Upgrade path from DT770 Pro?

[Linlyn28]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here!

I'm currently using a Topping Dx3 Pro+ and Dt770 Pro (80 ohm) with Oratory1990 EQ.

I really like these headphones, but they are quite old and I want something a little bit "better" as a Christmas present for myself.

My budget is 400 USD and they have to be closed-back.

Any suggestions are welcome,
Thank you.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Linlyn28! Welcome to ASR.

Here are the three headphones that I'd consider:



If I had to choose blind then I'd take the HD480, but ideally try to listen to them first.

 

[Linlyn28]

Thank you very much, I will look into them.
Sadly, the only one I can try is the Sony's

 

[Linlyn28]

Hey @staticV3 if I were to consider open backs what would be your suggestions?
Sorry for bothering you again

 

[staticV3]

Hey @staticV3 if I were to consider open backs what would be your suggestions?

Personally, I'd be tempted to give the Hifiman Edition XV a try, though knowing full well that manufacturing defects are common (but customer support is solid), and EQ would be required for the best sound.

Edit:
Other solid open-backed headphones at that price:
-Sennheiser HD 490
-Aune AR5000 (MKII)
-Audio Technica ATH-R70x(a)

 

[listener650]

+1 for 480 Pro being the go-to for this sort of design/use-case. Great headphone.

 

[IngMishael]

+2 for the 480 Pro

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Great headphones listed here so far. And if your interest leans towards Sennheiser HD600, they are on sale right now at Amazon (HD 600) for $267. [Edit: that "sale prices" looks pretty consistent over the past year... so not really on sale, per se]

And don't knock old! I bought my HD600's in 2014, and they are still my daily headphones for almost everything... vs. my other headphones: DT 700 Pro, Focal Clear Pro, and HE6se v2.

 

[Linlyn28]

I remember the HD 600 being my first choice before the Dt 770. I didn't got them because my PC (at least at the time) sounded like a jet engine and was concerned with the sound leaking to my microphone.
I will look into them tho, thank everyone for the replies!!

 

[pdfield34]

As mentioned, for closed - Sennheiser HD480 pro - fits budget, very comfortable (feel on ears and light weight), great sounding, no fatigue, can definitely go without eq

open - HD 600 or 650 - all of the above - eventually gets comfortable as out of box clamp force reduces (but it is not that bad from the start)

I wouldn't feel bad about getting both the HD 600 and a new pair of 770 pro. My 770 pros are 250 ohm and I think they are an A- where the HD480 pros are a solid A.
The 770s are right there are far as comfort, more forward as far as sound - but also they cost a lot less. Can't go wrong with any of these IMO.

 

[Linlyn28]

The dilemma I now have is, do I buy open backs instead of closed ones?

I've never tried open-backs before and would make sense to have the two since I could have two different experiences between the two.
However, I don't know if I will end up liking them due to my environment.

Why are headphones so complicated?!!

 

[rcstevensonaz]

The dilemma I now have is, do I buy open backs instead of closed ones?

Eventually, get both. Or, figure out your preference.

For me, I added the DT770 Pro (maybe would be the HD 480 pro now) for a closed back option to my HD600s. And for me, I almost never used the DT770's except on the very few occasions where I needed to drown out background noise — otherwise, I personally hate sitting "inside of a can".

For others, they would be the opposite and always prefer the DT770 Pro over the HD600s because they hate sitting "inside of a fishbowl".

 

[pdfield34]

The dilemma I now have is, do I buy open backs instead of closed ones?

I've never tried open-backs before and would make sense to have the two since I could have two different experiences between the two.
However, I don't know if I will end up liking them due to my environment.

Why are headphones so complicated?!!

New to headphones, but as long as you as long as you are good with the response or sound, I haven't found much if any difference between open or closed. The offerings of the market suggest that it is difficult to get a good response from closed (not the case with 480 and 770).

Obviously, closed would be more versatile, as they wouldn't disturb others in public environmennts.

Specific to the aforementioned suggestions, the 480s just happen to be the most comfortable (A+ vs A- for the 600 and 770).

But I do find it nice to experience a true classic like the 600, and I do, rightly or wrongly, buy into the specialness of the midrange.
Plus at $260, I'm not necessarily concerned with having to treat them with great care.

 

[staticV3]

The dilemma I now have is, do I buy open backs instead of closed ones?

I've never tried open-backs before and would make sense to have the two since I could have two different experiences between the two.
However, I don't know if I will end up liking them due to my environment.

Why are headphones so complicated?!!

FWIW, I've gone from DT990 to K712 to HD600 to MH755 at my desk.

I've also owned the DT770, M50x, and MDR-7506 but always preferred my open-backed headphones (to be fair those closed-backs aren't very good).

Using IEMs means no sweaty ears, no headphone hair, better bass than any open-backed, and no cup resonance issues as many <$300 closed-backs tend to have.

The biggest challenge is finding an IEM that fits your ears well and has either good frequency response from the factory, or can be corrected well with EQ.

The only change that I'd consider is a pair of nearfield monitors, but those come with their own challenges like placement and room modes.

 

[DEJ915]

The dilemma I now have is, do I buy open backs instead of closed ones?

I've never tried open-backs before and would make sense to have the two since I could have two different experiences between the two.
However, I don't know if I will end up liking them due to my environment.

Why are headphones so complicated?!!

It also kind of depends because the stock DT 770 Pro model with the cloth pads don't actually isolate that much compared to other closed headphones with leather or pleather pads (and they have a port) so they're kind of in between a closed headphone and an open one.

staticV3 mentioned IEMs and I've got 10 or so and they vary so wildly in sound profile and fit it's really hard to recommend any of them you just have to try them unfortunately. Also sites (or people) in my experience misrepresented the sound profiles of some of them which led to me getting some that have much more bass than I wanted.

I have a set of the 16, 80 and 250 ohm DT 770 Pro now and to be honest I prefer the 250, it sounds the clearest even if it's not the most "accurate" but fits my preference anyway. For a open model the DT 1990 Pro is similar to the 250 ohm variant. I have the DT 1770 Pro too and I'm not super huge on it, both my 1990 and 1770 are the original variant.

Also if you haven't replaced the pads, it's probably worthwhile to do so and you could try out the pleather pads as well.

For another brand, I like the HD 620s fairly well that I got recently on sale, I don't think I would buy it at its regular price though. It does isolate quite a lot more than the cloth padded beyerdynamic models. I haven't tried the 480 Pro the others mentioned.

 

[Linlyn28]

It also kind of depends because the stock DT 770 Pro model with the cloth pads don't actually isolate that much compared to other closed headphones with leather or pleather pads (and they have a port) so they're kind of in between a closed headphone and an open one.

staticV3 mentioned IEMs and I've got 10 or so and they vary so wildly in sound profile and fit it's really hard to recommend any of them you just have to try them unfortunately. Also sites (or people) in my experience misrepresented the sound profiles of some of them which led to me getting some that have much more bass than I wanted.

I use the DTs with Dekoni Hybrid and they are quite an upgrade in terms of insolation, but they started to flatten after some years.

The issue I have is that even on really fancy audio stores in my country, they either sell the DTs, AudioTechnicas (Just the MX) or JBL knockoffs.

 

[DEJ915]

I use the DTs with Dekoni Hybrid and they are quite an upgrade in terms of insolation, but they started to flatten after some years.

The issue I have is that even on really fancy audio stores in my country, they either sell the DTs, AudioTechnicas (Just the MX) or JBL knockoffs.

Ah okay well you can obviously ignore the isolation comment then, we run into the same thing mostly here in the US where electronics stores focus on wireless models and only musician oriented stores will stock brands like beyerdynamic and such and none of them let you try them out. When I was in Germany for a while 20 years ago or so it was nice because stores had demo units you could try.

I also edited my post to enter more information but it says it's pending approval I guess I edited it too many times.