beyerdynamicDT 900 PRO X Open-Back Studio Headphones with Stellar.45 Driver for Mixing and Mastering

I recently went on a mission to find a great set of headphones for editing videos, monitoring my voice on occasion, and listening to music when I want to work late while everyone's sleeping. I don't want to buy multiple headphones for different applications. I'm no audiophile, but I do invest in quality audio components because I appreciate and enjoy great sound. I know what I like, but I can't necessarily tell you why. Kind of like wine.My journey took me through three models, ending with the DT 700 Pro X. If you're interested in what I tried first and how they stack up to the DT 700, I'll include some brief thoughts.First Up: DT 770 ProBeing new to studio monitor over ear headphones, I did a ton of research. That took me to the DT 770 Pro. I appreciate the detail, you can hear all the nuance. They would have worked great for my professional application, but listening to music just didn't "do it" for me. They are sure comfy though. Oh, and while it shouldn't matter, I really don't like how they look. And that permanently attached cable is so long...Next Up: Focal Listen ProfessionalSome more research led me to try the Focal Listen Professionals... They look and feel great! And I actually enjoyed listening to music through them a bit more than the DT 770s. Probably due to the better bass response and lack of that harsh high end on the 770s... Yet I didn't love them, especially for the price. And man, those were so uncomfortable! I don't have big ears, but they contorted my ears in a way that I just couldn't stand for more than a few minutes.And Finally: DT 700 Pro XThey feel great in the hand, are just as comfortable on me as the DT 770, and I love that they have a detachable cable. Although, I thought one of the cables would be coiled but they were both straight. I bought a coiled one immediately because I enjoyed that aspect of the Focals. The sound! They have all the detailed goodness of the DT 770 but with deeper and stronger low end and a more pleasing high end. The first track I listened to made me smile. That's how you know you got it right. And most importantly, they look great. ;)I have no idea how suitable these are for true audio professionals beyond what I've read (supposedly they are). But if you're a bit like me and want a great set of headphones that will bring out all the detail of your music or video recordings while also providing a very enjoyable listening experience when you're not working, these win. Totally worth the price of admission.

I got to say that I really like the general aesthetics and fit of Beyerdynamic headphones. What I didn't like about them in the past was their lack of detachable cables and the very bright tuning. I'm glad to say that Beyerdynamic has fixed both of those issues with the DT Pro X headphones.The cups are deep enough that my ears do not touch the surface of the drivers inside. One thing to be aware of, if you're not used to headphones with a lot of clamp pressure, this pair can feel overly clampy. It took me about a week to get used to it. Some people will argue that an oval shaped earcups are better but I really like the round ones. As long as your ears will completely fit inside, I find them very comfortable. With the round earcups, I find more flexibility in placing the headband on top of my head without affecting the fit. When worn for hours on end, I find most headphones will start creating a hotspot on the top of my head. I need to adjust where the headband lands on my head by rotating the earcups around my ears. With oval earcups, this will obviously affect the fit and seal. Round earcups do not have this issue for me.Comparing the DT900 Pro X to the DT700 Pro X, the 700 definitely has more bass but the 900 has a more open sound. I bought both not necessarily because of their differences in sound quality. I bought both because I have different needs regarding sound isolation. I typically prefer open back headphones but in a shared home office, there are plenty of times I really wish I had a closed back pair for when I really need to block out noise. Having said that, I'm finding that I'm really preferring the 700 for casual listening because of the bass. I'm not a bass head and I generally really prefer a flat sound profile but the bass on the 700 just sound so good. It is tight and not boomy. That's not to say that the 900 is lacking in bass though as the bass on the 900 is quite good as well.I've been using the Shure SRH1840 for the past 10 years. It was never really my first choice but at the time it was the only one I could find that checked all the boxes for me. In comparing the headphones, The 1840 have a much more open feel than the 900. As such, I feel that the sound stage of the 1840 is a bit wider. Personally though, I prefer the closer sound stage of the 900. Where the 1840 really lacks is the bass and mids. Compared to the 900, the vocals on the 1840 sounds very recessed. For the price those Shure headphones are going for, I don't really see them worth it especially when the DT Pro X's are available for much cheaper. I paid $700 for my SRH1840 back in 2013 and I knew it was overpriced then, but again, it was a pair that checked all most of the boxes for me (mainly comfort and build), minus the sound quality. Speaking of build, the SRH1840 is still going strong. I have replaced the earpads 2 times and the cable I think 1 time. The headband is really worn out but Shure sells them for $36 the last time I asked them. The metal grill though has started to show some paint wear and slight rusting on the edges.Overall, I'm very happy with the DT Pro X headphones. Both the 700 and 900 are very good with different use case for each. For easy listening or monitoring, I'd recommend the 700, but for a more neutral sound signature for mixing and editing, the 900 is better for sure.*Update October 14, 2024:* Just a year of constant use, the leatherette wrapping the foam in the headband has started to come undone on the 700 Pro X. The 700 Pro X is the one I use regularly. The 900 Pro X that I use in my sim racing rig is still ok. I will still give these headphones 5 stars as they've really been pretty much perfect for the one year that I've had them so far. I bought headphone headband wraps and used it to hold the foam in place. When I bought these headphones last year, I was expecting this to be an issue. Some people have said that Beyerdynamic has fixed it by using a different glue but I knew that would be almost impossible short of a redesign. I just wished the headbands on these headphones came with wrap style cover from the factory. They look better, more comfortable, and lasts much longer than the current design.*Update October 21, 2024:* I decided to contact Beyerdynamic about the replaceable foam headband that came apart in my DT700 Pro X. I also told them that I would eventually need one for my DT900 Pro X as well. The very next day after the email, I received a notification that an order has shipped. Today, I received the new headband foams. I attached a photo and you can see the improvement they made with the new one. The old one on the left and the new on the right. The issue with the old one is that the leatherette will eventually come unglued (from my experience and from what I read from other people, it's usually a year of constant use). Once it starts, it's very difficult to put back and almost impossible to glue it back and make it look tidy. Super glue do not hold on to the plastic material of the headband. The only option is replacement. I'm really glad that they fixed the issue by overlapping the leatherette so much more where it glues on to the plastic. The warranty service is also exceptional.