Beyerdynamic DX 160 IE Review | 93 Data compared

The Head-Fi review of the Beyerdynamic DX160iE highlights a premium, durable all-metal design featuring flat, tangle-resistant cables and a rich accessory package. While praised for its build, the unit suffers from significant microphonic cable noise and lacks a cable cinch to manage slack. The sound profile is described as warm and engaging, offering deep, impactful bass and a spacious soundstage, though the treble can sometimes lack the sharpness found in higher-end models. Despite reported difficulties in achieving a perfect, comfortable fit in both ears, the earphones provide good passive isolation and high efficiency, making them an excellent value for mobile use.

The What Hi-Fi? Beyerdynamic DX160 iE Review shows that these wired earbuds offer a very high-quality listening experience. A big plus is their smooth presentation and weighty sound that gives plenty of detail and texture to instruments and vocals. The music leans toward the low end for a full bass feel, but it never blocks out the clear midrange and treble tones. These buds are well-made with a flat cable that stops tangles, and they come with a unique Y-shaped splitter so you can easily share music with a friend. What Hi-Fi? However, the earbuds face tough competition from other brands in the audio market. The review notes that they need more punch and agility when playing songs. For example, the cheaper Sony MDR-EX650AP earbuds are much faster and more energetic. Another small downside is that the flat cable does not have an in-line remote control to adjust volume or skip tracks easily. What Hi-Fi?

The Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE is a budget-friendly, audiophile-grade in-ear headphone that delivers exceptionally strong performance for its $115 price tag. It is highly praised for its rich, meaty, and tight bass that offers excellent definition across multiple music genres like rock, jazz, electronica, and classical without becoming thick or muddy. Additionally, the earphone boasts excellent midrange detailing, features durable all-metal earpieces with 10mm drivers, and comes packaged with seven pairs of silicone ear tips, a set of Comply foam tips, and a premium hard carrying case. However, the headphones come with notable compromises, most significantly the complete lack of an inline remote or microphone, meaning users cannot control playback or make cell-phone calls. Reviewers also found that the treble clarity is somewhat lacking and the overall fit, comfort, and noise isolation are only average rather than great. Furthermore, the cable system is highly unusual, featuring short 14-inch flat cords attached to the earpieces that require the use of an included 35-inch extension cable for standard daily use.

The Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE is a dynamic-driver in-ear headphone that positions itself as an "entry-level luxury" option with exceptional build quality and strong ergonomics. Its design features compact, all-metal cylindrical black housings with fluted rings, a smaller ear-tube well-suited for smaller ears, and flat TPE-covered cables engineered to resist tangles. A major highlight is its highly thoughtful ergonomic detail, including a subtle tactile bump under the "R" marker for blind identification and an expansive collection of eight ear-tip options (including Comply foamies) to guarantee an optimal fit. Performance-wise, the earphones are highly efficient with a 47-ohm nominal impedance, making them effortless to drive to their full dynamic potential directly from a smartphone or mobile device without requiring a dedicated external amplifier. Sonically, the DX 160 iE delivers powerful macro- and micro-dynamics with zero apparent compression, alongside a smooth, grain-free mid-band and a safely rolled-off, non-fatiguing treble. However, the primary drawback is its warm sonic profile that heavily emphasizes the upper bass. This bass-rich coloring slows down fast-paced tracks like Bela Fleck’s "The Sinister Minister" and occasionally bleeds upward, obscuring...

The Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE in-ear headphones (MSRP $115) offer high-quality audio that heavily favors the bass range, making music sound full and sonorous. A major standout feature is their phenomenal noise reduction, capable of crushing a whopping 29.5dB of outside noise by reducing low-end rumbles like trucks to over half their volume and high-pitched sounds to 1/32 of their original volume, largely thanks to the included foam tips. Technical performance is further bolstered by an impressively low total harmonic distortion rate of less than 1% under normal listening volumes, ensuring clean, unclipped music playback. Additionally, the product includes a generous package of extras, featuring multiple styles of ear sleeves, a Y-shaped audio sharing adapter, a tangle-resistant flat cable, a shirt clip, and a protective carrying case. Despite these strengths, the headphones suffer from a few notable drawbacks, starting with an acoustic profile where prominent bass combined with a significant volume drop between 3–5kHz underemphasizes the upper midrange. This underemphasis robs clarity and attention from instruments like guitars, trombones, and French horns. Furthermore, active and busy listeners will likely be...

The Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE is a premium RM499 pair of wired in-ear monitors (IEMs) that offer a significantly upgraded acoustic performance over the cheaper DX 120 iE model, delivering a "lively fun sound" with punchy bass and strong imaging. Key strengths include durable all-metal, lightweight housings, and a generous accessory package featuring Comply foam tips and a hard carrying case, justify its premium price tag. The review notes design drawbacks, including a heavy, chunky cable splitter that can cause slippage, a cramped, thin carrying case, uncomfortable multi-flanged tips, and a lack of an inline remote or microphone.

The Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE is a budget-friendly ($119) in-ear monitor praised for a fun, engaging, and warm sound signature, featuring robust, well-controlled sub-bass. It boasts excellent midrange clarity for vocals and instrument separation, paired with a durable all-metal build and a generous accessory package including a hard case and Comply foam tips. While highly rated, the IEMs suffer from rolled-off, recessed highs, lack a chin slider for the cable, and do not include an inline mic or remote.

The Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE headphones offer strong value in the budget market, featuring a balanced sound signature that avoids the harshness found in many competing models. Key pros include a lively midrange, warm bass, and smooth, non-fatiguing treble that makes them comfortable for extended listening. However, the headphones exhibit a notable lack of audio definition and a somewhat closed-in soundstage, with the bass tending to be loose rather than tightly defined.