Somewhere in Honolulu, Hawaii, Bruno Mars is about to be born. Ronald Reagan has been personally sworn in for a second term as President of the United States. Carefree whispering by Wham! tops the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts. On the way to the movies? Good call, you can catch him The Goonies, Back to the future And The breakfast club.
It’s 1985 and Beyerdynamic has just released the first DT 770 Pro for about $300 – a big pile of money at the time. But very soon, these two-letter headphones will become a huge success story (the DT actually stands for ‘Dynamic Telephone’).
Today, these cans are still the benchmark; the industry workhorse that doesn’t always need an amp to sound good (Beyer has released them in three versions over the years: 32Ω for portables/laptops, 250Ω to work with high-end headphone amps, consoles or interfaces, and an excellent 80Ω variant as a solid all-rounder for most studio work applications). And in case it needs further clarification, I love them.
Now the headphone specialist from Heilbronn is releasing a time-limited Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X Limited Edition! These are 48Ω nominal impedance cans, so they work with the best portable Hi-Res audio players (the general rule is that as the impedance of the headphones – measured in ohms – increases, so does the output device power required to drive them) and Even better, they’ll cost a lot less than the originals when they hit shelves in April, at a suggested retail price of €199 (so about £170, $210 or AU$329, give or take).
Suffice it to say: yes, I will keep my finger on the pulse on this – and you can sign up for it too are informed of their release.
I remember slipping the velor gray pads over my ears when I recorded vocals for musicals in Germany in the early 2000s. As my career progressed, I cared for those where my voice was needed. The mere presence of the DT 770 Pro on a hook in a studio was a sign that the place knew its stuff; everything would be fine.
Opinion: 100 years is a long time in audio and I want that
Similar to the Sennheiser HD 250 dupe I wore when I was cutting my teeth in hi-fi journalism (to look like I belonged – imposter syndrome is real), owning such headphones brings a degree of both knowledge and loyalty.
So let’s take a look at what’s new and what’s the same. At its core, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
There is now also a 3 meter pluggable cable, including lockable 3-pin Mini XLR connector. Another novelty is something the company calls an “integrated fontanelle recess in the headband, which protects potentially pain-sensitive areas on the head and thus ensures particularly high wearing comfort.”
And as is typical of Beyerdynamic studio headphones, both the headband and velor ear pads can be replaced if necessary.
“The DT 770 PRO With the latest driver technology and the pluggable cable, the headphones are aimed at modern musicians and producers who pursue their creativity in different places,” said Beyerdynamic Managing Director Andreas Rapp, adding: “The limited edition model is not only a continuation of our company history. It is also a thank you to our community who have been asking for a DT 770 PRO with a plug-in cable and STELLAR.45 driver system for a long time.”
Visually, there’s no doubt that it’s a tribute to the DT 770 Pro. An anniversary emblem embossed in silver marks the 100-year history of the traditional German manufacturer, founded in 1924.
As a dedicated user of the best wired headphones (see our recent Fiio FT5 review for some of the best debutants on the market) I know the talents of Beyer’s output here very well, but the excellent Beyerdynamic’s Amiron Wireless and the refreshing rock-‘ n-roll Free Byrd pick-style earbuds prove that the company isn’t afraid to move with the times, either.
I strongly suspect that the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Breakfast club “Eat my shorts” Bender-style tantrum (if you know, you know).
