Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Headphones Review

While most DT series models are aimed at the studio market, the 990 Pro can impressively persuade even the most ardent hi-fi fans. The listener’s very friendly ear- and head-wearing comfort is a big reason for this. The user experience is further elevated because the 990 Pro produces an immaculate, crisp, and refined sound that makes listening to music highly pleasurable, whether in the studio or at home.

This, however, is only the beginning of the story. Before compiling this in-depth review, we tested the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Headphones for over a month to ensure that we can provide you with an in-depth study. 

We want to save you time and effort, so we meticulously tested and evaluated each feature and function of these Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Headphones to assist you in making an informed decision. Read the full review to determine if you should buy the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro – Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones are reasonably priced and ideal for mixing. They are among the best headphones for the studio available.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro – Review Summary (1-min read)

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Headphones have an open-back design.

If you do not have time to read our complete Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro review, here’s a quick summary of why you should invest in these headphones.

• They are among the best comfortable headphones, with a cushioned headband and large ear cups. The ear cups are fully lined with a good quality soft material. Although you prefer a snug fit, the clamping force may be weak.
• Their quality of sound is exceptional. The 80 Ohms version is appropriate for all studio applications, while the 250 Ohms version is appropriate for professional-level mixing and recording.
• The bass is impactful but well-balanced. It is not overpowering. The treble is fantastic. The highs and lows are accurate and distinct.
• These headphones are the best for outdoor use due to their open-back design.
• A 3.5 mm jack is included with the headphones. As a result, they work with any device with a 3.5 mm audio input. They also have a ¼ adapter that is compatible with studio gear.
• The headphones are neither overpriced nor underpriced. However, we bet you won’t find such excellent quality headphones at such a low price.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Overview And Features

Specifications

• Type: Open over-ear headphones
• Driver Size: 45 mm
• Magnet Type: Not Specified
• Frequency Response: 5 – 35,000 Hz
• Maximum Input Power: 100 mW
• Sensitivity: 96 dB
• Impedance: 250 Ohms
• Weight: 8.82 oz
• Cable and Connectivity: 9.8 ft. coiled cable, 1/8″ Gold plated stereo jack plug, and 1/4″ adapter

Rating

• Sound Quality — 9.8
• Bass — 9.7
• Midrange — 9.8
• Highs — 9.7
• Durability / Build Quality — 9.5
• Value — 9.9
• Design — 9.4
• Connectivity — 9.5
• Portability — 8.9
• Feature — 9.5
• Comfort — 9.6

If you’ve ever bought headphones from this German company, you will already know that their best-selling models are usually designed for optimal user comfort.

Beyerdynamic has existed in the market for a long time and has a reputation for producing high-quality headphones at reasonable prices. The DT 990 Pro is not only highly adjustable but also provides fantastic sound quality and is exceptionally comfortable to wear.

Despite their high quality, DT 990 Pro headphones are reasonably priced, demonstrating that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to have fantastic quality and sound.

Don’t be put off by their simple design and essential looks; they provide a mind-blowing sound quality, comfort, and portability.

Although you will pay more than the average headphones, the DT 990 Pro costs considerably less than professional studio models. Plus, they can outperform some expensive models for experienced users.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Sound Quality

Sound is where the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro truly shines and outshines many high-end open headphones. The overall sound profile is very perfectly neutral, with no frequency range overemphasis.

The resolution is excellent, with a good balance across the lows, mids, and high frequencies, resulting in an overall pleasing sound experience. It is safe to say that DT 990 Pro is one of the best studio reference headphones on the market.

The DT 990 Pro has become a classic due to its design, comfort, and sound. DT 990 Pro has dynamic, ultra-light diaphragms, which provide enormously balanced, beautiful reproduction across the entire spectrum.

Some headphones can make digital tracks sound flat and fail to provide the rich, warm sound they require, but this model excels at bringing out both instruments and vocals while keeping the bass in check.

Talking about the vinyl, you’ll appreciate how warm it sounds, and you might notice details you didn’t notice before when listening to music on a turntable with built-in speakers.

Even if you’ve converted your vinyl to digital, you’ll be surprised at how much better most tracks sound through these headphones than your computer speakers.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Noise Isolation

Because of their open back, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Headphones do not isolate external noises. At normal volumes, we also noticed minor sound leakage from these headphones. No one in our immediate vicinity complained about the music coming from our headphones. At higher volumes, however, we experienced a sound leakage issue.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Usage

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Headphones are designed to be professional headphones used in studios. As a result, you can use DT 990 Pro in the studio for recording, mixing, and mastering. For studio use, we tested our headphones with different setups. We analyzed the versatility of the Beyerdynamics DT 990 Pro Headphones by listening to music, watching TV, and playing games.

These headphones are available in two impedances: 80 Ohms and 250 Ohms. At the same time, the 80 Ohms model is geared toward a broader range of studio applications, which makes them highly versatile. The 250 Ohms model, on the other hand, is meant to be professional-grade. The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm variant is ideal for mixing and mastering in the studio.

It didn’t surprise us that many professional DJs use the DT990 Pro 250Ohm for mixing and mastering, which is why we also recommend these headphones as among the best choice for DJs.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Design And Comfort

The DT 990 Pro serves as a blueprint for future generations of headphones, whether from Beyerdynamic or other manufacturers with optically and functionally similar models. The velour-padded ear cups flatter the ears, and the stable-yet-easily-adjustable headband is completely encased and thus very comfortable to wear. 

The 990 Pro’s open design reinforces the impression of an airy, lightweight headphone that isn’t too heavy to wear for extended periods.

At the same time, despite the relatively mild outside attenuation, you never feel cut off from the outside world. This makes these headphones suitable for use in a control room or at home, but not in a recording studio, where damping needs to be improved to judge the notes accurately. 

Their use in front of the microphone makes sense only when there is no crosstalk. Otherwise, the DT 990 Pro should be seen behind the scenes rather than being in the spotlight.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Cable

The included one-millimeter coiled audio cable is one of the most concerning features. While the cable is stretchy, it is also very heavy, which can be problematic because the weight of the cord makes it easier to pull it out of the jack by accident.

Because the cable is fixed, you cannot upgrade it. If the cable breaks, you’ll have to buy new headphones unless you can open them up and wire in a new cable yourself.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Portability

The Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro, like the DT770 and DT880, is not intended to be highly portable. They’re bulky and don’t fold up or have swiveling ear cups that lay flat to save storage space. They are significant for over-ear headphones and would only fit in a bag or a large purse.

DT 990 Pro comes with a soft pouch that adds little bulk but provides little protection. They would be protected against scratches, but not from falls. The fabric is somewhat waterproof so that the headphones will be protected from minor water damage.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Gaming

A few of our team members used DT 990 Pro for gaming, and all of them were happy with its gaming performance to the extent that they didn’t want to return to their previous headsets. According to the team members, the DT 990 Pro is far better than many high-end gaming headsets. Talking about the open-back design, the team members shared that they used the DT 990 Pro in a quiet environment and did not feel the need to buy closed-back headphones. 

The incredibly wide-open sound stage and high comfort levels make these excellent gaming headphones. With impressive 3D audio, FPSgames become incredibly atmospheric. You’ll be able to hear all sound effects and details in their exact direction. In this regard, the DT 990 Pro is a game changer.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Gyming

On your head, the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones are moderately stable. However, these aren’t the most portable headphones available. It can be challenging to use them when you’re out and about. They are not intended for athletic use and will fall out of your ears during intense physical activities such as running and gyming. However, the snug fit of these headphones is sufficient to keep them on your head during casual listening sessions.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Applications

As previously stated, the DT 990 Pro excels when used in the control room. It is only a good choice for musicians who want to record an instrument if the ambient noise is kept to a reasonable level – it is certainly not possible to record in the very same room as a drum set. 

Even listening to your own amp in the recording room becomes difficult, but if you’re in the control room while the amp next door is roaring, the DT 990 Pro will appeal to you.

These headphones are ideal for singers and speakers in particular. Although a technician may have to adjust the volume of the backing track – in practice – vocalists will feel at ease with the DT 990 Pro.

Open vs. Closed Headphones – DT 990 Pro vs. DT 770

The listening experiences provided by open and closed headphones are vastly different. Beyerdynamic’s DT 770 headphones are closed, whereas the DT 990 Pro headphones are open-backed. Finally, as semi-open headphones, the 880s fall somewhere in the middle.

These terms refer to the ear cup design and whether or not airflow is restricted in and around the driver. Closed headphones provide an isolated listening environment ideal for tracking, where headphones bleed into the microphone and can be minimized in any situation where privacy is desired. The main disadvantage of isolation is that low frequencies accumulate inside the cans, so closed-back headphones aren’t usually recommended for mixing or critical listening.

Open headphones, on the other hand, feature vented ear cups. They can freely radiate air and sub/low-end. While they are not a replacement for studio monitors, they come close. Because open headphones are not isolating, the soundstage is more spacious and natural. 

Of course, if you plan to track with headphones, bleeding can be an issue. They’re also unsuitable for public use because the outside is allowed in and vice versa.

Does DT 990 Pro Need Any Improvements?

If there’s one area where the DT 990 Pro falls short of more expensive open-back headphones, it’s in the treble range. Even at maximum volume, there is little distortion and plenty of detail.

It’s just that the higher-end models have more clarity and crispness. The question is whether spending twice or three times as much for a minor improvement in detail is worthwhile. Many people will answer no.

That is why the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones are such good value for money and are among the best entry-level audiophile headphones on the market. This level of neutral sound quality across the frequency spectrum at such a low price point is challenging to find.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Final Words

If you’re on a budget but not too tight, you won’t find another pair of headphones in this price range that provides sound quality and comfort.

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro easily outperforms competitors and previous Beyerdynamic models.

These headphones are highly comfortable to wear thanks to the thick padding on the ear cups and the velour covers. They do not only feel great, but they also sound great. They can handle any genre, including bass-heavy ones like hip hop.

They are not good at sound isolation because they are open-back headphones. If that is a must, consider the Beyerdynamic 770 headphones instead. They are closed and keep the environment out much better.

DT 990 Pro isn’t the most visually appealing cans you can buy, and a detachable cable would be greatly appreciated.

But, to be honest, these are minor concerns that you will quickly forget once you realize how good the audio performance of these classic headphones is.

Have you tried the classic Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro? If yes, do you recommend them?

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