hear any difference. It's just aesthetics. I hate the way mini jacks look and the way they connect. 1/4" headphone jacks were standard for years until these crappy portable devices started showing up. Bah.

halycon
I would summarize HD600 weaknesses as:
- recessed midrange near the human vocals region
- midbass hump
- low resolution, unable to discern the subtlest details and finer gradients
- soundstage is non-continuous from left to right
- a signature similar to large speakers in a carpeted room
- furthest bass extension has a rolloff
- treble is somewhat peaky (though not as bad as most)
- somewhat slobby sounding bass response

Add Cardas cable:
+ less recessed upper midrange
+ less hump in the midbass
+ overall improved tonal balance
+ improved "air"
+ slightly better headstage
+ slightly better detail (don't expect miracles)
+ tighter bass control

Add Equinox cable:
+ better bass extension
+ cleaner more coherent sound
+ better sense of midrange body
+ tighter bass control

I prefered the Cardas cable. I've not heard either cable on the DT931.

Compared to the HD 600, I found the DT931:
- slightly bright, even with the 120ohm adapter (but much less so)
+ more detailed, cleaner and more articulate
+ better focus than HD600 likely due to...
+ more balanced throughout the treble region
+ tighter bass control than HD600 with either cable
- rolled off in lower bass, like HD600 but more noticable without the...
+ no midbass hump to speak of
- body and weight seems lacking compared to HD600

I hope to write up more complete impressions of the DT931 in the next couple of weeks. Hope this helps.