Topic: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing? (Read 3672 times)

Skylark · « **on:** February 25, 2015, 02:04:58 PM »

Hi everyone, I'm new round here, heard its nice and mellow compared to some "other" well know HP forums

I have the Beyerdynamic DT880 250 ohm which after a listening session at low to moderate volumes typically gives me tinnitus which seems to last for hours afterwards, I find the trebles remarkably piercing. I have used many different studio monitors over the years, I don't think its that the headphones are overly clinical or analytical for my ears

I also find them lacking in authority, rather brittle and the sound to be not very cohesive. Granted I'm not using a dedicated headphone amp, rather a Fiio E6 portable headphone amp/ Arcam Amp's headphone output/ Sansa Clip Zip(with rockbox) either of which even without the Fiio has ample volume.

I have the option to rather get DT990 600's but the main thing for me is will they be smoother on the treble side than the DT880 250?

Seems to be quite a debate on the perceived difference or lack thereof between the different impedance versions of the DT880/DT990, as if deciding on which cans to get wasn't as hard enough as it is already.

Last thing to mention is my one ear touches the foam covering the driver inside the ear cup and it irritates the cr4p out of me, especially with longer listening times. I read that was one draw back of the 880, the 990 has a curved area over the driver so there's more clearance for the ears?

takato14 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2015, 04:47:48 PM »

dear god no

if you get tinnitus from the 880, you're gonna throw the 990 across the room the second you put it on, that thing is stupidly aggressive and bright

I'd give the Sennheiser HD6x0 a try if I were you, or use a tube amp to take the edge off the DT880

Armaegis · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2015, 04:55:28 PM »

If I absolutely had to stick with a DT880, I would be amping it with a Bottlehead Crack + Speedball.

Skylark · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2015, 05:22:56 PM »

Some say the DT990, the 600 ohm in particular, is less harsh in the trebles and the added bass helps to balance things?
Anyone own the DT990 600?

Solderdude · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2015, 05:52:25 PM »

I do, (600 Ohm) an old one though which I know differs from newer 600 Ohm.

Just compared it to a brand new DT990 250 Ohm and the amount of treble does not differ, the amount of bass does.
The old DT990 has about 4dB less bass (acc to the measurements I took).

I used to like the DT990 a lot but don't anymore.
Had the DT770 and DT880 as well.

All of them (incl the T70 and T90 and T1) exhibit this behaviour.

I fully agree with Takato.... try the HD6x0.

Skylark · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2015, 06:02:38 PM »

Thanks for the advice chaps, I am in a bit of a bind though, I can only choose from the Dt880 250 or Dt990 600.
I already have the Dt880 250 and they may perhaps swop it for the Dt990 600.

The DT990 is supposed to be more "fun", I personally prefer reference sound but the Dt880 has such an uncomfortable sound signature for me that I'll gladly take fun in this instance

I've never experienced something like this previously, have had Sennheiser HD25-1II's and some more budget AKG's, which I enjoyed but neither were terribly revealing or high resolution. I was expecting the Dt880's to really wow me, never in a million years did I think they would shred my ears, they do have rather impressive aspects but the treble is painful.

Is it recognized that some people are more sensitive to treble than others, or at the Dt880/990 just renowned for their very cutting treble?

Skyline · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2015, 06:05:22 PM »

Quote from: Armaegis on February 25, 2015, 04:55:28 PM

If I absolutely had to stick with a DT880, I would be amping it with a Bottlehead Crack + Speedball.

Yes, or a Schiit Valhalla. Really nice pairing that smooths the 880s out considerably.

While the 880s aren't treble-shy by any means, I never associated them with anything harsh or grating. Especially when paired with nice otl tube amp.

takato14 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2015, 06:07:09 PM »

mm I just checked the 990's plots here, even the 600 ohm 990 has more treble, but with considerably less peakage... dunno, if you're not happy with the 880 I doubt an amp will completely change your impression; I'd say go for it.

Byrnie · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2015, 07:22:36 PM »

Quote from: Skylark on February 25, 2015, 02:04:58 PM

Hi everyone, I'm new round here, heard its nice and mellow compared to some "other" well know HP forums

I have the Beyerdynamic DT880 250 ohm which after a listening session at low to moderate volumes typically gives me tinnitus which seems to last for hours afterwards, I find the trebles remarkably piercing. I have used many different studio monitors over the years, I don't think its that the headphones are overly clinical or analytical for my ears

I also find them lacking in authority, rather brittle and the sound to be not very cohesive. Granted I'm not using a dedicated headphone amp, rather a Fiio E6 portable headphone amp/ Arcam Amp's headphone output/ Sansa Clip Zip(with rockbox) either of which even without the Fiio has ample volume.

I have the option to rather get DT990 600's but the main thing for me is will they be smoother on the treble side than the DT880 250?

Seems to be quite a debate on the perceived difference or lack thereof between the different impedance versions of the DT880/DT990, as if deciding on which cans to get wasn't as hard enough as it is already.

Last thing to mention is my one ear touches the foam covering the driver inside the ear cup and it irritates the cr4p out of me, especially with longer listening times. I read that was one draw back of the 880, the 990 has a curved area over the driver so there's more clearance for the ears?

When I owned the 880s I had to search for an amp that would somewhat tame it's treble so i suggest you do the same or better yet buy the Philips X2 instead.

thegunner100 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2015, 07:31:06 PM »

OR you could get yourself a hd600 or hd650

. Don't limit yourself to just beyers. I started out with the dt880/600, tried the dt770 and dt990 but moved onto the hd600 and never looked back.

Is there any reason why you can't get other headphones?

Author Topic: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing? (Read 3672 times)

Skylark

Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

takato14

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

Armaegis

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

Skylark

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

Solderdude

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

Skylark

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

Skyline

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

takato14

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

Byrnie

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

thegunner100

Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?

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Author Topic: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing? (Read 3672 times)