beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Headphones Description:
Proving that not all headphones are created equal, the award-winning Beyerdynamic DT 880 high-end headphones combine the strengths of both open and closed technologies to reproduce the complete sound spectrum in stunning detail. The high frequencies sound crystal clear without ever coming across as unpleasant, the balanced mids sound analytical and strong, and the bass is voluminous without being too obtrusive. In total, the phones produce a rich frequency response of 5 Hz to 35 kHz, making everything from classical music to hip-hop to big-budget movie soundtracks sound rich and immersive. The DT 880 headphones are also extremely comfortable during extended listening sessions, with a single-sided cable, replaceable soft ear pads, and a padded headband. And as an aesthetic bonus, the phones offer classic grilles made of high-grade steel. Other features include a semi-open back design, an innovative bass-reflex system, a gold-plated 1/8-inch mini stereo jack plug, a 1/4-inch adapter, and a black carrying case. Made in Germany, the phones weigh 10.4 ounces and carry a two-year warranty.
- Brand: beyerdynamic
- Model: DT 880
- Dimensions: 8.50″ h x 4.00″ w x 7.00″ l,
Features
- High-end semi-open headphones with true sound definition and phenomenal bass response
- Reproduces immersive three-dimensional acoustics with 5 Hz to 35 kHz frequency response
- Combines best of open and closed technologies to reproduce complete sound spectrum
- Single-sided cable, replaceable soft ear pads, and padded headband for comfort
- 1/8-inch gold-plated stereo mini jack and 1/4-inch adapter
Customer Reviews:
A reasonably priced classic
Although I prefer the AKG K701 for most of my listening, this competing entry from Beyer is so close that it’s almost a coin toss. (One recent comparison in a headphone artcle came up with a dead heat.)
This is surprising, considering that the DT880 is one of the most reasonably priced of the major mid-priced headphones. The bass is full but nicely textured - not a touch of bass bloat to be found here. The highs are detaied and never seemed sharp to me, and the overall sound offers a huge soundstage. Instead of the music being on top of your, these Beyers lend a perceived distance of a few feet; ths makes classical music sound doubly elegant, and surprisingly makes rock music grandiose in an appealing kind of way.
These headphones don’t require a headphone amp, but certainly profit from one. The 30 ohm version makes for more volume, though the 250 ohm version is standard, and best for most daily listening.
The DT880 sounds great, but lacks a tad of the K701’s high-end sparkle. Conversely, Beyer’s value, comfort, and workmanship can’t help but impress. This is a phone that has labored under the shadow of the AKGs and the Senn 650s, but listeners are always impressed by the DT880s sound. It may be your best value in a mid-priced, all-purpose headphone.
Pure and refined beauty …
I do not have much experience with comparing of headphones, but I simply adore these. I use these beyerdynamic DT 880’s mainly for listening to music (but they are also great for movies as well). I use them mainly in combination with my (humble?) NAD C-352 Stereo Integrated Amplifier for listening to CD’s and DVD’s. I have not yet tried them in combination with a headphone amplifier plugged into a mobile player or computer, but directly connected to the NAD C-352 they sound just wonderful, certainly the best I have personally heard so far - but I do have a limited budget ;-).
These DT 880’s from beyerdynamic are actually only my second pair of high-end (?) headphones I have ever owned. Actually, my preferred way of listening to music is via headphones. I live on my own, I do have a pair of wonderful speakers (the exquisite, clean and clear-sounding Monitor Audio Silver RS6 - in a sense they sound quite like the headphones under review here), but one does have to take the presence of neighbours into account 
For those reasons I expect - and are constantly on the lookout for - the best (for as far as my relatively limited wishes are concerned). I think I now may have found it.
My ‘infatuation’ with the luxury of ‘best possible sound’ reproduced by headphones began only a few years ago, when, after careful consideration, I decided to buy myself a pair of Grado SR-80’s. I think they are simply some of the best - not even taking into account the ‘low’ price of this set (certainly for such great sound). But as goes in these things, somehow I wanted even more, like maybe a little less harsh or direct sound (more ’rounded’) and a better sense of soundstage (both very desirable for things like opera and symphonic/orchestral music), while at the same time retaining the same clarity and refinement of the Grado SR-80’s, and so I began to look out for something even ‘better’. Better is of course a relative term, certainly when comparing these two wonderful sets of (differently priced) headphones, both with their own distinctive ‘character’.
ABOUT THE QUALITY THEY OFFER. These DT 880’s are more expensive than the Grado SR-80’s, but they are indeed better: they do offer more for the extra money (they are about twice the price, but certainly worth it, IMHO, certainly if one can spare the money). Well, they certainly sound different. To me, the DT 880’s sound finely analytical, but at the same time ‘relaxed’ and ‘civilized’ or ‘refined’, offering a fine balance between the highs, middles and lows, without favoring any of those in any obvious way, thereby ‘drowning out’ any other element within the sound picture, like singing voices (which are, actually, like everything else, reproduced wonderfully crisp and clear, revealing more of their finer nuances and details than other headphones). I certainly like this very much; it is just what I want. Nothing is ever too much ‘in your face’ and at the same time you get the chance to hear a wealth of detail without getting fatigued. This last thing may have something to do with the fact that the reproduced sound is set - unlike any other set of headphones I have ever tried (up to now) - within a naturally wide and open soundstage: the feeling of ‘as if you were there yourself’, especially pleasant with opera-recordings and movies. This quality of the DT 880’s is especially obvious in (live) recorded performances set within a wider acoustic space. The natural and honest sound-reproduction really pays great dividents here: one does really get a sense of the acoustics of the space the recording was made, adding greatly to the enjoyment, at least to this particular listener.
Maybe one slight ‘disadvantage’ of this honesty of reproduction may to some people be that any possible shortcomings of a recording (like hiss in analogue recordings) also become somewhat more apparent than with other headphones. But I personally have not found this to be annoyingly so, comparing the difference with my other headphones.
IMHO, one cannot go wrong with these headphones. They are really, really great. They offer an extremely clear, honest, wide-ranging and detailed sound picture that is extremely pleasing and refined (don’t read ‘bland’!) to the ear, but which truly brings out the best in any recording of any kind of music, I think.
I have grown to love them. If you can or would only want to spare the money for just one great set of high-end headphones that will serve all your needs, then these are the ones, I believe. Please try these for yourself and be amazed. Highly recommended.
A real contender for the best headphone available
These sound wonderful, especially when driven by a quality headphone amp. Top to bottom, lows, mids and highs, these headphones reproduce all types of music faithfully. The presenation and soundstage are a bit forward of what Sennheiser offers, but not so pronounced as to conflict with more sweeping classical pieces. Even on high-engergy rock music, they shine.
The comfort is top-notch, though if you haven’t worn full-size over-the-ear (circumaural) headphones, anything in this class will require an adjustment. The round earpads do allow a variety of positions, whereas other ‘phones with oval pads may form to your head slightly better, they do not allow variation in position.
The Sennheiser HD650 may edge out this headphone in ultimate performance, but not by a wide margin. The price and comfort are big advantages of this headphone, so many people may make this their overall top choice.
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