Short answer: the Beyerdynamic DT 880. It ranks #28 of 417 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $179.99 and is still sold new; the Beyerdynamic DT 860 ranks #309 (rated 3.0/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
What the Beyerdynamic DT 860 does well: It weighs 0.7 lbs (340 g). The tradeoff: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 is the better-sounding pick. A preference score of 88 and a neutral tilt show a well balanced tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz within 1 dB of target and upper mids within half a dB. Watch for: A 6 dB peak near 5.8 kHz can make hi-hats, snare and sibilant vocals sound sharp, and the treble from 6 to 10 kHz runs about 2 dB hot.
Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 880. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Beyerdynamic DT 860 is discontinued.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Beyerdynamic DT 860 | Beyerdynamic DT 880 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $179.99 |
| Ranked | #309 of 417 in Over-Ear Headphones | #28 of 417 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Semi-open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB/mW (500 Hz) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 88 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.28 dB standard deviation | 2.05 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.88 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
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The Two Headphones In Full
Beyerdynamic DT 860 Discontinued eBay
Pros: It weighs 340 g.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. A Harman score of 59 places it in the lower part of the over-ear rankings.
Full Beyerdynamic DT 860 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.28 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB/mW (500 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.88 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,028 Hz | -9.4 dB | 3.57 |
| Peak | 4,692 Hz | +4.8 dB | 4.00 |
| Peak | 8,632 Hz | -2.8 dB | 3.60 |
| Peak | 194 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.04 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 497 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.82 |
| Peak | 3,711 Hz | -1.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,036 Hz | -0.3 dB | 2.48 |
| Peak | 4,316 Hz | +1.0 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Beyerdynamic DT 880: $179.99 Amazon $179.99 eBay
Pros: A preference score of 88 and a neutral tilt show a well balanced tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz within 1 dB of target and upper mids within half a dB. The semi-open design offers a more spacious feel than a closed back. It has the same rating as the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth and Sennheiser HD 505 while costing less than both.
Cons: A 6 dB peak near 5.8 kHz can make hi-hats, snare and sibilant vocals sound sharp, and the treble from 6 to 10 kHz runs about 2 dB hot. The low mids are lifted by about 2 dB and sub-bass is about 4 dB light under 60 Hz, giving a slightly boxy, bass-shy balance. The semi-open back leaks some sound and gives limited isolation.
Full Beyerdynamic DT 880 review and specifications →
| Back | Semi-open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.05 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 88 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 112 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.30 |
| Peak | 1,320 Hz | +2.1 dB | 0.54 |
| Peak | 5,760 Hz | -6.1 dB | 4.97 |
| Peak | 4,480 Hz | +3.9 dB | 4.24 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 480 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 234 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.41 |
| Peak | 940 Hz | -0.6 dB | 4.04 |
| Peak | 2,939 Hz | -0.5 dB | 4.92 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons