They are noticeably more comfortable, especially since they don’t clamp as hard as the Beyerdynamic. Below the difference between the Balanced and Analytical pads. Nominal handling capacity. The PRTF graph shows a good amount of pinna activation, with a decent amount of accuracy. dt 990 pro frequency response. The treble bit can be fixed making these headphones excellent sounding. Thank you to beyerdynamic for giving us this opportunity. This is subtle but noticeable and seem to be happening on our subject that wears glasses. Foldable: No diameter: 55mm. (Right channel is measured). Both are primarily designed for studio applications. The DT 1990 Pro reference headphones combine these decades of expertise in headphone technology with the latest Tesla driver technology in an open-back design. The Sennheiser have a more consistent audio delivery across listeners, and their sound profile is more balanced and neutral. While the Beyerdynamics pack a bit more bass, the Sennheisers sound less sharp while still creating an immersive soundstage. They are best used at home and in isolation and will not a good choice for the office, commuting or sports. The DT 1990 Pro reference headphones combine these decades of expertise in headphone technology with the latest Tesla driver technology in an open-back design. This headphone is best used from lower (< 10Ω) amplifiers. In the bass range, they will let in all the rumble of airplane and bus engines. They're also more comfortable, but feel a lot more cheaply made than the Beyerdynamic. The old DT 990-600 has bigger bass and less ‘agressive’ treble. The ear cup pads are coated in a soft microfiber fabric, and the matte dark gray color scheme looks great and will be suitable for most listeners. Aside from a small correction of the microphone itself also some correction in the lowest frequencies is applied to the plots to compensate for the perceived loss of bass when using headphones. The open design results in a very spatial, dynamic and natural sound with an original reproduction. Something I would like to point out is that the filter does NOT change the brightness/clarity at all. Surprisingly, it has received more play time than the Elear recently - mostly because it's tonally more cohesive than the Elear. However, they do lack a bit of sub-bass, which is normal for open-backs. These pads are to be fitted in a slightly different way (they simply go over the edge of the cups instead of having to be ‘rotated’ in a small slot. The HiFiMan Ananda are better critical listening headphones than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. From opening up a lot of audiophile headphones I start to feel like I’m owed goodies from the moment I open the box. These are a bit more ‘boring’ and much less ‘full’ in sound but are perfectly suited for mastering when all one can use is headphones. I have no idea why they did not use a 4 pin variant. We buy our own products to test. Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro. As the DT 1990 shares the same driver with the Amiron and DT 1770 a direct comparison is logical. The Sennheiser have a warm, smooth sound, but lack body in the bass, and brightness in the treble. The GD graph also shows that the group delay response is entirely below the audibility threshold. However, they do not have a microphone for voice chat when gaming, and no customization options which are typical for most gaming headsets. The box includes two sets of cables: a 3 meter straight cable and a 5 meter coiled cable, both with screwable 6.3mm adapters connected. The DT 1990 bass is better extended and has less emphasis/coloration and is a bit closer to neutral while retaining the slightly warm signature. DT1770 pleater pads, Dekoni sheepskin, Balanced DT1990, Dekoni Elite Velour, Analytical DT1990 For a wired headphone with a good in-line microphone, check out the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II, the QuietComfort 25 or the Apple EarPods. The Amiron is warmer and bassier than the DT1990. Below the 40Hz and 440Hz square-wave response as well as a 100μs DC impulse. They also have a bit more bass overall. In all many ways I think these are a worthwhile improvement for this headphone. They're a good choice for casual and neutral listeners alike although more casual listeners may prefer the similar sounding DT 990 PRO at a cheaper price point. This results in a relatively full-sounding leakage. Below the 40Hz and 440Hz square-wave response as well as a 100μs DC impulse. The DT 1990 PRO reference headphones combine these decades of expertise in headphone technology with the latest Tesla driver technology in an open-back design that sets new standards in high-resolution and well-balanced sound. Mediocre for gaming. The pads are much thicker (29mm) but have a smaller inner diameter (50mm) and are very comfortable, also because they spread the clamping force over a much larger contact area. Maximum COMFORT The perfected design of the DT 1990 PRO combines innovation with decades of expertise in headphone technology. If you don't really care about leakage and are getting an open headset so you can monitor your environment while listening to music then you might want to check out the Bose SoundWear. This suggests an extended and deep bass, with an adequate amount of thump and rumble. Below an overlay of the various pads used on the DT1990. There is a ‘fix’ for this when you are bothered by this. Also the impulse response looks much better. With the passive filter this is greatly improved and while still lean and tight as well as clear sounding the treble is not piercing and still surprisingly detailed. The DT 1990 PRO has a more pronounced low-end, and seems to reach a little lower and stronger. What's the difference between the DT770/990 PRO and the DT 1770/1990 PRO? When elevated treble rocks your boat the DT1990 won’t disappoint. They're comfortable, they sound great and have a low latency wired design. This would allow the DT1990 to be used on balanced amplifiers as well. Not designed for commuting. ... To me, the Mogami 2549 sharpens the imaging, widens the soundstage and evens out the frequency response subtly but discernibly over the stock cable. They're comfortable and deliver a well-balanced and open sound, but can be a bit tight on some heads and slightly sharp on already bright tracks. They look like the DT 990 PRO and DT 770 with slightly open back-plates and a lot of dense metal in their build that makes them feel high-end. Very little difference between the two, and the DT 1990 is even more sibilant than the DT 990. Also when using the B-pads the filter removes the sharpness effectively. Seal can be an issue with closed-back headphones but is usually less of a problem for open headphones. While both are open-back headphones, the Sennheiser are more open-sounding. this could have been solved by using a coiled wire or running it down to the cups on a different way. The pads aren’t that easy/fast to swap anyway. The treble peaks also are in different frequency bands. That said, the Philips have a more comfortable fit, which some listeners may prefer. The open design results in a very spatial, dynamic and natural sound with an original reproduction. NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. The DT 1990 PRO is an open studio headphone for mixing and mastering. A shortcoming (measurement limit) of my measurement rig. The Beyerdynamic DT1990 do not have a dock. The upper 3 screenshots are made using Analytical pads, the bottom 3 using the Balanced pads. Power rating: 0.2 W ... the Custom Studio should be far below the quality of the 1770/1990 and other similar editions. These headphones do not have any active components and do not require a battery. The frequency response consistency is good. The treble peak becomes much more obvious (and annoying) when using the Analytical pads. Certainly not when they are new. Comfort and sound quality changes using the Dekoni Elite Velour pads. They have a better bass performance than the HD 650, although some people may feel like they sound overly bright and sharp. They will sound good with almost any tracks and music genre although the treble peak in the higher frequencies may be a bit bothersome on already bright tracks. Coming with the usual hard-shell case for transporting the headphones. The mids sound very ‘open’, excellently defined/detailed, dynamic and well separated (wide headstage). Accessories: hard carrying case, 6.3mm adapter, 2 types velours pads, coiled cable and straight cable. Otherwise equally excellent performance. They deliver an excellent sound quality and sturdy, comfortable design. Frequency response 5 – 40,000 Hz ... the DT 1770 PRO is ideal for musicians, sound engineers and producers for professional studio or monitoring applications. Weight: 370 g. Pads: replaceable, velours pads (Analytical or Balanced pads) Sub-par for office use. The DT 1990 bass is better extended and has less emphasis/coloration and is a bit closer to neutral while retaining the slightly warm signature. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Clamping force is on the higher side and so is the weight. The passive filter clearly lowers the treble peak and shortens the resonance resulting in a clear but not shrill sound that is on the lean side of things. Not much different from the Balanced pads . The Analytical pads are closer to ‘colorless’ sound if it were not for the high level resonance that peaks out above the mids and lows. Despite the respectable age of the design, the DT 990 Pro is often found in many studios and often users recommend them as a mid price point open back studio headphone. The screenshots are all made using Analytical pads, the bottom 3 when the passive filter is used. Not meant for sports. They have an excellent and sturdy build quality that looks and feels premium enough to justify their price range. Also, due to the open-back design of these headphones, their soundstage may feel more open and spacious than that their closed-back counterparts like the DT 770 and the DT 1770. The response is even and most flat throughout the range, suggesting a clear and well-balanced reproduction of vocals and lead instruments. The DT 1990 Pro came pre-installed with the B pads out of the box, which makes the headphones sound really fun. The DT 1990 are critical listening headphones, not intended for other use cases except maybe home theater and gaming without a mic. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro do not come with a microphone. Overall, they are one of the better-built headphones that we've tested and are easily on par with other high-end critical listening headphones like the HiFiman Sundara and the Sennheiser HD 800 S. The DT 1990 are sufficiently tight on the head that they won't fall during casual listening sessions. Also, like most open back headphones, they won't be a good option to use outdoors. Nominal sound pressure level 99 dB. These headphones do not have a control scheme. It is a wortwhile step-up from the DT990 on all fronts. Frequency Response. After a couple of weeks of gathering all sorts of information about reference headphones in the market, I decided to go for the Beyerdynamic's DT-1990 Pro. Nominal headband Pressure. The treble is the typical ‘Beyer treble’ which means ‘overly detailed/sharpish’ and emphasized but slightly better in quality than the (MUCH cheaper) DT 990. ONLY the sharpness/sibiliance is removed. The treble performance is good. Because of the elevated treble this headphone sounds very ‘airy’ and too accentuated in ‘nuances’. The Beyerdynamic are better-built, more stable, and they come with a portable carrying case. home, published: Jul-16-2017, updated: Sep-6-2020. They won't be the most breathable headphones, but they won't warm up your ears to the point of making you sweat when listening for an hour or two. However, since they're not designed for outdoor use, they're a little bulky and cumbersome. The 7dB reduction is quite audible and removes the sharpness. Also, they come with a case, unlike the Sennheiser. This is with the Balanced pads. I recently demoed the DT 1990 PRO and on the whole I liked it. Be part of the most informed community and take advantage of our advanced tools to find the best product for your needs. The cable is detachable. It doesn’t become a warm and soft headphone. The 1990 Pros are new this year: essentially, they’re the open-back version of the Pro range and have the same price, impedance and frequency response of the 1770. Cable: 3m with gold plated 3.5 mm TRS plug and 6.3 mm adapter Below the differences in frequency response between the Analytical pads and the Balanced pads. Soundwise, they are also superior and feel less sharp on already bright tracks. The bigger the deviation the stronger the effect. They're also slightly more comfortable than the Beyerdynamic and deliver a more balanced frequency response throughout, which will not sound as sharp on S and T sounds as the Beyerdynamic. Analytical ones gives you much flatter frequency response where Balanced ones are for making 1990’s little more exciting with added low-end. Bass is not overblown as is the case with certain DT990 versions. The DT1770 and DT1990 have a different way of mounting pads than the cheaper DT770-DT990 series. Below the response of the DT1990 with Analytical pads with and without the filter. They are on the larger side for over-ear headphones and would only fit in a bag. This means bass does not sound ‘flabby’ at all. The bespoke Tesla transducers in the DT 1990 Pros allow them to deliver an operating frequency response of 5 – 40,000Hz. Another form of looking in the time domain is the spectrum plot. This is a big advantage of an open design. The AKG K712 PRO and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are both very good audiophile headphones, though they have fairly different sound profiles. This filter lowers the treble peak to ‘normal’ levels and leaves the rest of the sound as it is. Inner pad dimensions: depth: 22mm. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘wiggles’. (Analytical pads were used)There is ‘only’ a 1.5dB boost in the lows. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO have about the same fit and comfort level as the DT 990. The DT 1990 PRO Tesla headphones' optimized spatial sound reproduction makes them a reliable reference for mixing and mastering applications. Nominal headband Pressure. Usage: Home, studio The pads can be told apart by the holes on the backside of the pads. That being said, the closed-back design of the 770 PRO means they block more sound and leak less audio, though they still are sub-par in both these regards. However, the big 10dB bump in the sibilance range (6KHz-10KHz) makes these headphones noticeably sharp and even piercing on S and Ts, which will be most noticeable on vocals and cymbals. Home; Ceramic Heaters; Convection Heaters; Liquid Fuel Heaters; Halogen Heaters; Misc. Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro-250Ω. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro have a decent soundstage. It has the dynamic sound I like with the bass and treble energy. Because the lift is present from the lowest bass notes right to the mids the headphone will sound slightly warmer from a high output resistance amplifier. The Beyerdynamic have a fuller, brighter sound, but can also be rather piercing, and even a bit cluttered. Treble peak of the DT1990 stands out like a soar thumb. Below the frequency responses of the DT 1770, DT 1990 and Amiron. With balanced pads. Nominal SPL. When you aren’t bothered by the typical (Beyer) treble peak this is a good sounding headphone. They also come with a hard, but very bulky, case to protect the headphones. The shape of your head, bone structure, pad size, pad ‘softness,  (compliance), hair or no hair and or wearing glasses may (drastically) change the frequency response of some headphones, so… your personal experience may differ substantially from these plots. Frequency response (tonal balance) is the most sound-determining aspect of headphones. Below an aid to help determining the sound character of headphones with relation to the frequency response. If you need a headset with a dock that also has a wired connection for gaming or watching movies, then consider the SteelSeries Arctis 7. The amplitude is color coded and both the time scale and frequency scale differ as well. Wearing glasses or having a not so great seal does not change the tonal balance. Still posting this as dB difference above 10kHz is audible. It has a Tesla-driver just like the Amiron and DT 1770 Pro. The passive filter that removes the sharp peak is as good as obligatory when using the A-pads. Can sound a bit piercing with bright tracks. THD. The midbass kick also leaves a noticeable point of difference, especially with electronic/dance music. The DT1990 can be considered to be an improved DT880 when the Analytical pads are fitted. Below the DT1990 Analytical compared to the Sennheiser HD800SThe tonal balance of the HD800S is closer to the DT1990 (Analytical) but the Sennheiser is still a bit ‘leaner’ sounding. This results in a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. The wired connection of these headphones has negligible latency which is suitable for gaming and home-theater use. However, there is not a 10KHz notch present. No overshoot, no ringing and a slightly warm, well extended bass. The upper 3 screenshots are made using Analytical pads, the bottom 3 using the Dekoni pads. Rarely have I measured such an almost ideal waterfall response. The 770 PRO also have a slightly more accurate sound profile, especially in the bass range. Can’t really tell from a sample size of 2. Mediocre for mixed usage. However, the Beyerdynamic have pretty accurate bass, even if they are also open-back. They have the most premium look and feel of all the Beyerdynamic models that we've tested so far, and they're a durable, sturdy option that should last you a while. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are marginally better neutral sound listening headphones than the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO thanks to their open-back design that gives them a much better soundstage. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 are one of the best sounding critical listening headphones we've tested but can be a bit too sharp on already bright tracks. Note: the ring can ONLY be fitted in one position so one has to look for a small notch and rotate the ring so the ring fits in there. Weight (without cable) ... beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro is a well-made, comfortable, postmodern German industrial design, open-backed, over-ears, dynamic driver headphone. There is a very audible 5dB difference in the bass and lower mids. The DT 1990 do not have a microphone so the noise handling has not been tested. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 have excellent imaging. The pads are quite comfortable and provide a good seal. It looks like Beyer wanted a bit more treble at one point or it is production spread. DT880 fans will love the Analytic pads. Luckily for Beyerdynamic they usually don’t disappoint in this category. This adds a tad of boominess to the bass response. Gain early access to all tests results for new products, Prices will now be listed directly in reviews and tables, Have 5 votes per product category to choose which product we’ll review next, Gain unlimited access to detailed test results in tools and results (no blurred results), Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds For Running, Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $200, Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds Under $50, Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds And In-Ears, Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Under $100, Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $100, Video: The 3 Best Gaming Headsets For Xbox Series X/S (2021), Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless Review, Having trouble deciding between two headphones? The DT 1990 have a more polished and premium design compared to the other Beyerdynamic models. The plot above is in a dB scale, below the same measurement but in a percentage scale.