Hamsterer

I am actually very well acquainted with the Smurf cable having used it with my HD600s all this while. I believe they'll do a good job with the DT880 taking into account the differences heard between it and the stock HD600 cables. Of course, you are right. There's still that risk there. I understand one of the forum members did a DIY canare cable upgrade. Hmm.. I might want to try that using my existing HD600 cardas cable. Individual sonic traits, such as layering and so on, yes the HD650 may be able to outdo the DT880. However it is the overall sound, the overall sonic flavour of the HD650 that I find disagreeable. I was actually quite impressed when I listened to individual orchestral tracks here and there. However their flaws started to show while listening to full works. I find music appreciation difficult due to the nature of the sound. But I'd like to comment that I actually love the HD650s with pop and jazz, which I listen to occasionally. I'm also considering shelling out extra dough. Trying to get my hands on a ATH-W2002. I may pop over to Music by Design and audition the RS-1s as well. What is your opinion of the ATH-W2002? I doubt I'll prefer it to the DT880, but I am just keeping my options open.

So how? Any problems? Did the ER4S smell of earwax when you got them?? Sorry I just had to ask.

Hello fellas! After a couple of auditions, I felt that the DT880s are suitable for me. I actually disliked the HD650. While they sounded better on pop and jazz, I just can't accept that type of sound for classical music. The balance of the sound is tilted towards the lower end. This is disastrous for serious classical music listening. While it impresses sonically with its muscular authoritative weight and detail on orchestral tracks, for hour long symphonies it gets boring. Sounds monotonous. After 45mins, you get sick of "feeling" the music. The beyers with their higher treble balance seems more suited for classical orchestral. A long symphony is like watching a movie. With the beyers, I'm still with the storyline late in the movie. With the 650s, I'm lost in monotonous sounds. Of course, not saying that the HD650 are lousy phones. Like I said, they are sonically impressive. Just that they aren't my cup of tea. In actual fact, I suspect it could be because of the way the 1980s classical cds that I generally listen to are mastered. The DT931s. I preferred them to the HD650 as well. However found them to be somewhat lacking in the bass. DT880 offers up a good compromise. BTW, I understand that Headroom is offering a DT880 along with cardas cable upgrade! Yum yum! But I wonder are headroom reputable dealers? Check out this complaint by an overseas customer from netherlands: http://audioholics.audioreview.com/Headpho...39_2751crx.aspx True. He got what he wanted in the end. But that's only after complaining on audioreview! So do you have any experience with Headroom? I'm quite fearful of receiving a faulty DT880+cardas or an old second hand DT880!!!

Yes the CD-7 is a personal treasure of mine. I've got it for years now and totally fallen in love with it. In fact, my old system of odyssey stratos monoblocks and preamp and PMC speakers seemed to do more justice to the CD-7 than the sudgen+HD600 combo, sad to say. Yes, it is balanced but it does have unbalanced outputs. Ouch, the RS1 is too expensive for me. Its much more ex than the DT880 and the HD650. I will still give the Grados a listen, maybe one of these days, but I doubt I can justify the price.... The Grace should have the power. It is reputed to be able to drive the AKG K1000 without breaking into a sweat. Thus the HD650 should be of no problem. Yes it has balanced inputs. But is it a true balanced design? I'm going to pop gracedesign an email about this. I'm currently leaning more towards the HD650. But I will audition the beyers first. By the way Mackie, you mentioned you got the 650 for a steal? Hmm.... Where did you buy it? Thanks for your helpful replies!

Hello, I used to own a Marantz CD-7 source paired up with a heavily modded Sugden headmaster driving a pair of HD600 with the cardas smurf cable. I felt I wanted more resolution and dynamics with my music thus I recently sold off the headmaster amp. I generally listen to orchestral music and operas. I'm keeping the source but I am considering changing the cans. I'm thinking of the new Grace 902 for amplification. For the phones, I have narrowed my choices down to the HD650 or the DT880. What do you recommend? My findings so far: DT880 -extremely high resolution -great dynamics, speed and pace ( This is important to me. I enjoy listening to a great orchestra(e.g berlin philharmonic+karajan) blaze through a fast and furious modern piece. Also with this quality I can truely appreciate the nuances of the playing of great musicians. Ability to compare the playing of various great musicians and orchestras.) -ability to hear bass lines(something I value alot. With the old HD600s I generally can't really hear what the double basses and cellos are playing in loud complex orchestral pieces. Tho the fault could lie in the sugden.) HD650 So far what I read of this phone is that it is basically a souped up 600? I generally dislike overly smooth and syrupy systems. before I moved over to headphones, I preferred SS over tubes in general. Therefore any suggestions? I read of much comparisons between the DT880 and HD600. Seems like the DT880 suits my tastes better. However how does it compare with the HD650? While searching the forum, I stumbled across this post by a poster named Mackie: "FWIW, I dumped HD600 for DT880 and now, I'm completely bowled over by HD650. I can't imagine how glorious the cans will sound after a cable upgrade to Zu Mobious, Cardas, Equinox etc. " So the HD650 triumphs over the DT880 in all aspects? Please advise and discuss. Thanks and cheers