Headphone questions.....

Up Tempo wrote: I've been looking a numerous audiophile cans and I have noticed that some models are available in different resistances ranging from 32ohm to 600ohm. I'm quite interested in the Beyerdynamic DT880pro cans which are available in different specifications. My question is which is best in terms of sound reproduction? If money was no object which would offer the best return if coupled to hi end components etc?

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum.
It's bewildering trying to make a headphone choice. I'm sure that Ash will have some advice, he has researched a good number of headphones and currently favours the Sennheiser HD 540 and HD560. his views are worth following up in his own section on the forum.
He might even sell you a pair of refurbed phones! That's best value for money, forget the cost no option route it just doesn't work.

Ian

Yes, Ash, you´re right. It is a question of how they are driven.

The DT 880´s (semi-open system) sound is by trend analytic respectively neutral. With a lot of power and accuracy. But not with sibilance. As far I can trust my ears....
The partner model, the 990, is an open system. I´ve never heard it but people say this one sounds a little harsh. 


Just these days I´m listening with an Ultrasone HFE 2400. And the Ultrasone cans have a system called S-Sound logic (or similar name). With this system many people have problems listening a stronger sibilance.

One source before the Lautus / Solo / PSU1 (borrowed from the Reflex M) / HFE 2400 is an old Revox B260 tuner. If you are listening to different stations at the B260 you can hear sound differences strongly. And some sounds really sibilant, and some more smoothy. So, Ash is right, it´s not only the can. It is the combination of sources, wires, amp and can.

Basically, the difference between the resistance is that the less resistance needs not so much power and is more useful for portables. On the other side, the higher the resistance the smoother the sound.

In case of the DT 880 please listen to the different versions, ideally with your equipment. 250 OHM is the standard version.

Yes, this is significant correct. Thank you very much, TG.

Please, consider that there are three versions of the DT880:

• Pro -             Version for Studios, monitoring, mixing etc
• Edition -       Home version
• Manufaktur  Home version with some parts to indivdualize, to order bey Beyerdynamic directly

All versions can be ordered with the three different resistances as described in my last thread.

The Pro version is obviously more neutral calibrated than the Home versions.