The DT 990 Edition headphones for the home and the DT 990 PRO studio headphones: Both are identical in sound. Identical sound transducers are used. However, the edition models have a slightly softer headband for music enjoyment at home while the Pro model sits somewhat tighter on the head, in order to stay in position with frequent movements during a studio session. In addition, the PRO version is delivered with a spiral cable and the edition version with a straight cable.
Construction Type
Closed (strong noise isolation)
Semi-Open (low noise level)
Open (noise escapes)
Sound
Prominent bass, less spatial, transparent, detailed
Neutral, relaxed, relatively spatial, more restrained bass, transparent
Balanced bass and treble, analytical, very spatial, transparent
Cable (length and type)
16 Ohm: 3 m straight cable, 32 Ohm: 1.6 m straight cable, 80 Ohm: 3 m straight cable, 250 Ohm: 3 m coiled cable
Excellent but coiled cable cannot be braided with a clip on mic cable Fantastic headphones for studio monitoring, and also for listening to music and gaming.
Be advised that if you intend to use a clip on mic to turn these into a gaming headset, you will not be able to braid the microphone cord with the cord from these headphones as the cord is coiled. I’d recommend the regular DT990s for that as they have a straight cord. That’s my only regret really, although I’ve since setup a proper microphone and I’m glad of the coiled cable now
German Engineering at its Best! For my first pair of open back headphones they are more than I could ever ask for. They’re super comfortable so far and I can wear my glasses with them comfortably which is a huge bonus to anyone who knows the struggle!
I will say they are rather flat across their soundstage so not bass-heavy at all, but they are absolutely wonderful for more instrumental music. So I will have to say these are not so much for headbanging music, but more so for a relaxed or chill type of genre if you’re looking for a specific sound.
You will need to pair these bad boys with an amp because of the 250 ohm resistance, but it makes a worlds difference.
The headband is metal with great padding so I’m not worried about the build at all. Plus the earpads and headband padding are both replaceable so these will last you quite a while.
German Engineering at its Best! For my first pair of open back headphones they are more than I could ever ask for. They’re super comfortable so far and I can wear my glasses with them comfortably which is a huge bonus to anyone who knows the struggle!
I will say they are rather flat across their soundstage so not bass-heavy at all, but they are absolutely wonderful for more instrumental music. So I will have to say these are not so much for headbanging music, but more so for a relaxed or chill type of genre if you’re looking for a specific sound.
You will need to pair these bad boys with an amp because of the 250 ohm resistance, but it makes a worlds difference.
The headband is metal with great padding so I’m not worried about the build at all. Plus the earpads and headband padding are both replaceable so these will last you quite a while.
Amazing Value I didn’t really enjoy music before buying these but once I got them I realised the amount of details and instruments that I have been missing out on. The sound stage is incredible and makes music truly enjoyable. Best 105 ever spent. The noise leaks from the headphones but that was to be expected and allows for a much more natural sound. Tempted to get the dt 770’s so that I can also enjoy music in public without people hearing my music.
Amazing Value I didn’t really enjoy music before buying these but once I got them I realised the amount of details and instruments that I have been missing out on. The sound stage is incredible and makes music truly enjoyable. Best 105 ever spent. The noise leaks from the headphones but that was to be expected and allows for a much more natural sound. Tempted to get the dt 770’s so that I can also enjoy music in public without people hearing my music.
Best headphones in this pricerange, but be careful with 250 ohms! These headphones are excellent for the price, but there’s a few things to keep in mind before shopping:
If you’re a basshead, avoid these, as the bass reponse is more neutral (doesn’t lack in the bass, it’s well balanced, it’s just not that ‘right in your face’ overwhelming type of a bass), as you would find on a near-field monitor speakers, don’t expect that sound anyway from an open back headphone…
If you’re planning to use it in a busy family environment, it’s not the best choice because the sound is leaking – again, open back, no surprises.
They are 250 Ohm – you can drive them with a macbook or a cheap soundcard, as the other reviwers stated, but you don’t know what you’re missing, until you hook it up with a proper headphone amp. Mobile phones are also out of the equation, they just simply don’t have the power to drive these cans. (maybe the G series LG phones with their dedicated built in DAC)
First i tought i can drive them with my Scarlett Solo audio interface – tho they did the job, there was no headroom left, i had to crank it all the way up to have *slightly* loud sound. Also the highs were way too harsh for my ears. So i ended up ordering a dedicated headphone amp/preamp from Schiit Audio (i know, it’s a funny name, but they are making some of the coolest stuff for audiophiles) the Magni 3. My signal chain is the following now: my main AM4 based PC-Scarlett Solo-Schiit Magni 3 – Presonus Eris 3.5 – with this setup the DT 990 Pro finally came alive, and they are delivering an amazing sound, MUCH better than the Scarlett itself. The highs are not that harsh anymore, the sound stage is spot on, the bass got tighter, and the headroom is just crazy. Maybe just a placebo effect, but i think the highs are getting smoother as i am using these headphones every day (i’m not a huge believer of break-in times on speakers/headphones). The only downside for me is the cable – it’s not changable unfortunately, very heavy, and it doesn’t seem that sturdy at the connection point, hopefully they don’t break too soon… The comfort is next level, ideal for long sessions.
All in all, these cans are incredible value for the price, highly recommended for anyone who wants an entry level audiophile headphone.
Even better than my Sennheiser HD650's. What can i say about these headphone’s. Probably the best sounding pair i’ve ever owned. The bass is astounding and the high’s are nice and crisp without being too overbearing. If you could ever be in love with an inanimate object then these would be them. So so good.
Even better than my Sennheiser HD650's. What can i say about these headphone’s. Probably the best sounding pair i’ve ever owned. The bass is astounding and the high’s are nice and crisp without being too overbearing. If you could ever be in love with an inanimate object then these would be them. So so good.
Absolute bargain! I bought these headphones with the intended use of music production in mind. I’m not a professional, but I do have experience in audio engineering. My first impression of these headphones was, “Wow, how are these only 100ish”.. For the price, I was really blown away. The detail in both the top and bottom end is stellar. I use Adam A5X monitors combined with the Adam Sub8. But for scenarios where you don’t have something like that available, I found these headphones to be my go-to alternative.
Some people may suggest to use an external SoundCard/Headphone Amp to really get the most of them (because of their 250ohm impedance), however, my MacBook Pro 2015 hasn’t had any problems with outputting the right levels. Neither has my Focurite 2i2 external SoundCard.
The headphones can go reasonably loud while maintaining what sounds like an accurate frequency response without distorting, if they are; it’s subtle and I haven’t noticed – correct me if I’m wrong.
Talking Music Production, and this is just one example – I found processing reverbs with rich airy “shimmering” content, sounded amazing and crystal clear, the stereo image is incredible and you can easily tell when you’re over compensating mix down and sound design effects.. you can really dive in deep. To give this comment some context, I’m using Fab Filter Pro-R and Valhalla DSP reverbs with Izotope’s Imager and Waves S1.
The bottom end is really responsive, maybe a little too responsive, but I’ve not had any issues with over doing it dramatically. Although I do use spectrum analysers while I mix to get a visual representation, but once you get used to these headphones, it all becomes very natural anyway.
The above is just an example of my experience with these headphones, like anything, it’s subjective, but I’ve had mine for a while now and I happily give them a 5/5.
My only advice would be, to just keep an eye on your volume levels while using these for mixing purposes, you’ll get the most out of them mixing at quieter volumes rather than louder – and that goes for both headphones and speakers really.
Absolute bargain! I bought these headphones with the intended use of music production in mind. I’m not a professional, but I do have experience in audio engineering. My first impression of these headphones was, “Wow, how are these only 100ish”.. For the price, I was really blown away. The detail in both the top and bottom end is stellar. I use Adam A5X monitors combined with the Adam Sub8. But for scenarios where you don’t have something like that available, I found these headphones to be my go-to alternative.
Some people may suggest to use an external SoundCard/Headphone Amp to really get the most of them (because of their 250ohm impedance), however, my MacBook Pro 2015 hasn’t had any problems with outputting the right levels. Neither has my Focurite 2i2 external SoundCard.
The headphones can go reasonably loud while maintaining what sounds like an accurate frequency response without distorting, if they are; it’s subtle and I haven’t noticed – correct me if I’m wrong.
Talking Music Production, and this is just one example – I found processing reverbs with rich airy “shimmering” content, sounded amazing and crystal clear, the stereo image is incredible and you can easily tell when you’re over compensating mix down and sound design effects.. you can really dive in deep. To give this comment some context, I’m using Fab Filter Pro-R and Valhalla DSP reverbs with Izotope’s Imager and Waves S1.
The bottom end is really responsive, maybe a little too responsive, but I’ve not had any issues with over doing it dramatically. Although I do use spectrum analysers while I mix to get a visual representation, but once you get used to these headphones, it all becomes very natural anyway.
The above is just an example of my experience with these headphones, like anything, it’s subjective, but I’ve had mine for a while now and I happily give them a 5/5.
My only advice would be, to just keep an eye on your volume levels while using these for mixing purposes, you’ll get the most out of them mixing at quieter volumes rather than louder – and that goes for both headphones and speakers really.
EDIT 2 Years: Highly recommend for music and gaming Edit: I’ve had these just over 2 years now, I gotta say these are an amazing piece of drivers. I’ve tried a few and I always come back to these. They’ve been my favourite headphones I’ve ever owned. I highly recommend picking these up.
My DT 990 Pro just arrived today and to say the least, I’m incredibly impressed. The sound quality is amazing, the build quality feels expensive and they’re very comfortable
But be sure you can power these as they’re 250ohm! I don’t do any audio mixing myself but I’m pretty serious about audio, so glad I got these.
In games you pick up so many tiny details so very helpful for listening for footsteps.
Definitely recommend these!
EDIT 2 Years: Highly recommend for music and gaming Edit: I’ve had these just over 2 years now, I gotta say these are an amazing piece of drivers. I’ve tried a few and I always come back to these. They’ve been my favourite headphones I’ve ever owned. I highly recommend picking these up.
My DT 990 Pro just arrived today and to say the least, I’m incredibly impressed. The sound quality is amazing, the build quality feels expensive and they’re very comfortable
But be sure you can power these as they’re 250ohm! I don’t do any audio mixing myself but I’m pretty serious about audio, so glad I got these.
In games you pick up so many tiny details so very helpful for listening for footsteps.
Definitely recommend these!
Very comfortable recommend for long gaming sessions Great headphones comfort is 10/10 I can wear them for long gaming sessions and it doesn’t heart my head sound is great when I first put these on and loaded up a game It did seem like the treble was to high and it hert my ears but I got a sound card and that fixed that so overall RECCOMEMD if you are in the market for a new headse
Very comfortable recommend for long gaming sessions Great headphones comfort is 10/10 I can wear them for long gaming sessions and it doesn’t heart my head sound is great when I first put these on and loaded up a game It did seem like the treble was to high and it hert my ears but I got a sound card and that fixed that so overall RECCOMEMD if you are in the market for a new headse
A joy to my ears, and my walle Let me start off by saying I’m no professional audio engineer. So these headphones are some of the best I’ve ever used. Whether I’m using them for production, listening to music or gaming they are always a joy to use. I ran a few tests on them and they did perfect on every one with one exception being the driver rattle test which they did actually rattle at low frequencies but I have not noticed this outside of the actual test so I’d say they perform perfectly in normal use cases. But my favourite part about these are not the flawless sound but the comfort. For anyone that’s used over ear headphones for an extended period will know that after an hour or so your ears will hurt red raw. But these are so light and so comfortable I can wear them all day without much of any problems. Truly a joy all around. And let’s not forget that these might be by far the best in the price range and maybe even above it. It is worth mentioning though you will need a beefy amp if you want to really get the most of them.
A joy to my ears, and my walle Let me start off by saying I’m no professional audio engineer. So these headphones are some of the best I’ve ever used. Whether I’m using them for production, listening to music or gaming they are always a joy to use. I ran a few tests on them and they did perfect on every one with one exception being the driver rattle test which they did actually rattle at low frequencies but I have not noticed this outside of the actual test so I’d say they perform perfectly in normal use cases. But my favourite part about these are not the flawless sound but the comfort. For anyone that’s used over ear headphones for an extended period will know that after an hour or so your ears will hurt red raw. But these are so light and so comfortable I can wear them all day without much of any problems. Truly a joy all around. And let’s not forget that these might be by far the best in the price range and maybe even above it. It is worth mentioning though you will need a beefy amp if you want to really get the most of them.
Gamer's review and first step into high quality sound As the title states, i am means considering my self as a an Audiophile, i do have quite the hearing ( used to play in a band) but this headset just ticks all the boxes.
Sound Quality : whatever been said in any reviews ( i assume you did when looking at high end headphones) is true, the clarity of the sound, the crispiness , crystal clear, the sound stage ( for FPS gamers) is very well present and precise , small example ( in overwatch , in the training field, i did notice bullets casing from Ashe after shooting, which was surprising for me as i didn’t pay attention to it before, maybe coincidence, ) the point is ,these headphones give you the edge you are looking for in FPS competitive environment.
Build Quality : German made
DAC/AMPS : i have an Asus Rog Maximus hero X comes with ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 which can drive theses bad boys, as per the spec sheet, i am yet to give a long term use review but this is just my initial review ( compared to a one week use of the DT 770 pro 80 Ohm ( the isolation is just too much )
if you are a gamer and looking to use them for music ( mp3) and movies, the motherboard Sound Chip is more than capable (if it is from latest Mobo that is ) , but if you are into high-end sound production and you want to use the headphones to their fullest , then an external solution maybe is good for you .
Comfort : one of the most comfortable headphone out there,feel like a brand new winter Hat on your ears, it a bit tight at first ( i have big head) but leave it on it own box overnight and this should release the tension and you will get used to them.
overall :
this is a MUST have if you are a gamer/ like music/like decent sound and want to step up your game in the Audio department, i’m going to buy one from my little brother for sure !
i do not usually make such long reviews , but i spent the last 20 days testing headphones ( DT770/ DT990 premium )
so i hope my review help someone to decide 🙂
Gamer's review and first step into high quality sound As the title states, i am means considering my self as a an Audiophile, i do have quite the hearing ( used to play in a band) but this headset just ticks all the boxes.
Sound Quality : whatever been said in any reviews ( i assume you did when looking at high end headphones) is true, the clarity of the sound, the crispiness , crystal clear, the sound stage ( for FPS gamers) is very well present and precise , small example ( in overwatch , in the training field, i did notice bullets casing from Ashe after shooting, which was surprising for me as i didn’t pay attention to it before, maybe coincidence, ) the point is ,these headphones give you the edge you are looking for in FPS competitive environment.
Build Quality : German made
DAC/AMPS : i have an Asus Rog Maximus hero X comes with ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 which can drive theses bad boys, as per the spec sheet, i am yet to give a long term use review but this is just my initial review ( compared to a one week use of the DT 770 pro 80 Ohm ( the isolation is just too much )
if you are a gamer and looking to use them for music ( mp3) and movies, the motherboard Sound Chip is more than capable (if it is from latest Mobo that is ) , but if you are into high-end sound production and you want to use the headphones to their fullest , then an external solution maybe is good for you .
Comfort : one of the most comfortable headphone out there,feel like a brand new winter Hat on your ears, it a bit tight at first ( i have big head) but leave it on it own box overnight and this should release the tension and you will get used to them.
overall :
this is a MUST have if you are a gamer/ like music/like decent sound and want to step up your game in the Audio department, i’m going to buy one from my little brother for sure !
i do not usually make such long reviews , but i spent the last 20 days testing headphones ( DT770/ DT990 premium )
so i hope my review help someone to decide 🙂
A+ Im not an expert on Audio far from it so ill keep this brief and simple. They are super comfortable and your be hard to find a pair of headphones that are more comfy, The sound is extremely good and coming from Grados SR80es i would say they sound better with better bass. The headphones are that sensitive, (dont know the technical term) that if you are listening to a poorer quality film MP3, video clip from a camera etc and these formats arent the best in quality then these headphones will pick up on that so something to think about if your picky. For music gaming films they are superb in every sense for me anyway.
Please be aware you will need a headphone amplifier or a soundcard to drive these headphones because of the high independence of 250 ohms, it is much higher than 95% of headphones around.
Overall i would give these 9 out of 10, and to compare my Grados SR80e i would give them 8 out of ten.
As i said im not a expert on Headphones and have only have 2 high end headphones so its just my opinion.
A+ Im not an expert on Audio far from it so ill keep this brief and simple. They are super comfortable and your be hard to find a pair of headphones that are more comfy, The sound is extremely good and coming from Grados SR80es i would say they sound better with better bass. The headphones are that sensitive, (dont know the technical term) that if you are listening to a poorer quality film MP3, video clip from a camera etc and these formats arent the best in quality then these headphones will pick up on that so something to think about if your picky. For music gaming films they are superb in every sense for me anyway.
Please be aware you will need a headphone amplifier or a soundcard to drive these headphones because of the high independence of 250 ohms, it is much higher than 95% of headphones around.
Overall i would give these 9 out of 10, and to compare my Grados SR80e i would give them 8 out of ten.
As i said im not a expert on Headphones and have only have 2 high end headphones so its just my opinion.
Fabulous Sound Quality Just love these! They’re really comfortable and the sound quality is spectacular. The higher impedance suggests you need a headphone amplifier to get the best out of them and they’re probably right, but I use them with when I’m recording and mixing music, but they work perfectly well without in my MacBook and iPhone6.
Fabulous Sound Quality Just love these! They’re really comfortable and the sound quality is spectacular. The higher impedance suggests you need a headphone amplifier to get the best out of them and they’re probably right, but I use them with when I’m recording and mixing music, but they work perfectly well without in my MacBook and iPhone6.
Great sound I own a pair of Beyer DT100 headphones that I bought in 1978! Still going strong 40 years later. I wonder if these will last another 40 years? Although I guess I probably won’t!!
I can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said concerning the sound quality. Fantastic bass and high notes and much better quality sound that the old pair.
I have only given 4 stars however, because what has happened from time to time with the DT100 is a cable problem. Being able to swap this out at the time of use in 10 seconds because its on a plug and socket is professional Beyer. Hard wired in is not. What are you thinking off? Although it does say eveything is replaceable but how you would go about taking it all apart is unclear and certainly not doable during a session. Add 5 to the price or something if you need to. Although you can still buy the DT100 model which appear to be around the same price so why its not on every model is a mystery.
Great sound I own a pair of Beyer DT100 headphones that I bought in 1978! Still going strong 40 years later. I wonder if these will last another 40 years? Although I guess I probably won’t!!
I can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said concerning the sound quality. Fantastic bass and high notes and much better quality sound that the old pair.
I have only given 4 stars however, because what has happened from time to time with the DT100 is a cable problem. Being able to swap this out at the time of use in 10 seconds because its on a plug and socket is professional Beyer. Hard wired in is not. What are you thinking off? Although it does say eveything is replaceable but how you would go about taking it all apart is unclear and certainly not doable during a session. Add 5 to the price or something if you need to. Although you can still buy the DT100 model which appear to be around the same price so why its not on every model is a mystery.
Top headphones. Moved from senhiser to these for my movies and they rock. Had them now for a while and well over 100 hours in and they are stunning. The bass is nice and they dont distort or pop and crackle one bit. I use for surround bluerays and the sound field is nice, tried bf1 for about an hour and sound great for gaming also they are the most comftable cans I have ever had and no sweating on the ears.
Best Headphones - Owned to Date My AKG 550 MK2 broke afer 4 years use and so time for a new headset.
Was originally going to replace with the MK3 version but unable to find competitive price in my budget at the time started to look for another brand replacement.
Came across the BeyerDynamic DT 990 Pro and after extensive research they appeared to fit the bill.
Brought mainly as a gaming headset paired through an AV Amp they are a revelation.
I thought the K550 were good but these are so much of an improvement. Highly detailed sound with very controlled loud bass.. You feel it more with more extension but no distortion. Adds a lot more immersion to the sound stage which is also very wide.
Positional audio is fantastic especially in Battlefield where the audio cues you get inform you of whats happening in 360 radius.
Used with an XBOX 1 X and they are highly recommended and also they are well worth the money.
Films. Using with films they are amazing and present everything that is in the soundtrack.
All in all recommended quality headset…essential if you want an excellent gaming headset that also excels with Music, and films as well.
Best Headphones - Owned to Date My AKG 550 MK2 broke afer 4 years use and so time for a new headset.
Was originally going to replace with the MK3 version but unable to find competitive price in my budget at the time started to look for another brand replacement.
Came across the BeyerDynamic DT 990 Pro and after extensive research they appeared to fit the bill.
Brought mainly as a gaming headset paired through an AV Amp they are a revelation.
I thought the K550 were good but these are so much of an improvement. Highly detailed sound with very controlled loud bass.. You feel it more with more extension but no distortion. Adds a lot more immersion to the sound stage which is also very wide.
Positional audio is fantastic especially in Battlefield where the audio cues you get inform you of whats happening in 360 radius.
Used with an XBOX 1 X and they are highly recommended and also they are well worth the money.
Films. Using with films they are amazing and present everything that is in the soundtrack.
All in all recommended quality headset…essential if you want an excellent gaming headset that also excels with Music, and films as well.
Great headphones! These headphones provide a very balanced and natural sound however I find the bass to be a little underwhelming in certain situations.
In terms of the mid and high frequency range these headphones are likely the best I’ve used and in combination with the subtle bass these headphones offer very precise positional audio which is brilliant if you using them for gaming.
Listening to music can be great however I find it hard to listen to lower quality audio as well as tracks that have poor mastering because the dynamic range and clarity of these headphones is just brilliant.
Music with lots of low frequency bass in the 0-25hz range is a little hard to listen to as the drivers can sound quite clicky. At first I thought this was a product defect so I returned them and the second pair was identical and despite this I have still chosen to keep them just because of quality of the sound in every other department as well as the overall build quality.
I initially tried to drive these with my on board sound on my computer as my friend does so with his 250 ohm DT 990’S however he has a premium motherboard (250+) with premium on board sound.
I only have a mid range motherboard (110) with quite a low specification on board sound which resulted in a very quiet maximum volume as well as a lack of dynamic range.
I purchased the Creative Sound Blaster XE-5 sound card and run it in direct headphone power mode for high ohm headphones and it turns the headphones into a whole different animal.
I would highly recommend these headphones for gaming, watching movies and all music except genres featuring lots of low frequency bass.
Did I really need a DAC or amp? My first pair of proper headphones. Did loads of research before buying and I took the advice and bought a DAC/amp (FX Audio DAC-x6) for these 250 headphones. However, I get perfectly good sound straight out my MacBrook Pro (mid 2015) without the DAC/amp and the volume at about 50-60%. From my PS4 controller the sound is very quiet at 100% volume, which I expected. From a Sony Walkman (2008 model) the volume is plenty at 50%. So apart from the TV and PS4, I don’t think a DAC/amp is a must IMO.
They look better in the flesh. I was concerned the padded headband would be plasticky (like cheap vinyl), but it’s quite plush and very soft, more like a jacket. The box says all the parts are replaceable, I like that.
Sound leakage is not anywhere near as bad I thought it was going to be. But I probably won’t be taking these to the office.
I went for open-back as the soundstage is said to be larger. The sound is less ‘in your head’ and the experience is less claustrophobic than closed headphones. Great bass.
They look and sound brilliant and the large soft cups fit over spectacles comfortably. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the coiled cable is bit thick, heavy and in the way. With a straight cable you sort of forget it’s there, but it’s around 40 more for the DT 990 Edition model that has the straight cable… I do prefer the look of the PRO anyway.
goto cans I have…, was mainly using ath- m50x, which compared I feel are more general purpose cans.
the Beyers, although quieter, are much better sound stage. levels & spatial are more apparent, & I actually ‘feel ‘ ready to mix or track in confidence of what I’m hearing. very comfy for long periods. good quality.
would definitely recommend (quality wise ie you may need headphone amp, etc)
goto cans I have…, was mainly using ath- m50x, which compared I feel are more general purpose cans.
the Beyers, although quieter, are much better sound stage. levels & spatial are more apparent, & I actually ‘feel ‘ ready to mix or track in confidence of what I’m hearing. very comfy for long periods. good quality.
would definitely recommend (quality wise ie you may need headphone amp, etc)
Great cans, excellent hooked up to pc. These are very good, high quality headphones. I use these for gaming, music and everything else associated with my pc. A DAC/headphone amp is, however, required for them to be heard at their best due to the 250 ohmage value. I have them hooked up through a FiiO E17K and it handles them nicely, although i had to turn the bass down all the way as the headphones seem a tad boomy at first.
Only main gripe is that the headphone cable, while high quality coil, can feel heavy and clunky resting on your arm and around your keyboard while at the desk, while also being only about 4 feet long. However this is fine once set up to your liking and having gotten used to, with the positives of the cans greatly outweighing this minor negative.
Overall, fantastic soundstage and sharp clarity in audio once worn in and equalized properly.
ZE GERMAN ENGINEERING IST ZE UBER ENGINEERING!
9/10.
Great cans, excellent hooked up to pc. These are very good, high quality headphones. I use these for gaming, music and everything else associated with my pc. A DAC/headphone amp is, however, required for them to be heard at their best due to the 250 ohmage value. I have them hooked up through a FiiO E17K and it handles them nicely, although i had to turn the bass down all the way as the headphones seem a tad boomy at first.
Only main gripe is that the headphone cable, while high quality coil, can feel heavy and clunky resting on your arm and around your keyboard while at the desk, while also being only about 4 feet long. However this is fine once set up to your liking and having gotten used to, with the positives of the cans greatly outweighing this minor negative.
Overall, fantastic soundstage and sharp clarity in audio once worn in and equalized properly.
ZE GERMAN ENGINEERING IST ZE UBER ENGINEERING!
9/10.
Phenomenal. These headphones are incredible! The best I’ve ever owned. Everything is clear and easy to hear – especially when gaming, which is what I purchased them for.
To get the best out of them though you need and external DAC/AMP as your PC, mobile, tablet etc. will not be able to drive them properly on their own; basically everything will be extremely quiet and sound flat. I went for the external AMP Schiit Magni (cost $99) and when paired together make an unstoppable combo. I’d highly recommend you purchase the Magni too as – value for money – you can’t beat it but do some research and see what best suits you and your price range.
My only 2 gripes with these headphones are: the coiled cable (it’s heavy and cumbersome) and that as you can see in the picture the ‘logo’ (as I’ll call it) is rubbing off and I’ve only had them a month.
Overall absolutely worth the money.
My Schiit Magni and headphones can be seen in the photo.
Worth every penny Coupled with a FiiO – E10K Olympus USB DAC, these headphones deliver crisp, crystal-clear sound for gaming and videos.
Although open backed, the sound-leakage is minimal, besides, the volume doesn’t need to be high because the sound is so clear.
Because they are open-backed, external sound can still be heard which makes them perfect for being able to hear phones, doorbells and dinner-gongs but not so good for isolating oneself from any general hubbub. All of the former suited my own requirements.
The headphones are extremely comfortable, stylish and appear robustly made (time may tell another story).
Very happy to have bought these instead of wasting more money on yet another pair of shill-reviewed, underperforming gaming headsets.
Worth every penny Coupled with a FiiO – E10K Olympus USB DAC, these headphones deliver crisp, crystal-clear sound for gaming and videos.
Although open backed, the sound-leakage is minimal, besides, the volume doesn’t need to be high because the sound is so clear.
Because they are open-backed, external sound can still be heard which makes them perfect for being able to hear phones, doorbells and dinner-gongs but not so good for isolating oneself from any general hubbub. All of the former suited my own requirements.
The headphones are extremely comfortable, stylish and appear robustly made (time may tell another story).
Very happy to have bought these instead of wasting more money on yet another pair of shill-reviewed, underperforming gaming headsets.
Fantastic sound quality, terrible head band Fantastic sound quality, terrible head band.
For reference my current setup is running the headphones through the headphone amp on my Soundblaster ZxR. I have a pair of AKG K550 which are good quality but very flat. I also own a couple of pairs of Sennheiser headsets: The 360 and the game one, both have pretty good sound quality but are still a bit flat, although not nearly as much as the AKG K550. All 3 sets pale in comparison to the Beyer 990s for films, music and games.
The bass and treble are both excellently reproduced with these headphones. If you are watching a film you might find yourself looking around the room when a truck goes past as the depth of the bass is so good, but not at all overpowering. Likewise the treble is very snappy and harsh sounds like bullets snapping by soldiers and tires screeching sound as unpleasant as they would in the flesh.
It’s also quite impressive how they will pick out a lof of the ambient noises in TV and film so you can hear bits of background conversations that would normally just sound like noise.
In terms of music genres I listen to rock, metal, hip hop, drum and bass and most likely a few genres I can’t think of right now. The Beyers work well in all of them and I’m genuinely surprised at being able to hear so much additional detail when none of my previous headphones/headsets were exactly cheap or bad. It’s worth noting that these headphones are not overly bassy like some other headphones I can think of that are apparently popular because an artist put his name on them and added some metal weights so they feel “expensive”
Sadly the headband is made of either real or fake leather that bunches ever so slightly due to the bend of the headband and digs into your head. I don’t know why Beyer didn’t use the microfibre type material the ear cups are made of as that’s really comfortable and works very well on other sets of headphones I own.
I’m currently looking at making my own head band strip as the current one starts to become quite unpleasant after a couple of hours of wear. I’d say it is really inexcusable for headphones costing this much to have such a band headband and if the sound quality wasn’t so impressive I would have sent them back.
It’s also worth noting that the headband suffers from falling apart from moisture after a year or so, it’s discussed a lot online and would explain why a replacement is so readily available. Shame Beyer don’t sell a replacement made out of comfortable material.
Fantastic sound quality, terrible head band Fantastic sound quality, terrible head band.
For reference my current setup is running the headphones through the headphone amp on my Soundblaster ZxR. I have a pair of AKG K550 which are good quality but very flat. I also own a couple of pairs of Sennheiser headsets: The 360 and the game one, both have pretty good sound quality but are still a bit flat, although not nearly as much as the AKG K550. All 3 sets pale in comparison to the Beyer 990s for films, music and games.
The bass and treble are both excellently reproduced with these headphones. If you are watching a film you might find yourself looking around the room when a truck goes past as the depth of the bass is so good, but not at all overpowering. Likewise the treble is very snappy and harsh sounds like bullets snapping by soldiers and tires screeching sound as unpleasant as they would in the flesh.
It’s also quite impressive how they will pick out a lof of the ambient noises in TV and film so you can hear bits of background conversations that would normally just sound like noise.
In terms of music genres I listen to rock, metal, hip hop, drum and bass and most likely a few genres I can’t think of right now. The Beyers work well in all of them and I’m genuinely surprised at being able to hear so much additional detail when none of my previous headphones/headsets were exactly cheap or bad. It’s worth noting that these headphones are not overly bassy like some other headphones I can think of that are apparently popular because an artist put his name on them and added some metal weights so they feel “expensive”
Sadly the headband is made of either real or fake leather that bunches ever so slightly due to the bend of the headband and digs into your head. I don’t know why Beyer didn’t use the microfibre type material the ear cups are made of as that’s really comfortable and works very well on other sets of headphones I own.
I’m currently looking at making my own head band strip as the current one starts to become quite unpleasant after a couple of hours of wear. I’d say it is really inexcusable for headphones costing this much to have such a band headband and if the sound quality wasn’t so impressive I would have sent them back.
It’s also worth noting that the headband suffers from falling apart from moisture after a year or so, it’s discussed a lot online and would explain why a replacement is so readily available. Shame Beyer don’t sell a replacement made out of comfortable material.
DT 990 pro 250ohm Amazing sound however they are a bit sharp on the treble but I can easily manage so these are not for everyone. Comfort wise they are comfy but have a bit of a clamp at first but they loosen up, only thing I would love to have is a removable cable but atleast the build quality is decent and they are made in Germany.
DT 990 pro 250ohm Amazing sound however they are a bit sharp on the treble but I can easily manage so these are not for everyone. Comfort wise they are comfy but have a bit of a clamp at first but they loosen up, only thing I would love to have is a removable cable but atleast the build quality is decent and they are made in Germany.
Perfect for Mixing I use these for mixing, and I cannot believe how clear the sound is. I am able to hear frequencies I’ve not heard before, and all the problems with my current mixes have come to light.
I was able to create something much better using these. It’s very exciting to hear things in songs you didn’t know were there 🙂
These are open back headphones so obviously not for use outside.
Brilliant (of course) Not as good as Alba headphones. Ok I lied. They’re Beyerdinamic’s of course they’re a good pair af cans maaan!
These DT990s live up to expectations. The frequency response is nice and flat and you can get some really good mixes using them,
Even when check the mix on monitors afterwards.
The lead is nice and long although I would have preferred a detachable / replaceable lead, like you have on the DT100s.
They are really comfy to wear for long periods, I’ve worn them for at least six hours straight and didn’t feel like my head was in a vice afterwards.
I would recomend the Beyerdinamic DT990’s if you’re looking for some good quality reference headphones, sorry cans!
Brilliant (of course) Not as good as Alba headphones. Ok I lied. They’re Beyerdinamic’s of course they’re a good pair af cans maaan!
These DT990s live up to expectations. The frequency response is nice and flat and you can get some really good mixes using them,
Even when check the mix on monitors afterwards.
The lead is nice and long although I would have preferred a detachable / replaceable lead, like you have on the DT100s.
They are really comfy to wear for long periods, I’ve worn them for at least six hours straight and didn’t feel like my head was in a vice afterwards.
I would recomend the Beyerdinamic DT990’s if you’re looking for some good quality reference headphones, sorry cans!
Great Headphones These headphones are great, I cant fault them as a beginner getting into hi-fi. My music sounds better then ever and my games on my PC are even more immersive!
Before buying I’d recommend buying a headphone amp and DAC. I bought the Bravo audio v2 and a Signstek Mini USB DAC. My headphones sound pretty good with this combo! I went for the Signstek because it was cheap and had a usb port, perfect to go right into my PC.
Overall I give these headphone a 5 star rating. As a nooby guy who doesnt know much about audio, I am more than pleased with these little beauty’s.
No regrets! Im not a headphone person. They are usually to loose, to heavy, itchy as hell, sweat collecters and I cant wear them for more than 30 minutes due to some aspect of the sound being to much for my ears. Im a very fussy fk.
Simply put- I could sleep in these.
Iv got a massive head, they sit comfortably without feeling to tight or slipping.
I wore them for easily 3 hours without having to adjust them to much, the microfibre cups sit well over the ears and feel great (even with my unkempt beard) and breathes excellently, not even clammy behind the ears.
The sound quality is amazing (I am running them through the Fiio Olympus E10K, bought at the same time, connected to my pc mobo), bass is punchy without drowning out or muddying, mids are clean and crisp and the highs cut through without being overwhelming. I have also tried them on my iPhone 7+, obviously wont go to loud but you can still hear everything nicely with good clarity, both music and apps.
The build quality is top notch (which you should just expect seeing as though they cost over 100), but i have read the other reviews on here about loose cables and the such. Mine are immaculate, Iv given them a good twisting and spreading, no creaks or unhealthy snaps or twangs.
So yeah, imo – buy em, you wont regret it!
Great Headphones These headphones are great, I cant fault them as a beginner getting into hi-fi. My music sounds better then ever and my games on my PC are even more immersive!
Before buying I’d recommend buying a headphone amp and DAC. I bought the Bravo audio v2 and a Signstek Mini USB DAC. My headphones sound pretty good with this combo! I went for the Signstek because it was cheap and had a usb port, perfect to go right into my PC.
Overall I give these headphone a 5 star rating. As a nooby guy who doesnt know much about audio, I am more than pleased with these little beauty’s.
Best headphones I've ever used I’ve owned a lot of headphones in the past but they have always been ‘gamer’ style headphones. I decided to buy a good pair of headphones as I don’t need an attached mic. These are by far the best headphones I have ever used. For anyone who claims to have some distortion at volume I would look at the audio source. I use these on my PC and when using on board sound I would get distortion, but paired with an Asus Xonar DSG sound card this completely eliminated the issue. So at the moment it goes Asus Xonar DSG soundcard -> Bravo Audio V2 Headphone Amp -> Headphones and it is simply amazing. Also they are super comfortable and fit around the ears easily, I wear glasses as well and it’s still very comfortable.
Best headphones I've ever used I’ve owned a lot of headphones in the past but they have always been ‘gamer’ style headphones. I decided to buy a good pair of headphones as I don’t need an attached mic. These are by far the best headphones I have ever used. For anyone who claims to have some distortion at volume I would look at the audio source. I use these on my PC and when using on board sound I would get distortion, but paired with an Asus Xonar DSG sound card this completely eliminated the issue. So at the moment it goes Asus Xonar DSG soundcard -> Bravo Audio V2 Headphone Amp -> Headphones and it is simply amazing. Also they are super comfortable and fit around the ears easily, I wear glasses as well and it’s still very comfortable.
... Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality As an owner of the Closed Back headphones the Custom One Pro Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality, sound signature and overall fantastic design and comfort of the headphones that this company provides so when I got these, I expected more of the same. Well, that’s exactly what I got, except for a few differences and they are absolutely great differences at that! The DT 990 Pro 250 OHM headphones are open back instead of closed so the Treble is far more pronounced (dare I say even a little overly so until the wear in, or so I’ve been told on the latter) which means things like leaves falling in a video game or subtle nuances in a music track are far easier to hear.
That’s not to say that these lack Bass, because that’s far from the case! My Custom One’s (which are basically DT 770’s) are pretty great on both Bass and Treble but the DT 990’s go a step further and crank up on both without losing any of the crystal clarity or Bass you’d come to expect. They are without doubt the best headphones I have EVER owned and both as a lover of music and an avid gamer, these cans are absolute GOLD!
As a side note as well, they are built like a tank and the ear cups are a velour instead of faux (fake) leather like on the Customs, which in my opinion is a good thing as the faux leather of the Customs began to crack after about a year of use. I know that may not sound like a short amount of time but the pads for them are rather pricey compared to Brainwavz pads so that’s another thing to take into account although the reason for the faux leather on the Customs is due to being isolated whereas the DT 990’s are open back and benefit from velour ear-pads.
All in all then, I’d recommend these headphones to anyone who wants a great pair (actually, I’d say one of the BEST pairs in my humble opinion) of cans that will give you amazing musical sessions as well as insanely accurate sound in whatever games you happen to enjoy!
... Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality As an owner of the Closed Back headphones the Custom One Pro Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality, sound signature and overall fantastic design and comfort of the headphones that this company provides so when I got these, I expected more of the same. Well, that’s exactly what I got, except for a few differences and they are absolutely great differences at that! The DT 990 Pro 250 OHM headphones are open back instead of closed so the Treble is far more pronounced (dare I say even a little overly so until the wear in, or so I’ve been told on the latter) which means things like leaves falling in a video game or subtle nuances in a music track are far easier to hear.
That’s not to say that these lack Bass, because that’s far from the case! My Custom One’s (which are basically DT 770’s) are pretty great on both Bass and Treble but the DT 990’s go a step further and crank up on both without losing any of the crystal clarity or Bass you’d come to expect. They are without doubt the best headphones I have EVER owned and both as a lover of music and an avid gamer, these cans are absolute GOLD!
As a side note as well, they are built like a tank and the ear cups are a velour instead of faux (fake) leather like on the Customs, which in my opinion is a good thing as the faux leather of the Customs began to crack after about a year of use. I know that may not sound like a short amount of time but the pads for them are rather pricey compared to Brainwavz pads so that’s another thing to take into account although the reason for the faux leather on the Customs is due to being isolated whereas the DT 990’s are open back and benefit from velour ear-pads.
All in all then, I’d recommend these headphones to anyone who wants a great pair (actually, I’d say one of the BEST pairs in my humble opinion) of cans that will give you amazing musical sessions as well as insanely accurate sound in whatever games you happen to enjoy!
So bloody comfortable. I don't notice any of the high treble ... So bloody comfortable. I don’t notice any of the high treble others have mentioned. I am 32 though, so that might have something to do with it.
Edit: So I’ve been listening to music for around 6hr’s. No hotspots, no pain on my ears.
I’ve noticed that these things lack no base. Without any EQ settings applied, the bass is rumbling, as in I can feel the bass.
Also, they work very well for games that require listening, such as Escape from Tarkov.
If you are into games, don’t go wasting on “gaming” headsets.
So bloody comfortable. I don't notice any of the high treble ... So bloody comfortable. I don’t notice any of the high treble others have mentioned. I am 32 though, so that might have something to do with it.
Edit: So I’ve been listening to music for around 6hr’s. No hotspots, no pain on my ears.
I’ve noticed that these things lack no base. Without any EQ settings applied, the bass is rumbling, as in I can feel the bass.
Also, they work very well for games that require listening, such as Escape from Tarkov.
If you are into games, don’t go wasting on “gaming” headsets.
If your looking at headphones buy these, trust me your ears will thank you! WOW! The sound that these headphones make is astonishing. The sound is so clear and sharp, the sound stage is amazing these are the first pair of open cans I’ve even listen to and the difference in positioning of audio is night and day you can pick out each individual instrument and sort of paint a picture in your brain where it’s coming from it is game changing!
Since these are fairly high independence headphones the use of an amp is vital, plugged into my oneplus 3 they sound good but don’t get past “normal listening levels”. For my PC I have it paired with an SMSL SD793-II DAC + Amp combo and for 50 I’m really impressed!. Was a bit sceptical about weather it was good enough and I can categorically say it is! I can’t go past “1-oclock” on the volume dial without being dangerously loud and there is no distortion at all! For ~150 I don’t think you’ll be able to get a better setup.
They sounded amazing / loud and were super comfortable I spent weeks researching these and the 600 ohm version…I spoke with several previous owners and finally at this price (105) went for it… I had also purchased a BlasterX AE-5 sound card which is capable of powering up to 600ohm headphones..I decided on the 250ohm DT990 pro as maybe people had said the 600 ohm version was too quiet without sound serious volume levels/ power. My previous headphones were Sony MDR 780’s which i had used for 12 plus years. They sounded amazing / loud and were super comfortable. Once i plugged the DT 990 in i was taken to another level… First off i needed to increase the volume leve as expected due to 250 ohm as opposed to MDR 780’s 32ohm. The bass has feeling.. By this i mean you can feel the bass breathing , thumping and pounding your ears yet in a very clear and rather pleasant way.. It certainly never sounds muddy or over powering. ( if you like really bass heavy then this is not for you ) this is more subtle. The bass is there…you can hear and feel it but it never takes over which is just how i like it.The highs are super high.. A very clear and crisp sound which introudces tones i never heard before. Some people will not like just how sharp and crystal these sound at the high end you can always EQ to your liking. For me the highs are right on the money. Mids have a lovely warm plush feel that joins hands with both the bass and highs , and with a wide sound stage these are a listening expericne for your ears. Super comfortable to wear , they grip just right so not to slip and not to press too much on your head..and do not feel fatiguing ..I’m using these for gaming , music mixing/remixing and general listening…At this price nothing comes close to the quality in sound….
They sounded amazing / loud and were super comfortable I spent weeks researching these and the 600 ohm version…I spoke with several previous owners and finally at this price (105) went for it… I had also purchased a BlasterX AE-5 sound card which is capable of powering up to 600ohm headphones..I decided on the 250ohm DT990 pro as maybe people had said the 600 ohm version was too quiet without sound serious volume levels/ power. My previous headphones were Sony MDR 780’s which i had used for 12 plus years. They sounded amazing / loud and were super comfortable. Once i plugged the DT 990 in i was taken to another level… First off i needed to increase the volume leve as expected due to 250 ohm as opposed to MDR 780’s 32ohm. The bass has feeling.. By this i mean you can feel the bass breathing , thumping and pounding your ears yet in a very clear and rather pleasant way.. It certainly never sounds muddy or over powering. ( if you like really bass heavy then this is not for you ) this is more subtle. The bass is there…you can hear and feel it but it never takes over which is just how i like it.The highs are super high.. A very clear and crisp sound which introudces tones i never heard before. Some people will not like just how sharp and crystal these sound at the high end you can always EQ to your liking. For me the highs are right on the money. Mids have a lovely warm plush feel that joins hands with both the bass and highs , and with a wide sound stage these are a listening expericne for your ears. Super comfortable to wear , they grip just right so not to slip and not to press too much on your head..and do not feel fatiguing ..I’m using these for gaming , music mixing/remixing and general listening…At this price nothing comes close to the quality in sound….
Grea I am running these with a cheap, Chinese valve amp (douk audio) that I got from ebay for about 30 quid. I have had them a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love them. I am not an audiophile but I do have headphones on for about 8 hours a day, playing games, watching movies, and listening to music.
The cups are very open so they will let noise in, my PC can be quite loud at times (thanks AMD) so I can hear my fans at times but it is no different from using speakers. They also let a lot of noise out so if you don’t live alone maybe be wary of that. The sound stage is awesome though. My old headset (plantronics gamecon 777) was semi open and I compared the two and these dt990s blow them out of the water.
It has gotten to the point that if I go from using these headphones to using my speakers (mission something or other, they weren’t cheap) I just want to go back to the headphones as the sound is so much better. They are so comfortable to wear as well, the ear pads are lovely and I have a pretty big and weird shaped head and i didn’t find the clamp too tight at all.
These are the best headphones I have used so far, although my experience is fairly limited, and I am over the moon with them, especially for the price as these are cheaper than the other ones I was thinking about getting (ath-m50x, sony closed cup something or other).
These are definitely worth your interest in my opinion 🙂
Love the headphones Love the headphones, open back is has such great soundstage. You will need an amp to get the most out of them though, be warned!
edit: 8/01/2018 Had to request a replacement as I can only hear left side audio. This is a known issue with the DT990’s after awhile. Make sure to check if the cable to the headphones is not loose. Mine loosened over time. I still love the headphones, hence getting a replacement rather than refund.
Love the headphones Love the headphones, open back is has such great soundstage. You will need an amp to get the most out of them though, be warned!
edit: 8/01/2018 Had to request a replacement as I can only hear left side audio. This is a known issue with the DT990’s after awhile. Make sure to check if the cable to the headphones is not loose. Mine loosened over time. I still love the headphones, hence getting a replacement rather than refund.
Grea I am running these with a cheap, Chinese valve amp (douk audio) that I got from ebay for about 30 quid. I have had them a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love them. I am not an audiophile but I do have headphones on for about 8 hours a day, playing games, watching movies, and listening to music.
The cups are very open so they will let noise in, my PC can be quite loud at times (thanks AMD) so I can hear my fans at times but it is no different from using speakers. They also let a lot of noise out so if you don’t live alone maybe be wary of that. The sound stage is awesome though. My old headset (plantronics gamecon 777) was semi open and I compared the two and these dt990s blow them out of the water.
It has gotten to the point that if I go from using these headphones to using my speakers (mission something or other, they weren’t cheap) I just want to go back to the headphones as the sound is so much better. They are so comfortable to wear as well, the ear pads are lovely and I have a pretty big and weird shaped head and i didn’t find the clamp too tight at all.
These are the best headphones I have used so far, although my experience is fairly limited, and I am over the moon with them, especially for the price as these are cheaper than the other ones I was thinking about getting (ath-m50x, sony closed cup something or other).
These are definitely worth your interest in my opinion 🙂
Love these cans Love these cans, they are the dogs for the money.
Have other older type closed back Beyerdynamic that I use for drumming (DT 150’s) and they are good.
However, these are more HiFi, I use them on the PC with a Chord Mojo DAC, they sound mighty fine.
I’m sure you can pay more and get a better ( hifi-ier ) sound, but at some point you have to ask yourself, what am I listening to, music or hifi ?
I think these allow you to listen the the music without trying to justify how much cash you have spent on gear.
Sonic excellence at a very reasonable price My previous DT990s lasted 20 years!! They were 600 ohm and whileI understand there’s been some *subtle* changes since the early 1990s, there’s that trademark analytical clarity and natural sound I’ve been missing for a while! I prefer these over the equivalent Sennhieser and AKG, the HD600 for instance are very refined, very musical and natural.. but it feels like I’m listening through a subtle veil. The DT990 always plonks me right in the audio space and I quickly forget I’m wearing headphones! I find them comfortable for hours YMMV. They are unforgiving with poor sources, and will give the full picture warts and all. If you look at the plots these are are a lot less scooped in the midrange than often claimed, but those seeking a more musical sound will want to look at the DT880. These are superb for any sort of audio work, mastering and editing, and I can listen to them for hours at a time they are immersive. I’ve already been fooled into thinking I’m hearing sounds around me, only to rewind and it’s the recording. That’s the mark of a good headphone IMO! I do wish they had stuck with the cabling in a Y rather than hanging off one side, and a detachable cable so there’s less chance of accidental damage.. but that’s my only complaint. I’ve always been a fan of the tangle free cable. I’m probably biased as I’ve used DT990s as my go to headphone for half my life, but I think you have to spend a decent chunk more to get significant gains. Bargain!
WOW Finally decided to buy some Audiophile headphones and i cannot believe how incredible these sound. I spent a good few months looking into AMP”s/DACs and different brands but didn’t want to completely empty bank account.
I decided on these highly reviewed DT990 250ohm, paired with a FiiO E10K Olympus USB DAC, and the sound is AMAZING.
After reading forum posts and reviews i thought the lack of bass people spoke about would be a bit disappointing but i would use the bass boost option on the DAC to make up for it. But i didn’t need too, the bass is really punchy without the boost, and in my opinion for whatever its worth, its the absolute perfect amount.
The build quality is really nice although the outside of the ear cups are plastic, they still look smart and feel really sturdy.
They are also incredibly light and comfortable, I’ve recently used them for 8’ish hours straight playing games and they felt comfortable the entire time. No sweaty ears or uncomfortable pressure around my ears.
For anyone considering these for PC Gaming, i absolutely recommend getting them, especially with the FiiO E10K DAC. The positional sound is BRILLIANT. I’ve used Plantronic 780 7.1’s,Tritton AX and Kama, Turtle Beach pros, Razer Kraken 7.1, Corsair HS40 7.1 and Sennheiser PC 350SE but the sound quality and directional sound of these DT990’s is massively above all of them. When playing with friends who use similar headphones to what i used to use, i now hear things and can pin point the direction of sounds easier and clearer than they do, whether it be nearby footsteps or distant gunfire. I was even accused of ”wall hacking” yesterday because i could hear other players around walls and corners so clearly and pre-fired.
Highly recommend to anyone looking to really up the audio quality of their music or gaming experience. After years of cheap to expensive ”Gaming Headsets” i wish i had bought a DAC and decent Audiophile headphones sooner. Best upgrade I’ve made in years.
WOW Finally decided to buy some Audiophile headphones and i cannot believe how incredible these sound. I spent a good few months looking into AMP”s/DACs and different brands but didn’t want to completely empty bank account.
I decided on these highly reviewed DT990 250ohm, paired with a FiiO E10K Olympus USB DAC, and the sound is AMAZING.
After reading forum posts and reviews i thought the lack of bass people spoke about would be a bit disappointing but i would use the bass boost option on the DAC to make up for it. But i didn’t need too, the bass is really punchy without the boost, and in my opinion for whatever its worth, its the absolute perfect amount.
The build quality is really nice although the outside of the ear cups are plastic, they still look smart and feel really sturdy.
They are also incredibly light and comfortable, I’ve recently used them for 8’ish hours straight playing games and they felt comfortable the entire time. No sweaty ears or uncomfortable pressure around my ears.
For anyone considering these for PC Gaming, i absolutely recommend getting them, especially with the FiiO E10K DAC. The positional sound is BRILLIANT. I’ve used Plantronic 780 7.1’s,Tritton AX and Kama, Turtle Beach pros, Razer Kraken 7.1, Corsair HS40 7.1 and Sennheiser PC 350SE but the sound quality and directional sound of these DT990’s is massively above all of them. When playing with friends who use similar headphones to what i used to use, i now hear things and can pin point the direction of sounds easier and clearer than they do, whether it be nearby footsteps or distant gunfire. I was even accused of ”wall hacking” yesterday because i could hear other players around walls and corners so clearly and pre-fired.
Highly recommend to anyone looking to really up the audio quality of their music or gaming experience. After years of cheap to expensive ”Gaming Headsets” i wish i had bought a DAC and decent Audiophile headphones sooner. Best upgrade I’ve made in years.
Deeply impressed. Okay so I started researching headphones a while ago and being new to the whole “how much for those cans??!!” market, I was sceptical of how much of a difference they would make and nervous about which ones to get.
Short review line is, these are excellent. Job done, you can go now.
Not satisfied? Well I’ve tested them out against my 5.1 Logitech z906 speakers which are running on an optical connection (worth noting that the DT990s are running from a Creative Labs G5 dac). In games the bass on the headphones is incredible. Cannon fire in World of Warships woke me up and not because it was loud but just because I’d never heard such a boom before. I’ve also been testing this on music (not an audiophile so bear with me here) and having just ran Masterchef Synesthesiaby by Swede Mason through both, one after the other, the sound was distinctive. I get why people say these cans aren’t for bass heads after this test, not that it’s from a lack of bass on the cans but because it’s airy. The speakers delivered a wall of sound which I felt as much as heard and the result was the bass was powerful but messy. I couldn’t tell one bass line from another. With the DT990s I can tell which bass line is doing what without any effort whatsoever but it doesn’t assault my head with a rumble designed to make soup of my brain (that’s both an advantage and a disadvantage in my book). I can say however that the bass isn’t lacking. Spread Your Love doesn’t have quite the dirty bass I’m used to. Keine Lust comes through nice and punchy (as I’ve just found out, ensure you have that dac set to direct audio or you’re wasting the potential of these cans) but unlike most headphones, iems and speakers I’ve tried this track on, I can separate the guitars perfectly, even in the busy chorus.
Now, for build quality, these feel excellent. I’ve broken many headsets in my time and the only ones to last have been a pair of Sennheiser PC323Ds which these DT990s are replacing. I’ve got confidence that these cans will last a good long while. They’re solid and feel like they’re going to be heavy but really aren’t when they’re on your head. As for fit, I have an inordinately large cranium (stop giggling!) and they fit fine. Firm clamping force fresh out of the box. Nothing uncomfortable. Does feel a little warm around my head but I’m more of a cold weather guy and it’s been up to 26c in front of my pc the last couple of nights so I’m putting it down to that.
Accessories wise, you get the necessary and no more. The jack adaptor seems robust and well made (the threads on the screw joint into the 3.5mm work fine, which is usually the test of a decent engineer), the bag is nothing special and there’s nothing else in the box.
If you like rock music from System of a Down to AC/DC and Queen Adreena, I’d say you can buy with confidence.
As a parting note, I’m listening to Midlife Crysis by Faith no More as I write this and not only am I finding new pieces of the music that I can enjoy, the bass is there like I’ve never heard before. It’s no longer a background of continual growl without much rhythm but specific notes!
I am very impressed with these cans (as you can probably tell). Now all I’m left wondering at is what you’d get for the 2k cans and above? If this is the lower end of the range then call me a philistine and leave me happy here.
Deeply impressed. Okay so I started researching headphones a while ago and being new to the whole “how much for those cans??!!” market, I was sceptical of how much of a difference they would make and nervous about which ones to get.
Short review line is, these are excellent. Job done, you can go now.
Not satisfied? Well I’ve tested them out against my 5.1 Logitech z906 speakers which are running on an optical connection (worth noting that the DT990s are running from a Creative Labs G5 dac). In games the bass on the headphones is incredible. Cannon fire in World of Warships woke me up and not because it was loud but just because I’d never heard such a boom before. I’ve also been testing this on music (not an audiophile so bear with me here) and having just ran Masterchef Synesthesiaby by Swede Mason through both, one after the other, the sound was distinctive. I get why people say these cans aren’t for bass heads after this test, not that it’s from a lack of bass on the cans but because it’s airy. The speakers delivered a wall of sound which I felt as much as heard and the result was the bass was powerful but messy. I couldn’t tell one bass line from another. With the DT990s I can tell which bass line is doing what without any effort whatsoever but it doesn’t assault my head with a rumble designed to make soup of my brain (that’s both an advantage and a disadvantage in my book). I can say however that the bass isn’t lacking. Spread Your Love doesn’t have quite the dirty bass I’m used to. Keine Lust comes through nice and punchy (as I’ve just found out, ensure you have that dac set to direct audio or you’re wasting the potential of these cans) but unlike most headphones, iems and speakers I’ve tried this track on, I can separate the guitars perfectly, even in the busy chorus.
Now, for build quality, these feel excellent. I’ve broken many headsets in my time and the only ones to last have been a pair of Sennheiser PC323Ds which these DT990s are replacing. I’ve got confidence that these cans will last a good long while. They’re solid and feel like they’re going to be heavy but really aren’t when they’re on your head. As for fit, I have an inordinately large cranium (stop giggling!) and they fit fine. Firm clamping force fresh out of the box. Nothing uncomfortable. Does feel a little warm around my head but I’m more of a cold weather guy and it’s been up to 26c in front of my pc the last couple of nights so I’m putting it down to that.
Accessories wise, you get the necessary and no more. The jack adaptor seems robust and well made (the threads on the screw joint into the 3.5mm work fine, which is usually the test of a decent engineer), the bag is nothing special and there’s nothing else in the box.
If you like rock music from System of a Down to AC/DC and Queen Adreena, I’d say you can buy with confidence.
As a parting note, I’m listening to Midlife Crysis by Faith no More as I write this and not only am I finding new pieces of the music that I can enjoy, the bass is there like I’ve never heard before. It’s no longer a background of continual growl without much rhythm but specific notes!
I am very impressed with these cans (as you can probably tell). Now all I’m left wondering at is what you’d get for the 2k cans and above? If this is the lower end of the range then call me a philistine and leave me happy here.
Item replaced due to flaw The item itself I good, I own several pairs of beyerdynamic and sheinheiser headphones and have been running these for just under a month on a schitt amp.
However within that month the item has broken at the cable due to it not being glued in properly. Amazon customer service has been excellent as always and is sending a next day replacement. Be careful to check the cable on these units whenever they first arrive as mine has never been under stress, so I can only assume it arrived loose.
Edit:- replacement has also come loose, after inspection the cables are not held in by anything other than friction
Item replaced due to flaw The item itself I good, I own several pairs of beyerdynamic and sheinheiser headphones and have been running these for just under a month on a schitt amp.
However within that month the item has broken at the cable due to it not being glued in properly. Amazon customer service has been excellent as always and is sending a next day replacement. Be careful to check the cable on these units whenever they first arrive as mine has never been under stress, so I can only assume it arrived loose.
Edit:- replacement has also come loose, after inspection the cables are not held in by anything other than friction
Excellent set of cans! The best and most accurate sounding headphones I have ever used. I own several sets from different manufacturers all around the 100 mark and these are my go to set for mixing music, watching films, listening to music and gaming.
They are very light and very comfortable during long sessions. Cushions seem to be great quality as well.
These are by far the best headphones I have bough These are by far the best headphones I have bought; and in my opinion great value for their price. Some people might find them too transparent, but that’s something that I personally like. Also being 250 ohm some devices won’t drive them well and an amplifier is needed; but at moderate volumes I find my Note 3 smartphone can drive them fine.
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues Coming from a AKG k272 HD, the difference in soundstage, clarity and dynamics were insane. I don’t use very decent audio gear either.
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues:
– Coiled cable
Some people dig this, but I don’t. All it does is require more cable for the same length, and it weighs the headphones down when it isn’t supported by anything, like a table. So while I’m enjoying my music I can enjoy the constant tug of a coiled cable to the floor?
– Clamping force
I do have a Large head (L on ski helmets), so Mediums and below should be fine, but it has cause some ache when listening for, say, longer than 30 mins. I tried stretching it by putting in on bookshelf speakers and that has helped a little. I will stretch it some more to hopefully be comfortable all the time, like the k272.
But all these problems can be fixed (replace cable, stretch headband more) easily. I don’t regret at all buying these headphones!
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues Coming from a AKG k272 HD, the difference in soundstage, clarity and dynamics were insane. I don’t use very decent audio gear either.
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues:
– Coiled cable
Some people dig this, but I don’t. All it does is require more cable for the same length, and it weighs the headphones down when it isn’t supported by anything, like a table. So while I’m enjoying my music I can enjoy the constant tug of a coiled cable to the floor?
– Clamping force
I do have a Large head (L on ski helmets), so Mediums and below should be fine, but it has cause some ache when listening for, say, longer than 30 mins. I tried stretching it by putting in on bookshelf speakers and that has helped a little. I will stretch it some more to hopefully be comfortable all the time, like the k272.
But all these problems can be fixed (replace cable, stretch headband more) easily. I don’t regret at all buying these headphones!
They have great bass, much better than my old Superlux HD668B headphones.
The pronounced bass does not stop the headphones having good, clear treble (Something I Experienced with my Bose Sound-True in-ear headphones).
Because of this, the headphones are very clean sounding and are perfect for the bass heavy electronic music that I listen to.
One quick tip, Buy them used, especially if you can find one under the “good” condition that says only the packaging is damaged. I paid 20 less than full price for these and they look brand new, the packaging is slightly dirty, trust me, it’s not a big difference.
Does what it says on the box very well! Especially if you understand what it is you are after (not for 'train use') I’d recommend reading reviews from various sources prior to buying these, or any ‘audiophile’ headphones. They are exactly what I was expecting after reading reviews, and sound great. Super comfortable too, which I wasn’t actually expecting but I guess your mileage may vary.
Some users are not giving full 5 star reviews because these are ‘too noisy to use in public’ etc. These people do not do their research and make uninformed decisions. Open back headphones are purposely open back, to provide certain listening characteristics (amazing soundstage, as these provide). Again, make sure you do a bit of research before diving in!
Does what it says on the box very well! Especially if you understand what it is you are after (not for 'train use') I’d recommend reading reviews from various sources prior to buying these, or any ‘audiophile’ headphones. They are exactly what I was expecting after reading reviews, and sound great. Super comfortable too, which I wasn’t actually expecting but I guess your mileage may vary.
Some users are not giving full 5 star reviews because these are ‘too noisy to use in public’ etc. These people do not do their research and make uninformed decisions. Open back headphones are purposely open back, to provide certain listening characteristics (amazing soundstage, as these provide). Again, make sure you do a bit of research before diving in!
A slight treble lift - GREAT! They have a slight treble lift which COULD be an issue for young ears. They can sound screechy with a POOR source or EQ raised treble BUT with good equipment that slight treble lift is a delight, reminding me what I used to be able to hear.
I have tried loads of headphones and ear-phones and these are the ones I have no intention of replacing. They portray fine detail, dynamics, space, location and timbre better than almost everything I have ever heard.
CAUTIONS
1. A proper headphone amp is ESSENTIAL to get a reasonable sound level – due to that 250 ohm impedance.
2. A high quality headphone amp is ESSENTIAL to be able to appreciate just how good they are. Not just AN amp, a GOOD amp.
3. They will easily reveal the gross shortcomings of compressed MP3 & AAC (etc) tracks, so do use FLAC/WAV/AIFF/ALAC etc.
4. They may sound pretty good with some portable amps but you will almost certainly NOT be hearing them at their best. My Oppo HA-2 is one of the best portable amps available but even the wonderful Oppo cannot get the best out of the DT990s – due to that 250 ohm impedance.
I use my DT990s with a Benchmark DAC2 (a professional DAC + headphone amp) and I can’t imagine any better combination. Amp them well and they reward with wonderfully natural and transparent music. A ‘really being there’ experience.
COMPARISONS
I also have some PSB M4U1 and AKG K550 headphones which are both good but not remotely as revealing, natural or spacious, nor as comfortable as the DT 990s. I also have some excellent Sure SE535 ear-buds which are more neutral than the DT 990s and are therefore more relaxing for travel, which is what they are for, but if you want to hear EVERYTHING coming from the orchestra and really appreciate the performance and not just the ‘tunes’, the DT990s are great headphones despite OR perhaps because of that slight treble lift.
If you can live with the open back design and have a GOOD amplifier, I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with the DT990 Pros.
Some of the best headphones i have used (read more) Some of the best headphones i have used.
I am going to answer a question about this headphones yes they are 250ohm head phone and no you don’t need an amp but it is highly recommended.
note that these head phones come with an adapter 6.3mm and a bag, the cable is also coiled.
these headphone don’t wight anything it is incredible i put they on and forget there on they are that light also these head phones give a great flat frequency.
over all i paid 90 and these where once priced at 250-400 so i ant complaining
Friggin Amazing. Well done, Beyerdynamic I normally don’t write reviews but…….Put simply: I friggin love these cans.
I was hesitant to pull the trigger on these at first , because they are 250 ohms and it’s generally required to use an amp with these ( which i don’t have yet). However , even plugged straight into my Macbook Pro they sound amazing.
I have a pair of AKG K550s and even though those are lovely headphones , ever since i got these the AKGs are gathering dust. These Beyers have a much better overall sound than the AKGs and the sound stage is just amazing ( i think due to the nature of the open-back design).
Now one minor gripe i have with these is that the headphones are made out of plastic and not aluminium , but they’re incredibly well-built. And being made of plastic, they are quite light and therefore – very comfortable to wear over extended periods of time.
Considering the price and the fact that these are Made In Germany , this is an incredible deal in my book. If you are on the hunt for a pair of open-back headphones , definitely give these a shot.
Friggin Amazing. Well done, Beyerdynamic I normally don’t write reviews but…….Put simply: I friggin love these cans.
I was hesitant to pull the trigger on these at first , because they are 250 ohms and it’s generally required to use an amp with these ( which i don’t have yet). However , even plugged straight into my Macbook Pro they sound amazing.
I have a pair of AKG K550s and even though those are lovely headphones , ever since i got these the AKGs are gathering dust. These Beyers have a much better overall sound than the AKGs and the sound stage is just amazing ( i think due to the nature of the open-back design).
Now one minor gripe i have with these is that the headphones are made out of plastic and not aluminium , but they’re incredibly well-built. And being made of plastic, they are quite light and therefore – very comfortable to wear over extended periods of time.
Considering the price and the fact that these are Made In Germany , this is an incredible deal in my book. If you are on the hunt for a pair of open-back headphones , definitely give these a shot.
Not for portable devices Very comfortable cans with expected quality build. Was auditioning these along with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT150 using an iPhone 5 as the source. Now I know that at 250ohm for both sets this is not the ideal but I don’t want to resort to the likes of Beats bling etc so choice is a little more limited in open backed without paying double for 32ohm DT880’s. Anyway whilst the closed back DT150’s can be driven hard enough by the iPhone to give more than adequate volume the DT990 (presumably losing out some because of the open back) cannot. For that reason alone they have been returned and exchanged for DT770 80ohm to try against the DT150’s.
The Dog's Bollocks Very comfortable headphones, the ear pads are velour and are nice and soft. As for sound, they are great, i’ve paired them with a Fiio E10k DAC/Amp and it’s perfect for me. They won’t quite fulfill a basshead’s bass requirements, but it’s punchy enough when it’s needed. Great for my usual genres of music – Progressive/Thrash/Power metal, and some drum n’ bass.
Also, since they are open ear phones, there is a lot of sound leakage, which isn’t a problem for me but may be for others.
The Dog's Bollocks Very comfortable headphones, the ear pads are velour and are nice and soft. As for sound, they are great, i’ve paired them with a Fiio E10k DAC/Amp and it’s perfect for me. They won’t quite fulfill a basshead’s bass requirements, but it’s punchy enough when it’s needed. Great for my usual genres of music – Progressive/Thrash/Power metal, and some drum n’ bass.
Also, since they are open ear phones, there is a lot of sound leakage, which isn’t a problem for me but may be for others.
Great headphones but get the straight cable versio Meant to buy the straight cable version and dam do I regret buying the coiled one.
Theres nothing more annoying then having a cable that weighs too much and tangles with other wires.
As for the sound its what you would expect for beyerdynamic and an open pair of headphones its great highly recommend them.
Comfort is also amazing and the pads are so soft and warm your ears when its cold and don’t seem to cause any extra sweat either.
Great headphones but get the straight cable versio Meant to buy the straight cable version and dam do I regret buying the coiled one.
Theres nothing more annoying then having a cable that weighs too much and tangles with other wires.
As for the sound its what you would expect for beyerdynamic and an open pair of headphones its great highly recommend them.
Comfort is also amazing and the pads are so soft and warm your ears when its cold and don’t seem to cause any extra sweat either.
Very happy with purchase Very happy with purchase, quality feel and sound to the product! I was a bit worried about needing an amp as other reviewers have stated but luckily my Maximus VI Formula has a very good onboard sound system which seems to be more than enough (upto 600ohm).
I like these much more than my Siberia V2 Illuminated, don’t think I will go back to usb after using these.
Great pair of headphones for studio use. Really liking these, great sound and very comfortable. I swear by the DT100’s for recording so wanted to see what Beyerdynamic’s are like for monitoring and am so far impressed. I’ve had them nearly 2 years and use them every couples of weeks, when they’re not in use I wrap the wire around the headphones and hang them on a hook. I’ve not had any issue with the cable failing as I’ve read on other reviews.
Great pair of headphones for studio use. Really liking these, great sound and very comfortable. I swear by the DT100’s for recording so wanted to see what Beyerdynamic’s are like for monitoring and am so far impressed. I’ve had them nearly 2 years and use them every couples of weeks, when they’re not in use I wrap the wire around the headphones and hang them on a hook. I’ve not had any issue with the cable failing as I’ve read on other reviews.
Welcome back old friend! I have had many many headphones over the years and some time ago had a ‘clear out’ and let a previous pair of these go. It’s a decision I have always regretted so decided to buy another pair and it’s like welcoming back an old friend. I use them, and my other headphones, with a number of sources and use additional amplification and DAC’s where I listen through laptop/PC. My measure is not graphs or frequencies but how it sounds to me.
These are, quite simply, superb in every respect and cope admirably with pretty much any type of music. Bear in mind that the 250 Ohm version would benefit from a dedicated headphone amp but nonetheless they are quality throughout in terms of sound, comfort and build.
Welcome back old friend! I have had many many headphones over the years and some time ago had a ‘clear out’ and let a previous pair of these go. It’s a decision I have always regretted so decided to buy another pair and it’s like welcoming back an old friend. I use them, and my other headphones, with a number of sources and use additional amplification and DAC’s where I listen through laptop/PC. My measure is not graphs or frequencies but how it sounds to me.
These are, quite simply, superb in every respect and cope admirably with pretty much any type of music. Bear in mind that the 250 Ohm version would benefit from a dedicated headphone amp but nonetheless they are quality throughout in terms of sound, comfort and build.
If you like a decent amount of detailed bass and defined sharp highs this is the headphone to get. I don’t really use these headphones for professional applications. I mostly use them to listen to music, and I got to say they are worth the price. Without any eq these headphones almost have a linear response across the frequencies. They are a bit sharp on the highs but well defined, and have prominent bass which is not overpowering but tight and controlled. I guess they have a slight V in the in the response curve which means the mids are there but not as much as the highs and bass. Personally I would like the mids to be a little more uplifted, but with a bit of eq these headphones can adjust to all the varying types of music I listen to such as, indian classical, rap, house, subtle type of dubstep and more. Overall a great headphone at an amazing price with great build quality.
If you like a decent amount of detailed bass and defined sharp highs this is the headphone to get. I don’t really use these headphones for professional applications. I mostly use them to listen to music, and I got to say they are worth the price. Without any eq these headphones almost have a linear response across the frequencies. They are a bit sharp on the highs but well defined, and have prominent bass which is not overpowering but tight and controlled. I guess they have a slight V in the in the response curve which means the mids are there but not as much as the highs and bass. Personally I would like the mids to be a little more uplifted, but with a bit of eq these headphones can adjust to all the varying types of music I listen to such as, indian classical, rap, house, subtle type of dubstep and more. Overall a great headphone at an amazing price with great build quality.
Perhaps the most underpriced product I have ever brought. Simply brilliant. QUALITY:
This is rather subjective and opinionated, so I am not going to go into each different level of sound, saying how the ‘highs are delicious’, or ‘the bass is as smooth as a baby’s bottom’, some people don’t care, and others don’t understand.
IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU HAVE THE AMP CAPABILITY FOR THESE!!! If you don’t then you are missing out on the full dynamic range that these headphones can offer…
I am using these with a JDS Element
When they are correctly amped, however, these are among the best things that I have listened to for home usage, especially in a quiet environment, where background noise isn’t much of an issue, or people are not going to get upset at the background leakage. Due to their open design, films and wide spaced music sound very natural, and if you like EQing your music, then these will likely sound even better. The only downside to them for me was the extreme highs, I am rather sensitive to higher pitches, so I had to amp these down, and occasionally got headaches as a result if I was not careful, so for anyone else who is of a similar disposition and finds higher pitches a problem, you might want to take that into account before you cast your judgement on them.
COMFORT:
Second to none. My friend aptly summed them up: ‘They feel like clouds on your ears.’ Even after two years of heavy use (albeit in a relatively well ventilated environment) I didn’t find the need to replace the velour pads, though if you do want to, it is a simple operation. Some may find the clamping force a bit high, but I am sure that some DIY fixes will resolve this.
BUILD QUALITY:
Very good on the whole, only the things that needed to be metal were metal; the headband and the cup holders, whilst the outer housing of the earcups was made from a very high quality and hard wearing plastic. I occasionally threw these in my bag when I went travelling, and in this case, I never found an issue after I pulled them out of my bag at the other end. The coiled wire is very durable, and the anti strain parts at both ends of the wire are very well made and are not going to give out unless you are really trying.
DOWNSIDES:
There are only a few of these, and then again, they are very situational:
1. They are open, so don’t go around expecting to use these in noisy environments without pumping obscene amounts of volume through them. Also, they will leak heavily out the sides, so people in close proximity to you might not be so grateful.
2. Heavy coiled cable, so if you are running these under a desk as I am, or over a long distance, you might want to stretch the cable a bit before using them, as the spring and weight of it can translate into your left earcup if you are not careful, something that a lot of people might not be too impressed with.
3. Power required to drive them is high, so don’t go around expecting them to sound awesome on your phone, as I said before, you need a decent sound card or dedicated headphone amplifier in most cases to supply them with sufficient power, thus getting the full potential out of them. Few motherboards except the most high end ones come with built in amps that are powerful enough to fully meet the need for these, and no phone that I can think of is capable of this either. Desktop amps are not unthinkably expensive these days, and if you really like your music, it is well worth investing in one.
Overall, you really should consider these if you are looking for headphones that sound awesome, and are going to last a long time. I would again remind you that these are not meant for use out and about unless you don’t care about the people around you, or listen so loud that you are able to ignore the background noise. Ideal for home use where noise isn’t much of an issue, and even better when you are using a high quality audio set up.
Perhaps the most underpriced product I have ever brought. Simply brilliant. QUALITY:
This is rather subjective and opinionated, so I am not going to go into each different level of sound, saying how the ‘highs are delicious’, or ‘the bass is as smooth as a baby’s bottom’, some people don’t care, and others don’t understand.
IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU HAVE THE AMP CAPABILITY FOR THESE!!! If you don’t then you are missing out on the full dynamic range that these headphones can offer…
I am using these with a JDS Element
When they are correctly amped, however, these are among the best things that I have listened to for home usage, especially in a quiet environment, where background noise isn’t much of an issue, or people are not going to get upset at the background leakage. Due to their open design, films and wide spaced music sound very natural, and if you like EQing your music, then these will likely sound even better. The only downside to them for me was the extreme highs, I am rather sensitive to higher pitches, so I had to amp these down, and occasionally got headaches as a result if I was not careful, so for anyone else who is of a similar disposition and finds higher pitches a problem, you might want to take that into account before you cast your judgement on them.
COMFORT:
Second to none. My friend aptly summed them up: ‘They feel like clouds on your ears.’ Even after two years of heavy use (albeit in a relatively well ventilated environment) I didn’t find the need to replace the velour pads, though if you do want to, it is a simple operation. Some may find the clamping force a bit high, but I am sure that some DIY fixes will resolve this.
BUILD QUALITY:
Very good on the whole, only the things that needed to be metal were metal; the headband and the cup holders, whilst the outer housing of the earcups was made from a very high quality and hard wearing plastic. I occasionally threw these in my bag when I went travelling, and in this case, I never found an issue after I pulled them out of my bag at the other end. The coiled wire is very durable, and the anti strain parts at both ends of the wire are very well made and are not going to give out unless you are really trying.
DOWNSIDES:
There are only a few of these, and then again, they are very situational:
1. They are open, so don’t go around expecting to use these in noisy environments without pumping obscene amounts of volume through them. Also, they will leak heavily out the sides, so people in close proximity to you might not be so grateful.
2. Heavy coiled cable, so if you are running these under a desk as I am, or over a long distance, you might want to stretch the cable a bit before using them, as the spring and weight of it can translate into your left earcup if you are not careful, something that a lot of people might not be too impressed with.
3. Power required to drive them is high, so don’t go around expecting them to sound awesome on your phone, as I said before, you need a decent sound card or dedicated headphone amplifier in most cases to supply them with sufficient power, thus getting the full potential out of them. Few motherboards except the most high end ones come with built in amps that are powerful enough to fully meet the need for these, and no phone that I can think of is capable of this either. Desktop amps are not unthinkably expensive these days, and if you really like your music, it is well worth investing in one.
Overall, you really should consider these if you are looking for headphones that sound awesome, and are going to last a long time. I would again remind you that these are not meant for use out and about unless you don’t care about the people around you, or listen so loud that you are able to ignore the background noise. Ideal for home use where noise isn’t much of an issue, and even better when you are using a high quality audio set up.
Wouldn't swap my DT100s for them I’ve been using the DT100s for years, but wanted to try these as closed headphones have a ‘claustrophobic’ feel to them that I get tired of after a while. When just listening I often find myself pulling the backs of the phones away from my head a little to let in some openness, and take away some of the heavy low-end sound.
As alot of what I record can now be done without the need for micing stuff, I thought I’d give these a go. Can’t pretend they sound as good as the DT100s for listening to what you’re doing while recording, but they do have the advantage of being able to hear the room as well. Didn’t realise how often I’d been having to take my headphones off one ear just to hear what’s going on . Still need the DT100s for mic stuff of course, as these let too much sound bleed through to the mics, and still prefer the 100s overall,
but on the whole I’m fairly pleased. They work well for on-the-fly mixing and listening to music in general (as the 100s can sound a little flat and dark for CDs/mp3s and such), but have to say I’m still mostly preferring the 100s. I also have to say I really dislike the coiled cable. Who thought that was a good idea? It just means the cable puts a pulling force on the headphones whenever you’re more than about 2 or 3 feet away from the headphone socket, and now I can’t just walk over to the other side of the room to put down a guitar and pick up a bass without feeling like I’m going to drag a load of stuff with me. Even when you’re close, the cable hangs in the air between you and whatever its plugged in to. This can really get in the way when playing keyboards and guitars, and the pull gets on your nerves when sitting quite a way from the desk just listening. I find myself having to hook part of the coil onto something nearby to stop the pull, or tucking it under the keyboard or guitar strap to stop it getting in the way of my left arm. Really annoying and stupid design. The only upside is that the long straight cable of the 100s sometimes gets under your feet when using pedals, but I’d swap it anyday for this stupid old-fashioned telephone wire.
Can’t talk about reliability yet, but will definitely update in a year or two.
comfy and great sound. I use them in an office so ... comfy and great sound.
I use them in an office so the open back design allows me to hear what is going on around me so I’m not cut off. This is a good thing or bad thing depending on what you are looking for. There are closed and semi open versions available.
I can’t really compare them to other audiophile phones so I wont. But they are streets ahead of a mass marketed rubbish out there which sells for similar and even higher prices!
I’ve mine connected to a separate Epiphany EHP-O2 USB DAC/amp but I felt they still sounded good straight off my laptop which uses a 92HD87 chip for audio
CrashBangWallop! I bought these Beyerdynamic DT90 headphones to replace my old Beyerdynamic DT90’s. After exactly three years of constant use the cable going into the headphone had slightly broken away causing the sound to stutter on and off. But, here I am buying a new pair of the very same headphones…Why? Well, I use Logic recording software to record song demos of my post/punky atonal guitar driven type noise stuff, but I live in an apartment where making any kind of racket is really a no-no, so I pretty much record everything through these headphones. Now the experts tell you you shouldn’t, and I know this to be true, but really, I don’t have any choice and, to be honest, these headphones are brilliant for this purpose.
I’ve used good quality Sennheiser, Audio Technica and Sony headphones in the past and these headphones seemed to me, at the time, to be geared towards Dance/Electronic/Synthetic big Bassy sounds etc which is ok if thats the sound you want, but it really wasn’t appropriate for what I wanted.
Until… somebody suggested I try the Beyerdynamic DT90 Pro headphones….What a revelation! Everything sounds so true and real and live…the bass guitar doesn’t boom for no reason, my telecaster rings true like it should, if I hit a sheet of metal with a piece of wood you instantly recognise the sound as a sheet of metal being hit with a piece of wood. And, they have velour earphone coverings too which are seriously comfortable and can be worn for long periods of time…. excellent!
Not too many people like the kind of music I make these days and, as you can probably tell I’m not particularly technical and have little, in the way of, anal retentiveness to spend hours twiddling Knobs etc to achieve the “perfect” sound. And, let’s face it, the music industry is in a cesspool of fat controllers, sales teams and targets etc etc… telling you what’s good and what isn’t… Codswallop!
So, if you’re a anything like me, a lone musician/recordist swimming against the tide of extreme mediocrity looking for a fantastic set of serious headphones to record your creative madness with…(without the neighbours calling the police…that is)….then I seriously suggest that these headphones could be what you’re looking for.
Comfortable headphones with a full bodied and bright, detailed sound After a lot of research I was torn between the DT770 pro and DT990 pro, but in the end plumped for the 990s on the basis of not needing closed cans.
The sound is great with an impressive bass response, wide stereo separation and excellent sound stage, however they are not a “neutral” headphone by any means; they are very crisp and detailed in the high frequencies, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable/fatiguing with some songs. If this is a problem for you, you might want to consider the DT880s instead which have a more neutral sound by all accounts (however they’re also more expensive, even the pro version.) I’ve found these headphones can be very unforgiving of poorly encoded audio files – you will really feel the benefit of having your music in a lossless format.
The phones have a fairly firm clamp on the head and some people might find they make their head warm after a while, but the ear pads are soft and personally I’ve found them comfortable to wear for hours.
The only thing I don’t like is the coiled cable, which limits mobility more than a straight cable. I would have preferred the straight cabled premium version DT990 for this reason, but they are considerably more expensive and on that basis hard to justify for the sake of a cable. It is probably possible to straighten out the cable in any case.
In short a great pair of cans that bring music to life, the main thing to ask yourself before buying them is if you can tolerate very strong treble, as it’s definitely overkill for some people.
Comfortable headphones with a full bodied and bright, detailed sound After a lot of research I was torn between the DT770 pro and DT990 pro, but in the end plumped for the 990s on the basis of not needing closed cans.
The sound is great with an impressive bass response, wide stereo separation and excellent sound stage, however they are not a “neutral” headphone by any means; they are very crisp and detailed in the high frequencies, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable/fatiguing with some songs. If this is a problem for you, you might want to consider the DT880s instead which have a more neutral sound by all accounts (however they’re also more expensive, even the pro version.) I’ve found these headphones can be very unforgiving of poorly encoded audio files – you will really feel the benefit of having your music in a lossless format.
The phones have a fairly firm clamp on the head and some people might find they make their head warm after a while, but the ear pads are soft and personally I’ve found them comfortable to wear for hours.
The only thing I don’t like is the coiled cable, which limits mobility more than a straight cable. I would have preferred the straight cabled premium version DT990 for this reason, but they are considerably more expensive and on that basis hard to justify for the sake of a cable. It is probably possible to straighten out the cable in any case.
In short a great pair of cans that bring music to life, the main thing to ask yourself before buying them is if you can tolerate very strong treble, as it’s definitely overkill for some people.
A detailed, spacious and big sounding pair of headphones! 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!
Very nice quality I came from a gamers headset with microphone (Razer Carcharias) after the sound disappeared from one side.
I was very hesitant about buying some normal “audio” headphones over the specialty “Gamer headphones” after being told that they would not be in the same league as far as surround sound in FPS games but I can honestly say that these are just as good, if not better than “Gamer” phones.
Music they really do shine head and shoulders above the Razers – I am no audiophile but you really do feel a sense of depth with these in music, listening mostly to melodic death metal music, I am only now actually hearing some of the lyrics/ guitar rhythm which before were just a distorted muddle.
The sound quality is superb and feel very durable – I can see these lasting for a long time unlike the cheap feeling gaming headsets which seem to be replaced yearly.
I have bought a cheap laptop microphone (Hama VOIP Notebook Microphone) and attached it to the side of my left earcup with some black velcro – a DIY gaming headset.
Only reason I give it a 4, is that they are not very comfortable for people with glasses due to the close fit head design with no gap between your ear and the headband, something that the Carcharias come out on top in.
Extremely good headphones High quality construction but still light and comfortable on the head . These phones are effortless to wear.
At this price an included case or bag would be nice but hey, you can’t have it all .
Just given them a blast with various pieces of music ranging from vintage Cameo, Led Zeppelin via RIP Actress & Skrillex to the Warsaw Village Band . Yet to try anything strictly classical or Hip-Hop .But I will!
I’ve a pair of Sennheiser HD280pro’s and a set of Sennheiser HD25’s to hand to compare and contrast with.
These Beyers are strikingly neutral in their delivery and will rapidly highlight a bad recording. A good recording however,will be richly rewarded. Mid-range is particularly good if not verging on brilliant with these cans as so many so called ‘top-range’ headsets seem to fixate on bass and treble, giving the listener a false impression and a sometimes uncomfortably polarised experience,especially with modern,compressed to hell recordings which are bass and treble heavy anyway.
For instance I’m listening to the Warsaw Village Band as I type this and the dulcimer used in the track I’m hearing is beautifully represented in a way that neither of the Sennheisers I have will portray. I’m very , very impressed and a little startled as to what I was previously missing or “vaguely” hearing in many recordings.
These are better than the Sennheisers, sonically less coloured and in particular these dt990’s also handle vocals astoundingly well for a sub-150.00 pair of headphones.
At 250ohms you need to drive these cans fairly hard. An i-pod, smartphone or generic MP3 player simply won’t have the nuts to power these properly so you’ll need an amp or interface to really let them fly . I’m using a Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 interface to drive these and they sound absolutely amazing . If I had one complaint it would be that I can’t drive them quite hard enough but that’s likely to be my set-up rather than the phones themselves. However I’m sure they’ll bed in nicely over time.
All in all,well worth the money . Beautifully transparent and revealing sound replication and barely noticeable on the head .
Get a pair. You won’t be disappointed .
Excellent but coiled cable cannot be braided with a clip on mic cable
Fantastic headphones for studio monitoring, and also for listening to music and gaming.
Be advised that if you intend to use a clip on mic to turn these into a gaming headset, you will not be able to braid the microphone cord with the cord from these headphones as the cord is coiled. I’d recommend the regular DT990s for that as they have a straight cord. That’s my only regret really, although I’ve since setup a proper microphone and I’m glad of the coiled cable now
German Engineering at its Best!
For my first pair of open back headphones they are more than I could ever ask for. They’re super comfortable so far and I can wear my glasses with them comfortably which is a huge bonus to anyone who knows the struggle!
I will say they are rather flat across their soundstage so not bass-heavy at all, but they are absolutely wonderful for more instrumental music. So I will have to say these are not so much for headbanging music, but more so for a relaxed or chill type of genre if you’re looking for a specific sound.
You will need to pair these bad boys with an amp because of the 250 ohm resistance, but it makes a worlds difference.
The headband is metal with great padding so I’m not worried about the build at all. Plus the earpads and headband padding are both replaceable so these will last you quite a while.
German Engineering at its Best!
For my first pair of open back headphones they are more than I could ever ask for. They’re super comfortable so far and I can wear my glasses with them comfortably which is a huge bonus to anyone who knows the struggle!
I will say they are rather flat across their soundstage so not bass-heavy at all, but they are absolutely wonderful for more instrumental music. So I will have to say these are not so much for headbanging music, but more so for a relaxed or chill type of genre if you’re looking for a specific sound.
You will need to pair these bad boys with an amp because of the 250 ohm resistance, but it makes a worlds difference.
The headband is metal with great padding so I’m not worried about the build at all. Plus the earpads and headband padding are both replaceable so these will last you quite a while.
Amazing Value
I didn’t really enjoy music before buying these but once I got them I realised the amount of details and instruments that I have been missing out on. The sound stage is incredible and makes music truly enjoyable. Best 105 ever spent. The noise leaks from the headphones but that was to be expected and allows for a much more natural sound. Tempted to get the dt 770’s so that I can also enjoy music in public without people hearing my music.
Amazing Value
I didn’t really enjoy music before buying these but once I got them I realised the amount of details and instruments that I have been missing out on. The sound stage is incredible and makes music truly enjoyable. Best 105 ever spent. The noise leaks from the headphones but that was to be expected and allows for a much more natural sound. Tempted to get the dt 770’s so that I can also enjoy music in public without people hearing my music.
These headphones are excellent for the price, but there’s a few things to keep in mind before shopping:
If you’re a basshead, avoid these, as the bass reponse is more neutral (doesn’t lack in the bass, it’s well balanced, it’s just not that ‘right in your face’ overwhelming type of a bass), as you would find on a near-field monitor speakers, don’t expect that sound anyway from an open back headphone…
If you’re planning to use it in a busy family environment, it’s not the best choice because the sound is leaking – again, open back, no surprises.
They are 250 Ohm – you can drive them with a macbook or a cheap soundcard, as the other reviwers stated, but you don’t know what you’re missing, until you hook it up with a proper headphone amp. Mobile phones are also out of the equation, they just simply don’t have the power to drive these cans. (maybe the G series LG phones with their dedicated built in DAC)
First i tought i can drive them with my Scarlett Solo audio interface – tho they did the job, there was no headroom left, i had to crank it all the way up to have *slightly* loud sound. Also the highs were way too harsh for my ears. So i ended up ordering a dedicated headphone amp/preamp from Schiit Audio (i know, it’s a funny name, but they are making some of the coolest stuff for audiophiles) the Magni 3. My signal chain is the following now: my main AM4 based PC-Scarlett Solo-Schiit Magni 3 – Presonus Eris 3.5 – with this setup the DT 990 Pro finally came alive, and they are delivering an amazing sound, MUCH better than the Scarlett itself. The highs are not that harsh anymore, the sound stage is spot on, the bass got tighter, and the headroom is just crazy. Maybe just a placebo effect, but i think the highs are getting smoother as i am using these headphones every day (i’m not a huge believer of break-in times on speakers/headphones). The only downside for me is the cable – it’s not changable unfortunately, very heavy, and it doesn’t seem that sturdy at the connection point, hopefully they don’t break too soon… The comfort is next level, ideal for long sessions.
All in all, these cans are incredible value for the price, highly recommended for anyone who wants an entry level audiophile headphone.
Even better than my Sennheiser HD650's.
What can i say about these headphone’s. Probably the best sounding pair i’ve ever owned. The bass is astounding and the high’s are nice and crisp without being too overbearing. If you could ever be in love with an inanimate object then these would be them. So so good.
Even better than my Sennheiser HD650's.
What can i say about these headphone’s. Probably the best sounding pair i’ve ever owned. The bass is astounding and the high’s are nice and crisp without being too overbearing. If you could ever be in love with an inanimate object then these would be them. So so good.
I bought these headphones with the intended use of music production in mind. I’m not a professional, but I do have experience in audio engineering. My first impression of these headphones was, “Wow, how are these only 100ish”.. For the price, I was really blown away. The detail in both the top and bottom end is stellar. I use Adam A5X monitors combined with the Adam Sub8. But for scenarios where you don’t have something like that available, I found these headphones to be my go-to alternative.
Some people may suggest to use an external SoundCard/Headphone Amp to really get the most of them (because of their 250ohm impedance), however, my MacBook Pro 2015 hasn’t had any problems with outputting the right levels. Neither has my Focurite 2i2 external SoundCard.
The headphones can go reasonably loud while maintaining what sounds like an accurate frequency response without distorting, if they are; it’s subtle and I haven’t noticed – correct me if I’m wrong.
Talking Music Production, and this is just one example – I found processing reverbs with rich airy “shimmering” content, sounded amazing and crystal clear, the stereo image is incredible and you can easily tell when you’re over compensating mix down and sound design effects.. you can really dive in deep. To give this comment some context, I’m using Fab Filter Pro-R and Valhalla DSP reverbs with Izotope’s Imager and Waves S1.
The bottom end is really responsive, maybe a little too responsive, but I’ve not had any issues with over doing it dramatically. Although I do use spectrum analysers while I mix to get a visual representation, but once you get used to these headphones, it all becomes very natural anyway.
The above is just an example of my experience with these headphones, like anything, it’s subjective, but I’ve had mine for a while now and I happily give them a 5/5.
My only advice would be, to just keep an eye on your volume levels while using these for mixing purposes, you’ll get the most out of them mixing at quieter volumes rather than louder – and that goes for both headphones and speakers really.
I bought these headphones with the intended use of music production in mind. I’m not a professional, but I do have experience in audio engineering. My first impression of these headphones was, “Wow, how are these only 100ish”.. For the price, I was really blown away. The detail in both the top and bottom end is stellar. I use Adam A5X monitors combined with the Adam Sub8. But for scenarios where you don’t have something like that available, I found these headphones to be my go-to alternative.
Some people may suggest to use an external SoundCard/Headphone Amp to really get the most of them (because of their 250ohm impedance), however, my MacBook Pro 2015 hasn’t had any problems with outputting the right levels. Neither has my Focurite 2i2 external SoundCard.
The headphones can go reasonably loud while maintaining what sounds like an accurate frequency response without distorting, if they are; it’s subtle and I haven’t noticed – correct me if I’m wrong.
Talking Music Production, and this is just one example – I found processing reverbs with rich airy “shimmering” content, sounded amazing and crystal clear, the stereo image is incredible and you can easily tell when you’re over compensating mix down and sound design effects.. you can really dive in deep. To give this comment some context, I’m using Fab Filter Pro-R and Valhalla DSP reverbs with Izotope’s Imager and Waves S1.
The bottom end is really responsive, maybe a little too responsive, but I’ve not had any issues with over doing it dramatically. Although I do use spectrum analysers while I mix to get a visual representation, but once you get used to these headphones, it all becomes very natural anyway.
The above is just an example of my experience with these headphones, like anything, it’s subjective, but I’ve had mine for a while now and I happily give them a 5/5.
My only advice would be, to just keep an eye on your volume levels while using these for mixing purposes, you’ll get the most out of them mixing at quieter volumes rather than louder – and that goes for both headphones and speakers really.
EDIT 2 Years: Highly recommend for music and gaming
Edit: I’ve had these just over 2 years now, I gotta say these are an amazing piece of drivers. I’ve tried a few and I always come back to these. They’ve been my favourite headphones I’ve ever owned. I highly recommend picking these up.
My DT 990 Pro just arrived today and to say the least, I’m incredibly impressed. The sound quality is amazing, the build quality feels expensive and they’re very comfortable
But be sure you can power these as they’re 250ohm! I don’t do any audio mixing myself but I’m pretty serious about audio, so glad I got these.
In games you pick up so many tiny details so very helpful for listening for footsteps.
Definitely recommend these!
EDIT 2 Years: Highly recommend for music and gaming
Edit: I’ve had these just over 2 years now, I gotta say these are an amazing piece of drivers. I’ve tried a few and I always come back to these. They’ve been my favourite headphones I’ve ever owned. I highly recommend picking these up.
My DT 990 Pro just arrived today and to say the least, I’m incredibly impressed. The sound quality is amazing, the build quality feels expensive and they’re very comfortable
But be sure you can power these as they’re 250ohm! I don’t do any audio mixing myself but I’m pretty serious about audio, so glad I got these.
In games you pick up so many tiny details so very helpful for listening for footsteps.
Definitely recommend these!
Very comfortable recommend for long gaming sessions
Great headphones comfort is 10/10 I can wear them for long gaming sessions and it doesn’t heart my head sound is great when I first put these on and loaded up a game It did seem like the treble was to high and it hert my ears but I got a sound card and that fixed that so overall RECCOMEMD if you are in the market for a new headse
Very comfortable recommend for long gaming sessions
Great headphones comfort is 10/10 I can wear them for long gaming sessions and it doesn’t heart my head sound is great when I first put these on and loaded up a game It did seem like the treble was to high and it hert my ears but I got a sound card and that fixed that so overall RECCOMEMD if you are in the market for a new headse
A joy to my ears, and my walle
Let me start off by saying I’m no professional audio engineer. So these headphones are some of the best I’ve ever used. Whether I’m using them for production, listening to music or gaming they are always a joy to use. I ran a few tests on them and they did perfect on every one with one exception being the driver rattle test which they did actually rattle at low frequencies but I have not noticed this outside of the actual test so I’d say they perform perfectly in normal use cases. But my favourite part about these are not the flawless sound but the comfort. For anyone that’s used over ear headphones for an extended period will know that after an hour or so your ears will hurt red raw. But these are so light and so comfortable I can wear them all day without much of any problems. Truly a joy all around. And let’s not forget that these might be by far the best in the price range and maybe even above it. It is worth mentioning though you will need a beefy amp if you want to really get the most of them.
A joy to my ears, and my walle
Let me start off by saying I’m no professional audio engineer. So these headphones are some of the best I’ve ever used. Whether I’m using them for production, listening to music or gaming they are always a joy to use. I ran a few tests on them and they did perfect on every one with one exception being the driver rattle test which they did actually rattle at low frequencies but I have not noticed this outside of the actual test so I’d say they perform perfectly in normal use cases. But my favourite part about these are not the flawless sound but the comfort. For anyone that’s used over ear headphones for an extended period will know that after an hour or so your ears will hurt red raw. But these are so light and so comfortable I can wear them all day without much of any problems. Truly a joy all around. And let’s not forget that these might be by far the best in the price range and maybe even above it. It is worth mentioning though you will need a beefy amp if you want to really get the most of them.
As the title states, i am means considering my self as a an Audiophile, i do have quite the hearing ( used to play in a band) but this headset just ticks all the boxes.
Sound Quality : whatever been said in any reviews ( i assume you did when looking at high end headphones) is true, the clarity of the sound, the crispiness , crystal clear, the sound stage ( for FPS gamers) is very well present and precise , small example ( in overwatch , in the training field, i did notice bullets casing from Ashe after shooting, which was surprising for me as i didn’t pay attention to it before, maybe coincidence, ) the point is ,these headphones give you the edge you are looking for in FPS competitive environment.
Build Quality : German made
DAC/AMPS : i have an Asus Rog Maximus hero X comes with ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 which can drive theses bad boys, as per the spec sheet, i am yet to give a long term use review but this is just my initial review ( compared to a one week use of the DT 770 pro 80 Ohm ( the isolation is just too much )
if you are a gamer and looking to use them for music ( mp3) and movies, the motherboard Sound Chip is more than capable (if it is from latest Mobo that is ) , but if you are into high-end sound production and you want to use the headphones to their fullest , then an external solution maybe is good for you .
Comfort : one of the most comfortable headphone out there,feel like a brand new winter Hat on your ears, it a bit tight at first ( i have big head) but leave it on it own box overnight and this should release the tension and you will get used to them.
overall :
this is a MUST have if you are a gamer/ like music/like decent sound and want to step up your game in the Audio department, i’m going to buy one from my little brother for sure !
i do not usually make such long reviews , but i spent the last 20 days testing headphones ( DT770/ DT990 premium )
so i hope my review help someone to decide 🙂
As the title states, i am means considering my self as a an Audiophile, i do have quite the hearing ( used to play in a band) but this headset just ticks all the boxes.
Sound Quality : whatever been said in any reviews ( i assume you did when looking at high end headphones) is true, the clarity of the sound, the crispiness , crystal clear, the sound stage ( for FPS gamers) is very well present and precise , small example ( in overwatch , in the training field, i did notice bullets casing from Ashe after shooting, which was surprising for me as i didn’t pay attention to it before, maybe coincidence, ) the point is ,these headphones give you the edge you are looking for in FPS competitive environment.
Build Quality : German made
DAC/AMPS : i have an Asus Rog Maximus hero X comes with ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 which can drive theses bad boys, as per the spec sheet, i am yet to give a long term use review but this is just my initial review ( compared to a one week use of the DT 770 pro 80 Ohm ( the isolation is just too much )
if you are a gamer and looking to use them for music ( mp3) and movies, the motherboard Sound Chip is more than capable (if it is from latest Mobo that is ) , but if you are into high-end sound production and you want to use the headphones to their fullest , then an external solution maybe is good for you .
Comfort : one of the most comfortable headphone out there,feel like a brand new winter Hat on your ears, it a bit tight at first ( i have big head) but leave it on it own box overnight and this should release the tension and you will get used to them.
overall :
this is a MUST have if you are a gamer/ like music/like decent sound and want to step up your game in the Audio department, i’m going to buy one from my little brother for sure !
i do not usually make such long reviews , but i spent the last 20 days testing headphones ( DT770/ DT990 premium )
so i hope my review help someone to decide 🙂
Im not an expert on Audio far from it so ill keep this brief and simple. They are super comfortable and your be hard to find a pair of headphones that are more comfy, The sound is extremely good and coming from Grados SR80es i would say they sound better with better bass. The headphones are that sensitive, (dont know the technical term) that if you are listening to a poorer quality film MP3, video clip from a camera etc and these formats arent the best in quality then these headphones will pick up on that so something to think about if your picky. For music gaming films they are superb in every sense for me anyway.
Please be aware you will need a headphone amplifier or a soundcard to drive these headphones because of the high independence of 250 ohms, it is much higher than 95% of headphones around.
Overall i would give these 9 out of 10, and to compare my Grados SR80e i would give them 8 out of ten.
As i said im not a expert on Headphones and have only have 2 high end headphones so its just my opinion.
Im not an expert on Audio far from it so ill keep this brief and simple. They are super comfortable and your be hard to find a pair of headphones that are more comfy, The sound is extremely good and coming from Grados SR80es i would say they sound better with better bass. The headphones are that sensitive, (dont know the technical term) that if you are listening to a poorer quality film MP3, video clip from a camera etc and these formats arent the best in quality then these headphones will pick up on that so something to think about if your picky. For music gaming films they are superb in every sense for me anyway.
Please be aware you will need a headphone amplifier or a soundcard to drive these headphones because of the high independence of 250 ohms, it is much higher than 95% of headphones around.
Overall i would give these 9 out of 10, and to compare my Grados SR80e i would give them 8 out of ten.
As i said im not a expert on Headphones and have only have 2 high end headphones so its just my opinion.
Fabulous Sound Quality
Just love these! They’re really comfortable and the sound quality is spectacular. The higher impedance suggests you need a headphone amplifier to get the best out of them and they’re probably right, but I use them with when I’m recording and mixing music, but they work perfectly well without in my MacBook and iPhone6.
Fabulous Sound Quality
Just love these! They’re really comfortable and the sound quality is spectacular. The higher impedance suggests you need a headphone amplifier to get the best out of them and they’re probably right, but I use them with when I’m recording and mixing music, but they work perfectly well without in my MacBook and iPhone6.
Great sound
I own a pair of Beyer DT100 headphones that I bought in 1978! Still going strong 40 years later. I wonder if these will last another 40 years? Although I guess I probably won’t!!
I can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said concerning the sound quality. Fantastic bass and high notes and much better quality sound that the old pair.
I have only given 4 stars however, because what has happened from time to time with the DT100 is a cable problem. Being able to swap this out at the time of use in 10 seconds because its on a plug and socket is professional Beyer. Hard wired in is not. What are you thinking off? Although it does say eveything is replaceable but how you would go about taking it all apart is unclear and certainly not doable during a session. Add 5 to the price or something if you need to. Although you can still buy the DT100 model which appear to be around the same price so why its not on every model is a mystery.
Great sound
I own a pair of Beyer DT100 headphones that I bought in 1978! Still going strong 40 years later. I wonder if these will last another 40 years? Although I guess I probably won’t!!
I can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said concerning the sound quality. Fantastic bass and high notes and much better quality sound that the old pair.
I have only given 4 stars however, because what has happened from time to time with the DT100 is a cable problem. Being able to swap this out at the time of use in 10 seconds because its on a plug and socket is professional Beyer. Hard wired in is not. What are you thinking off? Although it does say eveything is replaceable but how you would go about taking it all apart is unclear and certainly not doable during a session. Add 5 to the price or something if you need to. Although you can still buy the DT100 model which appear to be around the same price so why its not on every model is a mystery.
Top headphones.
Moved from senhiser to these for my movies and they rock. Had them now for a while and well over 100 hours in and they are stunning. The bass is nice and they dont distort or pop and crackle one bit. I use for surround bluerays and the sound field is nice, tried bf1 for about an hour and sound great for gaming also they are the most comftable cans I have ever had and no sweating on the ears.
Best Headphones - Owned to Date
My AKG 550 MK2 broke afer 4 years use and so time for a new headset.
Was originally going to replace with the MK3 version but unable to find competitive price in my budget at the time started to look for another brand replacement.
Came across the BeyerDynamic DT 990 Pro and after extensive research they appeared to fit the bill.
Brought mainly as a gaming headset paired through an AV Amp they are a revelation.
I thought the K550 were good but these are so much of an improvement. Highly detailed sound with very controlled loud bass.. You feel it more with more extension but no distortion. Adds a lot more immersion to the sound stage which is also very wide.
Positional audio is fantastic especially in Battlefield where the audio cues you get inform you of whats happening in 360 radius.
Used with an XBOX 1 X and they are highly recommended and also they are well worth the money.
Films. Using with films they are amazing and present everything that is in the soundtrack.
All in all recommended quality headset…essential if you want an excellent gaming headset that also excels with Music, and films as well.
Best Headphones - Owned to Date
My AKG 550 MK2 broke afer 4 years use and so time for a new headset.
Was originally going to replace with the MK3 version but unable to find competitive price in my budget at the time started to look for another brand replacement.
Came across the BeyerDynamic DT 990 Pro and after extensive research they appeared to fit the bill.
Brought mainly as a gaming headset paired through an AV Amp they are a revelation.
I thought the K550 were good but these are so much of an improvement. Highly detailed sound with very controlled loud bass.. You feel it more with more extension but no distortion. Adds a lot more immersion to the sound stage which is also very wide.
Positional audio is fantastic especially in Battlefield where the audio cues you get inform you of whats happening in 360 radius.
Used with an XBOX 1 X and they are highly recommended and also they are well worth the money.
Films. Using with films they are amazing and present everything that is in the soundtrack.
All in all recommended quality headset…essential if you want an excellent gaming headset that also excels with Music, and films as well.
These headphones provide a very balanced and natural sound however I find the bass to be a little underwhelming in certain situations.
In terms of the mid and high frequency range these headphones are likely the best I’ve used and in combination with the subtle bass these headphones offer very precise positional audio which is brilliant if you using them for gaming.
Listening to music can be great however I find it hard to listen to lower quality audio as well as tracks that have poor mastering because the dynamic range and clarity of these headphones is just brilliant.
Music with lots of low frequency bass in the 0-25hz range is a little hard to listen to as the drivers can sound quite clicky. At first I thought this was a product defect so I returned them and the second pair was identical and despite this I have still chosen to keep them just because of quality of the sound in every other department as well as the overall build quality.
I initially tried to drive these with my on board sound on my computer as my friend does so with his 250 ohm DT 990’S however he has a premium motherboard (250+) with premium on board sound.
I only have a mid range motherboard (110) with quite a low specification on board sound which resulted in a very quiet maximum volume as well as a lack of dynamic range.
I purchased the Creative Sound Blaster XE-5 sound card and run it in direct headphone power mode for high ohm headphones and it turns the headphones into a whole different animal.
I would highly recommend these headphones for gaming, watching movies and all music except genres featuring lots of low frequency bass.
Did I really need a DAC or amp?
My first pair of proper headphones. Did loads of research before buying and I took the advice and bought a DAC/amp (FX Audio DAC-x6) for these 250 headphones. However, I get perfectly good sound straight out my MacBrook Pro (mid 2015) without the DAC/amp and the volume at about 50-60%. From my PS4 controller the sound is very quiet at 100% volume, which I expected. From a Sony Walkman (2008 model) the volume is plenty at 50%. So apart from the TV and PS4, I don’t think a DAC/amp is a must IMO.
They look better in the flesh. I was concerned the padded headband would be plasticky (like cheap vinyl), but it’s quite plush and very soft, more like a jacket. The box says all the parts are replaceable, I like that.
Sound leakage is not anywhere near as bad I thought it was going to be. But I probably won’t be taking these to the office.
I went for open-back as the soundstage is said to be larger. The sound is less ‘in your head’ and the experience is less claustrophobic than closed headphones. Great bass.
They look and sound brilliant and the large soft cups fit over spectacles comfortably. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the coiled cable is bit thick, heavy and in the way. With a straight cable you sort of forget it’s there, but it’s around 40 more for the DT 990 Edition model that has the straight cable… I do prefer the look of the PRO anyway.
I have…, was mainly using ath- m50x, which compared I feel are more general purpose cans.
the Beyers, although quieter, are much better sound stage. levels & spatial are more apparent, & I actually ‘feel ‘ ready to mix or track in confidence of what I’m hearing. very comfy for long periods. good quality.
would definitely recommend (quality wise ie you may need headphone amp, etc)
I have…, was mainly using ath- m50x, which compared I feel are more general purpose cans.
the Beyers, although quieter, are much better sound stage. levels & spatial are more apparent, & I actually ‘feel ‘ ready to mix or track in confidence of what I’m hearing. very comfy for long periods. good quality.
would definitely recommend (quality wise ie you may need headphone amp, etc)
Great cans, excellent hooked up to pc.
These are very good, high quality headphones. I use these for gaming, music and everything else associated with my pc. A DAC/headphone amp is, however, required for them to be heard at their best due to the 250 ohmage value. I have them hooked up through a FiiO E17K and it handles them nicely, although i had to turn the bass down all the way as the headphones seem a tad boomy at first.
Only main gripe is that the headphone cable, while high quality coil, can feel heavy and clunky resting on your arm and around your keyboard while at the desk, while also being only about 4 feet long. However this is fine once set up to your liking and having gotten used to, with the positives of the cans greatly outweighing this minor negative.
Overall, fantastic soundstage and sharp clarity in audio once worn in and equalized properly.
ZE GERMAN ENGINEERING IST ZE UBER ENGINEERING!
9/10.
Great cans, excellent hooked up to pc.
These are very good, high quality headphones. I use these for gaming, music and everything else associated with my pc. A DAC/headphone amp is, however, required for them to be heard at their best due to the 250 ohmage value. I have them hooked up through a FiiO E17K and it handles them nicely, although i had to turn the bass down all the way as the headphones seem a tad boomy at first.
Only main gripe is that the headphone cable, while high quality coil, can feel heavy and clunky resting on your arm and around your keyboard while at the desk, while also being only about 4 feet long. However this is fine once set up to your liking and having gotten used to, with the positives of the cans greatly outweighing this minor negative.
Overall, fantastic soundstage and sharp clarity in audio once worn in and equalized properly.
ZE GERMAN ENGINEERING IST ZE UBER ENGINEERING!
9/10.
These headphones are incredible! The best I’ve ever owned. Everything is clear and easy to hear – especially when gaming, which is what I purchased them for.
To get the best out of them though you need and external DAC/AMP as your PC, mobile, tablet etc. will not be able to drive them properly on their own; basically everything will be extremely quiet and sound flat. I went for the external AMP Schiit Magni (cost $99) and when paired together make an unstoppable combo. I’d highly recommend you purchase the Magni too as – value for money – you can’t beat it but do some research and see what best suits you and your price range.
My only 2 gripes with these headphones are: the coiled cable (it’s heavy and cumbersome) and that as you can see in the picture the ‘logo’ (as I’ll call it) is rubbing off and I’ve only had them a month.
Overall absolutely worth the money.
My Schiit Magni and headphones can be seen in the photo.
Coupled with a FiiO – E10K Olympus USB DAC, these headphones deliver crisp, crystal-clear sound for gaming and videos.
Although open backed, the sound-leakage is minimal, besides, the volume doesn’t need to be high because the sound is so clear.
Because they are open-backed, external sound can still be heard which makes them perfect for being able to hear phones, doorbells and dinner-gongs but not so good for isolating oneself from any general hubbub. All of the former suited my own requirements.
The headphones are extremely comfortable, stylish and appear robustly made (time may tell another story).
Very happy to have bought these instead of wasting more money on yet another pair of shill-reviewed, underperforming gaming headsets.
Coupled with a FiiO – E10K Olympus USB DAC, these headphones deliver crisp, crystal-clear sound for gaming and videos.
Although open backed, the sound-leakage is minimal, besides, the volume doesn’t need to be high because the sound is so clear.
Because they are open-backed, external sound can still be heard which makes them perfect for being able to hear phones, doorbells and dinner-gongs but not so good for isolating oneself from any general hubbub. All of the former suited my own requirements.
The headphones are extremely comfortable, stylish and appear robustly made (time may tell another story).
Very happy to have bought these instead of wasting more money on yet another pair of shill-reviewed, underperforming gaming headsets.
Fantastic sound quality, terrible head band.
For reference my current setup is running the headphones through the headphone amp on my Soundblaster ZxR. I have a pair of AKG K550 which are good quality but very flat. I also own a couple of pairs of Sennheiser headsets: The 360 and the game one, both have pretty good sound quality but are still a bit flat, although not nearly as much as the AKG K550. All 3 sets pale in comparison to the Beyer 990s for films, music and games.
The bass and treble are both excellently reproduced with these headphones. If you are watching a film you might find yourself looking around the room when a truck goes past as the depth of the bass is so good, but not at all overpowering. Likewise the treble is very snappy and harsh sounds like bullets snapping by soldiers and tires screeching sound as unpleasant as they would in the flesh.
It’s also quite impressive how they will pick out a lof of the ambient noises in TV and film so you can hear bits of background conversations that would normally just sound like noise.
In terms of music genres I listen to rock, metal, hip hop, drum and bass and most likely a few genres I can’t think of right now. The Beyers work well in all of them and I’m genuinely surprised at being able to hear so much additional detail when none of my previous headphones/headsets were exactly cheap or bad. It’s worth noting that these headphones are not overly bassy like some other headphones I can think of that are apparently popular because an artist put his name on them and added some metal weights so they feel “expensive”
Sadly the headband is made of either real or fake leather that bunches ever so slightly due to the bend of the headband and digs into your head. I don’t know why Beyer didn’t use the microfibre type material the ear cups are made of as that’s really comfortable and works very well on other sets of headphones I own.
I’m currently looking at making my own head band strip as the current one starts to become quite unpleasant after a couple of hours of wear. I’d say it is really inexcusable for headphones costing this much to have such a band headband and if the sound quality wasn’t so impressive I would have sent them back.
It’s also worth noting that the headband suffers from falling apart from moisture after a year or so, it’s discussed a lot online and would explain why a replacement is so readily available. Shame Beyer don’t sell a replacement made out of comfortable material.
Fantastic sound quality, terrible head band.
For reference my current setup is running the headphones through the headphone amp on my Soundblaster ZxR. I have a pair of AKG K550 which are good quality but very flat. I also own a couple of pairs of Sennheiser headsets: The 360 and the game one, both have pretty good sound quality but are still a bit flat, although not nearly as much as the AKG K550. All 3 sets pale in comparison to the Beyer 990s for films, music and games.
The bass and treble are both excellently reproduced with these headphones. If you are watching a film you might find yourself looking around the room when a truck goes past as the depth of the bass is so good, but not at all overpowering. Likewise the treble is very snappy and harsh sounds like bullets snapping by soldiers and tires screeching sound as unpleasant as they would in the flesh.
It’s also quite impressive how they will pick out a lof of the ambient noises in TV and film so you can hear bits of background conversations that would normally just sound like noise.
In terms of music genres I listen to rock, metal, hip hop, drum and bass and most likely a few genres I can’t think of right now. The Beyers work well in all of them and I’m genuinely surprised at being able to hear so much additional detail when none of my previous headphones/headsets were exactly cheap or bad. It’s worth noting that these headphones are not overly bassy like some other headphones I can think of that are apparently popular because an artist put his name on them and added some metal weights so they feel “expensive”
Sadly the headband is made of either real or fake leather that bunches ever so slightly due to the bend of the headband and digs into your head. I don’t know why Beyer didn’t use the microfibre type material the ear cups are made of as that’s really comfortable and works very well on other sets of headphones I own.
I’m currently looking at making my own head band strip as the current one starts to become quite unpleasant after a couple of hours of wear. I’d say it is really inexcusable for headphones costing this much to have such a band headband and if the sound quality wasn’t so impressive I would have sent them back.
It’s also worth noting that the headband suffers from falling apart from moisture after a year or so, it’s discussed a lot online and would explain why a replacement is so readily available. Shame Beyer don’t sell a replacement made out of comfortable material.
DT 990 pro 250ohm
Amazing sound however they are a bit sharp on the treble but I can easily manage so these are not for everyone. Comfort wise they are comfy but have a bit of a clamp at first but they loosen up, only thing I would love to have is a removable cable but atleast the build quality is decent and they are made in Germany.
DT 990 pro 250ohm
Amazing sound however they are a bit sharp on the treble but I can easily manage so these are not for everyone. Comfort wise they are comfy but have a bit of a clamp at first but they loosen up, only thing I would love to have is a removable cable but atleast the build quality is decent and they are made in Germany.
I use these for mixing, and I cannot believe how clear the sound is. I am able to hear frequencies I’ve not heard before, and all the problems with my current mixes have come to light.
I was able to create something much better using these. It’s very exciting to hear things in songs you didn’t know were there 🙂
These are open back headphones so obviously not for use outside.
Brilliant (of course)
Not as good as Alba headphones. Ok I lied. They’re Beyerdinamic’s of course they’re a good pair af cans maaan!
These DT990s live up to expectations. The frequency response is nice and flat and you can get some really good mixes using them,
Even when check the mix on monitors afterwards.
The lead is nice and long although I would have preferred a detachable / replaceable lead, like you have on the DT100s.
They are really comfy to wear for long periods, I’ve worn them for at least six hours straight and didn’t feel like my head was in a vice afterwards.
I would recomend the Beyerdinamic DT990’s if you’re looking for some good quality reference headphones, sorry cans!
Brilliant (of course)
Not as good as Alba headphones. Ok I lied. They’re Beyerdinamic’s of course they’re a good pair af cans maaan!
These DT990s live up to expectations. The frequency response is nice and flat and you can get some really good mixes using them,
Even when check the mix on monitors afterwards.
The lead is nice and long although I would have preferred a detachable / replaceable lead, like you have on the DT100s.
They are really comfy to wear for long periods, I’ve worn them for at least six hours straight and didn’t feel like my head was in a vice afterwards.
I would recomend the Beyerdinamic DT990’s if you’re looking for some good quality reference headphones, sorry cans!
These headphones are great, I cant fault them as a beginner getting into hi-fi. My music sounds better then ever and my games on my PC are even more immersive!
Before buying I’d recommend buying a headphone amp and DAC. I bought the Bravo audio v2 and a Signstek Mini USB DAC. My headphones sound pretty good with this combo! I went for the Signstek because it was cheap and had a usb port, perfect to go right into my PC.
Overall I give these headphone a 5 star rating. As a nooby guy who doesnt know much about audio, I am more than pleased with these little beauty’s.
Oh and there pretty comfy too!
No regrets!
Im not a headphone person. They are usually to loose, to heavy, itchy as hell, sweat collecters and I cant wear them for more than 30 minutes due to some aspect of the sound being to much for my ears. Im a very fussy fk.
Simply put- I could sleep in these.
Iv got a massive head, they sit comfortably without feeling to tight or slipping.
I wore them for easily 3 hours without having to adjust them to much, the microfibre cups sit well over the ears and feel great (even with my unkempt beard) and breathes excellently, not even clammy behind the ears.
The sound quality is amazing (I am running them through the Fiio Olympus E10K, bought at the same time, connected to my pc mobo), bass is punchy without drowning out or muddying, mids are clean and crisp and the highs cut through without being overwhelming. I have also tried them on my iPhone 7+, obviously wont go to loud but you can still hear everything nicely with good clarity, both music and apps.
The build quality is top notch (which you should just expect seeing as though they cost over 100), but i have read the other reviews on here about loose cables and the such. Mine are immaculate, Iv given them a good twisting and spreading, no creaks or unhealthy snaps or twangs.
So yeah, imo – buy em, you wont regret it!
These headphones are great, I cant fault them as a beginner getting into hi-fi. My music sounds better then ever and my games on my PC are even more immersive!
Before buying I’d recommend buying a headphone amp and DAC. I bought the Bravo audio v2 and a Signstek Mini USB DAC. My headphones sound pretty good with this combo! I went for the Signstek because it was cheap and had a usb port, perfect to go right into my PC.
Overall I give these headphone a 5 star rating. As a nooby guy who doesnt know much about audio, I am more than pleased with these little beauty’s.
Oh and there pretty comfy too!
Best headphones I've ever used
I’ve owned a lot of headphones in the past but they have always been ‘gamer’ style headphones. I decided to buy a good pair of headphones as I don’t need an attached mic. These are by far the best headphones I have ever used. For anyone who claims to have some distortion at volume I would look at the audio source. I use these on my PC and when using on board sound I would get distortion, but paired with an Asus Xonar DSG sound card this completely eliminated the issue. So at the moment it goes Asus Xonar DSG soundcard -> Bravo Audio V2 Headphone Amp -> Headphones and it is simply amazing. Also they are super comfortable and fit around the ears easily, I wear glasses as well and it’s still very comfortable.
Highly recommended.
Best headphones I've ever used
I’ve owned a lot of headphones in the past but they have always been ‘gamer’ style headphones. I decided to buy a good pair of headphones as I don’t need an attached mic. These are by far the best headphones I have ever used. For anyone who claims to have some distortion at volume I would look at the audio source. I use these on my PC and when using on board sound I would get distortion, but paired with an Asus Xonar DSG sound card this completely eliminated the issue. So at the moment it goes Asus Xonar DSG soundcard -> Bravo Audio V2 Headphone Amp -> Headphones and it is simply amazing. Also they are super comfortable and fit around the ears easily, I wear glasses as well and it’s still very comfortable.
Highly recommended.
... Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality
As an owner of the Closed Back headphones the Custom One Pro Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality, sound signature and overall fantastic design and comfort of the headphones that this company provides so when I got these, I expected more of the same. Well, that’s exactly what I got, except for a few differences and they are absolutely great differences at that! The DT 990 Pro 250 OHM headphones are open back instead of closed so the Treble is far more pronounced (dare I say even a little overly so until the wear in, or so I’ve been told on the latter) which means things like leaves falling in a video game or subtle nuances in a music track are far easier to hear.
That’s not to say that these lack Bass, because that’s far from the case! My Custom One’s (which are basically DT 770’s) are pretty great on both Bass and Treble but the DT 990’s go a step further and crank up on both without losing any of the crystal clarity or Bass you’d come to expect. They are without doubt the best headphones I have EVER owned and both as a lover of music and an avid gamer, these cans are absolute GOLD!
As a side note as well, they are built like a tank and the ear cups are a velour instead of faux (fake) leather like on the Customs, which in my opinion is a good thing as the faux leather of the Customs began to crack after about a year of use. I know that may not sound like a short amount of time but the pads for them are rather pricey compared to Brainwavz pads so that’s another thing to take into account although the reason for the faux leather on the Customs is due to being isolated whereas the DT 990’s are open back and benefit from velour ear-pads.
All in all then, I’d recommend these headphones to anyone who wants a great pair (actually, I’d say one of the BEST pairs in my humble opinion) of cans that will give you amazing musical sessions as well as insanely accurate sound in whatever games you happen to enjoy!
... Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality
As an owner of the Closed Back headphones the Custom One Pro Plus headphones also by Beyerdynamic I was already extremely happy with the build quality, sound signature and overall fantastic design and comfort of the headphones that this company provides so when I got these, I expected more of the same. Well, that’s exactly what I got, except for a few differences and they are absolutely great differences at that! The DT 990 Pro 250 OHM headphones are open back instead of closed so the Treble is far more pronounced (dare I say even a little overly so until the wear in, or so I’ve been told on the latter) which means things like leaves falling in a video game or subtle nuances in a music track are far easier to hear.
That’s not to say that these lack Bass, because that’s far from the case! My Custom One’s (which are basically DT 770’s) are pretty great on both Bass and Treble but the DT 990’s go a step further and crank up on both without losing any of the crystal clarity or Bass you’d come to expect. They are without doubt the best headphones I have EVER owned and both as a lover of music and an avid gamer, these cans are absolute GOLD!
As a side note as well, they are built like a tank and the ear cups are a velour instead of faux (fake) leather like on the Customs, which in my opinion is a good thing as the faux leather of the Customs began to crack after about a year of use. I know that may not sound like a short amount of time but the pads for them are rather pricey compared to Brainwavz pads so that’s another thing to take into account although the reason for the faux leather on the Customs is due to being isolated whereas the DT 990’s are open back and benefit from velour ear-pads.
All in all then, I’d recommend these headphones to anyone who wants a great pair (actually, I’d say one of the BEST pairs in my humble opinion) of cans that will give you amazing musical sessions as well as insanely accurate sound in whatever games you happen to enjoy!
So bloody comfortable. I don’t notice any of the high treble others have mentioned. I am 32 though, so that might have something to do with it.
Edit: So I’ve been listening to music for around 6hr’s. No hotspots, no pain on my ears.
I’ve noticed that these things lack no base. Without any EQ settings applied, the bass is rumbling, as in I can feel the bass.
Also, they work very well for games that require listening, such as Escape from Tarkov.
If you are into games, don’t go wasting on “gaming” headsets.
So bloody comfortable. I don’t notice any of the high treble others have mentioned. I am 32 though, so that might have something to do with it.
Edit: So I’ve been listening to music for around 6hr’s. No hotspots, no pain on my ears.
I’ve noticed that these things lack no base. Without any EQ settings applied, the bass is rumbling, as in I can feel the bass.
Also, they work very well for games that require listening, such as Escape from Tarkov.
If you are into games, don’t go wasting on “gaming” headsets.
WOW! The sound that these headphones make is astonishing. The sound is so clear and sharp, the sound stage is amazing these are the first pair of open cans I’ve even listen to and the difference in positioning of audio is night and day you can pick out each individual instrument and sort of paint a picture in your brain where it’s coming from it is game changing!
Since these are fairly high independence headphones the use of an amp is vital, plugged into my oneplus 3 they sound good but don’t get past “normal listening levels”. For my PC I have it paired with an SMSL SD793-II DAC + Amp combo and for 50 I’m really impressed!. Was a bit sceptical about weather it was good enough and I can categorically say it is! I can’t go past “1-oclock” on the volume dial without being dangerously loud and there is no distortion at all! For ~150 I don’t think you’ll be able to get a better setup.
I spent weeks researching these and the 600 ohm version…I spoke with several previous owners and finally at this price (105) went for it… I had also purchased a BlasterX AE-5 sound card which is capable of powering up to 600ohm headphones..I decided on the 250ohm DT990 pro as maybe people had said the 600 ohm version was too quiet without sound serious volume levels/ power. My previous headphones were Sony MDR 780’s which i had used for 12 plus years. They sounded amazing / loud and were super comfortable. Once i plugged the DT 990 in i was taken to another level… First off i needed to increase the volume leve as expected due to 250 ohm as opposed to MDR 780’s 32ohm. The bass has feeling.. By this i mean you can feel the bass breathing , thumping and pounding your ears yet in a very clear and rather pleasant way.. It certainly never sounds muddy or over powering. ( if you like really bass heavy then this is not for you ) this is more subtle. The bass is there…you can hear and feel it but it never takes over which is just how i like it.The highs are super high.. A very clear and crisp sound which introudces tones i never heard before. Some people will not like just how sharp and crystal these sound at the high end you can always EQ to your liking. For me the highs are right on the money. Mids have a lovely warm plush feel that joins hands with both the bass and highs , and with a wide sound stage these are a listening expericne for your ears. Super comfortable to wear , they grip just right so not to slip and not to press too much on your head..and do not feel fatiguing ..I’m using these for gaming , music mixing/remixing and general listening…At this price nothing comes close to the quality in sound….
I spent weeks researching these and the 600 ohm version…I spoke with several previous owners and finally at this price (105) went for it… I had also purchased a BlasterX AE-5 sound card which is capable of powering up to 600ohm headphones..I decided on the 250ohm DT990 pro as maybe people had said the 600 ohm version was too quiet without sound serious volume levels/ power. My previous headphones were Sony MDR 780’s which i had used for 12 plus years. They sounded amazing / loud and were super comfortable. Once i plugged the DT 990 in i was taken to another level… First off i needed to increase the volume leve as expected due to 250 ohm as opposed to MDR 780’s 32ohm. The bass has feeling.. By this i mean you can feel the bass breathing , thumping and pounding your ears yet in a very clear and rather pleasant way.. It certainly never sounds muddy or over powering. ( if you like really bass heavy then this is not for you ) this is more subtle. The bass is there…you can hear and feel it but it never takes over which is just how i like it.The highs are super high.. A very clear and crisp sound which introudces tones i never heard before. Some people will not like just how sharp and crystal these sound at the high end you can always EQ to your liking. For me the highs are right on the money. Mids have a lovely warm plush feel that joins hands with both the bass and highs , and with a wide sound stage these are a listening expericne for your ears. Super comfortable to wear , they grip just right so not to slip and not to press too much on your head..and do not feel fatiguing ..I’m using these for gaming , music mixing/remixing and general listening…At this price nothing comes close to the quality in sound….
I am running these with a cheap, Chinese valve amp (douk audio) that I got from ebay for about 30 quid. I have had them a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love them. I am not an audiophile but I do have headphones on for about 8 hours a day, playing games, watching movies, and listening to music.
The cups are very open so they will let noise in, my PC can be quite loud at times (thanks AMD) so I can hear my fans at times but it is no different from using speakers. They also let a lot of noise out so if you don’t live alone maybe be wary of that. The sound stage is awesome though. My old headset (plantronics gamecon 777) was semi open and I compared the two and these dt990s blow them out of the water.
It has gotten to the point that if I go from using these headphones to using my speakers (mission something or other, they weren’t cheap) I just want to go back to the headphones as the sound is so much better. They are so comfortable to wear as well, the ear pads are lovely and I have a pretty big and weird shaped head and i didn’t find the clamp too tight at all.
These are the best headphones I have used so far, although my experience is fairly limited, and I am over the moon with them, especially for the price as these are cheaper than the other ones I was thinking about getting (ath-m50x, sony closed cup something or other).
These are definitely worth your interest in my opinion 🙂
Love the headphones
Love the headphones, open back is has such great soundstage. You will need an amp to get the most out of them though, be warned!
edit: 8/01/2018 Had to request a replacement as I can only hear left side audio. This is a known issue with the DT990’s after awhile. Make sure to check if the cable to the headphones is not loose. Mine loosened over time. I still love the headphones, hence getting a replacement rather than refund.
Love the headphones
Love the headphones, open back is has such great soundstage. You will need an amp to get the most out of them though, be warned!
edit: 8/01/2018 Had to request a replacement as I can only hear left side audio. This is a known issue with the DT990’s after awhile. Make sure to check if the cable to the headphones is not loose. Mine loosened over time. I still love the headphones, hence getting a replacement rather than refund.
I am running these with a cheap, Chinese valve amp (douk audio) that I got from ebay for about 30 quid. I have had them a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love them. I am not an audiophile but I do have headphones on for about 8 hours a day, playing games, watching movies, and listening to music.
The cups are very open so they will let noise in, my PC can be quite loud at times (thanks AMD) so I can hear my fans at times but it is no different from using speakers. They also let a lot of noise out so if you don’t live alone maybe be wary of that. The sound stage is awesome though. My old headset (plantronics gamecon 777) was semi open and I compared the two and these dt990s blow them out of the water.
It has gotten to the point that if I go from using these headphones to using my speakers (mission something or other, they weren’t cheap) I just want to go back to the headphones as the sound is so much better. They are so comfortable to wear as well, the ear pads are lovely and I have a pretty big and weird shaped head and i didn’t find the clamp too tight at all.
These are the best headphones I have used so far, although my experience is fairly limited, and I am over the moon with them, especially for the price as these are cheaper than the other ones I was thinking about getting (ath-m50x, sony closed cup something or other).
These are definitely worth your interest in my opinion 🙂
Love these cans
Love these cans, they are the dogs for the money.
Have other older type closed back Beyerdynamic that I use for drumming (DT 150’s) and they are good.
However, these are more HiFi, I use them on the PC with a Chord Mojo DAC, they sound mighty fine.
I’m sure you can pay more and get a better ( hifi-ier ) sound, but at some point you have to ask yourself, what am I listening to, music or hifi ?
I think these allow you to listen the the music without trying to justify how much cash you have spent on gear.
My previous DT990s lasted 20 years!! They were 600 ohm and whileI understand there’s been some *subtle* changes since the early 1990s, there’s that trademark analytical clarity and natural sound I’ve been missing for a while! I prefer these over the equivalent Sennhieser and AKG, the HD600 for instance are very refined, very musical and natural.. but it feels like I’m listening through a subtle veil. The DT990 always plonks me right in the audio space and I quickly forget I’m wearing headphones! I find them comfortable for hours YMMV. They are unforgiving with poor sources, and will give the full picture warts and all. If you look at the plots these are are a lot less scooped in the midrange than often claimed, but those seeking a more musical sound will want to look at the DT880. These are superb for any sort of audio work, mastering and editing, and I can listen to them for hours at a time they are immersive. I’ve already been fooled into thinking I’m hearing sounds around me, only to rewind and it’s the recording. That’s the mark of a good headphone IMO! I do wish they had stuck with the cabling in a Y rather than hanging off one side, and a detachable cable so there’s less chance of accidental damage.. but that’s my only complaint. I’ve always been a fan of the tangle free cable. I’m probably biased as I’ve used DT990s as my go to headphone for half my life, but I think you have to spend a decent chunk more to get significant gains. Bargain!
Finally decided to buy some Audiophile headphones and i cannot believe how incredible these sound. I spent a good few months looking into AMP”s/DACs and different brands but didn’t want to completely empty bank account.
I decided on these highly reviewed DT990 250ohm, paired with a FiiO E10K Olympus USB DAC, and the sound is AMAZING.
After reading forum posts and reviews i thought the lack of bass people spoke about would be a bit disappointing but i would use the bass boost option on the DAC to make up for it. But i didn’t need too, the bass is really punchy without the boost, and in my opinion for whatever its worth, its the absolute perfect amount.
The build quality is really nice although the outside of the ear cups are plastic, they still look smart and feel really sturdy.
They are also incredibly light and comfortable, I’ve recently used them for 8’ish hours straight playing games and they felt comfortable the entire time. No sweaty ears or uncomfortable pressure around my ears.
For anyone considering these for PC Gaming, i absolutely recommend getting them, especially with the FiiO E10K DAC. The positional sound is BRILLIANT. I’ve used Plantronic 780 7.1’s,Tritton AX and Kama, Turtle Beach pros, Razer Kraken 7.1, Corsair HS40 7.1 and Sennheiser PC 350SE but the sound quality and directional sound of these DT990’s is massively above all of them. When playing with friends who use similar headphones to what i used to use, i now hear things and can pin point the direction of sounds easier and clearer than they do, whether it be nearby footsteps or distant gunfire. I was even accused of ”wall hacking” yesterday because i could hear other players around walls and corners so clearly and pre-fired.
Highly recommend to anyone looking to really up the audio quality of their music or gaming experience. After years of cheap to expensive ”Gaming Headsets” i wish i had bought a DAC and decent Audiophile headphones sooner. Best upgrade I’ve made in years.
Finally decided to buy some Audiophile headphones and i cannot believe how incredible these sound. I spent a good few months looking into AMP”s/DACs and different brands but didn’t want to completely empty bank account.
I decided on these highly reviewed DT990 250ohm, paired with a FiiO E10K Olympus USB DAC, and the sound is AMAZING.
After reading forum posts and reviews i thought the lack of bass people spoke about would be a bit disappointing but i would use the bass boost option on the DAC to make up for it. But i didn’t need too, the bass is really punchy without the boost, and in my opinion for whatever its worth, its the absolute perfect amount.
The build quality is really nice although the outside of the ear cups are plastic, they still look smart and feel really sturdy.
They are also incredibly light and comfortable, I’ve recently used them for 8’ish hours straight playing games and they felt comfortable the entire time. No sweaty ears or uncomfortable pressure around my ears.
For anyone considering these for PC Gaming, i absolutely recommend getting them, especially with the FiiO E10K DAC. The positional sound is BRILLIANT. I’ve used Plantronic 780 7.1’s,Tritton AX and Kama, Turtle Beach pros, Razer Kraken 7.1, Corsair HS40 7.1 and Sennheiser PC 350SE but the sound quality and directional sound of these DT990’s is massively above all of them. When playing with friends who use similar headphones to what i used to use, i now hear things and can pin point the direction of sounds easier and clearer than they do, whether it be nearby footsteps or distant gunfire. I was even accused of ”wall hacking” yesterday because i could hear other players around walls and corners so clearly and pre-fired.
Highly recommend to anyone looking to really up the audio quality of their music or gaming experience. After years of cheap to expensive ”Gaming Headsets” i wish i had bought a DAC and decent Audiophile headphones sooner. Best upgrade I’ve made in years.
Okay so I started researching headphones a while ago and being new to the whole “how much for those cans??!!” market, I was sceptical of how much of a difference they would make and nervous about which ones to get.
Short review line is, these are excellent. Job done, you can go now.
Not satisfied? Well I’ve tested them out against my 5.1 Logitech z906 speakers which are running on an optical connection (worth noting that the DT990s are running from a Creative Labs G5 dac). In games the bass on the headphones is incredible. Cannon fire in World of Warships woke me up and not because it was loud but just because I’d never heard such a boom before. I’ve also been testing this on music (not an audiophile so bear with me here) and having just ran Masterchef Synesthesiaby by Swede Mason through both, one after the other, the sound was distinctive. I get why people say these cans aren’t for bass heads after this test, not that it’s from a lack of bass on the cans but because it’s airy. The speakers delivered a wall of sound which I felt as much as heard and the result was the bass was powerful but messy. I couldn’t tell one bass line from another. With the DT990s I can tell which bass line is doing what without any effort whatsoever but it doesn’t assault my head with a rumble designed to make soup of my brain (that’s both an advantage and a disadvantage in my book). I can say however that the bass isn’t lacking. Spread Your Love doesn’t have quite the dirty bass I’m used to. Keine Lust comes through nice and punchy (as I’ve just found out, ensure you have that dac set to direct audio or you’re wasting the potential of these cans) but unlike most headphones, iems and speakers I’ve tried this track on, I can separate the guitars perfectly, even in the busy chorus.
Now, for build quality, these feel excellent. I’ve broken many headsets in my time and the only ones to last have been a pair of Sennheiser PC323Ds which these DT990s are replacing. I’ve got confidence that these cans will last a good long while. They’re solid and feel like they’re going to be heavy but really aren’t when they’re on your head. As for fit, I have an inordinately large cranium (stop giggling!) and they fit fine. Firm clamping force fresh out of the box. Nothing uncomfortable. Does feel a little warm around my head but I’m more of a cold weather guy and it’s been up to 26c in front of my pc the last couple of nights so I’m putting it down to that.
Accessories wise, you get the necessary and no more. The jack adaptor seems robust and well made (the threads on the screw joint into the 3.5mm work fine, which is usually the test of a decent engineer), the bag is nothing special and there’s nothing else in the box.
If you like rock music from System of a Down to AC/DC and Queen Adreena, I’d say you can buy with confidence.
As a parting note, I’m listening to Midlife Crysis by Faith no More as I write this and not only am I finding new pieces of the music that I can enjoy, the bass is there like I’ve never heard before. It’s no longer a background of continual growl without much rhythm but specific notes!
I am very impressed with these cans (as you can probably tell). Now all I’m left wondering at is what you’d get for the 2k cans and above? If this is the lower end of the range then call me a philistine and leave me happy here.
Okay so I started researching headphones a while ago and being new to the whole “how much for those cans??!!” market, I was sceptical of how much of a difference they would make and nervous about which ones to get.
Short review line is, these are excellent. Job done, you can go now.
Not satisfied? Well I’ve tested them out against my 5.1 Logitech z906 speakers which are running on an optical connection (worth noting that the DT990s are running from a Creative Labs G5 dac). In games the bass on the headphones is incredible. Cannon fire in World of Warships woke me up and not because it was loud but just because I’d never heard such a boom before. I’ve also been testing this on music (not an audiophile so bear with me here) and having just ran Masterchef Synesthesiaby by Swede Mason through both, one after the other, the sound was distinctive. I get why people say these cans aren’t for bass heads after this test, not that it’s from a lack of bass on the cans but because it’s airy. The speakers delivered a wall of sound which I felt as much as heard and the result was the bass was powerful but messy. I couldn’t tell one bass line from another. With the DT990s I can tell which bass line is doing what without any effort whatsoever but it doesn’t assault my head with a rumble designed to make soup of my brain (that’s both an advantage and a disadvantage in my book). I can say however that the bass isn’t lacking. Spread Your Love doesn’t have quite the dirty bass I’m used to. Keine Lust comes through nice and punchy (as I’ve just found out, ensure you have that dac set to direct audio or you’re wasting the potential of these cans) but unlike most headphones, iems and speakers I’ve tried this track on, I can separate the guitars perfectly, even in the busy chorus.
Now, for build quality, these feel excellent. I’ve broken many headsets in my time and the only ones to last have been a pair of Sennheiser PC323Ds which these DT990s are replacing. I’ve got confidence that these cans will last a good long while. They’re solid and feel like they’re going to be heavy but really aren’t when they’re on your head. As for fit, I have an inordinately large cranium (stop giggling!) and they fit fine. Firm clamping force fresh out of the box. Nothing uncomfortable. Does feel a little warm around my head but I’m more of a cold weather guy and it’s been up to 26c in front of my pc the last couple of nights so I’m putting it down to that.
Accessories wise, you get the necessary and no more. The jack adaptor seems robust and well made (the threads on the screw joint into the 3.5mm work fine, which is usually the test of a decent engineer), the bag is nothing special and there’s nothing else in the box.
If you like rock music from System of a Down to AC/DC and Queen Adreena, I’d say you can buy with confidence.
As a parting note, I’m listening to Midlife Crysis by Faith no More as I write this and not only am I finding new pieces of the music that I can enjoy, the bass is there like I’ve never heard before. It’s no longer a background of continual growl without much rhythm but specific notes!
I am very impressed with these cans (as you can probably tell). Now all I’m left wondering at is what you’d get for the 2k cans and above? If this is the lower end of the range then call me a philistine and leave me happy here.
The item itself I good, I own several pairs of beyerdynamic and sheinheiser headphones and have been running these for just under a month on a schitt amp.
However within that month the item has broken at the cable due to it not being glued in properly. Amazon customer service has been excellent as always and is sending a next day replacement. Be careful to check the cable on these units whenever they first arrive as mine has never been under stress, so I can only assume it arrived loose.
Edit:- replacement has also come loose, after inspection the cables are not held in by anything other than friction
Thanks for reading
The item itself I good, I own several pairs of beyerdynamic and sheinheiser headphones and have been running these for just under a month on a schitt amp.
However within that month the item has broken at the cable due to it not being glued in properly. Amazon customer service has been excellent as always and is sending a next day replacement. Be careful to check the cable on these units whenever they first arrive as mine has never been under stress, so I can only assume it arrived loose.
Edit:- replacement has also come loose, after inspection the cables are not held in by anything other than friction
Thanks for reading
Excellent set of cans!
The best and most accurate sounding headphones I have ever used. I own several sets from different manufacturers all around the 100 mark and these are my go to set for mixing music, watching films, listening to music and gaming.
They are very light and very comfortable during long sessions. Cushions seem to be great quality as well.
These are by far the best headphones I have bough
These are by far the best headphones I have bought; and in my opinion great value for their price. Some people might find them too transparent, but that’s something that I personally like. Also being 250 ohm some devices won’t drive them well and an amplifier is needed; but at moderate volumes I find my Note 3 smartphone can drive them fine.
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues
Coming from a AKG k272 HD, the difference in soundstage, clarity and dynamics were insane. I don’t use very decent audio gear either.
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues:
– Coiled cable
Some people dig this, but I don’t. All it does is require more cable for the same length, and it weighs the headphones down when it isn’t supported by anything, like a table. So while I’m enjoying my music I can enjoy the constant tug of a coiled cable to the floor?
– Clamping force
I do have a Large head (L on ski helmets), so Mediums and below should be fine, but it has cause some ache when listening for, say, longer than 30 mins. I tried stretching it by putting in on bookshelf speakers and that has helped a little. I will stretch it some more to hopefully be comfortable all the time, like the k272.
But all these problems can be fixed (replace cable, stretch headband more) easily. I don’t regret at all buying these headphones!
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues
Coming from a AKG k272 HD, the difference in soundstage, clarity and dynamics were insane. I don’t use very decent audio gear either.
Giving this 4 stars means I am absolutely satisfied with everything except a couple of issues:
– Coiled cable
Some people dig this, but I don’t. All it does is require more cable for the same length, and it weighs the headphones down when it isn’t supported by anything, like a table. So while I’m enjoying my music I can enjoy the constant tug of a coiled cable to the floor?
– Clamping force
I do have a Large head (L on ski helmets), so Mediums and below should be fine, but it has cause some ache when listening for, say, longer than 30 mins. I tried stretching it by putting in on bookshelf speakers and that has helped a little. I will stretch it some more to hopefully be comfortable all the time, like the k272.
But all these problems can be fixed (replace cable, stretch headband more) easily. I don’t regret at all buying these headphones!
Amazing headphones.
These are AMAZING headphones!
They have great bass, much better than my old Superlux HD668B headphones.
The pronounced bass does not stop the headphones having good, clear treble (Something I Experienced with my Bose Sound-True in-ear headphones).
Because of this, the headphones are very clean sounding and are perfect for the bass heavy electronic music that I listen to.
One quick tip, Buy them used, especially if you can find one under the “good” condition that says only the packaging is damaged. I paid 20 less than full price for these and they look brand new, the packaging is slightly dirty, trust me, it’s not a big difference.
Does what it says on the box very well! Especially if you understand what it is you are after (not for 'train use')
I’d recommend reading reviews from various sources prior to buying these, or any ‘audiophile’ headphones. They are exactly what I was expecting after reading reviews, and sound great. Super comfortable too, which I wasn’t actually expecting but I guess your mileage may vary.
Some users are not giving full 5 star reviews because these are ‘too noisy to use in public’ etc. These people do not do their research and make uninformed decisions. Open back headphones are purposely open back, to provide certain listening characteristics (amazing soundstage, as these provide). Again, make sure you do a bit of research before diving in!
Does what it says on the box very well! Especially if you understand what it is you are after (not for 'train use')
I’d recommend reading reviews from various sources prior to buying these, or any ‘audiophile’ headphones. They are exactly what I was expecting after reading reviews, and sound great. Super comfortable too, which I wasn’t actually expecting but I guess your mileage may vary.
Some users are not giving full 5 star reviews because these are ‘too noisy to use in public’ etc. These people do not do their research and make uninformed decisions. Open back headphones are purposely open back, to provide certain listening characteristics (amazing soundstage, as these provide). Again, make sure you do a bit of research before diving in!
They have a slight treble lift which COULD be an issue for young ears. They can sound screechy with a POOR source or EQ raised treble BUT with good equipment that slight treble lift is a delight, reminding me what I used to be able to hear.
I have tried loads of headphones and ear-phones and these are the ones I have no intention of replacing. They portray fine detail, dynamics, space, location and timbre better than almost everything I have ever heard.
CAUTIONS
1. A proper headphone amp is ESSENTIAL to get a reasonable sound level – due to that 250 ohm impedance.
2. A high quality headphone amp is ESSENTIAL to be able to appreciate just how good they are. Not just AN amp, a GOOD amp.
3. They will easily reveal the gross shortcomings of compressed MP3 & AAC (etc) tracks, so do use FLAC/WAV/AIFF/ALAC etc.
4. They may sound pretty good with some portable amps but you will almost certainly NOT be hearing them at their best. My Oppo HA-2 is one of the best portable amps available but even the wonderful Oppo cannot get the best out of the DT990s – due to that 250 ohm impedance.
I use my DT990s with a Benchmark DAC2 (a professional DAC + headphone amp) and I can’t imagine any better combination. Amp them well and they reward with wonderfully natural and transparent music. A ‘really being there’ experience.
COMPARISONS
I also have some PSB M4U1 and AKG K550 headphones which are both good but not remotely as revealing, natural or spacious, nor as comfortable as the DT 990s. I also have some excellent Sure SE535 ear-buds which are more neutral than the DT 990s and are therefore more relaxing for travel, which is what they are for, but if you want to hear EVERYTHING coming from the orchestra and really appreciate the performance and not just the ‘tunes’, the DT990s are great headphones despite OR perhaps because of that slight treble lift.
If you can live with the open back design and have a GOOD amplifier, I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with the DT990 Pros.
Some of the best headphones i have used.
I am going to answer a question about this headphones yes they are 250ohm head phone and no you don’t need an amp but it is highly recommended.
note that these head phones come with an adapter 6.3mm and a bag, the cable is also coiled.
these headphone don’t wight anything it is incredible i put they on and forget there on they are that light also these head phones give a great flat frequency.
over all i paid 90 and these where once priced at 250-400 so i ant complaining
I normally don’t write reviews but…….Put simply: I friggin love these cans.
I was hesitant to pull the trigger on these at first , because they are 250 ohms and it’s generally required to use an amp with these ( which i don’t have yet). However , even plugged straight into my Macbook Pro they sound amazing.
I have a pair of AKG K550s and even though those are lovely headphones , ever since i got these the AKGs are gathering dust. These Beyers have a much better overall sound than the AKGs and the sound stage is just amazing ( i think due to the nature of the open-back design).
Now one minor gripe i have with these is that the headphones are made out of plastic and not aluminium , but they’re incredibly well-built. And being made of plastic, they are quite light and therefore – very comfortable to wear over extended periods of time.
Considering the price and the fact that these are Made In Germany , this is an incredible deal in my book. If you are on the hunt for a pair of open-back headphones , definitely give these a shot.
I normally don’t write reviews but…….Put simply: I friggin love these cans.
I was hesitant to pull the trigger on these at first , because they are 250 ohms and it’s generally required to use an amp with these ( which i don’t have yet). However , even plugged straight into my Macbook Pro they sound amazing.
I have a pair of AKG K550s and even though those are lovely headphones , ever since i got these the AKGs are gathering dust. These Beyers have a much better overall sound than the AKGs and the sound stage is just amazing ( i think due to the nature of the open-back design).
Now one minor gripe i have with these is that the headphones are made out of plastic and not aluminium , but they’re incredibly well-built. And being made of plastic, they are quite light and therefore – very comfortable to wear over extended periods of time.
Considering the price and the fact that these are Made In Germany , this is an incredible deal in my book. If you are on the hunt for a pair of open-back headphones , definitely give these a shot.
Not for portable devices
Very comfortable cans with expected quality build. Was auditioning these along with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT150 using an iPhone 5 as the source. Now I know that at 250ohm for both sets this is not the ideal but I don’t want to resort to the likes of Beats bling etc so choice is a little more limited in open backed without paying double for 32ohm DT880’s. Anyway whilst the closed back DT150’s can be driven hard enough by the iPhone to give more than adequate volume the DT990 (presumably losing out some because of the open back) cannot. For that reason alone they have been returned and exchanged for DT770 80ohm to try against the DT150’s.
The Dog's Bollocks
Very comfortable headphones, the ear pads are velour and are nice and soft. As for sound, they are great, i’ve paired them with a Fiio E10k DAC/Amp and it’s perfect for me. They won’t quite fulfill a basshead’s bass requirements, but it’s punchy enough when it’s needed. Great for my usual genres of music – Progressive/Thrash/Power metal, and some drum n’ bass.
Also, since they are open ear phones, there is a lot of sound leakage, which isn’t a problem for me but may be for others.
The Dog's Bollocks
Very comfortable headphones, the ear pads are velour and are nice and soft. As for sound, they are great, i’ve paired them with a Fiio E10k DAC/Amp and it’s perfect for me. They won’t quite fulfill a basshead’s bass requirements, but it’s punchy enough when it’s needed. Great for my usual genres of music – Progressive/Thrash/Power metal, and some drum n’ bass.
Also, since they are open ear phones, there is a lot of sound leakage, which isn’t a problem for me but may be for others.
Great headphones but get the straight cable versio
Meant to buy the straight cable version and dam do I regret buying the coiled one.
Theres nothing more annoying then having a cable that weighs too much and tangles with other wires.
As for the sound its what you would expect for beyerdynamic and an open pair of headphones its great highly recommend them.
Comfort is also amazing and the pads are so soft and warm your ears when its cold and don’t seem to cause any extra sweat either.
Great headphones but get the straight cable versio
Meant to buy the straight cable version and dam do I regret buying the coiled one.
Theres nothing more annoying then having a cable that weighs too much and tangles with other wires.
As for the sound its what you would expect for beyerdynamic and an open pair of headphones its great highly recommend them.
Comfort is also amazing and the pads are so soft and warm your ears when its cold and don’t seem to cause any extra sweat either.
Very happy with purchase
Very happy with purchase, quality feel and sound to the product! I was a bit worried about needing an amp as other reviewers have stated but luckily my Maximus VI Formula has a very good onboard sound system which seems to be more than enough (upto 600ohm).
I like these much more than my Siberia V2 Illuminated, don’t think I will go back to usb after using these.
Great pair of headphones for studio use.
Really liking these, great sound and very comfortable. I swear by the DT100’s for recording so wanted to see what Beyerdynamic’s are like for monitoring and am so far impressed. I’ve had them nearly 2 years and use them every couples of weeks, when they’re not in use I wrap the wire around the headphones and hang them on a hook. I’ve not had any issue with the cable failing as I’ve read on other reviews.
Great pair of headphones for studio use.
Really liking these, great sound and very comfortable. I swear by the DT100’s for recording so wanted to see what Beyerdynamic’s are like for monitoring and am so far impressed. I’ve had them nearly 2 years and use them every couples of weeks, when they’re not in use I wrap the wire around the headphones and hang them on a hook. I’ve not had any issue with the cable failing as I’ve read on other reviews.
Welcome back old friend!
I have had many many headphones over the years and some time ago had a ‘clear out’ and let a previous pair of these go. It’s a decision I have always regretted so decided to buy another pair and it’s like welcoming back an old friend. I use them, and my other headphones, with a number of sources and use additional amplification and DAC’s where I listen through laptop/PC. My measure is not graphs or frequencies but how it sounds to me.
These are, quite simply, superb in every respect and cope admirably with pretty much any type of music. Bear in mind that the 250 Ohm version would benefit from a dedicated headphone amp but nonetheless they are quality throughout in terms of sound, comfort and build.
I won’t be selling this pair!
Welcome back old friend!
I have had many many headphones over the years and some time ago had a ‘clear out’ and let a previous pair of these go. It’s a decision I have always regretted so decided to buy another pair and it’s like welcoming back an old friend. I use them, and my other headphones, with a number of sources and use additional amplification and DAC’s where I listen through laptop/PC. My measure is not graphs or frequencies but how it sounds to me.
These are, quite simply, superb in every respect and cope admirably with pretty much any type of music. Bear in mind that the 250 Ohm version would benefit from a dedicated headphone amp but nonetheless they are quality throughout in terms of sound, comfort and build.
I won’t be selling this pair!
If you like a decent amount of detailed bass and defined sharp highs this is the headphone to get.
I don’t really use these headphones for professional applications. I mostly use them to listen to music, and I got to say they are worth the price. Without any eq these headphones almost have a linear response across the frequencies. They are a bit sharp on the highs but well defined, and have prominent bass which is not overpowering but tight and controlled. I guess they have a slight V in the in the response curve which means the mids are there but not as much as the highs and bass. Personally I would like the mids to be a little more uplifted, but with a bit of eq these headphones can adjust to all the varying types of music I listen to such as, indian classical, rap, house, subtle type of dubstep and more. Overall a great headphone at an amazing price with great build quality.
If you like a decent amount of detailed bass and defined sharp highs this is the headphone to get.
I don’t really use these headphones for professional applications. I mostly use them to listen to music, and I got to say they are worth the price. Without any eq these headphones almost have a linear response across the frequencies. They are a bit sharp on the highs but well defined, and have prominent bass which is not overpowering but tight and controlled. I guess they have a slight V in the in the response curve which means the mids are there but not as much as the highs and bass. Personally I would like the mids to be a little more uplifted, but with a bit of eq these headphones can adjust to all the varying types of music I listen to such as, indian classical, rap, house, subtle type of dubstep and more. Overall a great headphone at an amazing price with great build quality.
QUALITY:
This is rather subjective and opinionated, so I am not going to go into each different level of sound, saying how the ‘highs are delicious’, or ‘the bass is as smooth as a baby’s bottom’, some people don’t care, and others don’t understand.
IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU HAVE THE AMP CAPABILITY FOR THESE!!! If you don’t then you are missing out on the full dynamic range that these headphones can offer…
I am using these with a JDS Element
When they are correctly amped, however, these are among the best things that I have listened to for home usage, especially in a quiet environment, where background noise isn’t much of an issue, or people are not going to get upset at the background leakage. Due to their open design, films and wide spaced music sound very natural, and if you like EQing your music, then these will likely sound even better. The only downside to them for me was the extreme highs, I am rather sensitive to higher pitches, so I had to amp these down, and occasionally got headaches as a result if I was not careful, so for anyone else who is of a similar disposition and finds higher pitches a problem, you might want to take that into account before you cast your judgement on them.
COMFORT:
Second to none. My friend aptly summed them up: ‘They feel like clouds on your ears.’ Even after two years of heavy use (albeit in a relatively well ventilated environment) I didn’t find the need to replace the velour pads, though if you do want to, it is a simple operation. Some may find the clamping force a bit high, but I am sure that some DIY fixes will resolve this.
BUILD QUALITY:
Very good on the whole, only the things that needed to be metal were metal; the headband and the cup holders, whilst the outer housing of the earcups was made from a very high quality and hard wearing plastic. I occasionally threw these in my bag when I went travelling, and in this case, I never found an issue after I pulled them out of my bag at the other end. The coiled wire is very durable, and the anti strain parts at both ends of the wire are very well made and are not going to give out unless you are really trying.
DOWNSIDES:
There are only a few of these, and then again, they are very situational:
1. They are open, so don’t go around expecting to use these in noisy environments without pumping obscene amounts of volume through them. Also, they will leak heavily out the sides, so people in close proximity to you might not be so grateful.
2. Heavy coiled cable, so if you are running these under a desk as I am, or over a long distance, you might want to stretch the cable a bit before using them, as the spring and weight of it can translate into your left earcup if you are not careful, something that a lot of people might not be too impressed with.
3. Power required to drive them is high, so don’t go around expecting them to sound awesome on your phone, as I said before, you need a decent sound card or dedicated headphone amplifier in most cases to supply them with sufficient power, thus getting the full potential out of them. Few motherboards except the most high end ones come with built in amps that are powerful enough to fully meet the need for these, and no phone that I can think of is capable of this either. Desktop amps are not unthinkably expensive these days, and if you really like your music, it is well worth investing in one.
Overall, you really should consider these if you are looking for headphones that sound awesome, and are going to last a long time. I would again remind you that these are not meant for use out and about unless you don’t care about the people around you, or listen so loud that you are able to ignore the background noise. Ideal for home use where noise isn’t much of an issue, and even better when you are using a high quality audio set up.
QUALITY:
This is rather subjective and opinionated, so I am not going to go into each different level of sound, saying how the ‘highs are delicious’, or ‘the bass is as smooth as a baby’s bottom’, some people don’t care, and others don’t understand.
IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU HAVE THE AMP CAPABILITY FOR THESE!!! If you don’t then you are missing out on the full dynamic range that these headphones can offer…
I am using these with a JDS Element
When they are correctly amped, however, these are among the best things that I have listened to for home usage, especially in a quiet environment, where background noise isn’t much of an issue, or people are not going to get upset at the background leakage. Due to their open design, films and wide spaced music sound very natural, and if you like EQing your music, then these will likely sound even better. The only downside to them for me was the extreme highs, I am rather sensitive to higher pitches, so I had to amp these down, and occasionally got headaches as a result if I was not careful, so for anyone else who is of a similar disposition and finds higher pitches a problem, you might want to take that into account before you cast your judgement on them.
COMFORT:
Second to none. My friend aptly summed them up: ‘They feel like clouds on your ears.’ Even after two years of heavy use (albeit in a relatively well ventilated environment) I didn’t find the need to replace the velour pads, though if you do want to, it is a simple operation. Some may find the clamping force a bit high, but I am sure that some DIY fixes will resolve this.
BUILD QUALITY:
Very good on the whole, only the things that needed to be metal were metal; the headband and the cup holders, whilst the outer housing of the earcups was made from a very high quality and hard wearing plastic. I occasionally threw these in my bag when I went travelling, and in this case, I never found an issue after I pulled them out of my bag at the other end. The coiled wire is very durable, and the anti strain parts at both ends of the wire are very well made and are not going to give out unless you are really trying.
DOWNSIDES:
There are only a few of these, and then again, they are very situational:
1. They are open, so don’t go around expecting to use these in noisy environments without pumping obscene amounts of volume through them. Also, they will leak heavily out the sides, so people in close proximity to you might not be so grateful.
2. Heavy coiled cable, so if you are running these under a desk as I am, or over a long distance, you might want to stretch the cable a bit before using them, as the spring and weight of it can translate into your left earcup if you are not careful, something that a lot of people might not be too impressed with.
3. Power required to drive them is high, so don’t go around expecting them to sound awesome on your phone, as I said before, you need a decent sound card or dedicated headphone amplifier in most cases to supply them with sufficient power, thus getting the full potential out of them. Few motherboards except the most high end ones come with built in amps that are powerful enough to fully meet the need for these, and no phone that I can think of is capable of this either. Desktop amps are not unthinkably expensive these days, and if you really like your music, it is well worth investing in one.
Overall, you really should consider these if you are looking for headphones that sound awesome, and are going to last a long time. I would again remind you that these are not meant for use out and about unless you don’t care about the people around you, or listen so loud that you are able to ignore the background noise. Ideal for home use where noise isn’t much of an issue, and even better when you are using a high quality audio set up.
Wouldn't swap my DT100s for them
I’ve been using the DT100s for years, but wanted to try these as closed headphones have a ‘claustrophobic’ feel to them that I get tired of after a while. When just listening I often find myself pulling the backs of the phones away from my head a little to let in some openness, and take away some of the heavy low-end sound.
As alot of what I record can now be done without the need for micing stuff, I thought I’d give these a go. Can’t pretend they sound as good as the DT100s for listening to what you’re doing while recording, but they do have the advantage of being able to hear the room as well. Didn’t realise how often I’d been having to take my headphones off one ear just to hear what’s going on . Still need the DT100s for mic stuff of course, as these let too much sound bleed through to the mics, and still prefer the 100s overall,
but on the whole I’m fairly pleased. They work well for on-the-fly mixing and listening to music in general (as the 100s can sound a little flat and dark for CDs/mp3s and such), but have to say I’m still mostly preferring the 100s. I also have to say I really dislike the coiled cable. Who thought that was a good idea? It just means the cable puts a pulling force on the headphones whenever you’re more than about 2 or 3 feet away from the headphone socket, and now I can’t just walk over to the other side of the room to put down a guitar and pick up a bass without feeling like I’m going to drag a load of stuff with me. Even when you’re close, the cable hangs in the air between you and whatever its plugged in to. This can really get in the way when playing keyboards and guitars, and the pull gets on your nerves when sitting quite a way from the desk just listening. I find myself having to hook part of the coil onto something nearby to stop the pull, or tucking it under the keyboard or guitar strap to stop it getting in the way of my left arm. Really annoying and stupid design. The only upside is that the long straight cable of the 100s sometimes gets under your feet when using pedals, but I’d swap it anyday for this stupid old-fashioned telephone wire.
Can’t talk about reliability yet, but will definitely update in a year or two.
comfy and great sound. I use them in an office so ...
comfy and great sound.
I use them in an office so the open back design allows me to hear what is going on around me so I’m not cut off. This is a good thing or bad thing depending on what you are looking for. There are closed and semi open versions available.
I can’t really compare them to other audiophile phones so I wont. But they are streets ahead of a mass marketed rubbish out there which sells for similar and even higher prices!
I’ve mine connected to a separate Epiphany EHP-O2 USB DAC/amp but I felt they still sounded good straight off my laptop which uses a 92HD87 chip for audio
I bought these Beyerdynamic DT90 headphones to replace my old Beyerdynamic DT90’s. After exactly three years of constant use the cable going into the headphone had slightly broken away causing the sound to stutter on and off. But, here I am buying a new pair of the very same headphones…Why? Well, I use Logic recording software to record song demos of my post/punky atonal guitar driven type noise stuff, but I live in an apartment where making any kind of racket is really a no-no, so I pretty much record everything through these headphones. Now the experts tell you you shouldn’t, and I know this to be true, but really, I don’t have any choice and, to be honest, these headphones are brilliant for this purpose.
I’ve used good quality Sennheiser, Audio Technica and Sony headphones in the past and these headphones seemed to me, at the time, to be geared towards Dance/Electronic/Synthetic big Bassy sounds etc which is ok if thats the sound you want, but it really wasn’t appropriate for what I wanted.
Until… somebody suggested I try the Beyerdynamic DT90 Pro headphones….What a revelation! Everything sounds so true and real and live…the bass guitar doesn’t boom for no reason, my telecaster rings true like it should, if I hit a sheet of metal with a piece of wood you instantly recognise the sound as a sheet of metal being hit with a piece of wood. And, they have velour earphone coverings too which are seriously comfortable and can be worn for long periods of time…. excellent!
Not too many people like the kind of music I make these days and, as you can probably tell I’m not particularly technical and have little, in the way of, anal retentiveness to spend hours twiddling Knobs etc to achieve the “perfect” sound. And, let’s face it, the music industry is in a cesspool of fat controllers, sales teams and targets etc etc… telling you what’s good and what isn’t… Codswallop!
So, if you’re a anything like me, a lone musician/recordist swimming against the tide of extreme mediocrity looking for a fantastic set of serious headphones to record your creative madness with…(without the neighbours calling the police…that is)….then I seriously suggest that these headphones could be what you’re looking for.
Comfortable headphones with a full bodied and bright, detailed sound
After a lot of research I was torn between the DT770 pro and DT990 pro, but in the end plumped for the 990s on the basis of not needing closed cans.
The sound is great with an impressive bass response, wide stereo separation and excellent sound stage, however they are not a “neutral” headphone by any means; they are very crisp and detailed in the high frequencies, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable/fatiguing with some songs. If this is a problem for you, you might want to consider the DT880s instead which have a more neutral sound by all accounts (however they’re also more expensive, even the pro version.) I’ve found these headphones can be very unforgiving of poorly encoded audio files – you will really feel the benefit of having your music in a lossless format.
The phones have a fairly firm clamp on the head and some people might find they make their head warm after a while, but the ear pads are soft and personally I’ve found them comfortable to wear for hours.
The only thing I don’t like is the coiled cable, which limits mobility more than a straight cable. I would have preferred the straight cabled premium version DT990 for this reason, but they are considerably more expensive and on that basis hard to justify for the sake of a cable. It is probably possible to straighten out the cable in any case.
In short a great pair of cans that bring music to life, the main thing to ask yourself before buying them is if you can tolerate very strong treble, as it’s definitely overkill for some people.
Comfortable headphones with a full bodied and bright, detailed sound
After a lot of research I was torn between the DT770 pro and DT990 pro, but in the end plumped for the 990s on the basis of not needing closed cans.
The sound is great with an impressive bass response, wide stereo separation and excellent sound stage, however they are not a “neutral” headphone by any means; they are very crisp and detailed in the high frequencies, sometimes to the point of being uncomfortable/fatiguing with some songs. If this is a problem for you, you might want to consider the DT880s instead which have a more neutral sound by all accounts (however they’re also more expensive, even the pro version.) I’ve found these headphones can be very unforgiving of poorly encoded audio files – you will really feel the benefit of having your music in a lossless format.
The phones have a fairly firm clamp on the head and some people might find they make their head warm after a while, but the ear pads are soft and personally I’ve found them comfortable to wear for hours.
The only thing I don’t like is the coiled cable, which limits mobility more than a straight cable. I would have preferred the straight cabled premium version DT990 for this reason, but they are considerably more expensive and on that basis hard to justify for the sake of a cable. It is probably possible to straighten out the cable in any case.
In short a great pair of cans that bring music to life, the main thing to ask yourself before buying them is if you can tolerate very strong treble, as it’s definitely overkill for some people.
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!
I came from a gamers headset with microphone (Razer Carcharias) after the sound disappeared from one side.
I was very hesitant about buying some normal “audio” headphones over the specialty “Gamer headphones” after being told that they would not be in the same league as far as surround sound in FPS games but I can honestly say that these are just as good, if not better than “Gamer” phones.
Music they really do shine head and shoulders above the Razers – I am no audiophile but you really do feel a sense of depth with these in music, listening mostly to melodic death metal music, I am only now actually hearing some of the lyrics/ guitar rhythm which before were just a distorted muddle.
The sound quality is superb and feel very durable – I can see these lasting for a long time unlike the cheap feeling gaming headsets which seem to be replaced yearly.
I have bought a cheap laptop microphone (Hama VOIP Notebook Microphone) and attached it to the side of my left earcup with some black velcro – a DIY gaming headset.
Only reason I give it a 4, is that they are not very comfortable for people with glasses due to the close fit head design with no gap between your ear and the headband, something that the Carcharias come out on top in.
High quality construction but still light and comfortable on the head . These phones are effortless to wear.
At this price an included case or bag would be nice but hey, you can’t have it all .
Just given them a blast with various pieces of music ranging from vintage Cameo, Led Zeppelin via RIP Actress & Skrillex to the Warsaw Village Band . Yet to try anything strictly classical or Hip-Hop .But I will!
I’ve a pair of Sennheiser HD280pro’s and a set of Sennheiser HD25’s to hand to compare and contrast with.
These Beyers are strikingly neutral in their delivery and will rapidly highlight a bad recording. A good recording however,will be richly rewarded. Mid-range is particularly good if not verging on brilliant with these cans as so many so called ‘top-range’ headsets seem to fixate on bass and treble, giving the listener a false impression and a sometimes uncomfortably polarised experience,especially with modern,compressed to hell recordings which are bass and treble heavy anyway.
For instance I’m listening to the Warsaw Village Band as I type this and the dulcimer used in the track I’m hearing is beautifully represented in a way that neither of the Sennheisers I have will portray. I’m very , very impressed and a little startled as to what I was previously missing or “vaguely” hearing in many recordings.
These are better than the Sennheisers, sonically less coloured and in particular these dt990’s also handle vocals astoundingly well for a sub-150.00 pair of headphones.
At 250ohms you need to drive these cans fairly hard. An i-pod, smartphone or generic MP3 player simply won’t have the nuts to power these properly so you’ll need an amp or interface to really let them fly . I’m using a Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 interface to drive these and they sound absolutely amazing . If I had one complaint it would be that I can’t drive them quite hard enough but that’s likely to be my set-up rather than the phones themselves. However I’m sure they’ll bed in nicely over time.
All in all,well worth the money . Beautifully transparent and revealing sound replication and barely noticeable on the head .
Get a pair. You won’t be disappointed .