Category: headphones

Gear, headphones, in-ear, Monitoring

beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review

While lower-priced in-ear makers seem totally focused on the number of drivers they can pack into each earpiece, established brands are concentrating on choosing a capable driver and tweaking the response to meet musician needs. So it’s no surprise that the latest offering from German audio pioneer beyerdynamic, the DT 30 IE, boasts just one active sound source: an 11mm dynamic driver. What’s in the box The DT 30 IE ships in a small, elegant black box containing the driver units, a 1.4 m Kevlar-reinforced detachable cable with MMCX connectors, a 3.5 mm three-pole plug, three pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M, L), and three pairs of foam ear tips, a set of foam cerumen filters, a quick start […]

headphones, Monitoring

Audeze MM-520 review: a mixing desk in your headphones

We’ve reviewed scores of headphones and in-ears over the years and heard all the hype, but Audeze’s claim that its new MM-520 cans produce “bass that digs deeper and hits tighter, and even more accurate midrange expression” was particularly intriguing. My interest was further sparked by the design collaboration with engineer Manny Marroquin, winner of more than a dozen Grammy Awards, who has worked with many of the current ‘big names’ including Rihanna, Kanye West, Katy Perry, the Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, and dozens of others. Even more compelling was the fact that Marroquin started out as a drummer. What’s in the box Firstly, the ‘box’ itself is pretty impressive: a substantial, lockable travel case. There’s also a soft carry bag, a chunky […]