Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE Review: New Affordable Stage Monitor

Calling all musicians: your next stage in-ear monitor is here, from none other than Beyerdynamic! Using the same shape as their proviso DT IE series, Beyerdynamic has released the DT 30 IE, a new affordable IEM that is perfect for musicians that need reliable sound at a reasonable price. At $119, the DT 30 IE is an incredible value; does the sound live up to Beyerdynamic standards? In this review, we'll go through all the details so you can see if the DT 30 IE is right for you. 

The Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE takes the familiar shape of the other DT IE series model. It is an extremely small shell, with each side weighing just 2.7g. The small shell is perfect for subtlety, especially for on-stage performances with its clear design. The clear matches and blends into anything, so you won't even notice it during use. Even if you are just looking for something different than a solid, matte black shell, the DT 30 IE is a great option that shows off the mechanics of the dynamic driver inside. The solid, Kevlar cable is also sleek in design and is easy to plug into any device, be it dongle DAC to your phone or on-stage mic pack. You can also make sure the over-ear fit is secure and stable, as the ear hook is adjustable so you can wrap it to fit tightly around your ear. 

While the small design is good for smaller ears, I found that these can work for larger ears as well as long as you have a good eartip. The DT 70 IE was one I had tested and found that it was a bit too small, falling out of my ear and not being able to wrap around comfortably despite being adjustable on the ear hook. Luckily, Beyerdynamic provides a lot of extra eartips, made of different materials, so you are sure to find the right fit. The stock eartips were very comfortable, though the nozzle on the DT 30 IE is a pretty standard size to allow for third-party eartips to fit just as well. 

• Wear Style: In-ear
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 20kHz
• Transducer: Dynamic
• Impedance: 18 ohms
• Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 128 dB @ 1kHz @ 1Vrms
• Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 111 dB @ 1kHz @ 1mW
• Maximum Sound Pressure: 137 dB SPL
• Ambient Nosie Attenuation: 39 dBA
• THD @ 1mW: 0.08% @ 500Hz, 0.09% @ 1kHz
• Weight: ~2.7g per earphone
• Earphone Connection: MMCX (detachable)
• Cable Type: Kevlar

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Beyerdynamic has always been great at delivering honest, expansive sound signatures. Their reference sound is widely sought after in over-ear headphones, so it stands to reason that their IEMs would follow suit. The DT 30 IE does follow that brief, where the signature is honest and natural in its sound reproduction. The soundstage is fairly wide, expanding out horizontally so you get a good stereo field for instrumental placement. The sound is more cohesive and collects in the center, but you can still appreciate the depth and height as frequencies ring out. You can draw out the wall of sound that forms in the front, as most instruments stay forward and punchy with detail. This makes the DT 30 IE a great option for the live musician that needs something reliable for a bit of stage monitoring. 

The signature as a whole is well-balanced. You can hear the classic Beyerdynamic tuning comes out, making sure the treble and bass stay relatively equal in power so you can appreciate both ranges in full. The midrange pushes to the very front to create a V-shape, and you can hear the natural timbres of all the melodic instruments with ease. I was definitely a fan of how dynamic the signature was, as it kept the natural quality very well while still being fun to listen to. You don't need a lot of power to drive these IEMs, but putting a nice DAC or amplifier with them definitely brought out the punchiness and colorful timbre throughout the signature. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

I have always found Beyerdynamic headphones to deliver a strong bass response. I have also found that IEMs are generally heavier on the bass due to the passive isolation. So, what does this mean for a Beyerdynamic IEM? I was worried that the low end in the DT 30 IE would end up being overwhelming, but I was pleasantly surprised when I listened and found that not to be true. The DT 30 IE had a strong yet well-controlled bass response. It hit hard in excitable genres, but knew when to draw back and become more subtle to match the pace of the track. It is easy for the bass to become overwhelming and just totally and overly thick, but this doesn't happen. It is tight and punchy, has a good body that creates a good foundation in the low end. I liked how the other frequencies built up from it, and the sub-bass got good extension to make tracks sound fuller. The bass instruments got decent detail, with a little less clarity as the sub-bass got more prominent, but the mid-bass and the lower midrange got plenty of attention with timbre and texture to make up for it. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange in the DT 30 IE is natural and honest. This range is where most of the main melodic elements are, and these Beyerdynamic IEMs display them well. The vocals push to the front and become the center element of any track, and the rest of the frequencies filter around it to create a good image of the other instruments and track features. The separation isn't as stark as some higher end IEMs, but there is still good texture that you can hear throughout the signature. You can hear the depth of the soundstage in this frequency range, and while the frequencies may not separate, there is still defining textures and timbres that make individual elements easy to recognize. The overall sound reproduction is quite natural, and I was a fan of how the instruments sounded realistic and natural throughout the midrange. Vocalists being front and center with everything else filtering around it made the DT 30 IE a good contender for reference sound. As mentioned earlier, You don't miss out on many details and get to really tune the sound how you like given the neutrality in the mids. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

Treble ranges in IEMs can sometimes get lost in the midst of a strong bass. In something like the DT 30 IE, you actually have a fair balance between bass and treble that is impressive. The treble is quite bright and airy, so you don't feel as compressed as some other bass-heavy IEMs. The DT 30 IE is good for bringing the treble throughout the signature, highlighting detail in the bass with the brightness of the top end. It opens up the soundstage to create a lighter response in those higher frequencies. Instruments can ring out more naturally and be seen as more reference and neutral in sound because the soundstage becomes more realistic with that top end air. I really liked that the treble wasn't too sharp or piercing, and it was a good balance to pretty powerful bass response. 

The DT 30 IE is not the first IEM that Beyerdynamic has released. They have four other models in the DT IE series, numbered in the 70s and priced at $579.95. They have specific tunings that make them useful for particular instrumentalists: 

• DT 70 IE: Mixing and Critical Listening
• DT 71 IE: Drum and Bass
• DT 72 IE: Guitar and Voice
• DT 73 IE: Classic Instruments and Keys

These IEMs do have a more sophisticated tuning than that of the DT 30 IE. The soundstage on all of them is more expansive and immersive, and the separation between instruments is more exact and distinct. Granted, at 5x the price, this step up in quality is to be expected. The DT 30 IE offers a lot of the same clarity and neutrality that the DT 70 IE gives, and for people looking for something simpler on a budget, it presents as a nice alternative. 

Aside from Beyerdynamic, other companies have IEMs that would compete with the DT 30 IE. Shure's SE215 Pro and the Sony Inzone E9 are both good options for the same $100-150 price point that are pretty similar and have the same type of features. The Shure SE215 Pro is more geared towards musicians, and have long been a popular choice for people looking for a reliable stage monitor. Beyerdynamic's similar price and reliable sound makes this a great option for people that perhaps don't like the fit of the Shure or need something that is more universal in accessories. The Sony E9 is more targeted to gamers, but its natural sound and good bass reproduction makes it a good comparison to the DT 30 IE. The included USB-C adapter is also a nice touch that makes the slightly higher price sensible.