[saint.panda]

Please help me choose between Beyer 880 and Senn 580/600 (+cable)

Hi,
at the moment I have a Grado 125 and used to have a Sony 3000. A grado 225 and a Gilmore Lite and a Philips CD 830/850 are on their way. I really love the Grados for their intimacy. They are great for pop, rock and other sorts of music that involves vocals. I never thought that lack of soundstage could actually be an advantage.
However, I do need a pair of headphones with a big soundstage for classic and some jazz music. I got rid of my Sony CD3000 because they a brightness I can't live with (many people can, some like me just can't.). So I was thinking about either the Senn 580/600 + cable or the Beyer 880.
2 questions:
1. Are the Beyer 880 bright? I am kind of sensitive towards brightness (also found the treble energy on my Ultrasone 650 too strong)
2. With a Gilmore lite and Philips CD830/850 and oehlbach nf2 ICs ,am I going to hear the difference between a hd580 and a hd600 (both with same cable upgrade which I will have to decide on)?

I also thought about the a900 but I figured that these might not play in the same league as the BEyer 880 or the Senn 580/600 - please correct me if I am wrong. And I prefer open headphones. What about the Senn 590/595?
Has anyone been in the same situation and can share his experiences? I do liked the Sony3000 a lot except for the brightness that gave me headaches and I figured that solely by using a better source I could not get rid of such a basic characteristic. The Sonys really had an amazing soundstage. As said, the main criteria is sounstage and the usual criteria such as detail, imagining, bass would be nice, needs to be open...
Thanks for any input.

 

[TrevorNetwork]

I really enjoyed my DT880's. They are unique in that they have a non-fatiguing, but invigorating sound. They have above-average sound staging. My definition of sound staging is not so much "placement" as it is getting the sound out of my head. I found the HD600's rather boring.

Trevor

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally posted by saint.panda Thanks for any input.

OK then

Get the HD600 + cable.

I can't compare them to the rest of the stuff you're listing, because I haven't had the opportunity to compare them side by side, but if you want "a big soundstage for classic" and you don't like brightness... the HD600 are for you.

 

[blessingx]

If you go the Senn route, I'd suggest HD650/stock over HD600/after market. The HD600/Zu gets you very close, but you might as well have the HD650/stock and grow later if you want. Maybe HD580/Zu would make more financial sense, if you don't want the price of the HD650. I had the HD600/Cardas and HD650/stock, and liked the latter in most recordings (though not all).

Curious about the DT880s myself. Suppose to be better if you like an extended high end (at least compared to the Senns). Maybe a compromise between the CD3K and HD580/600/650?

 

[go_vtec]

I would suggest HD650 w/ stock cable. It is fuller sounding than HD580/HD600 w/ after market cable. You can probably pick up the Audio Advisor's demo version for 319.00 (including full warranty) which wll put it near HD600+cable. I used to own DT880, but I sold it after I bought Senn HD600/HD650. I love Senn HD650 for its neutral sound. If you think CD3K was too bright (I never thought mine was too bright... although acceptable sound is relative to each user

), you will love HD650.

 

[some1x]

Seeing as you have already owned the HD580 Jubilee, I think that if you really liked the Jubilee, then upgrading to the HD600/Cable or HD650 makes sense. Otherwise, try something else.

 

[kiwirugby]

I listen to mostly classical and some jazz with one of three phones: DT880; HD590 (with Equinox); and AKG501.

My sources are PCDP or a Denon system. My amps are Grado RA1, JMT PIMETA, and Xin Supermini

How I would order my phones is as follows. (And many times they are pretty close.)

Soundstage: AKG501 (by far); DT880; HD590

Balance: DT880; AKG501; HD590

Dynamic range (Treble<-->Bass): HD590; DT880; AKG501

Detail/Accuracy: AKG501 and DT880 really close; HD590

Overall: DT880; AKG501; HD590

Favourite at the moment? DT880

 

[Howie]

I haven't heard the DT880 but want it just for the looks alone. But I have the HD600 and like it a lot with classical and jazz. I don't think you can go wrong so no wonder it's a hard choice.

 

[Steve999]

DT880s in a heartbeat! Just my two cents! I have the HD580s! I've heard the DT880s!

Quote:

Originally posted by saint.panda Please help me choose between Beyer 880 and Senn 580/600 (+cable)

 

[ReDVsion]

The DT880s are a really wonderful headphone for Classical/Jazz. But the general consensus on the forum is that the HD650 is better, so I would probably recommend either depending on how much you want to spend.

 

[Steve999]

*&(^)$%## the consensus! I'd take the DT880s over the HD650s in a heartbeat, too!!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by ReDVsion The DT880s are a really wonderful headphone for Classical/Jazz. But the general consensus on the forum is that the HD650 is better, so I would probably recommend either depending on how much you want to spend.

 

[wallijonn]

you may want to ask gerG.

I say the Dt880 only because of $ and its intimacy with vocals. But chances are very good that the HD650 has better bass.

Coming from a Grado you may find the DT880 dark, as you may also find the HD650. Some are sensitive to a certain treble range on the DT880; I am not. I do not find them bright in the least.

I find the K501 has better pristine sounding triangles than the DT880, along with better sounding piano high notes. The cloth cover on the DT880 tends to smear the treble a little, giving it a diffused sound; so no, it may not sound very detailed (not brightness).

It needs a robust amp.

The K501, while having a wide soundstage, does not convey the seamless soundstage transistion (middle channel information) that the DT880 does.

I suggest you listen to both. It'll probably come down to $250 vs $450.

 

[augustwest]

This is an interesting thread, I too have been considering adding the dt880 to my collection, or one of the other Beyer models. I currently have the hd600's & sr225's. I have been using the hd600's for classical only, which is about 75% of my listening, and the sr225's for everything else. This system seems to work fine.

Are the dt880's a better all around headphone than the other two? Would it be good for both "classical & non-classical" purposes. What would I gain, or lose? Or would it just a different sound signature for my collection.

Also, would any of the other Beyer models be a better (possibly dt150, dt990, or dt931) compliment to the phones that I already have, for my listening habits?

- augustwest

 

[ReDVsion]

Quote:

Originally posted by augustwest Are the dt880's a better all around headphone than the other two? Would it be good for both "classical & non-classical" purposes.

Really depends on what those "non-classical" purposes are. You don't (typically) rock out with the DT880s. They just don't work for that. "Agressive" is not in this headphone's vocabulary.

So, better all-around headphone? No. Better for what you listen to with your HD600s? Maybe. Get some input from someone who's actually heard both (which isn't me...).

 

[wallijonn]

Quote:

Originally posted by augustwest Are the dt880's a better all around headphone than the other two? Would it be good for both "classical & non-classical" purposes. What would I gain, or lose? Or would it just a different sound signature for my collection.

Yes and no.
Yes and no.
A much larger soundstage, seamless.
Can you hear the veil? Yes, it will be a different signature.