Beyer Dynamic DT990 Review - Are They Really Worth It? 

After a few months using these as my daily drivers, the high end has definitely mellowed. They are still very present but the sibilance doesn't stab the way it used to. Thanks Eric Chavez Vazquez for making me pay more attention!

I wish headphone reviewers would just start off with the sound quality and the rest of the stuff such as the packaging, adjustments, etc. last.

Sound quality starts at 03:38

simple answer....YES they are!!! mixing,mastering and produce deep tech house,ambient and soundtrack with them and they are awesome!!!

With higher highs, you can have a lower volume when mixing/mastering and won't be turning up the volume every so often from ear fatigue. I have a pair of HD600s and just got the DT 990 Pros and I actually can mix longer with the 990s at a lower volume. With the HD600 I found myself turning up the volume more often because it has more recessed highs.

This is some 1-2 million sub content. Seriously, keep it up!

Very professional video, Your channel definitely deserves more views :D

You did a very good job describing the DT 990s. I am one of many who find the exquisite treble detail very satisfying and unique. There are very few headphones that even come close to them in the treble range. The sound stage is amazing with excellent separation and extended detail comprehension across the frequency range. the bass is not lacking in power or finesse. but it is the superb treble that put these headphones in a class by themselves. They work very well with many music genres. The DT 990s have been around since 1985. Their sound signature is unique and sublime. They are modern classics...That being said, the OB-1s have their own distinctive sound signature. They are darker, not as detailed as the DT990s. They are more relaxing, less fatiguing. They are warmer, less analytical, but still surprisingly rich in detail. You can have two different but quality music experiences with both of these headphones. I really like how you compare headphones. I also have been impressed with your selections. Keep up the good work!

how the hell do you have only 732 subs? this is 1M Channel quality lovin it! Idea I haven't seen : Play games like CSGO in the sense of how good they are in games you need to hear if that person is below above and if their approaching things alike

Had these for almost 5 years, they sound excellent and I had to replace the pads maybe 3 or 4 times, the first thing that went on it were the plastic parts on the headband. They sell replacements for those. Actually, they sell replacement parts for a lot of this pair and it's awesome and easy to replace. The clamping force eased up. Overall, awesome, versatile, and dependable pair of headphones.

these are the most comfortable over the ear headphones i have ever owned. Literally can use them for hours with no ear discomfort nor do i get hot. I love this pair so much

Cheers for the top review! Bought a pair for myself and subscribed too :D

Love your reviews

I just bought these and when I plugged them in my laptop just for a quick listen, I got a pop up of an equalizer. Not sure if this has always been an option with the 990 pro's but because of your review I pulled down the highs a smidge and it helped. We'll see how much with an amp. Thanks for the review they do sound amazing.

Nice review, keep it up! :)

Hahaha loved the intro. And yes, you're right, music.

Never heard of these so you put me up on game! Very nice unboxing and straight to the point! If only they would come in pink lol

I’ve been using this headphones for mixing for 2 months and despite their incredible lows and comfort they offer,,, I have to say that mids are’n what I was expecting at all.. it is suposed to be a flat frequency response device for studio and it actually have a ‘V’ shaped frequency curve. Disappointed in studio (I actually prefer the dt770 for mixing) but glad of having them since I’ve already got used to their response. Thank you for the video and your content!

heard exactly what he is talking about today in guitar center. The HF boost. Was looking for something that is good to mix and create in for the late night hours. I have sony 7506 with the beyer pads which are good but was wondering if there was something better. These were impressive except for the exciter type high end they have. damn. subscribed.

Yes, totally. Sadly Massdrop often only offer 32ohm version of it most of the time(I think). The 600 ohm one sound the best as long as you have a ok amp. Given that now you can buy a JDS lab atom for a $100, that means everyone can afford an amp that can push the 600ohm 990/880 to its fullest potential.

Great review, how would you recommend these for watching movies? I'm looking for an affordable pair of Home Theater headphones.

Thanks. Mine are due to arrive in three days. I still don’t know how I’m going to drive them. It has been incredibly difficult to get a straight answer for that. I would’ve loved to hear you talk about specific options for powering these headphones.

These headphones are a studio tool, that is why they sound the way they do.

Doubt you'll see the comment on a 2 year old video but you have so many great books on display there. Thanks for this amazing headphone reveiw, it was pretty useful. Brandon Sandersons book Rhythm of War is coming soon, and I can't wait

Good review

I alrdy have 58x and i love them, I cant decide between 560s, dt990, 6xx, or hifiman 400i2020, 400se. or soemthing else you recommend. I do gaming movies and occasional music. more gaming with fps competative games. Are the dt990 worth or u think i should try 1 of the others i mentioned over my 58x ?

You can always EQ the headphones with something like Sonarworks to help correct the curves.

Got my answer thanks

Which have the best soundstage : dt990 or akg k701/702 or hd 599/600/650 ? Thanks

Hi guy's, I'm don't know very much in audio etc. But which Dac/amp would you guys recommend to drive the same model (250 Ohms) from my desktop pc? So to connect via USB. In the range of 200 dollars? Thanks

Bought a pair of these over the weekend and well, certainly can't use them with out a headphone Dac. So i'm now waiting for my extra accessory that cost me an extra $200 where the Dynamic 990 cost me just shy of $200 with a 2 year warranty, with a total of say $400. I hope i made the right decision, heard so much about these and I've only wanted them for gaming so hopefully in the next week ill be able to hear this 'AMAZING' audio. Now my wallet is like "wtf, bra"!...Dam Amazon and there stupid sales.

Sir, can I use this headphone, with my gaming laptop, Lenovo legion 5, or on Xbox series X without any external amp?? Because it is 250ohm headphone.

4:51 Where did you get that graphic from? Is it from a gear web site? Thanks.

Sounded great for the two plus years they lasted. Loved the solid bass/sub bass they have for open backs at this price point. I was shocked when one earcup went dead due to cable issue, the other just plain dead, driver fault. I know what you're thinking, I misused them. Well you'd be dead wrong, I'm not that guy who abuses his electronics into oblivion while calling that 'normal' or worse, gentle - my shit lasts. I loved these things and babied them at home like you wouldn't believe, even got 90deg adapter so the plug was never bent stressed and the cable still failed. I see there are many such cable/driver problems with lower priced Beyer DT cans. If within warranty they'll be fixed or replaced mind you, but tbh I never expected this from 'handmade German' headphones that seem so well built and rugged. I have far cheaper mass produced cans that have lasted longer with similar care, including a 12yo pair of Sony MDR7506.

The frequency response chart at 4:50 seems to be an industry standard and using these headphones is prerequisite to a functional mix in my experience although it is interesting to compare this to the sound on Yamaha NS 10's. My 990's had a broken cord near the jack that is difficult to fix because the conductor cannot be soldered as it is probably aluminium or some other non-solder conductor. It can only be crimped on or just twisted and shrink rapped; a typical German attempt at building in obsolescence.

Good to see u r also a H. Dresden fan.

I tried the dt990 and the dt880 and I don't know how people can use them for mastering. For my ears, it's a curved sound, with lot of trebles. Now I use the HD600 and it's so perfect for me .....

great review, pretty fair and balanced. the velour ages faster than milk out in the sun. great neutral-sounding headphones otherwise. not great for wearing several hours a time if your pads arent fresh. the 6k boost must be for financial reasons, market segments etc.

Hello, this or the v-moda m-100 for listening to electronic music (EDM and trance mainly) ?

SO... Do you know how i could use these on ps4? Can i? And what should i buy? And a Microphone does it have it and if not what mic should i buy? Been trying to research slot but cannot find anything... Plz lemme know what to do❤ do you have links to these?

What is the difference between the difference impedence "ohm" versions. I know the higher ones require an amp. However does the lower one sound noticeably worse or about the same as the other ones with or without an amp? Lastly I have a UMC22 that ive used with my at 2020 xlr to monitor with my current astro headset. But I never use the astro mic and don't need it.

What do you think about this one to listen Metal Music with a MQA Dac? In the 80ohms version.

i am about to buy the same, i will use it for music production, especially mixing and mastering, do you know if those sibilances you're talking about it causes ear damage if you use it a lot?

Can you help me with this I'm planning to buy a good HP if I would ask you which is better to be pick the Beyerdynamic dt990 600 ohm or the grado sr325e? For home usage purpose and my concern also is can my vintage integ amp drive the DT990 and fiio A3. Tnx man God speed and more subscriber

I bought them and i got headache after 10 minutes of wearing bc of the clampening force. Just give up some more money to buy some of the Sennheiser HD series. I tried to fix the clampening pressure and after that the adjust thingie got loose and it doesnt adjust anymore lol.

if I have a Fiio K3 DAC will it work with Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm?

Which would you recommend , the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, DT990, DT880 Pro Limited-Edition Black, or the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee? Found most of them on sale for under 200 dollars on massdrop which is perfect for my budget. I myself am not an audiophile but i would like a better audio experience rather then using crappy gaming headphones.

Your voice sounds exactly like the presenter of the channel spectresoundstudios

Man I just got the 770 pro 250ohm version. They do sound great but the highs are a tad harsh and I wish it had just a kick more of bass. What do you recommend?

it says that my asus z170 pro gaming would be capable to use headphones up to 300 ohm. so i dont need an external amp or soundcard right? (im not using it for mixing or anything super high end related but i like to listen to my music with a decent quality)

Would you recommend these headphones for gaming? I usually play fps games like Overwatch/CS:GO, and also I play a little bit of Fortnite. Are they comfortable to wear for a long period of time? And also are they, as I said, good for gaming? I've seen that Nick Eh 30 and Ninja uses these headphones, so do they live up to what you would expect in form of quality/performance?

Hi. Which is better for mixing - mastering dt 990 pro or dt 880 pro ?

Hey just wanted to point out your sub count. You deserve way more!!! I’ll try to shout you out maybe get you few more subs! 😊

If anyone is wondering if these will work with the PS4 ,Yes Just make sure to get the 80ohm variant

Okay but can I use these without an amp if I buy the 80 ohm one?

So, is it worth nowadays? Can I get anything better for the same price in Europe? I can't get Sennheiser Drop models 6xx and Jubilee in Europe (maybe only from Ebay, which would end up 200 EUR with taxes and shipping), but I can get DT990 Edition or DT880 for 140 EUR. From Sennheiser I can get their new 560S for 200 EUR but not sure if I'd like the famous "Sennheiser veil". Even if I get DT990, I would do some simple mod to tame the highs a bit (just some foam, as recommended by Solderdude on diyaudioheaven. Also, I'm a bit wary of Beyerdynamic quality lately - people say they can differ a lot from "excellent" to "is it a fake?". A person bought three DT880 and they all sounded different. So, not sure if Beyerdynamic is the same "German quality" anymore. Essentially, I'm looking for comfortable open-back headphones for both working at home and also listening to music in background, and then in my free time I do some hobby-level audio production just for fun, nothing serious. So, I'd need something neutral-ish but also not boring sounding (otherwise I would overcompensate and put basses and highs too high in my mixes - yeah, I'm so used to that fun V-shape sounding).

Does it work fine with the creative sound blaster E1 ?

hey guys ! just a quick question, i'm thinking of buying either the 250 or the 600 ohm , i don't have an ext amp, but my PC has a good sound card with a built in headphone amp going to 600 ohms and a 116db SNL , it's the ASUS STRIX soar 7.1 , most headphones plugged in sound really loud , i had a friend trying his 230$ beats on it and they blew his ear off, he had never heard them sound like that, anyway would that be good or do i need an ext amp ?

Just returned a pair of Grado SR80e headphones because the highs were unbearable. I thought my ears were going to bleed. ;-) I have a pair of these Beyerdynamics coming tomorrow and in the past couple of days I've read reviews about the high end on these. I am a high end guy, not low. I look for the crispness in the sound. (Therefore, I can't stand Beats) so I thought I could never be overwhelmed by the higher frequencies but with the Grados I was wrong. I do not know if you've ever used the Grados, but do you know if these 990s are as harsh as the Grados?

for comfort, does your ear touch the inside of the cups??? i have a pair that are so uncomfortable bc of that

Will the Fiio E10k work with these headphones? Great video by the way!

You had done a sennheiser HD650 review a while back. How does the DT990 compare to those in your view ?

Will a Focusrite Clarett Pre be enough to push the headphone drivers?

Hey is it good for gaming and is their echo when I speak through them.

What is the music you are talking about at 3:42 ? i can't understand the name.

Hi! I'm going to buy the Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro headphones (250ohm) and after doing some research I realised I'll be needing an amp for those. (Thought of buying Behringer HA400, is is good?). However I stumbled across this DAC thing and now I don't know whether I'd be also needing it or not? I'll be using my headphones with my pc which has Gigabyte z97x gaming 7 as a motherboard (it's said to be able to drive 600ohm loads). So yeah, do I also need DAC or will I be just fine without one? I'd be so grateful if someone shed some light on this one!!

what's a good headphone amp for these

Just noticed we have the same taste in books.

I have the black edition and I didn’t need the goxlr mini I own to drive them my motherboard can drive them comfortably so idk about needing a good audio interface

They don't last. Still amazed that two years of gentle home use was all I got before the cable and a driver went faulty. And no I'm not someone who tosses my cans around or yank on cables and call that 'gentle'. Ironic something that feels so rugged is the physically weakest headphones I've ever owned. Loved the sound, they're amazing, best budget open backed bass response there is. But lost all faith in durability, my experience is common of these sub 200 Beyers.

I'm really new to this whole audio thing. I have a pair of turtle beach headphones right now and I would like to upgrade to these. He said that to get the full sound you would want an amplifier to plug it into the computer. What Amplifiers would you reccomend for using these headphones for my pc? also do I need a sound card to use these fully?

after a few days with these I have the same exact opinion. They're good, but the highs are definitely too harsh and unnatural to me. I get amazing results with an EQ, but I'm not a fan of using an EQ all the time. Why BD put there that spike is beyond me. Anyways accurate tests showed that break-in is mostly just a myth. So If you like them a few months later chances are that your hearing just got used to them.

Planning on getting a set of these in the near future. I'm already using Audio Technica ATH-M50s. I do audio engineering and switch between the ATHs and my Rockit 8 monitors when checking mixes. I've always wanted to try some open-backs and see if they can help with my mixes; I can't acoustically treat my room unfortunately. How would you say they compare to closed-backs?

What soundcard for a pc do you recommend paired with these?

I have this.what do you recommend to boost them?

Sooo AKG K240 or these? - or dt 770 pro's? ;} -

Is the audio cable able to detach from the headset

The high end boost get less harsh after 50 or 60 hours of burn in.

aren't they meant for mix/mastering? Don't they have a flat sound?

I thought I liked mine but i end up using my grado sr 60e more! crazy right

I have owned the 990's for about 2 months and the lispy and harsh top end will become better controlled over time as the drivers run in. But still they are definitely not shy in the top end... Notes..., they make my wharfedale's sound like junk, aimed at studio (pro) audio, open back lets through all surrounding noise, 250 Ohms but still very efficient, verry detailed, ***hearing instruments never heared before in familiar songs***, 20-20000 no problems, pipoint imaging, Good for the enthusiast but maybe not the casual listeners.

What would the best open back headphone be for rap and bass heavy music be for under 150$

How well do these work with asus xonar essence STX audio card

What amp should we use with these?

Did you try the AFK Khans yet?

Since when are people so eager to change cables? We used to listen the the headphones until the ear-cups fell off and cable was still intact lol

Hello from Detroit! I just ordered the 600Ohm version of these to compliment my HiFiman 4xx and JDS Atom amp.

I just want to know if they are flat to mix!!!!

Yo pull up to me and give me those I live in Detroit lmao

Nice RGB plant

Yeah that sibilance is a bummer man.

Can you use 80 ohm w pc?

Is there a mic on it?

"yelling at google home" that's me in a nutshell lol

These or the AKG K612 for competitive gaming?

So these are open style how to these block sound?

Can you use them without a amplifier?

Eq will solve all of the problems

I was the 990th like lol

Does this have Mic?