Beyerdynamic DT 70 IE In-Ear Monitors Review

Whether you’re a professional who mixes music or an audiophile who listens to it, one thing remains the same. A good pair of neutral in-ear monitors is essential for personal listening. The new DT 70 IE you see here is part of Beyerdynamic’s new IEM range and is purpose-designed for both of these roles.

Up Close

The package includes a compact, hard-sided carrying case, which works wonderfully to protect this pair of earphones and its accompanying accessories. You get three pairs of Comply memory foam tips, five pairs of silicone tips, a pair of interchangeable wax guards, and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm jack adapter.

The headphones themselves are incredibly compact, resembling the shells of the Xelento IEMs that were last updated in 2023. They sit snug in the ear, with excellent passive noise isolation that helps to block out environmental noise. The manufacturer claims hundreds of MRI ear scans were used to ensure that this design would fit almost anybody. Paired with the Comply foam tips, you’ll be able to enjoy music to the fullest extent without any background noise seeping in. Beyerdynamic claims a passive noise isolation of -39dB, which seems quite achievable if you use the Comply tips.

The stock cable is removable, with MMCX connectors that offer just the right amount of friction so the earphones don’t swivel freely. If you’re not a fan of the supplied lead, you’ll be able to swap it with any compatible cable. There’s no remote on the cable, although it’s no surprise considering these earphones are meant more for critical listening or audio mixing. The stock offering is a decent option, with smooth rubber sheathing that doesn’t catch or rub against clothing. The memory wire portion that goes over the top of the ear is also very comfortable thanks to the all-rubber sheathing, unlike other IEMs that might use a plastic sheath with sharp edges. Unlike the Xelentos, there’s no driver flex, which provides some peace of mind.

Each earphone uses an 11mm dynamic TESLA 11 driver with a claimed impedance of 16 ohms. I tested the DT 70 IE with equipment ranging from desktop amps, portable digital audio players and even just with a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle connected to an iPhone, and found it easy to drive.

The Listening

Having billed this pair of in-ear headphones as ideal for critical listening, I had high expectations going into this review. I don’t do any sort of audio mixing, whether it’s recreational or professional, so I cannot speak to the effectiveness in that area, but the DT 70 IE definitely lives up to Beyerdynamic’s claims as far as music playback is concerned.

You get a consummately neutral response, with clean detail across the entire frequency range. There’s minimal colouration to the sound, allowing songs to be played just as they should be. The soundstage is surprisingly wide for a pair of closed-back IEMs, with good width and depth. Bass is tight and well-controlled, with excellent texture and detail. Even songs that can get a bit muddy sound full-bodied and powerful, Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy being a prime example. There was a nice rumbling low end that didn’t bleed out into the midband.

Speaking of which, the latter is excellent thanks to its high resolution and clarity. The vocals enjoy an intimate presentation in the centre of the soundstage, which I like, with tracks like Dominique Fils-Aime’s Birds being a particularly enjoyable listen thanks to her beautiful voice being highlighted amidst the simple percussion.

Playing Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc., there was a clear separation between the bass guitar, the twang of the slightly out-of-tune lead guitar, the drums and vocals. On other similarly purposed headphones, I typically have to focus to pick out the subtle details in the background, but everything was laid out clearly here without the need to strain to listen to any part of the mix. Treble was handled well, with no sibilance or harshness in the high registers. Everything sounded authentic, with no artificial brightening or shimmer.

The Verdict

So has Beyerdynamic delivered on its promise of a neutral in-ear monitor that’s meant for critical listening? Yes, absolutely. For audiophiles who want to listen to songs just as nature intended, the DT 70 IE is a fantastic product at its price point. This natural sound also translates well for professionals looking to get IEMs for the studio or live audio mixing, aided by the fact that it can block out so much external noise. Highly recommended, then.

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