I am ready for an upgrade in studio headphones. I’ve been using Audio-Technica ATH-M50s [Tape Op #63] for many years, and they have been a trusty companion. But I’m looking for wider imaging, extended frequency response, and an easily replaceable headband. After some research, I found that the beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X closed-back studio headphones check all these boxes.
I thought it would be a good idea to start by A/B’ing the DT 700 Pro Xs with my ATH-M50s using my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 interface. It was easy to A/B, as the Scarlett has two headphone jacks. The first thing I listened to was the title track from Allan Holdsworth’s Road Games (fun fact: produced by Ted Templeman) off an AIFF file pulled from the CD. The DT 700 Pro Xs are an upgrade for sure with their frequency response of 5 Hz to 40 kHz. The transients and the bass have a nice presence, but definitely not in a hyped way. I can hear the attack of the ride cymbal clearly but pleasantly, and the STELLAR.45 drivers deliver the lows with clarity without sounding boosted.
Tracking with the DT 700 Pro Xs is rewarding. The headphones provide good isolation – so much so that I found myself exposing one of my ears sometimes to get a better sense of how loud I was playing my drums, even when I had a good headphone mix. If you like to mix with headphones, you will be pleased to know the DT 700 Pro Xs deliver a clear and transparent sound. The 48 ohm impedance of the DT 700 Pro Xs worked fine with my interface as well as with my Schiit Audio Fulla DAC. I did not detect any loss of detail at low volume.
The ear padding on the DT 700 Pro Xs is luxurious at about one inch thick. That thickness makes it seem like there is more space between the ear and the speaker, which I like. The ear padding fabric is a soft velour. It feels nice, but I tend to sweat when tracking, so I wonder how the fabric will hold up to sweat over time in comparison to the vinyl covering found on many headphones. The headband padding is comfortable – not too plush and not too thin. I love the fact that the ear pads and the headband padding are replaceable. On many headphones only the ear pads can be swapped out. The frame holding each side of the headphones is made of steel instead of plastic. That gives the DT 700 Pro Xs a nice weight, but I had to get used to it, as the ATH-M50s are much lighter. That said, I only noticed the weight when listening at my desk, not during tracking.
The drawstring bag that comes with the DT 700 Pro Xs feels well-made and gives me the impression it will hold up over time. The 100 percent recyclable packaging is thoughtfully designed and supports sustainability… very nice! The eight-page foldout Quick Start Guide explains how to connect the cable and replace the padding mentioned above. Go to beyerdynamic’s website for specs. Two straight, detachable cables – a 3 meter and a 1.8 meter cable with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch adapters – come with the DT 700 Pro Xs. The cables connect to the headphones via a mini XLR locking connector. I might need the longer cable when tracking in the studio but could make use of the short cable for leisure listening. I do wish the jack for the cable was set to the four o’clock position on the ear cup instead of straight down at 6 o'clock. As a drummer, I don’t like the cable to fall under my armpit when I’m playing. All musicians would appreciate this feature, but I haven’t found a pair of headphones yet that has it. The cable would swing over the shoulder more easily and without bending the connection point.
The DT 700 Pro Xs are very much in line with the solid reputation beyerdynamic has built over the decades. These headphones check all the upgrade boxes for me, so I’m buying a pair!