DT 250 problems

[Murdoch]

Wow, learnt a lot reading through the posts, thanks!

Since everyone's an expert here, could someone please explain to me why a lot of mixes sound bass-heavy on the left ear on my DT250? Not a technical issue as some tracks are dead-centered, also not deaf as I've reversed the phones on my head and the heaviness was heard on the right.

Are mixes done like this on purpose based on how our brain/ears hears things or something

[Hugh Robjohns]

Likely to be related to the way the left ear cup seals around your ear, or possibly, a semi-defective driver. The better the seal, the better the impression of bass, usually. Compare the two ear cups to see if there is a leak or a problem somewhere in the way the right side has been assembled.

Hugh

[Mike Stranks]

Wow, learnt a lot reading through the posts, thanks!

Since everyone's an expert here, could someone please explain to me why a lot of mixes sound bass-heavy on the left ear on my DT250? Not a technical issue as some tracks are dead-centered, also not deaf as I've reversed the phones on my head and the heaviness was heard on the right.

Are mixes done like this on purpose based on how our brain/ears hears things or something

Two thoughts:

1) Are you sure that your headphones are working OK?
2) You could have a dodgy connection somewhere in the signal chain

If you're listening to other people's mixes or commercial recordings and they're sounding like this then you have a problem somewhere.

[Guest]

Wow, learnt a lot reading through the posts, thanks!

Since everyone's an expert here, could someone please explain to me why a lot of mixes sound bass-heavy on the left ear on my DT250? Not a technical issue as some tracks are dead-centered, also not deaf as I've reversed the phones on my head and the heaviness was heard on the right.

Are mixes done like this on purpose based on how our brain/ears hears things or something

Have you created just a mono bass track, or a doubled mono bass panned left and right?
That will prove if it is your phones.

I believe that the signal is sent to the left channel first and not independently to both.

When I turn my headphone amp down I can still hear the signal in the left channel when I use headphones with too low an impedance.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I believe that the signal is sent to the left channel first and not independently to both.

Huh? Do you mean that the headphone cable enters the left ear-cup? If so, it's only so that the cable can be split and the wires for the other side taken out and over the headband.

When I turn my headphone amp down I can still hear the signal in the left channel when I use headphones with too low an impedance.

That is probably because of poor tracking between the two sides of the volume control potentiometer. Quite a common problem.

hugh

[Murdoch]

Wow, learnt a lot reading through the posts, thanks!

Since everyone's an expert here, could someone please explain to me why a lot of mixes sound bass-heavy on the left ear on my DT250? Not a technical issue as some tracks are dead-centered, also not deaf as I've reversed the phones on my head and the heaviness was heard on the right.

Are mixes done like this on purpose based on how our brain/ears hears things or something

Have you created just a mono bass track, or a doubled mono bass panned left and right?
That will prove if it is your phones.

I believe that the signal is sent to the left channel first and not independently to both.

When I turn my headphone amp down I can still hear the signal in the left channel when I use headphones with too low an impedance.

I was going to "lol" at your given reason before I actually tried out what you said...

Why on earth do my supposedly pro honest/accurate sounding monitoring headphones costing at £139 have this MAJOR defect

Even worst, how on earth did SOS not hear this and instead describe the headphones as "Accurate, rather than flattering sound." Really? Apparently not so. How was this missed by the "pros"? Its the 1st thing I came to notice when I tried them out.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_ar ... dt250.html

[Mike Stranks]

Why on earth do my supposedly pro honest/accurate sounding monitoring headphones costing at £139 have this MAJOR defect

Even worst, how on earth did SOS not hear this and instead describe the headphones as "Accurate, rather than flattering sound." Really? Apparently not so. How was this missed by the "pros"? Its the 1st thing I came to notice when I tried them out.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_ar ... dt250.html

I think you're making some assumptions there...

Have you yet PROVED it's the cans and not some other issue - eg dodgy connector or some other issue elsewhere in the signal chain? (I sometimes get similar phenomena in my cans and then find the plug's not mated cleanly.)

Even if it is the cans, you can't assume that they're ALL like that... yours may simply be faulty.

[Murdoch]

Why on earth do my supposedly pro honest/accurate sounding monitoring headphones costing at £139 have this MAJOR defect

Even worst, how on earth did SOS not hear this and instead describe the headphones as "Accurate, rather than flattering sound." Really? Apparently not so. How was this missed by the "pros"? Its the 1st thing I came to notice when I tried them out.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_ar ... dt250.html

I think you're making some assumptions there...

Have you yet PROVED it's the cans and not some other issue - eg dodgy connector or some other issue elsewhere in the signal chain? (I sometimes get similar phenomena in my cans and then find the plug's not mated cleanly.)

Even if it is the cans, you can't assume that they're ALL like that... yours may simply be faulty.

But Music Manic has the same problem, if its a fault then it must be widespread for two people to coincidentally meet like this with the same issue.

I've tried them on my laptop, iPhone, computer, etc. number of times. Still the same.

I hope its just mine that is faulty because that's what it is, a major fault. I actually fooled my self into thinking that perhaps this is how majority of mixes are made and I can only hear it now due to my super-awesome pro monitoring headphones.

Do you own a pair of DT250s Mike?

What do I do now? Send them back?

[Murdoch]

Wow, learnt a lot reading through the posts, thanks!

Since everyone's an expert here, could someone please explain to me why a lot of mixes sound bass-heavy on the left ear on my DT250? Not a technical issue as some tracks are dead-centered, also not deaf as I've reversed the phones on my head and the heaviness was heard on the right.

Are mixes done like this on purpose based on how our brain/ears hears things or something

Have you created just a mono bass track, or a doubled mono bass panned left and right?
That will prove if it is your phones.

I believe that the signal is sent to the left channel first and not independently to both.

When I turn my headphone amp down I can still hear the signal in the left channel when I use headphones with too low an impedance.

Have you reported it to Beyerdynamic? Because apparently they have never heard of such a thing or come across the problem.

[Hugh Robjohns]

But Music Manic has the same problem

Has he? That's not the way I interpreted what he wrote... although I often have trouble understanding what MM has to say! There is no difference as far as the signal feeding the ear-pieces is concerned between listening to a mono track panned centrally, or a duplicated track panned hard left and right!

I actually fooled my self into thinking that perhaps this is how majority of mixes are made and I can only hear it now due to my super-awesome pro monitoring headphones.

Most commercial mixes pop/rock mixes are made with kick drum and bass absolutely solid in the centre of the stereo image. But there are several potential reasons why you're not perceiving it that way. It coule be faulty or mis-aligned ear cups, a dodgy drive unit in one earpiece, dirty connectors or sockets, dodgy headphone amps... You need to try to work through the possibilities calmly and logically to try to prove where the fault lies.

If the 'fault' is reliably repeatable when using different headphone outputs on different equipment when listening to the same music track(s), and the same fault isn't apparent with other headphones plugged into the same equipment when listening to the same sources, then clearly the headphones are faulty in some way. It does happen sometimes...

However, this certainly isn't a common fault that I've ever noticed with DT250s and I've listened to many pairs over the years.

What do I do now? Send them back?

Yes, if you are certain that the fault is consistent and reliably repeatable.

hugh

[Guest]

I believe that the signal is sent to the left channel first and not independently to both.

Huh? Do you mean that the headphone cable enters the left ear-cup? If so, it's only so that the cable can be split and the wires for the other side taken out and over the headband.

When I turn my headphone amp down I can still hear the signal in the left channel when I use headphones with too low an impedance.

That is probably because of poor tracking between the two sides of the volume control potentiometer. Quite a common problem.

hugh

I think that's the problem Hugh, as the guy who built the amp said the signal comes in from left to right and there is no such thing as "zero" and it's a crosstalk thing. He further adds that they are not built to be listened at low or high gain, so it doesn't matter.
Could you expand on the common problem that you stated and how it affects the headphones, or is it just a thing that happens -within the amp- which doesn't affect the working range.

I'm glad to hear that I still confuse you

P.S. I don't own the DT 250's

[inderface]

Sorry guys a bit off topic but just reminded me ....
I have the same said headphones DT 250`s and the wire on them got bust..

I tried soldering it and the actual wire melted with heat
(To much heat maybe??)
Would i be better to use a lower powered iron?
Ive looked all over the net for a new DT250 headphone complete wire replacment lead with connectors and couldn`t find one.....
Anyone help??
Thanks an sorry for butting in...lol...

[Hugh Robjohns]

...the guy who built the amp said the signal comes in from left to right and there is no such thing as "zero" and it's a crosstalk thing.

Sorry MM. That's complete gibberish to me! Does he perhaps mean that the left audio channel is crosstalking into the right channel? Poor design if so.

Could you expand on the common problem that you stated

Stereo volume controls are generally constructed from ganged potentiometers: ttwo 'pots' mounted on a single shaft. As you adjust the volume the shaft rotates the 'wipers' in each pot, and the amount of attenuation provided by each pot depends on the resistivity of the track under the wiper. If the two tracks aren't very closely matched the two audio channels will receive different amounts of attenuation, and hence a level offset.

Usually, the track matching is quiet good at the low resistance end, but can often get progressively worse towards the high resistance end. Hence poor level matching at very low settings.

This problem is common in all devices that use cheap ganged pots for stereo level control.

Hugh

[Greg Strutton]

For what it's worth, I've been using the same DT250's I got back in 2004 and the balance is perfect. Never had an issues of any kind at all.

Sounds like somethings up with the driver or a connection somewhere maybe? Best thing is to get someone in the know to give them the once over.

[James Perrett]

Studiospares had replacement cables the last time I looked and I'd be surprised if Canford didn't sell them too.

I've never heard this problem with my DT250's.

James.

[SevenIndustries]

my DT250s [2005] are still working fine.

Not entirely sure how after all the abuse they've had, but I tested the drivers recently and they still sound like they should. All is fine here.

[Jim]

My DT250s are also fine.

[Murdoch]

My pair were faulty. Got another one and they sound very balanced.
Therefore I owe an apology to the SOS reviewer of DT250. My sincere apologies good sir.

Any recommendations for a 2nd pair of headphones? I'm thinking of something for leisure, heavy on the bass as well as lush highs (not Dre's Beats or anything dodgy like that). Maybe DT770m?

Also in need of a compact/portable amp for the DT250. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[James Perrett]

My Sennheiser HD25SP's provide a good contrast to the DT250's - they sound a little hyped when compared to the DT250's but nothing like as bad as some other headphones that I've tried.

James.

[inderface]

Doof!!!!
I searched for a replacment cable for my HD250`s
I did not have them to hand and they haven`t been used for 7 years or so because of the lead problem.
I could swear blind they were sennheisers....
But no they are Beyerdynamic DT250`s ....lol.....No wonder all the leads i found had the wrong connections..haha..
There are loads of replacment leads around plus all the other parts too.
Which is nice....


I also remembered im borderline dyslexic......bah....

[Murdoch]

my DT250s [2005] are still working fine.

Not entirely sure how after all the abuse they've had, but I tested the drivers recently and they still sound like they should. All is fine here.

Newbie question; what do you mean by "drivers" here? and how did you measure it to see if it was up to scratch?

My Sennheiser HD25SP's provide a good contrast to the DT250's - they sound a little hyped when compared to the DT250's but nothing like as bad as some other headphones that I've tried.

James.

Thanks, I'll check them out.
Any experience with AKG K271s?

Doof!!!!
I searched for a replacment cable for my HD250`s
I did not have them to hand and they haven`t been used for 7 years or so because of the lead problem.
I could swear blind they were sennheisers....
But no they are Beyerdynamic DT250`s ....lol.....No wonder all the leads i found had the wrong connections..haha..
There are loads of replacment leads around plus all the other parts too.
Which is nice....


I also remembered im borderline dyslexic......bah....

[James Perrett]

My Sennheiser HD25SP's provide a good contrast to the DT250's - they sound a little hyped when compared to the DT250's but nothing like as bad as some other headphones that I've tried.

James.

Thanks, I'll check them out.
Any experience with AKG K271s?

Sorry - I don't have any AKG phones at all.

James.