Disclaimer: I would like to formally thank Wayne from Syntec for providing us with a unit in exchange for an impartial and honest review. On behalf of the team at the Headphone List, we thank him for his generosity and trust in THL.
Summary:
The DT 70IE is a practical, hard-wearing and technically impressive IEM that focuses on clinical precision and natural clarity for long-term, studio use. Their Tesla.11 full-band transducer exudes a technical virtuosity that has left me impressed, with excellent layering.
Introduction
Beyerdynamic is no stranger to the world of professional audio. Unmistakably Germanic, the DT770 Pro has been a standard fixture across numerous recording and broadcast studios.
Not known to be a glamorous brand, Beyerdynamic was founded 100 years ago by Eugen Beyer, established “Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer” in Berlin, initially producing loudspeakers for film palaces. Thus begins the lays of Beyerdynamic. To date, 85% of their products are proudly hand-assembled and manufactured by Teuton hands, bearing the seal of approval, ‘made in Germany’.
Naturally, this pragmatic-driven approach to research and design also appeals to an audiophile demographic. Their mainstream appeal lies with their ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ methodology, relying on tried-and-tested tunings and measured improvements to existing dynamic driver topologies. Every iterative predecessor succeeds its younger siblings in one way or another.
Today, we’re reviewing the DT 70IE , a ‘studio-grade’ IEM that has launched recently, coinciding with the release of three sister IEMs in their newly-minted IE-series of earphones. Each IEM has been tuned differently for specific studio applications. The DT IE70 is their ‘all-rounded’ tuning for mixing and critical listening, strictly aligning with the Fletcher-Munson curve.
Priced at 849 AUD, the DT 70IE is available on Beyerdynamic’s official website.
Technology
Tesla 11 Driver
The DT 70IE boasts Beyerdynamic’s newly-minted Tesla 11 dynamic driver, featuring a THD of of 0.02% and a high-excursive character, resulting in an ultra-low distortion full-band driver that bypasses the drawbacks of conventional balanced armatures.
Ergonomic shape
Based on an aggregation of a sample size of hundreds of MRI scans, the DT 70IE is a highly comfortable IEM that seals comfortably across most human ears.
Made in Germany
Crafted and hand-assembled in Heilbronn, Germany, every DT 70IE is scrutinised, observed and channel-matched, scrutinised by trained eyes through a litany of stress-testing.
Unboxing
The DT 70IE comes shipped in a no-frills, piano-black package, replete with Beyerdynamic branding and accompanying copy. Inside, you’ll find the following accessories:
- DT 70IE IEM with MMCX cable
- Beyerdynamic-branded hard zipper case
- 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M and L)
- 3 pairs of Comply foam tips (S, M and L)
The DT 70IE’s package is serviceable and wouldn’t be a hindrance or bother to many a studio professional who favours substance over style. However, from the perspective of an avid audiophile, a more thoughtful package would’ve been nice, given that their audiophile competition tends to be more generous with their inclusions.
Design and build
The DT 70IE’s design is a condensed-down version of their flagship collaborations with Astell and Kern, the T8iE, with a tear-drop silhouette. However, the DT-IE series has opted for injection-moulded ABS in translucent gunmetal, where you can vaguely see the Tesla.11 driver in all of its glory, slightly obscured by its ‘V’ motif or branding adorned on its sides.
It’s small footprint and silhouette blends nicely into the foreground of day-to-day life, with understated appeal. Very Germanic. While plastic isn’t exactly bulletproof, its strength lies in how lightweight it is compared to stainless steel or aluminium billet.
To inspire more confidence in its modest build, the DT 70IE is also certified IP68 water-resistant and dust-proof; all the hallmarks for a no-nonsense, workhorse of a studio IEM.
Comfort and Ergonomics
The DT 70IE’s organic silhouette is an aggregation of hundreds of ear scans, distilled into a safe and inoffensive shape that should sit comfortably in one’s ears. In my case, it blends in nicely into my outer ear, sitting flush without awkwardly protruding outside my ear canals — a welcome benefit, no thanks to the DT 70IE’s slim and stout profile.
Speaking of slim, the DT 70IE’s nozzles are quite short, with enough give to accommodate a smattering of aftermarket ear tips (I used the Spin Fit M’s), but expect an extra-snug fit, with its shells resting on your counter helixes.
The DT 70IE is a featherlight affair, with zero detectable hot spots of pain points during protracted listening sessions in the office. Isolation is above-average, but not exceptional, tends to a visible seam or prominent vent situated below the ‘V’ branding on its faceplates — a recurring issue with over-vented dynamic driver IEMs. Expect some discernible level of wind noise from environmental ingress.
The MMCX standard isn’t my personal favourite connector type (to the chagrin of many fans), but the IP68 rating inspires confidence in its ability to wick away moisture or prevent debris ingress.
Cable Quality
The included stock cable is surprisingly quite good. Typically, the ‘big three’ (Westone, Shure and Beyerdynamic) don’t pay close attention to how their IEM cables look or feel. Here, the DT-IE70’s cable isn’t going to win any accolades for the former, but it deserves some laudations for the latter.
The DT 70IE’s cable is thin but surprisingly supple, retaining a sense of malleability and bendability for ease-of-storage and spooling conveniently in one’s pockets. There is not much susceptibility to memory, which makes it an exceptional choice for use in a live setting, where the cable should not prove to be a hindrance to your on-stage mobility or movements.
Pre-moulded ear hooks are the Achilles heel of a vocal majority of audio enthusiasts. Here, I actually think it is a smart feature. Bendable ear hooks, while polarising to many, are welcomed in a studio setting, acting as a failsafe to prevent your IEMs from being displaced from your ears, comfort notwithstanding.
As an impassioned audiophile, a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced option is always a welcomed gesture, but given that the DT 70IE was designed strictly for professional use, a 4.4mm option would be a pointless and wasteful inclusion.
All in all, putting my personal audio-centric opinions aside, the DT 70IE’s cables are tough and soundly designed, given the earphones’ designated application.
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