You’ve probably seen the silver-lettered "DT 770 Pro" in almost every studio photo for the last thirty years. They’re the grey-padded workhorses of the audio world. But then Beyerdynamic dropped the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X, and suddenly everyone’s asking if the old king is dead.
Honestly, it’s not that simple.
The "X" isn’t just a new coat of paint or a marketing gimmick to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary. It’s a complete internal overhaul. If you’re used to the old 80-ohm or 250-ohm versions, the first time you plug these in, it's gonna feel a bit weird. They're louder. Faster. And they finally—finally—have a cable you can swap out without a soldering iron.
The Driver Swap: Why STELLAR.45 Changes Everything
The heart of the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X is the STELLAR.45 driver. This is the same hardware found in the pricier DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X models. In the classic 770s, you had to choose your "flavor" of impedance. 32 ohms for your phone, 80 for the studio, or 250 if you had a beefy amp.
The new version? It’s 48 ohms. Basically, it’s the Goldilocks zone.
Because this driver uses a neodymium magnet and a way lighter voice coil, it’s incredibly efficient. You can plug it into a cheap USB-C dongle or a PlayStation controller and it still sounds full. You don’t get that "thin" or "distant" sound that happens when you underpower the old 250-ohm units.
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But there’s a trade-off.
The STELLAR.45 is more clinical. While the classic DT 770 Pro had that legendary "V-shape" with big bass and sparkling highs, the Pro X tightens things up. The bass is there—it actually reaches deeper down to 5 Hz—but it’s not as "bloomy." It’s punchy and fast. If you’re a drummer or a bass player tracking in a studio, you’ll love the clarity. If you just want to "feel" the sub-bass in a movie, you might actually find them a little too polite.
That "Fontanelle" Cutout Is a Life Saver
Comfort is where these really shine for long sessions. Beyerdynamic kept the iconic grey velour pads—thank god—but they changed the headband.
There is a literal gap in the middle of the padding now.
It’s called a fontanelle recess. Essentially, it stops the headband from pressing directly on the very top of your skull. If you’ve ever worn headphones for six hours and felt like someone was pushing a thumb into the top of your head, you know why this matters.
What's actually in the box?
- The headphones (obviously).
- A 3-meter straight cable (mini-XLR to 3.5mm).
- A screw-on 6.35mm adapter.
- A drawstring bag that’s... fine, but honestly a hard case would've been nicer for $200.
Is the Detachable Cable Really That Big of a Deal?
Yes. 100%.
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The biggest "fail point" on the old DT 770s was always the fixed cable. If your rolling chair ran over it too many times, your $150 headphones became expensive paperweights unless you knew how to repair electronics. The beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X uses a 3-pin mini-XLR connector.
It locks in tight. It doesn't wiggle. And if it breaks? You just buy a new cable for twenty bucks.
Some people complain that the included 3-meter cable is too long for casual use. It kinda is. It’s a "studio length" cable meant to reach from an interface across a desk. If you’re planning to use these at a coffee shop, you’ll probably want to grab a shorter 1.2-meter aftermarket cable immediately.
Gaming vs. Music Production: The Real World Test
Most people buy these for two things: winning at Valorant or mixing a podcast.
For gaming, the imaging is spooky. Because the new drivers have better "impulse response" (basically how fast the speaker can start and stop), you can pinpoint footsteps with way more precision than on the original 770s. The soundstage isn't "massive" because they're closed-back, but it's deep. You get a real sense of height.
For music, they’re a double-edged sword.
They are incredibly detailed. You will hear the "hiss" in a bad recording. You will hear the singer take a breath. For editing audio, that’s a superpower. But for just relaxing? They can be a bit fatiguing. The "Beyer Peak"—that famous spike in the high frequencies—is still there, though it’s been smoothed out a little compared to the old 80-ohm version.
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The Competition: DT 770 Pro vs. Pro X
| Feature | DT 770 Pro (Classic) | DT 770 Pro X |
|---|---|---|
| Cable | Fixed (Coiled or Straight) | Detachable (Mini-XLR) |
| Driver | Dynamic (Old Gen) | STELLAR.45 (New Gen) |
| Impedance | 32, 80, or 250 Ohms | 48 Ohms |
| Headband | Solid Padding | Fontanelle Recess |
| Frequency Response | 5 - 35,000 Hz | 5 - 40,000 Hz |
It’s worth noting that the classic version is usually $30 to $50 cheaper. If you’re on a strict budget and you have a dedicated amp, the old 80-ohm version is still a fantastic buy. But for most people in 2026, the convenience of the Pro X is worth the premium.
Things to Watch Out For
No piece of gear is perfect.
First, these are closed-back. They block out a lot of noise, which is great for a noisy office, but your ears will get warm. Velour is breathable, but after two hours, you’re gonna want to take them off for a minute.
Second, the power handling. The new STELLAR.45 drivers are sensitive. Beyerdynamic notes a maximum short-term power handling of 210 mW. That’s much lower than the old models. If you plug these into a high-gain "mega amp" and crank it to 100% just to see what happens, you might actually blow the drivers. Don't do that. You don't need that much power anyway.
Should You Actually Buy Them?
If you already own the DT 700 Pro X, don't bother. They are way too similar to justify the spend.
However, if you are looking for your first "serious" pair of headphones and you want something that works for everything—gaming, Zoom calls, music production, and Netflix—the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X is probably the best all-rounder on the market right now. It fixes the three biggest complaints of the last three decades: the fixed cable, the headband pressure, and the need for a specialized amp.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your source: If you're using an Apple dongle, you're good to go. If you're using a high-end DAC, make sure it's set to low gain.
- Burn-in is real (sorta): The pads on these are quite stiff out of the box. Wear them for a few days to let the foam "mold" to your head shape before you decide if they're comfortable.
- Grab a shorter cable: If you plan on moving around, search for a "3-pin mini XLR to 3.5mm" cable in a 1.2m length. It makes them much more portable.
- EQ if needed: If the treble feels too "sharp," use a simple EQ like Peace/Equalizer APO to drop the 6kHz to 8kHz range by about 2-3dB.