beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO 250 Ohm Open Dynamic Studio Headphones

Just received these this afternoon. I already own Amirons, DT 880s and DT 770s and Grado SR80s. I’m not a fan of Sennheiser, so anyone who is familiar with both Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser headphones will appreciate that this is a subjective review by someone who likes Beyerdynamic’s house sound. This review is my assessment of them purely for home use. There are obviously loads of reviews of the 990s on the internet, and although very popular they obviously divide opinion. I shan’t make out that these are for everybody, but I’ll add my three pennies worth here which might cut through the superlative laden ayes and the damning nays and help some people to make up their minds on whether or not to buy a pair (I dithered for far too long). When I was in my early twenties I might have found the Beyerdynamic sound too bright and analytical, but back then I could hear frequencies up to 20khz; not so now, at 63 my hearing tops out just under 14khz, so maybe this accounts for my later-in-life infatuation with the Beyerdynamic sound. Though I like most forms of music, the bulk of my collection veers towards acoustic music - classical, jazz etc - there’s also a fair bit of dub reggae, rock, EDM and so on (so, it’s basically Prince Far-I to Schubert, Aphex Twin to CSNY, Thelonious Monk to Joni Mitchell, Public Enermy to Spirit, Poppy Ackroyd to Bob Dylan - catholic, essentially). I’ve only had a few hours to make comparisons (Bill Withers, Thelonious Monk, Radio 3, Bill Charlap, Heart of the Congos, Lana Del Rey), but I think this has given me adequate opportunity to make a pretty accurate judgement of the characteristics and comparative merits of the 990s. I’ve been listening to them mainly through a Little Dot Mk 2 with a combination of Novosibirsk and Mullard 8100 valves (sourcing from a Cyrus Cd and Cyrus 8 DAC amplifier). I’m delighted with the 990s. They are neither shriekingly sibilant nor either lacking or over-endowed with bass. Compared to the other headphones that I own I would say that the 990s are nearest in sound to the 880s. Indeed, I think that they are very near sound-wise. The 880s are marginally more polished, but the difference (to my ears at least) is subtle rather than dramatic. I would suggest that the 990s are very good, cheaper alternatives to the 880s. The 880s clamp the head noticeably more lightly than the 990s, but the 990s are more secure on the head. Sound leakage is similar in both, so neither are good for listening to next to your sleeping partner (who hates going off to music and especially hates jazz) in bed unless you want a poke in the ribs. For this I have the 770s, which have a somewhat “fuller” or “fatter” sound than the other two. Leakage on the 770s is minimal at low to modest volumes. The Amirons (Homes) are, to my mind, decidedly more “musical” or “liquid” sounding headphones, very enjoyable for extended listening and very revealing, in comparison with those I would describe the 990s and 880s as rather “analytical” sounding and the 770s are somewhat “dryer” (I hope describing their sound as both “dryer” and “fatter” doesn’t sound like a contradiction in terms but I can’t immediately think of a better words to describe the sound). However, they’re all good and all have what you might call a “house sound” (i.e. a Beyerdynamic sound), although the Amirons depart furthest from this sound (which isn’t really very far at all) while the others might all be considered even more typical. The Amirons have a fuller, certainly pleasant and, I would say, slightly coloured bass by comparison, the bass on the 880s and 990s is leaner and, as far as I am qualified to judge, seemingly more accurate. Some people say that they both lack bass, but I don’t think this it true, it is most certainly there when it’s there! It may be that those who think they lack bass are listening to these headphones without suitable amplification. As goes the 770s, I’d say that their bass - in terms of weight - lies in the middle here, it is perfectly good but it is neither as accurate as on the 880s and 990s nor as pleasurable as on the Amirons. Sound stage is best, and very similar, on the 990s, 880s and Amirons. I wouldn’t say that there is any vastly significant difference here between these three headphones. The 770s, being closed-back, are noticeably more “closed-in” in terms of soundstage but, in terms of closed-back headphones per se they’re actually really rather good in this area; I’ve certainly not encountered a closed-back pair that are better (or indeed any other closed-back pair that I can actually bear - I personally much prefer open-back designs, for me the 770s are exceptions in this department). The 1770s may well be better, but I’m not about to fork out several hundred pounds more for those when I use closed-back headphones mostly for listening in bed via the headphone output of a Roberts radio. As regards comparison with the Grado SR 80s, the 990s and 880s are decidedly superior sounding, with the Grados sounding rather rough and uncouth by comparison (though this isn’t helped by the Grados comfort levels which are simply not in the same league - half an hour with Grado SR80 ear pads is sheer torture; consequently I’ve replaced them with Sennheiser HD414 ear pads which improbably (as, apart from being yellow, they don’t seem materially that different from the Grado pads) improve matters a fair bit and don’t noticeably change the SR80s sound). The Grados do sound more bassy, but this is definitely a matter of quantity rather than quality. Build quality on the Grado SR80s is also markedly inferior to that of the Beyerdynamics. I would retire the Grados at this point, but their 32 Ohm impedance makes them useful. They’re good fun, but they’re not good for extended listening sessions. The 990s and 880s with their 250 Ohm impedance definitely need amplification. I use a couple of Little Dot Mk 2s. The Amirons have the same impedance but are significantly more sensitive. For unamplified use I find the 770s a better match with their 80 Ohm impedance (they certainly work well with most Roberts radios of recent years, Roberts seem to have pretty good headphone circuits on their radios). Summing up, I think that the 990s are fantastic value for money (the Amiron Homes, which I love, are perhaps a clear case of diminishing returns by comparison). If you’re thinking of buying a pair of Beyerdynamics, want open-backed headphones, fancy the 880s from all you’ve read, but feel that the 880s are a stretch for you financially, then I think you’d be missing very little with the 990s in terms of sound). Originally, I had thought of purchasing Beyerdynamic’s new DT900 X headphones, but - reading the reviews, and knowing how much I already liked the sound of the 880s and 770s - I thought I’d save myself some money and get something that might not sound so hugely different for half the price and, beyond that, I actually prefer the look of the 990s. I don’t rule out considering the new series in future, but for now I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything that would be game-changing, although I admit I’m curious. As I have found repeatedly, however wild the superlatives I encounter in the reviews the actual differences between the last and the latest model of a particular piece of hifi is more often than not a matter of nuance. Whatever way you cut it, comparing the 990s with the highly regarded and (to me) very similar sounding 880s and the more refined, more relaxed, but four or five times more expensive Amiron Homes, they are still very good sounding headphones and first class value for money - assuming, like me, you like the Beyerdynamic sound. If you’re a Sennheiser fan you’d probably be barking up the wrong tree (but you know that already) and, if you’re a Beats fan, then presumably you’re already stone deaf. And then again, as goes highly regarded budget headphones, I reckon they knock the Grado SR80s into a cocked hat. But not everyone would agree with me. Anyway, I hope all that helps. Update, 28/1/22. I’ve now spent some more time listening to the 990s on a Little Dot Mk 2 with a combination of Novosibirsk and Radio Technique valves (sourcing from a Naim CD5 via a Rega Elex R). The Radio Technique valves are very similar to the Mullard 8100s I used at the top of this piece. Continued close listening has only confirmed my sense of how good these headphones are. On further consideration, with this set up, I’d say their sound signature lies between that of the 880s and the Amirons. I’d say they sound slightly “weightier” than the 880s and that the Amirons are a bit more so, but the differences here are more subtle than seismic. On careful comparison, after a few hours of listening, my overwhelming sense at this point is that, if you like open-backed headphones, like the Beyerdynamic sound and have a hankering for a pair of Amirons but either can’t afford them or can’t justify the expense, then you really wouldn’t be missing very much at all by just settling for a pair of 990s. By comparison they are a real bargain and, I think, in absolute terms they are quite simply one of the best bargains there is on the headphone market. One further point, on comfort, although the 990s have more clamping force on the head, I actually find them more comfortable than the Amirons as they fit my head better. Finally, as anyone who has read this far has already probably figured out, it has cost me quite a lot to reach my conclusions here. I think I have a reasonable sense of humour, but if you’re an audiophile sceptic then I guess I can understand why you may feel you’re getting the last laugh! I’m glad I own the Amirons, they are very nice headphones, but if I could only have one pair I must admit that I’d very happily settle for the 990s. Postscript, 31/1/22. On further reflection, it’s very good having several headphones all sharing a general character that I like, but each a little different from the others. Different music works best on certain headphones (for instance, listening to Beatrice Rana’s performance of the Goldberg Variations this morning I much prefer the rendition of her piano’s sound through the Amirons to that of the 770s (the piano sounding decidedly more lifelike through the Amirons), whereas with Thelonious Monk’s It’s Monk’s Time the difference is less obvious and, if anything, I’d say I actually prefer the 770s with their greater attack. But, different music is not all: different recordings, different source equipment, different mood of the listener ... however, it’s very quick and easy to change between modestly priced headphones during a listening session in order to optimise your listening experience (something you can’t readily do with expensive speakers, amplifiers, cartridges and so on).

These are hands down the best headphones that I've ever used. The soundstage is enormous, the clarity next level, I've paired them with a Fiio BTR5 and used both Spotify and tidal from my phone and they sound gorgeous whatever music you're feeding them. The treble is sharp, too sharp for some, but for me it just feels so natural, a big crash cymbal is supposed to be a jarring sound, and here it almost is. The bass is less pronounced than other headphones that I've used, but still absolutely crystal clear all the way down to the super low bass. You can't expect monstrous bass from open back headphones, but I've heard that the 770 pros ( which are essentially the same headphones underneath, just closed back) are absolute bass beasts so if that's what you're looking for then they may be a better fit. Obviously these headphones bleed sound like buggery and have about as much noise cancelation as a thin pillowcase, but as previously stated, this is a product of the open back design, so if it's an issue then 770's should solve that! These are quite tough headphones to run when in their 250ohm guise as my set is, which is why an amp/dac is required for these to sound any good. For me, that's the Fiio BTR5, which I've also reviewed on amazon (spoiler alert, it's very good.) but there are many options when it comes to amp/dacs so do a bit of research before you buy if you're unsure. On the other hand, there is an 80ohm version available, but the quality and soundstage takes a very slight hit so try to accommodate the 250ohm's if at all possible, you won't regret it! I have also started using these for gaming, for which they are faultless. In shooters I feel as if I'm in the battlefield, and I can place exactly where the sounds are coming from. Combine these with a decent modmic and you've got the best gaming headset you'll ever need, for not much money (compared to high end gaming headsets which sound like s*** anyway). Overall, without spending your whole salary on audiophile gear, these are probably the best headphones for critical listening. No they're not good for a busy train, or walking the dog, but for sitting in a quiet room, enjoying some fine music, nothing comes close for this money. I would recommend that everyone tries some high end headphones at some point in their lives, It changed how I saw music when I did, and I believe that these are some of the cheapest ways into that world. However, they may only be £110, but they're so good that it may start you down a very expensive path in the future, so be warned. 11/10 You'd be dumb not to get them.

I’ve used a lot of headphones over the years, and the DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm are one of those sets that have clearly stood the test of time. There’s a reason they’re everywhere in studios. But they are not for everyone. First, the sound. This is classic Beyerdynamic tuning — big, punchy bass, slightly recessed mids, and very energetic highs. The low end has real impact and extension, especially for an open-back, but it stays relatively tight. Midrange is clean but a bit pushed back. Vocals don’t sit front and centre, which works well for some genres, less so if you want that intimate vocal presentation. The highs… this is where opinions split. There’s a lot of detail and sparkle, but also a noticeable peak that can come across as sharp depending on the track and your source. With the right setup, it’s exciting and revealing. With the wrong one, it can get fatiguing. Technically, these are strong. The soundstage is wide and open, imaging is excellent, and they’re great for picking apart mixes or just getting lost in a track. You definitely get that “out of your head” feel. Comfort is excellent. Lightweight for their size, big ear cups, and those velour pads are genuinely great for long sessions. You can wear these for hours without any issues. Now the important bit: the 250 Ohm version needs proper power. Plugging these straight into a laptop or phone isn’t going to cut it. They scale noticeably with a decent DAC/amp, and without that, you’re not hearing what they can actually do. Build is solid and very “studio tool” — not flashy, but built to last. Bottom line: these are fantastic headphones if you pair them properly and you’re okay with the brighter top end. If you’re sensitive to treble or running straight out of weak sources, they’re probably not the right choice. Get the setup right though, and they’re still one of the best value open-backs out there. If you love the idea of the DT 990 but dont have a dac/amp with enough juice, go for the 80 ohm version

Fantastic product, no issues. Sound quality is great, just the right amount of sound penetration from outside but also not too much. Headset is a bit uncomfy when first use but with wear becomes incredibly comfortable. Plenty of wire length and very easy to untangle. Sturdy metal frame and design feels premium and strong.

Build Quality: Pretty good as long as you remember you are only dipping your toe into the high quality headphone segment. They are solid enough if a little plasticky. Sound Quality: Very good, with a nice wide soundstage. Bass is a little weak but that is probably understandable given the open back nature of these headphones. Unless you are a bass junkie I doubt you would be disappointed. Comfort: Very good. These are quite light headphones and the velour covered earpieces are a joy to wear. You will be able to wear these for many hours without feeling uncomfortable. Isolation: These are open back headphones, there is very little in the way of isolation. You can hear people speak to you or your phone ringing without any problems whatsoever. You didn't plan on using these on the train did you? In a work or home setting being able to hear what's going on around you, and engage in a conversation is a bonus. People sat close to you will hear what you are listening to, people in the next room will not. Other Features: Pretty much every part of these headphones is available to buy as a spare part. That means you should be set for many many years of service from these headphones. Driving the Headphones: If you plan on plugging these into a phone or a laptop/tablet then get the 32 ohm version, those devices don't really have the grunt to drive these headphones. I bought the 250 ohm version and have tried them on three devices... FiiO Olympus 2 DAC - Normal volume obtained at volume level 4, level 8 would be ear splitting. Easily capable of driving these headphones. FiiO X3 Gen 2 media player - Normal volume obtained around volume level 75. This player is just about capable of driving these headphones but with little in reserve. Denon RCB-M40DAB Receiver - Normal volume obtained around volume level 20. Easily driving these headphones and could probably drive the 600 ohm version if required.

Decent price and great headphones very crisp and clear sounding and comfy

I have owned a pair of Sennheiser HD-580 Precision headphones (they based on the original HD600, and use the same driver) for many years now, but having gone over from using Hi Fi separates, to computer based audio equipment, I have been longing for a slightly more powerful sound, something that has a little more impact and sparkle than my old HD-580s, which are a lovely sounding headphone. I was initially sceptical about these Beyerdynamic DT990 Pros, simply because of the low price, and the deep confusion that surrounds all the various different ohm ratings Beyerdynamic use across many of their ranges. It seems that the sound actually varies depending on which impedance rating you end up purchasing, as to if you will get too much treble, or too much bass, or deeply recessed mids. After spending much time reading many reviews and forums regarding the DT990 Pro, versus the DT770/880 Pro range, I settled on the 990 Pro 250 Ohm version, as it's hard to justify double the cost for the 32 OHM versions of these. After opening up the box, I was instantly reminded that the cable is of the coiled variety. This kind of reminds me of those big boxy headphones you could get in the 70's! However after actually using the headphones, the coiled cable is actually better for me than having nearly 3 meters of cable hanging on the floor in front of my computer, where I sit when listening to music. So, just to set the scene, the 990's are connected to my computer via an Objective2 headphone amp, with built-in ODAC, connected to the computer using USB. I use J.River Media Player v19, and have it set to directly connect to the ODAC at 24Bit & 44KHz Sample rate. I started out by having my trusty Sennheisers connected first, and listened to some music, just to give myself a reference point for the 990's. Then I quickly replaced the Senns with the 990s, and wow!!! To my surprise, the 990's actually sounded slightly louder, and had much better bass, and much more detailed upper mids and treble. The overall midrange was about the same as the Senns, so I was instantly in love with the 990's! They have a wider soundstage, as well as better positioning compared to the Senns, which kind of sound a little lifeless in direct comparison to the 990's. My o2 amp really got the Senns working as well as my old Hi Fi seperates used to, but they lacked impact in the bass, and always were a little dull sounding in the top ranges (the infamous Sennheiser veil at play!). These 990 Pro's just give me all that is best about the Sennheiser 580's, but improve on the bass and detail, making them a really good and balanced sounding headphone. I can only think that those who claim these 990 Pros have a recessed midrange are using either badly matching equipment, or just bad equipment in the first place. I find the bass on the 990's are very deep, rich and fast. They really brings out sub-bass nicely, but not in an artificial or bloated way, it really has to be heard to be understood properly! The upper bass notes are natural, tight and punchy, certainly not of the one note variety, which the Senns can tend to be with some music. The treble is definitely more present than my Sennheisers, but I would not call these artificially bright by any means, but it is fair to say that these headphones require a good quality headphone amp, something with a neutral sound. If your equipment is on the bright side, then these headphones may be a little revealing of that. I find the DT990 Pros to be very comfortable, and have a relatively low clamping force, slightly lower than all my Sennheiser headphones that I've ever owned, so I'm not sure why some people claim these headphones can be a little tight on the head, I almost wish they clamped a tiny bit harder! The velour earpads are really comfy, and very similar in feel to the Sennheisers. (sorry to keep comparing these phones to Sennheisers, but the senns are a gold standard, and twice the price of these, so I think it's fair to compare. I have not had a chance to try these with my iPhone 5, or my iPad 3 yet, but I think these headphones probably will not be efficient enough, and will lack volume, but when I get the time to try them out, I will update this review. The bottom line is that at £120, they are an absolute steal. I think you would have to spend more than 3 times this money to actually get something with a better sound. Maybe the Audeze LCD2 would be a nice, noticeable step up, but anything else would not really have the value for money factor that you get with the 990 Pros!

After years of using DT100s in my home studio for tracking I have also been using them for all my mixing. However they are way too tight to help prevent bleed that they quickly become very uncomfortable to use. I decided I needed to stop being so miserable and spend some money on a good set of mixing headphones. I did as much research as I could and asked around in audio forums to find out which were the best open back headphones for around £100. The unanimous answer was a resounding yes for the DT990 Pros. So that was me decided. When they arrived first glance made me think they looked a bit cheap and plasticky but they are OK. What is incredible is how comfortable they are. They are large cups that fully enclose my ears and the material is so soft. You can wear these for extended periods of time without any discomfort. I'm so carried away with the comfort that I almost forgot to mention how they sound. Compared to my DT100s these 990s are in a completely different league and a huge improvement in sound detail. The bass is more extensive, rich and fuller. There seems to be much more separation between instruments with each sounding more distinct. There is very little harshness to wear you down at long sittings. I've never used open back headphones before so was a bit taken aback at being able to hear room noises when in use. Just a newbie thing. My only concern is the fixed cable. My other headphones have plug in cables so if you accidentally roll over the cable with your chair it just pops out rather than break. In fairness though the 990s come with a short coiled lead which won't reach the floor anyway. The only real problem I have had with these phones is the impedance. When plugged into my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface it struggled to give full volume to the 250 ohm cans. I had to buy a headphone amp to boost the signal. (I bought the Behringer HA400 for only £25 which is excellent). The sound is now full and crystal clear. I seem to have waffled on a fair bit. The bottom line is that these are excellent sounding headphones. The best I have ever heard. Despite a couple of issues, I would highly recommend them.

Ho scelto le DT 990 Pro perché cercavo cuffie cablate di alta qualità per mixaggio, mastering e lavoro di editing audio, con un suono dettagliato e un comfort adatto a lunghe sessioni. Prima impressione Appena tolte dalla scatola, le cuffie trasmettono subito solidità e qualità costruttiva. Il design over-ear è comodo e avvolgente, con padiglioni morbidi e fascia regolabile che permette di trovare facilmente la giusta calzata. Il cavo singolo e la connettività cablata danno una sensazione di affidabilità professionale. Uso nella vita quotidiana Le utilizzo principalmente per mixaggio e ascolto critico in studio. Il suono aperto e dettagliato aiuta a percepire sfumature, bilanciamenti e frequenze basse, medie e alte in modo chiaro. Anche dopo ore di lavoro, i padiglioni rimangono comodi e non affaticano le orecchie. La resistenza di 250 Ohm richiede una buona scheda audio o amplificatore, ma in cambio si ottiene un suono molto preciso e neutro. Cosa funziona bene Suono dettagliato e preciso, ottimo per studio, mix e mastering. Comfort elevato grazie ai padiglioni morbidi e fascia regolabile. Design cablato robusto e affidabile. Costruzione di qualità “Made in Germany”. Adatte a lunghe sessioni senza affaticamento. Cosa convince meno Impedenza di 250 Ohm richiede un amplificatore adeguato per ottenere volume ottimale. Suono aperto: non isolano molto dai rumori esterni. Cavo singolo lungo, ingombrante se non gestito bene sulla scrivania. Conclusione Le beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro sono cuffie professionali perfette per chi lavora in studio e cerca precisione sonora e comfort. Ideali per mixaggio, mastering e editing, offrono un suono neutro e dettagliato, pur richiedendo attrezzatura adeguata per sfruttarne al meglio le potenzialità.

Ce casque ouvert est d'excellente qualité et très confortable. Le son est spatial, on entend bien tous les détails d'une musique (et même parfois ses imperfections, ce qui me convient parfaitement pour mon utilisation). Un casque d'une telle impédance nécessite forcément un amplificateur, sinon vous ne pourrez pas profiter au maximum de ses capacités, et surtout, le son risque d'être trop faible. Ce n'est donc pas un casque qui conviendra à une écoute sur smartphone par exemple. Les aigus bénéficient d'une surbrillance que je considère comme étant très poussée. Cela ne peut pas forcément convenir à tout le monde, et vous remarquerez que les avis à ce sujet varient d'une personne à une autre (Mais aussi de l'âge de l'utilisateur, puisque nous perdons naturellement notre sensibilité d'écoute des fréquences hautes avec le temps). Pour ma part, utilisant ce casque sur un ordinateur, je suis obligé de me servir d'un égaliseur pour réduire les aigus, sinon je ne serai pas en mesure de supporter ce casque trop longtemps. Le processus d'égalisation, réalisé à l'aide d'un logiciel en temps-réel, le rend parfait selon moi. Il faut aussi un petit temps de rodage pour s'y habituer. Le fait qu'il soit ouvert signifie aussi que votre entourage pourra entendre ce que vous écoutez, pas forcément de manière excessive, mais c'est suffisant pour empêcher une personne de dormir si elle se trouve dans la même pièce que vous. C'est le principe d'un casque ouvert. Mais en contrepartie, cela vous permet d'entendre les bruits autour de vous (si quelqu'un vous appelle à une certaine distance, etc), et c'est exactement ce que je recherchais, ne pouvant pas supporter les casques fermés qui donnent l'impression d'être enfermé dans une "bulle".

This was, most certainly, not an impulse buy on my part but rather the result of a very long search for a good all-around open-back headphone, light and comfortable, with near reference sound quality (yet not overly analytical) and a reasonable price. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently not, since that search led me here: to the Beyerdynamic DT990-Pro-250. Now, for those who are curious (as I was) about that extra "AMS" label as seen here on this Amazon listing: the AMS stands for "American Music and Sound" - this is the US pro-audio distributor of Beyerdynamic. So the AMS is just an unnecessary marketing label - there is just one type of DT990-Pro, which is this one, regardless whether you buy it in North-America, Europe, Asia, etc. That aside, let me start off with the build quality: The DT990-Pro is made entirely of ABS plastic, save for the headband and the forks holding the cans, which are made of metal (aluminum, I'd say, from the weight of it). The head-band is covered with a soft black plastic material held in place by four small clasp-buttons. The DT990-Pro is surprisingly light and extremely comfortable (in this it rivals the other "most-comfortable" headphones I have here, the Sennheiser HD-598). Overall I'd rate the build quality as top-notch, save for the somewhat under-designed cable strain relief (located on the left can). The cable is about 3m log, it is coiled and it ends with a 1/8in jack. A screw-on 1/4in jack is also provided. The strain-relief of the cable at the can attachment point seems (to me) a little too small because the coiled cable is very heavy and with use (given sufficient time) I can see it failing and leading to cable/connectivity issues. Also (this is just a minor personal quibble) the silver velour pads may seem dirty depending on how the light hits them (but again, no big deal, especially since black-velour or leather pads for it are available on Amazon or elsewhere). On to sound quality: Computer/audio gear used during my listening tests: MacBook-Pro w/ Mac OS X 10.6.8 XMOS USB 2.0 Audio Reference Design Asynchronous DAC (44.1-192kHz/24bit), HiFiMeDIY Sabre USB DAC (32-96kHz/24bit), Matrix M-Stage Headphone Amp, FiiO E12-Mont Blanc Headphone Amp Beyerdynamic DT990-Pro Open Headphones (250 ohm, 96dB/mW) Audio-Technica ATH-A900 closed-back headphones (40 ohm, 101dB/mW), Superlux HD-681 semi-open headphones (32 ohm, 98dB/mW), and Sennheiser HD-598 open headphones (50 ohm, 100dB/mW). Playback software: Audacity, iTunes, VLC Source quality: standard CD 44.1kHz/16bit, and native HD 88.2-96kHz/24bit Audio cables: 3.5mm to RCA (3ft), and RCA-to-RCA (3ft), AUVIO and Monoprice brands The Sound (overall conclusion both DACs/HP-Amps): Good dynamics, detail and clarity, well staged and with good imaging. In terms of frequency response these headphones are tuned such as to emphasize/boost the low and high ends. Perhaps the best way to summarize the DT990-Pro sound by comparison with the other three headphones I have here would be this: The DT990-Pro nearly matches the Superlux HD681 in bass impact without sacrificing dynamics, it easily matches the Sennheiser HD598 in mid-range sparkle, staging, and imaging, and gives the Audio-Technica ATH-A900 a good run for the money in terms of highs extension. The closest of my other headphones in terms of overall SQ would be the Sennheiser HD598. However, despite the slightly more neutral presentation of the Sennheiser's, I find the DT990-Pro sound far more preferable. The DT990-Pro has a much better low end, and has smoother, more extended highs without that slight veil characteristic to Sennheiser headphones (clearly the Sennheiser HD-598 are decent cans but somehow I could never get too excited about their sound, hence my search for a different pair of open-back headphones). Also, the DT990-Pro manages to present the high end with what I'd call more "precision" than the ATH-A900 without sounding as grainy, and with just as much aplomb as the Superlux without sounding as (excessively) bright. Note: The DT990-Pro are both high impedance (250ohm) and relatively less efficient than the other cans I mentioned here (they only manage 96dB/mW) and thus amping is a must for anyone wishing to get the most out of them. For instance, my iPod Shuffle 1-st Gen (max output: 0.57Vrms) cannot drive them to any reasonable listening level (without severe clipping) and only manages a lifeless, distorted, garbled presentation, while the MacBook-Pro sound card (1.4Vrms) drives them to sufficiently loud levels but with pretty obvious distortions (for an overall harsh, fatiguing presentation.) Based on my experience with such sources I would not recommend these cans for use with portable devices without a proper amp. Also to note: the DT990-Pro do require at least 8-10hr of initial break-in to start sounding right (before that the sound is overly bassy, and somewhat unfocused/cloudy). As of this writing I have 30-35hrs on it and for sound quality I'd break things out like this: Bass Extension: 6/10 Bass Impact: 7/10 Bass Texture: 7/10 (solid) Mids Quality: 7.5/10 Highs Extension: 8.5/10 Highs Quality: 8/10 (vivid) Highs Texture: 7.5/10 (soft) Detail/Transparency: 8/10 (clear) Dynamics: 8.5/10 (natural) Soundstage: 8/10 Imaging: 7/10 Other: Isolation: 2/10 (open design) Comfort: 9/10 Design/Aesthetics: 9/10 (classic Beyerdynamic design) Build quality: 9/10 Portability: 5/10 (fairly large size) Improvement w/ Amplification: 8.5/10 (Note: Amping is recommended!) Value at MSRP: (9/10) [I gave it a 9/10 here only because, by comparison, the $30 Superlux HD681 is still a better bang for the buck!] To conclude, the Beyerdynamic DT990-Pro are near reference headphones which sacrifice some neutrality for the sake of a more natural sounding, or rather, a more fleshed-out acoustic presentation. As far as I'm concerned, it suffices to say that the DT990-Pro is the only headphone I have here that I can listen to (with any kind of music) without EQ and not feel that I might be missing something (and that, I think, says a lot). All in all, a remarkable offering from Beyerdynamic, highly recommended!

Debo empezar por mencionar que poseo, y uso a diario, los BeyerDynamic DT770. Escucho muchos generos de musica: Electronica, Vaporwave, New Retro Wave, Metal, Rock, Clasico, Japanese City Funk de los 70s/80s, J-Rock, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Dance, Heavy Rock 80s... Bastante variado como podran ver. Estos DT990 los estoy escuchando a traves de una tarjeta de sonido externa USB Creative X-FI Titanium HD Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium HD - Tarjeta de sonido (USB, - Creative Media Toolbox - Creative Console Launcher - Entertainment Console, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz) la cual funciona como DAC/ADC/AMP y amplifica audifonos de hasta 300 Ohms de impedancia, suficiente para estos 250 Ohms. Construccion Los audifonos se sienten BASTANTE solidos. Igual que los DT770, si se te caen, no sientes como se te sale el alma del cuerpo. Son resistentes y aguantan la vida dura. Comodidad Poco mas comodos que los DT770. Las almohadillas de Velour son muy comodas y proporcionan un buen espacio entre el oido y el driver, dando al sonido un poco mas de espacio para rebotar en el canal y llegar con mas "boom" al oido. Bajos: Los DT990 me sorprendieron en este departamento. Tan pronto me los puse y reproduje una cancion quede IMPRESIONADO. No esperaba tanto bajo y con tal definicion, de unos Open-Back. Sub-bass y Mid-bass muy presentes y con bastante calidad. Claro, no tienen tanto sub-bass como los DT770 (que son Closed-Back), pero aun asi tienen y la verdad esta muy bien definido. Medios: Muy similares a los de los DT770. Un poco retraidos pero aun asi muy presentes. No dejan nada que desear, pero aun asi le aumente 1 a 2 decibeles en el ecualizador. Altos: Muy fuertes, demasiado diria yo. Tuve que ecualizar para reducir estos porque con ciertas canciones lastimaban mi oido. Una vez ecualizados fue una experiencia mucho mejor. Tienen bastante claridad. El Heavy Metal se escucha mejor en estos que en los 770. Soundstage: Muy amplio como es de esperarse de unos Open-back. Los comparo con los DT770, los cuales son famosos por tener uno de los soundstage mas amplios en audifonos Closed-back: El soundstage es similar, muy amplio, pero en estos 990 se escucha mas... Abierto? Como si el tamaño del soundstage fuese el mismo, pero en los 990 se siente menos claustrofobico. Para los videojuegos son mejor que los 770 pues siento que los sonidos que vienen de arriba o abajo se posicionan mejor que en los 770. En cuanto a amplitud, diria que es lo mismo. Tienen bastante razon de parecerse a los 770. Despues de todo son practicamente los mismos drivers y construccion, solo que unos son Open-back y los otros Closed. Altamente recomendados para escuchar musica, y para jugar videojuegos por su excelente soundstage. Compren un buen DAC/AMP y a disfrutar.

Beyerdynamic 990 DT pro 250ohm These headphones are easily my favorite for home use. This is my second pair. First pair which I still have in use is 3rd year owning it. Love them so much I bought this second set so I don't ha r to keep moving them around home. -extremely comfortable with velvety ear pads that completely surround the ear and do not touch the ear. I can wear this for hours upon hours. -very lightweight so it doesn't feel too exhausting over time -sound quality is second to none at this price tag ( got it for 230 here !). It is an open back headphone so it sound stage is extremely wide and you don't feel like you're enclosed. I well mixed stereo album sounds tremendously full and wide. No closed ear design can possibly match this. It is a similar experience to open back grado headphones.... Except grado is the worst in terms of comfort. By the way.... Open back isn't good for office usage due to obvious reasons of sound leaking out . -Crisp highs, without being harsh .. straight out of the box without much break in time. Well balanced mid and lows without sounding DJ bassy nor booomy and muddy. Very tight fast sound for all types of music. The best for me is listening to acoustic unplugged style albums such as Sarah McLachlan , Norah Jones and the like. - this versions comes with coiled Cable and isn't interchangeable. Unfortunate. I prefer straight cable without coil. That is my only negative feedback for this particular headphones. I can't say enough how amazing these sound for the price. Highly recommended from me.