Beyerdynamic DT 770

Hi all!

I have used the Audio Technica ATH-W1000, it is a very nice unit but pricey. Currently I have a few closed back units that sound very good but may need a bit of tweaking. For example:

I understand that you have ruled them out on price, but my favourite with the Green Solo is the ATH-W1000 to which I fitted the leather W5000 pads for greater comfort.

On the strength of their performance with the Solo and Grahams recommendation perhaps shortlist the ATH A900.

Sorry, I am no help WRT UK retailers.

If you were to check headfi forum you might find a UK meet where it would be possible to audition many phones you would be unlikely to find in a retailers.

Rushun, hello.

I can say with feeling I know where you're coming from... in fact I'm 'there' (Mrs + Junior multiplayer on the DS... loudly ) right now with the HD250s pumping PJ Harvey. I agree the 250s can be exposing but I find generally in a good way... maybe I've just been lucky with recordings.

I had to work hard to track down a pair earlier this year (they're officially discontinued but stoneaudio.co.uk currently shows a pair in stock) after reading Graham's frequent comments & disclosure that they've been a key development tool.

IMHO... Pros
- generally engaging and honest... and when there's bass in the recording, you get bass
- certainly immersive (Richard Ashcroft 1st solo sounds amazing)
- isolation is pretty good provided you have good coupling
- consistent with the Senn house sound
- good at mid and higher volume
- lightweight(ish) & medium comfort (has anyone tried beyer velour with them?)
- easy cable upgrade (supplied cable is OK but I hear a clear improvement even with 650 stock)
- good mid-sized soundstage (tho' smaller than DT770)
- good instrument positioning
- Better for rock than HD650... more energy 'up top'

IMHO... could be better
- construction (tempted to get a spare for when they break)
- ear coupling - sometimes struggle to get good position and long hair is a disadvantage
- needs a proper amp to sing at all... for me the voyager doesn't quite do it with the 250s (you have a solo, so no problem)
- once or twice I have found them fatiguing but could've been a mood, recording or volume issue

If I just wanted one closed pair for use at home with the solo, the 250s would definitely be it.

I haven't heard most of Mrarroyo's list tho' for me W1000 isolation is not great and its a very different sound sig from Senn.

My other closed cans are DT770pro (an occasional change of colour), HD280 (robust and good isolation but not for critical listening) and HD25 (with 650 cable, wonderful to take anywhere with the voyager... if I could only have 1 pair of cans, it would be these for their complete versatility).

For ref. my main open cans are HD650, K701 & RS-1 all of which do different but brilliant jobs (and all can surprise you... Led Zep on the K701s, Hounds of Love on the RS-1).

I've read good things about Senn HD215 for ~£45 but probably notches below any of the other suggestions.

Places to go in UK to try/test? Now that's an issue that makes me wanna set up in that kind of business. I've mainly bought on recommendation/spec but Harrow Audio (www.harrowaudio.com) are now AT & Denon dealers but you'd have to arrange a demo well in advance for A900/ W1000 / W5000 / D2000/ D5000. (they know me as the local GSP raver but aren't quite upmarket enough to want to stock GS products)

Other places... dv247.com (London and elsewhere), noteworthyaudio.co.uk in Aylesbury, Shasonic (Tott court road)/Hifi care (Watford).

Good luck finding your own private heaven in the living room


James


P.S. when I get some £££, I plan to investigate Beyer DT48e/150 and maybe AT/Denon... or it could be a journey into vinyl

Edited by jamescodway - 29 Nov 2008 at 6:56pm