I have, as a part of a program called “Headphone Library” on Reddit. I didn’t really like them though I’ve written more of my thoughts here if you’d like to read them. You can also read more impressions by searching “Ether CX” in the search bar.
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Yes. I have a set. They are nice headphones at that price point. I recently bought a set of Focal Elegias. I’d suggest reading some reviews on those as well.
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I didn’t want to start a thread for this headphone as I don’t think it is available in the US and is also not really anything new, so I will post my review here.
As always, my review is also available in Spanish on my blog and YouTube (link in my profile).
Review of the Beyerdynamic Custom Studio
This review is upon request by one of the subscribers to Acho Reviews on Youtube. If you have seen any of the Youtube reviews, you will have seen these headphones as they appear in the intro and outro of every video.
I purchased the Beyerdynamic Custom Studio headphones around 2 years ago as an upgrade to the AudioTechnica M40x. At the time I had only recently become involved in the headphones game and my main reason for purchasing them was because I needed a set of closed back headphones for the office, this was because I was sharing an office at the time and I wanted to be as respectful as possible.
Until the time I purchased the Custom Studio, the M40x had been the only headphone I had really used to listen to music for extended periods of time, as before I only really used headphones as a tool when needed (in studio etc.). My intention with the purchase of the Custom Studio (CS) was to find something that was a step up from the M40x, in both sound and comfort, while still meeting my requirements for closed back and not breaking the bank in the process (there really weren’t that many options in closed back at the time and there still aren’t many in comparison to open back). I tried out a few models, including the Custom One Pro, but found the Custom Studio to be far better in comparison to the other models I tried.
Since I got the CS, I have been lucky enough to try out many other headphones and have a much better base for comparison, however, this also means that I may not be as excited by the CS now as I was back then.
Anyhow, let’s talk headphones!
Build and comfort…
I can’t talk about presentation as it has been a long time since I received them, so I have forgotten what was actually included and how it was presented. As far as I can remember it was the headphones, the cable and a carrying bag, but I may be wrong.
The headphones themselves are built very well, as is the case with almost every Beyer product I have tried. They are not on a par with things like the DT1990 Pro or the DT1770, but are still well assembled and use metal in the correct places, like the headband and yokes etc.
It is hard to tell if the actual cups are made of metal or plastic. If they are plastic then it is of good quality and looks like metal, if they are metal then it is very lightweight as the headphones are not heavy at all. I don’t know the exact weight but they are certainly lighter than the DT series.
The headband is covered in a faux leather material that is padded on the underside and is clipped together, allowing it to be easily removed if you wish. There are also 4 allen screws on each cup that allow the external part of the cup to be removed and the metal plate to be changed. Beyerdynamic sells custom plates that have all kinds of colours and designs on them but the price is not cheap, you could easily make your own or even paint these if you wanted to. Personally, I removed the plates once and turned them around and never got back to turning them back the other way.
In fact, the whole headphones are easily dismantled and makes them easy to repair if they are being used somewhere like in a studio environment where they may get abused.
The CS have the connection point on one side and use a proprietary 3.5mm connector, however, the proprietary part is just a small plastic tab that is easily removed if you want to replace the coiled cable that is included with the headphones. In fact, you can insert a small 3.5mm connector without any modification at all. Personally I like coiled cables, especially in studio environments, as it prevents many accidents and strain on the connectors or equipment they are plugged into.
As far as comfort, they are more than acceptable. The clamp force may be a little too much for some people but is not terribly tight. The pads are velour and have a large inside opening, adding to the comfort, however, the velour + closed back combination can become hot during extended listening periods.
Sound…
The important part of the review is the sound and one of the important parts of the sound of the CS is the bass slider. The bass slider is a small slider located under each cup which can be placed in one of 4 positions, the first being totally closed and the other having a different sized vent in each location.
This bass slider adjusts the quantity of bass presence in the headphones and, while it may seem like a cheap gimmick to sell headphones, it does actually work!
Here is a quick measurement of the CS with the bass slider in each of the four positions.
In general, I only really find the slider to affect the bass frequencies themselves, any other changes are not really noticeable while listening, probably due to the fact that my brain automatically focuses on the changes to bass levels.
In the fully closed position, the headphones have a noticeable roll off in the bass range, losing some of the extension into sub bass and also removing some of the warmth that is present in other positions. I really don’t use this position much due to the roll off, however, it does come in handy on certain tracks that may have too much bass in the recording. For example, if you would like to remove some of the overly present bass on “When The Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish, allowing you to focus more on her voice, then this position is capable of doing so.
In the second position, the smallest of the three holes, the headphones present a very neutral sound signature. I find this position to be my go to for the majority of time that I spend with the CS. It still has enough bass to present good extension into the subbass while keeping it tight and controlled. The remaining bass frequencies are also nicely balanced, allowing you to focus on any bass lines or other instruments in this range, without them clashing amongst themselves. On songs such as “New Life” by Swindle, this position allows you to appreciate the bass without it becoming overpowering.
The third position gives the CS a slight bass boost. The boost is not overly exaggerated but is noticeable. If we take something like the song “New Life” I just mentioned or “Royals” by Lorde, the hit of the bass is more pronounced and starts to have a slight bit of looseness to it. It doesn’t become overpowering, at least on the majority of music, but it does give you the impression that the subwoofer has been turned up.
The fourth and final position is a rather exaggerated bass boost. Here the bass starts to lose control and be a bit too present on lots of tracks, especially those that already have large amounts of bass in the recordings. For songs like “Sun Is Shining” I feel that the bass is too loose for my tastes. I think this setting may be appealing for those that like exaggerated bass on some music but in my opinion is overly boosted.
Moving on to the lower mids, it is quite impressive Beyerdynamic have managed to offer the 4 levels of bass without it affecting the low mids. There really isn’t any bass bleed to speak off, although on the highest bass boost setting, the looseness of the bass does make the lower mids seem a little overshadowed. The main reason for this is that there is a slight boost in the lower mids which helps as a ramp down from the lower frequencies when these are boosted and also works well to keep a nice presence of bass harmonics when they are on a more neutral setting.
As we move through all of the mids, they remain very neutral without any noticeable peaks or recesses. There is plenty of presence in voices but these never seem too harsh and other mid-centric instruments, such as electric guitars are clear and well defined.
Up in the higher registries, there is no real harshness, these headphones don’t become shouty or sibilant and manage to keep a very neutral overall sound signature. Typical sibilance tests such as “Code Cool” by Patricia Barber are very listenable with virtually no sibilance, however, songs that are not sibilant by nature do not come across as dull.
If I had to complain about any of the frequency ranges, I think it would be in the highest ranges, from where sibilance is found up to the very top where the CS seem to have a slight roll off. This can avoid music sounding harsh and overly bright but at the same time can sometimes leave the music feeling a little dull and in need of a little more shimmer and air.
This can particularly be an issue if using the CS for music production, for which they are intended. As the high end can be a little dull, it is easy to overcompensate when mixing and mastering, resulting in a track that may be harsh for others on other systems. This is not an exaggerated problem, I mean, they do a much better job than the majority of competitors, but is still something to take into consideration if purchasing these for production.
The speed with which these headphones resolve fast and busy passages is actually pretty impressive for a headphone in its price range. They are far from something like a Sundara or even a DT1990 Pro in this regard but still do a decent job.
As far as details, these are not the most detailed of headphones but are again above the majority of the competition in their price bracket. If you are used to hi-quality headphones then I don’t think that the CS will suddenly present you with details you have never heard before, but the do a good job of instrument separation and allow you to follow individual parts quite easily.
When I am working with the CS on assembling tracks, I find that switching the bass slider to the fully closed position helps me focus a little better on the nuances such as the way acoustic guitars etc.
Speaking of acoustic instruments, I find the timbre of the CS to be pleasurable and quite realistic. As mentioned earlier, I prefer the 2nd position of the slider to balance out the lows with the rest of the frequencies but when listening particularly to acoustic tracks such as “Free Fallin (live)” by John Mayer, the 1st position also works very well and allows his guitar playing to stand out.
As far as width and image placement, these are not terribly wide headphones but we do need to consider that they are a set of closed backs. The image placement is not bad, it gives a good feel for the location of instruments but is not really a possibility to pinpoint the exact location. Songs like “La Luna” by Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra are very pleasant but “Letter” shows a bit of a lack in placement moving between the left-center-right locations.
Conclusion…
I mentioned at the beginning that I purchased the Custom Studio as a step up from the M40x and I feel that they are. They are not a night and day difference but the improvement in quality, both in build and sound, are quite noticeable.
I have used these mainly in the office for music listening when I need to use a closed back, although I have also used them for a little bit of music production now and again, with decent results.
One of the main things that jumps out about these headphones are the bass sliders, something that I have only really seen on these and on the Custom One Pro. I only really used the Custom One Pro briefly when deciding between them and the Custom Studio but the latter was clearly superior.
It is impressive that the bass slider on the CS not only works, but also manages to clearly adjust bass levels without affecting the rest of the frequencies. These headphones can go from a neutral sound with a slight bass roll off, all the way to a clear L shaped sound.
The headphones are easily driven, although phones could do with a little more power to make these work the best, meaning that they can be used in the majority of situations without issue.
Personally I am quite fond of the Custom Studio and keep them in my office so I have a closed back option always available. I find that I really do use the bass slider, meaning it is more than just a gimmick to me at least, as I can increase or reduce the bass on a song by song basis with nothing more than a quick flick of my fingers. I may find myself listening to a neutral sound after lunch and become a bass head by late afternoon.
These are not the best headphones I have ever heard but I certainly don’t have any issues recommending them for their price, both for pleasure and production tasks. In a perfect world, I would prefer better imaging, a little more soundstage, a bit more detail and a little more shimmer up top, but then we wouldn’t be talking about a set of 130€ Beyerdynamics.
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Another excellent review @SenyorC. Great job.
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I have the x40. And use the Braiwavz pads. I find these headphones very muffled sound wise. I prefer the Koss Pro4S. https://www.koss.com/headphones/over-ear-headphones/pro4s. I can hear many more nuances in the recording with the Pro4s. They are like listening to a live performance in person.
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Just curious, have you touched or heard these in person? Asking because they look super cheap. I think they took the seatbelt out of a 1990 Toyota Celica and used it for the headband. I am a function over form person (by a lot). But these look like $99 Audeze or Audio Technica knock off headphones.
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The V-Moda M-200 is an over-ear dynamic driver headphones that retails for around $350. I received the M-200 as part of a review tour organized by V-Moda. V-Moda was one of the first audiophile-adjacent headphone brands I owned as I started getting more interested in headphones and hi-fi as a teenager. If you had told me then that I’d receive a loaned review sample directly from V-Moda to offer my thoughts and feedback on their headphones I would have been skeptical to say the least, so this was a really cool opportunity.
Unfortunately, the unit I received was a disappointing headphone with an essentially missing upper midrange, and I recommend approaching the M-200 with caution as a result. Though I typically do not comment on the reviews of others, it is worth noting that impressions by other Head-Fiers on the V-Moda M-200 have been distinctly mixed, and it is possible that there are production issues in play.
My full impressions are up on my blog:
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I agree wholeheartedly with your review. I had the Custom Studio for a good while and found them to be exactly as you describe them. Excellent review.
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I really like my DCA Aeon Flow Closed X. I prefer my Anandas, but during the summer with the the a/c and/or fans on all the time, open backed just won’t work. The DCA’s are light, VERY comfortable, and when EQed with Oratory’s settings for them, sound excellent. Even straight out of the box they are very good.
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My latest end game for closed backs is a 1-2 punch consisting of Focal Radiance and CFA Cascade’s.
Nice mix of pretty balanced with good bass (Radiance) and ALL the bass (Cascades).
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My Focal Elegia with Dekoni non-fenestrated sheepskin pads is what I wear at the computer. My AKG K361 with Dekoni leather pads is what I wear with my portable Blu-ray player.
My semi-closed Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany with Dekoni TH900 sheepskin pads gets a lot of time with my portable music players (when I’m not using one of my IEMs).
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New vid by DMS and Resolve tries to rank closed backs, including a number of new models for 2024. I’m not really in the market for a new closed back at this point. But still curious if others would agree with most of these rankings. And wonder what others look for in closed back headphones.
Some things I look for include…
SOUND QUALITY:
Low distortion
Good clarity
Good driver symmetry
Good stereo imaging
Good tonal/timbral balance
Neutral tuning
Smooth frequency response in mids and bass
Good extension in lower and higher frequencies
Consistency (sound doesn’t change significantly between uses)
Reliable, consistent sealing
Minimal cable noise, microphonic effects
No DSP, ANC, or Bluetooth
DESIGN / ERGONOMICS:
Good ergonomics
Comfortable earpads
Washable earpads
Good durability
Left/right reversibility (for checking driver symmetry)
Low clamping force
Reasonably low weight
Two-sided cables
Detachable cables
Replaceable parts
I don’t care as much about isolation and leakage for my purposes, but that would certainly be an important consideration for some other closed-back users. Especially if the headphones are being used in a studio or louder surroundings.
None of the lower end Shures, like the SRH 440, 440A, 840, and 840A, are included in this ranking btw. Not sure why, unless DMS and Resolve just haven’t listened to them. No Beats, JBL, Samsung, Bose, or other ANC/Bluetooth type headphones were included as well. 
So I guess these are just the passive wired (non-DSP) closed-backs for audiophile/enthusiast/studio nerds/listeners (which I am btw).
I wonder how the rankings might change if EQ could also be included in the equation to correct minor tonal/timbral balance issues.
There are many headphones on this list that I have not heard btw. But I have listened pretty extensively to both the K361 and K371. And would not rate them the same. I’m not a huge fan of either headphone. And would probably rank both lower than DMS and Resolve. But the K371 would be ahead of the K361 in terms of SQ imo.
The K361 is not a good sounding headphone in my book. And I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone for listening to music. It might be ok for listening to reviews and podcasts. But I still personally wouldn’t buy it for that. If you think you’re going to get similar sound quality and performance in the K361 to some of the other highly ranked closed-backs, then all I can really say is bless your sweet heart.
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I actually have a theory about this. The unit variation on the K371 and K361 is apparently worse than average. They should still all be within the realm of ‘good’, but it could be that DMS got a particularly good K361, vs your experience with it. Same for me actually, I found the K371 to be exceptional, but then again there could be ones that are notably worse.
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Thank you for the reply Resolve. And happy Xmas / nearly New Year! Your theory is an interesting one. But I listened to multiple units of both models at multiple stores, on multiple occasions, comparing them to other similar closed headphones (e.g. AKG K533, AT M50X, M40X, Beyer DT-770, Senn HD280 Pro…). So that’s what I’m basing my opinions on. This was over the course of several months during the pandemic.
The only way I could see your theory working is if AKG upgraded the drivers on the K361 to the same or similar titanium-coated drivers used in the K371 and K553, or something better, after all my listening tests. Or if there were different drivers in the shipped/sold units than in the demo units in stores. This doesn’t seem very likely to me (though I can’t rule it out entirely). At the time I listened to the K361, the drivers were simply not on par with the other AKGs, even though the tunings were somewhat similar.
I won’t go into the other issues of sealing, symmetry, ergonomics, durability, etc. But those would probably also weigh against both the K361 and K371 in my book. This does not mean that noone will like or enjoy these headphones though.
If there’s another ranking like this, it might be interesting to see a few more models by some of these mfrs included in the list: Audiotechnica (e.g. MSR7b), Austrian Audio, B&W, Denon (D5200, D7200, and anything newer), Meze, NAD, Shure (already mentioned in my post above), Sony, Yamaha.
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I wasn’t really the type of person who could enjoy Music much with closed back headphones, so the DT770 80 Ohm was the headphone I used when I needed it.
—————
Then Denon’s AH-D9200 came onto the market.
My Nr.: 5 The first to enjoy!
For me personally, these headphones embodied everything I expected from music:
The emotional, intense presentation of the artist’s intention.
The slamming bass of the biocellulose drivers did the rest to convince me of their qualities.
That’s why the 9200 in combination with the Mojo2 are still in my top 5 closed headphones to this day.
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My Nr.: 4 The natural one!
The Caldera is pure flow, everything sounds very natural, pure, precise and fluid in its representation, with a very clear bass foundation on which everything else is excellently built.
In combination with the components: Loxjie D50 and xDuoo TA20 Plus with Psvane tubes, it is a listening pleasure for hours.
—————
My Nr.: 3 The one you have to like!
The E3 is Dan Clark’s masterpiece.
All you need is a headphone amplifier with a “decent” output power, and you will be rewarded in terms of sound.
Together with the Caldera, it is certainly the most balanced in my top 5, and extremely comfortable and mobile, paired with the iDSD signature,
the most usable of all the devices listed.
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My Nr.: 2 The Unexpected!
I have already written everything about these headphones in the ZMF forum.
For me, they are the surprise of the year and by far the most used closed back headphones in my portfolio.
With the Bokeh paired with the Mojo2, I was able to convince even diehard open back headphone lovers.
A wonderful sound experience, every single time.
—————
My Nr.: 1 The one who makes you dependent!!
These headphones are not about perfect sound reproduction or outstanding measurements!
No, this is about pure emotion IN and FOR the music.
No other headphones are able to “grab” ME PERSONALLY and “abduct” me into the music as emotionally as the Atrium.
The spatiality offered, the deep rumbling bass, in contrast to the clarity in the highs, YEP.
And of course ZMF scores with the reproduction of voices, where Zach’s headphones, together with Sennheiser, offer some of the most natural reproduction.
With this Combo:
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In any case, I hope every Closed Back skeptics has a lot of fun topping this selection, mind you, not in terms of measurements and sound accuracy, but in terms of emotion and audibility.
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Very nice list and pics, Lothar_Wolf! Thanks!
My budget unfortunately wouldn’t allow me to choose most of the above at this time. So I wonder if you might have any “value picks” as well with a good combo of comfort, ergonomics, and sound quality.
Happy New Year to you as well!
The Sound Guys recently posted a review of the new Sony MDR-M1 btw. So I was kind of looking this over yesterday, and also checking out their 5128 measurements.
The earpads on the MDR-7506 are already too small for me, and the M1 pads appear to be the same size or slightly smaller in their photos. So doesn’t look like these would be a good fit for moi. The FR also reminded me a bit of the old Senn HD 280 Pro in some ways. Both of these headphones are a little flat in the ear gain region around 3k, and somewhat rolled off in the higher frequencies. The M1 appears to have plenty of bass, by contrast. But it also doesn’t rate that well in terms of distortion.
FR would probably be passable with EQ. But I like headphones with pretty low distortion as well, for better clarity, imaging, and tighter bass. This doesn’t look like it would be good fit for me though in any case, due to the small earpads. 
I suppose one good thing you could say is that it probably tones down a bit of the excess brightness in some spots on the older 7506. Maybe a bit too much though around 3k?
Nice list @Lothar_Wolf but I remain a skeptic and a tightwad, not willing to spend big bucks on what has previously always been disappointing. Now if you wished to educate me with a private headphone tour, I’d pay return shipping on your loaners.
If it’s possible to vinyl wrap a closed back, one might even be returned in red with a tasteful white cannon logo on the cup.
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If you are looking for a reliable solution, the DT770 Pro with 80 ohms would actually be my choice.
It is relatively easy to drive, very comfortable, lasts a lifetime as you can replace each part individually and have been able to get spare parts for decades, and it is extremely robust.
The sound is still above average in its class.
The FiiO FT1 may also be an alternative as it gets pretty good reviews, but I doubt whether it will last as long as a Beyerdynamic.
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Just plan your next vacation in Europe, it would be a pleasure for me to show you around, as you know that was once part of my job.
Then we can do a detailed hearing test of all my portfolio………….
AND finally You get to know good and successful football in the south of Germany……
