What about the Beyerdynamic DT231?

[Rizumu]

Why is it that I never see this headphone mentioned here?

I forgot it existed until a member posted a picture of his in the Portable forum. I constantly see recommendations being asked for for closed, portable headphones ~$50, or < $100. V6's and the HD280 are good solutions, but not all that portable. PX200's are a strong competitor here. Sennheiser HD202's and HD212's aren't thought of very highly. There really isn't all that much else to recommend, but what about the Beyerdynamic DT231?

Do they isolate well? How do they sound? The design looks neat and they look quite comfortable. Are they worth the price? I just never see them mentioned or recommended so I know nothing about them. Do not many people own them? Or are they just not very good?

I'm curious!

 

[minya]

Damnit, Rizumu... save your money for some good headphones.

- Chris

 

[skiguy411]

I would also like more info on the DT231. Like how does it compare to the hd280's and the v6?

 

[terrymx]

all i know is its closed, isolate, comfortable and have deep base. some guy once said he actaully prefer it over the hd497. i'm using the hd212pro right now actually.

but dont bother, its like asking how the ath-fc7 sound.

 

[Steve999]

FWIW:

Thread including my brief impressions of DT231 at a November 2002 head-fi meet

I apparently liked them more than the HD280s at the head-fi meet. Since then I have acquired the HD280s and really like them a lot, so I don't know if that impression would still hold true. Of course my sonic memory does not last 1 year or more.

Edit: Here was my deeply insightful comment in November 2002:

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say the DT231s ARE better, but I would say I LIKE them a whole lot better. The HD280 Pros are headphones with good sound. IMHO, the DT231s are headphones that sound good.

 

[Patrickhat2001]

I've owned the DT231. They definately fall within the groovilzer category--with a very fuzzy and warm sound. Suprisely (because they have a warm tonal character) I didn't find them to be bass heavy at all--just very warm sounding and undetailed. Soundstage was decent comfort was outstanding, isolation was almost nill--these phones are semi closed and leak quite a bit of sound. They are also superarul, not circumarul (although the pads are of very soft velour and they have almost no clamping force--making them very cozy and very comfortable).

Overall I wasn't too impressed with these phones especially since they sell for $60. Actually DT231 was one of few phones under $100 that I ended up not liking at all (except in the comfort department)--the others being the 497s, HD280s, and EM-7s--all for different reasons, of course.

 

[Large4mat]

Tyll from HeadRoom talks a little about them in this thread:

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=60607

 

[skiguy411]

Im trying to figure out if I should sell my V6's and get the DT231. I dont really like the V6s because of their extreme brightness(Im kinda sensitive to those harsh highs). I have the HD280's for at home and I love them. Anyone know how the DT231's compare to the V6s?

Edit: Just saw how you thought of the V6s compared to the DT231s. I think Im leaning toward getting the 231s.

Anyone else have any more opinions?

 

[fernando]

 

[skiguy411]

Could you elaborate on that graph.? Im kind of new at this stuff and Im not sure how to take that graph.

 

[SpoonMan]

If that graph is accurate, the DT231's have exaggerated bass, and a fairly smooth midrange up to 2khz. Most of the range between 2 and 5khz is below neutral, which may make vocals and some instruments sound un-natural.

Skiguy411, if you're sensitive to highs this doesn't look like it's the phone for you, everything from 5-20khz is above neutral, some of it reaching almost as high as +10dB...you're going to notice this, in other words, this phone is bright.

 

[joeyliao]

terrymx: "but dont bother, its like asking how the ath-fc7 sound."

too true terry, sound is pretty subjective... and personal.

a wise man on this board once said something to the effect that there is no such thing as a good cheap closed phone.

i recently bought the ath-fc7 for 45 dollars. the wise man is right. compared to my sony mdr-d77's i find the fc7 very dark, muddy and lacking in the mid and high range. they have good bass though. they also dont leak much.

i am doing some "burn in" to see if the sound improves but...

anyway, all this is to say that i second minya's opinion. save up for the good stuff.

 

[DLP]

Actually, $60 is a lower price for these. They used to sell for around $80 I think.

 

[episiarch]

Can anyone comment on whether these would be worthwhile replacements for PX200's, for someone who doesn't get a good seal on the PX200 and just finds them dull and lifeless?

Background: the PX200's are my "leave 'em in a drawer at work and never worry about 'em 'cause they're cheap" cans, and I'm looking for an improvement in sound while staying within that same category (and closed, because I have cubicle neighbors).

Canalphones are a little too fiddly on days when I'm getting lots of interruptions. Pricier phones will make me more paranoid about leaving them around. And, not to sound overly antisocial, I don't really want the "conversation-starter" effect of physically large cans. So closed traditional headphones that aren't costly and aren't large or obtrusive and that sound better than PX200's are what I'm looking for.

Are DT231's my answer?

 

[skiguy411]

The reason I am looking that the 231's are for portablilty and great sound. I want the best closed headphone that is portable (V6 size or smaller). Is the 231 the best for my needs?