Two closed-back standards
Will they be driven from a laptop, or from an interface?
Two references in the same family, at the same money. What separates them is what each manufacturer chose to publish, and what each chose to make replaceable.
| Compared on | K371 | DT 770 PRO X |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Closed back, oval over-ear | Closed back, over-ear |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | Not stated in listing |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB SPL/V at 1 kHz | Not stated in listing |
| Driver | 50 mm (1.97 in), OFC voice coils | STELLAR.45 dynamic system |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz – 40 kHz | Not stated in listing |
| Detachable cable | Not stated in listing | Yes |
| Folding | Yes, 8-position hinges | Not stated in listing |
| Listed on amazon.com | Yes | Yes |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these products answer different questions.
Take the K371 if they will be driven from a laptop or a phone as well as an interface: 32 ohms and 114 dB SPL/V are the two figures that guarantee it, and AKG is one of the few brands that publishes both.
Take the DT 770 PRO X for longevity. A detachable cable turns the most common failure in studio headphones into a cheap part, and beyerdynamic sells earpads separately.
A high-impedance pair driven from a weak output sounds quiet and lifeless, and buyers routinely conclude the headphones are faulty. Thirty-two ohms is comfortably drivable from almost anything.
It is the difference between replacing a cable and replacing the headphones. Cables fail at the point where they enter the cup, and on a fixed-cable design that is the end of the headphones.
Closed back · 50 mm (1.97 in) drivers · 32 ohms · foldable
AKG’s closed-back reference: 50 mm (1.97 in) drivers, 32 ohms and a stated 114 dB SPL/V sensitivity, tuned towards the AKG Reference Response curve. Low impedance, so it also works from a laptop.
Best for: One pair for recording and for checking a mix, driven from an interface or a laptop.
≈ $190
Closed back · STELLAR.45 driver · detachable cable
The closed-back studio standard, rebuilt around beyerdynamic’s STELLAR.45 driver and given a detachable cable. Made in Germany, and designed to be worn for hours rather than minutes.
Best for: Recording, where leakage into the microphone is the thing that ruins takes.
≈ $230
