Darth Vader's headphones (Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro)

Member Name: LaptopAcidX

Product:	Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
Date:	29/05/09 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Phenomenal sound quality, Incredibly tough, user maintainable.

Disadvantages: Bulky, uncomfortable for extended periods. Now very expensive.

The Beyer DT770 headphones are a "professional" level closed, diffuse field studio monitoring headphone. I don't work in a studio but I produce my own music and I use these headphones (the 250 Ohm Pro version) which this review will focus on. It is worth noting at this point that the 250 Ohm model needs a proper amp to drive them effectively. For mp3 player or computer use the 80 Ohm model would be better suited as it doesn't need to be driven as hard.

The DT770's were designed with drummers in mind, and were intended to cut out the majority of external sounds during recording sessions. This also made them very popular for front of house engineers and I've also seen them used by cameramen for talk back at noisy concerts.

Bearing in mind that perception of sound is incredibly subjective the DT770s for me present mid and high frequencies extremely clearly, responding well to dynamic transients. The bass end is exceptional, probably due to the "Bass reflex" technology for improved bass response (although I've no idea what that means). In practice it exhibits a very strong low frequency extension and a good balance between the bass and the mid and high ends of the frequency spectrum. Stereo placement is also fantastic, with my eyes closed listening to well mixed tracks I can almost see instruments in the stereo field.

Despite the soft padded headband construction the DT770's become uncomfortable after long periods of wear, I used them a lot for watching films and needed a break or serious adjustment after an hour so. I also find this when working on tracks, it is like wearing speakers on your head not just in terms of sound quality and reproduction but weight.

It's not often in the world of consumer or even prosumer electronics that you can get a extremely high end product that is easily serviceable because all the parts are replaceable. Released in 1999 I got mine in 2002 and as yet have not had to replace any of the parts, although I have machine washed my ear pads, and the headband is getting a bit worn. The only other negative point is that they are a bit bulky for carrying around, they're not going to slip in a laptop bag, but this is also a criticism of headphones that aren't half as good.

I can't praise these headphones highly enough, they look like something Darth Vader would wear and perform equally as well. The sound quality still amazes me after seven years, I still hear new things in music I've been listening to for twenty years and that's on an average Sony amp.

On a final note, a friend and fellow musician, cannot hear what I hear in these headphones, preferring Sennheiser open designs instead. So, please take the time to listen to these to see if they will suit you, even if I didn't, I just got lucky.

Summary: Awsome bass and massive detail, but not everyone will like the closed design.

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