beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Edition 250 Ohm Over-Ear-Stereo Headphones. Semi-Open Design, Wired, high-end, for The Stereo System

To start with, readers of this review must realize that the 250-ohm version of these phones was designed by beyerdynamic to be used with a fairly powerful home audio system. The 32-ohm version was designed to be a better match for the iPod/laptop crowd... of which I am not a member. For me, the reason for this purchase was rather specific: I have a moderately high-end 5.1 home theater setup (Yamaha / Klipsch / Philips / Toshiba / 58" Samsung Hi-Def Plasma), and for quite a while now, I've been looking for a way to watch DVDs and listen to CDs late at night, without disturbing my neighbors (I live in a fairly upscale 55+ mobile home park)... but also without losing the incredibly accurate sound fidelity to which I have become deeply and happily accustomed. Finally -- having read almost every online review that exists of the 880's and their chief competitors -- based on my listening tastes, I decided on the 880 Premiums. Upon first listening to them, I will admit that they seemed to be very slightly treble-heavy -- and a bit light on the bass end. Even so... without any break-in at all, I thought they sounded REALLY amazing -- very clear and clean -- and initially, I honestly could not have been more surprised and pleased. That was two weeks ago. Since then -- while I've listened to a number of CDs and watched several DVDs -- in order to more rapidly burn them in, I've been playing CDs through them almost around-the-clock, with them mounted on a foam cushion, instead of my head. As of this evening, they have accumulated just over 200 hours of use, so I consider the burn-in to have reached completion, and -- as I'd hoped -- the further into the burn-in process the 880's have gone, the more even, smooth and true they've ended up sounding. So, amazingly, what started out as being phenomenally good -- to my ears, at least -- has gotten INFINITELY better! While my DVD collection includes every type of film imaginable, my CDs and music-concert DVDs are primarily jazz and classical. Last night, I watched Pat Metheny's "Speaking of Now: Live" DVD, and even though the spacial representation of DTS 5.1 is lost, the accuracy of sound reproduction through the 880's was flawless, and their sound stage is open enough that I never felt as though I wasn't "in" the film. I also found this to be true while watching my Blu-Ray of "Avatar" the night before; COMPLETELY realistic. Tonight, I watched my Blu-Ray of "Jeff Beck - performing this week... live at Ronnie Scott's", featuring the 20-something phenom Tal Wilkenfeld on electric bass. Let me just say... while many reviewers seem to feel that the 880's bass response is somewhat lacking, I personally am ASTOUNDED at their ability to so clearly define, express, and reproduce every nuance of intonation and touch in the playing (for instance) of acoustic standup bass... right down to the lowest notes of which the instrument is capable. At the same time, neither deep electric bass notes nor loud, low drumtones are ever the least bit harsh, distorted, or uncomfortable in any way... yet they are fully, perfectly, and accurately THERE. Pure pleasure! And while the 880's certainly can't reproduce the (literally) earth-shaking Low Frequency Effects of which my 12-inch Klipsch sub-woofer is capable, the very-low-frequency response of these phones, in the midst of explosive, calamitous film action, is FAR beyond my expectations. Several times now, in fact, in the middle of some on-screen battle or disaster scene, I honestly have spontaneously taken the 880's off my ears, just to make sure that my sound system really was NOT on! Final evaluation: WOW. I absolutely LOVE them! Update, December 13, 2012: By way of reinforcing my conclusions, as represented in the above review, I'd like to add that, over the past eighteen months, I have become so enthralled with the accuracy of sound reproduction of the 880 Premiums, and with how incredibly comfortable they are (again -- so as not to disturb my neighbors late at night -- I often wear them for four or five hours at a time), that I bought a second pair of them a few weeks ago, so that a visiting friend can enjoy a (sometimes exceedingly loud) late-evening film or CD with me. And what's truly nice about that, is that even though we're both wearing headphones, it remains a genuinely "shared" experience... which would not be possible if we were wearing "closed" headphones. Because of the "semi-open" design of the 880s, we are still able to make comments to each other during the film, or carry on normal conversation, without having to remove our headphones or pause the film or CD -- just as we would if we weren't wearing headphones at all. Allow me to repeat myself: W-O-W. I absolutely LOVE these things!

300 Ohm version, driven through Massdrop O2+SDAC. Outdated by the JDS Atom but the O2 design is by far the most affordable and legendary for cutting the bull on precise and transparent DAC equipment. This is a professional-grade headphone so for use I recommend getting the 300 Ohm version; If you don't have an amp get the Fiio E10. Haven't tried it but it is said to work out for you if you are a beginner. I was compelled to write a review after my roommate and I had a lengthy discussion about the headphones' use of framing for music. Compared to other headphones? My past critical listening experience are Onkyo A800's and the Sony MDR-1ADAC. I've tried Bose and Sennheiser and nothing comes close to the clarity of the DT880's. The bass separation and complexity of compositions are well kept with these headphones, to which nothing seems muddied. The bass is more on the balanced side but it will deliver a kick thanks to the open-eared design of the headphones; lower frequencies sound much more broad and tight due to the large soundstage the DT880's offer. The higher frequencies on the other hand are another story to tell--Beyerdynamic is notorious for EQ'ing their headphones to a higher treble. Cymbals, trumpet and sax shrills during high solos, classical staccatos, shoegaze fortes: all will literally pierce your skull. You are literally bound to the music and are supposed to feel the thrill of being gagged and tied while the light of freedom surrounds you. This discrepancy can be equated to being in a prison cell with a window looking out to the green hills: because of the constraint, the creative freedom takes over--and you can walk through the walls. This headphone is best for classical, jazz, vocal and live but you can probably EQ it to fit other genres. Compared to other Beyerdynamic headphones? This is Beyerdynamic's most balanced headphone. Do not convince yourself of the semi-open advertising; they are just as isolating and offer just a big soundstage as the open-eared 990's. This is the best sub-$500 headphone I have ever experienced. I only tally for $500 because the best sub-$1000 is the Beyerdynamic 1990 which I don't think is fair for the DT880's range of quality to stretch to that extent. Comfort? Most comfortable headphones I have ever worn in my entire life are the MDR-1ADAC's. Leather earpads that are super soft with a padded leather headband. Entire albums back to back with no ear fatigue nor pain in my noggin from headclamp (I think like .7 lbs of force on your head). The DT880's (at least the Edition) has velour earpads which are soft but almost carpet-like and aren't really plush. Headclamp is excruciating right out of the box (1 lbs force) it can only be worn for 20, 30 minutes. The earpads are comfortable though and won't dampen your ear like close-eared or leather-padded headphones.

...das ist eine Frage, die sich in Anbetracht des aktuellen Preisgefüges sicher so einige stellen werden. Auch ich musste mich entscheiden, und habe sie daher aktuell beide hier zum Probehören. Zunächst mal zum Äußeren: Der DT 880 Edition (~160€) tritt hier gegen den DT 990 Pro (~120€) an. Optisch ist der DT 880 der klare Sieger. Abgerundete Kanten, silber, mit Lochblech macht er einen sehr hochwertigen Eindruck. Dagegen der DT 990 Pro mit seinem etwas kantigeren, recht altbacken wirkenden Kunststoffgrill. Einzig das Kopfbügel-Polster des DT 990 Pro gewinnt eindeutig: Es ist weicher und hat schöne Druckknöpfe. Dagegen steht eine art „Zip-Lock“ beim DT 880 Edition und ein insgesamt etwas festeres Material. Möglicherweise ist letzteres ja haltbarer, das wird sich zeigen. Ansonsten ist es ja problemlos möglich, das Polster der Pro-Reihe als Ersatzteil zu kaufen und an den Edition zu knüpfen. Das Spiralkabel der Pro-Reihe ist mir ehrlich gesagt zu schwer und sperrig, ich bevorzuge das gestreckte Anschlusskabel der Edition. Beide sind übrigens mit einem hochwertigen Silikonmantel geschützt, der sich schön anfasst. Insgesamt ist das Kabel aber ein bisschen zu steif für meinen Geschmack. Robust ist es allemal. Im Studio-Einsatz ist ein Spiralkabel aber sicher die bessere Wahl. Ich will den Kopfhörer aber hauptsächlich für Home Recording einsetzen und zum Musik hören. Viel relevanter dürfte aber der Klang sein. Was nützt die schönste Optik, wenn der Sound nicht stimmt. Ich habe so einiges im Vorfeld gelesen: Der 880 sei der ausgewogenste und klangtreuste der Reihe, der 990 habe dagegen gefällig-dezent angehobene Bässe. Manche sagen, beide haben dein „Beyer-Peak“, manche sagen, beim 880 sei er nicht vorhanden oder weniger stark ausgeprägt. Auch über das Thema offen oder halboffen gehen die Meinungen auseinander. Fangen wir hinten an: Gegen Kopfhörer anderer Hersteller würde ich die „Geräuschbelästigung“ der Umwelt sowohl beim 880 als auch beim 990 eher im Bereich „offen“ ansetzen. Halboffene Modelle anderer Hersteller dämpfen das Umgebungsgeräusch meiner Meinung nach stärker. Ob der 880 den Beyer-Peak nun hat oder nicht, vermag ich mangels Vergleichsmöglichkeit oder Messtechnik aktuell nicht genau zu sagen. Klanglich trifft er jedoch genau meinen Geschmack, einen eventuell vorhandener Peak bei 7-10kHz vermag ich nicht wahrzunehmen. Der 990 hingegen klingt unangenehm schrill und harsch in den Höhen, was mir erst richtig bewusst geworden ist, als ich ein bisschen Elektronisches konsumiert habe. Ich komme eher aus der Metal- und Rock-Ecke, und in diesen Genres fallen diese Höhen nicht so extrem auf. Die „dezent“ angehobenen Bässe des 990 sind in meinen Ohren alles andere als dezent. Zunächst mal sei für die weniger versierten Hörer kurz gesagt: von beiden Kopfhörern kann man prinzipbedingt keine Basswiedergabe wie bei In-Ears oder einem Subwoofer erwarten. Klingt der 880 auch „untenrum“ angenehm neutral und ausgewogen, empfinde ich den 990 einfach nur als störend. Ja, es ist deutlich mehr „Punch“ zu hören, aber der „Wow“-Faktor wie bei In-Ears bleibt trotzdem aus. Die Überbetonung liegt eher im Bereich der Tiefmitten statt im Bass und ist schon nach kurzer Zeit extrem Ohrermüdend. Ich habe ein unangenehm drückendes Gefühl im Kopf, wenn ich den 990 höre, während ich den 880 auch nach langer Zeit mit gutem Pegel als sehr angenehm und stressfrei empfinde. Zum Mischen taugt der 990 auf keinen Fall, denn man wird den entsprechenden Bereich unbewusst kräftig beschneiden, um die Hörermüdung zu vermeiden. Auch die harschen Höhen werden den Anhängern der elektronischen Musik matte Mixe bescheren, wenn sie ihr Werk dann auf anderer Abhöre belauschen. Somit ist das „Experiment 990“ für mich gescheitert. Ich war neugierig auf bessere Basswiedergabe und wurde auch noch in den Höhen enttäuscht. Der 880 klingt insgesamt in meinen Ohren sehr ausgewogen und abgerundet und erfüllt alle Erwartungen, die ich hatte. Meine Lieblingsstücke klingen genau so, wie ich es von anderen guten Abhören gewohnt bin. Die Wiedergabe ist nuanciert und detailgetreu im gesamten Spektrum. Beide Kopfhörer habe ich im Übrigen in der 250 Ohm-Version verglichen. Die Treiber sollten zwischen Pro und Edition übrigens identisch sein, sodass die klanglichen Unterschiede für alle 880 und 990 gelten dürften. Kurz noch zur Impedanz: Sogar mein MacBook Air (Anfang 2015) liefert genug Pegel für recht anständige Lautstärke. Ich denke, ein Kopfhörerverstärker ist hier unterwegs gerade so entbehrlich. Klanglich habe ich keinen wirklichen Unterschied zu meinem M-Audio Fast Track bei gleichem Pegel wahrgenommen. Da das Fast Track auf keinen Fall den tollsten DAC hat, werde ich mich beizeiten noch mal auf die Suche nach einem schönen DAC und/oder Kopfhörerverstärker machen und das Ergebnis hier nachtragen, falls sich etwas mit gutem Preis/Leistungs-Verhältnis finden lässt. Kurz noch zum Tragekomfort: Anderswo liest man, dass die Pro-Versionen einen höheren Anpressdruck besäßen als die Edition. Das kann ich zumindest beim DT 990 Pro im Vergleich zum 880 Edition nicht bestätigen. Beide sitzen angenehm leicht auf dem Kopf, aber fest genug, als dass ich nicht das Gefühl habe, dass ich sie in Bewegung verlieren könnte.

Fairly spacious articulate soundstage, smooth midrange, focused highs and well balanced bass,...all there in the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned. I can wear these for hours without ear fatigue or heat buildup. I'm tremendously happy with the purchase.

Premessa: questa cuffia che nel mio caso è la versione Edition da 600ohm (ma probabilmente il discorso vale per tutta la linea 880) va accoppiata assolutamente ad un amplificatore hifi, che nel mio caso è, anzi sono: Denon pma1055r e Nad 3240pe. Infatti a differenza di quanto scritto da molti questa cuffia essendo molto lineare quasi trasparente, una volta accoppiata ad un ampli hifi degno di questo nome, va a nozze con musica Rock/Blues; perché ripeto, se si trova l'ampli capace di spingerla quel tantino (visti i 600 ohm) la rendono perfetta a tipi di musica più energici. Aggiungo inoltre che, essendo il sottoscritto anche possessore di una altrettanto meravigliosa Beyer 990 pro da 250 ohm, posso affermare, che questa ultima si trova come taglio sonoro esattamente all'estremo opposto della 880 edition; infatti mentre la 990 pro, che mi accompagna da una decina di anni, ha sempre avuto un accentuato effetto loudness con un enfatizzazione degli estremi di banda che necessitano di un alleggerimento dell'eq (soprattutto se si ascolta appunto Rock) mentre va a nozze con jazz ed acustica in quanto gli dona naturalmente quella leggera spinta che questi tipi di musica (spesso) non hanno, la 880 si trova, ripeto, all'estremo opposto, essendo una cuffia frizzante si ma molto più lineare della 990. Attenzione però: i miei discorsi sono riferiti a chi ha un amplificatore hifi, non a chi le accoppia a schede audio o ad ampli per cuffie (cinesi) molte volte scarsini in corrente e non proprio vigorosissimi. Quindi, se avete un ampli hifi da accoppirgli, ascoltate Rock, blues, forse anche elettronica vigorosa, andate tranquilli, anzi consigliatissima. Al contrario se amate jazz, fusion, acustica, new age andate di 990 pro! Quello su cui mi sento di concordare con le altre recensioni è una certa frizzantezza sulle frequenze alte, ma non eccessiva come riportato da molti, medie al loro posto, bassi un filo arretrati, transienti spaziali, sound stage da cuffia top, insomma se dovessi consigliare una cuffia intorno ai 150 euro sarei incerto tra la Beyer 880 e la 990 pro; dipende in fin dei conti molto dal tipo di musica. Se si vuole però una sola cuffia tuttofare, consiglierei la 880 se si possiede in un ampli hifi, la 990 se si ha solo una scheda audio o un ampli per cuffia. Aggiungo che sono possessore anche di una Sennheiser hd599, una cuffia che proprio non digerisco e che non fa per me, e che proprio non si accoppia ai miei ampli, ma che grazie ai suoi 40 ohm si riscatta un filino accoppiata al mio ipad; ma come per molte altre cose dipende sempre dai gusti. Diciamo che per chi ama il suono "fun" delle Beyerdinamic e non ama il suono "relax" delle Sennheiser queste 880 edition si piazzano in mezzo. Ps: costruzione top! Padiglioni della 880 edition leggermente più piccoli della 990 ma con lo shell in alluminio, cavo dritto fisso: senza infamia e senza lode, archetto buono forse un po' più strettino della 990pro, nel complesso sul versante costruttivo 9,5/10

Llevo 1 año y cacho de mi compra y les puedo decir que son excelentes no se escuchan tan fuertes por lo mismo de sus ohms pero se soluciona con un amplificador de audífonos

Le migliori cuffie cablate mai provate. Il suono è a dir poco eccellente, potente, pulito, cristallino. I bassi sono equilibrati e mai invadenti, esattamente come dovrebbero essere in un paio di cuffie che si rispettino, così come i medi e gli alti. Esteticamente sono davvero molto belle e la costruzione si presenta solida con materiali di ottima qualità, inoltre sono molto comode da indossare,ma come ho già detto la cosa che colpisce di più è la qualità eccezionale del suono. A questo prezzo è difficile trovare di meglio. Acquisto consigliato