Beyerdynamic's new IEM for musicians might also be ideal for your commute
by https://www.creativebloq.com/author/beren-neale · Creative Bloq
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Beyerdynamic's new in-ear monitor, the DT 30 IE, is ostensibly made for musicians performing live, but I have a suspicion the German audio brand has its eye on the consumer commuter market too.
The DT 30 IE is a single dynamic driver IEM built to survive life on the road. With up to 39 dB passive noise isolation and a neutral, balanced sound signature, the DT 30 IE comes with an IP54 rating for resistance against dust and water splashes, all while weighing a mere 2.7 grams.
While these are essential attributes for an IEM used by live performers, they also happen to be incredibly useful for people who want to listen to music on the go, whether on a noisy train or in a busy gym.
At £99 / $159, it is a genuine contender for a spot on my list of the best budget IEMs.
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I'm genuinely intrigued by the latest Beyerdynamic IEM. I've heard several of their over-ear headphones before, and though they're beloved by mixing engineers, from an audiophile perspective, they're way too bright for my ears.
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But will the DT 30 IE follow suit? If the DT 70 range of IEMs is anything to go by, maybe not.
Looking at the frequency response graphs of the DT 70 IE range, you'll see varying amounts of bass – from a neutral baseline to absolute wads of the stuff – while everything else remains the same. That remaining frequency profile looks like a very smooth (even scooped-out) upper midrange and a balanced treble.
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Sifting through the marketing material of the DT 30 IE, we're told that the new DT 30 IE targets, 'a neutral audio profile rather than a mid-range focus', which definitely chimes with these graphs. But we're also told that, 'Rather than applying the instrument-specific tuning found in the company's DT 70 IE series, this model is positioned as a general-purpose monitor.'
When considering the $159/£99 price point, the DT 30 IE sounds like Beyerdynamic's attempt at a crowd-pleasing, all-rounder IEM at an affordable price. I, for one, can't wait to try it out.
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