Beyerdynamic DT 100 Headphones

I have over a dozen pairs of this series of headphones. The double earphone DT100, for me, is ideal simply because they're virtually indestructible - every spare part is available, and when you wear them so much you physically wear out the ear pads, you can buy new ones - and even get velvet ones if you like! I also have the two versions with built in microphone, and again, they are just so tough. There are drawbacks - the ear seals work by not squeezing against your ears, which always hurts after a while - they work by pressing on your head, leaving your ears floating inside. They keep out lots of room noise this way, and also stop the sound inside leaking out - handy for recording BUT the clamping is a bit over enthusiastic for delicate people. The headphones are big and heavy so need to squeeze a bit to keep them on.

One thing to watch is that they are available in different impedances - if you want to use them on an i-pod or mp3 player, you need the low impedance versions, or else the volume is a bit quiet. If you have proper amps then the 400 Ohm versions are almost destruct proof, volume wise.

As people have said, the sound is not tweaked for the classic 'hi-fi' smiley eq curve. If you want something a bit crisper (I don't), then the DT150 is the same style, but with a more hi-fi typical eq response.

If you've never used headphones like these before, you could well be in for a shock. They're "Studio Quality" and as such are made so that they don't "Leak Sound" (Or at least not much) and also they're not "Coloured" like many other headphones, meaning none of the frequencies are enhanced in any way. What you hear through these is an accurate representation (or as close as possible) of the sound without any tweaking etc.

For some people they can be hard to wear at first, for a couple of reasons. 1: They are quite tight and fairly bulky.... prolonged use can take some getting used to & 2: because they're tight and don't leak sound as many other headphones do, they can sometimes cause people to become slightly disorientated because they also don't let much external noise "In". This has a tendency to make some people feel like they are "Shut Off" from the usual daily background noise that we are so used to. This effect wears off quite quickly for most people and the benefits of such a great pair of headphones far outweighs any small (& temporary) drawbacks.

If you like listening to music that is as "Pure" as can be, or if you have a need for a pair of headphones that don't spill sound out all over the place (These are great for vocalists in recording studios and sound engineers) then these are definitely worth looking at. I have four pairs of these cans in my studio and although i do have other headphones, these are the ones i use 90% of the time for most jobs.

They're long lasting and durable, and should something break or wear out,it's usually just a matter of ordering the parts(s) which are available pretty much everywhere they're sold.

I bought these headphones recently on ebay as I needed a good set for both studio recording and location video work. They are excellent - well made and do a great job of insulating you from surrounding noise as well as providing excellent sound reproduction.
Although they are quite bulky, they are extremely comfortable to wear and well worth the £100 (approx) cost. I have no hesitation in recommending them.

For continuous use in a broadcast station, these are the best phones available. An ancient design, but first rate sound and comfort. Top quality replaceable parts. It is always worth keeping spare earpads and a lead. It is usually worth replacing the supplied plug with a Neutrik type.

For years now, the DT100 Headphones have been classed as the Industry standard'.
They are both light, and comfortable, which is very important when you have to wear them for hours on end, in a recording studio.
Unlike Hi-Fi headphones, which are worn for sheer listening pleasure, the DT100's have a very 'flat sound', which is the primary requirement for studio use.
To sum up - If you are thinking about buying headphones to use with your Hi-Fi, then forget the DT100, try other manufacturers, like Sennheiser, or Koss (particularly the PRO4AA), but if you need some for your recording studio, then, in my opinion, these are just about the best you can get - I have 3 sets !!!
The price of DT100's varies, from dealer to dealer, but the average is around £100, before discounts.
Musicmike