If you’ve been putting together a modern digital rig, you’ll definitely want to check out Amazon’s Big Deal Days event, where a couple of my absolute favorite Beyerdynamic cans are seeing some serious markdowns.
Since amp modelers and multi-effects pedals are practically standard issue for guitarists nowadays, keeping a solid set of studio headphones by your rig is a no-brainer. Standard consumer cans usually push a “V-shaped” EQ curve that scoops the mids while hyping the bass and treble. While that EQ might flatter your favorite Spotify playlists, it will absolutely wreck your guitar tone, since the electric guitar lives almost entirely in those midrange frequencies.
To get an honest picture of what your modeler, stompbox setup, or audio interface is actually doing, you really have to invest in proper studio headphones.
Enter Beyerdynamic, a heavyweight in the studio world. Frankly, you’d be hard-pressed to walk into a professional tracking room anywhere in the States and not trip over a pair of their headphones on the way in.
Speaking from experience, my own DT 990 Pros have been a mainstay in my own studio setup for a good seven years now. Sure, endless sweaty tracking sessions have left the velour ear pads looking a bit worse for wear, but the electronics themselves haven’t skipped a beat.
Because the 990s feature an open-back design, the soundstage feels remarkably wide and natural compared to the 770s. That spaciousness makes stereo delays and reverbs sound absolutely massive, though there is a trade-off: they bleed audio into the room. If your living situation requires total silence while you shred, these might not be your best bet.
That’s exactly where the DT 770 Pros come in. The ultimate workhorse studio headphone, they’ve earned their legendary status in the recording industry thanks to a winning combination of supreme comfort and accurate, balanced audio.
Their closed-back construction completely seals in your sounds, preventing click-track bleed when you’re cutting takes and keeping ambient room noise out when you’re trying to practice without disturbing others. You get a tight, punchy low end that stays clear without muddying up your tone.
Still want to know which one to go for? Grab the DT 990 Pros if you want the most authentic, airy sonic experience and don’t mind a little sound escaping into the room. But if true silent practice and isolation are your top priorities, the DT 770 Pros are the way to go.
