Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
Philips X1 and X2HR
I just got my Sennheiser HD6xx and am awaiting the arrival of the Hi-fi Man HE-4xx.
My Sony WH-1000XM2 rounds out the over-ear headphone department.
The DT880s are much more neutral, they're very mild mannered but can go low if you ask them to. Not a lot of sparkle up top, but a great soundstage and the midrange is nearly faultless. If you like jazz and vocal oriented music they are my recommendation.
If you want your skull imploded with sub bass grab the 1770s...
I've owned 2 different sets of DT990s.
The first was a premium 600 ohm in silver with the "potato peeler" head band. It was as Jaydunndiddit said quite trebly,with a healthy "spike." It actually paired quite nicely with my tube amp, which softened up the treble a bit.
I also have a brand new Black "limited edition" that is 250 ohm and the same style headband as the DT1990 (but without the nice leather, sadly). It is markedly less aggressive in the treble region, nearly to DT880 levels of mildness, it also has the least clamping pressure of any BD headphone I've owned (it's several).
I use my 6xx with the DarkVoice are you able to provide any feedback on how the 880 or 990 are relative to the 6xx and would you recommend 250 or 600 ohm versions?
I would say that the DT880s are the most "pleasing" of the two BD choices you laid out. I'm listening to the Budos Band's first album on them right now through the DV and they are truly in their element. Jazzy, midrange-centric tracks are where they really shine, but they can really lay down a funky, jazz bass line with some authority too. I would say their soundstage is about the same as the HD6XX, while they may not be quite as resolving up top, they are more satisfying down low.
The DT990s are not your everyman headphone. If you are sensitive to upper registers, these are not your headphones; even though the DV does calm the treble down considerably compared to solid state (they are almost unbearable on the Emotiva A-100 Bas-x). They aren't "sibilant" as they are quite accurate with little hiss, but I would use the term "piercing." Listening to Bing Crosby's "They All Laughed" on these, even through the DV is tough. Tenebrae's "Misere" is right on the edge of what a human voice can do, and the 990s capture that unfailingly, but it is still ridiculously high and piercing, even if it is faithfully rendered. Despite all that, the soundstage is AMAZING and accurate. Instrument placement and separation is very good, but maybe not quite as good as the HD6XXs. Bass and sub bass blows the HD6XXs out of the water, it's like comparing an single match to a bonfire. But what's more telling is that if it isn't in the mastering of the track, they don't show their hand on their bassiness, it's either there, or it isn't. Which I personally prefer.
I'm actually listening to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings right now on my DV w/6xx.
I've been leaning towards the 880s and will probably move forward with those. I am probably going to try the 990s as well at some point. I'm not super sensitive to highs, but can find them fatiguing after a time. I have an old set of Grado SR80 that I love, but can only listen to in short spurts.
Since you like this genre try out The New Mastersounds, very exciting UK based funk.