Which Beyerdynamic headphone should I buy?

[sygyzy]

I want to get a pair or two from certain brands, so next on my list are Beyerdynamics.

I don't want lower end ones or too high end, so I am limiting to the following:

*DT250-80
DT250-250
DT831
DT931
DT770

*I guess pretty much off the bat we can eliminte the DT250-80. From what I read, there is no need to get this unless you absolutely must need easily driving headphones. I have meta42 and probably will get a dedicated home tube amp so power should not be an issue. I have smaller headphones for portability so that's not a problem either. Correct me if I am wrong in my thinking.

I guess I don't really care if they are closed or open. What's funny is my HD495's leak alot of noise when I listen to them. But my HD600's, you could hardly hear sound from them. So I don't mind open ones as long as they are not bothersome to people working closeby.

I really really like how the HD600's sound. I think everything is warm and it sounds like good acoustics in a nice smallish room.

My 271's sound kind of dirty. They sound like I am in a larger room with not too good speakers. They also lack any real bass. Maybe I am not driving them enough.

I want something really comfortable too. The loose fit of the 271's are kind of annoying. The pads are too shallow so my ear touches the inner padding. I don't like that. The HD600's have very comfortable pads and have good pressure on the sides of the head.

I will be listening to a variety of music. R&B, Hip Hop, Alternative, and Rock mostly. Acoustics, clasical, jazz, maybe 10% of the time or less.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. It's so hard choosing one because it seems like there is not really any clear definition between the models. They are too similar based on the descriptions.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Haven't heard any of the others, but know that the DT770's are the bass gods, and pretty darn good cans if well driven.

 

[Guyferd]

It sounds like the dt770 can do the cleaning job.
It does very well for all the genres you've listed.

And it's the bass king

 

[sygyzy]

I just spent the last half hour reading about the DT770's. It seems like it has very deep and hard hitting bass, but this messes up the mids.

This alll but kills it for me.

What Beyers have noticeable bass but clean mids and highs?

 

[Guyferd]

dt250-80/250 is more balanced, with great deep bass and good mids that is not recessed.
The dt931 is a very fast can but can get a bit bright. Overall you might want to look into these two, I have no experience with dt831.
Do note that some people feel that dt250's earlobe is too small

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I wouldn't say the DT770 messes up the bass, provided it is attached to a good amp that can control it's massive bass. Unamped, the lower bass gets weak, and the upper bass dominates the lower mids, not good. But amped it does emphasize the bass, though not to the extent that the rest of the frequency spectrum is downplayed. It just has slightly recessed upper and mid mids. It's not an uber-accurate can, but it is a fun can nonetheless.

 

[MegaMeee]

what about the dt531???

 

[N@Z]

If you like the Senn HD600 sound then stay away from the DT770. Until I get my DT150, I recommend you the DT250-250 ohm which has a more balance sound not to dissimilar to the HD600. The HD600 however has more finess. The DT250 IMO does not sound closed. It sounds fairly airy & uncharacteristicly open (within it's limits of course). I haven't heard the DT831 but I have had the pleasure of auditioning the DT931. I can't remember much from memory but I recall that it is a nice sounding pair of cans too.

 

[pbirkett]

Quote:

Originally posted by MegaMeee what about the dt531???

I personally think the DT531 does sound quite similar except not as veiled, and better sounding on mid-fi equipment.

 

[lini]

syzygy: I'd recommend to check the DT531 - or the DT250/250, if you need moderate isolation...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[sygyzy]

Hmm never heard of the 531? Is it still being made? Not listed on Headphone.com

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally posted by pbirkett I personally think the DT531 does sound quite similar except not as veiled, and better sounding on mid-fi equipment.

Similar to ?

 

[Rameish]

Ah Beyer cans...

DT-931 can sound a little bright but with some tube and solidstate gear is sounds wonderful - ir Corda out of the 120 ohm jack and and RKV without impedencer.

DT-831 is brighter still but not like a Grado SR-325.

DT-250 (either version) is for Senn HD-600 lovers who want isolation. But the air/atmosphere is less than the HD-600.

DT-990 - a darker sounding can with a bit less detail than the DT-880.

DT-880 - a nice all rounder but not as linear sounding as the HD-600 so for big band stuff/complex music - either Jazz or orchestra I prefer the more linear sound of the HD-600. Also the HD-600 has got lots of legato. By comparison the DT-880 is more dynamic and has more bite/attack in say trumpets and snare drums and shakers etc. Both nice flavours. The HD-600 paints a bigger more artistic picture (like a painting) while the other is like a photgraph blown up to the same size.

STAY away from the Beyer DT-770 - too bassy and unless you're into heavy bass and not much else then give this a miss. The details are all there and so are the mids but because of the bass it overpowers everthing else - the least balanced of the Beyer cans.

DT-150 - very neutral but a bit dry does everthing nicely. Has a bit more bass than the AKG K-501 (this is a closed can with pvc pads - the ugly duckling of the beyer family). Very well built and has a straight one sided cord with 1/4 jack only (yup no adapters to deal with). The cord is also one of the better ones from beyer.

Hope this helps. Also please state what amp you're gonna use it with as that does change things.

 

[sygyzy]

Very good responses so far. Some thoughts.

I am very disappointed in the lack of bass in my 271 and HD600's. I cannot really feel it at all, even on the THX Bass Test. I mean I know that there is bass and at which point it hits but I cannot feel anything. Is this just the way headphones reproduce bass? It doesn't "hit" at all.

With that said, I don't really want a bass exclusive set of headphones so I guess 770's just got moved down the list.

Now, where can I find 531's?

As for the others, 880's are too expensive, so they are low on the list as well.

Amp I am using is Headsave Transit Meta42. Thinking about picking up a tube amp as well.

Keep the opinions coming in please!

 

[pbirkett]

Quote:

Originally posted by Iron_Dreamer Similar to ?

LoL

I guess I meant similar to the Senn HD580/600.

Edit: Not sure where you will get the 531's I just assumed they would be available along with the other Beyers. However, they are my favourite Beyers out of the ones I've heard, those being DT770, 880, 931 and 990.