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Closed headphones keep sound in. Open headphones let it out. The beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO sits between the two, and that middle ground has made it a long running favorite for mixing and mastering. It is the semi open model in beyerdynamic's classic studio range, made in Germany and built for the same long sessions as its siblings. Here is what it does and who it suits.
What it is
The DT 880 PRO is a semi open studio headphone from beyerdynamic. The company calls its classic range of the DT 770 PRO, DT 880 PRO and DT 990 PRO the studio legends, and says professional users around the world have trusted them for decades. Within that range, the DT 880 PRO is the semi open model, which beyerdynamic says offers impressively natural and neutral sound.
Key details, according to beyerdynamic:
- Operating principle: semi open
- Impedance: 250 ohms, for studio use
- Frequency response: 5 to 35,000 Hz
- Nominal sound pressure level: 96 dB
- Weight: 295 g without cable
- Headband pressure: a firm fit for professional use, approx. 3.5 to 5.5 N
- Cable: coiled and single sided
- Ear pads: soft, circumaural velour pads, replaceable if necessary
- Made in Germany
The sound
beyerdynamic lists the DT 880 PRO's sound as transparent, spacious and natural. It highlights a wide stereo image, neutral sound and extremely high resolution, and says the headphones help professionals pick up on errors immediately, making them ideal for mixing and mastering.
The semi open design is the key. beyerdynamic says it gives the headphones great spaciousness, and that they reproduce tracks neutrally without changing the tone of the sound. That, the company says, allows precise vocal positioning in a mix and ensures every small nuance is reproduced transparently.
Why semi open
beyerdynamic's help center explains the three designs. Closed headphones have a continuous, sound blocking housing. Open headphones have acoustically transparent areas, which make them sound a little more voluminous and detailed with a better feeling of space. Semi open headphones, it says, are a mixture of both designs, though its own semi open models tend to be more similar to the open design than the closed one. It names the DT 880 PRO as an example.
In practice, that makes the 880 a middle path that leans open, with much of the space and detail of an open headphone. It is not a headphone for recording near a microphone or for loud commutes, because sound passes through. Our guide to open back vs closed back headphones goes deeper.
Comfort for long sessions
beyerdynamic says the robust spring steel headband gives the headphones a secure fit, and the soft, adjustable ear cups add comfort. The single sided cable is a practical touch: it lets you put the headphones on and take them off frequently without the cable getting tangled. For anyone who switches between monitors and headphones all day, that matters.
PRO vs Edition
beyerdynamic also sells a DT 880 Edition for home listening. Soundwise, it says, the two are identical because they use identically designed transducers. There are two differences. The Edition has a somewhat softer headband for listening at home, while the PRO has a slightly firmer fit. And the Edition comes with a straight cable, while the PRO uses a coiled cable.
Powering it
At 250 ohms, the DT 880 PRO is built for studio equipment. beyerdynamic's general guidance is that headphones above 100 ohms are best with stationary systems, headphone amplifiers or professional gear, and that high impedance models often sound too quiet on phones. Our explainer on headphone impedance covers why, and a good audio interface or headphone amplifier will drive it with ease.
Which classic is right for you
Need isolation for tracking and noisy rooms? Choose the closed DT 770 PRO. Want the most open, spacious presentation for mixing in a quiet room? Look at the DT 990 PRO. Want a neutral reference that sits between those two, leaning toward open? That is the DT 880 PRO.
Where to buy
beyerdynamic sells the DT 880 PRO directly, and music retailers stock it widely. Check that you are buying the 250 ohm PRO version.
DT 880 PRO at beyerdynamic
beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO, 250 Ohm
beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO, 250 Ohm
For more studio gear, browse our home studio picks.
