Beyerdynamic DT 880 Edition 600 Ohm

The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Edition is a semi-open headphone with an impedance of 600 Ohm, so the goal is clear: this headphone wants to sound good and satisfy the ears of even the most exacting audiophile.

Details and delivery

From the first, you immediately notice how detailed and vivid the DT 880 sounds; you can hear the piano chair creaking and how the drummer’s stick hits the cymbal. The DT 880 is one of those headphones that will inevitably give you the famous “I’ve never heard that before” moment. As far as the frequency response is concerned, the recessed lows and fundamental frequencies are noticeable. This sound impression is reinforced by the fact that the complementary heights are, in my opinion, overemphasised. But whether you consider it uncomfortable or airy depends very much on the program material. In electronic music, for example, the shift disturbs the heights as hi-hat sounds are obtrusive and clichéd, but in orchestral music, much of the more impressive sound information lies in this frequency range. In short, if you like acoustic instruments and classical music, you’ll love the DT 880; if you like bass, you’ll be disappointed.

Made for sofas

The half-open design restricts operation to the home sofa, but with its high impedance, the DT 880 is unsuitable for mobile players anyway as the operating voltage of such battery-powered players cannot supply the high-impedance headphones with sufficient power. In other words, you need a powerful headphone amplifier so that the DT 880 can unfold its full potential.

I find the harmonious combination of workmanship and materials quite beautiful. With just a little bit of aluminium in the right places, the DT 880 is an elegant design that has a fitting price/optic ratio.
The cable is long and straight but, unfortunately, firmly connected to the receiver. Since you will barely use it when mobile, this is OK. For safe transport, however, make sure to pack the DT 880 in the equally attractive case provided. There are no other accessories, apart from the obligatory mini-to-thick jack adapter.

The DT 880 is very light for its size and its padded cushions sit comfortably over the ears. A very cosy headphone that doesn’t feel awkward, even after a four-movement symphony; in fact, after a while, you forget that you’re wearing it!