I used to own a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880 Pros and purchased them in 2011. They were my go-to pair for about 4 or 5 years and worked great for mixing music and monitoring my little mini studio I had with a roommate at the time. I always felt though they weren't the most enjoyable and had a brighter leaning sound signature. I ended up selling them and keeping my Sennheiser HD600s. I really missed them though and ended up purchasing the DT 900 Pro X after many reviews complimented the sound signature and overall improvement over past Beyer models. Glad to hear from the reviews that these are the spiritual successor to the DT880/990 and come with a high quality detachable cable, all for under $300. Best deal under $500? I really think so.
Sounds great! Seems like this phones is that I'm looking for. I always hated those highs from older versions but I like them lows. Thanks for review and especially for sound test.
Thanks, Todd! Your review confirmed my suspicions that these headphones "as is" won't meet my needs. And I highly doubt that Sound ID reference or apps like it would be worth it. Again, thank You a lot!
Glad to share on these headphones. I think there has been a perception that they are an upgraded 990 pro with more bass and a smoother top end, but they are actually quite a departure for the Beyerdynamic sound we have been used to imo. Cheers!
The thing about having a FR that is perceived to be flat by the human ear at studio reference level is that the effect of Equal Loudness will be a reminder to turn down the volume (for the longevity of your hearing).
Great point. I'm actually concerned that the almost ubiquitous use of headphones and earphones is going to lead to many issues with hearing loss. If louder is perceived as better, what happens...for those not referencing to a studio level, volume gets turned up over time and ears become less sensitive.
I'm surprised you don't think they're good for gaming. I got them and I find they're amazing. I constantly hear footsteps before people I spectate, with perfect direction.
The physics of our ears creates not only frequency response differences but has a significant impact on both imaging and soundstage. For me their soundstage is very close, but I have heard a number of differing assessments including yours. I have considered a number of testing methodologies for soundstage, but they are all very dependant on the physics of the simulated ears on the binaural mic, which brings us back to the same question…passive soundstage is not the same for everyone. I’m glad to hear they are delivering on positional awareness for you, one of the most important factors for many game categories imo… Cheers!
I never thought i would ever say it but i prefer the closed back BD DT700 Pro X's to the DT900's...some RU-vid reviewers have thought the same...the DT700Pro X's are great & better for voice over /RU-vid, gaming etc as there a closed backed design...i luv them for the price...blows the old DT-770 Special Editìon 32, 80 & 250ohms away in sound quality....& a detachable mini XLR to jack plug cabl....the Stellar 45 drive units are very clean & rythmic...
Hi Todd! I got a suggestion for you. I would like to see you review another pair of studio headphones made by AKG, the AKG K553 Mkii, they’re a pair of closed-back studio headphones. According to AKG, the K553 Mkii is "the ideal closed-back, over-ear studio headphone for monitoring, mixing and mastering”, and that their low-impedance 50mm drivers provide "strong, accurate, and distinguished bass response, with enough sensitivity for precise sound reproduction on laptops and mobile devices". I would like to see you review them and run audio tests on them to see if those claims are true.
Hey Tod, I am looking to buy a new pear of headphones i can use with my new audio interface. My bugdet is 100-300 euro’s, and i was kinda getting interested in buying the beyerdynamic 900 pro x you reviewed in this video, but after this review my interest in them dropped significantly. I want to use my headphones for gaming, listening to music and a bit of music production (i’m a total noob in that so i don’t need to most accurate headphones for pro mixing) I also want them to have a nice bass. I want to just put them on and be blown away by how good music sounds. Do you have any recomendations for me? (You can name ones more expensive as 300 if you think the perfect one for me is a little more expensive) Thanks alot!
Sound being subjective, there is no "one perfect set" when it comes to gaming and casual listening. That said for gaming I generally look for good soundstage, immersion, clarity, with solid bass response. As of now, my top picks (up to and including competitive gaming) are the Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back or the LCD-GX Open-Back (also includes detachable microphone). These are both above the price range you mentioned, but I thought I would include them so you can check them out. In a more moderate price range, the Shure SRH-1540 Closed Back are an excellent choice. The only consideration being that is you like to listen at very loud levels (and I mean very loud), there can be audible harmonic distortion. Beyond that, these are clear headphones with good bass and excellent immersion. I found the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm to have superior immersion, soundstage, and clarity for gaming vs the DT 900 Pro X, but if your ears are sensitive to high frequencies they may not be the best choice for you in which case the 900 Pro may still be a good option despite a somewhat smaller perceived gaming environment. I hope these few options help out!
Hello! I cant choose between the hd 600 or 900pro x. I will mainly use them for audio post with fx, ambience and foley. But also a little bit of music production. I want fidelity overall. What do you suggest?
Glad I could help out. I was expecting them (and the 700) to sound different as well after being familiar with the sound of other Beyerdynamic headphones. The 900 (and 700) are helpful for mixing bass heavy genres (EDM, HH) imo, but they lack some detail is mid and upper frequencies as I hear them.
@@askdrtk thank you very much. It does help many making decisions for buying headphones. In my country , we couldn’t return the product like in the US or Europe. So I have to do ton of research before making decisions and it’s extra hard when it comes to the headphones. Your review and the sounds test help tremendously. I really appreciate your review and I’m sure many others too (especially those who can’t return the products within 15 days like me 😆).
Hey man, would you recommend these 900 pro x or the 990 250 ohm? Assuming im using for gaming mainly? Is the 900s are better, are they worth the price jump?
While the 900 has a bit more thump for explosions, etc… I recommend the 990 250 ohm as in my opinion its imaging and soundstage create a superior gaming environment in terms of spatial awareness / immersion. Hope this helps out!
Question : what is the use of a DAC concretely, in the specific case where a headset like the DT 900 pro X is after all only 48 ohms? Could I significantly control this headset in a DAC, which would result a significant transformation of the sound (more bass, etc.) ??
Generally, superior headphone amplifiers found in higher-end DACs have more headroom and produce more current helping the headphone drivers deliver superior transient response (particularly in bass frequencies) and clarity. Everything is of course relative, so “how much batter” a good quality DAC’s amplifier will be depends on what you are comparing it to. Not all audio interface headphone amplifiers are equal. Some lack performance while others are more than enough for most headphones. I will be covering this topic in detail in an upcoming video, but I hope this helps out.
@@askdrtkis there a DAC you would recommend for this pair of headphones for gaming? I currently just plug them into my microphone (elgato wavelink 3) and it 100% gets loud enough, however i want to get the most sound quality possible out of these on my PC
Great review. Can't wait for the 700 pro one. I had it for 2 weeks now but I might go back to my m50x. Do you have comfort issues with 900 pro since you wear glasses too? It has the same clamping force as 700 pro i think. It's been unbearable for me.
Thanks! The 900 and 700 both have strong clamping force compared to other headphones such as the M50x as well as the 770 and 990. I have heard some say they do loosen up with time, but I put a lot of hours on them and have yet to experience it. That said, I have been dealing with glasses for so long I am probably less sensitive to the discomfort, but I would say after long sessions I do find the 700/900 less comfortable, but not unbearable with my glasses compared to my HD600, AT M series, AKG K, and other Beyerdynamic headphones.
Thank you for the explanation! What is the best choice for singing: Good headphones or Monitor? I bought the Aston origin microphone with the sTUDIO 24C audio interface. My simple headphones did not convince me. although the Gain is high the sound is not high enough! where is the problem?
Your microphone and interface are very capable of producing excellent recordings. Whether you choose headphones or studio monitors, the key is to use the best monitoring solution you can. Headphones are generally more affordable as not only are good studio monitors expensive, but room treatment and layout are key to accurate sound. Choosing closed back headphones have the advantage of being useful for recording as well. Some good closed-back headphone options for vocals include the Audio-Technica M40x, Beyer DT770 pro 250ohm, and the Shure SRH-1540. I hope this helps out!
The physics of our ears makes the choice somewhat subjective, but my two choices are the Shure SRH-1540 and the Audeze LCD-2 Closed-Back model. Both offer outstanding immersion, soundstage, and imaging along with detail and clarity that makes them ideal choices for gaming at every level up to and including competitive. The one caveat is that the SRH-1540 start to distort in the sub bass range at listening levels above 90dB (very loud for any sustained listening imo). I don’t listen at that level so it is not an issue for me. Over all, for pro gamers both of these headphones can provide a competitive advantage. Hope this helps out!
For music mastering, mixing and monitoring in general, should I use these ones, or the 990dt? Or any recommendations? I mostly create Electronic music.
I would say it depends how your ears hear the mids and highs. The 900 have an advantage for mixing and mastering bass and sub-bass (especially for EDM and HH), but the 990 do provide more detail in the mids which is important in most mixing applications. Listen to the detail in the mids compared to bass in the music example to know whether you will be satisfied with the midrange detail. Hopefully that will help you decide. Cheers!
Hey, Todd. Any current recommendations for affordable headphones for watching movies? Wired or wireless. I'm trying to stay under $100. Under $50 would be even better lol. Thx
I generally prefer closed-back headphones for movies unless I am in a space that is otherwise silent (helps things feel more immersive). Two headphones I have reviewed recently in this price range are the OneOdio Monitor 60 (closed-back) and Monitor 80 (open-back). Both performed far above their price point and are great choices for movies. Bass when needed (but not excessive), good clear mids for dialogue, and good imaging and soundstage performance to help the environment feel expansive. Hope this helps out!
They sound terrible on my system, and my system is tuned to be "flat". Sennheiser HD400 Pro is flat provided you stay within studio reference level. Go past it slightly and the effects of Equal Loudness will make it appear a bit bright or harsh at the upper mid frequencies. Our perception of FR DEPENDS on the SPL. Audiophiles and audio professionals seem to either not know this or have collective amnesia.
Absolutely, SPL matters... I agree, I was disappointed in the 900 Pro X and have heard from many dedicated 990 (and 770) users that have no intention of moving to these newer models. These do not have the "beyerdynamic" sound many users have learned and are comfortable with. I will have a review up on the 700 soon, but as a spoiler, expect much the same.
I was impressed with the 400s when I first tried them. They often fly under the radar as excellent accurate reference headphones that perform well above their price. Cheers!
HD800S, Audeze LCD-X, and at a lower cost, Shure SRH-1840. I'm doing long-term reviews on the 800S and LCD-X, YT vids will be up later this year... HD650 (review just about ready to post) are also among the most accurate with SS and imaging performance just below the others.
Sitting right at $500 USD the HiFiMan Edition XS are an outstanding choice for orchestral classical music. They have about the best imaging and soundstage of any headphone in this price range imo which is crucial when reproducing an orchestra. They are detailed without being clinical sounding and they provide a very neutral, accurate sound signature. Other headphones that are very good at a lower price point include the AKG K702 (review coming shortly) and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro 250 ohm (as long as your hearing is not overly sensitive to higher frequencies). I hope this helps out.
Which would be a perfect gaming Headset ? i wanted to buy the 900 x pro but now when you talking about sound stage and Footsteps im not quiet sure now... im searching something without Amp and price range up to 250$
I'm sure you've already bought by now but I am not sure what he's on about here. He's the only reviewer I've ever seen say these headphones don't have an exceptional sound stage which is bizarre. They are absolutely perfect for gaming.
@@DecTaylor20 i think there are better Headphones for pin point the position of players but im very Happy with dt 990 600ohm, they are amazing, maybe audiophile Like Others and they thinking is a trash Headset but as long as im happy its fine
@@DecTaylor20 No maybe i wrote it wrong, but i saw alot of people said that the 990 is not a good Headset and there are better options (alot of hate of YT and but especially audiophiles) But im thinking the Headset is indeed really good for gaming aswell as for listen music. Im at least in love with it and i drive the dt 990 600 Ohm with the Soundblaster 6X works like a charm.
@@c.s127 sorry I got confused and thought you were the creator of the video. I agree with your comment, the 990 and 900 are both exceptional for gaming. A lot of reviewers like you say are so caught up in the audiophile world they make negligible differences in sound in to a much bigger deal. I wouldn’t want people to not buy a brilliant headset in the 900 pro based on this review.
I remember wanting to get these months ago but then I got to try it on hand the coloration was too much for me. What other open back headphones would you suggest specifically for music production, mixing, and mastering?
I recommend, and have used, the Sennheiser HD600 as my primary headphone for mixing and mastering for a long time. In part because I know them well, but also because they are a good complement to my studio monitors. Some other very capable open-backs include the HD650, Austrian Audio HI-X65, and the Shure SRH-1840.
@@askdrtk I am surprised you don't recommend the Sennheiser HD400 Pro. They are perfect in every regard as far as I am concerned. I can rely on them as reference for both FR and imaging (the angled drivers really make a difference on over ears in terms of accurate imaging).
I actually do recommend the HD400 Pro and their counterpart the HD560S. They are excellent reference headphones at a good price point. I find them comfortable and easy to listen to for long sessions.
