I bought this headphone as part of a search for an birthday present for my little brother (going for that brother of the year award, he deserved it). I tested and listened to the DT 770 pro 32 ohm for about 2 weeks before sending it back and ultimately going with the Sennheiser Momentums. Keep in mind that these are just opinions based on my headphone experiences and I do not claim for any of this to be accepted fact. Blah blah blah, your mileage may vary

For this review, I would like to start with things I liked about the DT 770. The first thing that really jumped out at me was how well they isolated! None of the headphones in my collection isolate well so finally having one that does really surprised me. This thing would be PERFECT for commutes, airports, and busy areas. Its honestly amazing how well this headphone creates your own little personal listening room in a world gone mad!
 
One of the other things I liked was it's ability to be driven by just about anything. At only 32ohms, they can be driven perfectly fine from a smartphone, although I'm sure you could get better performance from an amp. As part of my needs for a Christmas gift, this was very important to me. It just seems wrong to give a gift to someone just to tell them they need to spend some of their own money to enjoy it properly. In this department, the DT 770 passed with flying colors. I was able to get more than enough volume out of the headphone while also not sounding veiled or suffering from lack of detail. 
 
The sound stage was also impressive for a closed headphone. I honestly was not expecting much in this area, so to be presented with a moderately wide (although it seems somewhat short) sound stage was a surprise for me as well. It was certainly much wider than my old AH-D5000 and AH-D7000's and they were much more expensive. For $150, they presented a very good audio image.
How detailed the headphone was going to be was another major conclusion I had to make. My goal was to ultimately keep my brother from walking the path of the Beats and introduce him to true detailed sound. Once again, the Beyers did not disappoint. I tried to listen for all the minor instruments and secret notes I could hear on my HE-500s and HD 700's and for the most part it was there, if somewhat more subdued. You have to listen deeper for it, but for the most part the little details in each recording were there. Much, MUCH better than anything you would find in Skullcandy, Beats, and Bose.
 
On the flip side, a few things made me return them. I am particularly sensitive to harsh treble and sometimes the DT 770 got painful. Not only that, but the bass didnt extend as deep as I would have liked. The bass was well controlled for the most part (for its price range) but the sub bass just wasn't present. All in all, for a little extra cash, I found the Sennheiser Momentums to be far superior in most respects so sent the Beyers back. 
 
FINAL VERDICT
6/10 Not a bad headphone for sure, and these may be the headphone for some people. But in my opinion, there are better options in this price range from Grado and Sennheiser.

I'm in a deep listening mood tonight and I always wanted to do a compare and contrast against these two very amazing headphones, so what better time than the present? While both of these headphones are very good in their own respect, each have their own unique pros and cons I will attempt to put into words. So without further ado, I will start with the one that people are most familiar with and work from there.

HIFIMAN HE-500
 
Oh yes, the HE-500! Not only is it largely considered by the Head-Fi community one of the best headphones on the market, but it also comes with a friendly price tag. I got mine about 8 months ago (just off the top of my head) from another generous Head-Fi member for about $600 with a complimentary home made stand for it. It ended up being one of the best bargains I ever made! 

Sound
 
The very first thing I noticed about the headphone on the first track listened to were those famous planar magnetic mids! The mids were way more forward than my beloved LA 7000's and it was a welcome change. I quickly noticed acoustic tracks were much more enjoyable to listen to on my HE-500's than on my LA 7000 Lite. Rock tracks in general with more focus on the guitars and mid range were just so darn impressive...it was truly addicting. While I did not appreciate the bass as much as I did the LA 7000's, I did acknowledge that it extends deep, maybe even deeper than the LA 7000's. It just did not have that power and muscle I was used to hearing, but I accepted it as a different sound signature, which is what I was looking for to begin with. I also immediately noticed how 'small' the music sounded. There was very little sense of space, but it seemed like the sound stage was more 'accurate'. The music from the LA-7000 sounds so open and cavernous....but it also has a very rugged sense of direction when trying to pin point where each sound is coming from. The HE-500 has no such issues. Despite the smaller sound, instruments separate noticeably better. 

Now that my ears have grown more accustomed to it's sound, I no longer consider some of the initial concerns valid. I have come to conclude the HE-500 is a VERY good all rounder, and performs well with a large variety of music. I also now appreciate the less boomy bass in it's own respect and I like how little it seeps into the mid range. Most of all I really like how polite of a headphone it is. There really is a reason it's so popular! It basically tries to please everyone, but actually succeeds. There's a small mid bass hump that sounds great with pop music and crystal clear treble that is slightly rolled off to avoid harshness. The HE-500 also has an amazingly natural tone to it. Instruments sound very 'true' to real live performances and it's probably my favorite part about this headphone. Combined with some of the best mids I have ever heard, there is hardly anything this headphone does wrong. The rolled off treble is most appreciated actually, since the treble from the LA 7000 can still sound a bit harsh, even after extensive mods. 

LA 7000 LITE

As I first entered the audiophile community, I heard many great things about last generation's Denons. Hell, I got into this hobby by putting $400 into the AH-D 5000's! The full, rich, all encompassing bass....the crystal sparkling treble...but above all, the most fun you would ever have listening to a headphone. Rockers and ravers alike praise the AH-DX000's for the exceptional dynamics that gave their music the rumble it needs to be fully 'felt'. For all the headbanging, some complained that the U shaped sound curve was too dramatic, and the sound felt too 'caged in'. But now with the famous MarkL mods you can have it all. So after upgrading from the D-5000's to the D-7000's, I decided to give them a shot...

Sound

Immediately, I recognize the bass to be much tighter, but still has that same tremendous impact the original AH-D X0000's are famous for. The impact is just much more localized now, and it doesnt rattle the entire headphone assembly like it used to. My specific pair (each LA 7000 can sound a bit different depending on how you customize it) still shakes a bit since I decided I wanted a bit less dampening, but not anywhere close to as much as the AH-D 5k and 7k's. Now I get to hear the mids that are so repressed in the original models. It is still concedes the stage to the treble and bass, but I can definitely hear them more now. Another big improvement from the stock Denon models is the Lawton angle pad. Backing the driver off the ear makes a huge difference, as it really opened up the sound, like the music had been let free. "Cavernous" is still a good word I like to describe just how open it truly sounds. That combined with the luscious, full bodied bass, some tracks can really just take your breath away. Backing the driver off the ear also helped alleviate some of the discomfort from the hot treble, which to my ears could be quite piercing on the stock Denons. 

All in all, I would describe the LA 7000 as dynamic, engaging, and punchy. As much as the mods do change the sound, it's still a very 'in your face' headphone. This headphone does not make music so you can sit down to consider and analyze it. This music is meant to be FELT! The LA 7000 does everything it can to try to 'wow' you. The treble shoots for the sky and the bass has a weighty liquid-like feel to it. Songs feel alive in ways I haven't experienced in any other headphone. The drums really pop and electric guitars scream with power! It's important to remember that the D7000 was actually a pretty detailed headphone and the LA 7000 Lite is even more so. Since adding dampening materials into the wood cups, the bass doesn't over power the details in other frequencies as much, letting you hear more than you ever could with the D7000. Electronic in particular sounds absolutely perfect, and I cannot imagine any other headphone performing better than the LA 7000 for this genre, it's just pure ecstasy. For rock it's sort of a mixed bag, anything with drums or heavy bass I like the LA 7000's but anything that is really vocal/guitar centered I like to use the HE 500's for.
 
If I have any sort of complaint about this headphone, it would definitely be the treble. Perhaps I am a bit sensitive to treble, but all the Denons have seemed too shrill in that area, and the LA 7000 Lite is no different. It's not a huge problem most of the time, since backing the driver away from the ear alleviates some of the discomfort, but on certain tracks it can be distracting. Also, compared to the HE-500, the LA 7000 Lite can't reproduce natural sounds as truthfully. Perhaps it's not very fair to compare a closed headphone to an open one in this regard, but I thought it would be worth mentioning. Generally speaking, an open headphone will almost always sound more natural than a closed one. 

Other Considerations
 
The HE-500 is super easy to mod. I myself have performed a grill mod on them that was so easy a caveman could do it, and it did open the sound stage marginally. The stock ear pads on the HE 500 could not get a good seal for me, and it seems to be a common complaint. Once again, mods can fix this problem if you are even experiencing it. I had Jergpads made for me and now I finally have a good seal. It really made a difference fleshing out the bass and the HE-500 sounds "fuller" now and more filled in. It even has detachable cables! Why every headphone doesn't have this....I have no idea. But not only is this super convenient for packing/traveling, but it also makes getting new cables a piece of cake. You can even own multiple cables for it if you so choose. Comfort can also be an issue for some people but it was never an issue for me. It clamps down more than the LA 7000 Lite, but I wouldn't say it's really tight or anything. I have a large head too.

The LA 7000 lite is the 2nd most comfortable headphone I have ever worn, number 1 being the HD 598 (tough to beat that one). Not only that, but they are absolutely gorgeous! Just take a look if you haven't seen them yet http://www.lawtonaudio.com/page66.html. The LA 7000 is also very easy to drive, even for a portable amp. Not saying I would ever use these while walking around, but I just mean it can be driven by literally anything. That being said, it is generally accepted by most that Denons sound the best when driven by solid state amps. The fact that this generation of headphone is no longer being supported by Denon (I will never understand why) is also something to consider. There is a screw that is known to break on the old Denons and it is very tough to replace, as it is a peculiar size. 

Edit: Both headphones were amped by a Burson HA-160D for this review.

Conclusion

Each of these headphones are tremendous efforts by both parties. The best way I can summarize the HE-500 is that it does a few things well, but also doesn't do anything wrong. By contrast, the best way I can summarize the LA 7000 Lite is that it has a couple of weaknesses, but it's soooo good in the other areas that it over compensates. If I could only keep one though, I would have to keep the LA 7000 Lite.  In the end, it just comes to down to what you enjoy as a music lover. I can personally over look some things as long as I'm having fun with my music, and the LA 7000 Lite has to be one of the most engaging headphones ever. My favorite genre is also electronic, and these headphones are just incredible for listening to it. They are also pretty good all rounders in their own right, just not quite so much as the HE-500's. Needless to say, I would still be sad to give up the HE-500's. The mids and naturalness are so addicting, and go great with other favorite genres of mine...jazz and blues. Well that about does it for me, as I think I have covered just about everything I can think of. I really hope this review helped some of you make a purchasing decision, as this review did take me a few days to type out (between work and social commitments). Hope you enjoyed and happy listening!

Full review here
 
(I know this review is pretty late seeing as how the new line of Denon headphones is almost out. I still hope this review is of some use to people, seeing as how there will still be a lot of old Denons going around. First review on Head-Fi...here goes)
 
 
Let me start off by saying that I am not a sound engineer, nor am I a musician (I'm a vocalist but I have never put the voice to any good use >.<). I am just a man with a passion for music. I suppose I can thank my dad for that, as he started introducing me to all the classics of his era when I was very young, and before I was even aware of the more modern artists within my own generation. Zeppelin, The Stones, The Eagles, Queen, oh yeah...he pretty much succeeded in making me a classic rock enthusiast by the age of 7. What I am trying to say folks, and I apologize if I went off topic, is that I am just an 'everyman'trying to give my insight to a community that has been so good to me about helping me make informed decisions. If my criticisms are less than perfectly accurate, please don't crucify me.

This love of music has lasted throughout my whole life, but it wasn't until just recently that I have had the expendable income to afford audiophile equipment in order to more thoroughly enjoy it. While my first audiophile headphones were some cheap IEM's while I was deployed to Afghanistan, it was from that moment I was hooked and the rest was history. As of now I own the Denon AH-D 5000's (first over ears), the AH-D 7000's, and the Sennheiser HD 598's powered by a Fiio E9&E7 DAC/amp combo (that I plan to upgrade soon).
 
Now let's get down to business! I bought my all my headphone's used, but when the AH-D 7000 came in someone was actually thoughtful enought to hold on to the box and I got to experience the 'unboxing' of a headphone for the first time. The box's presentation is of the same simple elegance as the headphone itself. Nothing but black leather on top with Denon in gold lettering and upon opening the headphone is presented in a bed of burgundy silk type material. After owning the AH-D 5000 for 8 months, I wasn't surprised to see that the D7000 borrowed from the same basic design. The headband is covered with very soft, comfortable leather. I did not feel any clamping force when I put them on but as far as I'm concerned that's a good and bad thing. These cans leak a lot of sound. So much to the point that they may as well be open cans. Maybe just a 'little' clamping pressure would help make a better seal with the 'pleather' pads. I also have a tendency to want to head bang a little when listening to the Denon's (they are VERY fun cans) and it is so loose that they almost fall off my head sometimes. I also have a pretty big dome, so I can only imagine people with smaller heads. The wood cups look generally the same as well. The D7000's just have that waxy finish that makes them a little sexier and they also look to be a bit more red in color than the D5000's. The 'pleather' ear pads are exactly the same as well. It still amazes me just how close they are to real leather. Most people in a blind test would never be able to tell the difference.

But how do they sound? The first word that comes to mind is 'dynamic'. They still very much have that same house sound as it's other Denon brothers, but everything sounds more smooth and refined. As soon as I pressed play I immediately felt the sensation that more effort was put into smoothing out the over exaggerated peaks of the D5000 and bring the mids and sound stage out a bit more. In a way, Denon did succeed. But, despite the effort, the AH-D 7000's still sound very far from neutral. Whether this is good or bad is up to you. I personally enjoy the how the bass and treble is presented and despite being somewhat forward, both ends of the frequency are very articulate and clean. Allow me to be more specific:

Bass: The lower frequencies is still very much the focal point of the D7000's (surprise!) and they easily have the best bass I have heard out of a headphone. Coming from the D5000, the D7000 has noticeably tighter bass and the faster electronic tracks in my collection such as "Adagio for Strings" by Tiesto respond by having even more detailed and rhythmic beats. It still retains some of that flabby, vibrating but it is not as bad as the D5000's. It is true, the drivers have been upgraded, but both Denons suffer from lack of dampening which still results in this effect. Despite this, fans of the D5000 will be pleased to here that not one ounce of that famous bass impact has been sacrificed and it still hits like a ton of bricks. Overall I would call the quality of the bass excellent and very detailed, although I still think the markl mods would make it even better.

Mids: The mids are still admittedly recessed compared to my HD 598's. Quiet, intimate acoustic songs like "Cocoon" by Jack Johnson are shockingly detailed but still has an overall warmness to it I don't think should be there. This is an example of how the the bass can sometimes bleed into the mids. Maybe this can be fixed with some EQ but I have never tried. By no means am I saying the mids are bad, they just lack the same forward presence of the bass and treble and yet it still retains all the detail of both.

Treble: This is an area where I do not think the D7000 gets enough credit. Too often I feel the D7000 is written off as a bassheads wet dream and the astonishing peaky treble goes unnoticed. The Denon D7000's give a lot of 'wow' factor to vocalists with exceptional range. Tracks such as "Walking on Clouds" by Tiesto give me goosebumps every time when it gets to about 5 minutes in and Kirsty Hawkshaw shows off her tremendous singing voice. However, when I say 'peaky treble' it can be both a good and a bad thing. I do not feel as though these headphones would pair well with a particularly bright amp. Too much more treble and you ears will bleed. The treble is also a bit unforgiving when it comes to low quality tracks and they can come off as being harsh. All in all, I do love how the treble sounds on these cans and I think this area shows the biggest improvement over the harsh and sometimes shrieky D5000's. It retains all the range of the D5000's but just smoothed out a lot.

Sound stage: Well being a closed headphone, it is not going to give you the same sound stage as a good Sennheiser. That being said, I would describe the sound stage as being small but accurate. The size of it does not come anywhere close to the wide open sound of my HD 598's but instruments are separated very well. While istening, I feel as though the sound I am hearing is a result of several instruments and effects being layered into an orchestra of music. It is only on the lower quality recordings that I get that 'wall of sound' effect. With the bigger pads, I do feel as though their sound stage would increase in size so I think either the Lawton mods or the J$ pads would be a great improvement. I have read on many threads, that for a closed headphone, the D7000's have a big sounstage, although I cannot personally  verify this as the D5000's and D7000's are the only closed headphones I have owned. Regardless, I still thought it was worth mentioning.

Final Thoughts:
All in all, the D7000's are my favorite headphone to date, despite some of the criticisms. Maybe it comes down to personal preference. I am somewhat of a basshead (although not as much as others) and I love electronic music. Perhaps it could also be my lack of experience with other headphones. I have in fact only owned 3 pairs of full sized headphones, other than the various
ear buds, IEMs and surround speakers I have owned. All this is true but, in the end, I KNOW what good music sounds like, and the AH-D 7000's make good music. I still think if Denon/Fostex could make some bigger stock ear pads and bring the mids out more they could have a truly standout product. Ultimately though, these are just nit picks out of what is otherwise an incredible
heapdhone.

Overall rating: 91/100