krc2
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2007
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Hi everyone, looking for your ideas and recommendations!
On my second pair of DT880s (600ohm version) and I'm just trying my absolute best to love them. My first set was a set of Cardas recabled pair a few years ago, and they sounded great. After selling them (and unfortunately losing my listening notes), I gravitated back towards them. Paired up with an Apmerex 7308 tube in my Aune T1, I hoped to finally find sonic bliss. But alas, something's missing.
After a bit of time with my second set of DT880s, I realized the following:
- The DT880s are an amazing lense on music. However, I found myself analyzing all the different elements in a song, all the instruments and their placement, all the small details of the sounds separate from each other. It was too detailed for me to relax and enjoy.
- I felt like I was sitting in a hall listening to music, which seemed 'far away'. I like my sound to have width, but the soundstage was too much (I felt this way with the K701 too).
- Their neutrality actually seems to detract from the 'fun' or 'emotion' of the music.
- Midrange is very accurate, but I missed vocals that are right next to you and upfront.
- The sparkle in the high end (although probably accurately reproduced) fatigued me to nearly headache levels after listening for 20 minutes.
When I played with sources, the highs became more accurate, but still fatigued me. Experimented with different recordings (DT880s punish low quality!), different amps (vintage JVC solid state, Aune T1 + Amperex, Headstage Arrow, NAD)
The tube sound certainly warms things up a bit, but the mids didn't ever reach that lush close level I've been hunting for. Even starting experimenting with some minor EQ cuts in the treble, but starting to realize that it might just be the headphones themselves that need to change.
In the past, I've tried quite a few other headphones, but haven't found the right match yet!
- K701: actually really liked the midrange (AKG house?) sound, but music felt far away and otherwise not very emotionally engaging.
- K7XX: owned these before the DT880s. Had more bass and a more full sound than K701, but music still felt 'far away'.
- Various Grado: The s325 had a nice tone to it, but the highs were too much for me. Tried higher end (RS2e), but even then the highs didn't agree with me.
- Sennheiser HD650: when amped properly the midrange was actually really nice
- AKG K271: liked the midrange sound here too, but didnt like the closed cans feeling
- Shure 510: for some reason the IEMs caused tinitis symptoms to flare. No idea why, but I don't try them anymore.
All feedback and suggestions appreciated!
Basically looking for something more engaging/fun/musical, up front and close (while still maintaining some space). Detail is of course important, but analytical detail is not the most important thing!
Open to both headphone and/or amp suggestions.
Thanks!
On my second pair of DT880s (600ohm version) and I'm just trying my absolute best to love them. My first set was a set of Cardas recabled pair a few years ago, and they sounded great. After selling them (and unfortunately losing my listening notes), I gravitated back towards them. Paired up with an Apmerex 7308 tube in my Aune T1, I hoped to finally find sonic bliss. But alas, something's missing.
After a bit of time with my second set of DT880s, I realized the following:
- The DT880s are an amazing lense on music. However, I found myself analyzing all the different elements in a song, all the instruments and their placement, all the small details of the sounds separate from each other. It was too detailed for me to relax and enjoy.
- I felt like I was sitting in a hall listening to music, which seemed 'far away'. I like my sound to have width, but the soundstage was too much (I felt this way with the K701 too).
- Their neutrality actually seems to detract from the 'fun' or 'emotion' of the music.
- Midrange is very accurate, but I missed vocals that are right next to you and upfront.
- The sparkle in the high end (although probably accurately reproduced) fatigued me to nearly headache levels after listening for 20 minutes.
When I played with sources, the highs became more accurate, but still fatigued me. Experimented with different recordings (DT880s punish low quality!), different amps (vintage JVC solid state, Aune T1 + Amperex, Headstage Arrow, NAD)
The tube sound certainly warms things up a bit, but the mids didn't ever reach that lush close level I've been hunting for. Even starting experimenting with some minor EQ cuts in the treble, but starting to realize that it might just be the headphones themselves that need to change.
In the past, I've tried quite a few other headphones, but haven't found the right match yet!
- K701: actually really liked the midrange (AKG house?) sound, but music felt far away and otherwise not very emotionally engaging.
- K7XX: owned these before the DT880s. Had more bass and a more full sound than K701, but music still felt 'far away'.
- Various Grado: The s325 had a nice tone to it, but the highs were too much for me. Tried higher end (RS2e), but even then the highs didn't agree with me.
- Sennheiser HD650: when amped properly the midrange was actually really nice
- AKG K271: liked the midrange sound here too, but didnt like the closed cans feeling
- Shure 510: for some reason the IEMs caused tinitis symptoms to flare. No idea why, but I don't try them anymore.
All feedback and suggestions appreciated!
Basically looking for something more engaging/fun/musical, up front and close (while still maintaining some space). Detail is of course important, but analytical detail is not the most important thing!
Open to both headphone and/or amp suggestions.
Thanks!
