Beyer Dynamic DT250-250 headphones

Tyson · « **on:** 4 Oct 2003, 09:14 pm »

My latest acquisition in the headpone arena, perhaps one of my best! Got them 2 days ago (after selling my AKG K271 and Sennheiser HD280 headphones), and I have to say these are easily my favorite closed headphones, surpassing even the K271's (which I liked quite a bit, but in the end were just a touch bass shy for my preferences). Anyway, the DT250's match the K271's in overall smoothness, but have a bit more relaxed sound, just a little bit more laid back w/detail presentation (which I like), and signifigantly more bass power. Add to the fact that they are smaller, lighter, and more comfortable (velour earpads - yummy!), and you've got a real winner.

After the last "head-fi" meet at my house, I didn't think I'd ever find a closed headphone I could live with (I only really liked the "open" headphones that were there), but a quick trip to head-fi.org helped me quickly narrow down my potential choices down to the DT250 or the Ultrasone HFI-650. Since the 650 is generally considered to be a touch analytical (and can only be ordered from a dealer that does not offer a trial period), and the DT250's were described as very balanced (and can be had from headphones.com w/a 30 day trial period), it was really a no brainer choice.

After a bit of break in, the dynamics on these things is pretty impressive. Listening to Nine Inch Nails and several times hard transients from soft to loud have actually startled me. Nice! They are more amp dependent than my Sennheiser HD600's. The 600's sound good on both the Xin super mini (with battery boost) and the Xin supermicro. The 250's only sound good on the supermini w/battery boost (smoother).

The funny thing is that I keep forgetting which ones I have on at a given time. The DT250's and HD600's don't sound exactly alike (the 600's are more laid back and not as dynamic, but also don't have that slight shoutiness and they seperate instruments a bit better), but they both just let the music flow. Nice.

BradJudy · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Oct 2003, 09:19 pm »

Tyson,

Sounds good - sometime I'll have to make it to one of the DAM get togethers. Did you consider the 250-80? It appears to be a lower impedence version of the same cans - probably less amp dependent. Of course, I don't know if they perform as well.

Tyson · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Oct 2003, 09:30 pm »

I only know of 1 person that has done a direct A-B comparison and he pretty much stated flat out that the 250 ohm version was signifigantly better (new drivers).

mgalusha · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Oct 2003, 12:51 am »

Tyson,

These sound pretty interesting. I am thinking about getting some closed phones for work as my cube neighbor doesn't care to listen to the Senn's.

Have you heard the Beyer phones with any of the Meta-42 amps? I picked up a Headsave Ultra a few weeks ago and suspect it wouldn't have any trouble with the Beyer's. I'll have to do a search on Head-Fi but thought I'd ask if you have heard them with a Meta.

Mike G.

Tyson · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Oct 2003, 07:19 am »

How about I just bring them by? We can do the Xcans mod while I'm there. Tomorrow is not good, but next week I will have some time.

Tyson · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Oct 2003, 03:53 am »

Man, the more I listen to thees headphones the happier I am with them. They sound way too good for a closed headphone. Even the guy at work who is a headphone guy (and a Sennheiser 580/600 snob) admitted he liked these cans a lot (and he hated the HD280's and was indifferent to the AKG K271's). The 250-250's just have a natural, musical ease that is very enticing and virtually impossible to find in closed headphones. I feel bad cause the 600's are set up in the other room and I never listen to them anymore

The 600's are still better, but they leak sound like crazy, which means I can't use them to block out the insipid TV shows my wife likes to watch. How someone with a masters degree can watch "Everwood" or "The Gilmore Girls" is simply beyond me. Could be worse I guess, she could like the Bachelor or those other really stupid reality shows.

I just slip on my Beyers, que up some Bach, Mozart, or Ella, and ahhh, bliss

Tyson · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Oct 2003, 10:21 pm »

Got the 250-250's finally hooked up to a good source (Stereo-Link 1200 USB DAC for my computer), and a very nice amp (PPA), and they sound even better, they really, really are amp and source dependent. The hardness/shoutiness I heard in the low treble is attenuated, and the dynamics are even better. Bass, especially "deep" bass took a nice couple of steps up too. AND, they are the only closed headphones I've heard that do classical music pretty well.

BradJudy · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 12:12 am »

Tyson,

How are you liking the PPA compared to the other headphone amps you've used?

mgalusha · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 12:58 am »

Tyson,

It sounds like you are enjoying the Stereo-Link DAC and that it works well with the PPA. That's good to know since I'm probably going to build one after hearing yours.

Brad,

Tyson brought his PPA by a couple of weeks ago and it we listened to the PPA, a well optioned META42 and both versions of the MF XCANs. The PPA was superior to the others in every regard. Tyson is better at describing the sound but suffice to say I was not nearly as happy with the META as I was before we hooked up the PPA.

mike g.

Tyson · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 04:38 am »

After hearing the PPA, I'm convinced that a lot of the flat, in-the-head sound a lot of people experience is due to their source and amp. I think the PPA is better than the maxed out Meta, and better than either Xcan (both of which were modded with higher quality parts). The sense of spaciousness is what really strikes me when I listen to the PPA compared to those others. I wish I had one on hand when the SinglePower tube amps were here for the Denver Head Fi meet, but I do have a Radii/Bolder HAP-05 tube amp (with seriously upgraded parts) on the way.

I do think there is some room for improvement from my PPA with regard to parts quality (good parts, could be better), and especially the power supply. Makes me wonder how it would sound w/a bybee'd power supply from Bolder. . .

Tyson · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 09:09 pm »

OK, I broke down and ordered a pair of Ultrasone HFI-700's because I got tired of lugging the DT250's home from work everyday. After running them in for a couple of weeks, they sound good but not as good as the DT250's. They are stronger in the bass, but not as tight. The mids sound slightly recessed, and there is a touch of sibilance that the 250's don't have. I still like them better than the Sony CD3000's I heard, as the 3k's have even more "Boom-Tizz" sound so typical of Sony. I do have to say that the HFI700's do isolate (block out external noise) better than the DT250's do.