The online world presents a wide range of high-end headphones and similar accessories. It can be hard to choose the right one, especially if you are in a hurry.
Many people only trust popular companies for these. Any brand that has been around for several years is considered a fit.
Beyerdynamic is one of the audio heavyweights that fit this description. They offer a legendary line of the best headphones that will perform your imagination.
This Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro review is all about proving the company’s prowess. Are these headphones really good? Well, we are about to find out.
Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro Studio Headphone Review
From the box, you get the Beyerdynamic DT-880 Pro headphones, a 1/4 -inch adapter, essential documents, a carrying case, and something to explain why this choice is excellent for you.
• Connectivity
Beyerdynamic understands what the modern user wants in terms of connectivity, and that is what they offer. The headphones connect in a 1/8-inch TRS plug. It’s designed for a ¼-inch adapter, letting you use high-end and high output systems.
I never doubted the quality of these cans, right from the first time I saw them. Well, an amp is necessary if you want to get the most from these bad boys. This is common for dynamic headphones due to frequency issues, which can vary widely.
The headphones offer an impedance of 1kHz at 250 Ohms, which is a bit high at some point. This does not have to stress you out. If you get an amp that meets your needs, you should enjoy using them.
Apart from the 250 Ohms impedance, these cans have a sensitivity of 96dB/mW. Hence, it’s only by using an app that you get the loudest sound from them. Note, however, that 96dB is quite loud, and hence, one must be careful not to hurt their ears. A headphone amp assures a better bass response than other headphones.
• How it feels
The DT 880 Pro is a semi-open over-ear pair of headphones. Compare with others, and you will realize these are great headphones for phone use and listening to music. They feature a black matte chrome finish. A leather padding wrapped around the band offers a comfortable feel for generally long hours of use.
Their cable is connected to the left ear cup and protected by shielding for durability. The headphone’s interior features are pretty impressive.
Sound-wise, you can be sure to get the most from these cans. Beyerdynamic has gone the extra mile to make these studio-quality headphones the best for your audio needs. Listen to your favorite music, and you will hear natural sounds within the mix.
Specs
• Open back over-ear
• 250 Ohm impedance
• Weights 295g
• 3.5mm jack (threaded straight)
• Coiled cable length, 3m
- Valour pads with a good audio interface
Pros
• Versatile headphones
• Comfortable
• Replaceable parts
• Neutral; sound
Cons
• The highs are a bit overemphasized
• It would have been better with a detachable cable
Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro Headphones Features
The Beyerdynamic DT-880 Pro headphones are studio-quality cans for mixing and mastering. Features include:
- Semi-open design. This design is not the best for noise cancellation and sound isolation, but it does best for mastering and mixing. Most sound engineers recommend this design due to the natural sound they offer compared to closed-back headphones.
- 250 Ohms impedance. If you are looking for great studio headphones for mixing, editing, and mastering, you have found a perfect set in these pieces. This level of impedance is suitable for this particular use.
- Earpads. The earpads on the DT 880 Pro are soft, circumaural, and are made from replaceable velour. This makes the headphones very comfortable.
- Sound. You get a transparent, spacious, and natural sound. These cans are excellent as studio monitors for the quality of sound they produce.
- Headband design. A robust and well-padded headband with an adjustable spring makes them even more comfortable. You can wear them for hours without feeling the urge to take them off, and that is one feature that makes headphones good.
- Channel balance. The channels on the DT 880 Pro are standard. I consider the great quantities of these cans, and there is no significant deviation between the channel.
All the features make a high-end pair of headphones. It’s a worthy investment.
Sound Quality: What does the Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO sound like?
This is not the first time I am writing a Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro review. I did it in 2013, and my view of their sound quality has never changed.
I have always been a fan of Beyerdynamic because every product they make is unique and extremely high-quality. The neutral sound that comes from the DT 880 Pro when connected to a good amp is impressive.
There is an over-emphasis on the sounds in the 7 to 10 kHz range, though. I know many people have a hard time hearing the notes, but you can notice them in trappy beats and music with many claps, hi-hats, or loud cymbals. I loved them with a wide range of music.
The headphones don’t paint too much color on music, and hence, a good fit for most uses. I find it much easier leveling an overemphasis than an underemphasis. The DT880 Pro has a flat frequency response, making it easy to tone it down a little until you get the targeted point, giving you a tremendous in-house curve.
Music lives in the range of 80 to 10kHz. With the DT 880 Pro, most of your music comes out naturally, just how they are mixed. I was not too fond of the notes under 100Hz, but it’s better than most headphones I have ever used. You also get a 5dB dip at 4 to 5kHz, which should not be strange for most headphones. It resonates perfectly in the human, although not advised for long sessions.
I will not even talk about noise isolation. These are open-back headphones, which means there is really nothing much to describe.
Overall, the headphones deliver a bright sound from cymbals, hats, and claps. The vocals are pretty incredible too. The sub-bass came out clearly on classic rock, with plenty of loud high mids.
Ear Pads: Does the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro have Comfortable Ear Pads?
Let me talk about the build quality of these headphones so you can understand why they are comfortable. You will notice right away that they are very solid. They are designed for a not-very-careful user.
The headband adjustment slider mechanisms do a great job in setting the right fit for your head. This allows you to have more of a new pair altogether. And they are replaceable, which means you can get worn-out parts if you want something better.
Many users have praised the DT 880s for their comfort. And I must agree they are really good. The velour pads are good for long periods of listening.
You get soft velour earpads designed in a perfect diameter to fit any ear. Adjust the right, and you have yourself a remarkable pair of headphones.
They come with a true over-ear design, which makes them more comfortable than on-ear headphones. There is no pressure applied on the outer ear, making it easy to wear for long hours without feeling hot or uncomfortable.
The headband is not very good compared to the ear pads. But it gets the job done. And since these headphones are open-back, they are quite breathable.
Headphone Performance: Is the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro Good Performance?
I have used a wide range of headphones over the year, and I know a good pair when I see one. I compared the DT 880s with Sennheiser HD650; Beyerdynamic is much better for the money.
You have to calibrate them well. In which case, they are not so different from the Sennheiser, and yet they are much cheaper. You get all the spare parts at a lower price too.
The biggest issue I have with the DT 880s is their undetachable cable. Even with the quality sound, they promise, most users today want more flexibility, which they don’t just give.
You will love how they perform in the studio. Due to their high impedance, it might not be wise to use them in long sessions. However, the overall sound quality is outstanding.
I applied the Sonarworks to see how it performs. There are rarely any distortions, and when they do, it’s only down low, which is not worth mentioning. They perform, and the Sennheiser 650, only better in the real world when working at moderate levels.
Both products show the same level of low sound. The correction effect is quite good on the DT 880s due to their adaptiveness.
Manufacturing consistency on the DT880 is incredible. It beats most competitors in their range, which promises a better average profile accuracy.
Is the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro the Perfect Choice for Studio Headphones?
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro are open-end over-ear studio headphones designed for modern sound engineers. They deliver a neutral sound, and they are designed for mixing, production, and mastering. These are applications that don’t require and sound isolation.
Apart from the sound quality, the DT 880 Pro headphones are very comfortable. You can use them in the studio for long hours without feeling uncomfortable or extreme heat build-up.
There is no sound distortion from the design of these cans, which means you get exactly what comes from your mixer or audio device.
So, yes, it would be a great idea to invest in these cans for your studio headphones needs. The 250 Ohms impedance and a well-balanced frequency range assure that studio-quality sounds.
Beyerdynamic DT 880 pro vs Premium
I cannot end this Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO review without bringing in the Premium. Beyerdynamic has been doing a great job building headphones for studio use. These two products are on the list of the best.
Beyerdynamic calls the “Premium” headphones “DT 880 Edition” and not the Pro model. The main difference is that the Premium is for home use while the Pro is for studio applications. Otherwise, they are identical and used interchangeably in most cases.
Both offer an incredible sound. You will not even notice the difference if you haven’t looked at the headphones separately before.
However, there is more difference in the design and comfort. The Edition seems to have a softer headband. This is because they are designed for enjoying music at home. The pros are tighter, which is perfect for a busy studio setup.
Also, the Pro model comes with a coiled cable while the Premium’s cable is straight. They both have fixed cords.
Now that you know the difference, you should find it easy to choose what suits your needs. Purchase it today to enjoy these features. If you have any questions or commend, leave a comment below, and we will help.
