Sennheiser HD25SP Versus Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250Ohm

[Hawkins85]

Hi,
I'm looking for some closed headphones that can handle some seriously bass heavy moments. Imagine The Tumbler chase in Batman Begins and the hospital explosion in The Dark Knight. My Sennheiser HD650 simply crumple up under the pressure during these sequences.

I'm looking at these two options:

Sennheiser HD25SP Concorde's Headphones ~£70
Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm Version ~£120

Are these suitable?

Thanks

 

[Hawkins85]

I'd presume the trade off between the two might be that the DT770 places emphasis on the bass in the mix whilst the HD25 actually handles heavier loads (higher SPL) but at the expense of a higher frequency range or "quality".

I could find that the peaks in the low end handle well during those sequences with the DT770 because of the emphasized bass at the same volume level or I could find that they crumple too (because of a lower quoted SPL than the HD650)...

If the DT770 provided the balance I need, I could replace the HD650 with them. Otherwise the HD25 could pair with the HD650 for my cinematic needs...

 

[technetium]

Welcome to the forum, and sorry about your wallet

I have had both (btw the hd25 is called hd25sp BA).

I don't think the two are that comparable, the hd25sp are, okay, but I thought they very undefined and just boomy. The dt770 are better in all ways, even comfort

But you need something that can handle bass... hmm... I quess all can handle bass, but some or more "hifi" than others.
If you just want bass, then skullcandy, low-end Sony etc are great, because they have nothing but bass, and they are easy to drive.

But a better can would be the dt770, but even though it is "on the dark side" it it not that bassy, and I do not think you will more bass than in a pair of senn650, just a darker sound signature. But if you want the dt770, then go with the 80ohm version unless you have an okay amp.

 

[Hawkins85]

Thanks for your response.

I might need to match the high impedance of the integrated amplifier headphone outputs I use with high impedance headphones so I was thinking I shouldn't stray too far from the HD650 rating of 300ohms. My 16ohm CX300 earphones sound muddy through the integrated amps. I don't fully understand how impedance matching works but I'd be worried that the lower impedance versions of the DT770 also would degrade in sound quality through this setup.

I'm concerned that I might need a higher volume of bass so should I be looking at the SPL level specs? In this case the HD25 would seem to have the muscle to handle the weight.

It would be handy if the DT770pro250 rivalled the HD650 close enough in sound quality but could handle film explosions without distortion or clipping. But does the lower SPL suggest that it might not be able to handle those "blow me away" moments, only that the DT770s balance towards the bass in the sound signature?

Or is it in fact, because the HD650 are so difficult to drive, they distort?

 

[Nirvana1000]

The M Audio Studiophile Q40's!!Hands down!You won't find better bass,extension,impact and quality for under $200.Blows the DT770's away.I sold mine.Check the"Q40 impressions" thread for more info.http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/m-a...w-pics-275459/

 

[Hawkins85]

I'm wondering a little more now how the HD25-1 in particular compares to the DT770.

 

[Hawkins85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana1000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The M Audio Studiophile Q40's!!Hands down!You won't find better bass,extension,impact and quality for under $200.Blows the DT770's away.I sold mine.Check the"Q40 impressions" thread for more info.http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/m-a...w-pics-275459/

Interesting, ~£90 here in the UK. "Impact" is just what I need. I want near-deafening explosions to sound like near-deafening explosions without distortion or near enough as can be expected with headphones. Any objections to the M-Audio Studiophile Q40 in this regard? Currently reading about them...

 

[Tiemen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkins85 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interesting, ~£90 here in the UK. "Impact" is just what I need. I want near-deafening explosions to sound like near-deafening explosions without distortion or near enough as can be expected with headphones. Any objections to the M-Audio Studiophile Q40 in this regard? Currently reading about them...

The Q40 have great impact. It will be hard to find better in this price range.
But the stock earpads are awful. Too thin and too small.
This can be fixed with DT770 velour earpads or Beyer leather pads.

 

[Hawkins85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiemen /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Q40 have great impact. It will be hard to find better in this price range. But the stock earpads are awful. Too thin and too small. This can be fixed with DT770 velour earpads or Beyer leather pads.

I'm not too sure about them, I've read about cable issues and that they don't isolate that well. Does a problem arise from the difference between 64ohm headphones to a 300-400ohm integrated amp headphone output?

 

[Nirvana1000]

Some people have had problems with the cable.Myself when i initially connected the cable i made sure it was really tightly screwed in and i have not had any problems with the cable.Some people have upgraded to a better performance cable anyway.Comfort is the other issue which can easily resolved by (as the previous post said) changing the stock to the fantastic DT770 velour pads,which i did and they are super comfy now.Other then that these are my main cans.Isolation is not one of their strengths,but these sound more like an open dynamic,at least to me.The lower the ohm rating the easier it is to power.The higher the ohm rating the more power you need to drive them,which requires a more powerful amplifier.If you can find a retail store which sells them,i suggest you demo them and hear for yourself.

 

[Tiemen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkins85 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not too sure about them, I've read about cable issues and that they don't isolate that well. Does a problem arise from the difference between 64ohm headphones to a 300-400ohm integrated amp headphone output?

My headphone amp is designed to drive higher ohms headphones. But much to my surprise, the Q40 are doing very well on this amp.
With other lower impedance headphones, it was worse, like the Denon D2000.
The isolation is rather good. Better than, again, the D2000. But not so good as a DT770 Pro.

 

[Hawkins85]

Thanks very much for your replies guys. The M-Audio Q40 is looking like a very good option, no defenders for the DT770 yet.

Sennheiser HD25SP BA ~£70
M-Audio Studiophile Q40 ~£90
Beyerdynamic DT770 ~£120

I could potentially get the HD25-1 from as low as £70, would this set fare favorably against all other options?

There are some Panasonic DJ style headphones for under £20 with some 40mm neodymium drivers but presumably they are in the opposite end of the spectrum of the HD650 in quality as well as price.

I'm guessing a range of impedance from 64ohms upward is a safe bet to pair up well quality wise with a high impedance jack.

Anything else/further in my search for:

?

 

[Hawkins85]

Hmm, I've absorbed too much talk about the poor cables for the Q40, particular over at the M-Audio forums, I feel I have to avoid the Q40 just for the reliability issue. My HD650 cables have caught and pulled on something many times over the years and a plug has pulled out of one of the cans a few times but they always fit securely back in and I've had no distortion or cut sound whatsoever despite the thin threads within. I can't see the Q40 cables surviving. At the least there seem to be long term maintenance costs involved.

 

[Nirvana1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiemen /img/forum/go_quote.gif My headphone amp is designed to drive higher ohms headphones. But much to my surprise, the Q40 are doing very well on this amp. With other lower impedance headphones, it was worse, like the Denon D2000. The isolation is rather good. Better than, again, the D2000. But not so good as a DT770 Pro.

My Q40's amped with my ALO Mini^3 sound fantastic,even though they are fairly easy to drive.These headphones were made to sound like studio monitor speakers and they do.And the cable issue,for me there is none.Some people say it's a cheap cable.Myself,it doesn't feel like a cheap cable.But it would be covered under warranty anyways.Try emailing or calling M Audio about the cable and if they have addressed the issue.And go see if you can demo a pair locally.

 

[Nirvana1000]

Check out the new JVC HA-RX700's and HA-RX900's.At $40 and $70 they are getting very good reviews.And they look very comfortable.