XDUOO XD-05 PLUS DAC/AMP 220$
5 Likes
Focal Clear brand new 979
4 Likes
Here’s a renewed set for $900. The fact that they only have three reviews is a bit…
6 Likes
Didn’t take long for those to get snapped up…
DT 1990s just came in, and I’m running them through RME + RNHP stack and WOW. I’m not used to having to crank up the volume so much, lol, but my gosh, the clarity. The balance.
I am running through a playlist of “chill tracks” I created on Tidal, and am immediately impressed how vibrantly present all of the various elements of the track are. It’s kinda like “everything is forward.” I’ve always enjoyed mentally dissecting music into its component parts, and these are like an audio scalpel (with an attached LED spotlight, lol).
What a wonderful first impression! So glad I jumped on these, and now even more glad I snagged the T1 as well. That will be here in a week or so, during which I’ll be running these through various tracks to get familiar.
5 Likes
Congrats! I’m glad they sound good.
When you get time you should listen to them on the thx 789 and see how they sound. When I had them I didn’t care for them but I was running them off the 789. I think that probably had a lot to do with my opinion of them.
I’ve actually thought about picking them up again to try on the rnhp.
2 Likes
I’ve got an 887 next to the RNHP that I can try. I’ve yet to experience any stark contrast between the 887 and RNHP–both have just sounded “transparent” to me–especially with direct A-B comparisons. I’ll give these a run on those. My wife’s also got my old reference stack of DX7s -> 789, so I can try that as well.
What I’m liking most about the 1990s is that they are doing something unique (and exciting) among my collection of headphones. They are very high-energy / intense. I doubt these would be the right choice for dimming the lights and trying to relax. But for going full analytical, these are impressive!
One of the tracks on my playlist is “Last Girl on Earth” by Supreme Beings of Leisure, and the way the lively bassline, drums and vocals all stand apart, but equally vibrant and accessible is just intoxicating–to me, anyway, because I have a tireless thirst to take things apart and see how they work, and these cans make that so easy.
Depending on what you didn’t like about them before, not sure whether RNHP will solve that. I am starting to wonder whether tubes would “round off the sharp edges” a bit and maybe make these a little more enjoyable for pleasure-listening. I’ve got a ZMF Pendant in the pipeline–I’ll have to try that out when it comes in.
Anyway, I’ll check out these on a THX amp and see if they “make the blood come out” as @ZeosPantera put it (177x review).
3 Likes
Are they Neutral? Does the treble bother you at all?
They feel incredibly neutral. Or maybe I mean natural / balanced. Nothing seems colored, bloated or unnaturally emphasized. Everything is coming through in an even proportion. Perhaps it’s more to do with imaging and soundstage than frequency response, but they don’t feel tilted in any particular direction.
The treble is bright, even slightly sharp at times, but stops just short of being painfully sibilant. I don’t think I’m particularly treble sensitive, but I certainly wouldn’t want more. This amount is enough to really highlight detail and help every last element of the music really “pop.”
I really can’t wait to jump back to the Clears next, because those were my previous reference point for “studio sound, according to the marketing people,” and they strike me as also presenting everything in a very plain and even fashion, only more relaxed. Like Clears = kitchen lighting and 1990s = museum lighting, if that makes sense. I want to go back and check that impression against a listening run.
2 Likes
If I got the dt1990 I’d use them primarily for gaming. That’s my main idea since I sold the hd800S. And if they’re different on the rnhp maybe some music but I have others for that.
2 Likes
I do very little PC gaming and even less competitive MP, but I do still have Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered installed. That’s the same title I’ve used for evaluating headphones on XBox–specifically the “No Fighting in the War Room” level at the end of the campaign, because it’s action-packed and has a variety of weapons to pick up and use.
I ran through that level once with the 1990s on RNHP, then again with Stellias on the THX 887. Even though I didn’t dip into MP, I can fully endorse the Beyers for that purpose.
Sound on the 1990s was very clean and uncluttered. The gunfire was a little thin, but not in an overtly unpleasant way–it just didn’t overwhelm the rest of the action. I feel like you could still pick up your surroundings while shooting. It’s a very tactical presentation.
Meanwhile, the Stellias were badass and cinematic. Gunfire had weight. Explosions boomed. The action was visceral. These were far and away better for an immersive single-player experience. I may not be going Beyer for Alien: Isolation after all.
I should really do a run with the LCD-GX, but I don’t want to clutter the Deals thread with more non-deal-themed posts. I can post thoughts in the GX thread later.
2 Likes
I use my dt1990 primarily for gaming, they are great if you need detail and to hear footsteps etc. They don’t give you the big explosions like some bass cannons can, but for those games there are other HP’s.
2 Likes
DT880 for $165
1 Like
MASSDROP X E-MU PURPLEHEART HEADPHONES on sale again 75$
BTW the Creative Aurvana Live are on sale at the creative site for 50$ not sure how they compare:
1 Like
3 Likes
The Koss Pro4s Zeos just reviewed are on sale for 127$CAD on Amazon.ca.
(Equivalent: 89 USD).
Isn’t the black version the one everyone keeps saying to avoid, and to get the 600oHm rather then the 250oHm?
1 Like
generally speaking if you can drive the 600 ohm it will perform better than the 250 afaik, and the black pads tend to be stiffer and bring up the treble. I would suggesting getting a model with the silver pads or if you purchase a black pad model getting the official beyer silver pads to replace them. Personally found the black pads to be a significant downgrade in comfort compared to silver and the headphones already lean a bit bright so the increased treble on the black pads can be sibilant
I say we skip them both and get a 58x 
To be fair they’re completely different headphones lol