Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Review

Note:  this review regards the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 32 ohm version.  

Today my boss told me to review a Beyerdynamic headphone.  So I put down the Redbull, stopped blasting Chance’s new mixtape, and settled in for a listening session.  But what headphone to review?  Beyerdynamic has lots of fantastic options out there – from the ultra-portable closed-back T5p to the extra-bright open-back DT990.  But for my review I decided to opt for a classic headphone:  the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro.  This headphone will run you $199, but is it worth the price?  And how does it compare to other headphones at such a competitive price point?

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Review

The DT770 is built like a tank.  With a spring-steel headband wrapped in pleather, and similar pleather padding on the deep, slightly-oversized earcups, the headphones remain comfortable while isolating an impressive amount of ambient noise.

In the cardboard box, there is a 1/4” adapter and a drawstring pouch for transport.  The cable is fixed, and there’s no mic or remote on it, but it does feel rather strong.

Specs

From the specs, we can see that this headphone offers a little more detail than most, while retaining a low impedance for use with portable devices like your phone or computer.  The sound pressure could be a bit higher for a closed back headphone, but these are studio headphones, so we can let it slide.

Low End

Lows on the DT770 are full and robust, with a fair amount of detail.  Once the bass kicks in, you may lose sight of that detail, as the impact of the bass will take center stage.  It’s good impact, though, with good control than helps the low end remain contrasting and articulated with almost no bleeding.

Mids

Amazing midrange here.  Accurate to a “T,” the midrange has enough depth to reveal the subtleties to a track, without being too revealing (and showing you the imperfections).  Male vocals, especially, seem right on the money.  I can already feel myself getting attached to these headphones.

High End

Sparkling with detail, the high end is something else.  Detailed, but being neither bright nor rolled-off, the high end hits a sweet spot that most headphones miss entirely.  Female vocals are good, but maybe not as good as they would be on a bright-sounding headphone.

Soundstage

The 770’s soundstage offers some placement and good depth.  I get a sense of detail and the sense that the music is coming to me over a distance, but it’s not too open sounding that I’m completely blown away.  There’s clarity and some separation, but not enough to make this a truly revealing headphone.

Overall Impressions

At just south of $200, the DT770 Pro competes with all kinds of headphones from all kinds of manufacturers.  If you’re after a flat, completely analytical sound, I’d recommend the AKG K553 Pro over the 770.  If you’re looking for a neutral/warm sound, the nearest contender (the only contender, really) would be the Shure SRH840.  However, this Shure model requires a half-decent amp to properly drive it, where as the 32 ohm version of the 770 is a perfect match for low-power devices.  Both the Shure SRH840 and the DT770 would offer a balanced, slightly-dynamic sound profile, though the 770 would give you a slightly more detailed high end.  So if you’re married to Shure, go ahead and pick up the SRH840.  Otherwise, save the money you would spend on an amp, and go with the 770.  Despite the fact that this is a studio headphone, the clean and detailed sound lends itself to all listening tastes equally.