Review on Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO 250 Ohm Studio Headphones (Ninja Black, Limited Edition) + 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier Bundle - Ultimate Audio Experience! by Michael Godo

First things first Amplifier Doesn't work properly; Halfway up it seems to work properly, but once the volume is above halfway on *any* channel, the audio becomes muddy and just low, reverting to the single channel (right or left depending on which headphones are used). Huge crap. Just get regular headphones as I'm not sure if sending the amp back would be worth it for me alone. I've never heard of Knox, but first of all I have limited experience with headphone amps. In order to properly compare these headphones I used and will try to give my opinion on the following set pairs at a similar price point so that you have a starting point for my experience: Grado SR-325i, SR-225x, SR -80x, SR -80, Sennheiser HD600 (older), the Audio-Technica M50 and many other Sony headphones and different brands here and there (nothing costs much more). $300 as that is my personal limit). First, I find that the sonic signature of the DT 990 250 ohm headphones is quite unique. If the HD600 belongs in the "true neutral" category (and I and many others think it does) and Grado makes headphones that sound punchy and wide (not even slightly neutral, which is usually the desired effect), I must that's what the Beyerdynamic presented here seem to share the difference. They're bright and a bit "too crisp" and in that sense not quite as neutral as the Sennheiser HD600, but honestly I like getting a different sound with each of my can sets and this one fits right in. Now a small caveat: the sound coming from them is almost *too* harsh or bright (seems to emphasize the high frequencies) to sustain volume for long, especially when I'm listening to 8-bit style music, where these instruments with high-pitched triangular tones can quickly tire the ear. I'll put them on and play a few nights to see if that changes. Should the sound become a bit heavier or more balanced in the mids and lows, as is often the case with newer banks, I'll try to update this review to reflect that. Note: They're still amazing for the price. If you need more bass (just a little more, and that's after you put them on) the AT-M50(x) might be what you need, but for those that are that comfortable, you'll need velor earpads. I also don't think they are as durable as these, judging by the feel. If you want a more neutral sound, the HD600 (or similar) is recommended. If you want a nice wide soundstage and don't care about neutrality (or comfort, as the Grado is by far the most uncomfortable in my opinion), I recommend looking at the SR-80x or SR-225x (the entire Grado line has a similar stage effect that is clearly part of their corporate identity). However, Beyerdynamic has managed to do something very special here, with the brightness sounding special in the right tracks - music with heavy decays and gates like techno seems to have an absurdly fast bass-no-bass response on these - they're *fast* on these transitions and it's really amazing. These DT 990s offer some sound isolation, although technically they're open ears. I would probably say they are 75% open which is 25% quieter than regular open cans. I find the headphones very comfortable and close to the Sennheiser HD600, which I think are my most comfortable headphones as I hardly notice when I'm wearing them. For the price (without the included amp they're around fifty now) these are still great headphones. I'm absurdly picky, but they certainly represent something unique in my collection, so I'll be keeping them for a long time. I don't know what is the difference between 250 ohms and the standard driver installation. I went with 250 ohms as everyone seems to say there is a difference in their favor and my gear has no problem with high gain and volume to overcome these limitations. Have fun shopping. Honestly, I don't think anyone will be mad at these headphones. I think the mids and lows will improve over time, as they often do, and for now, at least, they're "good enough".