Our Verdict
The DT 880 have an excellent Mid range and an above-average Bass and Treble. This makes them sound decently well balanced, with instruments and vocals that don't feel pushed back or too forward on most tracks. However, their overall audio reproduction is a little bright and sibilant. They also do not have as much Bass as the DT 990, but on the upside, they have a spacious Soundstage, low harmonic distortion and great stereo image, which makes them good headphones for neutral listening.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build quality.
- Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- Bulky and unstable design.
Poor for commuting. They have a semi-open design which lets a lot of ambient noise seep into the ear cups which is not ideal for the loud environments involved in commuting via public transit.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build quality.
- Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- Bulky and unstable design.
Not made for sports. They're bulky, cumbersome to carry around and unstable. They also don't have any controls.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build quality.
- Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- Bulky and unstable design.
Sub-par for office use. Unless you work in an isolated environment, the level of leakage of these headphones may distract those around you. They also do not block any noise so they won't be suitable for a lively workplace.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build quality.
- Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- Bulky and unstable design.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Sturdy build quality.
- Very sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- Bulky and unstable design.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 26, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 02, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The AKG K702 and the Beyerdynamic DT 880 are both great audiophile headphones if you like a flat sound profile. They have fairly similar tunings, although the AKG add a bit of extra emphasis to the clarity and detail of vocals and instruments, while the Beyerdynamic emphasize more of the sibilance range.
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are similarly performing headphones for critical listening. The DT 880's semi-open design creates a slightly more open sound. They're also more comfortable and have a more consistent frequency response. However, the DT 770 PRO have a more even sound profile overall, provided you achieve a good fit, and they leak less sound.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO are both very good headphones for audiophiles, but they have different sound profiles. Both headphones have a bright and clear treble. However, the DT 880 lack bass compared to the DT 990 PRO, which pack a stronger punch. This makes the DT 880 sound brighter compared to the DT 990, which can sound more balanced overall. Both headphones also sound rather sharp, but the intensity depends on how sensitive you are to the higher frequencies.
Whether the Sennheiser HD 560S are better than the Beyerdynamic DT 880 depends on your tastes and priorities. The Sennheiser can be used without a headphone amp and are much more stable on your head. On the other hand, the Beyerdynamic have a significantly better build quality and come with a soft case to protect them from minor scratches and splashes. However, they need an amp to drive them.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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