Beyerdynamic DTX 501 p review

Superb performance that blows away the competition, but not the perfect portable pair Tested at £60

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Superb performance that blows away the competition, but not the perfect portable pair

Pros

  • +

    Gorgeous sound quality

  • +

    Punch, agile timing

  • +

    Clear, open highs

  • +

    Deep, textured basslines

  • +

    Dynamic and detailed

  • +

    Lightweight, foldable design

Cons

  • -

    Loose fit won’t suit everyone

  • -

    No in-line mic or controls

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Insightful, dynamic and utterly engaging, the Beyerdynamic DTX 501 p headphones are one of the best-sounding portable pairs we’ve heard at this price.

Performance

The 501 ps offer excellent sound for the price

The 501 ps offer excellent sound for the price

There is oodles of detail on offer, and these ’phones deliver the harmonies and vocal nuances of any song with authority and ease. Voices are intimate and expressive. You can hear every intake of breath and quirk of intonation as if the artists are singing right next to you.

The sound is wonderfully balanced, with clear, open highs and a satisfyingly deep bass that’s never out of shape.

There’s muscle and weight behind Alice Cooper’s Poison, while the haunting tone of The Unthanks’ Gan To The Kye is conveyed with poise. The DTX 501 ps offer plenty of space for the song to unfold, with individual instruments easy to pick out and follow.

The rich, melodic presentation isn’t masking any subtleties or lack of precision, either. These are astonishingly articulate headphones. The Dead Weather’s I Can’t Hear You can flummox even high-end headphones, but the Beyerdynamic's surefooted sense of timing confidently handles that taut, punchy rhythm and maintains the slow build-up of suspense.

Controlled, capable, yet still managing to have fun, the 501 ps are hugely engaging and entertaining.

MORE: Best headphones to buy 2015

Design and build

Make sure you try them on to see if they fit your head snugly – they are on the large side

Make sure you try them on to see if they fit your head snugly – they are on the large side

We wish we could be similarly enthused about the fit and build. These cans are flexible, light and have a folding mechanism that stows away the rotating earcups, making them easy to carry, but the headband is a touch too loose and too big.

The grip would be perfect if you could adjust them to a smaller size, but as it is they never feel secure on your head. We find ourselves constantly nudging the (very comfy) earcups up to make them fit better.

We tested the 501 ps on all sizes of heads in the review team, and everyone said they’d want another notch or two of tightening. If you sneeze, they fall off – rather dramatically.

Features

Avoid if you definitely need in-line mic and controls, as the Beyerdynamics don’t provide any

Avoid if you definitely need in-line mic and controls, as the Beyerdynamics don’t provide any

Another crucial element for a portable pair of headphones is the inclusion of an in-line mic and remote cable.

The Beyerdynamics don’t offer any controls, which is fine if you don’t need them, but we think it’s a glaring omission considering rivals at this price – from AKG to Yamaha – all provide the option to control music playback and take calls.

MORE: Best on-ear headphones

Verdict

We’re charmed by the sound quality here. The subtle, fluid melodies and beautifully judged balance are lovely to hear at this price.

But sound isn't the full story, and the 501s don’t quite pass the test when it comes to portable use.

The loose fit and lack of in-line controls mean they just miss out on a perfect score. But try them on for yourself: these Beyerdynamics sound far too good to be ignored.

See all our headphone reviews

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


Read more about how we test