Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro

B
eyerdynamic’s Tesla
driver technology
has evolved into its
second (2.0)
iteration, which now
upgrades the classic
DT 770 into the new
DT 1770 Pro. So what’s changed?
First off, the price; you can buy nearly
three pairs of DT 770s for one pair of
DT 1770s. The rest is performance,
from frequency/dynamic response to
power handling and distortion.
The single-sided cable is
detachable (at last!) with the package
including coiled and straight types.
The carry case houses a set of
leatherette earpads in addition to the
fi tted velour pair. The big comfy
circumaural design hasn’t changed
much, and though they are on the
heavy side they are well supported
enough to allow lengthy immersion.
The Tesla 2.0 driver info talks
about a triple layer diaphragm, high
precision meshes and acoustic
fl eeces, etc. All very clever, but what
does it mean in practice? At fi rst they
appear similar to their predecessor,
but with one (negative) aspect refi ned
away: the ~10kHz over-brightness.
With the DT 1770s Beyerdynamic
have smoothed over this region with a
velvet rolling pin to create a
beautifully balanced, peak-free
high-end (my ears say ‘thanks’).
There is still the full bass
extension one expects from DT 770s,
but with more punch (faster dynamic
response), more headroom (less
mid range, to tiny distortions and
clips, they reproduce whatever your
signal chain is capable of supplying.
Audio restoration, mixing and tracking
all greatly benefi t from the quality the
DT 1770s offer.
If the money was there I’d snap
these up without a second thought.
Not only are they top quality, but
being Beyerdynamic they are
supported with a full range of spares.
That said, these are very well made
and will provide years of service
before anything needs replacing.
distortion) and a sense that the
earcup can accommodate more bass
(the earcup is in fact substantially
deeper than the 770s). I often use
the 770s as a bass checker, so if
they’re woofi ng and the bass masks
the low mids I’m in the low frequency
badlands, but the DT 1770s respond
almost too well and could lead to
overcooking for the bass addicted. As
with all monitoring this is something
that requires familiarity and, whatever
your previous experience, clear and
unfettered audio replication is key to
high-quality work. Mixing the low-end
on DT 1770s is a pleasure, and
effi cient too.
The DT 1770s are exceedingly
well balanced across the audible
spectrum. The mid range is free from
audible phase shift, allowing the
clarity essential for professional use.
The sound stage projected into your
head is as pleasurable (source
material => good) as it is revealing
(source < good!). They provide a
highly detailed view into your audio,
from left to right, front to back, and
even into the corners! From discrete
reverb tails tucked behind a busy
THE PROS & CONS
+
If you love DT 770s,
these will bring you
eternal happiness
Superb fi delity
across the audio
spectrum without
any audible peaks/
troughs or phase-
shift nastiness
Can be driven very
hard without
distorting, even with
a heavy low-end
-
Price – if you can
afford them you
won’t regret it,
but these are a
professional tool
and are priced
accordingly
Not the lightest
of headphones
FM VERDICT
9.3
T he DT 1770 Pro
headphones will not
disappoint. The sound
quality is excellent: detailed,
clear and free from hype.
Mixing the low-end on
DT 1770s is a pleasure,
and effi cient too
Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro | Reviews
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FMU312.rev_beyerdynamic.indd 93 02/11/2016 14:37