The beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones offer an open back design and a very spacious sound stage. These headphones are designed for mixing and mastering in the studio but are also fun for casual listeners due to the sound quality. Let’s a take a closer look at the positives and negatives.
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Multiple Versions
Here we are specifically looking at the beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm version of these headphones. There is both a Pro and an Edition version of the DT 990 Headphones. There isn’t much of a difference in the Pro vs Edition version except for the cable style and headband fit/tightness.
The Pro version has a slightly tighter headband fit, which is designed this way so the headphones stay on firmly when used in the studio. The Pro version also has a coiled style of cable.
The Edition version is design more for home users, with the headband being less tight and the cord is a straight style of cable instead of the coiled styled.
Sound Quality
These headphones are designed with an open back and have a very spacious sound stage. They offer little to no noise isolation as a result. The sound produced is very clear and crisp through the entire sound spectrum.
Since these headphones have a rating of 250 ohms – they can take a higher level of input power and will respond better if you use a headphone amp or use equipment with a higher level of output for headphones. Listeners who use these with lower sound output levels say they work fine though. They will sound better if you send them a more powerful signal, but can handle a weaker signal.
The sound spectrum is fairly flat, with a little too much energy in the highs. The highs are crisp and detailed, but many listeners who use these find the presence and bite of the highs to be just a little too much. Some even say it has a metallic tonality to it, depending on how they are being used. Due to this they can be fatiguing to listeners who are sensitive to the highs or who push the volume.
The mids are clear and balanced, and not overly pronounced.
The lows are present and a little more boomy than expected, mostly due to expectations from an open-back set of headphones. The bass produced is surprisingly punchy but not overly so. The detail in the bass is ok but not great.
Overall, these will be more useful for mixing or mastering applications than anything else. Gamers like them too.
Open Back Design
The open back design of these headphones is great for making a more airy, spacious sound. However, it will not isolate sound very well at all. Sound can be heard coming from the headphones easily if you not the wearer/listener. They also will not block environmental sounds.
Due to those qualities, these would be better suited for mixing and reference listening. Gamers also find that these headphones have certain qualities in the detail and stereo imaging that really helps to pay attention to audible details in the game environments.
For electronic drummers, these are most likely not very ideal. They won’t isolate the sounds of tapping from playing on the pads, and the harsher high end might be too much if you don’t have an EQ available to tweak the high end frequencies. We’d recommend looking at the DT 770 headphones for electronic drumming instead.
Comfort
The comfort level of the DT 880 headphones is amazing. They are probably some of the most comfortable headphones you can get for their price. The ear cups surround your ears entirely and are very soft. You can wear them for long periods of time without discomfort. This a big advantage over many competitors in this price range.
The open-back design also allow more air movement and allows these headphones to breath better. If you work in hot environments, the open-back design could be a comfort advantage.
Build Quality
The build quality of these headphones is what you’d expect from beyerdynamic. They are known for high quality products, and these headphones are no different. They use metal in the construction of the headband and the earcup forks, and everything that moves feels solid. The earcups are a super soft velour. It’s easy to take these apart and replace parts if or when the time comes.
They tend to hold up well to accidents during use, such as dropping or crushing. Of course, you will want to take care of them, but if something unfortunate does happen, these are constructed well enough to potentially survive.
The Cable
The cable on all versions of the DT 990’s is 3 meters in length, which is ideal for studio usage. The Pro version has a coiled cable and the Edition version has a straight cable. The cable has a 3.5mm jack with a 1/4″ adapter. The cable is permanently attached to the left side, and cannot be removed.
Technical Specifications
Mixing, Reference, Casual Listening, Gaming
Open back, over ear
96 dB
100 mW
250 ohms
5 – 35,000 Hz
3 m / straight cable (Edition version), 3 m / coiled cable (Pro version)
Pros
- Very spacious sound and good stereo imaging
- Extremely comfortable
- Higher impedance level
Cons
- Highs are too intense and fatiguing
- Non-collapsible design
- No removable cables
Overall Rating
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Sound Quality
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Spaciousness
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
Clarity
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Comfort
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
Construction
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Verdict
The beyerdynamic DT 990 headphones are some nice sounding open-back headphones and are extremely comfortable for longer periods of use. They produce a spacious sound and have enough detail to be useful for gamers. They can be fatiguing on the high-end frequencies and users who listen to a lot of music with these will likely notice. The open back design and inability to isolate noise is a negative for electronic drummers, unless you really want to hear more of your drum sticks tapping on drum pads. We recommend the DT 770 headphones for electronic drummers.
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