The Beyerdynamic DT880 Discussion thread

[Alfredo3001]

My dt990 600 ohm arrived yesterday. I bought it used from eBay. The seller said he only used for 1h but he said he bought them a year ago. I am a bit skeptical about the headphone.
The box, the case seems in perfect condition. the box said 600ohm on the side, the headphones have the ohm on te same spot as my dt880, the cable have the 600ohm on the plug( dt880 don’t).
When I grab the headphones, they were really loose. The swivel was way loose than my brand new dt880. The clamping also is way to loose. When you grab them they feel like a cheap plastic headphone ( headband, cups and cups holder are the same as my dt880). I want to know if some dt990 owner can assure this. If they are softer and less tight than the other dt. When I grab my dt880 it feels sturdy and tight not loose.
The ear pads are also softer. The pads looks legit but on the outside the don’t have the slope the new pads have. They are not flat. They have the almost the same height as th dt880 but 50% softer.
I will contact the seller to tell me how they are so loose and pads so soft if he uses them for 1h ( I don’t think storing them for almost 1 year make them loose and soft, I think he maybe let them burn in in a kind of setup for a long time or something).

First impression in another post

 

[legopart]

My dt990 600 ohm arrived yesterday. I bought it used from eBay. The seller said he only used for 1h but he said he bought them a year ago. I am a bit skeptical about the headphone.
The box, the case seems in perfect condition. the box said 600ohm on the side, the headphones have the ohm on te same spot as my dt880, the cable have the 600ohm on the plug( dt880 don’t).
When I grab the headphones, they were really loose. The swivel was way loose than my brand new dt880. The clamping also is way to loose. When you grab them they feel like a cheap plastic headphone ( headband, cups and cups holder are the same as my dt880). I want to know if some dt990 owner can assure this. If they are softer and less tight than the other dt. When I grab my dt880 it feels sturdy and tight not loose.
The ear pads are also softer. The pads looks legit but on the outside the don’t have the slope the new pads have. They are not flat. They have the almost the same height as th dt880 but 50% softer.
I will contact the seller to tell me how they are so loose and pads so soft if he uses them for 1h ( I don’t think storing them for almost 1 year make them loose and soft, I think he maybe let them burn in in a kind of setup for a long time or something).

First impression in another post

They have softer sound ?

I not reccomand to buy DT770/DT880/DT990 As used pair,
only if you enoght proffesional with it.

first, in the most of the times the pads got dirt from some other user.
second: the driver may got dirt and to clean it you must have past experiense.

headband Can tight or un tight by using physical force.

 

[BreadFi]

The swivel was way loose than my brand new dt880. The clamping also is way to loose.

The regular "Edition" series do have a lighter, looser fit. I've read the "black and chrome" special edition come with the T90 headband and pads (unless your DT880's are "Pro", which are definitely tighter).

 

[Alfredo3001]

The regular "Edition" series do have a lighter, looser fit. I've read the "black and chrome" special edition come with the T90 headband and pads (unless your DT880's are "Pro", which are definitely tighter).

Both are premium edition same headband. I had a dt990 pro a few months ago and I know how the pro version clamping is.

 

[BreadFi]

Both are premium edition same headband. I had a dt990 pro a few months ago and I know how the pro version clamping is.

Hmm not sure them. Never stretching the band, mine are pretty loose on my giant noggin (ie can't really lie down with them, super comfy sitting up though), and the yokes move around quite freely (except for up and down) until I put them on.

With the pads looking different, you could slip them off and check if the inside fenestration matches/looks the same as the standard EDT990V pads via GIS.

 

[Alfredo3001]

Hmm not sure them. Never stretching the band, mine are pretty loose on my giant noggin (ie can't really lie down with them, super comfy sitting up though), and the yokes move around quite freely (except for up and down) until I put them on.

With the pads looking different, you could slip them off and check if the inside fenestration matches/looks the same as the standard EDT990V pads via GIS.[/

Thanks I will check later.
I think they are just dt990.I will buy a multimeter to test the impedance.
I will keep these for a few weeks and then I will sell them. I don’t like the chrome edition as much as the all black edition as my dt880.

I am a new in the audiophile world. But I can tell you what i experience.

The first thing I notice was the bass. Compared to the dt880. It have more quantity and hit harder. Quality wise feels like a mix of hitting thump and booming. Is not as clean as dt880. I have sound test for footstep with thumping bass. And compare to my other headphones, the bass covers the footstep. You can still hear them but you need to focus. Bass hits and add boominess. Also I am sensitive to bass guitar sound. In the dt990 they sound like the 58x they add this bothering back sound ( that’s why i like planars, they sound clean. The dt880 its a middle ground between the dt990 and the Sundara, bass guitar isn’t clean as planar but don’t bother me as much as).

Mids take a step back. The bass and other sparkle sounds are more present. This make me raise the volumen sometimes just to hear the singer. Also the voices decay faster ( I don’t know what I really want to express here but it’s like they get cut of ir something, not as slow decay. Sounds like dt770 maybe that’s how v shape mids sounds I really don’t know here)

Treble is obviously boosted. They make details and sparkle more present. It easy to spot mixing mistake. I was listening to music, when i hear a weird sound. I thought the drivers are going to die on me. I repeated the same part of the song. Then I put my dt880. I could hear the weird crackling sound with the dt880 but dt990 makes them more prominent ( something like twice more prominent)

Soundstage: they soundstage wasn’t noticeable when I was playing music. The bass and the treble are to forward. They make the sound feels closer. I tried a song that have a fading sound coming left to right, and A/B with the dt880 and it was twice wider. I don’t know if I playing the music to loud on my dt990 that the sound feels aggressive not as relaxed and coherent as the dt880 ( that’s the biggest point I like of the t880 above all the headphones I tried, the sound is natural, I feel I amo the center of a sphere of sound. The singer takes the center stage and every sound is well placed and 3D.the only other headphone that makes this coherent room felling was the akg k7xx. The k7xx was wider and more relaxed but also felt they sound came from the left and right sides not as an sphere. Also the k7xx in some songs instrument where to close or to far, like it was missing a middle.) dt990 have more soundstage but on music I don’t feel being on the room or stage.

Imaging is better on dt990 hands down. I played some single player games and I could pinpoint the location of the sound really easy. The dt880 also feels accurate , but dt990 makes it more easier to spot.

I think I need more time with the dt990 to really enjoy it. So far the treble isn’t bothering me. The first time I tried the dt990 pro 250 ohm it was a really painfull. Coming from closed back I also felt the bass lacking but I remember the bass being more thick and fast than the dt990 600 ohm( someone who owns both could tell the difference of the bass from 250 and 600 ohm). I had the dt990 250 ohm for 1 month, it was my first mid fi headphone. I couldn’t really appreciated it. That’s why I decide to buy it again but the 600 ohm version instead. I would like to use this for gaming and not for music. I tried to game on this but the treble seems boosted 3 times and start to feel like to much. I will keep using them as I said, for a few weeks. If I ended not liking them I will sell them. I really want to find a spot for dt990. Quick note! Dt990 shines in electronic music! I like electronic and this manage to put a smile on me.

To help you out with my preference. Remember guys people have different taste so this is my personal music and sound preference.

Top headphones for my use:
Music: dt880 600ohm > sundara/he4xx > hd58x
Gaming: akg k7xx
Gym: PXC 550
Jogging: Tin t2


Headphones I used:
Dt990 pro 250 ohm, hd58x, k7xx, he4xx, dt880, sundara, dt990 600 ohm.

 

[gefski]

Revisited a neglected old friend for the last 3 evenings -- my DT880 (600). Didn't do any A/Bing to any other cans, just explored some new and old music. Grant Green's "Slick!" from 1975 kept my foot tapping and me stunned with the hugely varied guitar textures throughout, bass foundation solid, not overblown. Will Sellenraad Trio's (Green St Vol. 1) more ragged edge had similar variety, for both guitar and bass. Nothing distracted from the performances, which were exciting enough for me to repeat each album in full, two nights running.

 

[BobG55]

Revisited a neglected old friend for the last 3 evenings -- my DT880 (600). Didn't do any A/Bing to any other cans, just explored some new and old music. Grant Green's "Slick!" from 1975 kept my foot tapping and me stunned with the hugely varied guitar textures throughout, bass foundation solid, not overblown. Will Sellenraad Trio's (Green St Vol. 1) more ragged edge had similar variety, for both guitar and bass. Nothing distracted from the performances, which were exciting enough for me to repeat each album in full, two nights running.

I bought my DT880 600 ohm last year & it's become one of my favourite headphones. I find it to be very well balanced, musical, dynamic and detailed. My set up is quite modest especially by today's audiophile standards. First of all I listen to CDs. No downloaded music. My main headphone amp is a Violectric V100 which I prefer to the V200 and even the V281 which I've owned. Both. I prefer the V100's clean/ clear sound with it's subtle touch of warmth. The audio piece that makes a difference is another modest one, the very affordable JDS Labs Subjective 3 tone adjuster/ equalizer. The DT880 really sounds great with this modest set-up. I'm a firm believer that no matter what set up one may own whether it's modest or high end, if the recording & production of the music is poor or mediocre, nothing will make it sound better. Well produced albums sound absolutely great through my DT880s and my set up. DT880/ 600 ohm is an excellent headphone. Glad you rediscovered yours and are enjoying them again.

 

[legopart]

Lost one driver of 600ohm becaus of soldering and moding (try to fix some screchie noise) and at the end brock the worked one
Now I use the 250ohm drivers that sound less ballanced but still good
really upset!

 

[BobG55]

Lost one driver of 600ohm becaus of soldering and moding (try to fix some screchie noise) and at the end brock the worked one
Now I use the 250ohm drivers that sound less ballanced but still good
really upset!

Sorry to hear that. There are a few, used 600ohm ones for sale at what appears to be reasonable prices. Check out this link if you're interested :

https://www.hifishark.com/model/beyerdynamic-dt-880

 

[CADCAM]

I have the DT880 600ohm in grey and am thinking about possibly selling them but wanted to post here first, just recently purchased new pads straight from Beyer. I've had them for several years but they look almost new to me and I'm probable as picky as they come. They function perfectly and sound fantastic. I don't smoke, if anyone wants pictures of them message me.
My DT990 600ohm paired with my Keces amp is driving me to consider parting with them...

 

[reddog]

My Beyerdynamic DT 800 600 ohm still sounds great and I use it a few times a month. I am still surprised how natural sounding my DT 800 sounds. I got my DT 800 600ohm used from Amazon back in2013 My Dt 800 represented my first audiophile grade can. it was a definite upgrade from my audio tech path m50x's .I highly recommend the Beyer DT 800 600ohm headphone

 

[legopart]

My Beyerdynamic DT 800 600 ohm still sounds great and I use it a few times a month. I am still surprised how natural sounding my DT 800 sounds. I got my DT 800 600ohm used from Amazon back in2013 My Dt 800 represented my first audiophile grade can. it was a definite upgrade from my audio tech path m50x's .I highly recommend the Beyer DT 800 600ohm headphone

Basically my story.
but I ordered in 2015 from Amazon new pair of Dt880 250ohm because I dont understand how amplification works and firs order some chinees one LITTLE BEAR P1 and LITTLE BEAR B1 that I pretty liked.
this headphones is an upgrade to Ath-m50 that I having even this days.

after I ordered the Aune x1s and feels not enoght amplification so I ordered the Aune x7s
and deside to upgrade and use Dt880 250ohm with XLR 4pin (balanced) connection.
After I accidently destroyed accidently one of the driver, I start to order lots of used headphones and begin my vintage ordering and got all my headphones.
Bought some Dt990 600ohm pairt of vintage drivers and install them inside Dt880 and it improve the sound.
this week I heard some screchi noise from one side and after I tried to fix it, with success again I broke the other side because the soldering connections.
this day I installed some Dt880pro 250ohm that I bought used, put it drivers inside my Dt880 edition2005 (and use it body from other usage)

So I having this day a pair of Dt880 edition2005 250ohm standart looking.
I plan in the futur to buy some new Dt880 the Limited edition with 600ohm
not like it design

<<<

not likes it design compare to Regolar one that I have.
but still I want to return to the 600ohm drivers

 

[TheGiantHogweed]

I have recently noticed a really odd issue with these headphones. I think they may have always had this problem at very high volumes, but not where i usually listen. On my FiiO A3, when you are around position 6 or 7 on the dial (or higher) and listening to a song with very heavy bass, they don't seem to handle it that well - but it isn't the bass that is the issue as much. I'm not quite sure if i would describe the sound as distortion. It is really odd. It basically just sounds like the driver is really quietly rattling but still handles the bass well. But what this does effect is the midrange. to test this out, i just played a test tone at 40 hz, then listened to a track with just lyrics (Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner") at the same time. The result seems to be that the bass makes the midrange sound really odd. I don't know the best way to describe it.
It basically sounds like if you speak really close to a fan and get that odd sound effect (if you are silly enough to do this - i used to when i was younger as it sounder strange!) It must be something to do with the movement of the air from the sound of it. I think the movement of the driver doing the bass is just having this really odd effect on the higher frequencies. I noticed this when listening to a genera of music i virtually never do. Rap. And i think it was because it was mostly extremely heavy bass and lyrics that it did this. I haven't noticed this much on other types of music, and nor with this music on my other headphones. But I still don't know why this is happening. The bass sounds pretty clean and well controlled, but it is when it is so powerful that it has this effect on the higher frequencies.

I also find that my A3 seems to make them distort when the bass boost is on once you go past position 6 or 7 on the A3, which is a bit of a shame. I don't know if it is that the headphones can't handle it, or the amplifier can't stay controlled when bass boost is on and it is close to maximum volume. The testing i did though was with the bass boost off.

Anyone know what this problem could be?

 

[CADCAM]

Might have been the song itself...
Also perhaps a different amp could be tried and see\hear if the same problem occurs.