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

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Solderdude

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #20 on: February 25, 2015, 09:57:23 PM »
You can easily remove the foam (which doesn't do much against the treble) that is talked about.
Both headphones have the same foam.
It is in a ring that can be taken out easily with a small screwdriver.
With some headphones this is bulging outwards, in others it is more stretched and flat.

What you can do is remove the foam and replace it with 3 mm thick wool-felt (craftsstore) as suggested by Armaegis as well.
That'll tame the treble for the DT880.
Not recommended for the DT990 as it becomes a fat and dark headphone.

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Armaegis

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #21 on: February 25, 2015, 10:04:34 PM »
Distancing the pads with some rope/felt/etc also helps take some of the bite out of the treble. On some of my mods I just use rolled up gauze.
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Skylark

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #22 on: February 25, 2015, 10:25:18 PM »
I'm rather leaning towards the 990, I went into this thinking neutral would be the answer as I really like the BBC monitor style speakers that are very flat and resolving but those listening for pleasure seem to rave about the bass on the 990 and the can's general personality. Their overall sound(despite being rather similar on paper) seems to be more listen-able than the 880, which is of course a subjective opinion but I honestly love a bit of thundering bass so why deprive myself?

I value accuracy very highly but musing about it now it would seem the more important thing to enjoying music is resolution, so perhaps the compromised accuracy of the 990 is not great on paper but still remarkably nice sounding when they are on your head.

Those who have used both the 880 & 990 intimately if you wanted cans that gave you the most pleasure which would you choose of the 2 and why?

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Armaegis

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #23 on: February 25, 2015, 11:22:55 PM »
I've owned several iterations of the 880's and 990's. As others have said already several times, if you find the 880's hard in the treble then the 990's will be unbearable. They are not smoother in the treble, really quite the opposite.

Stuff some felt in front of the drivers and under the pads of the 880, spend your money on a portable dac/amp instead and call it a day.
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Do you think there may be an acoustic leak from the jack hole? ~Tyll Hertsens

Not sure if I like stuffing one hole or both holes. Tending toward one hole since both holes seems kinda ghey ~Purrin

thegunner100

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #24 on: February 25, 2015, 11:50:01 PM »
The dt990s are brighter than the dt880s. The bass will NOT cover up the treble. Stick with the dt880s, and get a tube amp that will help with the treble. Or use EQ.
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Eric_C

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #25 on: February 26, 2015, 12:04:23 AM »
Wait wait wait. The shop might swap the 880 for a 990, right? Why don't you take your Fiio and 880 down there and do a comparison between both headphones?
I think you'll find that what everyone has said is true: the 990 is harsher in the treble region then the 880. Just stick with the 880 until you can sell it, and then buy a Senn 6x0 or Philips X1/X2. (I did the former)
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Solderdude

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #26 on: February 26, 2015, 06:11:21 AM »
Quote from: Eric_C on February 26, 2015, 12:04:23 AM
Wait wait wait. The shop might swap the 880 for a 990, right? Why don't you take your Fiio and 880 down there and do a comparison between both headphones?

This ! ^
Judge for yourself, don't rely on other peoples hearing.

Then use some felt, raise the pads... or sell it.

warm, bassy + piercing treble = DT990
flattish + piercing treble = DT880
thundrous + piercing treble = DT770
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deniall83

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #27 on: February 26, 2015, 01:20:15 PM »
I had the 990 600 ohm and sold it after not too long. Recessed mids, sharp treble and decent bass. I found it quite thin sounding. Very comfortable and nicely built but not my type of sound.
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Skylark

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #28 on: March 04, 2015, 04:14:56 PM »
Oops been away ill for a few days.

Unfortunately the cans are shipped to me, so I have to return the first pair before getting the 990's if I choose to go that way.

How does the higher 600 ohm impedance affect the sound, slight change perhaps with the interaction of the headphones with some amps and apparently the noise floor is dropped even further than with the 250 ohm versions?
Would imagine the differences are rather marginal though?
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Solderdude

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Re: Replace Beyerdynamic DT880 250 with DT990 600 - less piercing?
« Reply #29 on: March 04, 2015, 04:42:43 PM »
Quote from: Skylark on March 04, 2015, 04:14:56 PM
Oops been away ill for a few days.

Unfortunately the cans are shipped to me, so I have to return the first pair before getting the 990's if I choose to go that way.

How does the higher 600 ohm impedance affect the sound, slight change perhaps with the interaction of the headphones with some amps and apparently the noise floor is dropped even further than with the 250 ohm versions?
Would imagine the differences are rather marginal though?

The theory is that the 600 Ohm wire is thinner and thus lower in weight.
The mass that has to be moved is the membrane+voicecoilformer+ copper wires(voice coil)+air'resistance'
As the copper mass is less it would be slightly faster.

Looking at the various 32-250 and 600Ohm comparative plots there seems to be more to it than just the copper weight.

DT880 is more 'accurate' (a bit lean in subbass) and has a clear midrange  + sharp top.
DT990 is warmer/bassier/more fun with 'sucked out' midrange  + sharp top

pick your poison....
In both headphones the peaky top is easily 'tamed' with some 3mm thick wool felt from a crafts-store.

My old DT990/600 sounds (and measures) substantially different from the current DT990Pro/250 and not just in efficiency.
There is about 20 years of difference between these headphones.

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