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Author Topic: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600  (Read 2155 times)

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Armaegis

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #20 on: April 26, 2015, 10:04:13 PM »
I did say in the short term. The dac in it will be good for a while. Upgrade the amp next.
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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

soulintension

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #21 on: April 27, 2015, 05:04:19 AM »
Okay. So.

These are the equalizerAPO settings that work well with the dt880 to give me the sound I want.




Considering how close that equalizer brings the dt880 to my idea of perfection as far as tonal balance is concerned, I don't really don't think I will be replacing these anytime soon. Like, really. My next headphone would severely have to blow my mind to impress me.

I mean, tonal balance aside, how does the hd600 compare to the dt880? Is it more resolving? Does it scale with amps better? Looking at the csd, I think I would've preferred the slower decay of the hd600 around the bass and lower mids, at the same time, i'd miss out on dt880's sub bass.

What amp pairing do you guys suggest? What dac do you guys suggest? What actual mods do you suggest? Would some felt do the equalizer's job better than equalizerAPO? Would a hardware equalizer?

And if not those, what headphone upgrade/sidegrade do you guys recommend considering my preference of tonal balance? (Just so that I have something to keep an eye out for in the used market).
« Last Edit: April 27, 2015, 05:32:20 AM by soulintension »
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Armaegis

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #22 on: April 27, 2015, 08:06:34 PM »
How much are you willing to spend on the cans/amp/dac?
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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

soulintension

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #23 on: April 28, 2015, 02:28:30 AM »
Idk. approx up to $500 plus whatever I get out of selling the dt880, but I guess its flexible. Either way i'm probably not gonna buy now (aside from an amp which i probably need right now) , I'm mostly just figuring out what gear to look out for in the used market.
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Armaegis

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #24 on: April 28, 2015, 04:35:47 AM »
So keep the DT880 and take that budget and combine it with your interface budget and get something that suits all your needs at once. That $700 range opens up a lot of options.
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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

soulintension

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #25 on: April 28, 2015, 08:29:46 AM »
Quote from: Armaegis on April 28, 2015, 04:35:47 AM
So keep the DT880 and take that budget and combine it with your interface budget and get something that suits all your needs at once. That $700 range opens up a lot of options.

Is the dt880 worth that much investment? Or is there a better headphone that is easier to drive?
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AstralStorm

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #26 on: April 28, 2015, 04:10:00 PM »
Hmm, Hifiman HE-4 is still available. Might be an interesting choice.
Combine with a smoother sounding amplifier and a small bit of equalization.
Alternatively, relatively unobtrusive and surprisingly easy to drive Sennheiser HD600.
Of those three, I'd stake my bets on HE-4.

HD600 scales much better than DT880/600, is flatter and cleaner, easier to drive too.
HE-4 has a bit of glare easily fixed by the removal of grille - requires a more powerful amplifier, but otherwise is not picky.
Both of those fit in $700 new with a decent AMP and DAC combo in Schiit Modi 2 + Magni 2, which works well with either of these.
(Especially well with the lighter DT880 and HE-4.)

Used, you should be able to grab even HE-500 in this budget and abovementioned combination. Though I'd dare say HE-4 is better.
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Armaegis

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #27 on: April 28, 2015, 04:35:56 PM »
Quote from: soulintension on April 28, 2015, 08:29:46 AM
Is the dt880 worth that much investment? Or is there a better headphone that is easier to drive?

Well you need an amp, and you need a dac, and you need something for recording, and you seem happy with the DT880... that's why I say spend the money on a high quality interface since that covers multiple needs.

And really, if you ditch the DT880 then go with the HD600. Or maybe the HE-4 like Astral suggests (I haven't heard that one myself).
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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

soulintension

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #28 on: April 29, 2015, 09:19:52 AM »
Oh, my bad, I meant 500 cad.

Also, I don't know if I'll want the he-4 based on the mere fact that it seems uncomfortable. And idk, it seems like its a tease that'll leave me wanting more... I guess I'll keep an eye out for used he560s (i imagine they're similar). tbh, i'm probably gonna end up with the hd600.

Anyways. This thread is only gonna get vaguer from here onwards. Thanks for the help. I think I'm gonna buy that 2i2 and a valhala 2.

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soulintension

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Re: Need help understanding amp pairing for dt880/600
« Reply #29 on: April 29, 2015, 09:22:05 AM »
Umm. Last question. How does the dac in the 2i2 compare to the modi/odac?
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