REVIEW OF THE BEYERDYNAMIC DT770 PRO HEADPHONES

Review of the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Headphones

Finally! Prodigious Bass in a Comfortable Can.

By Chrisis from Gosnells, WA on November 12, 2009

If you are looking for the 'short story', scroll to the last paragraph. I have summarized my thoughts on the DT770pro there and I have scored each aspect of the headphone.
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Although marketed as a headphone for studio use, the DT770pro has a place in the collection of any music enthusiast looking for a dramatic and impactful bass response from a comfortable headphone, particularly if this is your first foray into the realm of 'audiophile sound'. These headphones, upon first listening give that "wow factor" that many people associate with great sound, and thanks to the large amounts of bass, will retain that bass-centric signature and wow factor after you 'adapt' to the sonic signature months down the track.

To give a slightly more definitive impression of the balance, the bass accounts for approximately 50% of the sound, whilst the mids account for 35% and the highs account for 15% this of course will vary from recording to recording, but this seems to be a nice description of how it will generally sound to my ears. What this essentially means is that you will hear that large thumping bass, but still be able to hear the vocalist (for example) clearly. As a result of the lack of sparkle due to the blanketed high-end of the spectrum and their closed design, these headphones give an intimate "in-the-club" feeling to your music and will keep your foot tapping and your head nodding in-sync.

The technical specifications for this headphone list the frequency response as a range from 5 to 35,000 Hz, which means it will extend well beyond the range of human hearing (20-20,000Hz) in test-conditions. In a more practical sense i.e. to my ears in a musical context, these headphones dont have fantastic treble extension due to the lack of brilliance relative to the rest of the spectrum. However, I would be happy to wager that these headphones extend lower and with more prowess than any other headphones for the price, making them ideal for hiphop, DnB and other genres which have a need for the type of bass these headphones produce in terms of dominance and extension the DT770pro will easily stretch down to the bottom key of any standard grand piano and produce the note with ease something that I find a lot of headphones struggle with.

As a result of this almost muted treble, coupled with its comfort, the DT770pro is entirely non-fatiguing and can be listened to comfortably for hours.

The DT770pro differs mainly from the regular (grey) DT770 in its treble frequency. The treble on the (grey) DT770 is very bright and sibilant, and it tends to give every piece of music a "boom tish" sound. For this reason, I prefer the DT770pro as it gives a more integrated sound than the consumer version. Initially the DT770pro will be less comfortable than the DT770 because of the large clamp force which in turn offers about 18 dB of isolation however the headband will loosen, the earpads will shape to your head a little and you will adapt quite quickly.

Another headphone to consider for bombastic bass reproduction is the entire Ultrasone line. I personally would recommend the DT770pro over all of the Ultrasone models in the Pro and Hfi line for several reasons. The most alarming reason is comfort. The mentioned lines of Ultrasone models are uncomfortable, whilst, once well-worn, the DT770 pro is one of the most comfortable and 'snug' headphones in existence. The second is build quality. The DT770 is a tank, whilst the Ultrasones are not very sturdy at all (the headband on the Ultrasone lines mentioned are frequently prone to cracking). There are pictures of a DT770pro being run over by an SUV and the plastic cups not breaking. WOW.

The DT770pro performs a little worse to my ears than the Ultrasone headphones in terms of soundstage and detail (particularly regarding the proline), however I consider the negatives for the Ultrasone line to make them not worth my money. It is recommended to use a good dedicated amplifier with the DT770pro. A good source will add texture to the bass of the DT770, however the DT770 will still sound good out of an ipod with even the most awful recordings around.

Although exceptional (and arguably the best in this price range) at what they do for a music enthusiast, the DT770pro is not a high-fidelity headphone. The detail is moderately good, as is the soundstage for a closed headphone, however it will be quickly outdone by other headphones in these regards particularly open headphones with larger treble extension such as the AD900. What the DT770pro has in advantage over other headphones is sheer musicality for casual listeners and lovers of prodigious bass. Music is really what these headphones are about, especially if you think music should always get your foot tapping. If you are upgrading from an inferior headphone, they will bring you closer to that live performance than ever before and most certainly wow you at first listen.

If powerful bass, isolation, comfort and durability are on your list of important things, the DT770 is a sure winner. I would recommend trying these before you buy them, as they are surely not for everyone.

Tonal Balance 50% Bass, 35% Mid, 15% Treble.
Suitable Genres (if you aren't a basshead) DnB, Hip-hop, Rap, Dance, Techno, Trance etc.
Suitable Genres (if you are a basshead) Just about anything you throw it at.

Bass Extension 10
Bass Impact 7

Bass Quality 7
Mids Quality 6
Highs Quality 5

Detail 6
Comfort 8
Durability 10

Improvement with Amplification 7
Improvement with Source 6
Overall Sound Quality 6
Overall Music Quality 8
Value for Money 7

Average 7.15

Good if they are what you are looking for!

Pros:
Strong bass response
Comfortable
Non Fatiguing
Sturdy
Excellent isolation
Attractive

Cons:
Clamp takes some time to get used to
Not a very refined sound
The 250 ohm version NEEDS dedicated amplification