Beyerdynamic DX 120 iE review

These sturdy in-ears are built to last and produce a balanced, detailed sound... Tested at £60

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The DX 120 iE’s even and textured sound is let down by difficulties expressing dynamics and following complex rhythms

Pros

  • +

    Balanced and detailed sound

  • +

    Broad range of accessories

  • +

    Built for durability

Cons

  • -

    Restricted dynamic range

  • -

    Some timing difficulties

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.

Beyerdynamic knows that, having spent £60 on a pair of headphones, you don’t want to be forking out even more on accessories – that’s why the DX 120 iEs come with more trimmings than Hulk’s Christmas dinner.

There are seven choices of eartip – five bowl-shaped, one double-flange and a triple-flange – a soft carry bag, cable clip, 1.2m-long cord extension (30cm without) and a splitter to share your music with a mate.

Sound

Once you’ve finished customising, the music is even and detailed. The layers are defined as the texture builds through Mogwai’s Remurdered, the treble is unrestricted and there is thump to the kick drum driving it forward.

The main synthesiser melody, when it arrives, bounces like a spider on a trampoline, and cuts through nicely as the left hand drones in the bass. Given DX 120 iEs’ even but lively balance, it’s a shame that impact is somewhat lost by a lack of dynamic range flattening the crescendo.

MORE: Best in-ear headphones 2015

Loose timing in the rhythmic patterns of Mars Volta’s Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of) takes the edge off that track too, as the pallet regularly changes from harsh to soft.

While the percussion and guitar are supposed to be awkward, rather than difficult, Beyerdynamic sometimes falls just the wrong side of that divide, undermining the space and detail keeping the busy instrumentation from sounding like a mess.

Verdict

Physically, the DXs are a strong pair of earphones. The metal casing means they weigh a hefty 32g, but that does give you a sense of sturdiness and durability.

Acoustically, though, they are not infallible, and at the top end of this price bracket, you may be better off with in-ears more faithful to the complex recordings in your library. We'd recommend the Klipsch Reference R6is or, moving up a level, the Sennheiser Momentum M2 in-ears.

Read all our Beyerdynamic news and reviews

Read 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