Marcus_C
1000+ Head-Fier
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So there I was searching the forums to find out if anyone else had commented on the Beyerdynamic iem’s when I found pretty much nothing. Well in the absence of an experienced reviewer I thought I’d have a go at a few impressions. The phones are dynamic driver iem’s, the Beyerdynamic dtx60, dtx80, dtx100. They are retailing at the moment for, £54/$69, £72/$85, £80/$109. There is also the mmx100, a microphone version of the dtx100 for £100/$139 which I haven’t used.
Anyway, to what i think of them:
Build Quality: These phones are very conservative in design and although the 60 and 80 do look and feel cheaper they are all very solidly made. I’m not the most careful user of iem’s ever but mine still look almost new after a few months use. The 100 with their smart aluminium casing are the pick of the three though.
Comfort: Comfort is a real plus point for these phones. Stemming from the conservative design Beyerdynamic have played it safe with a simple straight down design which is effective. There may only be three pairs of tips included with them but I got a fit easily with them unlike a fair few other iem’s I have had. Microphonics were a bit of an issue with the 60 (a problem I haven’t had with the others) but it was no worse than the Sennheiser’s in the same price range.
Isolation: In a word, average. Admittedly though my other most used iem’s are Etymotic hf5’s which have pretty damn good isolation. They are on a par with most other iem’s I have in the price range though as they aren’t a very deep fit. T-400 comply tips do fit so isolation may be improved further with those but I haven’t felt the need to use them, after all I don’t need ear plugs.
Sound: Here is where the reason for the price differences become apparent. The reason I decided to get these phones was that they are dynamic driver phones. Most of my iem’s are BA drivers and a bit lacking in bass and I had long since fallen out with the Sennheiser sound signature (I have never had any of the ie series). The 80 and 100 produce a very balanced sound with a deep and full bass (without being overly boomy) which I really like. There is enough to satisfy me in some of the more bassy and even the weirder genres I listen to occasionally. The mids are strong and detailed in both and the highs are likeable enough. The 80 does I think lean on the bass a bit more than the 100 and as a result I think the highs suffer a bit and are rather harsh at times. The 60’s I didn’t get along with at all really. The bass present in the other two wasn’t nearly as nice. It’s still there, just, but it seems bloated and out of balance with the strong mids and the highs are prone to be harsh.
Summary: By keeping the design simple Beyerdynamic have created a pleasant, bass orientated sound which I find perfect for electronic music and as a good complement to my ety’s. I still have the dtx80 and dtx100 as I haven’t decided which one I like best yet. I will probably sell the 80’s at some point as the 100’s slightly better balance and looks win it over slightly. I sold the 60’s about a month ago and wouldn’t recommend them. The 80 and 100 however are two strong and slightly overlooked contender’s in the market, if maybe a year late. I am sure there are other better dynamic drivers at the price out there but none that I’ve tried and as these are still relatively new they may very well drop in price as retail at the moment is not far under the RRP. Two of my favourite electronic tracks in recent years are Groove Armada – Lightsonic and Matrix & Futurebound – Coast to Coast. I prefer both tracks and many others out of these than from any other iem’s I have although for lighter music I tend to find myself reaching for the ety’s again.
How's my reviewing? I'm not the most familiar with sound terms so i'm sure some wording may be a little wierd. I'm not and never will be an audiophile, i just listen to music i like and felt these earphones deserved at least one post on this forum.
6 month update:
It's been nearly six months since I bought these earphones and I still have the dtx100's. The 80's lasted until about three weeks ago when I got an offer I couldn't refuse on them. No, there were no dead horses involved.
Anyway I thought i'd post some answers to frequently asked questions in this thread to clear up a few issues. Since head-fi's re-organise I've also posted individual reviews of these earphones in the Head Gear section of the site.
Anyway I still have and am enjoying the dtx100's. I'm sure there are better iem's out there but at the moment I do not feel inclined to spend my 'Reliant Scimitar Fund' on them. For that reason alone I think they're good. Any questions, complaints, objections, mysteries, conspiracy theories or stories of delightful woe I will be happy to hear.
Anyway, to what i think of them:
Build Quality: These phones are very conservative in design and although the 60 and 80 do look and feel cheaper they are all very solidly made. I’m not the most careful user of iem’s ever but mine still look almost new after a few months use. The 100 with their smart aluminium casing are the pick of the three though.
Comfort: Comfort is a real plus point for these phones. Stemming from the conservative design Beyerdynamic have played it safe with a simple straight down design which is effective. There may only be three pairs of tips included with them but I got a fit easily with them unlike a fair few other iem’s I have had. Microphonics were a bit of an issue with the 60 (a problem I haven’t had with the others) but it was no worse than the Sennheiser’s in the same price range.
Isolation: In a word, average. Admittedly though my other most used iem’s are Etymotic hf5’s which have pretty damn good isolation. They are on a par with most other iem’s I have in the price range though as they aren’t a very deep fit. T-400 comply tips do fit so isolation may be improved further with those but I haven’t felt the need to use them, after all I don’t need ear plugs.
Sound: Here is where the reason for the price differences become apparent. The reason I decided to get these phones was that they are dynamic driver phones. Most of my iem’s are BA drivers and a bit lacking in bass and I had long since fallen out with the Sennheiser sound signature (I have never had any of the ie series). The 80 and 100 produce a very balanced sound with a deep and full bass (without being overly boomy) which I really like. There is enough to satisfy me in some of the more bassy and even the weirder genres I listen to occasionally. The mids are strong and detailed in both and the highs are likeable enough. The 80 does I think lean on the bass a bit more than the 100 and as a result I think the highs suffer a bit and are rather harsh at times. The 60’s I didn’t get along with at all really. The bass present in the other two wasn’t nearly as nice. It’s still there, just, but it seems bloated and out of balance with the strong mids and the highs are prone to be harsh.
Summary: By keeping the design simple Beyerdynamic have created a pleasant, bass orientated sound which I find perfect for electronic music and as a good complement to my ety’s. I still have the dtx80 and dtx100 as I haven’t decided which one I like best yet. I will probably sell the 80’s at some point as the 100’s slightly better balance and looks win it over slightly. I sold the 60’s about a month ago and wouldn’t recommend them. The 80 and 100 however are two strong and slightly overlooked contender’s in the market, if maybe a year late. I am sure there are other better dynamic drivers at the price out there but none that I’ve tried and as these are still relatively new they may very well drop in price as retail at the moment is not far under the RRP. Two of my favourite electronic tracks in recent years are Groove Armada – Lightsonic and Matrix & Futurebound – Coast to Coast. I prefer both tracks and many others out of these than from any other iem’s I have although for lighter music I tend to find myself reaching for the ety’s again.
How's my reviewing? I'm not the most familiar with sound terms so i'm sure some wording may be a little wierd. I'm not and never will be an audiophile, i just listen to music i like and felt these earphones deserved at least one post on this forum.
6 month update:
It's been nearly six months since I bought these earphones and I still have the dtx100's. The 80's lasted until about three weeks ago when I got an offer I couldn't refuse on them. No, there were no dead horses involved.
| Have you heard the mmx100? | No but they are the same as the dtx100. |
| I'm a basshead, are these earphones for me? | No. |
| How would you quickly describe these iem's? | Fun. |
| How do they compare to Klipsch s4? | The s4's to me are muddy compared to 80/100. |
| Do they sound like Beyer's full-size phones? | No idea, never heard any of them. |
| Do you want to sell me your dtx80's? | I've sold them already. |
| Do you want to sell me your dtx60's? | I've sold them already. |
| Do you want to sell me your dtx100's? | No, I like them. |
| Do they need an amp? | I have never used them with an amp, I doubt they'll benefit much. |
| Are they better than my cx300's? | Yes, don't expect that overwhelming bass drowning the music out. |
| Are they better than my apple earbuds? | Seriously? |
| How do they compare to the re0? | I've never heard the re0's. |
| Can I wear them over ear? | No, not really. |
| Can you compare them to the grado sr80? | No, never heard them. |
| Do you like Kelley Polar? | I like "A feeling of the all thing" but not much else of his work. |
Anyway I still have and am enjoying the dtx100's. I'm sure there are better iem's out there but at the moment I do not feel inclined to spend my 'Reliant Scimitar Fund' on them. For that reason alone I think they're good. Any questions, complaints, objections, mysteries, conspiracy theories or stories of delightful woe I will be happy to hear.
