Review on Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: Premium Studio Monitor Headphones - Open-Back Stereo Design, Wired (80 Ohm, Grey) by Danielle Mitchell

EDIT: Following another user's comment, I went through my review and saw that there may be some apparent ambiguities that I didn't make want to notice. So I did a second pass to clarify my position on a couple of things. Although I don't consider myself a music lover, I do like good headphones. The DT990 250 Ohm is a very good set. Now I have Senns. HD558, AT-M50, AKG Q701 and DT990 Pro. I also have an Objective 2 amp. If you are looking for a cheap headphone amp I recommend O2 and JDS is a great supplier. The price of JDS has also come down slightly over time and is currently around $130. I can't recommend it highly enough. I've never tried it, although I intend to, but Schiit's Magni 2 seems to be another very solid budget performer. WARNING: I have a certain character flaw. If I'm going to spend more than $100 on a luxury item, I focus on it for an unnaturally long time. I read every review twice on every page. I fixate on it for weeks. Then I try one, bring it back and try something else. It borders on the disease mentioned. The thing is, I only write a review when I think what I've landed on is of great value, or when I'm disappointed with all the effort and thought that went into the purchase. In short, that's what I'm looking for. Best value for money, not just a show-off. I think the difference between $40 and $150 pots is HUGE, but the difference between $150 and $650 pots is deep in diminishing return territory. I've listened to some expensive kits and got this impression. Definitely not twice as good. Not even close. It's more like a 5-10% gain on a 300% price increase. This review is based on that perspective. Each headphone has its own strengths and weaknesses, and they serve different purposes. I did a lot of research before buying each one and I bought each one to fill a different niche. In some cases I tried a few sets that I returned before settling on the ones I have now. I'm very happy with all the headphones I currently have. However, I've never heard of one earbud that manages them all. It must have the ideal frequency. Responsiveness, incredible soundstage and detail, isolation, super comfort and breathability, ideal for on the go and can even handle weak sources. There is no human. Not for every price. I like situational variety and better returns. I think each of these sets is a good choice in its price range for a specific need. I wholeheartedly recommend each one for their niche. I also have a gas grill, a charcoal grill and a smokehouse. None of them do everything perfectly, but each does a particular job exceptionally well. Take it? Cool. So where does the DT990 fit in? Power Requirements: It's worth noting that the 990 models listed here are rated for 250 ohms, but there are other variations. 250 ohms everything except the amp. To my knowledge all black limited edition models are only available in 250 ohms. Variants of the Model 990 are available from 32 ohms to 600 ohms. If you choose 32 ohms, an amplifier should not be necessary. Construction: Very solid, with a small touch. As far as I can tell, a single piece of spring steel is used for the headband, which attaches to both ear cups. The ear pads are plastic, but thick and durable. The headband cover is nice, soft and has buttons. So it looks like it's easy to replace in case of damage. All materials are of excellent quality for a set at this price. The ear pads are velor and this is by far my favorite ear pad option. In addition, the DT990 is a very durable and popular set. Kind regards. claims that almost all parts are easily accessible and interchangeable. Although the initial cost is higher than some other options, you can rest easy knowing your set will last for years to come. Only caveat: I'm not sure if the cable can be replaced. It has a standard strain relief. I have neither searched nor asked the manufacturer. about that. If it really can't be replaced, it may be a cause for concern. Comfort: nice. My hair is shaved short, but I hardly notice the bandage on my head. Open sets with velor ear pads breathe and rarely get hot and sweaty. My head is smaller than some people. Clamping strength is perhaps one of the issues. For me this is normal. If you have a big, meaty head, the clip may be too big. The good news is that spring steel is fairly malleable and shouldn't be at risk of losing its shape over time. Soundstage: This is a very open sound. It doesn't compare to the AKG Q701 or the legendary AD700, for example, but the DT990s offer a very respectable soundstage of their own. Separation and positioning are very good. This makes the 990 a good option for gaming, but not the 'best' option for competitive 'sound debauchery'. (Sorry for the expression, I didn't think of that) Sound: This is of course a matter of taste, but I'll mark it as a big plus for me. The DT990 has a kind of V-shaped sound profile. Both the lows (bass) and highs (treble) are emphasized, with the mids being set back slightly. This set doesn't excuse the fact that it's not a neutral set, but it does show an interesting performance. In open sets, the bass is usually weaker. So the 990s take it up a notch. The result is an open can with some punch. It also has greater treble clarity thanks to the 990's slight treble emphasis and open back. If you just want X-ray ears for online shooters, the Q701 or the famous AD-700 are more suitable. Compared to these options, the DT990s are a compromise between slightly less clarity and soundstage for a MUCH more satisfying bass response. Recommended for: Solo listening: The open design doesn't offer any real isolation, but when I'm alone I choose an open soundstage tuned for each day of the week. Non-Competitive Games: The sound profile is very "fun" and the soundstage is great with Dolby or CMSS. If competitive gaming is ALL you want, the AD700 could be for you. Bass music tracks: Rap/Hip Hop, DnB, Dubstep, etc. The "happy" sound of these cans offers a really great combination of properties for an open set. The 990s may not be neutral, but when paired with material that matches their strengths, the rewards are great. Not recommended for: Privacy: You may disturb others in the room with the noise leaking out. Travel: see above. Just forget work or airplanes. They don't fold or lie on your chest when worn around your neck like DJ headphones. Also, they all require a decently powered amplifier. This is a home set. Film/Television: Again, this is an open set intended for "entertainment". If you want a neutral/accurate rendering, this may not be the best set. GAMING HEADPHONE COLLECTION I love to play. At least in part, my choice of headphones was due to Mad Lust Envy's extensive review guide to Head-Fi. As for a resource for gaming-related headphone reviews, his sticky thread on Head-Fi should be listed as a national treasure. It would be remiss not to yell at him. If you're interested in gaming headphones and haven't heard of Head-Fi's Mad Lust Envy Thread, I encourage you to check it out. just be careful The motto there is something like "Welcome to Head-Fi! Sorry about your wallet." If you want to turn headphones into a headset, you can do significantly worse than the Antlion Mod-Mic. Has a magnetic mount. You can attach magnetic mounts to multiple earbuds for more flexibility. It also offers a better one Performance than most dedicated headset mics There is also a good cheaper option from Zalman *Comparison may be helpful for those considering one of the other kits I own so here it is *Comparison: DT990 and AT-M50: The M50 are DJ headphones that can be worn around the neck with the cups lying flat on the chest.M50 are closed, do not let much sound through, they are easy to control.The bass is controlled and deep but not too muddy or overbearing Serious bass players who just want to chatter their teeth might not be satisfied but I find them a real joy for drum n' bass, dub step or rap/hip hop tracks. That said, these are closed-back headphones, and while the soundstage isn't bad for closed-back headphones, it's not ideal for quibbles in competitive gaming either. Take all of these qualities as a whole and what you have are my favorite cans for traveling or when I don't want to bother others in the room with what I'm hearing. Open and power-hungry, the 990 (more on that later) isn't for portable cans. Impressive is the fact that they have almost the same "funny" bass as the M-50. This is not typical for open banks. The openness and ability to dig deep into the bass is one of the things that makes non-competitive gaming amazing with the 990. They have excellent bass response in an open design with better soundstage and detail. When I'm home alone, I dial 990 instead of M50. On the way or with your wife in the room, the opposite is the case. DT990 vs. Q701: The Q701 are famous for their very wide open soundstage and a high level of clarity in the mids and highs. They are also known for their lack of bass. Bass heads do not need to be applied. They're great for "extracting detail" in competitive online games, or hearing fine detail in music with less bass load. X-ray of the ear. The soundstage is really excellent in this set, but again there's a lot of lack of bass. Also a very comfortable and well made set. The DT990 plays well with the strengths of the Q701. They are very open, although not quite on the sonic level of the Q701. Although it does create an admirably large soundstage of its own. Both sets are kings of comfort. The 990s may have less detail and soundstage, but the bass is much better. DT990 vs. HD558: The 558s are comfortable and open, with nice velor upholstery. They're more semi-open. They have a good soundstage. Clarity is good across the spectrum, with clear mids and highs and a nice punchy bass that can be satisfyingly deep without being too boomy. This is the most neutral of my kits. They're also a low impedance can that's easy to work with, and at around $150 they're very easy to recommend. I hope you've noticed that I really like the HD558 because for the price (IMHO) they're a solid all-rounder that won't break the bank. This is my choice for film and television. The 990's soundstage is better than the 558's, and the positioning is also slightly better in my opinion. As of Freq. The answer is more V-shaped in the 990s. The 558s are more neutral while the 990s are more fun. The basses are a bit deeper and the trebles are a bit more detailed, although the mids are somewhat reduced. The 558th and 990th don't fall into different worlds like the M50 and Q701. Search details are very good. The 990s are 250 ohm headphones, and they definitely need some sort of amp. Depending on the source, you might be able to get them down to an audible level, but an underpowered driver won't respond as it should and the results will be disappointing. The same applies to Q701. Additionally, the materials and build of the DT990 are significantly stronger than the 558. I'm not saying the 558s feel cheap, they don't, but the 990s are clearly built to last. In conclusion, take all of this with a grain of salt. This is all very subjective and your mileage may vary. You can try something and not feel the same. There's no arguing about tastes. I hope this review helped at least someone. If you have specific questions about any of these headphones, I'd be happy to share my thoughts if you'd like to hear them. Happy listening, heretics.