Beyerdynamic
DT770
Headphones
Go into
any top recording studio and the
chances are that you'll find not one, but numerous pairs of
Beyerdynamic DT100
headphones. DT100s are tough, they're loud and you can replace almost
all the
parts in the field, but to be honest, they aren't the best sounding
headphone
on the market. They're fine for musicians monitoring while recording,
but less
good for making value judgements on a mix. In recent years,
Beyerdynamic has
extended the DT series considerably, each time bringing about an
improvement in
sound, and the latest in that illustrious line is the DT770 reviewed
here.
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Like the DT100, the DT770 is a closed
headphone, but there the similarity ends. This headphone is designed
for
optimum listening quality in situations where open headphones would be
inappropriate, and a new lightweight diaphragm, which is around
one-fifth the
mass of that used in other current designs, is claimed to give a
high-end
transparency that challenges that of electrostatic headphones. That's
equivalent to building a dynamic mic with the high-end performance of a
capacitor model. |
The DT770 features circular, fully
sealed
acoustic chambers with foam-filled velour ear cushions that fit over,
rather
than resting upon, the ears. Inside is a ported bass reflex system and
the
frequency response is quoted as 5Hz to 35kHz, though the roll-off
limits are
not specified. A 3m coiled cord is fitted to the phones and terminates
in what
appears to be a gold-plated quarter-inch jack plug -- but unscrew the
barrel
and there's a 3.5mm stereo jack inside. However, unlike that of the
DT100, the
cord doesn't unplug so replacement will involve some disassembly. Each
phone is
supported in an anodised aluminium yoke and these are in turn supported
by a
well padded, adjustable headband.
| In use, these phones are a comfortable, snug
fit and offer a useful amount of isolation from outside sound. The
headband
grips the yokes tightly, so there's no tendency for the size adjustment
to slip
once the phones are in place. The overall weight is 270g, which though
not
featherweight, is reasonably low for a quality closed phone. |
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Soundwise,
the DT770s don't display any
of the
boxy characteristics of earlier closed models and they present the mid
and high
frequencies extremely clearly, responding well to dynamic transients.
Similarly, the low end doesn't disappoint, with more than adequate
low-frequency extension and a good balance between the bass and the
mid/high
part of the spectrum. The nominal SPL is around 96dB, with 100mW of
power
equating to 116dB. A typical safe monitoring level for moderate periods
is
around 90dB.
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