[jfindon]

For some reason these headphones stick in my mind for what to try next. What I have now is in my sig, will the MK I+ be enough to drive these headphones? I like my Grados as I usually listen to rock and metal, but can't help feeling I could use some more bass. These seem to have that based on what I'm reading. Plus they're a lot cheaper than I remember them being.

 

[driftingbunnies]

Do you have a budget? Which DT990's were you planning to try? Maybe you should decide which DT990 (pros, 250 ohms, 600 ohms) in this thread and make a new thread in the full size amp section once you figure that out.

 

[rpaul]

As an owner of the 250 ohm DT990 and currently the Denon D2000, I would recommend that you try to audition the D2000 unless you specifically want an open headphone. I initially enjoyed the DT990 for Rock/Metal, but I realized just how "thin" the DT990 is when it comes to upper-midrange and higher frequency response after I spent some time with the D2000 (both headphones driven by a solid state amp). And the D2000 is great in the bass department, and does benefit from an amp that can control it.

If you're still interested in going DT990, based on what I've read around here I'm guessing that perhaps something in the Meier amp lineup would provide good synergy. Don't know which tube amps would pair well with it.

 

[driftingbunnies]

If DT990's are on your mind, you might as well get the 600 ohms version. I know a lot of people bash the 250 ohms version but not so much for the 600 ohms. I lent mine to a friend who has a hd800 and says that the DT990/600 is not too far behind from it. If you're able to power that bad boy, I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed at all. Especially if you want good solid deep bass without all any bloatedness that sometimes comes with the D2000

 

[Duggeh]

An amp that can make the lame walk and the blind see might be able to do something transformative with the DT990.

 

[driftingbunnies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif An amp that can make the lame walk and the blind see might be able to do something transformative with the DT990.

Could you explain?

 

[Justin Uthadude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif An amp that can make the lame walk and the blind see might be able to do something transformative with the DT990.

Don't sugar coat it, tell us what you really think about those phones.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Uthadude /img/forum/go_quote.gif Don't sugar coat it, tell us what you really think about those phones.

Better than the HD280.

Worse than the HD595, which I don't like much.

 

[driftingbunnies]

As duggeh has shown, if you don't like the beyerdynamic sound, I would stay away from them. However, if you do, the DT990's are great headphones to have.

 

[supersleuth]

Perhaps it's my 54 year old ears, but cans with significantly less treble energy than the DT990s (eg. Denons) sound annoyingly dull to me. (Before the Beyers I happily listened to Grado SR80s for years and still enjoy them as a change of pace now and then.) Anyway, my (250 ohm) 990s are driven quite nicely by the headphone output of a Marantz CD5001, so any decent portable amp should also do the trick.