I just got a set of Beyerdynamics DT770 Pro closed back circumaural headphones and now I’m listening like mad to familiar music in order to get used to them as quickly as possible. I wanted some better quality closed back headphones firstly for performing, but secondly for recording, producing, and listening while on the road.
So far I’m very impressed with the detail and bass response. They have much more bass and overall volume than the AKG K240s that I use in the studio, but I imagine that the open back K240s are probably more flat. The DT770s are a snug fit and surround even my abnormally large pinnae. The thick velour padding blocks a fair amount of sound and keeps your ears toasty warm, or nice and sweaty in this ninety six degree heat.
It took me a while to decide about these phones, but based on what I’ll be using them for I think I made the right decision. They are louder than I expected, given that many people prefer to use a headphone amplifier with them. I didn’t find amplification necessary with my MacBook Pro, but haven’t tried them with an iPod, or anything else yet. Feel free to chime in with your own experience or opinions on headphones.
Sheesh, I just looked up the cost of those headphones and I thought my Sony MDR-V600s where expensive!
Luckily I got a killer deal on them. Meaning, if I tell you how much I paid for them I’ll have to kill you. ;) Seriously though, they sound great. Just listened to some Bill Evans and Tony Bennett followed by Boards of Canada, and I’m hearing things I’ve never heard before. And if you think these are expensive, have a look at the Grado PS1000s that cost a cool $1700. Not for me anytime soon…
These are very good headphones, perfect for working in the train and not pissing of the travellers around you (as I did before with my my open back Grados). The cushions are also good for nodding off while sitting. Soundwise I find them lacking in midrange clarity and they add some coloration to the bass as compared to the more austere AKG or even Grados. But comfort on the road useability make more than up for that!
Been using these for about 10 years now. I have used them in the studio for recording and also just general everyday listening.
I have never needed to fix them other than to tighten the small black screws where the ear pieces connect to the headband.
I have thrown them in countless bags, dropped them off my ears mid session and they still perform top dollar.
The earpads themselves can get a bit whiffy (brown) after a while but just ease them off and wash them gently by hand with mild detergent and it brings back the silver grey sheen. You can also replace them if they become over soiled or torn.
10/10 gear
Thanks for confirming that I made the right decision on these, @Hainbach and @Nairn. Good to know I can wash the pads if necessary too. Also, they seem plenty loud on iPods, etc. so I’m a little surprised by the low volume reports. Perhaps I’m just comfortable listening at a lower level. I love to crank up my studio monitors now and then, but I’m not really into blasting my ear drums with headphones. I’m more about detail and isolation when I put on the cans.
A couple of years ago my brother and me went shopping at our fav music store to get some hardware (Guitar RIG). We also looked for quality headphones, and I remember the clarity and this amazing bass response of the DT770. My brother liked it a lot and finally bought it for himself. However, I was afraid of its real warm cushions and settled on an AKG K141 instead which has leather earpads and a pretty nice overall frequency range.
These got great reviews in the SOS headphone roundup – I went for the sennheiser HD650 openbacks – great for mixing late night. It’s so easy to get caught up on the minute details on these though, like trying to cut a tree with a scalpel…