[cel4145]

I prefer the HE-400s to the DT880s and the Q701s. And I own the AKG K612s which are better to me than the Q701s.

It's such a personal preference thing once you get up into this tier of headphones

 

[Makiah S]

I prefer the HE-400s to the DT880s and the Q701s. And I own the AKG K612s which are better to me than the Q701s.

It's such a personal preference thing once you get up into this tier of headphones

pretty much, the HE 400 and DT 880 are techincally both very good contenders

 

[ralphsv]

Whoa! so many oppinions in favor and against
I've also checked for the Q701. They look like a nice option now that you mention they work good with the E10. Just makes the decision harder.
I had not cosidered the dt880 cause I thought they were closed, and I prefer open. But I see now they are semi-open, so maybe I could consider them too.
I'll let you now what comes out. Any other suggestion?

 

[GearMe]

I prefer the HE-400s to the DT880s and the Q701s. And I own the AKG K612s which are better to me than the Q701s.

Sounds like he should consider the K612s!

 

[cel4145]

Sounds like he should consider the K612s!

They are worth considering, too. It's sort of like the HD600/HD650. Some people will like one better than the other. Only with AKG, there's the Q701, K701, K702, K712, and K612 to pick from

 

[bilditup1]

One that I would absolutely NOT recommend is the DT990, at least not the 600ohm version I had. Not unless you have an absurdly high tolerance for sharpness and sibilance

 

[Makiah S]

One that I would absolutely NOT recommend is the DT990, at least not the 600ohm version I had. Not unless you have an absurdly high tolerance for sharpness and sibilance

see that's a personal opionion, don't make such a broad over statement, yea it's bright but a lot of good headphones are Bright, btw the HE 400 is just as bright as the DT 990, I had both of them 

 

[bilditup1]

  see that's a personal opionion, don't make such a broad over statement, yea it's bright but a lot of good headphones are Bright, btw the HE 400 is just as bright as the DT 990, I had both of them 

Well of course it's a 'personal opinion', everything here is! I found the 990s to be unbearably bright. It could be that the the HE400 is just as bright but is redeemed by its insane resolution, but I can't say that's been my experience...

 

[Kozic]

I have both the DT990 and the HE-400 right now and the brightness of the HE-400 is about 80%-85% of the 990s the way I hear it,but as my wife would put it I'm most likely wrong.

 

[Makiah S]

I have both the DT990 and the HE-400 right now and the brightness of the HE-400 is about 80%-85% of the 990s the way I hear it,but as my wife would put it I'm most likely wrong.

well the funny thing is the HE 400 and DT 990 are equally bright from a solid state, but as some one else said, the better resulution of the HE 400 and the very warm Mids and linear Bass, really detract from the bright ness, since there's more mid warmth and some nice Sub bass, the HE 400 sonically doesn't sound as bright, despite that techincally it's got a simmilar peak level as the DT 990
 
my point is, the HE 400 was for me an upgrade to my DT 990 [despite the weight] but I used it with J$ Pads which added some mid upper emphasis and toned down the low mid response, the J$ pads "beyerized" the HE 400, and I enjoyed that and the HE 400
 
on an equally interesting subject, the HE 4 [which I'm listening to now] is a CLEAR upgrade to the DT 880 xD, I find that kinda ironic :3 

 

[Kozic]

So you are saying my wife is right????....where is samurai jack when you need him?
P.S. the HE-400 are much better then the DT990 that we can agree.

 

[Makiah S]

So you are saying my wife is right????....where is samurai jack when you need him?
P.S. the HE-400 are much better then the DT990 that we can agree.

xD Jack got swallowed up and sent into the past... he should be here in a few decades >.>
 
in short your both right, the HE 400 is better, and the DT990 sounds brighter, with the right gear the DT 990 can be the less bright [DT 990 via tubes] and with the right gear the HE 500 can be the brighter headphone [like a birght solid state] 

 

[bilditup1]

I have tried the DT990 with at tube DAC (Aune T1 mk1 with Soviet Voshkod 'Rocket Logo' and Amperex USN-CP-7308 tubes, among others) and it did in fact take the edge off a bit. Not enough for me to like it though.
I don't own and have never used a tube headphone amp to comment either way on that - no desire to go there yet, heh. Complicates the setup when you have to account for the distortions of both the DAC and amp...
Anyway, good talk!

 

[cel4145]

well the funny thing is the HE 400 and DT 990 are equally bright from a solid state, but as some one else said, the better resulution of the HE 400 and the very warm Mids and linear Bass, really detract from the bright ness, since there's more mid warmth and some nice Sub bass, the HE 400 sonically doesn't sound as bright, despite that techincally it's got a simmilar peak level as the DT 990

When I compare HE-400 measurements from Innerfidelity and DT990 measurements from Golden Ear (which I know is problematic to compare), DT 990s seem to have much more of a treble peak.

 

[GearMe]

  xD Jack got swallowed up and sent into the past... he should be here in a few decades >.>
 
in short your both right, the HE 400 is better, and the DT990 sounds brighter, with the right gear the DT 990 can be the less bright [DT 990 via tubes] and with the right gear the HE 500 can be the brighter headphone [like a birght solid state] 

 
To my ears, the 990s benefit a little from a tube amp but they're fine out of my SS amps as well (unless the song is 'bright').  Funny thing is my Superlux HD681s sound much better...Go figure!