Beyerdynamic DT 880 PremiumFrom real comments

Name: Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium
Rating: 3.2 (28 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 28 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment63%

PROS 62%

CONS 38%

Rank based on 28 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want detailed, accurate, non-fatiguing sound for long listening sessions
You want a cheaper, lighter-clamping alternative to the DT 880 Pro
You have (or plan to get) an amp strong enough to properly drive the 250/600 Ohm versions

What users love

Detailed, accurate soundNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Tight, controlled bass0 mentions

Widely praised

Comfortable and lightweight fit0 mentions

Strongly positive

Attractive, stylish design0 mentions

Widely praised

Good value versus the Pro0 mentions

Widely praised

Non-fatiguing, long-listening comfort0 mentions

Strongly positive

Durable long-term build0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You want loose, boomy bass rather than tight, controlled bass
You need a replaceable headband/pad system like the Pro offers
You're only considering the 32 Ohm version, which some say is noticeably weaker

What users complain about

Non-replaceable headband/pads0 mentions

Generally negative

Needs proper amplification0 mentions

Generally negative

Build quality inconsistencies0 mentions

Generally negative

Weaker 32 Ohm variant0 mentions

Generally negative

Confusing naming and variants0 mentions

Generally negative

Slight sibilance0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

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Sennheiser HD 490 Pro

Exceptional comfortStrong for gaming and imagingImprovement over HD 650/6XXIrritating L/R lettering inside padsBuild/pad quality issues reportedHigh price relative to alternatives

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Build/pad quality issues reported

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4Mid

Sennheiser HD 25

Exceptional durabilityBalanced, quality soundFully repairable/modularCable-to-driver cutout issuesStrong clamping forceUnconventional cable entry side

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6Premium

Denon AH-D9200

Smooth, detailed treble and clarityStrong perceived value and end-game satisfactionTight, deep bassHigh price pointSibilant or fatiguing treble for sensitive earsTight fit for larger ears

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Strong perceived value and end-game satisfaction

Tight, deep bass

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7Premium

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Excellent Call and Mic QualityAll-Day ComfortIndustry-Leading Noise CancellationHigh Price PointInconsistent Call Clarity in Certain EnvironmentsBluetooth Pairing Problems

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Industry-Leading Noise Cancellation

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8Premium

Shure SRH1540

Neutral, accurate soundExceptional comfortGreat detail and resolutionPerceived as 'boring' by some listenersElevated mid-bass/sub-bass not fully neutralSound highly dependent on seal and source

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Great detail and resolution

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Elevated mid-bass/sub-bass not fully neutral

Sound highly dependent on seal and source

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Exceptional value for moneyOutstanding comfortDetailed, neutral sound signatureLight or rolled-off bassCheap-feeling build qualityPerceived treble grain/sibilance

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Light or rolled-off bass

Cheap-feeling build quality

Perceived treble grain/sibilance

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You are here

31Mid

Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium

Detailed, accurate soundAttractive, stylish designComfortable and lightweight fitBuild quality inconsistenciesNeeds proper amplificationNon-replaceable headband/pads

Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium

Detailed, accurate sound

Attractive, stylish design

Comfortable and lightweight fit

Build quality inconsistencies

Needs proper amplification

Non-replaceable headband/pads

Comfort
1. Sennheiser HD 490 Proarrow_upward11
2. Apple EarPodsarrow_upward10
3. Shure SRH1540arrow_upward8
Sound quality
1. Apple EarPodsarrow_upward12
2. Apple AirPods Pro 2arrow_upward8
3. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700arrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Shure SRH1540arrow_upward6
2. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700arrow_downward3
3. Sennheiser HD 490 Proarrow_downward3
Noise cancellation
1. Apple AirPods Pro 2arrow_upward8
2. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700arrow_upward7
Detailed sound
1. Philips SHP9500arrow_upward10
2. Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premiumarrow_upward4
Wide soundstage
1. Philips SHP9500arrow_upward9
2. Denon AH-D9200arrow_upward4

Overall Impression

Sound quality is precise, detailed and easy to listen to for hours. Multiple owners describe the DT 880 Premium as accurate and analytical, delivering detail without fatigue even during long sessions. It's praised for genres like deep house with crisp drums, and for tight rather than muddy bass suited to electronic and mixed music. Some note slight sibilance needing EQ, but overall the sound is called balanced, precise and addictive, letting listeners enjoy hours of continuous use without discomfort or ear fatigue.

Comfort and looks are strong points, with a lighter clamp than the Pro. Owners repeatedly call the DT 880 Premium extremely comfortable and light, barely noticeable on the head, and some consider it the best-looking headphone around. Compared to the DT 880 Pro, the Premium has less clamping force and metal hinges seen as more stylish. However, one owner extending the headband fully for a big head, and another feeling the DT770-style band still smooshes after years, are worth noting for fit-sensitive buyers.

Amplification and impedance choice significantly affect the experience. Several comments stress that the 250 and 600 Ohm versions need adequate amp power to properly deliver bass and volume, while the 32 Ohm variant is described by some as noticeably inferior and not tight in bass or treble. One 600 Ohm owner found a tube amp gave plenty of headroom, while another needed only modest volume boost from a receiver. Choosing the right variant and matching amp is important for satisfaction.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

graphic_eqDetailed, accurate soundNotable

4 mentions

Strongly positive

Owners describe the DT 880 Premium as precise and analytical, delivering intact detail with clean transient attack compared to smoother-sounding alternatives. It's called great for all-around listening, mixing and mastering work.

@scottlowell493

The thing about headphones I learned...\nYou can spend $250 or $2500. What you are getting is just a difference in sound presentation, not quality. Lord knows, you get nothing for bass out of a Grado unless you drop a grand on a pair.\nI have Sennheiser and Beyer DTR-880 premium. The difference really is this (without the fluffy adjectives). Both are great, but very different.\nThe Beyer are designed to be more accurate. Like precision ground Zeiss lenses. They deliver detail intact, the good, the bad and the ugly. The sennheiser are contoured to be smoother and have a more gentle presentation. Designed to avoid any potentially fatiguing brightness in the upper mids. This comes at a cost of detail. Like a slightly smudged pair of glasses. \nI run both through the same amp, and the Beyers have more prominent detail (treble) with cleaner transient attack. The bass is also more accurate (controlled). The senn are a little looser and overall, more forgiving.\nThey are two different sonic opinions.\nAmp: Whatever amp you use, you want to make sure it has a solid output for the headphone rating. For example: at least 250mw into 300 ohm. Regardless of the \"on paper\" requirements, you actually need that much (or more) to get the bass and loudness out of them. People that whine about the bass inevitably use a weak amp. 50mw/300ohm is too low. Tube headphone amps don't have the most accurate results in this case. Besides: why get a set of cans designed for accuracy, and then not power them correctly? People try to make these into something they are not.

Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premiumchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

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Who wins on what

Comfort

Sound quality

Build quality

Noise cancellation

Detailed sound

Wide soundstage

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Beyerdynamic DT 880 PremiumFrom real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression