Would I like DT770/DT 880/DT 990?

[archosman]

I tend to go between an ER4P/S and the Senn 600s. Was in a music store today and noticed that they carried these Beyers. Anyone have any experience with either or would they recommend one or the other based on my current listening experiences?

They were both $239

[Salt Peanuts]

Bit off topic, but were they the current Beyer models? If so, $239 is a pretty darn good price for 880 and 990.

[archosman]

Don't know. Is there some way of checking the box for manufacturer dates? I suspect they don't move a lot of them.

They also had some sort of Elec(sp?) brand as well. Awful bronze/gold color and looked sort of like 7506. Also carry the Westone U1s and U2s. I think the U2s were 299... but I'm not 100% sure on that.

[Salt Peanuts]

They look like the pics below -

880

990

[archosman]

I'll have to go back. Is there a preference for old/new?

Kind of curious what people's opinion are. There are too many fanboys over at the other site to get a good barometer...

[Salt Peanuts]

IIRC, the old 880's were too bright and harsh, and old 990's were bit muddy and had recessed mids. Don't know about new ones since I haven't heard them.

[aerius]

IIRC, the old 880's were too bright and harsh, and old 990's were bit muddy and had recessed mids. Don't know about new ones since I haven't heard them.

With regards to the 880, the old one is like getting a root canal with no anesthetic, the new one is like getting a root canal without enough anesthetic. To me, it's just a matter of which one's treble is more piercing and painful.

I own a Senn 580 which I'm enjoying a lot on my vinyl rig, and it's actually pretty decent on my tube amp setup. I've heard all versions of the 880 & 990 and to be honest I hated the damn things, and I can't really see how a Senn person could like them. I can see how Grados and AKGs can compliment Senns and make for a good alternate 'phone to listen to, but to me the Beyers are so far out there that they don't make sense at all.

[socrates63]

The ER4P/S and HD600 are 'phones I use frequently. I tried the old DT880 on a couple of occasions and hated it, but I really like the new DT990. I use it regularly with the other headphones.

Overall, the DT990 is brighter than the HD600. Speaking of fanboys, I decided to pick up the DT990 (250 ohm) based in large part to Skylab's comments. My impressions agree with his experience so the DT990 turned out to be something I was looking for.

For the price, you haven't much to lose if you decide to sell later.

[kpeezy]

IIRC, the old 880's were too bright and harsh, and old 990's were bit muddy and had recessed mids. Don't know about new ones since I haven't heard them.

New DT990s still have recessed mids... Then again, I use Sextetts & K271s...Maybe I'm too biased.

[socrates63]

True, the mids on the new DT990 are a little recessed.

[postjack]

I owned a DT990 '05 edition early in my headphone career, and remember enjoying them. I still sold them though. I would like to hear them again someday to see how they hold up now that I have more experience.

[ph0rk]

I found the 990 05's treble too much eventually. Not every recording brought it out, but those that did, yeesh.

[Dusty Chalk]

What's the store's return policy? If it's good, go buy 'em, try 'em, and decide for yourself.

And then, if you don't like them, do return them.

I would go with the 880's, myself, I think it's an excellent headphone.

The preference is almost universally for the newer versions.

[archosman]

Also found a pair of 701s down the street... but they're more expensive.

[augustwest]

I've own both the dt990's & 880's, both the older editions. I didn't like the 880's, mainly because they didn't have a "fat" enough sound and lacked the quanity of bottom end that I was seeking. The 990's improved both those areas, so I kept them and still have them. With 990's I haven't experienced the recessed mids and srill highs that some talk about. I guess it just depends on how you amp them.

At the last < International Headfi > meet I had a chance to compare the dt990 '03 & '05 editions. I'd heard at that time everyone raving on what an improvement the '05's were. For my listening, I found just the oposite to be true and preferred the '03's by a substanial margin.

- augustwest

[hwalker]

I've owned the old DT880 before and current have been using the ER4P and the HD650 for years. The DT880 in many ways similar to the HD650 but (and a big but) with a major boost in the treble area and a wider soundstage but with less depth.

Now the treble makes it "airy" but often the sibilance got out of control. Some people would like it that way but to me there was just something that made the DT880 uninvolving. Was it the midrange? Lack of warmth? I don't really know. Then again I prefer the ER4P/S over any headphone and many would call the ER4 uninvolving.

On the otherhand, the DT880 is very very well built, I think it's much more durable than the Sennheisers or Audio-Technicas, which is a plus if you plan to carry it around. Also I liked the fairly neutral presentation of low midrange and bass, but at the end wasn't too happy with how it handled upper range and vocals felt too "light."

[Bigguy]

Any love for DT770/80 Pro's? I am thinking of picking a pair up on monday's presidents sale at Guitar Center. I prefer to buy from dealer rather than ebay. Used ones are either abused or gone by the time I see them.

[krrm]

Imo they are good "work" phones because they are closed, isolate well and they can take a lot of beating. Oh and they can be driven well from a laptop, but the Pico did good for my pair. Soundwise I think there are better choices, there is a little to much of the wrong kind of bass for my liking.

[Dusty Chalk]

I have two pairs of DT770's, but neither are 80 ohms. I love them, they are rather durable, and they play rock and electronica well. Others have complained about them being overly sibilant, but nothing that 10,000 khrs. of burn-in won't cure. I don't tend to be sensitive to sibilance, but neither will I argue with those with more sensitive ears than mine.