Repair Beyerdynamics DT-880 Headphones Left/Right Speaker not working/quiet
Table of Contents
If one side of your Beyerdynamic headphones—like the DT 990 Pro, DT 770, or DT 880—stops working or the cable gets damaged, here’s how you can fix it:
Replacing a Damaged Driver #
If your driver is dead it’s fixable! You need:
- A replacement driver (e.g., Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250-ohm driver)
- A soldering iron
- A multimeter
- Screwdrivers
1. Take Apart Your Headphones #
- Gently pull off the ear pads with your fingers.
- Use a flat screwdriver to remove the plastic ring holding everything in place.
- Remove the foam filter and carefully take out the speaker housing.
2. Test the Driver #
- Use a multimeter to check if the wiring is working Ohm (Ω). If it shows nothing, it’s dead and needs replacing.
- You can also measure the driver itself by changing your multimeter to Ohm (Ω) and putting one tip on the far left contact and the other on the far right contact. You should get the Ohm of your driver (e.g. 32ohms, 250ohms or 600ohms)
3. Install the New Driver #
Blue Wire = Left channel
Red wire = Right channel
Copper wire = Ground
Or if newer Color:
White Wire = Left channel
Red wire = Right channel
Black wire = Ground
Be careful when soldering - if you heat it too long you will damage the driver inside. Solder hot and fast!
Also check out this Picture Guide
Variants of Beyerdynamic Drivers #
Beyerdynamic headphones come with different driver variants. Beyerdynamic drivers do not have consistent polarity within a model. Knowing the type you have is essential for repairs or modifications:
3-Pin Drivers:
- These are simpler drivers with three connection points.
- One side is marked to indicate the positive terminal.
6-Pin Drivers with 0…1 Markings:
- Marked/printed with “0” and “1” on the back.
- 0 = Ground/Negative, 1 = Positive.
6-Pin Drivers Without Markings:
- One side is marked to indicate the positive terminal.
Avoiding Phase Issues #
If you accidentally switch the “0” and “1” connections on the 6-pin drivers, your headphones will be out of phase. This will make the sound feel unnatural or “not right.” Use this phase test video to verify and correct the wiring if needed.
4. Reassemble Your Headphones #
- Place the new driver back into its housing. Make sure it fits snugly into the groove.
- Put the foam filter back on top, secure it with the plastic ring, and slide the ear pads back into place.
Damaged Cables? #
If your issue is with a broken cable, here’s how to fix it:
The headphone jack has three parts:
- Tip = Left channel (blue wire)
- Ring = Right channel (red wire)
- Sleeve = Ground (copper wire)
Or if newer Color:
- White Wire = Left channel
- Red wire = Right channel
- Black wire = Ground
Simply replace or re-solder any broken wires back to their correct positions.
Extra Resources #
Check out this awesome Guide to switch to XLR Cable for step-by-step instructions on adding a mini-XLR mod. Picture Guide