[shane55]

Quote:

Nope, K2704.

 

Must be the Teutonian New Math. My bad. 

 

[nickchen]

3 x 701 + 601

 

[SaiSai]

Quote:

SaiSai, is that the DT880 I did for you? 
 
What do you think of the DT880? I absolutely love them to death.

Yes, it sounds great!
My brother bought a brand new TASCAM CDP for me and I have never been happier than now!

 

[perestroika]

Hi guys,
 
I'm thinking about doing an upgrade from my HD595s and (now broken) Tianyun ZERO. I always felt that there was just something missing from the 595s, something that wasn't filled by different (and more expensive) amplification, so I want to try a different pair of headphones. In my reading, I've seen that people like the DT880/600 for its neutral character and excellent sound stage (same reasons I like the 595), and in comparison to the 595, the DT880s just seem to have a bit of magical something that makes them better.
 
I have also read that people seem to universally suggest an OTL tube amplifier for the 600 ohm Beyerdynamic cans. I could probably swing a Woo Audio 3 in my budget (good to have for the future, when I plan to upgrade to a T1, I would imagine), but I have two concerns: first, I have read that tubes take a good hour to start sounding their best. A short warm-up period I can deal with, but an hour would be too much for me, considering how often I get up from the computer to deal with something in the house, but if this truly is the best sound, I suppose I could deal. My second conern is with the purchase itself: if I'm buying a Woo Audio 3, would it be in my best interest to dig a little deeper and grab a Woo Audio 6 (especially with the PDPS being standard now, and better tubes supposedly being cheaper to acquire)? I don't plan to use any headphones with lower impedance than the WA3 can handle, even if I do switch to a different brand in the future, so it could feasibly work with any headphones I get in the future.
 
Finally, considering I live in Toronto, Canada, is there anywhere I might go to purchase these locally? I know Long and Mcquade has the 250ohm DT990 and DT770, but when I called they said they couldn't order any DT880, or the 600ohm version of either of the two headphones they had in stock. I'm considering going down to Long and Mcquade to try out the 250ohm DT990 for comfort, and then ordering it from the states: either the headphones from B&H and the amp from Woo, or get it all from Woo (with a headphone stand, which I want anyway) to see if I save on shipping at all.
 
Finally finally, if I did go with the Woo and the DT880/600, is there a DAC pairing that is as universally suggested as OTL tube amplifiers, or even just something that synergizes well, and may work well with the T1 down the road?
 
Thank you all for the help!

 

[Ikarios]

Just thought I'd make a note here - B&H is selling the DT880 600ohm for $250. That's the lowest price I've seen for a while... smell like a good deal to anyone else?

 

[coryloew]

Hi all,
 
I've owned my DT880 600ohm cans for a few weeks now, and I'm not yet sold on their characteristics.  I am driving these with my Little Dot MKIII and Mullard 8161 driver tubes.  I'm starting to wonder if these driver tubes are my problem. 
 
I am finding the highs way too bright, mids are lacking warmth, and there feels like little to no bass.  To me, these sound analytical and not musical enough.  I'm starting to wonder if I should have chosen HD595's instead.  When I sampled the HD595's at the local hi-fi shop, I totally loved the liquidy warm sound, and didn't mind the veiled sound too much.  I have read a fair amount of posts regarding people using the Mullard 8161 tubes with HD595, HD600, and HD650 cans.  There is a synergy that these folk talk about with this combo.  Headfiers typically describe these Senn cans as being warmer and having more bass quantity, while being slightly veiled and lacking at the top end.  My guess is that the Mullard 8161 tubes slightly decrease the bass quantity (and tighten the bass), and add the sparkle to the top end that these cans are missing.  Using the Mullard 8161 tubes with my DT880 600 ohm cans seems to be boosting the highs too much, while sucking some warmth out of the mids, and decreasing the bass quantity.  Before doing anything radical and getting rid of these cans, I'm thinking maybe I should try some different tubes.  Anybody else have the DT880 600 ohm cans with a Little Dot MKIII?  Any suggestions?  If I can't fix this with different driver tubes, I may consider trading my cans for something like a Senn HD595.  Thanks for any input. 
 
Cory

 

[jpelg]

Although I am not familiar with that tube, any upstream gear designed to work with, or correct, the Sennheiser HDxxx series (the classic "veil", for example), will not benefit the Beyer DT880/600's. The Beyers do portray more upper-FR detail compared to the (imo) more euphonic, make-everything-sound-good nature of the Senns, so that part of your post makes some sense. What doesn't jive with me is your statement about the Beyers lacking bass. Something synergistically wrong with your setup & the Beyers. 

 

[coryloew]

I'm not a basshead (at least I don't think I am), so I'm not asking for copious amounts of bass.  I'm using an Apple Airport Express as the DAC feeding the Little Dot MKIII.  Just for kicks, I tried a CD player the other day.  This had maybe slightly more bass, so slight that it was perhaps all in my head.  Switching to my turntable playing similar tracks, that seems to have more more bass quantity and kick.  I'm really not interested in modding these expensive cans.  I just ordered some of the 6J1P-EV tubes which supposed roll off the highs somewhat and add bass quantity.  Hopefully this does the trick. 
 
Cory

 

[Max F]

While tubes will change the sound somewhat, it can be rather subtle - certainly not to the level of changing a headphone into something that it is not.
 
I've never listened to the DT880, but it sounds to me you may enjoy the Sennheiser house sound better.
 
I should mention that i'm lurking this thread cause i'm interested in hearing these phones.

 

[nickchen]

The DT880'600 is a bit bass shy, and that is nothing that can be simply solved by tube rolling or amplification IMO (although the average headfier loves to discuss that topic in epic lengths).

 

[maruzen]

i do not have the little dot mk3, but i am using the cheaper version which is the mk2 with the same ef92 tubes also. i used to have the same problems with the highs being bright as you have mentioned, but this eventually settled down after about a week of use. i had to eq the dt880 down at the high end, now they sound better at flat eq. at that time, the little dot mk2 was in constant use for 2 months, the ef92 driver tubes were about a week old (i got them nos, hopefully), the dt880 was fresh from the box. so i do not know if my ears adjusted to the sound, the tubes settled down, or the headphones were broken-in. regarding the mids and bass, i found them recessed in direct comparison to the hd650, but in overall presentation, the dt880 was more clear and more addicting to listen to because of the bass and mids and highs being the right amount with each other. i think the tubes made the bass tighter (definitely same bass quantity as before, but more distinct), the highs a bit tolerable...
 
if your amp or cans or tubes are new, i suggest you wait a bit more for the equipment and yourself to settle in. if you really do not like the sound, the hd650 might be the one to your liking as the mids would sound more liquid, the bass has more oomph. i find it less clear and detailed than the beyer, but that is just probably me. i have heard the hd595 from my friend, i find it kind of uninvolving compared to the hd650. the mk2 with ef92 tubes also drive the hd650, so your mk3 won't be having problems with them i guess...
 
also, the moment i used the ef92, i never looked back as the sound was really much improved compared to stock. i do not have any experience with other tubes though...
 
Quote:

Hi all,
 
I've owned my DT880 600ohm cans for a few weeks now, and I'm not yet sold on their characteristics.  I am driving these with my Little Dot MKIII and Mullard 8161 driver tubes.  I'm starting to wonder if these driver tubes are my problem. 
 
I am finding the highs way too bright, mids are lacking warmth, and there feels like little to no bass.  To me, these sound analytical and not musical enough.  I'm starting to wonder if I should have chosen HD595's instead.  When I sampled the HD595's at the local hi-fi shop, I totally loved the liquidy warm sound, and didn't mind the veiled sound too much.  I have read a fair amount of posts regarding people using the Mullard 8161 tubes with HD595, HD600, and HD650 cans.  There is a synergy that these folk talk about with this combo.  Headfiers typically describe these Senn cans as being warmer and having more bass quantity, while being slightly veiled and lacking at the top end.  My guess is that the Mullard 8161 tubes slightly decrease the bass quantity (and tighten the bass), and add the sparkle to the top end that these cans are missing.  Using the Mullard 8161 tubes with my DT880 600 ohm cans seems to be boosting the highs too much, while sucking some warmth out of the mids, and decreasing the bass quantity.  Before doing anything radical and getting rid of these cans, I'm thinking maybe I should try some different tubes.  Anybody else have the DT880 600 ohm cans with a Little Dot MKIII?  Any suggestions?  If I can't fix this with different driver tubes, I may consider trading my cans for something like a Senn HD595.  Thanks for any input. 
 
Cory

 

[coryloew]

If money was no object, I would definitely go for the HD650. 
 
I hate fiddling with eq's, but I'll try boosting bass, and somewhat reducing highs and see what I can settle on.  Also, we'll see what these new tubes do to the whole spectrum.
Quote:

if you really do not like the sound, the hd650 might be the one to your liking as the mids would sound more liquid, the bass has more oomph. i find it less clear and detailed than the beyer, but that is just probably me. i have heard the hd595 from my friend, i find it kind of uninvolving compared to the hd650. the mk2 with ef92 tubes also drive the hd650, so your mk3 won't be having problems with them i guess...

 

[dukja]

I had LD MKIII with my DT880/250ohm long ago.  DT880/250ohm still here but MKIII was long gone and I cannot even remember the tube rolling impression.  However, there is a very long MKIII tube rolling thread that you probably have dug into already.
 
The drive tube of MKIII does change the SQ quite a bit so choose the right one according to that thread.  Also check you power tube to make sure they are working right.  They do change the SQ quite a bit as well.
 
You didn't mention your DAC.  I used to find my 1st pair of DT880 bright because of the DACs (and MKIII TBH

).  After Stello DA100 and up, I never find DT880 bright at all.  Same thing about the bass control and extension (may not be what you were asking): the better of your DAC the deeper and more solid/impactful the sound will get.
Quote:

Hi all,
 
I've owned my DT880 600ohm cans for a few weeks now, and I'm not yet sold on their characteristics.  I am driving these with my Little Dot MKIII and Mullard 8161 driver tubes.  I'm starting to wonder if these driver tubes are my problem. 
 
I am finding the highs way too bright, mids are lacking warmth, and there feels like little to no bass.  To me, these sound analytical and not musical enough.  I'm starting to wonder if I should have chosen HD595's instead.  When I sampled the HD595's at the local hi-fi shop, I totally loved the liquidy warm sound, and didn't mind the veiled sound too much.  I have read a fair amount of posts regarding people using the Mullard 8161 tubes with HD595, HD600, and HD650 cans.  There is a synergy that these folk talk about with this combo.  Headfiers typically describe these Senn cans as being warmer and having more bass quantity, while being slightly veiled and lacking at the top end.  My guess is that the Mullard 8161 tubes slightly decrease the bass quantity (and tighten the bass), and add the sparkle to the top end that these cans are missing.  Using the Mullard 8161 tubes with my DT880 600 ohm cans seems to be boosting the highs too much, while sucking some warmth out of the mids, and decreasing the bass quantity.  Before doing anything radical and getting rid of these cans, I'm thinking maybe I should try some different tubes.  Anybody else have the DT880 600 ohm cans with a Little Dot MKIII?  Any suggestions?  If I can't fix this with different driver tubes, I may consider trading my cans for something like a Senn HD595.  Thanks for any input. 
 
Cory

 

[David.M]

put the LD's amp gain to 3 or 4 ( i personally like 4 the best) People like Prickley_Peete say that you should follow it by the books and match your headphone impedance with the LD manual, but I've come to realise that it doesn't always work out this way. Low gain always works best on high ohm'er phones - since it's an OTL design, and it will provide enough juice at these levels without adding the extra bass/treble bloat.
 
Regarding the tubes, It's really not going to get smoother than the Mullard M8161. This is the second to third warmest tube that you can purchase. Try something from Amperex or those RCA 6AK5's if you can find them.  Sovtek Power tubes is for tightening and balancing everything out, so don't jump on power tubes unless you find the right driver tubes for your headphone.
 
As to what dukja said, DT880/250 treble never gave me any problems whatsoever. It's very smooth, lean and works best on female vocal/acoustic/relaxed instrumental tracks. This is definitely an analytical headphone folks(well... the 250ohm anyways since i never head 600ohm),  if you're expecting to be slapped around by the DT880's bass extension while "thinking to yourself" when is the fun part coming, you apparently have bought the wrong headphone. 
 
Now... I'm reluctant to try the DT880/600 because of the fluctuating opinions back and fourth regarding its brightness and ear piercing highs. But I'm a strong advocate of 600ohm drivers ever since receiving the DT990/600, so I'll have to think this thoroughly or just pull a Zombie  and pick up a T1 ^_^
 
 
 
   

 

[coryloew]

 
Quote:

You didn't mention your DAC.  I used to find my 1st pair of DT880 bright because of the DACs (and MKIII TBH

).  After Stello DA100 and up, I never find DT880 bright at all.  Same thing about the bass control and extension (may not be what you were asking): the better of your DAC the deeper and more solid/impactful the sound will get.

 

I'm just using the Apple Airport Express DAC, which I personally like better than the output of my Ipod Touch 3G.  A proper DAC is definitely next on the list, but dang this is starting to all add up.  I've been told by many to not use a DAC to "eq" the sound as that is not what they typically do well.  Your comment seems to imply otherwise.  I thought part of the whole point of a DAC is to put every part of the audio frequency exactly where it belongs, with very little distortion, and with as much clarity as possible.  I guess I'll need to start the whole DAC research thing.