Beyerdynamic DT 270 Pro Review: Small Build, Studio Power

Beyerdynamic has introduced a new headphone to the world of studio equipment. The new DT 270 Pro is a compact, over-ear headphone that cuts the size and weight of their standard headphone for a more lightweight experience. Question is: Does sound quality suffer during physical downsizing? This review will explore all the details of the headphone and what you get in the package. 

Beyerdynamic has been known to make headphones that are larger and go well over the ear. This new design invites something new and different. Instead of something larger and heavier, the DT 270 Pro is lightweight and has earcups that are quite small to just fit right over the ear. The headband is thinner than previous models, so it feels less pressure on the top of your head. Beyerdynamic makes sure to keep the stable build quality from other headphones, so while the headphone may not fold into itself, you still get a durable headphone that will last.

I was worried when wearing these headphones that they would grow fatiguing from being smaller in size. I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to wear the DT 270 Pro for hours and not feel any fatigue. The detachable cable made it easy to choose which side I wanted the wire on, and the coil makes it easy to extend from the audio source with ease.

Like other Beyerdynamic headphones, the DT 270 Pro doesn't take too much power to drive. With a 45 Ω impedance, you can easily push these by just plugging them into your computer. Pairing with a nice portable amplifier is also beneficial, as it helps keep your setup portable and easy to use. 

• Transducer Type: Dynamic
• Operating Principle: Closed
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 24kHz (-10dB)
• Nominal Impedance: 45 Ω
• Nominal SPL: 96 dB
• Nominal THD: < 0.04%
• Ambient Noise Attenuation: 19 dBA
• Weight (without cable): 194g
• Cable: 1.3m (4.2ft) coiled cable, extendable to 3m (9.8ft)
• Connection: 3.5mm stereo jack & 6.35mm adapter

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Onto the listening! My initial reaction to the DT 270 Pro was that it sounds like any other Beyerdynamic headphone in the best way. Punchy sound, flat response, and loud playback: all things that make Beyerdynamic headphones great. Closer inspection and more careful listening revealed more character in this headphone. It has a narrower presentation than some others, but there is still enough width and depth to be immersive. The DT 270 Pro is definitely a reference headphone, seeing as the imaging was spot on, and you got excellent placement of instruments, just in a narrower field than something a little bigger. 

Another way to flag the DT 270 Pro as a reference headphone is the natural sound reproduction. Instruments across the signature sound exactly as you'd imagine if they were played in the room with you. The signature also lies relatively flat, with little height variation. Depth and width are what shape this headphone the most. For those seeking a headphone that can do it all, the DT 270 Pro proves to be a great contender. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The bass in the DT 270 Pro offers a deep sound that typically comes with closed-back headphones. What makes these a step above the rest is the refinement and control, where the bass isn't terribly overwhelming to overtake the entire sound signature. The DT 270 Pro's bass is tight and punchy, giving you the slam you're looking for in fast-paced genres. It stays mellow and smooths out for relaxing tracks, so you get a deep response that lets frequencies build up. The naturalness of all the low-end instruments makes this a nice reference sound, especially with the level of detail you get. There isn't any washed-out or muddiness that comes with the DT 270 Pro, so you're able to get all that good detail in any track you listen to. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

In the midrange, the DT 270 Pro gives you good detail and clarity in all the layers. All the layers come out with full color and texture to give you a well-rounded listening experience. The layers are pretty cohesive but still have distinct sonic separation, so you can analyze the different parts of the track. Vocal clarity was done extremely well, as vocalists sounded like they were singing right in front of you. While there wasn't a lot of height from the DT 270 Pro, the layers that went deep into the immersive soundstage certainly made up for it. You can hear this most prominently in the midrange of this signature, where elements start filtering backwards as opposed to spreading too far out or upwards. The coloration and timbre of instruments are natural and make the DT 270 Pro perfect for studio monitoring and mixing. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

High-end frequencies are bright and airy, an excellent balance to the deep low end. It is crisp and clean, inviting more detail across instrumentation. There isn't any harsh sharpness in the DT 270 Pro's treble response that makes the headphone fatiguing, and instead stays just recessed enough to make sure it isn't overtaking the whole signature. The top end has space to breathe, which is sometimes hard to do in closed-back headphones. Frequencies can dissipate naturally into the space given at the top end. You can hear the spaces of large orchestral concert halls and more intimate recording studios. The DT 270 Pro brings the balance you're looking for without overwhelming you in the process. 

I tested the DT 270 Pro against a few different well-known closed-back models from the company. These models included:

• DT 770 Pro
• DT 700 Pro X
• DT 1770 Pro MKII

When comparing the DT 270 Pro against other Beyerdynamic headphones, it's easy to see the main difference between them. Headphones like the DT 700 Pro X are larger and less flexible in terms of ear cup rotation, while the DT 270 Pro is small, compact, and has the ability to fold flat. These physical differences are attractive to people who weren't a fan of the largeness of Beyerdynamic headphones in the past. The DT 270 Pro caters to the people who prefer a lightweight feel and easier portability above all.

Sonically, you'll see more similarities than differences. The DT 270 Pro shows off a narrower soundstage than the others. You still get good depth and minimal height out of all three, with the most separation coming from the DT 1770 Pro MKII. The DT 270 Pro has a more dynamic signature than others. The DT 1770 Pro MKII is a bit flatter but excels in width and separation, something the DT 270 Pro falls slightly short in comparison. It most closely resembles the DT 700 Pro X, where the signature is flat and has excellent detail and natural sound reproduction. All the headphones produce excellent sound isolation, natural sound reproduction, and immersive listening that is perfect for any studio environment. 

The Beyerdynamic DT 270 Pro is an excellent example of the saying "size doesn't matter". You don't need a huge over-ear headphone to get immersive listening and decent sound isolation; the DT 270 offers all that at half the weight and size you'd expect. This headphone is a great studio upgrade for folks who want something lightweight and can be used for all elements of their production process. Even people looking for a nice wired headphone for their everyday use, the DT 270 Pro is a great choice when paired with a nice portable DAC/Amp.

You can try the DT 270 Pro today at Audio46. Check it out and decide if this is the upgrade for you.