DT 990 Pro 250 ohm Over-Ear Studio Headphones for Mixing, Mastering, and Editing

I’m by no means an audiophile, but I do care about all forms of digital consumption enough to make an investment in a good pair of headphones. I usually categorize my headphones based on needs and wants. For example, I use Sony Hear Ons as “lifestyle” headphones because of the Bluetooth capabilities and its portability. I also have the AKG K553’s as my “reference” headphones for editing. My goals for my next pair is something I could use with my desk setup for studio use as my daily headphone. After reading a plethora of head-fi posts and watching multiple YouTube reviews, my search led to the Beyerdynamic DT990 pros and to this day I can’t get enough of them. At first glance, you wouldn’t expect it to be a premium headphone due to the fact that it’s made almost entirely out of plastic except for the headband and the arms connecting it to the ear cups. The headband is wrapped with a soft layer of fake leather, which can attach and detach with a few clasp buttons. Don’t let the nearly plastic design fool you because it’s pretty high-quality polymer plastic and the build itself is solid. In most cases, it’s actually a good thing because it makes for a lighter headphone, perfect for long uses. The adjustments aren’t as smooth as an all-metal design, but it works fine and can extend to fit almost any head. The cable is coiled and runs around 3 meters ending in a gold-plated 3.5 mm jack. It also comes with a screw on 1/4 inch adapter, which is also gold-plated. Beyerdynamic is known for their velour ear pads and they’re probably the best part aside from the sound. It has a plush and smooth feeling unlike any other. The clamping force is somewhat tight, but I got used to it pretty fast. Some people might be concerned about the whole velour vs pleather thing and based on the performance and comfort I wouldn’t worry about that. Just to clarify, velour is known to be more open with less isolation compared to pleather. It’s also known to be harder to keep clean (can get dusty) simply due to the nature of the material itself. In terms of sound, I actually prefer the more open soundstage, which makes sense since it’s already an open-backed design. If you’re worried about cleanliness just make sure you wipe it often and try not to use it if you’re super sweaty from the gym or anything like that. Judgement on looks is subjective, but the comfort is out of the question. Given the light-weight form factor and velour pads, I found the DT 990 pros to be cloud-like even after hours of usage. Now for the good part, the sound quality. As previously stated, I’m no audiophile, but I have to say that these headphones are no joke. I’m pretty basic so I listen to most mainstream music (EDM, Hip-Hop, Chillstep, etc.) on Spotify, I watch plenty of YouTube, and I also watch a bunch of TV shows and movies on Netflix on my MacBook Pro. I also use these when I game on my PS4 Pro. With these factors for reference, I found these headphones to be my best audio investment yet. The bass is definitely prominent especially for an open back design without being too overpowering. It’s actually the biggest factor as to why I decided on buying these because I was looking for an open back headphone with good bass, which led me to the DT 990’s in the first place because they’re known to be great with both features. Between the Pros and the Premiums, a bit of research led me to conclude that the Pros had slightly more bass, which I prefer. The mids have a lot of detail but don’t shine as much. The highs are incredibly clear but can get a bit too bright for my taste. Sometimes it’ll result in a slight ear piercing sensation depending on what I’m listening too, but your mileage may vary. The soundstage is wide and gives a great representation of spatial cues resulting in an accurate listening experience. The 250 Ohm model is the sweet spot out of the three, but make sure you have a good amp to power them. Personally, I use the Behringer AMP800 Four Channel Headphone Amp and it works great. I tried connecting it to my iPhone for comparison and it’s still listenable, but you’ll have to max out the volume. I’ve had my DT 990’s for over two years now and it definitely stands the test of time. Unless you have a bunch of money to spend on something like a pair of Sennheiser HD800’s, there’s really no need to look any further when presented with great value. The price is just right even for the average consumer and offers professional grade quality. Having crystal clear audio isn’t hard to get, but when making an investment it’s important to read the fine print and research all the opinions. With the DT 990’s I can truly enjoy all digital content and I’m confident that you will too.

I will post what I posted on Head-Fi. Before I get to the review I should add that this has not been burned in yet so this is an impression of the initial sound. I should also add I listen to mostly pop, but also bass heavy music as well as other genres. The term audiophile basshead would best fit me and my sound signature taste. Equipment: - FiiO E12 amplifier - Behringer UCA222 DAC - ViPER4Windows audio software Comfort: You'll have to try them on to really appreciate their comfort. The revviews say there is a heavy clamping force but I beg to differ...it's quite low and enough to the point where it stays on your head and is hardly noticeable. The earpads are very soft and have a ridonkulous amount of cushion to them, they're like pillows and they engulf my ears which is nice. 11/10, far more comfortable than my electrowaves with DT770EVB earpads. Sound: Bass - Not as strong as open cans, and not nearly as strong as all of the reviews claim...but still strong for open cans. These do have bass, don't get me wrong...but not basshead pleasing without EQing and adjusting other bass related settings. Once everything is adjusted properly, it can provide some nice bass, but it still lacks a bit in quantity. The quality is quite good though, although like one review I came across said, it does sacrifice quantity for quality. It was a bit difficult finding the right settings, but I will definitely post a picture of those below for insight. I also did find the right driver to rattle, it is probably a hair, but it has not gone away yet...will have to figure out how to fix that. 9/10 Mids - I am not too concerned about the mids, and haven't had cans that are good with mids...so I cannot say much here. I will say, and take this with a grain of salt considering my situation, that the vocals of songs were stunning. I haven't heard vocals like that from anything and am very impressed. Some said that the mids were a bit recessed...I would agree if the bass is set high enough, it can definitely overpower the mids if that is the case. I would disagree when it comes to the vocals though, they were right up front regardless of the bass. 9/10 Highs - The supposed killing factor for most...I say that's pure bollocks. I am treble sensitive, I don't like piercing notes as they give me a headache. When I first put these on, I did so with an amp and that's it. I can see why people say it can be a bit much, but it's nothing to be concerned about. I did get a little bit of fatigue from the treble, but people are over exaggerating. I found the treble to ever so slightly sibilant, but nothing major. 8.5/10 Leak - These are open cans, expect them to let in sound, and let out sound. I can hear my TV quite well, with these on as I type. While it is a tiny bit muffled, it's still very much audible and it's of acceptable volume. As for sound going out, these do leak more than you would expect, so be prepared for that. If you have your EQ/software settings set to a more dark sound it will not leak as much, but them mids and highs are going to be heard loud and clear. 6/10 Imaging - Not quite sure what this is, but following the definition I would say these do that quite well. Cannot say much else, but reproduction does seem to be good. I don't know if this fits here or not, but poorly recorded songs or songs with poor quality will definitely suffer in all sections. I won't rate this. Soundstage - This is what impressed me the most. I was frequently surprised at hearing an instrument or sound I never knew was there in quite a few songs. The soundstage is much wider than I expected, and throughly impressed me. 10/10 Build quality: I would tent to agree with the others on this. Everything is good...it's German made, so it not a surprise. I really don't need to add to this as others have already said what I'd say. 9/10 Design: I'll keep it short and sweet since this isn't really relevant. It's nice, but I definitely prefer the premium look. Plastic doesn't appeal to me, but it is designed well. I won't rate this. Overall I'd say this would earn an 8.5/10. It could do better in aspects, but it is quite well. If "audiophile basshead" fits you, then this will likely appeal to you, if you lean more towards a heavier basshead it likely won't. I for one am happy with it...can't wait to hear how it sounds at 100 hours. It could use a bit more bass though. I will update when the 100 hour burn in is complete. I have about 4-5 hours under the belt, but due to the rattling issue I am likely going to RMA so I will have to start over again.

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

I am what you might call a "budget audiophile." I care deeply about sound quality, but I simply can't afford the kind of system I would want. Instead, I own a few pairs of high quality headphones, store my music in the Apple Lossless (ALAC) format, and play everything through a quality external DAC and headphone amp, the (unfortunately discontinued) Nuforce Icon HD . I was hoping that the DT-990-Pro would combine the best features of the Sennheiser HD 598 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 , and that's more or less exactly what it does. Let me explain. About 50-60% of my music library is hard rock and heavy metal (everything from Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Guns N' Roses to Metallica and Pantera to extreme death and black metal like Suffocation, Nile, Immortal, etc.). Before I bought the DT-990-Pro, I owned two pairs of headphones, the HD 598 and the ATH-M50. The HD 598 dominates the M50 in almost every respect that audiophiles care about: significantly more clarity and detail, a wider and deeper soundstage, much better instrument separation, etc. Moreover, the 598 is known for its "laid back" presentation: the lower frequencies are recessed relative to the M50, and the higher frequencies sound "rounded out," so you don't get any booming bass or sharp (and possibly fatiguing) sibilance. Because of this, the HD 598 is ideal for recreational listening of jazz, classical, and lighter music that emphasizes clean vocals (I'm a big Fiona Apple fan, for example, and the HD 598 remains my go-to for that kind of music). However, with such a laid back presentation, it is suboptimal for hard rock and metal. With the 598, you don't get heavy and pronounced bass tones, the sharp "THWAP!" of the kick drum, and guitar solos that really soar above the music; in general it's just too smooth and wimpy for that kind of music. For this reason, I found myself reaching for the M50 whenever I wanted to listen to rock and metal, but I hated making the sacrifice in sound quality. Enter the DT-990-Pro. Some reviewers have complained about its relatively pronounced lows and highs, but in my opinion, that is precisely what makes it excellent for harder rock (as well as hip hop and electronic music). With the DT-990-Pro, you get a clarity and soundstage comparable to the HD 598--the DT-990-Pro is arguably slightly more accurate than the HD 598, especially at higher frequencies, but the HD 598 has more soundstage--combined with the "kick" of the M50. I no longer have to make any kind of tradeoff when I listen to Slayer and Testament. Now, these headphones are at the same time very versatile, and suit a wide variety of music. I am impressed by how good they sound no matter what I throw at them: Brahms, Dvorak, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode, Aimee Mann, Radiohead, the Wu-Tang Clan. So do not get the impression that these are "specialty" headphones suitable only for rock and metal. Far from it. As other reviewers have already noted, the DT-990-Pro is very, very comfortable--indeed the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. A word of advice: at 250 Ohms of impedance, it does require a headphone amp to be driven properly and produce sufficient volume. If you plan on listening directly through a laptop or portable music device, I recommend the 32 Ohm "Premium" model . Given its excellent sound and versatility, the DT-990-Pro may be the best headphone in its price range.

Lightweight, clear, comfortable, high quality cord and handy screw-on/off 1/4 jack to regular 3.5mm jack. I liked how the open back made my environment sound present as well, almost like the speakers were floated around my ears. The product is advertised as studio headphones but it is not flat. I found the treble to be quite high for my taste and purpose (mixing / I enjoy as close to reference sound as possible). I purchased these along with SONY MDR-7506 headphones and the difference was more noticable than I expected. The DT990 wins in comfort and style but I would need to add an EQ to enjoy their sound. (some people may like the out of box experience but not me haha) The sound quality seems on par with the SONY but the open back allowed my loud environment to flood some of the sound. Ultimately I kept the SONY because I think they sound better , albeit less comfortable. They aren't susceptible to my background noise, and the eq is perfect for me.

I broke my Sennheiser hd 595's after 14 years of use and was pretty bummed. They were 32 ohm and had the softest easiest sound that I had grown very accustomed to after several years working from home full time. Those cans got thousands of hours of play time. They were gentle and did not fatigue easily at all. At first the pressure of the headband gave me a headache but after a month that goes away. When I bought the 595's it was a toss up with the 990's and this time I went with the 990 pros in 250 ohm. I thought my desktop bang olufsen realtek drivers would cover the impedance and it kind of worked but there was alot more to be extracted. I tried an old audio interface rated at 80ohms on the hf out and that was better but I really started thinking I was going to need a dedicated DAC with amp or just an amp designed to run these 250's at their full potential. finally I remembered I had an old Onkyo reciever in my basement which had a headphone jack. This thing must have a 10lb transformer inside of it, its an ht-r510. When I run the bang output of the pc into the cd in on the onkyo I get a decent line level and can drive these 990 pros the way they were designed to be run. These cans compared to the HD595's are on a whole different level. The sound stage first of all is massive and very detailed. when you listen to a mix like Yussef Kamal's black focus or LTJ Bukem The Rebirth, you are given a pretty good example of what these cans can do with their drivers. The high hats, bass, snare, vocals, keys, lead, melodies, they all sit in their own distinctive area and are very easy to interpret. The old 595's sort of wiped all of these together in a soft but comfortable listening fabric. The 990's are very different, it almost gives me anxiety on some tracks and this is where I will say that having a 8 to 10 band eq is very helpful. It seems to me that around 8k things are a bit bright and I found myself attenuating 1 through 20khz to my own taste. I gave a subtle 2db boost to the 60hz and 32hz on the low end and cut the 500hz by 2db because the mid vocals were a bit too prominent. This allowed me to achieve the balanced sound of my old 595's but with a very massive sound stage. I dont know what causes this sound stage to be so much larger than my old cans, maybe the drivers are bigger in the 990's but it is incredible. I really enjoy the 990's so far and have a few hours of listening on them as of this review. If you are scratching your head over a good headphone amp and already have a decent desktop DAC, maybe look at a vintage receiver like mine. I have an Onkyo HT-R510 which can be had used for under $50 and runs the heck out of these 250 ohm 990 pros like nothing, I cannot bear to listen to them even past half volume because the receiver can push them so hard. I am realizing that now I can add phono to my office, I have a ton of vinyl albums, and now I have an excuse to add some decent floor standing speakers to jam on as well. On a side note, I tried the 990's for playing pubg. I dont really play alot of games in fact I only play pubg. These are very nice for determining where footsteps are. It is a bit odd when someone is below or above you, I have trouble telling if someone is a building over or if they are in mine. either way you know someone's coming and its time to get real. I had alot of fun using these to play pubg. I look forwards to doing further testing on some flac audio and maybe getting a tidal subscription. On a side note, I really like the mod I keep seeing which allows you to use a balanced removable cable. I could do this easily.

I’ve been using the DT 990 Pro headset for a while now, and overall it’s one of the best audio experiences I’ve had—especially for the price. Sound Quality: This is where it really shines. The audio is super clear with a wide soundstage, which makes a huge difference for gaming and music. You can hear footsteps and directional cues way better than with typical headsets. The bass is present but not overwhelming, and the highs are very crisp (sometimes a little too crisp depending on the track). Comfort: Extremely comfortable. The velour ear pads are soft and breathable, and I can wear them for hours without any discomfort. The clamping force is just right—not too tight, not too loose. Build Quality: Feels solid and durable. Definitely built to last. The cable is attached (not detachable), which might be a downside for some people, but it hasn’t been an issue for me. Things to Consider: • These are open-back, so sound leaks in and out. Not ideal if you’re in a noisy space or don’t want others hearing your audio. • They don’t have a built-in mic, so you’ll need a separate one for gaming or calls. • Depending on the version (like 250 ohm), you may need an amp to get the best performance. Final Thoughts: If you care about sound quality and comfort, these are absolutely worth it. Just make sure you understand the open-back design and setup requirements before buying. Verdict: Amazing for gaming, music, and long sessions—just not for noisy environments or plug-and-play simplicity.

These headphones are really incredible. Much of my review will be comparing the Audio Technica ATH-M50s to the DT-990s. I had a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50s for about 4 years prior to purchasing these and wore them every single day at work as well as bringing them home at night for further listening. The M50 headphones were my first step into higher-quality sound. I was very happy with them, but they broke a few weeks ago, I wanted to look for the next step up rather than replace them. (note: I was not upset when they broke, I was pleasantly surprised they lasted as long as they did considering how much I used them. ) Hopefully this review helps someone else who is looking for that next step up, since I know the M50s are the first 'nice' headphones for many people. Comfort: 11/10 I put these on my head and consciously think, "wow, these feel nice!" The velour ear pads are silky soft and feel like they have memory foam in them. The entire unit is very lightweight. I have worn them 8 hours straight the past few days and I have forgotten I was even wearing them. The M50s would cause my ears to get hot after an hour or so, and I would often have to take a break from wearing them after extended periods. The inner volume of the ear cup is much larger and feels more like it envelops and surrounds the entire ear, rather than my ears feeling like they are encased in the pad with the M50s. Sound: 10/10 I don't know much hi-fi nomenclature, so please forgive me. These sound great. The sound is noticeably open, especially when compared to the M50s. I also purchased a Schiit Magni 2 amplifier to drive the DT990s which I am very pleased with. This is a quality amp at a great price that will drive these 250 ohm headphones just fine. I listen to a variety of music, including techno, instrumental post-rock, female vocals, and metal. I love listening to my favorite songs through these headphones, it is like hearing them again for the first time and it puts a smile on my face. The bass is not as strong as the M50s but I do not see this as a negative, just different. It is still strong and very detailed, but doesn't rattle the head like the closed-back M50s are capable of. When I was researching these headphones some reviews stated the bass was too strong, but I do not think this at all. I listen to a lot of techno and it sounds great through these headphones. Quality: 10/10 A fine mix of metal and high quality plastic. Holding them in my hand and looking at them, they just look nice. Every single component is replaceable, so if anything should ever break it can be replaced by contacting Beyerdynamic. Aesthetics: 10/10 This really has nothing to do with how nice a pair of headphones is, but these really do look nice. Similar to why I liked the look of the M50s, they are have a minimalist design. They are low profile on the head as well. Highly recommended! If you are looking for the 'next step up' in your journey into music, these are definitely a pair of headphones to consider. You will notice an appreciable quality difference without spending a whole lot more. Pair them with the $100 Schiit Magni 2 amp and you will have a killer setup for less than $300. I was also looking at Sennheiser HD650 headphones, but was not ready to spend $500 on a pair of headphones. Maybe in another 5 years I'll be ready for that step up.