VERDICT
Beyerdynamic's DT 1770 Pros are everything a pair of entry-level audiophile headphones should be. The width of that sound stage, particularly for a pair of closed-back headphones, is exceptional. They're a little bulky, but don't let that put you off.
PROS:
- Beautifully crafted soundscape
- Sleek design
- Good price for the quality
- Work with portable players
CONS:
- They're a bit bulky
Let's cut to the chase: £430 / $600 / (around AU$800) for any pair of headphones is a lot of money for most people. Unless you're deep within audiophile circles, and happy to drop a great deal of your hard-earned cash on the latest amplifier and DAC setup, it's not going to be a purchase you make lightly.
And when you do commit to such a purchase there are going to be certain brands you trust: Sennheiser, Shure, Audio-technica and Beyerdynamic spring to mind. I don't include Beats, as while its headphones may act as a gateway drug for some, drawing them into the silky depths of auditory ecstasy, it's a brand that doesn't hold a candle to the big boys, and with good reason.
Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro
Those companies have earned their reputation through thousands of hours spent labouring within the deep dark corners of audio R&D.
The DT 1770 Pros are a step away from what we're used to reviewing. They're a pair of studio-class reference headphones, built from the ground up to operate in the professional recording dens of the world.
Why should you be interested then? Well, simply put, they provide some of, if not the best audio reproduction you can get at this price point. And they have the specs to back it up. Frequency Response? 5Hz-40,000Hz. Impedance? 250 ohms. Transducer type? Beyerdynamic's own Tesla Dynamic tech. Whetted your appetite yet?
Build quality
The overall design of the DT 1770 Pros speaks to that studio pedigree. They're not as classy as, say, the Oppo PM-3s or Denon's AH-MM400s - far from it. It's all about function, about precision, about making sure the sound is as enjoyable, accurate and clean as possible.
The aluminium housing holds the drivers in place, ensuring minimal movement; the adjustable support bars, connecting the two ear cups to the upper headband, are sturdy and secure; the dual-layered memory foam padding lining the top of the leather headband is comfortable yet taut.
Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro review
Included are two sets of swappable ear cups, velour and leather; although they're troublesome to swap out, it's nice to have the choice. And they provide a phenomenal amount of noise dampening or comfort, depending on your preference. They're big - not huge, but noticeably big. You wouldn't wear them about town, or at the gym, as much as you might want to - but then that's not what they're designed for.
The cable is removable, and Beyerdynamic has included two options here as well, either your standard 3M cord or the more studio-style, coiled wire, both with a gorgeous soft-touch rubber finish, both with detachable (screw-on) 3.5mm to 6.35mm jacks, and both connecting to the headphones themselves via a miniaturised XLR input, to reduce noise and improve stability.
You even get a swanky black carry case to carry everything in.
Auditory perceptions
I tested the DT 1770 Pros thoroughly over the course of two months, alongside a plethora of other headphones from the likes of Oppo, Shure, Sennheiser and Audio-Technica.
I ran all the headphones separately through Denon's respectably-priced DA-300USB DAC while listening to YouTube, Spotify's AAC streams, and 1411Kb/s FLAC files thanks to Tidal, all at 192kHz 24-bit sample rate, with the aim of getting as wide a scope as possible for almost all listening scenarios.
Ultimately, the 1770 Pros impressed the most. The sound profile was exceptional. The range, thanks to that phenomenal frequency response, was expansive, crisp and clear; nothing was missing. The bass was incredibly powerful, yet it remained so without touching the mids at all. The treble was crunchy, vibrant and, thanks to that phenomenal headroom, had its chance to shine.
Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro review
Neo-orchestral score and classical orchestra shone with these around my ears, and listening to the likes of Rodrigo y Gabriela for acoustic track testing felt akin to having the two gifted guitarists in the room with me - you could hear every nuance as their fingers slid up and down the fretboards.
Metal, rock, pop, punk, synthetic and indie were equally as joyous to listen to, sweet delights to the ears. I sound like a press release, I know; but honestly, given all the other headphones I had in house, there was very little competition to these when it came to soundscape. It was enough to make the soul sing; it left you sitting there, your hairs tingling on end, as if you'd just heard your favourite songs again for the first time.
Ultimately I could speak volumes as to how these headphones made me feel, but it's truly something you ought to experience for yourself.
We liked
The exceptional sound profile, extensive accessory kit and solid overall design. On top of that, the surprise in learning that these 250-ohm headphones operated perfectly well on mobile devices outside of an external amplifier was a joy. They're plenty loud enough without needing any expensive gear to back them up.
We disliked
This is where things get tricky - it's hard to pick fault with Beyerdynamic's DT 1770 Pros. Yes, they're pricier than a lot of the options out there - but for the quality you get, these cans are definitely worth it.
Final verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pros are a stunning pair of headphones. Are they expensive? To some no, to most yes; but for the sheer listening experience they deliver you'd be hard pressed to take them off after putting them on, even using them with portable HRA players and mobile phones.
The only niggle I have is that they are just a touch tighter than I'd have liked, and a tad on the heavy side. The circumaural design of the ear cups is more than comfortable; however over time (we're talking several hours of continuous listening here), you might need to take a break to relax your noggin.
That said, they really do push the boundaries of what you can do with a dynamic driver. All praise to Beyerdynamic for putting together such a wonderful product.
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