beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO, 250 Ohm, Open Back, Over Ear, Wired Headphones, 3m Coiled Cable, Black with Grey Velour Ear Pads
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Availability:
In Stock.
Arrives
Friday, Jul 10
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
Features
- Wide Open Sound: Open-back studio headphones for critical listening and professional editing deliver astoundingly precise audio clarity with a wide, natural soundstage.
- Ultimate comfort for extended sessions: Experience luxurious listening pleasure with these open-back studio headphones featuring soft, circumaural, and replaceable ear pads
- KNOW YOUR OHMS: 250 is ideal for pro studio interfaces, dedicated headphone amps, home hi-fi, and audiophile systems.
- Over-ear, open-back, wired headphones with circumaural (around-ear) design, firm yet comfortable professional headband pressure
- Handcrafted in Germany: Traditional craftsmanship with modern excellence: Designed and built by a trusted legacy brand excelling for more than 100 years.
Description
The DT 990 PRO (250 ohms) is an open dynamic headphone that is ideal for professional use in studios. Headphone frequency response - 5 - 35.000 Hz
Brand: beyerdynamic
Color: Gray
Ear Placement: Over Ear
Form Factor: On Ear
Impedance: 250 Ohms
Brand Name: beyerdynamic
Model Number: 459038
Model Name: DT 990 PRO 250
Built-In Media: Headphones, Carrying Bag
Age Range Description: All
Warranty Description: 1-year
Customer Package Type: Standard Packaging
Number of Items: 1
UPC: 713803229058
Global Trade Identification Number: 85
Manufacturer: beyerdynamic
Item Type Name: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 ohm Headphones
Is Autographed: No
Headphones Ear Placement: Over Ear
Headphone Folding Features: On Ear
Earpiece Shape: Circle
Control Type: Media Control
Control Method: Remote
Impedance: 250 Ohms
Noise Control: None
Frequency Response: 35000 Hz
Sensitivity: 96 dB
Audio Driver Type: Dynamic Driver
Frequency Range: 5 Hz to 35,000 Hz
Enclosure Material: Plastic, Spring Steel, Velour
Specific Uses For Product: Entertainment, Gaming, Professional
Antenna Location: Audio Monitoring, Recording
Compatible Devices: Laptops, Desktops, Music Production Equipment, Cellphones
Cable Features: Tangle Free Coiled
Water Resistance Level: Not Water Resistant
Additional Features: Adjustable Headband, Open Back, Over Ear, Replaceable Parts, Tangle Free Cord
Is Electric: No
Headphone Jack: 3.5 mm (1/8") and 6.35 mm (1/4") Jack
Connectivity Technology: Wired
Color: Gray
Style Name: Headphones
Item Weight: 0.38 Kilograms
Unit Count: 1.0 Count
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Friday, Jul 10
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To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
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Top Amazon Reviews
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
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!
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Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2013 Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2013 by SSD
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
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.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015 by James Bondarchuk
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
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.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2026 Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2026 by Beau Bidwell
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
I finally decided to take the plunge into a really nice set of headphones - my nicest set previously was a set of $60 Sennheiser HD 429's. While those were decent, they didn't come anywhere close to some of the high end cans that I had tried and I got tired of being disappointed every time I listened to music or watched a movie with them. After months of shopping around online and reading reviews I decided to visit a music store to try some out. After all my due diligence I had settled on the Audio-Technica ATH-M50S but I didn't buy them at the store since I knew I could get them online for cheaper. Well, when I went to buy them here on Amazon I read through a few reviews and saw Beyerdynamics mentioned over and over again, and after reading a lot about them I decided that I wanted to spend a few more bucks and try out the DT-990 Pro 250 Ohm. It was a bit of a risk since I hadn't tried them in person but knew I could return them if not happy with them. Well, they showed up today - in fact I'm listening to them right now - and let me just say that as soon as I finish this review I'm going to buy another pair for my wife. Bottom line: WOW! The sound that these headphones produce is the most open, deep, detailed, crystal clear sound that I have ever heard. I was a bit concerned about the 250ohm rating at first because I didn't know if my gear would be able to drive them without an amp, but both my PC and Oknyo receiver can power them with no problem. I do have to crank it to about 80% of max volume on my PC to get the sound level that I want, so I'll still probably invest in an amp to be able to drive them at a lower level for cleaner sound. I also want to be able to use them with my wife in the theater room after the kids have gone to bed and I'll need a multi-channel amp to do that. But holy cow these things have low hitting bass, the midrange is tight and crystal clear, and the highs are powerful but not overpowering. They are very well balanced. So far I've listened to some rap/hip-hop, metal, emo, classical, and even opera, and these things shine with any genre! I am so excited to watch a movie them. I really like the open back and I think that'll be nice when watching a movie with the wife so we can still talk to each other without having to completely remove the headphones. These are worth every penny if you're in the market for a nice high-end set of headphones. The only drawback is that you can clearly hear everything that you're listening to on the outside due to the open back, and I imagine they won't block outside noise very well, but I just plan to use them at home in a quiet environment like my office or theater room where it won't matter if they leak a little sound and there won't be any ambient noise to worry about. P.S. Forgot to talk about comfort, which is OFF THE CHARTS! They a have nice furry covers which are extremely comfortable, the clamping pressure isn't too tight, and I FINALLY found a set of cans that has openings big enough to fit my huge ears! With the M50S that I was going to buy my ears hurt after demoing them for about 20 minutes, and the clamping pressure was pretty tight but I read you can stretch them out to improve that. But I've been wearing these straight out of the box for nearly 2 hours now and just took them off and I don't even feel like I've been wearing anything. That is so much better than the normal 5-10 minutes of aching ears after taking off pretty much any other set of headphones that I have ever used. So if you have large ears or a big head these are perfect for you!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2014 by J.L.
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
First of all, here's my wannabe audiophile setup: Fiio E17K DAC, Apple Iphone 4S or Lenovo E530 laptop. I use primarily Flac high quality audio files on the laptop and convert them to .M4A files for the iPhone. Personally, I can tell a huge difference between these types versus MP3's. Anyway, I just returned a new pair of $300 PSB M4U after being totally unimpressed. I have $60 Yamaha RH5MA and $160 Audio Technica ATH M-50's to compare with these DT-990's. These are the 250 Ohm version and they will need a good amplifier to push them if you like to listen to your music loudly. I do and even my E-17K DAC did not give me as much volume as I would like when I really rock out. Other than that, I absolutely adore these BeyerDynamics. From what I can tell, these are identical in sound and quality to the much more expensive "Premium" model, these are the AMS DT-990 Pro series. They are robust and extremely comfortable, much more comfortable than the PSB's and M-50's and even better than the RH5MA's. The PSB M4U's have serious quality control issues, both metal covers on the headband broke and fell off within three days. Additionally, one of the audio cables did not have a left channel. These DT-990's will make you feel like the Lobot character on the original Star Wars (Cloud City, Lando's assistant) but they are like holding a tiny kitten lightly to your ears as far as comfort. The adjustment stays adjusted, it does not slide up and down like most earphones. Sound is the most important aspect of earphones, right? These have superb sound right out of the box. While I found the PSB M4U's to have no better soundstage than the M-50's or even the $60 Yamahas, the DT-990's have a clarity that surpasses the others by a long way. I really like my other headphones, those RH5MA's are awesome for their price and the M-50's were worth the additional price but these cans have more clarity, a wider stage, a generally warmer feel than the others. I have about 200 hours on the RH5MA and M-50's and had about 40 on the PSB M4U's, the DT-990's had better sound than any without any burn-in period. Unless the sound actually gets worse as I continue to use these, I have very high expectations. So far, I have around 20 hours using them and they are fantastic. What the DT-990's do not have is a huge amount of bass; plenty for me when I listen to Van Halen, Led Zep, Fleetwood Mac but if you're into dance music, you may want more. The highs and mids are terrific to me, every instrument is clear and realistic, the vocals are precise and I haven't had the painful highs that I had in the others. Of course, I need to get some more amplifier under these to really know how they will sound at high volume. I have never had the opportunity to listen to super premium headphones like the BeyerDynamic Tesla, Sennheiser HD 800 or Grado PS-1000 so understand that my experience is with headphones $300 and under. If anybody wants to send me a free pair of Tesla or HD-800, just let me know. As I save up for my next step up to over $500, I am confident that I will be a very happy camper during the wait.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2013 by Blind Dad
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
BeyerDynamic DT 990 PRO bought Aug 26 2014, 1 month ago, $175 US Sennheiser HD 560 ovation II bought March 23 1994, about 20 yrs ago, $350 CDN ($330 US). I wanted a replacement headphone for my HD 560 (ovation II), which has reached the end of its life cycle. I wanted one that would be cheaper and sound as good as the HD 560 once did. It must be comfortable for continuous hours of use. I'm 50 and I compose, mix and master my own tunes using a midi controller keyboard and VSTs. I decided on the DT 990 PRO. At $175 on Amazon US they were in my price range, but at double the price on Amazon Canada they were not, which is why it can pay to shop Amazon US. First, the claims. Sennheiser writes in its manual "Audiophile quality 'open-aire' stereo headphone considered by many to be among the finest in the world." For 1994, I agree. BeyerDynamic writes "The weight of the diaphram and moving coil of this headphone is approx. 20% compared to other current models. As a result, the DT 990 PRO offers similar pulse characteristics as electrostatic headphones." Hmm. My concern is they don't say if the reduced weight would shorten the diaphram's lifespan. My guess is yes, or why would they leave this out? Something to consider before buying. Next, the specs. Both are circumaural. HD 560: 14-35KHz 10 dB, 300 Ohms, 200 mW power, 94 dB, <0.2% THD, 2.5N headband pressure, 210g. DT 990 PRO: 5-35KHz, 250 Ohms, 100 mW power, 96 dB, <0.2% THD, 3.5N pressure, 270g (box says 250g). With my (unreliable?) fish scale, I weighed the HD 560 at 170g and DT 990 PRO at 190g. Half the mW power means the DT 990 PRO can't take as much abuse as the HD 560. Again, something to consider before buying. The comfort level. The DT 990 PRO makes the top of my head tender after hours of use. Unacceptable, so I unbuttoned and removed the headband wrapper and replaced it with a patch of felt. This makes the headphones feel/seem lighter, reduces pressure around the ears, and I can use them for hours without much discomfort. But it does appear to change the sound quality very slightly. Because of this I would have given it a lower 3 rating, if it weren't for the sound... The sound. Elite. I knew the HD 560 was lacking in bass, even when I bought them. The DT 990 PRO adds a lot of bass; almost too much, and throughout the frequency spectrum. This has the effect of increasing presence and bringing out subleties everywhere that are lost with the HD 560. Highs and mids are lowered, and bass goes down into the subs with clarity and power. However, the sound stage is much wider, making it harder to locate the pan positions of instruments. For example, with the HD 560's small sound stage, it's easy to say "the trumpet is 20 deg to left of center". With the DT 990 PRO it's not as easy. The DT 990 PRO's highs, mids and bass are exceptionally clear and nuanced, but my HD 560 has had 20 years of heavy use and abuse, invalidating a real sound comparison quality-wise. I can say this: play Lisa Kelly on my HD 560 and she sounds perfect, clear, effervescent, and blends nicely with the music. Play her on the DT 990 PRO and she's singing right in front of me, with a naturally slight tremolo in her sound. Almost creepy. I think that's due to the added bass power and wider sound stage. The negatives. I wear glasses and they squeak against the earpads. Adjusting my glasses forward a bit removes the squeak. For some reason, compared to the DT 990, the PRO bends the earcup extenders to fit inside the headband wrapper. Because the cups can rotate left/right, the extenders tend to catch and snap hard against the metal headband, making an awfully loud click in my ears when I put them on. Again, unacceptable for $175 headphones (now $200). To fix this, unbutton the headband wrapper and forcefully bend the extenders until they're straight, away from the metal headband and wrapper. BeyerDynamic says all parts are replaceable, yet the headphone cord doesn't detach from the earcup. This can be good, as my HD 560 frequently shorts at the earcup connectors. I hate the small, flimsy custom connectors on the HD 560. But it's also bad - I could unplug and replace the HD 560 cord (3 times!). I wonder how to replace the cord on the DT 990 PRO when it goes? A DIY task? I'm using a Pyle Pro PHA40 amp rated at 80 Ohms. An amp makes a difference, but I think the DT 990 PRO needs a good, matching rated amp to get the most out of it. Some reviewers have complained of ear fatigue after prolonged use. The manual does recommend a lower listening volume. As for lack of bass; this is false. There is more than enough bass, when amped. Despite the heavier weight, negatives, and my headband and extender fixes, I'm happy with my purchase, and it's a worthy successor in sound to my HD 560. But, I can only hope it will last 20 years, like my HD 560 ovation II did. (PS: my HD 560 were made in Ireland not Germany, DT 990 PRO are made in Germany. Two awesome countries!) YK
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Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2014 by ykaccount
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
Well, I once hated headphones but these phones are changing my mind. Why did I hate headphones? First of all, headphones are uncomfortable. They're heavy, hot and clamp your head like a vise. These are none of the above. The DT-990 Pro 250 is light in weight with soft velour ear cups. Since they don't have plastic ear cups that induce sweating, they don't feel hot. The headband is tight enough but not too tight on my head (hat size 7 1/2). It's a bit astonishing to me that these headphones feel as good as they do. Another reason I hated headphones was the boxy sound that seems to emanate from the center of my skull. A bit of research indicated to me that this condition is more likely to occur when using closed back headphones. The DT-990 Pro 250 is an open back design. The soundstage is broad. Maybe not as broad as listening in a well laid-out room with precisely placed and designed speakers but the soundstage is open and broad enough for me to distinguish individual musical instruments and their position in reference to the overall musical program. Again, I'm astonished at the openness of the sound field. Finally, I hated headphones for the reason many others like them--the isolation involved. I know there are other types of headphones available today that allow outside sounds to be heard but the only phones I had ever used in the past were those that tried to shut me off from the outside world. Sometimes, being isolated is good. But I prefer to be aware of what's happening around me. The DT-990 Pro 250 headphones allow in enough environmental sounds to keep me connected but not enough to be distracting. I want to know if the phone rings, someone knocks at the door, the dog barks or Mr. Murderous Home Invader is coming through the bedroom window. I've only had these headphones for one day. From what I've read on Amazon and on other websites, the sound of these phones will improve as they "burn in". I've witnessed this sound improvement with time and use happening with stereo speaker systems and with two SACD players so I know it's possible. But even without the break-in period, the DT-990 phones sound good to me. Some reviewers complain of the mid-bass being overly boosted and the treble being too prominent. I don't have golden ears but I don't find these characteristics present. The design of the phones does color the musical programming somewhat but, in my opinion, this adds a little punch without going so far as to be obtrusive. When the UPS guy delivered my package yesterday, I was listening to John Hiatt's "Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns" CD. It has typical bass heavy production, however, the headphones never sounded boomy at all and I could pick up details in the recording I had never noticed. Since classical music is where I listen most closely, I then put on the RCA Living Stereo SACD of the Boston Pops doing "Gaite Parisenne". There's lots of high frequency sounds on this recording but I never noticed any irritating, piercing treble out of the headphones. Next I played another RCA Living Stereo SACD, Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony in Dvorak's Symphony No. 9. This is a superb full orchestra recording. Again, I felt astonished at the details coming out in this CD through these headphones. Today, I've listened to selections from Arthur Rubenstein's Chopin CD box set and Martha Argerich's EMI concerto box set. The phones can pick up too much detail at times--I could detect foot tapping and breathing during one of the live Argerich performances. But the pianos always sound natural, lively and forward if slightly lacking in warmth at times. I expect "warmth" will develop with continued use. I've also plugged the DT-990's into my Kindle Fire HD tablet and listened to parts of the MP3 of Nicola Benedetti's "Fantasie" compilation. I know many feel MP3 is not true high fidelity, inferior to other downloadable formats as well as CDs. Still, it's the direction recorded music is headed today and it can be entirely satisfying and enjoyable, especially when one listens with the DT-990s. Ms. Benedetti's "Lark Ascending" sounds every bit as good to me on the MP3 through these headphones as it does from the original CD played over my B&W home speakers. Time will tell and many things can occur. If I can remember, I will update this review over time with more on how these phones break in and how they perform long term. UPDATE, July 6, 2013: Well, those who said the phones would "burn in" knew what they were talking about. I've barely used my home speakers since taking possession of these headphones in May and the sound has improved significantly. They have definitely developed that "warmth" I was hoping for. I enjoy listening to music more every time I use them. There is one point I do dislike about these phones after extended use and familiarity with them. They are not very aesthetically pleasing to my eye. The brown plastic grid and white lettering on the exterior ear pieces of the Pro model really look kind of cheap and Mickey Mouse. I guess it's a style that some might like but I'm not exactly joyous about it. The other DT-990 models look a lot better, however, they cost considerably more and they are said to sound the same. For the price difference, I would still buy the Pro model. Can't see them when I'm wearing them anyway.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2013 by A photographer
Size: 250 OHM
Color: Gray
*UPDATE* As promised, I wanted to come back and let you all know what I thought of these cans after some burn-in. I didn't use white noise or anything special. I just left my cans connected to my AMP playing music from my computer on random at high volume. When I went to work or sleep, I would leave these playing. So....drumroll: did the burn-in make any difference? YES! A resounding YES! As you read on to my original review, you will know that I love crisp clear highs. But even for me, these headphones were a bit fatiguing initially. There was a bit of a "shattering" effect from the highs. Which I really like, but can tire your ears out very quickly. After about 300 hours of burn-in, these cans have really hit their stride. The highs are still EXCEPTIONALLY clear. I can still hear the squeak when a finger drags over a fret. I can still hear every string during an acoustic strum. The softening of the highs didn't steal anything from the clarity. The burn-in allows me to listen for a couple of hours without aural fatigue. Also, I've had a chance to use these cans using a multitude of amps. They sound fabulous using my Yamaha speaker amp/receiver. They sound great using a good headphone amp. Fiios E17 or E7/9 is probably the minimum I'd recommend. In a nutshell, these things are thirsty for power. And although they sound good without proper amperage, these cans scale beautifully when provided juice. In a nutshell, these cans thirst power, and the more you give it, the more these cans respond. Please consider this when purchasing. If you don't have a dac/amp setup or a speaker receiver with a good headphonen port, then make sure you budget for it...or plan to purchase one down the road. An already 5 star review has now become a 5 star review with an exclamation mark. ENJOY! *ORIGINAL REVIEW* I just received these headphones today, so keep in mind that these cans haven't been burned in yet. Generally a high end headphone requires about 100+ hours to burn in properly. John Grado of Grado headphones says 50 hours is a good burn in time. Others say the AKG 701/702 require about 300 hours to burn in properly. But 100 hours is widely held as the norm. I was going to wait to write the review, but they sounded so good right out of the box that I couldn't wait to write a review. I will update after about 6 months of use, so come back if this review doesn't convince you to "add to cart". I'll see if these headphones have a tonal softening after some burn in. What's in the package: Nothing but the headphones. You get the headphones with the 3.5mm jack and 1/4" screw on adapter. Both ends are gold plated. Okay, now that I've got that over with, I'll get to the meat and bones of the review, the sound--and how glorious they sound. I figured the best way to test the dynamic range and audio quality of the music was to pick a handful of songs that highlight a certain instrument or frequency range. So I'll reflect on my impressions from the various songs I chose to test out the fidelity of these headphones. Billy Jean(Michael Jackson) - Michael Jackson stated that he wanted to write a song with a great bass-line, and into the studio he went with Quincy Jones. The product of this inspiration and the collaboration was Billy Jean. The quintessential MJ song. I chose this song specifically to test the clarity of the lower freqs. WOW. The bass is deep and clear. Each bass note has it's own presence. The notes don't slur/blend into each other. There is a discernible transition from note to note. EXACTLY what I was hoping for. Getting in Tune(The Who) - Subjectively speaking, I think John Entwistle was the greatest bassist of all time. To test the speed of the bass, I chose this song because no one played the bass quite like Mr. Entwistle. Whereas Billy Jean is a slow bass-rift, Getting in Tune is classic John Entwistle and the bass notes fly all over the place rapidly. These cans keep up with the amazing fingers of John Entwistle without breaking a sweat. And as was the case with Billy Jean, each note has its own distinct presence. Open headphones usually aren't the best for exhibiting the lower freqs, but these are amazing. In the Air Tonight(Phil Collins) - I wanted to see how these cans handled drums. And if you want to go to drums, what is better than the opening drum rift in this song? Does it have the anger of a John Bonham or the craziness of Keith Moon? No, but it has the unrivaled coolness. Drums are a dynamic instrument tha covers almost the entire frequency gamut. So Drums are actually one of the best instruments to test a set of cans. Like everything else I've heard through these things, the drums are AMAZING. From the banging of the sticks, to the stomp of the bass drum, and the crash of the hi-hat these cans magically reproduce the energy that Phil Collins brings to this song. Leather and Lace(Stevie Nicks & Don Henley) - I chose this song for two reasons: the vocal mastery of the two singers; and the amazing acoustic guitar play. With a lot of lesser cans, Stevie Nicks young voice comes off squeaky. With these, the multiple layers of her brilliant voice all comes through. The youthful highs and the textured lows of her voice are all on display. Don Henley's raspy highs are depicted with amazing honesty. This song is perfect for highlighting two very distinct singing styles. And when they harmonize? you can cleary hear each singer distinct from the other. The acoustic guitar is just unbelievable through these cans. I can hear every string from each strum of the pick. Often times a strum will sound like 1 note, but I can actually hear all 6 strings separately. If you never heard this effect before, you are missing out. Mr. Know It All(Kelly Clarkson) - I picked this song because Kelly Clarkson has one of the best voices going today, and because it is a modern pop/rock song with modern production value. Whereas the other songs kept gaps in the frequency range, this song presents a wall of music effect. By this, I mean that almost the entire frequency range is ALWAYS present. The bass-line isn't as distinctive as was the case with Billy Jean and Getting in Tune, but that is such the way of newer songs. The bass-line is a ever-present steamroller. Now this isn't a bad thing. These cans allow the bass to maintain its ever-presence while still allowing the mid-range and highs to co-exist. Kelly Clarkson's powerful voice doesn't get drowned out. With amazing clarity, every layer, every tone, every break in her voice sound AMAZING. Piano Concerto No. 1(Tchaikovsky - performed by Ivo Pogorelich) - This is my favorite classical piece. This is also my favorite rendition of this piece. Ivo Pogorelich takes a lot of artistic freedom in his interpretations, and this song is no exception. His piano performance is imperfectly perfect. I know that's an oxy-moron, but because he chooses to play it the way he feels, the emotional impact to the listener is that much greater. So you can imagine my disappointment when this version of the song was unbearable with these cans. I am a bit torn when it comes to hi-fidelity and classical music. You almost ALWAYS get static. I don't care whether you have a HD-audio or FLAC copy, it is the nature of the recording methods. The best performances are usually live, and you are going to get static in a live recording environment. So although every instrument is distinct and the sound-stage vast, the static is just too much of a distraction. The better the headphones or speakers, the more static you will get. So I was forced to play a different version of the same piece--the Martha Argerich version which has a lot less static. Her rendition is textbook. She plays it as Tchaikovsky wrote it. She is technically one of the finest pianists EVER. This version has a lot less static, but there still is static nonetheless. This version allowed me to focus a bit more on the instruments. When someone hammers the ivory, often times you will hear the reverberations and echo inside the piano box. And these are the first cans I've listened to that reproduce this effect as realistically. You can hear the horse hairs sliding across the strings. Just an amazing set of cans for classical music, but you have to make sure you have the best recordings or else the static will ruin your listening experience. This is no gig on the cans, it is a gig on the recording methods. So you may not be able to enjoy your favorite pieces unless you find a flawless version of it. I would say about 90% of my classical collection is adversely effected by the poor recordings and are thus rendered unlistenable with these cans ability to reveal every flaw. Hate it or Love it (50 Cent - G UNIT version) - I love this song. And you can't do a current headphone review without including a hip-hop song. So why not pick my favorite? A good set of hip-hop cans will get your head bobbing and your fingers snapping. You won't even realize you are doing this. It's why hip-hop is such a good genre of music for clubs. These headphones are almost too precise for hip-hop. I am so amazed by how great they sound, I find myself listening to the intricacies of every note that I don't find myself bobbing and weaving. If headphones can be too good for hip-hop, these are them. The precision distracts from the vibe that is so important to hip-hop. The same thing happened when I tried a few other hip-hop songs like Hot Revolver by Lil' Wayne, The Way I Are by Timbaland, and Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West. Maybe over time I will get used to the precision and won't get distracted, but presently, I'm not sure I'd choose these headphones for hip-hop. Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes and Without You by David Guetta don't suffer the same fate. These songs don't rely on bass as much as the other songs. And as such, they are fantastic for listening to with these cans. But these two songs aren't so much as hip-hop. They are more dance-pop songs. There are so many other songs I'd like to cover like Sweet Child o' Mine, Crazy Train, any live Clapton, anything David Bowie, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Marley's Redemption Song, Journey, Annie Lennox, Foo Fighters, Collective Soul, Linkin Park and so many more. But I think I'll let you discover that for yourselves. I have never listened to a set of headphones that rival these. I've always leaned towards precision from my Hi-Fi equipment. Maybe it's because I grew up playing instruments growing up, but I love hearing the instruments and voices in all their flawed glory. I love hearing a break in a voice, the strum of an acoustic, and the clatter of a hi-hat. These cans are truly for the sound-purist. What an amazing bargain at ~$200. Imagine what they will sound after 300 hours? I know...I can't wait to find out. If you want to find out more about these headphones, post a comment and I'll be sure to reply.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2012 by Tech Lover