Hi all.
Yesterday, I went to Camera Phuoc the official importer/retailer for Bayerdynamic.
Camera Phuoc is more or less a competitor on mine, but he’s in the professional video equipment business and I am in the professional photo equipment supply, minds you, we also offer a limited range of video items. Anyway…
Upon arrival in that, as small as my showroom, but much nicer and more stocked than mine showroom, the top model style (Holly macro…) receptionist greeted me with some kind of poker face, I asked her about the headphones and she mumble to me : Yes we have those.
Then, I had to ask her if she could smile, really, I did and she showed me what was supposed to be a smile, but to me look more like an angry face, that typical from the people from the North of Vietnam working in the South.
Anyway, a smiling male salesman came up to me and offer to help me.
He had on demo the DT-880 (250 Ohms) and the DT-990 (250 Ohms) and may other models, but those are the two models that I wanted to audition. He set up was a laptop with FLAC files downloaded from the Vietnamese Internet, which means poor quality and what look like a DAC/headphone amplifier, a Samson brand with several headphones outputs.
I am sure that little box did not do justice to the headphone, but had the advantage to being able to switch within 3-5 seconds between the DT-880/990/HD-650 that I brought as a reference.
My first impression on the DT-880 is that they are comfortable, but my ears are touching something inside and they feel big, too big, like I have put some kind of tin can over my hears.
The sound at first was thin, almost cavernous…
But after a while I realize that it was brighter than my HD650, I did a rapid switch between the DT880 and HD650 and it confirmed my thoughts.
The HD650 is darker, but the bass is better and overall, the HD650 seems to do a better job.
Also one thing about the HD650 they are more comfortable, like if your ears were a little baby pampered by her loving mother. They have a tight fit around the ears and I prefer that to the more or less loose fit of the DT880.
Now, I tried the DT-990 same as above but to me a little better of/on everything, except again for the fit over the ears.
Switching from the DT-990 ad the HD650 made me like both, they both have their plus and minus.
I have eliminated the HD-880 and compared the 990 to the 650.
Comfort: HD-650 is the winner by a lot.
Bass: HD-650 wins again, but the DT990 is not far behind.
Mids: More or less equal.
The HD650 is dark and the DT990 sound a little cavernous, but brighter.
Hi: Very different sound between the two.
The DT990 is brighter with what seems to be more details, more sparkle, the HD650 is very good in the highs, but again dark.
Even if my listening experience at Camera Phuoc showroom is better (Less ambient noise, but less quality source and amplification) than the listening session I had at Sennheirser showroom, I would love to bring the DT990 at home to do a more extensive listening with MY Crack and MY Rega Apollo CD player in an almost dead quiet listening room.
One other thing: The 600 Ohms version is a special order; he will tell me how much time it can take to get them.
Now, the shocking news !
The price: The sales man told me that the price of the DT990 is 4,490,000 Vietnamese dollars, which comes down in real money to 212 USD, I told the salesman that he had make a mistake since the DT990 are advertised on Amazon at 379 USD, I told him that he had made a mistake when doing the conversion from Vietnamese Dong to US dollars. I told him to check again.
Yes, it’s really 212 USD.
I’ve asked him why is that?
Because they are the official importer/retailer.
That was a pleasant surprise.
Plus a two years warranty.
Now, he told me that the 600 Ohms version is a little more expensive, he will get back to me in a few days with availability and price.
Almost forgot about the sound stage, well, nothing much to say about that, very narrow and all.
I am happy that I went there to audition the DT-880/990.
I am still not decided…
On Monday, I have an audition at the HiFiMan/Audeze’s showroom.
After that, I will have to take/make a difficult decision, because right now, I am loosing sleep over that decision.
One thing is sure, the Sennheiser HD-700/800 have been eliminated from my wish list. I have to try the HD-600, but I am reluctant because I think I will be loosing my time.
I will get back to you sometime next week.
Stay close by, don’t go far away…
Guy 13
