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Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review
The Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE have sprung into the affordable IEM arena. One that, as of late, has provided some incredible quality, with brands such as Sennheiser, Meze Audio, and Activo bringing some serious sound-for-pound value.
While the DT 30 IE don’t try anything outwardly fancy, they’re still a very attractive proposition. They have 11mm dynamic drivers intended to supply a “neutral and balanced tuning,” passive noise cancellation up to “-39dB,” and even have an IP54 dust and water resistance rating.
But can they compete with some of the best wired earbuds around? I spent a couple of weeks using them as one of my main listening devices — here’s what I thought.
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Let’s start with the area that matters most: sound quality. As you may expect at this price-point, sound quality is good rather than excellent — though there are a lot of positives to discuss.
In Can’t Let Go by Earth, Wind & Fire, overall audio was clear and balanced relatively well. I felt that vocals in the mid-range were a bit lacking in texture and detail, but still had good presence in the mix. More subtle percussive elements came through nicely, though, and funky bass was well-weighted.
Although I felt that the DT 30 IE perhaps lacked the openness and nuance of pricier options, they still sound strong for the price.
And perhaps the main thing that grabs you about the DT 30 IE is their bass output. It’s meaty and dynamic, which is ideal for gigging situations or if you want to enjoy hard-hitting tunes to the max in a more casual capacity. In Kickin’ In The Beat by Lewis Taylor, I was struck by pumping low-end output, which didn’t obscure vocals or drums in the treble range — it’s punchy and fairly agile, making for an exciting listen.
Treble is clear and fairly controlled, though it could be more articulate and expressive. In Sing To Me by Ned Doheny, percussion in the treble range didn’t have the precise, bright quality that I was listening out for, with a slightly muted take. This wasn’t the case when I switched over to the Sennheiser IE 200, which offered better top-end clarity, and also provided a more natural interpretation of lead vocals.
So, it’s certainly a positive start overall for the DT 30 IE, but how do they compete elsewhere? In terms of features, there’s not a lot to run through. There’s no in-line controller with volume controls, which is more of a nice-to-have rather than an expectation for IEMs in my view. They also skip on interchangeable connectors, as seen on models such as the Activo Volcano, so you’re stuck with a 3.5mm option unless you purchase an adapter of some kind. But what I did like was the range of ear tips packed in, allowing you to find the ideal seal, no matter your ear size.
And when I got the right seal, I found that the DT 30 IE offered pretty solid passive noise isolation. Is it the best I’ve experienced? No — models with foam ear tips, such as the Shure Aonic 3 take the prize there. But I did find that sounds like typing and office chatter were dulled to a pretty commendable degree, and that’s going to be key for gigging musicians, for example. I also found that, with the right seal, the DT 30 IE were supremely comfortable and secure, making them ideal for longer listening sessions. They’re also nice and small, which I prefer over the chunky approach some rivals go for.
It’s also worth noting that the cable for the DT 30 IE is detachable, so you can swap this out for an aftermarket MMCX cable if you’d prefer. The cable itself is built to a really nice standard, though, and it produced next to no cable noise when I tried taking the buds on the go.
The IEMs themselves, however, don’t quite exude the same sense of premium build quality. They have a translucent look, enabling you to make out the drivers inside, but the casing feels a bit overly plasticky. I’m not expecting ultra-premium materials at this price point, but I do think some rivals in this price-range look a bit more luxurious — the Meze Audio Alba spring to mind.
So are the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE worth the money? Overall, I’d say yes. They provide good sound quality with impressive bass and solid clarity across the frequency range, as well as a lightweight and comfortable build, and decent passive noise isolation. All of that for $149.99 / £99 / AU$199 isn’t half bad.
What I would argue, however, is that you can get slightly more detailed, nuanced sound — and slightly better build quality — in this general price range. The Sennheiser IE 200 and Meze Audio Alba, in my opinion, offer superior performance at a very similar cost, and I’d suggest checking those out before pulling the trigger on the DT 30 IE, as good as they are.
Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review: price & release date
- List price of $149.99 / £99 / AU$199
- Released in June 2026
The Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE are priced at $149.99 / £99 / AU$199, meaning they’re certainly sitting in the affordable domain within the IEMs world.
I’ve personally reviewed a number of competitors in this range, including the Sennheiser IE 200, Meze Audio Alba, Activo Scoop, and Shure SE215.
The DT 30 IE were released in June 2026, and are available in a single white colorway.
Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review: specs
|
Drivers |
11mm dynamic |
|
Weight |
3g (per bud) |
|
Frequency range |
5Hz-20kHz |
|
Connectivity |
3.5mm |
|
Waterproofing |
IP54 |
Should I buy the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
Detachable cable and multiple eartips, only 3.5mm connectivity and no volume controls or anything. |
3.5/5 |
|
Sound quality |
Clear overall sound with meaty bass, but mids and treble sound more intricate from some rivals. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
Great quality cable and lightweight, comfortable feel — buds could look a bit more premium though. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
Tempting low price, and they earn it — but there are rivals that arguably offer better sound at a similar cost. |
3.5/5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE review: also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE |
Sennheiser IE 200 |
Activo Scoop |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$149.99 / £99 / AU$199 |
$149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95 |
$99 / £99 (about AU$140) |
|
Drivers |
11mm dynamic |
7mm dynamic |
1x 8mm dynamic, 2x 6mm dynamic, 2x balanced armature |
|
Weight |
3g (per bud) |
4g (per bud) |
5g (per bud) |
|
Frequency range |
5Hz-20kHz |
6Hz-20kHz |
20Hz-20kHz |
|
Connectivity |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C |
|
Waterproofing |
IP54 |
None |
None |
How I tested the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE
- Tested over the course of two weeks
- Mainly tested using Tidal
- Paired with Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000
I spent a couple of weeks using the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE, and hours upon hours listening to music. Typically, I had the DT 30 IE hooked up to the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 media player, though I did also try them out with my Windows laptop.
To begin with, I sifted through tracks in the TechRadar reference playlist, which features tunes from a wide variety of genres, but I also bumped a bunch of songs from my personal library. I also made sure to compare the DT 30 IE to affordable IEM rivals like the Sennheiser IE 200.
More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as an in-house Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve covered everything from portable DACs through to premium wireless headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, and have reviewed a number of IEMs, meaning I know exactly what it takes for a model to stand out in a competitive market.
Read the full article here
