beyerdynamic DT 880 Edition 250 Ohm Headphone

Product Information

For movies, I do believe its lack of bass is its downfall as it can make scenes sound drier than in other sources due to lack of presence of bass. The padded headband is simple but great for long listening - I never once felt it was touching my head (unlike the lumpy one found on the AKG Q/K701). The bass from the DT770 is a bit stronger, and less boomy, but the DT770's treble is unpleasantly peaky. The beyerdynamic DT 880 comes in at least three different versions with different impedances: 32Ω, 250Ω, and 600Ω. Moreover, due to its tuning, bass quantity can be scarce for some making it feel quite anemic however that is not in my case as I do really quite like the presentation of the bass that is less boomy but tight and fast.

As for soundstage, there are hints of 3D in it, but it's too narrow and shallow to precisely position instruments.

The soundstage is MUCH wider on the Q701s, notes hang in the air more, and the treble, while bright, is more like a plateau, and not a mountain range of spikes. Another easy solution is to use a headphone extension cord, which doubles as a security measure to avoid damaging the cable in case of a snag. The cable is single entry, 3 metres long with a solid rubber coating and terminated in a 1/8 inch jack with a 1/4 inch screw-on adapter. On the other hand, the Beats are more versatile since they have an integrated mic, onboard controls, and an ANC feature that blocks out an impressive amount of noise.

When driven poorly the treble is the first thing to get rolled off and so doesn't cause too much of a problem there either - you just lose some detail. PS: I acquired the DT 990 Premium and Schiit Valhalla used from a local friend two weeks after my DT 880's came. Unlike some headphones, which can be picky with source material, the DT880 sounds appealing with a symphony, or playing an old demo tape. Sound Stage- a very high energy and multi layered track, with so many individual pieces working together a large sound stage is crucial. The careful listener will prefer this DT 880 because it sounds right, while the boosts in the DT 990 and DT770 aren't exactly pretty.I find the understated blend of black and grey shades very pleasing, and the mix of metal and top-quality plastic makes it very robust. I stand by the scoring, and my comments in the summary, pros and cons concisely sum up my thoughts on the DT880. size=medium] I would only really recommend compromising on the 250ohm version if you know that you will be using a USB powered DAC/amp (or something similar) most often.

The Beyerdynamic have a brighter overall sound profile, with less bass and a stronger presence in the higher frequencies, although they can also sound a bit piercing or even painful to some. Low-treble is well-balanced, but treble is over-emphasized by an average of 5dB, peaking at 12dB around 9KHz. Over all an incredibly balanced and airy sound, filled with many details and excellent 2D and 3D sound stage. size=medium] If you want to be able to run the DT880 from a portable player then it would make sense to opt for the 32ohm version. The DT 880's neutral spectral balance is from the professional monitoring market, and less like boosted home hi-fi headphones.There is an undeniable truth to that with any 'neutral' headphone, but despite it not being suitable for bass-heads, it does still have a highly addictive quality. I would prefer to pair DT880’s with a OTL tube amp for music listening, then the mids will open out much better and highs much more sweeter and in control. You can use the 32Ω version with high-performance equipment; its sound is the same, and if you have a great headphone amplifier like the Benchmark DAC1 HDR, its performance won't be degraded by the lower impedance. In any case, you won't hear what this headphone is possible to deliver if you don't pair it with a high-quality amplifier and DAC.

Overall I would still give a slight edge to the HD 600 in comfort because pressure is more evenly distributed on the larger oval ear cups, and they are more breathable. I know that many say that this headphone does have a recessed midrange, but if it is then it’s very, very mild.

size=medium] * A headphone's signature (or presentation) influences how much an individual enjoys their music, as much as, if not more than, things like detail and soundstage. The DT 880 beats out every other Mid-Fi headphone I've tried or owned in terms of build quality, hands down.