Short answer: the Beyerdynamic DT 770 M, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #205 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.0/5, at $199.99. The Sennheiser HD 569 ranks #209, rated 1.6/5, at $129.95, $70.04 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #6 at $199.95.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 M is the better-sounding choice. A closed back design that blocks outside noise better than an open back, with an 80 ohm load and 105 dB sensitivity that a phone or laptop can drive. The catch: A deep 15.6 dB dip near 3.6 kHz and a presence band about 7 dB low push vocals and guitars back and make the sound muffled.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 569: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled.
Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 770 M. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $70.04 you would save on the Sennheiser HD 569 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 M | Sennheiser HD 569 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #205 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #209 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 37 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.83 dB standard deviation | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 80 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Beyerdynamic DT 770 M compares with other leading options:
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
- AKG K271 MKII vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs iBasso SR1
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs Audio-Technica ATH-G1
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The Two Headphones In Full
Beyerdynamic DT 770 M: $199.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A closed back design that blocks outside noise better than an open back, with an 80 ohm load and 105 dB sensitivity that a phone or laptop can drive. The bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the low mids sit slightly above target, which suits listeners who like a warm tone. It is rated higher than the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z and Meze 99 Classics.
Cons: A deep 15.6 dB dip near 3.6 kHz and a presence band about 7 dB low push vocals and guitars back and make the sound muffled. Sub-bass falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz, so the deepest synth bass and kick drum rumble fade out. The AKG K271 MKII is rated higher for similar money.
Full Beyerdynamic DT 770 M review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2003 (22 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.83 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 37 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 91 Hz | -14.9 dB | 0.66 |
| Peak | 4,980 Hz | +5.4 dB | 0.84 |
| Peak | 75 Hz | +7.3 dB | 2.66 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.94 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,666 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.42 |
| Peak | 3,533 Hz | +4.7 dB | 2.91 |
| Peak | 8,793 Hz | +2.4 dB | 2.64 |
| Peak | 1,011 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.03 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 569: $129.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. A 23 ohm impedance and 115 dB sensitivity make it very easy to drive from a phone. A bass lift of about 5 dB suits listeners who prefer a warm, bassy sound.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled. The warm tilt and bass emphasis can make mixes sound heavy. At 300 g, wired only, it is rated below the Logitech G Pro X and the Jabra Evolve 40.
Full Sennheiser HD 569 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 79 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.60 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 4,676 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.65 |
| Peak | 818 Hz | -1.9 dB | 1.41 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 280 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.28 |
| Peak | 2,195 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 3,255 Hz | -3.5 dB | 4.88 |
| Peak | 154 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.14 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs HIFIMAN HE-R9
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Logitech G Pro X
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Audio-Technica ATH-G1
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs AKG K271 MKII
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Sennheiser HD 820
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Sennheiser HD 650
- See all 11 comparisons