The Beyerdynamic DT880 Discussion thread

[mbwilson111]

Mine (from eBay) doesn't have metal name plates on the grills.
And I couldn't find the pictures of them elsewhere but eBay.
A bit worried now

I do see the difference now. Found them on Newegg. There are some questions and answers on the page. I think they will be like the photo. When will they arrive?

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0TH-00JD-000K7

 

[artnoi]

It's been a long since I last ordered something from US via eBay but as I could recall all my items from US took no sooner than 3 weeks to arrive.
eBay's soonest expected delivery is on 29 Aug, BTW.

 

[mbwilson111]

It's been a long since I last ordered something from US via eBay but as I could recall all my items from US took no sooner than 3 weeks to arrive.
eBay's soonest expected delivery is on 29 Aug, BTW.

I know it is difficult to wait so long. Last summer it took more than thee weeks for my xDuoo x3 to arrive from China. I used that time to find out all that I could about Rockbox...so I was ready when it arrived.

 

[artnoi]

I know it is difficult to wait so long. Last summer it took more than thee weeks for my xDuoo x3 to arrive from China. I used that time to find out all that I could about Rockbox...so I was ready when it arrived.

My X3 and Fiio A5 took a month to arrive lol.
Anyway, do you think X3's line out port is true line out? Because when using Rockbox the volume is adjustable via LO. I think the stock FW just maxes out the volume on LO. I'm worried about double amping

 

[mbwilson111]

My X3 and Fiio A5 took a month to arrive lol.
Anyway, do you think X3's line out port is true line out? Because when using Rockbox the volume is adjustable via LO. I think the stock FW just maxes out the volume on LO. I'm worried about double amping

If you search on the Rockbox thread for the x3 you will find the reason. The user who created the port for the x3 is active on a Russian forum. The guys there felt the xDuoo had too much output for some amps so they wanted to be able to control the output. So you are not really double amping. You are limiting (if you want) the signal from the line out to your amp. I usually leave my volume on the player just below the 0db so that when I am listening I can adjust the loudness of the music slightly with the xDuoo if I need to. Have to be careful later if I switch to the headphone out...i wish that setting would be remembered like with some daps. I have only used the xDuoo with my Fiio E12A portable amp. Never tried it with my others. I use other sources with them.

 

[artnoi]

Last questions, I've read that 880s (and 990s) have good synergy with tubes. I'm choosing between LD MK2 and DV 336. From what I've read, LD MK2 is more neutral and DV 336 has more warmth. So my first question is, which amp is more suitable to 880s. My second question, is 250Ohm rating high enough to get benefits from OTL tube amps?

 

[richie60]

Last questions, I've read that 880s (and 990s) have good synergy with tubes. I'm choosing between LD MK2 and DV 336. From what I've read, LD MK2 is more neutral and DV 336 has more warmth. So my first question is, which amp is more suitable to 880s. My second question, is 250Ohm rating high enough to get benefits from OTL tube amps?

250 ohms is plenty high enough for an OTL amp. Haven't heard the Darkvoice amp but had the Little Dot II years ago. I would say go for the Darkvoice and tube roll or build a BH Crack.

 

[artnoi]

What makes you so certain about your suggestion for an amp you havent auditioned? Was your LD II really bad?

250 ohms is plenty high enough for an OTL amp. Haven't heard the Darkvoice amp but had the Little Dot II years ago. I would say go for the Darkvoice and tube roll or build a BH Crack.

 

[richie60]

What makes you so certain about your suggestion for an amp you havent auditioned? Was your LD II really bad?

I just didn't like the Little Dot amp. I have the DT880 600 ohm headphones and use them with the Crack with great results. I also prefer the looks of the Darkvoice over the Little Dot II.

 

[mbwilson111]

Last questions, I've read that 880s (and 990s) have good synergy with tubes. I'm choosing between LD MK2 and DV 336. From what I've read, LD MK2 is more neutral and DV 336 has more warmth. So my first question is, which amp is more suitable to 880s. My second question, is 250Ohm rating high enough to get benefits from OTL tube amps?

No need to rush. You might be surprised by what your Fiio can do. You could wait until you have had some time with the new headphones first . Get to know their character. In the end...for me anyway... it is all about the music. The equipment is a tool. Worrying about it too much can interfere with our enjoyment of the music. That is why I don't like to try too hard to listen for differences. Usually i just get into the music and forget to compare. It is easier for me to compare the features of two daps, for example, than to try to hear sound differences.

Having said that, I would tend to choose something more neutral and let the headphones keep the qualities that I chose them for. If you have looked at my list you know I appreciate various sound signatures. Just as long as my music sounds good and I can get lost in it.

I have only had my xDuoo TA-3 tube amp for a couple of months and so far have enjoyed using it with any of my headphones that I have hooked up to it, including the Beyers. I am the second owner of that amp. My husband did not need it at work anymore and enjoys his Little Dot at home although it seems he uses his solid state amps more

I have a SMSL M6 at my pc desk.

 

[Grumpy Old Git]

I'm toying with the idea of buying a pair of DT 880 EDITION 600 OHM off the 'bay, only £159 including postage. It's either them or possibly a used pair of T1 (1st Gen) to run through my ALO Pan Am.
Most of my listening is 70's rock,pop,and blues.

 

[artnoi]

No need to rush. You might be surprised by what your Fiio can do. You could wait until you have had some time with the new headphones first . Get to know their character. In the end...for me anyway... it is all about the music. The equipment is a tool. Worrying about it too much can interfere with our enjoyment of the music. That is why I don't like to try too hard to listen for differences. Usually i just get into the music and forget to compare. It is easier for me to compare the features of two daps, for example, than to try to hear sound differences.

Having said that, I would tend to choose something more neutral and let the headphones keep the qualities that I chose them for. If you have looked at my list you know I appreciate various sound signatures. Just as long as my music sounds good and I can get lost in it.

I have only had my xDuoo TA-3 tube amp for a couple of months and so far have enjoyed using it with any of my headphones that I have hooked up to it, including the Beyers. I am the second owner of that amp. My husband did not need it at work anymore and enjoys his Little Dot at home although it seems he uses his solid state amps more

I have a SMSL M6 at my pc desk.

Thanks for your recommendation!
SMSL M6 and Xduoo TA-03 seem very promising!

 

[atarione]

Last questions, I've read that 880s (and 990s) have good synergy with tubes. I'm choosing between LD MK2 and DV 336. From what I've read, LD MK2 is more neutral and DV 336 has more warmth. So my first question is, which amp is more suitable to 880s. My second question, is 250Ohm rating high enough to get benefits from OTL tube amps?

I have the DT880 Premium 250Ohms headphone, I've had them for 4~yrs... I never liked the DT880's with my FiiO E07K/E09K combo.. for the 1st years I owned the DT880's I used a vintage Kenwood SS receiver with them, which while solid state was fairly warm sounded pretty good. Last xmas I got a DV336SE and put (cheap) GE 6AS7GA and RCA 6SN7GT tubes in it.. mostly great results the DT880's definitely benefit from the pairing w/ warmer tube amps, However in my case my DV336 started dropping the right channel ~1month after getting it and then progressively the problem worsened... finally I got sick of it and opened the unit (CAREFULLY AS TO NOT ELECTROCUTE MYSELF...) and tracked down a poor / broken solder joint.. having made this repair (since sending the unit back to china seemed prohibitively expensive and annoying) myself the DV has been quite nice with these again.

My experience is anecdotal certainly, but if something goes wrong you are pretty much hosed as if you could find anyone local to work on it paying someone else wouldn't probably make much sense as it could easily cost as much as the unit (or more) to have it serviced, sending it back to china is going to be expensive and take forever..

I think if I had it too do over again I might have build a bottlehead crack (i wish they had (maybe they do and I just haven't seen it??) a more finished case for it... as I'm pretty rubbish at gluing wood boxes together / wood finishing .. blah blah blah.. I had concerned that the case would end up looking terrible if I had to put it together so I went with the DV.

The DV has a lot of P2P wiring and there is basically no slack in most of it... working of the broken joint was Zero fun.. but I'm glad mine works again.

 

[artnoi]

I have the DT880 Premium 250Ohms headphone, I've had them for 4~yrs... I never liked the DT880's with my FiiO E07K/E09K combo.. for the 1st years I owned the DT880's I used a vintage Kenwood SS receiver with them, which while solid state was fairly warm sounded pretty good. Last xmas I got a DV336SE and put (cheap) GE 6AS7GA and RCA 6SN7GT tubes in it.. mostly great results the DT880's definitely benefit from the pairing w/ warmer tube amps, However in my case my DV336 started dropping the right channel ~1month after getting it and then progressively the problem worsened... finally I got sick of it and opened the unit (CAREFULLY AS TO NOT ELECTROCUTE MYSELF...) and tracked down a poor / broken solder joint.. having made this repair (since sending the unit back to china seemed prohibitively expensive and annoying) myself the DV has been quite nice with these again.

My experience is anecdotal certainly, but if something goes wrong you are pretty much hosed as if you could find anyone local to work on it paying someone else wouldn't probably make much sense as it could easily cost as much as the unit (or more) to have it serviced, sending it back to china is going to be expensive and take forever..

I think if I had it too do over again I might have build a bottlehead crack (i wish they had (maybe they do and I just haven't seen it??) a more finished case for it... as I'm pretty rubbish at gluing wood boxes together / wood finishing .. blah blah blah.. I had concerned that the case would end up looking terrible if I had to put it together so I went with the DV.

The DV has a lot of P2P wiring and there is basically no slack in most of it... working of the broken joint was Zero fun.. but I'm glad mine works again.

Thanks for sharing!
Repair and service seem not to be a problem to me. Local folks here are great DIYers and I managed to have know a lot of them, some of them building cables and amps full-time. Will consider the DV

 

[Hondadude85]

Back on the DT880's sound;

I personally think a well-amped DT880 is overall my favorite headphone I've ever heard. The 1990's, Amirons and T1's do some things way better but the overall presentation of the 880 is excellent in every way to my ears. No matter what my headphone stable looks like, it will always include a pair of 880's. I recently sold my pair of DT880 black special editions and regretted it so much I bought them back the very next day.