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Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80Ω)
If you’re a music-lover or budding musician, a set of tough-as-nails headphones is an absolute must. You’re going to be taking your sidekick of choice on all sorts of adventures—not all of them electronics-friendly. Going to college, on tour, or even just hanging out in a studio is murder on plastic over the long haul. That’s why you need to take a look at durable headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO.
Editor’s note: this review was updated on October 8, 2024, to include details about the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X Limited Edition headphones, and to answer frequently asked questions about the DT 770 PRO.
Because of its build and sound quality, this pair of headphones is best suited to music creators with a need for a durable, high-quality set of tracking headphones in the recording booth. Something you can trust clients or bandmates not to break accidentally. Casual listeners at the computer who need a super-comfortable set of closed-back headphones, or users with glasses will also find a good option in the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80Ω).
What’s it like to use the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80Ω)?
As far as headphones go, Beyerdynamic’s design language has been ultra-clear for decades now: the company wants these things to last. To that end, the DT 770 PRO uses a lot of metal in its band and ear cup forks, along with a thick layer of durable hard plastic on the ear cups. The cable is protected by a lot of rubber and plastic, which is perfect for this type of headphone.
You may notice right away that this headset uses velour padding, which is exactly the sort of thing that those with glasses prefer to leatherette ear pads because it doesn’t squeak or catch when you move your head. It also has the added benefit of not trapping in heat as badly as the aforementioned alternative does. If you’re a sweaty person, you may decide you need to air it out from time to time—but the pads are easily removable for cleaning.
You absolutely can replace the pads for any Beyerdynamic headphones. Because the DT series all use the same (or similar-enough) shapes and sizes for the ear cups, you can pick up either the leatherette or velour pads for just about any model of DT XX0 headphones from Beyerdynamic, and they should fit the DT 770 Pro of any impedance.
If you’re worried about comfort, there’s no need; you can use this for hours without anything feeling off. If you’re in the middle of laying down some tracks, you’re going to be taking your headset on and off a bunch, and using it for a really intense stretch of time. The last thing you want is your headphones’ clamping force to take you out of a vocal track or beat.
How do you connect the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO?
Like the vast majority of wired headphones, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO uses a straight 3.5mm TRS jack connector. As I mentioned before, there is also threading for a 1/4-inch adapter for use with older or higher-power systems with the larger connection. If you’re not going to use this at home, you may want to use some zip-ties or something to rein in that cable, because it’s three meters long—not ideal for mobile use. While I prefer a removable cable, the DT 770 PRO doesn’t use one. If the cord snags with too much force, it could break.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
Impedance | 80Ω |
Sensitivity | 96dB/mW |
Cable termination | 3.5mm with threaded adapter |
I’ve soldered Beyerdynamic cans back together for friends before, but it’s not something most people are willing to do. In that light, this headset is built more for the home or studio than it is for a commute. Still, the relative fragility of the cord is something to pay attention to.
You do not need an amp to use the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80Ω. As it has a relatively typical sensitivity and low-ish impedance, you would only need an amp if you notice your source device can’t output the volume you want to listen to. However, if you buy a version of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro in any of the higher impedance variants (250Ω or above, if you find the 600Ω version at a thrift shop), it may be a different story. If you find that you can’t get the volume you want, then and only then should you consider an amplifier.
How well does the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO block out noise?
While it won’t knock your socks off, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO blocks outside noise from reaching your ear fairly well, though it’s mostly sound that’s higher-pitched than middle-C. If you’re going to be keeping the DT 770 PRO in the studio, it should be more than adequate for tracking or monitoring. However, it should do okay out on the street if you elect to take it outside.
How does the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO sound?
I’ve heard a really wide range of people putting forth opinions on this set of headphones, and the truth of the matter is that so many divergent articles can’t all be right. That’s because they aren’t. But we can help you out a little more than your average Amazon review can.
First things first, this is not a set of “muddy” headphones, or whatever words people like to use, but you need to know that they have a very strong emphasis in the highest frequencies which can get a little grating after a while. This simply means that the emphasis in anything that goes through them tends to favor the highest notes over all else. You also need to power them correctly. If you know that your computer or phone can drive them, the DT 770 PRO can handle pretty much anything you throw at them.
Lows, mids, and highs
As these are closed back headphones that have no difficulty sealing to your head, lows will come through as loud as they should. However, they’re not emphasized to the same degree as they are on other more consumer-friendly headphones. While tracks like Barry White’s Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe will sound fantastic with this kind of tonality, you may notice some 90s and 00s-era mixes sound a little wonky due to the assumption of a more bass-heavy playback system.
Mids can take a bit of a backseat to the highs (very obvious in instrument-heavy Meat Loaf songs), but a properly-mixed track will present vocals and most instrument sounds quite nicely. However, you may notice that songs you mix with these end up with an under-emphasis on higher-pitches until you learn their sound. Just be sure to sanity-check anything you create with these cans.
These over-emphasized highs aren’t bad for music per se, but they definitely benefit from some equalization. Without it, you may find that cymbals and other stringed instruments can sometimes leave you with a somewhat shrill ringing. If a track is properly mixed, you won’t notice this as much, outside of the fact that you can actually hear the cymbal shimmer.
You should definitely consider toning down the huge peak in the highs, but in general these headphones do pretty well as-is.
Really, the biggest change you should make is to tone down everything above 6kHz by about 5dB until your playlists aren’t grating. Doing that will squash the overemphasis on the highs, giving you a more usable result. Don’t worry so much about the emphasis suggested by the chart at 20hz, you’re not going to hear a difference if you don’t boost that, just increased noise… maybe.
Of course, as it always is with these things: this is merely a suggestion and a starting point, not the ultimate settings you should set and forget. Your individual anatomy will alter what’s “best” for you, and this will only get you about 90% of the way there.
(Click the chart to expand.)
Should you buy the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80Ω)?
If you’re looking to build out a recording studio or just have a comfortable-as-hell set of computer cans, definitely take a look at the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80Ω). Seriously—this is purpose-built for this situation, and you’ll be very happy you took the plunge. However, if you’re looking for commuting headphones: you’ll probably be better served by wireless or noise-canceling headphones.
Given that this headset is so old, it’s a little behind the times where it comes to features that content creators and casual listeners have come to expect from their headphones. For example: a removable cable and microphone. For that, the AKG K371 and its wireless variant are very compelling given that they come in at about the same price online.
If you’re looking for a cheaper set of cans, you could always look to grab one of the even-older Sony MDR-7506. Sure, those too are long in the tooth and yes: they’ve got a lot of the same drawbacks as the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80Ω, but they’re time-tested and industry standard for the same reasons the Beyerdynamic cans have stuck around so long.
How does the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X compare to the DT 770 PRO?
The Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X takes clear inspiration from the DT 770 PRO with its large ear pads, thick headband, and Beyerdynamic branding along each ear cup. The biggest difference between the DT 700 PRO X and older DT 770 PRO is the impedance. The PRO X is made for portable use with its 48Ω impedance, relative to the DT 770 PRO series’ 32Ω, 80Ω, and 250Ω varieties.
The tuning is a bit different on the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X’s STELLAR.45 drivers with less amplified treble notes compared to the DT 770 PRO. Listeners who want to avoid any treble harshness should seriously consider the DT 700 PRO X instead.
Another reason to go for the newer, and unfortunately pricier, DT 700 PRO X over the DT 770 PRO is because the former is much more environmentally friendly. You can easily repair it without any tools and replace nearly all the parts yourself, from the cable to the proprietary drivers, which saves you some green in the long run.
How does the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X Limited Edition compare to the DT 770 PRO?
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Beyerdynamic, the company released the DT 770 PRO X Limited Edition. In short, these headphones are a combination of the DT 770 Pro and the newer DT 700 PRO X. The design takes inspiration from both models, with the addition of some flashy Limited Edition text. The headphones have the STELLAR.45 drivers of the DT 700 PRO X, so you should expect similar sound quality as the newer model. They also get a detachable cable, which is great to see!
Frequently asked questions about the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
The 250 ohm version of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO has a higher impedance, which means you may need a separate amplifier to power the headphones to a suitable level. The 80 ohm version is capable of outputting louder volume from a computer or smartphone without needing an amp.
Yes, the DT 770 PRO are fully closed-back headphones.
Your laptop or PC should have no problem outputting enough power for the 80 ohm headphones.
No, you likely won’t notice a difference in sound quality with headphones with higher impedance. It simply means the headphones require more power to drive, which means your output level and sound quality will be more dependent on the amplifier that you are using.
No, most modern devices should have no problem outputting sound at a loud volume to the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 ohm.
Yes, if your phone happens to still have a headphone jack.