u/Hailreign_

I bought a DT 1770 Pro MK II on May 9 2026 for music enjoyment ($720). Today, when I was removing my headphones from my head, I saw a detail from the headphones falling down. It was a piece of a headband clip.

Beyerdynamic, the headband clip from the external side is thick and reliable. But from the internal side it’s way too thin to handle that pressure and it’s breaking after a couple of months even when you use them carefully.

As you can see, from another side (Left side) of the headband clip, I already see a slight convexity in the same place where the right headband clip broke, which means that soon my left side headband clip will break too.

This somewhat can be acceptable with cheap models like DT 770 Pro for $150 where you put all the money into sound quality and engineering. But DT 1770 Pro MK II is way, way higher tier – these are true high-end headphones. Having these headphones crumble apart only in 3 months of careful usage is completely unacceptable.

Make the internal side of headband clips thicker, and analyze how you can improve your build quality at least for future models.

The other day I wanted to post a very deep review about sound on these headphones. But it seems like I can’t do that anymore because they started to crumble apart even less than in 3 months, and this is considered the fact that I didn’t drop them even once and used carefully.

You produce headphones with very good sound quality. But you definitely need to do something with your build quality. Otherwise I’m not sure if I and a good portion of other people will stick to you anymore, especially when you’re paying $599.99+.

I bought a DT 1770 Pro MK II on May 9 2026 for music enjoyment ($720). Today, when I was removing my headphones from my head, I saw a detail from the headphones falling down. It was a piece of a headband clip.

Beyerdynamic, the headband clip from the external side is thick and reliable. But from the internal side it’s way too thin to handle that pressure and it’s breaking after a couple of months even when you use them carefully.

As you can see, from another side (Left side) of the headband clip, I already see a slight convexity in the same place where the right headband clip broke, which means that soon my left side headband clip will break too.

This somewhat can be acceptable with cheap models like DT 770 Pro for $150 where you put all the money into sound quality and engineering. But DT 1770 Pro MK II is way, way higher tier – these are true high-end headphones. Having these headphones crumble apart only in 3 months of careful usage is completely unacceptable.

Make the internal side of headband clips thicker, and analyze how you can improve your build quality at least for future models.

The other day I wanted to post a very deep review about sound on these headphones. But it seems like I can’t do that anymore because they started to crumble apart even less than in 3 months, and this is considered the fact that I didn’t drop them even once and used carefully.

You produce headphones with very good sound quality. But you definitely need to do something with your build quality. Otherwise I’m not sure if I and a good portion of other people will stick to you anymore, especially when you’re paying $599.99+.

I want to get an ultra high-end 1440p monitor and I came across ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W due to being glossy, Tandem WOLED with 540 Hz, but upon research I found out that literally all OLEDs (OLED, QD-OLED, WOLED, Tandem WOLED) have noticable vertical bending on grey colors, but Tandem WOLED specifically has this problem more pronounced.

Currently, I have AW2723DF (Nano-IPS 1440p 280Hz). I wanted to use it as my secondary monitor for work, and the ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W in the center to enjoy gaming and content consumption. I don't understand how a $1200 monitor can have such issues, but we have what we have, and now I'm curious how noticable this issue really is.

Especially considered that people always tell to use Dark Mode with an OLED, which is GREY (exactly where this issue is pronounced), so people are obliged to see this uniformity issue -- Steam, Discord, Spotify -- these programs have exact theme where vertical banding is pronounced the most.

Do you guys see this in real use? I want to clarify, I'm a very sentitive person -- I can even tell the difference between 240 and 280 hz multiple times with 100% accuracy, and this applies to colors too -- that's the reason why I'm thinking about getting an OLED monitor, because I think the difference compared to an IPS panel will be absolutely colossal. So, if there will be inconsistent grey color on sites / apps in Dark Mode, I will notice this and it will distract me. The question is, how noticable vertical banding is in movies (due to film grain), games, sites, apps in Dark Mode? Is this a deal-breaker to not buy stay on an IPS?

P.S: In my country consumer protection rights are almost completely don't work, so I won't be able to return the monitor if anything, even in perfect condition, because it's "open box" which is enough to not satisfy the return application.

Recently, I had an opportunity to try out ZMF Bokeh Open LTD Torrefied Limba and I compared them to my DT 770 Pro 32 Ohm for $150.

I use headphones only for music enjoyment.

Setup

Amplifier: FiiO KA17, Desktop Mode (tried without, too)

Connectivity: 4.4 balanced cable for ZMF and 3.5 mini jack for Beyer.

Source: iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Music app.

Codecs: ALAC Lossless, ALAC Hi-Res Lossless and Dolby Atmos (Dolby Digital Plus)

Music genres: Pop, Rap, Rock, Instrumental

I was very exciting about ZMF, really liked the brand's philosophy of crafting each headphone manually, I even ordered ZMF Bokeh Closed Black Limba Ambrosia myself, Zach might even remember this order if he participated in producing them. But after 80 days after I placed the order, I got an opportunity to try ZMF Bokeh Open which is yes, different, but at the same time still similar to Closed version which I ordered, so I already got some opinion on Bokeh and approximately what to expect from Closed version which should've arrived soon. I was forced to cancel my order before I received it, because how bad Bokeh Open sounded even in comparison to my $150 entry level monitor headphones. I was absolutely shocked, I didn't expect that they will loose in every aspect, literally in every single aspect to DT 770 Pro.

Sound

Resolution: I immediately noticed that overall resolution quality across all range dropped to 20-30% compared to 770's and overall they sound muddy. I can clearly hear even subtle details on 770's, but not with ZMF. When I listen to ZMF Bokeh Open, it's like there's a blur coverage or film on the headphones which makes sound muddy and linear, but not musical and enjoyable. Especially I can clearly hear that on vocals. With ZMF I feel like I'm listening to music with way lower overall quality.

Vocals: They are muddy. Not crisp from the word completely, 770's beat them easily and I clearly hear big difference in vocal clarity between these headphones. Vocals on ZMF are softer, less sharp and less fatiguing, but they are too muddy to the extent that I'd not be able to enjoy music with this level of vocals clarity. It's too soft and too muddy. Also, vocals on ZMF are more "in your face" which makes bass and mids sound more linear and you don't get this level of detail retrieval of 770s. You can say "worse than monitor level, but good enough for music enjoyment". No, this level of detail retrieval is not good enough for me to enjoy music. Especially for $1200. 770s have lowered vocals (clarity is still high) and emphasized, though high quality bass with excellent depth, which makes sound way more musical, give it the soul and enveloping experience.

Mids: Here I understand why people say that Bokeh is not fatiguing. Because it's true at the expense of overall muddiness and more linear, not aggressive sound. However, I don't understand how it can be "musical" sound headphones if it's just not. it's too linear, it doesn't have soul. I can even cry sometimes when I listen to 770s even after 1+ year of usage, but I don't even feel goosebumps on my skin with Bokeh.

Bass: Sure, there's a big difference between open and closed back regarding bass, but in Bokeh Open it's way worse than I expected. Bass is a big drawback of these headphones. The first serious drawback is overall muddiness, and the second is bass. After ever first song I listened to, I set EQ to "Rock" in Apple Music to boost bass and slightly lower vocals because bass is too weak and not enveloping whatsoever. Bass here is not "normal" or "enough". It is weaker than normal and way too soft I would say even with EQ. 770s have very much higher quality bass which is also very much deeper and enveloping, the difference is colossal here.

Soundstage: I didn't expect it to be this underwhelming. Usually, if $1000+ headphones are open back, they can give you remote feeling like you're on the concert with other people. These headphones, their soundstage is yes, wider than 770s have, but I still have feeling of music is playing in my head. That's not necessarily bad, but for open-back, especially this premium headphones, yes, it's bad. I cannot indicate where specifically instruments are playing from, I don't hear this scene in front of me, even though I have very, I mean, very high sensitive hearing with extreme capability to hear even extremely subtle details. I know that Bokeh drivers are slightly forward mounted and not centered, so I also tried to wear headphones differently, more forwarded, but the results are almost the same.

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I absolutely do not understand how it's even theoretically possible that Bokeh Open for $1200 looses to DT 770 Pro for $150 in every single aspect. Bokeh have professionally developed, patented Atrium damping system, LCP drivers and high quality wood, and even with all of this how, how they looses to some plastic headphones with a standard entry level driver. I'm not gonna lie, after 5 minutes I listened to them, I said I'd pay for them up to $300 only because they're made from wood, because otherwise there are really better options out there for $300. I'm very disappointed, God blessed I cancelled the order for the Bokeh Closed one day before it should've been arrived, I would've been extremely disappointed with this sound. In Closed I'd get much deeper bass and better, more intimate and enveloping soundstage, but muddiness will still be there.

And don't only pay attention to the price of these headphones like "price doesn't matter". First, for this price, and especially for this price difference ($150 vs $1200) Bokeh are obliged to be better. Period. Second, I have budget for headphones up to $2400, though I can pay more for very, very good headphones. I'm not satisfied more with the sound I get with these headphones, but not only about price to performance. I understand a lot about diminishing returns, but this is beyond all bounds. I considered Atrium Closed and even Caldera Closed, but I liked the design of Bokeh Closed and, by description of others, their sound delivery, so I ordered Bokeh Closed. And if we're paying attention to the price of these headphones, this is absolutely insane what kind of sound you get for the price.

I completely do not understand how literally 95% of people think that Bokeh Closed are one of the best headphones in the world. If I closed my eyes (what I virtually did, because I don't really pay attention to the price (in this price range) and just want to get very good headphones) for completely blind test, I'd say they are $250-300 headphones at best.

I need an explanation, discussions are open.

For even more context: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/1qt7byr/upgrading_from_dt_770_pro_need_an_advice_on_which/