Headphones
Beyerdynamic DT 880 - 32 Ohm
At the other end of the audiophile spectrum from folks who like big bass are listeners who like their audio presented in a light, clear, precise tonality; enter the Beyerdynamic DT880. Capable of rendering the sounds of a fingernail stroke on gut, the stiction of rosin on a cello string, and the airy spaciousness of sound bouncing on cathedral walls, these full-size cans deliver musical detail and acoustic depth with extraordinary clarity. The DT880 may also be re-cabled with upgraded after-market Cardas Fat Pipe headphone cord and also re-terminated to XLR plugs for HeadRoom balanced amp operation.
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Product Features:
- Identical to standard DT880, but low-impedance design ideal for mobile/portable use
- Delivers an airy, spacious, accurate listening experience
- Easily replaceable earpads / cord for extended user life
- Optional re-cabling for standard or balanced operation available at HeadRoom
- 100% designed & manufactured in Germany
What's In The Box:
- 1/4" full-size plug adaptor
- Black padded travel/storage case
- Beyerdynamic owner's manual
Applications:
Germany's Beyerdynamic offered up a real contender for world's very best headphone with the DT880. This very efficient 32 Ohm low-impedance edition is better suited for use without a headphone amp and from low-power mobile/portable audio sources like iPod, iPad and laptop or notebook computers. Choose the standard 'high-impedance' Beyerdynamic DT880 250-Ohm model or -- better yet -- the DT880 600-Ohm model for perfect pairing with any quality headphone amp stage for a completely quiet background noise floor and maximized musical detail resolution. Although the Beyer DT-880 headphones are ever-so-slightly more 'forward-sounding' than what we can call perfectly "neutral", it still serves up a wonderfully engaging reference headphone listening experience. Expect absolutely TONS of detail clarity with crisply-rendered musical textures at all frequency ranges, and a precise, simply layered soundstage image with (thankfully) no harsh notes to be found. The DT880's mids and upper bass also hold together very well, so overall we hear a seamless and smooth-sounding presentation.
Amazingly expressive dynamics, superbly controlled highs, plus a sweet mid-range snap make the DT880 a very well-balanced can, but perhaps not the most ideal headphone choice for the heavy bass-loving hip-hop/rap/electronic crowd since the DT880 doesn't quite muster up the hefty bottom-end response required for anchoring modern funkitude. We think you'll love these headphones if you seek clear, clean sonics with plenty of airy musical detail, quick dynamics, excellent upper treble range extension, and a lively, ultra-open soundstage presentation. They are especially strong audio performers for classical, symphonic, chorale, chamber, and acoustic folk and jazz recordings. The DT880 also seem particularly good at speech intelligibility, female vocal textures, and film soundtrack detail recovery for truly immersive movie/DVD watching and will deliver a superb high-end home theatre personal listening experience. Moreover, the DT-880 have become big faves amongst audio professionals doing analytical recording work who demand timbral accuracy, instrumental detail, and precise musical clarity above all else.
By the way, we believe this most recent DT880 to be just a smidgeon stronger in the low-mids/bass than previous DT880 editions -- probably due to the extra damping material in the earpiece housing and (maybe?) the differently rounded earcup shape. The revised DT880 headphone also features a simpler plastic/alloy headband design and some fairly minor cosmetic re-workings compared to its forebearers. Please remember that about 250+ listening hours are required for the large-driver DT880 to fully 'burn-in' and acoustically perform at its very best.
The current edition of Beyerdynamic DT880 comes packaged in a re-usable soft-sided protective foam-padded box. The earpads are made of a very soft and plush grey velour material with a simple plastic/metal alloy headband that has also been slightly re-designed. Both parts are easily replaced with Beyerdynamic after-market replacement parts if they ever wear out. The DT880 provides multiple fit adjustments for great comfort and the headphones feel really solidly well-built. They'll certainly take constant use around the home/office and keep right on trucking that killer Beyerdynamic sound for a long time to come. The non-detachable 3-meter long (approx 9-ft) single-sided straight cord exits from the left earcup and terminates to a 1/8" (3.5mm) 'mini' plug. A screw-on adapter is handily provided by beyerdynamic. The 2-year manufacturer's product warranty remains standard with all Beyerdynamic premium headphones. 100% engineered/manufactured in Germany.
Specifications:
- Weight: 290 grams (w/o cord)
- Detachable Cable: No
- Isolation: -5dB ~ -10dB
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 32 Ohms
- Cord Length: 10 ft. (3 m)
- Cord Type: Straight Left-Side
- Coupler Size: Large
- Ear Coupler Type: Full-Size
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Acoustic Seal: Semi-Open
- Connector Type: 1/8
- Headphone Type: Full Size
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years
- Sensitivity: 96 dB
Average Rating
Posted by PsyUNIT from Dubai on 2010-03-22
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Very Comfortable, Detailed
Cons: none at this price
Good job Beyer. If these sound so good then wonder how the DT990 or Tesla 1 (which are a grade above) will sound ?
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by GN3RAL KARL from Colorado Springs on 2010-02-07
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Only Serta is more comfortable, Reference sound, Ruggedness that rivals an H2 Hummer
Cons: Highs might be a touch too bright for some.
My neck needs aspirin. It is not supposed to move this fast and hard for this long. Uncontrollable headboppin' comes with this dope package.
Highs 4.5/5 - Slightly forward, and highly resolved. Be engaged to enter into another realm. The highs are borderline immaculate. Leave the grain for a box of Wheaties, there's none up here. Piano's sound ultra-realistic on this can with a resolution that I've never heard before. Great extension with virtually no roll-off insures that you will get the full High-Def effect of the crystalline highs, regardless of the music genre.
Mids 5/5 - They are more forward than the 250 ohm version. Even the specs on Headroom dot com shows this on the graph. Voices and notes in the midrange make haste to reach your inner ear drum. In fact, the mids are so live, you'd swear there's a party going on in there. So if you decide to crash it, you will find all the main and supporting singers/vocals/notes brought to your immediate attention. Once again, nobody does vocals like Beyerdynamic. Lush like the Amazon rainforest, and smoother than a bottle of Grey Goose, the mids carry the "life" of the music and they are certainly done with justice on this 32 ohm model.
Lows 5/5 - Once again, these 1-up the 250 ohm model. The bass still goes subterranean deep, and is still tighter than a wedgie, except now, these come with a coupon. A coupon for about 20% more bass! No doubt, those that felt the 250 ohm didn't have enough, well I hope you're feeling greedy. These should satisfy your appetite now. Great extension and slam make for one incredibly well-balanced headphone when combined with the other ranges. The bass notes still have that 3D-like texture that is readily apparent across all music genres and movies. Once again, the Headroom graph shows more emphasis in this area.
Soundstage 5/5 - It's as wide as Aunt Betty, and about as deep as Microsoft's pockets. Fantastic imaging will bring that holographic effect to your tunes. Notes and their relative positions are easy to locate like a good GPS system. Well, you might as well get lost in here, because the music just surrounds you with utter precision and crystal-clear timbre. There is also a great sense of "air" between the notes that is naturally pleasing.
Detail Retrieval 5/5 - These are the most revealing phones I've ever heard. There were just a few little details that even my long-term M50's missed that the DT880's found. Still today, I'm hearing new details. Even though they're small, it's still new. Across the entire frequency band, you are sure to catch everything in your music and digested quickly by your ears. No doubt, the higher the quality of your source, the more these cans will reward you, and we all like that.
Value 5/5 - These are quite pricey, but to my tastes and needs no other can beats the performance/price/comfort/durability of these ones period. This review was written currently at just 3 hrs. of burn in., connected to a Sony NWZ-A729 Walkman and a Total Airhead amp sandwiched in between. Hands down, if you favor the Beyer sound, and need a less power-thirsty phone compared to the other models, look no further.
*Also to note, these cans can get as excruciatingly loud as my M50's, and those already have a high SPL to begin with, in addition with zero distorting of the sound and the bass notes. My previous 250 ohm model gave it up way before I was satisfied when it came to maximum volume. They would easily distort. So if you like it loud (like me), I assure you, this is the version to get. I can't comment though on the 32 ohm model of the DT770 or DT990.
Beyerdynamic DT880 32 ohm = V8 engine power with 4-cylinder efficiency.
Max Sound Level before distorting - 110db
30 out of 34 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by DJ Duke from Atlanta, GA on 2010-02-03
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Most Comfortable, Great Sound Quality, Great Value
Cons: None
I wanted a pair of headphones that offered superb audio quality, were extremely comfortable to wear for longer periods, and that did not need to be driven by a separate headphone amp/dac. I did quite a bit of reading on the head-fi forums and other internet-based sources/reviews and determined this headphone would be a great fit. In my opinion, these headphones were the perfect match for my criteria.
Now I must admit that I have not had the opportunity to demo many of the other high-end headphones sold here. I am sure that there are some that sound as good, if not (maybe) better. This is also a matter of opinion. However, at this price point, I doubt that you will find any cans that fit the criteria above any better.
The sound quality is simply awesome with lots of detail. The midrange and high frequencies are simply stunning. If you want a lot of boomy bass, you should look elsewhere. However, in my opinion, these headphones offer the right amount of quality bass frequencies and I would not consider this a deficiency at all.
Oh, the comfort factor! Hands down, these are the most comfortable headphones I have tried. It will be tough for me to ever put leather (or pleather) earcups to my ears ever again. I'm sure the "semi-open" design helps here as well. I can wear these headphones for hours without ear fatigue or much heat build-up at all.
I have not had the opportunity to discover what adding a dedicaded amp/dac would do for these headphones. Given their lower impedance rating, I have not had a problem finding enough volume from my iPod, desktop, or my home audio receiver. Keep in mind that this is a general statement and largely affected by the volume level in each individual recording. There have been a couple of recordings that I wish had a tad more volume out of the iPod, but never an issue with my desktop or home audio receiver. That being said, I do have to turn the iPod volume up to usually 70%-90% of max in order to achieve my desired volume.
Based on all my research reading, there would probably be some further improvement achieved by adding a dac/amp and I am considering that option. Unfortunately, if you're like me, funds are by no means unlimited and I am still interested in "bang for the buck".
Bottom Line.......Get these headphones if you are looking to meet the same criteria as I had. You will not be disappointed!
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Did you?
