beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO
Professional-Standard 250Ω Closed-Back Headphones
MADE IN GERMANY
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO (250 Ω, includes both a 10'/3m straight and a 16'/5m coiled cord, 3.5mm plugs with screw-on ¼″ adapters, 13.7 oz./388g without cord, $499). bigger. I'd get mine at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used headphones — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new DT 1770 PRO. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new headphones before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
October 2022 beyerdynamic Reviews Headphone Reviews Tube Amp Reviews Audio Reviews All Reviews
Introduction top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
The beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO are superbly-made, all-day-and-night comfortable professional headphones with clean, clear, smooth, natural and open sound. The bass is almost at planar-magnetic standards of being deep and unboomy. Bass isn't boosted; it's natural and relatively bottomless.
The DT 1770 PRO let you hear exactly what you have; they don't add anything to make it sound better. This means the music you create with these will sound great everywhere, rather than if you used consumer headphones which are designed to make everything sound good. If anything they err on the side of adding just a little on top to open up the sound.
They have natural, accurate sound ideal for mixing and mastering, but this means they don't add anything to the lower bass and upper treble to sweeten the sound as consumer headphones do. These DT 1770 PRO headphones lead you to make your music sound great; they don't add anything to make music sound better than it actually is for enjoyment's sake.
These are comfortable to wear all day and all night, whether working on a music or video project. I can edit for hours and hours and hours with these, and they still feel great.
Everyone who's worked in radio or recording knows beyerdynamic microphones and headphones. I've been using them since the 1980s, and they've been around since the 1920s. The vocals on Billy Joel's classic album 52nd street were recorded with a beyerdynamic 250 microphone. For all you know, maybe your favorite recording was made with a beyerdynamic microphone, too!
beyerdynamic was founded in 1924 and has been the top maker of the world's best professional headphones since 1937. AKG and Sennheiser weren't even founded until the 1940s. For all I know, this makes beyerdynamic the inventor of pro headphones.
These use beyerdynamic's top Tesla technology for super sensitivity. Even at 250 Ω they are plenty sensitive for use with mobile and iOS devices. At 250 Ω they are extremely easy for any mobile or pro amplifier or headphone output to drive, and drive without distortion, Yes, most amplifiers and headphone outputs have more distortion trying to drive 32 Ω headphones and work much better with 250 Ω headphones — so long as the 250 Ω headphones are as sensitive as these.
These are the genuine MADE IN GERMANY article from the world's oldest and best maker of professional headphones for almost 100 years; these aren't rubbish from China.
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New compared to DT 770 intro top
Comes in one universal 250 Ω impedance rather than the bewildering array of 32 Ω, 250 Ω and 600 Ω versions of the DT 770.
New 45mm Tesla drivers, which add enough sensitivity that we no longer need a 32 Ω version for mobile use.
Comes with two different field-replaceable mini-XLR cords. (The DT 770 have one captive cord.)
Comes with a second set of leatherette earpads. The leatherette set has more isolation than the standard velour ones.
Good intro top
Clean, clear, smooth, open, airy and accurate sound with accurate and deep (but not emphasized) bass.
Comfortable for all-day and all-night use.
Superb GERMAN construction quality and durability.
Replaceable cords and earpads.
Lightweight and tough.
Stay on your head as you move or walk around.
Trivially easy to drive at 250 Ω. Work just as well plugged into an iPhone as they do with a dedicated amplifier like my Benchmark DAC1 HDR.
Ready to plug-and-play as soon as you get them.
MADE IN GERMANY.
Bad intro top
Nothing.
Missing intro top
They don't fold for storage and travel; these are big-boy full-sized headphones.
Thank goodness no expense was wasted on a fancy box, as is typical for consumer products. Consumers are impressed by fancy boxes with magnetic clasps, silk linings or especially the 5,000-year-old Gyojiwood used to make the vessel in which the STAX OMEGA SR-009 ships, but those fancy boxes mean that money which could have gone into making a better product — didn't. Bless manufacturers of serious products like beyerdynamic and Grado who use plain boxes because pros know the quality is on the inside, not in flashy packaging.
No Bluetooth; just regular wired headphones for serious use.
No iPhone/iPad/iPod remote, but you conceivably could build a cord with one.
No mic for phone calls. No worries, if I get a call on my iPhone the audio comes through the DT 1770 PRO and the iPhone's mic picks up my voice — you just can't talk with your iPhone in your pocket.
No GPS.
No Wi-Fi.
No batteries to charge, replace or change.
No electronics whatsoever; completely passive transducers.
Nothing to go obsolete.
No problems!
Specifications top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
DT 1770 PRO Box Bottom. bigger.
Type specifications top
Passive dynamic, around-the-ear, closed-back headphones.
Transducers specifications top
beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO. bigger.
45mm "Tesla 2.0" dynamic drivers.
Neodymium magnets.
Earpads specifications top
Black velour over semi-firm foam.
They are firmer and have a thinner mating surface than than those of the DT 700 PRO X, so they're not quite as comfy — to me, at least.
Isolation specifications top
Rated 18 dBA, standard velour earpads.
Rated 21 dBA, with included leatherette earpads.
Earpiece Pressure specifications top
7.2 Newtons (25.9 ounces), which is on the firm side and needed with the big earpads.
Spring steel headband.
Cords & Connectors specifications top
Two included cords and two included ¼" adapters. bigger.
Two cables included:
One straight 10' (3m) and another coiled 16' (5m) cable.
The coiled cable is the best; it's only arm's length when you're not pulling on it.
Each has a mini-XLR on one end to plug into one earcup, and a 3.5mm plug with screw-in ¼″ adapter on the other end.
Yes, you get two ¼″ adapters, one on each cable.
It's nice, wiggly cable with serious metal connectors and big, firm rubber strain reliefs on both ends. While this is fine for pro gear mounted in racks, the strain reliefs are long and firm enough that I'd worry about bending 3.5mm connectors if pulling on a cable.
Single mini-XLR socket. bigger.
Frequency Response specifications top
Rated "5 ~ 40,000 Hz," no decibel tolerance listed.
Impedance specifications top
Rated 250 Ω.
Sensitivity specifications top
102 dB at 1 mW at 500 Hz. (1 mW into 250 Ω is 500 mV or -6.02 dBV.)
108 dB SPL at 1 V at 500 Hz (4 mW into 250 Ω).
Maximum SPL specifications top
125 dB SPL at 200 mW at 500 Hz. (200 mW into 250 Ω is 7.07 V or +16.99 dBV.)
Power Handling specifications top
200 mW (about 7.07 V into 250 Ω).
Distortion at 1 mW specifications top
0.05% at 500 Hz.
Serial Number specifications top
Hot foil stamped into the inside of the left harp.
Weight specifications top
Rated 13.7 oz. (388 g), sans cable.
HARDCASE PRO 717.967 rated 11.4 oz. (322g).
Quality specifications top
Designed and MADE IN GERMANY.
Case specifications top
Included HARDCASE PRO. bigger.
The included hard case has space to hold the included second set of soft earpads, as well as a small zippered pouch for both included cords and two 3.5mm to ¼″ adapters:
What's Inside the DT 1770 PRO Case. bigger.
Extra pair of leatherette (more isolating) earpads. bigger.
Model Numbers specifications top
Complete set Art. Nr.: 710.717.
Replacement Parts
K 1000.07 10'/3m straight mini XLR to 3.5mm cable & ¼″ adapter: 710.725 (EAN 4010118710728).
WK 1000.07 16'/5m coiled mini XLR to 3.5mm cable & ¼″ adapter: 710.733 (EAN 4010118710735).
HARDCASE PRO: 717.967 (EAN 4010118717963).
Included specifications top
Headphones
Two cords with two 3.5mm to screw-on ¼″ adapters.
Extra pair of harder, more isolating earpads.
Printed instructions.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
October 2022
$499.
Microcorrugated Cardboard Box. bigger.
Performance top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
Overall Sound Image & Soundstage Bass
Sensitivity Isolation Leakage Ergonomics
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
The DT 1770 PRO are superbly-made and comfortable headphones with clean, clear, open and detailed sound with accurate, taut bass.
These have an open neutral sound, with some extra air and texture on top to open it up.
Sound performance top
The sound is a bit on the airier side of neutral, with a little more top end which helps get the sound out of your head. They're open, light, bright and present— but not too bright. The sound is a perfect balance between consumer sweetness and a professional analytical sound.
The low end isn't boosted, and it is deep and flat that's what's in your music. The open highs shimmer.
To be honest, while the warmer, less forward sound of my Audeze LCD-X or LCD-1 can be more enjoyable with typical recordings, I pull out these DT 1770 PRO to enjoy smoother recordings that can benefit from extra air, like TELARC classical recordings that were made with ruler-flat B&K laboratory measurement microphones or even super-smooth modern recordings like Ray Charles' 2004 "Genius Loves Company."
These DT 1770 PRO are best for monitoring and mastering, where they make you work harder to make even better-sounding recordings.
These are clear and untiring for listening for hours and hours of work or pleasure.
Image & Soundstage performance top
The DT 1770 PRO have an open and airy image.
The sound gets out of my head a little better than most headphones.
Bass performance top
The DT 1770 PRO have natural, tight, deep bass. They're perfect for hearing what you have and for enjoying it - although you'll want it medium to loud to sound their best.
The bass is accurate, smooth, deep and unboosted; just what you need for mixing and mastering to ensure your final product will sound great everywhere.
While at soft levels our ears' natural loss of low-end sensitivity will hide some of the bass (pros usually listen much louder than consumers), the lack of boominess means that you will hear the deepest bass quite clearly so long as you're not playing these too softly.
These are better than older headphones. I think the superb bass typical in most planar-magnetic headphones has led makers of dynamic headphones like these to step up their game; the bass from these is unusually deep and flat — just not boosted.
These have prodigious deep and clean bass for movies; you'll feel the rumbles if they're in there.
Make sure these fit your head; their harder pads may not seal as well as softer ones. The good news is that their more casual seal means there isn't any thumping if you walk around with them on.
Sensitivity performance top
With iOS I have the volume set to about three-quarters to seven-eighths with just about any music or movie. I may have to set the volume close to maximum, and I always have enough sensitivity on iOS not no need any external amplification.
Isolation performance top
Isolation, with the fuzzy earpads, is typical.
I didn't try the leatherette (plastic) earpads, which claim 3 dB more isolation.
Leakage performance top
These is some minor leakage, but certainly less than with open headphones.
Ergonomics performance top
These feel quite basic. The earpads, while fuzzy, are still a bit hard and narrow — harder than the wonderfully softer and wider ones on the DT 700 PRO X.
You can walk around with these on your head.
Be careful: the straight cord has no stretch, and the mini-XLR connector locks into the earpiece, so if you stand up while the cord is caught on something, you may pull them off your head or break something. I use the coiled cord.
Each earpiece extends in clicks for size adjustment. The clicks are perfect: light enough to adjust easily and tight enough to stay put. beyerdynamic has been doing this for nearly a hundred years so they get this right.
They don't fold for travel.
The long mini-XLR connector on the left earpiece can poke your left shoulder depending on your shape and how you are sitting or relaxing.
There aren't soft rubber nubs at each earpiece; the hard plastic won't scratch glass as metal can, but be careful with fine furniture when you put them down.
User's Guide top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Amplification
The DT 1770 PRO work great plugged directly into portable devices.
Go right ahead and use a dedicated headphone amplifier if you insist (I love my Benchmark DAC1 HDR), but honestly, they also sound fantastic plugged right into an iPad, iPhone, iPod or with Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm adapter or Apple's USB-C to 3.5mm Adapter.
While Apple's devices and their Lightning adapters and USB-C to 3.5mm adapters have excellent low-source-impedance headphone outputs and sound great with these, I can't vouch for off-brands like Android, Samsung, HTC or other iPhone copies.
Levels
Probably because the DT 1770 PRO have such smooth and clean sound at practically unlimited output levels, it's tempting to play them way too loud. They sound awesome played at full concert level all day long
~ however ~
It's easy to damage your hearing. If your ears start ringing or buzzing, even long after you've stopped listening, cool it for a while.
Cables
The DT 1770 PRO comes with two swell cables.
I wouldn't waste money on any different cables. Accessory cables are a big money-maker for people selling them, but don't give any better sound than what's already included. You're much better off saving your money to buy more music or making your studio better rather than wasting it on snake oil or cables.
If two cables sound different, then at least one of them is defective.
This isn't as much of a problem for pro headphones; it's the nutty audiophiles who waste their time with aftermarket cables, not the people actually making the music who use these headphones.
Phone Calls
It has no mic, but your iPhone's mic will pick up your voice as it usually does with its own mic and route the received sound to your DT 1770 PRO.
It works fine for phone calls so long as you keep your iPhone close. Don't put your phone in your pocket, because the other side will no longer hear you.
Compared top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
For music enjoyment with the four newest offerings from beyerdymanic: the DT 700 PRO X, DT 900 PRO X, DT 1990 PRO and these DT 1770 PRO, I prefer the DT 900 PRO X. Remember, as pro headphones, these are all designed to make you work harder to make the music you're creating sound its best.
Versus the Audeze LCD-XC
The American-made Audeze LCD-XC are also professional closed-back headphones for similar applications from recording and music enjoyment. While they both sound similar, these are entirely different kinds of headphones.
These Audeze LCD-XC are much bigger and weigh twice as much. They are so big and heavy that they don't stay on your head if you move; it's easy to move too fast if you suddenly turn around. By comparison, the lightweight DT 1770 PRO just stay stuck on your head because they weigh so little.
While these are both comfortable, the DT 1770 PRO are much lighter while the LCD-XC have much softer and wider earpads. If you move around a lot, go for the DT 1770 PRO, and if you stay put, go for the LCD-XC.
The DT 1770 PRO have velour earpads while the LCD-XC use real leather. Both isolate about as much as the other, while each material feels different. I've always been a leather fan, but I prefer the velour.
Both use locking mini-XLR connectors. The DT 1770 PRO use just one, while the LCD-XC uses two.
The LCD-XC are much clumsier to wear, and even more clumsy to put on and take off.
The LCD-XC have no bumpers, so you have to be careful putting them down as not to damage a console or furniture, while the DT 1770 PRO have hard plastic nubs on the side, making the DT 1770 PRO more of a breeze to take off.
The LCD-XC cost two or three times as much.
Plugged into most modern (low source-impedance) sources, the DT 1770 PRO appear less sensitive because they are drawing much less power due to their 250 Ω versus the 17 Ω impedance of the LCD-XC.
The DT 1770 PRO are warmer and have more bass than the LCD-XC. I'll admit that I prefer the sound and ergonomics of these DT 1770 PRO, for a fraction of the price.
Versus the DT 700 PRO X
The DT 700 PRO X are half the price and more comfortable, but have only straight (not coiled) cords. With locking connectors I don't like straight cords as I usually pull the headphones off my head - or rip the cord out of the headphones - when I inevitably stand up and the straight cord gets caught on something.
If you can figure out how to order the coiled cord of the DT 1770 PRO as a replacement part, it should work great with the DT 700 PRO X if that's your thing.
I haven't compared their sound directly to the DT 1770 PRO. Technically the advantage of the DT 1770 are their 250Ω Tesla drivers versus the conventional 48Ω drivers of the DT 700 PRO X. The funny reality is that only on really bad equipment will there be any need for the lower load of the 250Ω versus 48Ω drivers, so I'd give a hard look at the DT 700 PRO X as well.
Versus the DT 770
The previous DT 770 has been the pro standard since at least the 1980s and sell for even less than the newer DT 700 PRO X, with the same MADE IN GERMANY quality.
They are very similar, without the new features of the DT 700 PRO X.
If price matters, get the DT 770 which sell for about one-quarter the price of te DT 1770 PRO because they've been in the catalog for so long and include fewer accessories.
Recommendations top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance User's Guide
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
The DT 1770 PRO feel great working all day making music. For enjoying music, they lack the boosted bass and upper treble that makes music sound better at reasonable listening levels; for enjoying music the Amiron or Aventho (or Audeze) sound much better when played at rational levels.
For music enjoyment with the four newest offerings from beyerdymanic: the DT 700 PRO X, DT 900 PRO X, DT 1990 PRO and these DT 1770 PRO, I prefer the DT 900 PRO X. Remember, as pro headphones, these are all designed to make you work harder to make the music you're creating sound its best.
I find the fancy included case too big; there's too much air inside. I use mine with a smaller hard case - but I'm not carrying the spare cord and earpads with me. To each their own.
These have nothing to go obsolete: no internal batteries to try to replace, no electronics (these are completely passive) and no Bluetooth that might not be compatible with new versions in a few years. These are simple passive headphones that should last you for decades and decades of pleasure, just like a pair of passive loudspeakers. Heck, my 1979 sealed-box B&W 801F and 1984 electrostatic Quad ESL-63 are still my favorite loudspeakers today and I've owned them for many, many decades and never needed service on either. In the scope of how long you'll be loving these DT 1770 PRO, the price is nothing, and if you don't love them, send them back within 30 days for a full refund.
I'd get my DT 1770 PRO at Amazon, who usually offer a 30-day 100% cash-back return if you don't LOVE them after enjoying them with your own music. You also can get them at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used headphones — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new DT 1770 PRO. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new headphones before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken Rockwell.
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