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The Beyerdynamic DT880 Discussion thread

Apr 1, 2017 at 4:30 PM Post #10,831 of 12,674
Thanks!
 
If you get a chance to audition some headphones, I would be happy to hear your impressions!
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Apr 1, 2017 at 8:51 PM Post #10,832 of 12,674
shamuuu said:
 
If for classical, the 880 is nice but to me my closed dt660 beats it. Maybe my ears are screwed up, but i EQ dt660 down few db (40hz and below), and then its a super clean super flat response. I dont get why it beats my 880 (250 ohm edition). Possibly my amp /dac. IIRC David Mahler said the K701 is even better for Classical ( I will see if i can find quote) . K701/DT660 combo doesn't sound bad to me. I have not had K701, but would like to down the road. Its possible dt880 600ohm is even better than dt660 for Classical with right amp/dac. There is risk and heartache in this journey trying to find right sound. But dt660 won't break bank (79$ US). I still cant believe how neutral it is :D , makes dt880 seem bassy, and we know they are not that bassy
 
I also recall someone saying dt860 midrange was near/superior to dt880. But I have not gotten a pair . Same driver as dt660 but open design. Rarer now to get. And even dt440 some prefered to dt660, but i have both and disagree (for classical music types anyway) dt660 is the flattest, neutral one i have (with EQ, its magic) . As below 40hz its useless, so better to reduce even more (less chance of it interfering at higher volume.)
 
 
 
"I think as I've lived with them, I've come to realize that the DT660 excels over the K701 and K501 in the sense that it is closed back with superior isolation.  In an ideal setup with a really good source and a powerful amp, I would still take the AKG except in certain orchestral passages." - David Mahler
 
Post # 79 of 405 in Thread: i-truly-believe-these-are-one-of-the-best-classical-music-headphones-ive-ever-heard
 
Also the dt660/860 are 32 ohm, and work great off a portable/ laptop. It defies all logic. 880.600 and k701 prob need some beefy sources/dac/amp etc. Good Luck
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Honestly most of the DT Beyers are relatively similar in quality but with different tuning, dampening, and voice coils. There seems to be some mild magnet changes too. You really don't start getting into truly different fidelity(for better or for worse) until you try their headphones with very different driver designs such as the Tesla's, the DT 100, and the DT 48/480. The DT 440/660/860 do have a dampening cap on the back of the driver, they are like the DT 1770/1990/Amiron in that aspect. I owned a DT 440 in the past, found it too bright but didn't dislike it. 
 
Some reason I'm quite fond of Beyers and I'm willing to tinker with them, I know a fair amount about them due to how many I've owned. Same with AKG's, learned quite a bit about them, sadly I felt AKG went downhill over time so I don't really own any anymore other than an Austrian-made K240 Studio that needs some restoration. I won't buy a Chinese made AKG anymore as I had way too many issues with them and noticed inferior sound quality.
 
Apr 1, 2017 at 9:14 PM Post #10,834 of 12,674
nosaudiophile said:
  indeed. you are true to your name. xD
 
He is someone who's tried BOTH headphones, his musical preferences are similar to to that of the requester. He is PAID for what he does. And unlike those in industry who have cozy arrangements with distributors and manufacturers, he doesn't so his opinion is a bit more valid and he'll be true to his preferences. Often times those with site advertising of the equipment they review often make their language so inoffensive it is like parsing tea leaves as to what they're actually saying. Their language is often as nuanced as the Federal Reserve in making statements to the market. Purposely Obtuse. So yes that's why I read Ken and the amateur reviewers on this site as well as those with cozy arrangements to manufacturers and make my judgement. 
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By all means, enjoy Ken's unique take on headphones.
 
Apr 1, 2017 at 9:16 PM Post #10,835 of 12,674
ekvilibrijum1 said:
  Can you mention some of the differences between Austrian and Chinese made AKG´s?
 
 
Thanks! :-)
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Well my main experience is the material differences, the Chinese ones feel like they are made of cheaper feeling plastic while the Austrian made ones have more robust feeling plastic to it. Other differences is in the leather headbands, just a different texture to it, the chinese ones feel cheaper. This is likely supplier differences. The main difference I noticed is the sound, the Austrian ones have a little more midrange body and don't sound as thin in my experience. 
 
Apr 1, 2017 at 9:32 PM Post #10,837 of 12,674
ekvilibrijum1 said:
  I have just one more question.
 
Did you try Beyer and AKG with classical music?
 
If yes, what was/is your impression?
 
Thank you!
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I have, classical isn't a genre I listen to a lot.
 
I personally like the DT 880 more for classical of the two. Main problem with the AKGs is they tend to be a bit hard in the 2-3khz region and I found while the soundstage is smaller on the DT 880 it offered more depth and dimension to the music.I also found the DT 880 to sound cleaner overall. I personally suggest the DT 880 as the safer option for classical of the two. Only under certain systems did I find the AKG's better for classical. 
 
Apr 2, 2017 at 1:07 AM Post #10,839 of 12,674
I'll give my props for the DT880 for classical as well. Wide frequency coverage, great treble extension (which offers a really nice sense of the recording venue), surprisingly deep bass extension for a headphone of its type, and clean overall response are its biggest strengths. The extra treble actually works to the headphone's benefit with classical, adding a nice shimmer to massed strings and vocals, which is particularly nice on recordings that are a bit too midrange heavy. The lack of a midbass hump and a mostly even response (apart from the treble boost) makes the DT880 a great performer with organ as well, which is something I find headphones often have trouble with.
 
I haven't personally heard any of the K7xx headphones (or any AKG at all, now that I think about it), but I know the range by reputation and have seen measurements for them. They all have a bump around 2 kHz to varying degrees, which is what I think makes them polarizing. I have heard other headphones (e.g Etys) that have a similar response feature and I don't like it at all, especially with strings and choral, which sound off in a way that I never stop being aware of. Out of the three "old guard" former flagships (DT880, K701/702, HD 6x0), the AKG is the only one I don't have any interest in buying, at least without trying it for myself first. I own the other two.
 
Apr 2, 2017 at 6:21 AM Post #10,841 of 12,674
I'm very happy with my 600 Ohm version. It's my primary classical can at the moment (out of my Opera Consonance Cyber 20, a transformer-coupled valve amp). I prefer it to my recabled HD-600 (there, I've said it).

There's a major upgrade programme planned for the Cyber 20: Audio Note copper foil caps and a NOS Telefunken ECC82 are on order, and I am thinking about a stepped attenuator to replace the current ALPS pot. The 1970 Tungsram EL84s are staying, though!
 
Apr 2, 2017 at 6:28 AM Post #10,842 of 12,674
For jazz, it's still orthos all the way, though :D
 
Apr 2, 2017 at 11:35 AM Post #10,845 of 12,674
I find the 70X AKGs to have a slightly artificial, "quacky" midrange - but they do have a fantastically wide (but not deep) soundstage.
 
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