Kernmac
1000+ Head-Fier
First impressions after 5 hours head-time.
Built like a tank.
The Look
Most people would describe the look of the DT150 as fitting into one of the two below categories.
1. Cheap plastic and vinyl headphone that you would find in a school or other public place, with half a dozen of them connected to a listening booth. The type CD stores have connected to their listening booths attached to the wall so you can “test” your music before purchase. Normally associated with crap headphones.
2. Professional studio Retro/vintage masterpiece, so understated that they are stylishly cool.
Whichever camp you belong to regarding the way DT150’s look off the head, there is no denying that on the head - they make you look like a dork.
The Comfort
I actually find the DT150 to be very comfortable, the headband is standard beyer pro fair and you hardly notice it on the top of your head (unless you look in the mirror-dork). The rectangular earcups seal onto the side of the head, but there isn’t any undue squashing of the face (they are circumarual so they leave your ears alone) and so apart from the usual pleather “heat” (these are thick pleather, more akin to vinyl) they are pretty cosy and restful.
I can wear these for several hours with no discomfort at all.
The Isolation
They isolate reasonably, without being world beaters, which surprised me a bit as they are a studio can. On the head with a decent seal they don’t leak too bad, but my wife can still hear the beats when in bed next to me, but only just. You could get away with these on a bus/train, if you had a portable rig that could drive them, and your ego could take several strangers pointing at you and mouthing-“Dork”. Certainly suitable for the office environment (your colleagues should stop laughing at you around day three).
Sound Overall
This is what we are here for isn’t it.
The DT150 is overall a warm sounding headphone, I think I would say dark, but I wouldn’t want to give the impression they are thunderous, boomy bass monsters, so I won’t use dark. They are more bass/mid focussed than mid/high focussed, so they contrast well with my still favourite headphone the DT880.
They have a full-bodied sound to them, powerful, smooth, they don’t give the impression of being detailed, but the detail is there. They are not what I would call an analytical or critical listening can, they are more relaxing, musical, a little laid back. But that is not to say they are boring or slow, because they are toe tappers and they have solid, fairly forward mids. Soundstage or headstage of the DT150 is moderately large and accurate, particularly for a closed fon. It isn’t DT880 airy, or a match for the K601 or AD900, but noticeably competent, probably comparable with an Ultrasone soundstage (minus the out of body experience, for all you pro logic plus gifted people).
Bass
Plenty of it, well controlled, definitely a focus of the DT150 without it being overpowering, it isn’t a bass head’s gift from above. For those that have had a K*01, AD*00, even a DT880 and would like more prominent bass without the doof doof subwoofer strapped to the side of your head, these might be worth a listen, albeit you would sacrifice some high end treble quality.
Mids
Mid range on these beyers is very good, vocals are clear, detailed and sweet, without ever being too dominant and not being drowned out by the bass focus, except on very bass orientated music. The acoustic and vocal dominated music I fed through the DT150s sounded superb, equal to or close to the quality I have had from K601, AD900 and DT880, although all still have slightly different signatures.
Highs
IMO the DT150 is weakest in the high frequencies, this is not to say it is a total loser in this department, as it is quite competent, however there is some roll off and it does seem to me to not extend as far as the afore mentioned fons, DT880, K601, AD900.
This lack of treble extension means no sibilance, however it also results in a darker than average presentation, a nice contrast to a more treble focused headphone.
Summary
Bass response is powerful and present, midrange is detailed and smooth. High end is controlled but not extended, if a little rolled off, giving them a fairly warm/dark sound. The Beyerdynamic DT150 is an excellent headphone for vocals and acoustic bassed music, and works well with most rock and even trance/electronic. Not so sure it would be ideal for classical or genres that the K701 and the like shine with. It isn’t as big as it looks in the pictures, it is relatively light and comfortable, it has a detachable cord, it looks indestructible and it reeks of retro chic, with just a (fair) bit of dork.
Well that’s my first impressions.
Built like a tank.
The Look
Most people would describe the look of the DT150 as fitting into one of the two below categories.
1. Cheap plastic and vinyl headphone that you would find in a school or other public place, with half a dozen of them connected to a listening booth. The type CD stores have connected to their listening booths attached to the wall so you can “test” your music before purchase. Normally associated with crap headphones.
2. Professional studio Retro/vintage masterpiece, so understated that they are stylishly cool.
Whichever camp you belong to regarding the way DT150’s look off the head, there is no denying that on the head - they make you look like a dork.
The Comfort
I actually find the DT150 to be very comfortable, the headband is standard beyer pro fair and you hardly notice it on the top of your head (unless you look in the mirror-dork). The rectangular earcups seal onto the side of the head, but there isn’t any undue squashing of the face (they are circumarual so they leave your ears alone) and so apart from the usual pleather “heat” (these are thick pleather, more akin to vinyl) they are pretty cosy and restful.
I can wear these for several hours with no discomfort at all.
The Isolation
They isolate reasonably, without being world beaters, which surprised me a bit as they are a studio can. On the head with a decent seal they don’t leak too bad, but my wife can still hear the beats when in bed next to me, but only just. You could get away with these on a bus/train, if you had a portable rig that could drive them, and your ego could take several strangers pointing at you and mouthing-“Dork”. Certainly suitable for the office environment (your colleagues should stop laughing at you around day three).
Sound Overall
This is what we are here for isn’t it.
The DT150 is overall a warm sounding headphone, I think I would say dark, but I wouldn’t want to give the impression they are thunderous, boomy bass monsters, so I won’t use dark. They are more bass/mid focussed than mid/high focussed, so they contrast well with my still favourite headphone the DT880.
They have a full-bodied sound to them, powerful, smooth, they don’t give the impression of being detailed, but the detail is there. They are not what I would call an analytical or critical listening can, they are more relaxing, musical, a little laid back. But that is not to say they are boring or slow, because they are toe tappers and they have solid, fairly forward mids. Soundstage or headstage of the DT150 is moderately large and accurate, particularly for a closed fon. It isn’t DT880 airy, or a match for the K601 or AD900, but noticeably competent, probably comparable with an Ultrasone soundstage (minus the out of body experience, for all you pro logic plus gifted people).
Bass
Plenty of it, well controlled, definitely a focus of the DT150 without it being overpowering, it isn’t a bass head’s gift from above. For those that have had a K*01, AD*00, even a DT880 and would like more prominent bass without the doof doof subwoofer strapped to the side of your head, these might be worth a listen, albeit you would sacrifice some high end treble quality.
Mids
Mid range on these beyers is very good, vocals are clear, detailed and sweet, without ever being too dominant and not being drowned out by the bass focus, except on very bass orientated music. The acoustic and vocal dominated music I fed through the DT150s sounded superb, equal to or close to the quality I have had from K601, AD900 and DT880, although all still have slightly different signatures.
Highs
IMO the DT150 is weakest in the high frequencies, this is not to say it is a total loser in this department, as it is quite competent, however there is some roll off and it does seem to me to not extend as far as the afore mentioned fons, DT880, K601, AD900.
This lack of treble extension means no sibilance, however it also results in a darker than average presentation, a nice contrast to a more treble focused headphone.
Summary
Bass response is powerful and present, midrange is detailed and smooth. High end is controlled but not extended, if a little rolled off, giving them a fairly warm/dark sound. The Beyerdynamic DT150 is an excellent headphone for vocals and acoustic bassed music, and works well with most rock and even trance/electronic. Not so sure it would be ideal for classical or genres that the K701 and the like shine with. It isn’t as big as it looks in the pictures, it is relatively light and comfortable, it has a detachable cord, it looks indestructible and it reeks of retro chic, with just a (fair) bit of dork.
Well that’s my first impressions.
