The Name Beyerdynamic can often be heard in various fields. You’ll hear them in professional audio recording, gaming, and even in various audiophile circles. However, popularity does not always guarantee quality.
A lot of the popular headphone brands are notorious for their poor quality, and often times do not present the best value. This trend, along with the fact that a lot of new companies like Dan Clark Audio and Audeze that are revolutionizing the market will make you ask the question. Are Beyerdynamic headphones good?
Thankfully, we have made an article to help you answer that question. We will be tackling Beyerdynamic’s history and also present the best headphones in their current lineup to help you decide whether or not they are a good company.
Contents
Beyerdynamic Brand History
Before we get into their current lineup, let us first learn more about Beyerdynamic’s history and their most notable achievements. Beyerdynamic is one of the oldest companies in professional audio that is still active today. The company was founded by Eugen Beyer in Berlin, Germany, in 1924. It was originally named Eugen Beyer Elektrotechnische Fabrik and later renamed to Beyerdynamic. They were responsible for several innovations that paved the way for the electronics that we use today.
They were the first company to produce the first pair of dynamic headphones, the DT 48. They were also the ones to make the first broadcasting microphone, the M19. This microphone was synonymous with the rise of modern broadcasting.
Beyerdynamic was also one of the companies that revolutionized record sales. They created the DT 49, a headphone made specifically for listening to music in record stores. This revolutionary concept allowed users to test the music first before buying the record. In a lot of ways, this is similar to how we audition headphones in the modern era.
During the 1960s, Beyerdynamic had another notable achievement. They were the ones responsible for creating an iconic microphone that paved the way for the stereo era. This microphone was the Beyerdynamic M88TG.
This microphone was notably used on the earliest Beatles recordings and in Queen Elizabeth II’s inaugural address. Throughout the years, Beyerdynamic had several more achievements, which can be found on Beyerdynamic’s official video.
Beyerdynamic’s modern headphone lineup began in the 1990s. This is the Beyerdynamic DT series, which is still in production today. Several of the models, including the DT 990, were first released in the 90s and competed against the Sennheiser HD600, another legendary headphone that was released in the 90s.
Since then, Beyerdynamic’s headphones have been used in professional studio recordings, professional gaming, and has been a leader in producing Dynamic driver headphones.
Beyerdynamic Product Line
Beyerdynamic currently has various product lines that range from professional use to gaming. We will be briefly tacking the gist each lineup and their notable models. Beyerdynamic currently categorizes their products into one of each: Broadcast, Portable, At Home, Studio & Monitoring, High-End, and Gaming.
Broadcast
As the name implies, these headphones are primarily designed for professional broadcasting. Some headphones in this category include the ones found in the professional category since most broadcasting headphones have similar requirements with professional studio monitors.
There are a couple of unique headsets on this list that include a built-in microphone attached to one of the earcups. An example of this would be the Beyerdynamic DT 790, a headphone that shares a lot of similarities with the rest of Beyerdynamic’s DT line.
Portable
Headphones in this category are for the general consumers and are meant to compete against products like the Beats Studio Series and Sennheiser’s Momentum series. Products in this category are designed to be lightweight, comfortable, and foldable for easier transportation. There are several products here, including wireless headphones and earbuds.
Products in this category also have a low impedance. The reason for this is because portable headphones should not require other accessories such as amplifiers to function properly. If you are new to the term headphone impedance, we have an article to guide you.
Headphones in this category are also closed-back, which means the sound will not leak in and out of the headphones. We also have another article that will help you discern the differences between closed and open-back headphones.
At Home
This lineup is Beyerdynamic’s desktop headphone lineup. Most models here are the same as the ones found in the Studio & Monitoring line. Headphones in this category usually have a semi-open back or open-back design. What this means is that the isolation isn’t as good as the ones found in their closed-back headphones. In return, you get better dynamics, imaging, and soundstage. These headphones have a speaker-like presentation compared to closed-back headphones.
Studio & Monitoring
The Studio & Monitoring is the category that Beyerdynamic is most famous for. This category houses some of Beyerdynamic’s best closed-back and open-back headphones. Several models, including the famous Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro and DT 990 are found here.
These headphones have been used by various professionals and are highly recommended by the community. If you want Beyerdynamic’s best offerings, this is the category where you’ll find most of them. For a more in-depth look in the best models, check out our Best Beyerdynamic Headphones article.
High-End
The High-End category houses Beyerdynamic’s latest innovations in the world of high-end audio. The most notable inclusion in this category is the Beyerdynamic T1, which has its latest Tesla drivers. These are the head[hones that are made to compete with other high-end headphones such as Sennheiser’s HD800s.
This category also other high-end headphones from Beyerdynamic like the T5P and Amiron wireless. These products are also meant to compete with their respective counterparts from other companies. We will be talking about how these models stack up to the offerings of other companies later in the article.
Gaming
Beyerdynamic has also recently entered the gaming scene. Most of these headphones are based on Beyerdynamic’s previous design. The Custom Game, for example, is based on the Custom One Pro.
Most of the models simply add a mic to their base models. The sound quality, imaging, and soundstage are already excellent on the original models. The only thing that is missing from their base models is a microphone, which is why it is the only modification done.
Is Beyerdynamic A Good Brand?
In order to fully answer this question, we must first assess the brand’s strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths
Starting with the strengths, Beyerdynamic has an incredibly good lineup of products. All of their products are built well and sound amazing. They have all the qualities of a good headphone that justify their asking price.
When compared to other products in each respective price range, Beyerdynamic is very competitive. For example, the Sennheiser HD660s and the Hifiman Sundara are widely considered as the counterparts of the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro. While all three are great models, the DT 1990 Pro is highly considered the best for professional productions (which is what it was designed for).
The same is true with their other models. The DT 990 Pro and DT 770 Pro are highly respected headphones that can be seen in various fields. Ninja, the most famous Fornite personality, has been using the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro because it is superior to nearly all the standard gaming headphones from gaming companies.
To further prove the previous points, we can also take a loot at Beyerdynamic’s flagship offering. The Beyerdynamic T1 can go head to head with the Sennheiser HD800s. They both share the same characteristics and almost have the same amount of detail despite the difference in price.
Beyerdynamic knows their strengths very well, which is why they are dominating that market. However, Beyerdynamic has some known weaknesses in their product lineup.
Weaknesses
The biggest weakness of Beyerdynamic is their entry-level and top of the line headphones. Unlike companies like Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic does not offer a bang for the buck headphone in the budget category.
There is a certain price that must be reached in order to enjoy Beyerdynamic’s offerings. The highly revered DT series usually starts with the DT 770 and goes up to the DT 1990 Pro. To the average consumer, those headphones have a hefty price tag. It would have been nice if Beyerdynamic would also accommodate to that market to complete their all-rounder approach.
Another issue with Beyerdynamic is their top of the line offerings. The Beyerdynamic T1 is their flagship model. However, this model is significantly cheaper from other flagships such as Sennheiser’s HD800s and Focal’s Utopia. As mentioned earlier, this should be a good thing since Beyerdynamic is matching other flagships at a lower price
However, the real meaning of this price disparity is that other companies are constantly trying to innovate and up their game in the flagship market. Beyerdynamic, on the other hand, seems to be content on their current strengths. They don’t seem interested in competing with high-end focused brands like Audeze.
This is understandable due to most of these flagship headphones not being utilized in Beyerdynamic’s target market anyway. However, given their experience and resources available, Beyerdynamic may one day create a flagship that can match today’s best headphones.
The final criticism for Beyerdynamic is their consumer range. They seem to be in the same boat as Sennheiser, where they cannot truly figure out the direction of their consumer line. Their wireless headphones, like the Amiron Wireless, for example, are excellent products.
There are, however, always one or two things that other companies are doing better. You can read more in our best Bluetooth Headphones article for a deeper look into the Amiron Wireless’ drawbacks. If Beyerdynamic can address these small flaws, then they could surely also dominate the consumer market.
To Answer the Question
Now that we have assessed the strengths and weaknesses of Beyerdynamic, we can finally tell whether or not it is a good brand.
Despite the downsides of Beyerdynamic’s product lineup, Beyerdynamic is still an excellent brand. They have been in the industry since 1924 and has continuously innovated the industry.
There are very few brands that can stand the test of time, and Beyerdynamic is one of them. No other company has stayed relevant for that long. And no other company has introduced as many industry-standard products like Beyerdynamic.
Also, the fact that Beyerdynamic can keep up with all the new brands that are coming out like Audeze and Dan Clark Audio is a testament to how good their products are. Beyerdynamic’s strong grasp on their target market will not be going away anytime soon.
Also, let us not forget that Beyerdynamic does not only compete with other brands in terms of sound quality. The reason many people prefer Beyerdynamic over brands is because of the build quality and attention to detail on most of their products.
Unlike other companies, Beyerdynamic prefers to have a metal construction on most of their products. This makes sure that the frame and the earcups will survive accidents and abuse from professionals. Having a product that reflects its price tag easily verifies that Beyerdynamic is a good brand.
Overall, yes, Beyerdynamic is a good brand. If you plan on buying headphones from Beyerdynamic, regardless of the price range, then you should know that you are buying quality headphones that have been tested by professionals. Your purchase will surely stand the test of time.
Beyerdynamic is featured in our article, 15 Best Headphone Brands. You can check it out to see how Beyerdynamic stacks up to the rest of the competition.
Where To Buy Beyerdynamic Headphones?
Here are some of Beyerdynamic’s most famous headphones with links on where to buy them.
Featured Models:
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
Beyerdynamic T1
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
Where Are Beyerdynamic Headphones Made?
Beyerdynamic began in Germany and had proudly continued the production of most of its products there. This is mostly the reason why Beyerdynamic has an excellent build and attention to detail. Beyerdynamic does not skip on the quality control of its products, and you can be sure that every product that leaves the factory is immediately ready to be used.
Beyerdynamic Headphones Warranty
Beyerdynamic claims that it will provide two years of warranty to its headphones. This is similar to other reputable brands like Sennheiser, who also provide the same amount of warranty coverage. This assures you that your product will last.
As mentioned earlier, Byerdynamic headphones have a rugged construction that is built to last. However, in situations where other components such as cables and drivers fail, you can be sure that Beyerdynamic will be there to support the product.
Stephen is a musician, cinematographer, and headphone enthusiast who is passionate about reviewing audio equipment. He has been playing guitar for at least a decade, which introduced him to professional recording equipment such as headphones and in-ear monitors. With the help of reviews and online content, he was able to learn the ins and outs of the hobby. His goal is to give back to the community by providing quality content to help others enjoy the beautiful (and expensive) world of audio.
Favorite Headphones: Sennheiser HD660s