Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X Review

Today, we’re going to be taking a look at the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X. As a frugal audio engineer, my reference headphones at home happen to be the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, something of a little brother to the DT 700. Beyerdynamic is well known for creating some of the flattest, most analytical headphones on the market. They have built their brand around precision and fidelity, making them a common go-to company for audiophiles and audio engineers alike.  At $259, these headphones are neither cheap nor terribly expensive, and are likely attainable by the everyday bedroom producer who wishes to mix with enhanced clarity and attention to detail. While perfectly familiar with Beyerdynamic, this will be my first time trying out the DT 700 Pro X. Without further ado, let’s jump into it.

What’s In The Box?

-Beyerdynamic 700 Pro X Headphones

-Headphone Bag

-1.8 meter headphone cable with 1/8^th inch jack & 1/4^th inch adaptor

- 3 meter headphone cable with 1/8^th inch jack & 1/4^th inch adaptor

-Pro X Headphones Instructions

-Pro X Guide for Headphones and Microphones

-Pro X Stickers

Look and Feel

These headphones look simple and serious, which seems fitting for the no-nonsense reputation of Beyerdynamic. They don’t necessarily feel great to wear around my neck when I take them off, but again, details like these are not the focus for headphones like these: the thoughtful details become apparent when they’re actually on your head.

The DT 700 Pro X has an exceptionally comfortable fit. While they fit rather snugly, the lamb-ear softness of the ear pads off-set any potential discomfort.  The firm fit accompanied by the velour padding and closed-back design creates a particularly isolated listening environment.

The headband is composed of a semi malleable high quality plastic. Cushy padding is on the side of the band that rests on the head and is enclosed by a smooth leather-like material. The extendable legs that connect the cans to the headband are made of a durable, subtley tesxtured metal that swivels ever so slightly. The overall build feels strong and built to last a long time.

While I can see myself wearing these for hours at a time, the velour padding on the cans seem fairly heat retentive and a listener may want to give their ears a breather after a long listening session.

Design  

With an impedance of 48 ohms, these may be a bit quiet when connected to a phone, and you may find yourself raising the volume a bit more than you’re used to on your laptop. These really shine with just a bit of extra amplification.

Of note are the Stellar .45 dynamic drivers that these come equipped with, which are composed of a neodymium magnet, a three layer diaphragm, and a lightweight copper clad voice coil; the voice coil is designed to increase speed and responsiveness in order to heighten the realistic experience of the DT 700 Pro X.

Lastly, the cables that come with the headphones are detachable, which is a relief in the event of wear and tear.

-Sensitivity: 100 dB SPL (1mW/500Hz

-Frequency Range: 5 Hz – 40 kHz

-Impedance: 48 Ohms

Sound Stage

All I can say is that of course the imaging and staging is spot on accurate to just about every mix that passes through these. This is consistently what just about any Beyerdynamic headphone is all about, and why they are a known and respected name in music studios. The beauty of these is precisely in their minimal coloration and cut and dry accuracy. Every frequency sits pretty right where a song’s mix engineer intended. The speakers rest a considerable distance from my ears; every touch of panning becomes extra noticeable while remaining accurate.

 Lows

This is where I noticed the biggest difference between the DT 700 Pro X and the DT 770’s that I use on a daily basis. Whether it’s due to the extra isolation on the 700 Pro X or something special in the driver, the bass feels somewhat thicker on these while still maintaining accuracy and avoiding masking. Again, these are analytical headphones, thus the lows will reveal themselves without knocking your head off. Sub bass will only be present if it’s really there in a track’s mix.

Mids

The lower end focus on these carries into the mids as well, but in a subtle sense. Though coloration is kept at a minimum, I do find these to have a somewhat warm timbre. Distorted guitars, for example, are represented with a smooth thickness, as are the bodies of kick drums. The mid-mids and high-mids are expressed with very tasteful neutrality and excellent clarity.

Highs    

Clarity carries well into the highs- but perhaps not all the way into the highs. When listening to “Cranked” by Panda Bear, a track featuring a nearly imperceptibly high frequency, I was surprised by how quietly it came through, especially when compared to how it sounds on my 770’s. Don’t get me wrong: cymbals sound very crisp, sibilance is reproduced beautifully, but those tippy-top high’s (that admittedly are usually not in the forefront of a mix) came through sounding just a tad quiet. I find this rather reasonable, however, as I get the impression that the engineers were shooting for warmth more than air when creating these.

Overall

They’ve done it again: the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X puts accuracy first with its fast and flat response and tastefully wide soundstage. While flat headphones may be considered an acquired taste for those who aren’t working on mixes, I actually find the qualities on these to be quite accessible to an everyday listener who just wants a good honest listen with a touch of warmth and a comfortable fit. $259 seems like the perfect price for these relative to the quality you’ll be getting. Whether you’re monitoring, recording, or just want to hear your music as it was intended to sound like, these are a great choice at a fair price.