The Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X is not, technically, a gaming headset, regardless of being named like one. In truth, on paper, they appear horrible for the job. They’re not wi-fi, they do not have a workforce chat mic, there are not any controls on the ear cups, and so they join utilizing a standard-only-in-the-audio-industry mini XLR port.
The DT 700 Pro X headphones aren’t the type of general-purpose headset designed for watching films, or listening to music for hours of delight. Instead, these are studio headphones meant to expose the reality of what is going on on in sound.
They’re geared toward audio professionals mixing music, enhancing soundtracks, and recording dwell. You know: individuals who care much less about cranking up the bass simply because it sounds cool, and extra about ensuring the bass will not sound horrible general. And perhaps that is why I liked utilizing them for my very own media consumption, regardless of their flaws in the case of ease of use.
Studio Headphones, Repurposed
Unlike most headsets that add some additional layers of processing to make the sign they obtain sound—subjectively—“better,” studio headphones are designed to do as little post-processing or tweaking to the audio sign they obtain as potential. Rather than exaggerating bass tones so explosions sound larger or strings sound shinier, they ship extremely correct sound copy, so what you hear is what the individuals who made the media you are taking part in meant.
While they’re constructed for manufacturing studios, I discovered them surprisingly nice for extra leisurely duties like gaming. The DT 700 Pro X have snug ear cups with a gentle felt protecting which might be light-weight sufficient to nearly disappear whereas I wore them. Since they are not designed to have the extras that you just would possibly get from a typical client headset—wi-fi transmitters, batteries, microphones, and many others.—they are not as heavy as they might be.
The steel core of the headscarf is only a contact tighter than I’d choose, which might typically result in an uncomfortable head squeezing feeling when utilizing the headset for a really lengthy time period. However, in my expertise, this wasn’t a lot of an issue for shorter work periods. If something, it gave me simply sufficient of a reminder to stand up from the desk or sofa now and again, very like the professionals do.
It’s value mentioning that at $280, the DT 700 Pro X are pretty costly, whilst studio headphones go. The industry-standard Sony MDR7506, for instance, are sometimes round $90, and Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50X retail for $170.
What units Beyerdynamic’s headset aside is how premium and trendy it feels. The Sony MDR7506 may be considerably cheaper, however although I have never used one since school (sure, they have been round a lengthy time) I nonetheless recall how low-cost they felt. By comparability, the DT 700 Pro X really feel just like the type of headset you’d need by your facet for years.
Hearing With New Ears
There’s a purpose that professionals use headphones like these. When I first tried out the DT 700 Pro X—which I initially acquired to check for extra skilled video enhancing functions—in a recreation, I felt like I used to be listening to it for the primary time. I fired up one in all my outdated favorites, Death Stranding, as a result of I’ve performed it a lot that I’m intimately aware of the soundtrack.
There had been little nuances in the best way the wind blew, or how the assorted circumstances and material flaps on my go well with jostled that sounded totally different than earlier than. It wasn’t fairly that the sound was extra vivid or wealthy. In truth, at instances it was fairly the other. Instead, it felt extra actual.
Big AAA video games like this have groups of individuals obsessing over each little audio element. Footsteps sound totally different on grime, pavement, snow, and in water. Someone working tirelessly with the very best audio gear obtainable needed to design all of that. And they in all probability weren’t making an attempt to make each step of my boots sound like an exaggerated thud.
