Must be very difficult to review headphones because: 1. Everybody has different amp, dac, source, files 2. Everybody has different hearing, different ear size, ear canal 3.music taste .. rap, jazz, rock, metal, dance,house, classic, trap..
I agree. How is the hd 660 when u replace cables to run balanced. The Dt no balance option. So do a review on that. I owned 660 s and ran them balanced from a fiio mark 2 amp/dac and let me tell u the 3.5 hole is garbage.
Purchased both headphones at same time to decide between the two and decided with the DT1990 . The DT1990 was almost close to listening to studio monitors which really sets them apart. .
Excellent review Josh. Now see..... you THANKED people that help you out at the end of the video. Your boy DMS3TV could learn a thing or 2 from you. Names don’t always need to be mentioned but showing your appreciation is important.
When a man like me has reached 65 years of age and lost the ability to hear high frequencies as well as in younger years, then 1990 pro are the perfect headphones, I love mine.
I like the 1990 because I love detail. I still keep my 6XX around because they’re basically a 650 and everyone’s heard a 650 which makes them a very easy reference during comparison or whatever.
Slick work Josh, been hanging out for this comparison. I could see the 1990 being a compliment to my 6XXs when I want to soak in every last detail, but I’d be keeping the Sennheisers for those five hour listening sessions on the couch. I think I could just hang the Beyers on the wall and stare at them, they’re beautifully put together. Thanks to the viewer who provided the Sennheisers, much appreciated!
The beyerdynamic are way, way, way too bright for me, the highs are more detailed but at the expense of an incredible fatigue. For me Music is ultimately about pleasure: if Music is not pleasant for long listening sessions then something is wrong with the device I am using. I have also the HD 660, I find them quite bright as well, but to my ears the volume of their highs still remains in the "acceptable" range 95% of the times. Their mids are obviously their strong point and I also like the transitions between the frequencies. It's true that the bass has lower volume, but it is definitely there and to my ears is also quite detailed. Their relatively lower volume in fact for me is quite welcome, as it makes the headphones less fatiguing and the mids to really shine, resulting into a quite balanced pair of headphones (unlike the Beyerdynamic)
Just wait till you start hitting 40+ years old and your high frequency sensitivity drops to age and the Beyers will work well lol. They are industry standard for producers for those reason
My experience and thoughts exactly the DT990s were just too high/bright and would start to hurt my ears and then my head. The bass isn't bad on the 660s it has a kick but it doesn't drown out the other sounds in the mid range they just excel. Best headphone I've had really.
@@ImNotQualifiedToSayThisBut that is true for treble sensitive people for sure but with EQ they are nearly unbeatable. You get rid of the treble spikes and are left with a great bass response for an open back headphone and still superb details. Built quality is also the best I have ever seen. This headphones are just endgame for me.
I have both. Both need some EQ to sound best. (After EQ) the DT1990pro sound better in every way (and I was routing for the HD660s). Comfort is a bit more complicated. Initially I preferred the DT1990pro, mainly because the (analytical) pads and less clamping force felt better. Both are over-ear but also "on-ear" to degree that I find it annoying how much they touch the ear. But after a while the clamping force on both got less and I prefer the HD660s for comfort, because they are lighter, more open (less heat) and touch the ears not quite so unpleasant. Ultimately I upgraded a month later to the Hifiman Arya Stealth which resolves all issues: (with some EQ) perfect sound, best comfort (true over ears with nothing touching the ears). Without EQ: DT1990pro 8khz peak can be annoying, HD660s has not enough treble and lacking bass, Arya: mids (around 2khz) are a bit flat, high treble (15khz+) can be headache inducing Recommendation: Occasional listening: DT1990pro, Main source (if you listen more than several hours a day): go with Arya All of them run fine of the headphone jack of a focusrite 2i2 audio interface. Better DAC / AMP combos probably will improve the sound. Fiio K5 pro for example sound the same to me. focusrite 4i4 balanced to monoprice 887 THX AAA amp balanced Arya sound the same. If there are differences, they are absolute minimal in the sub $500 class. Not that I have tested it, but base on different hardware I tried. Using the highest end DAC/AMP/cables on a DT1990pro will not sound better than the Arya on the headphone jack on $200 audio interface. Also: even on the Arya I cannot hear any difference between Spotify high (320kps mp3) or FLAC lossless ...
How do the 1990s compare to the Arya for you ? I like a more forward sound with much details and I hate it when the treble is unclear or the music is to laid back . I also prefer a nice soundstage
@@LukasBlau It is just bigger/more in every dimension, apart from the mids. Deeper, more detailed/textured bass and real sub-bass. much wider sound-stage, overwhelming grand overall sound, airy, and very detailed treble, much better than the 1990, because it doesn't have the famous spike. Imaging und instrument separation are also way superior. All combined it is sooo much more than the sum of its parts. In a car analogy: the DT1990rpo is Audi A3 and the Arya Stealth and Audi A8. Let me put it differently: The DT1990pro sounds like the most refined version of a consumer headphone that most people are used to with basic technicalities like soundstage, imaging, separation, etc. - You clearly hear and feel the step up and understand what the heck theses reviewers are talking about. But the Arya makes you cry. It blasts so much more auditory information at you that most people don't know how to handle it - at first listen. But even after that it always delivers - at some EQ to bump the mids and add even more bass and you have party!
@@stephanrudolph oh man now I’m jealous… I really like the sound of the 1990s , sounds so airy and wide and distinguish- can’t really imagine that the Arya sound so much better
@@LukasBlau I should mention a few things, after my initial comment: 1.It took my wife 10sec of listening to the DT1990pro to fall in love with them and take them away from me. She prefers them to the Arya. 2. I use the HD660s more and more and find them almost equally comfortable (in a different way), but only with EQ and not for music. Any spoken word, for longer period of time is more bearable. 3. Burn-in/Brake-in be it physical or psychological is real for me - but only for the Arya. The " high treble (15khz+) can be headache inducing" "qualities" are gone and now they sound perfect. They still sound bright - but in a good way. 4. I still haven't tried any of the other usual suspects (Focal clear, HD800s, Audeze, etc....), but none seem so balanced as the Arya. After I introduced my brother-in-law to the DT1990pro and raved about the Arya (which he didn't tried), he got the Edition XS, THEN got a change to listen to my Arya (on the cheapest amp) for 5sec and said: "Yeah, much better ...." - I guess - to a degree - you get what you pay for ....
I own both the DT1990 Pro and the 6XX, and while as a bass head my 1990 are superior with good Bass EQ, but Josh is right, there's a real party trick on the 6XX or the 6-line the vocals are a weird standout.
The 1990 Treble is too harsh for me. The HD 660 S has a strong midrange, therefore the treble being laid back is perfect for me. I know everyone's hearing is different but the 1990 having "a bit more" clarity isn't worth it for the piercing treble. Sennheiser is my pick.
I tried the DT990 Pros which are model below 1990 and the treble and highs were way too harsh for me too. I went to a shop to try out the HD660s and was immediately satisfied. The bass is better but it's not massively better, I would say it's a larger atmospheric punch but if you've ever heard the HD600s the HD 650 and 660s have improved the bass and there's enough of a punch for me to be happy with it.
Yes this is my experience too (I also own both). The DT 1990 are more detailed but very very harsh. You need to EQ them around 8kHz cause they make a peak around there which is pretty big. I would choose the 660s any day for regular listening, they give me at low volumes regardless of how many hours I use them. They may not have the build quality of the 1990 but honestly the plastic is pretty good and is very very light which is less tiring for long use.
The 1990 is brilliant and if one finds the treble a bit much, a little EQ will fix that. None of the shortcomings of the Senn can be be fixed by eqing. The 1990 hands down superior
Had the DT1990s for a few years, not sure what it is but they're starting to get a little uncomfortable on longer sessions. Considering the HD660s as I've heard they're some of the most comfortable headphones you can get. I'd say I value comfort and sound pretty similarly, I want both but I'd give a slight edge to comfort. Think I'll try the HD660s when I see it on sale!
Replace the pads and try them on a vintage tube amp with ECC83s, dont try a modern one they are too close to transistors. It softens up the highs really well if you are into that. The headphone output a 1970s Marantz is almost the same effect
Btw if you like comfort, i can sugest IEM, they are insanely more confortable than headphones, i love both but when i just want good sound without head fatigue, i go with IEM, there is some really good sounding ones (sry for my english i'm not really god at it ^^)
Watched this review in 2022. I tried both and the PRO990 and much prefer the Sennheiser HD660S. For music and gaming everything sounds better to me. I like to listen loudly but also I am sensitive to too much highs and the Beyers overdo it for me whereas Sennheiser just sounds right and even with wishy washy treble sounds they seem to elevate and cut it just right.
I really just find Beyerdynamic unnaturally detailed. Not in general, but when you compare it to a very natural sounding signature like the Sennheiser signature. Sennheiser was always the sommelier brand and Beyer the mixing and "professional" brand. They both have their uses. I wouldnt mix with the Sennheisers, but id enjoy music with them. I wouldnt enjoey music with the Beyers, but i would analyse music with them. Thats my take on these both brands as a German person who lives like 45km from the Beyerdynamic factory. My father always was a Sennheiser fan because he only enjoys music, while my cousin who made music always kind of tended towards Beyerdynamic. I still have Sennheiser headphones from like the 80s around and even back then Sennheiser was laid back natural and very fine tuned. I cant speak for Beyerdynamic during that time, but now they are really more going towards analysing music. Just like Shure does. I like both brands. I also feel very proud as a german to have such quality companies in my country just like our car companies and etc, but if i had to choose one brand (happily i dont^^) Id pick Sennheiser. And one thing i have to add. I feel the Sennheiser bass is more visceral compared to the Beyerdynamics. The Beyerdynamics feel thin in comparison (thinner). I also always felt they lacked the most bass but therefore extended further down. AKG was kind of in the middle. But i mean i also kind of prefer the sound of the HD500 line so, dont take my word for that, its also up to opinion and whether or not you like more or the tighter midbass snap und clap like plucking a string or if you want more or the rumbe afterwards.
I really appeciate your comments, I find you in a lot of places I go but talking about how you had DT 1990 and other headphones and only kept X2s and 660s was nice for me in metal's vid.
Thanks^^ I mean it its always up to preference, but another point of view doesnt hurt anyone and as i in a way stand somewhat in difference with the "general" opinion on some headphones i try to at least give my opinion. Some people find it helpful, some agree and some dont :) I mean there is a guy who calls the HD598 garbage... and then there are people who call the T1s the best headphone ever made... i dont get neither of those impressions and i find it sad if people overdo it or plainly objectify subjective matters. The Philips X1 and X2 just really impressed me from the get go and the Sennheiser sound is always something i feel right home at. Like coming back from vacation after 4 weeks and arriving home... same feeling^^ And the Philips X2 or the M1060 and the LCD2s and DT880 and 1990 are kind of the vacation for me. Some places i tend to visit more often and some not. Some headphones i keep and some i give up to find new ones. Really nice to hear some nice words. Mostly i either start interesting discussions or get inflammatory rage against my existence :)
I tested the DT 1990 and the HD 660s for about 4 weeks side by side and agree with you completely. The DT 1990 doesn't let you chill, it really sounds overly detailed. I was constantly kind of stressed out in a weird way because the DT 1990 just smashes detail into your brain relentlessly. I ended up keeping the HD 660s because it just sounded more "real" or "correct" to me and I could actually enjoy audio with it.
I have Tinnitus (yes, I moderate my volume) and that Natalie King song you mentioned sounds like something I would hate to listen for long sessions. Think I'm sticking with the 660s.
The DT 1990 Pro's sound very, very bright. I don't have any problems with sibilance, though. I'm also not having any problems with listening fatigue. That being said, I'm glad they are not my only headphones, there is no chill while listening to them. Really it boils down to how sensitive you are to certain treble regions.
Scott Lowell The DT1990 are nice sounding headphones, but belive me, they definately do have a treble spike! Which measurements are you refering to? Innerfidelity didn't measure them afaik. Check out measurements by "diyaudioheaven" or the sonarwork graphs. I have the DT1990 here right now, nice sound but definately a bit too stong in treble region for my taste. If i play sounds by a online frequency generator its easy to tell that 7-10kHz is quite a bit louder than 1-4kHz for example.
@@nix4o493 i currently own the dt990 250ohm and the 1990pro and if you like the 990 then you will love 1990. Compare to the 990 they are more detail, better imaging, have better bass and less sharp. Overall a great improvement over the 990 in every aspect.
The best and might be the only review of both headphones on RU-vid! Which pair would you recommend for listening to house music with vocals and some hip-hop?
Great video, love the comparison. I will say though, having listened to both of these headphones for about 8 months. The HD660s seems to be the more technically capable headphone. Now, the dt1990 are perceived to be more detailed due to that 8.5k elevation, but if you EQ down the treble of the dt1990 to the same amount as the HD660, it is actually less resolving for some reason. The HD660 seems to layer sounds better and has the ability to seperate sounds more clearly and actually sounds faster a bit. Now in terms of bass, dt1990 destroys the hd660s hands down and soundstage as well, but the 660 sounds more open due to a slightly more open design. The imaging i found was actually slightly better on the 660s, but that could be due to a slightly more narrow soundstage. In terms of mids, i found both of them great, no complaints there. I love my 1990 for gaming, but 660s for everything else.
I have both right now and much preffer the 660s for gaming. The soundstage is more close so I can follow footsteps and other sounds but also the explosions and fire sounds aren't piercing my ears like a DT990 Pro does. Sorry but the 990s fail on that perspective they just don't sound natural to me and probably good monitors but otherwise over exaggerated treble and it gets tiring as gaming sessions for me can go for hours.
@@entertheglow5851 the original 990s burned in and with flattened pads are actually one of the most smoothest headphones the on planet. Out of the box though, they’re piercing af
Hello Josh! This video by my standarts isn't long. I mean look at Z. And 30-40 min just for one product lol. BTW you should set up a announcer bot in discord.Would be nice because youtube stiil has a bad notification system imo.
I agree that josh's reviews could be a little longer, if necessary, but with Z a 30-40 min video has about 3-4 minutes of useful info (usually). I love z reviews but not for facts or consumer info, don't get me wrong he has done a ton for the community and has unique solutions worth there wait in gold but if I was looking for a review of something I was considering buying I'd personally take 8 minutes of Josh over 80 minutes of Z. Guess it's like anything else, we all have different preferences.
Daniel Jordanov Wouldn’t want Josh’s reviews drifting out past 15-20mins, that’s about where my attention span starts failing. Of course you could pad that out to an hour with life stories, comedy routines, cable rants, animal husbandry and sexual innuendo, but we already have a source for that 😹
Anything above 60db of volume was treble hell, not listenable AT ALL (tried rock, metal, electronic, even lofi...), but alot of people are saying that their amirons didnt have that kind of treble at all but the opposite, that they were warm and really good and they are (in terms of sound, but only up to around 60db which is normal listening volume, but I couldn't pump them above that and get some fun out of them, vocals also became shouty above 60db, I got the bad ones) but I'm not gonna play lotery on that kind of expensive headphones, also my ears touched the inner side of the headphone which made it uncomfortable in a matter of around 4 hours. So..... yeah. They are far from being good in my book. Also the bass is not on par of the dt 990.
I will say something though, their choice of alcantara being put on headphones is by far the best choice of a headphone company deciding on material use, they dont give any itching (at least to me) and they stay very cool, ALOT better over velour!
1. Metal guy 2. Zeos Pantera 3.Tyll hertsens 4.dms3 5.joshua 6.aornic 7.lachanlikesathing( very professional dude) 8.damir frank( Also very informative guy) 9.hi fi insider( not a real reviewer because make more unboxing but a nice dude) 10.the gaming audiophile 11. Zebubba 12.hardwarekanucks 13.bentley4ever 14.curawong 15.hi fi heaven 16.new record's day 17.phototristan ( very professional reviews) ( the list do not have a precise order of the greatest but I love them all )
Thx a bunch for adressing these 2 babies, as I end up choosing between them...I'm from a B&O H9i (Wireless NC), & I wonder how much better those open back would sound actually, as it's hard to compare different categories of hp (they're like the antipods ^.^ ), they're almost never really compared. Also, I'm getting a Dragonfire Red , & wonder whether it would be enough to drive the DT1990?Anyway, good style review to me, I like to deversify opinions, especially on this subject. #Subbed
I have a good collection of cans nowadays (M1060. 4XX. M560, TRP50, X2. 598..) ... still I want a pair of 1990DT , perhaps to get over my disappointment for the 990 (treble killers)...
@@S4mpsunNo! Please, stop spreading that nonsense. Look at pictures of the 58X driver and the 660 S driver. They aren't even close to the same. And they don't sound the same either. The 58X is a class below the 600 lineup. Fantastic headphone for its price, but it doesn't quite match the quality of the 600/650/660S.
How did both of these headphones sound on your Darkvoice tube amp? Desert island and can only take of these headphones which one it be? Keep up the great work. :)
one of the best things about your videos is that you put time stamps, shows that you have a true passion for this stuff and aren't just in it for money and ad revenue
Do you find the DT 1990 Pro sibilant? I had the DT 990 it was the case and I just got the 1990 Pro and they were the same. The S sound is piercing sharp. Is that just a Beyerdynamic thing?
When I had my DT1990 Pro I didn't notice the sibilance as much as the DT990Pro, but they are still there. In general I have a feeling that when you look at the frequency graphs of most Beyerdynamic headphones, you will see the trend of V shape, recessed mid and overly boosted treble, technically it creates a false feeling of detailed highs, if the listener has no better headphones to compare with. The recessed mid boosts the volume treble even more since the human hearing picks up mid frequencies the best compared to low and high frequencies. I have now gone up to the Hifiman Arya and I can tell that the DT 1990 Pro is far from detailed in treble, it's just louder and gives you the "sparkle" feeling but at the same time it creates sibilance. I have given away my DT1990Pro and I'll never want it back.
@@versaleyang Yeah I have no better headphones to compare the DT 1990 Pro with so they are the best I have heard so far. I think I kinda get what you mean by the false sense of detailed highs from the sparkle feeling. I plan to try the HD 660S and planar magnetic headphones in the future. Do you have any experience with the HD 660S, and do you recommend HiFiMAN or Audeze if planar magnetic?
hey got a quick question, i found the HD660's on sale through a online audio shop for $639AUD it just so happens that i have a 100$ voucher code for said website so i could get them for $539 total. do you think that this would be a good buy for someone that loves the HD598 sound? ( hd 598's are almost 3 years old and have started to rattle oddly and become very loose fitting)
For gaming the DT1990. For music, it is much more personal. But, the 660 is not worth the upgrade cost for mostly the same thing. But, the 1990 is worth the cost. (Because it does something different)
I believe people usually makes the same mistake with sound like they make with pictures, they always prefer the punchier/ big contrast / saturated colours, but if u ask a experienced photographer he will always choose the flat one , same way works with the sound , average Joe 98 times of a 100 will prefer the big bass and big treble but the real quality comes from a flat line graph ( i love bass don't get me wrong ) u get more of the song that way
don't know where you got that analogy. With photography it all depends on the kind of shot you are trying to take. Some shots require a more flat colour palette to complement light, while some require more saturated. It all depends on what you have in the frame and whatever will suit the subject the best / be most interesting to the viewer.
@@dnd6379 hello ! I find the headphones that delivers the best sub bass I ever heard , the skullcandy crushers wireless , check them out , you will love them I have no doubt
I have the Beyerdynamic T90 and while I think it is a very nice headphone the 'Beyerpeak' can be unpleasant sometimes. How does the T90 compare to the DT1990 ? From what I read about the 1990 the treble can be piercing at times too but overall that one is not as bright sounding as the T90 ?
Saying BIG soundstage is better its like Saying Cold sound is better than Warm sound... Some people just prefer Normal or Small Soundstage. In your head sound its also very important ...For Example HD25 and HD 6 series are known for that.
Hi Josh, need a little bit of help here. I currently own the Sennheiser HD 660s. Really like the headphone. However, the lack of subbass can be underwhelming at times. Yes I know I can EQ the headphones to give it a little more boost but there's only so much EQ can do. Looking for a headphone that can compliment the HD 660s without being too different. Was curious if the DT 1990 pro compliments the HD 660s. Thoughts/advice/recommendation?
@@scarlet7960 late comment to my original comment, but kinda funny that you commented about Audeze. I actually bought the Audeze LCD-2C. I really like it😄 Like the HD 660s, it's not a perfect headphone. It has flaws, but there are things that it does well. It also has a boost / peak in the mids which make the mids rather intimate like the 660s. Can be a bit too forward at times though; although the 660s mids are intimate, they never appear too forward/peaky imo
@@SeanLiu4 oh hell yeah cool to hear you got those, great pair of cans! I have an lcd2 my self too. Surprised to see ya here even still after 3 years !
Hey bro! Do you think HD 660s would be a nice choice for eletronic music production, or DT1990 is better? Considering the best bang for the buck I have considered also HD 600, DT 990 or ATH M40X (with the earpads you have recomendded). I am worried about the lack in bass with Sennheiser's and the peak in highs in the Beyer ones. What is your opinion?
Ordered 1990 recently and was disappointed. There's significant rumble in right earcup in the lower frequencies. Before that I was using 990 for a long time, and there were no problems. So eventually I had to order Sennheiser 660S2. It's totally impossible to work with this rumble with 1990
@@markpomerhn76 lol i actually bought them both and at first i liked the 1990s more at stock but then i put some perforated fenestraded dekoni pads along with a nice cable along with the hel 2 the 1770 started to sound a lot better; changing the sound signuture to more like closer to the 1990s and more in some ways but; the same to the 1990s and they just got that much better; so I kept both...............lol
@@markpomerhn76 i thought it was 1770s.........lol but i have listened to other senheiser and I can say for sure 1990 stock is prob the headphone I would buy if I could only buy one headphone; I might check out the 660s in the future; hell I was even considering the sen. 880s at one point which is deep; but I hear there are as wide as the sky
I've ordered the 1990s, after getting tired of my PM-3s and HE400is. Hoping the 1990s have the bass of the PM-3s, and the detail, air, and openness of the HE400is. I listen to a little of everything - 70s and 80s pop/rock/country, but mostly classical. Recommendations welcome for the perfect neutral headphone with good bass extension/punch and openness/air...
I've heard that, but they lack low bass and sub-bass. Based on every review I've read, and every frequency response graph I've seen, all open Sennheisers suffer from the same thing. Check out this review, which includes a FR graph.
@@ExSkyCyclePilot I tought the same as well until I got them, the less sub bass actually helps with imaging, you can pinpoint sound easier and overall sound is clearer, you will only notice sub bass missing in like dubstep or trap music, for instruments these are great, they sound more real then any other headphones I've heard so far, one of the headphones I've owned were 660s and he 4xx which I still own, but I am not missing the bass, the music is closer to reality than on any headphone that has more sub bass. I listen to alot of trap but even then don't miss the bass from he 4xx or dt990. It just sounds more real. pop and rock sound damn perfect on these 650, I listen to Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi and others, rock, metal, pop, and these sound daamn great, the well recorded music sounds as if you were there and was listening to them live, I didn't get this feeling with the he 4xx, dt990, amiron home, and a bunch of other headphones.
Yea, they are very tight at first so you need to stretch them out, specially if you have glasses otherwise they are fine on comfort. I am using Fostex HP-A4BL amp to power them and listening to some ripped crysis 2007 OSTs is just damn briliant or Amber Rubarths album Sessions from the 17th Ward, specifically Strive on that album, close your eyes and you will forget you are in your room.... atleast I did, didn't get this feeling with the other headphones though, so yeah, amazing is the word I would use for 650, don't think you can go better than that to be honest. The "lack" of sub bass makes it so the drivers don't rattle (vibrate the headphone) and so the sub bass doesn't overpower mids or treble (even on dt 990 the sub bass doesn't exactly overpower other frequncies but the lower you go in HZ the harder it is to pick up the position of a sound, but since instruments in general don't go that low 650 is just perfect). The 650 have soundstage, not the biggest but can be very intimate because of that so they can sound wide in songs or very up close. How I would describe listening through 650 is like being the microphone, specially when it comes to vocals. It does depend how the song is recorded, either they have microphones really close or away from instruments to give the song a wide soundstage like they do with the Sessions from the 17th Ward, I recommend you get that in flac either from a torrent or buy it from allflac com, that site is where I get my HQ music, very cheap for what you get, even got crysis 1 and 2 OSTs. If you have a question ask away. Oh also the 650 do better with cheaper amps than other headphones I have, my case is when I plug them into my galaxy S8 the he 4xx sound quite worse on the phone over an external amp, same for dt 990 (specially dt990) while the hd 650 keep all the sound quality, on the S8 I couldn't possibly say they sound anything close to bad, so even on cheap amps they sound bloody good :D, S8 amp is quite better over something like iPhone SE/6s, the SE has more sub bass but lacks in tonality (natural sound of instruments), on SE they sound more electronic while S8 is the other way around, it lacks sub bass but sounds very natural and 650 have recessed sub bass so at first I thought that the sub bass would be even less but I was completely wrong, the pairing is incredible, I get 0 hiss or distortion on my phone and music sounds as natural, very comparable to the amp actually, but with other headphones I could easily say otherwise and that's why I never used other headphones with my phone, but with these how they sound unoffensive, you can just go to bed listening to them and fall asleep in mere minutes. So I would recommend these to anyone who has good hearing and want's quality. Also even now even though I know dt 990 wasn't really bloated bass or He 4xx, listening 650 feels like those headphones had bloated bass and this is how it should sound, I preffer these headphones over speakers even, because these transport you to where you imagine the music was played at and speakers transport the music to you. Also the 660s will replace 650 so they won't be making them anymore, 6xx however I think will still be up for sale, I payed 325€ for these and it was worth every cent. Cheers ^^
2024 ,so after more than 6 years of experience with hd660s let me describe how they sound easy and for anyone 1. Pretty much like an amazing 2 stereo all range speakers without a Sub 2. The midrange kings , great for human voice , great instruments , great for joe rogan experience , they only get down to 90 hz in the sub bass region , so they dont really have any energy below 90 hz , 2. So is made for midrange sounds ,spectrum , but oh boy they sound amazing for they are supposed to do , zero distorsion at any level , amazing clarity , amazing separation of instruments , great comfort , the sounds doesnt change if you wears glases , lightweight Cons : the cables are very weak ime , pretty much i change one cable every year or maximum 2 years , very hard to find the original ones
Hello Joshua. I've been wanting the 1990's for a while. They cost €480 where I'm from. Something like the 58X for $170 also exists. I'm looking for a solid open back upgrade from my HD 569's. Are the 1990's justifiable at nearly 3 times the rate of the 58X? Thanks in advance. I use a Fiio K5 Pro DAC/AMP.
I used DT 1990, now I use 660 as it suits me better. When buying headphones you kinda tend to lose the plot sometimes. :D Can somebody explain to me how gaming audio works? Because it doesn't go by any logic so far...I have tried many headphones, among which are popular suggestions for Gaming including DT 1990 which is not that great for games, quite average really and yet 660 shines so fine with gaming it is unbelievable.
Audio for games works like virtual surround sound in gaming headsets. Its on the headphones to rellay from where and how far something is. The dt 1990 are good for that since they suposeddly have good imaging (dont own them) but I can personally vouch for dt 990, I don't think its possible to have better imaging than the dt 990 when it comes to games though, because these can already pinpoint position of somebody (fps games), but you do need a good amp to get the most imaging out when it comes to games.
Well that is why I am confused, in theory the DT 1990, 990 should be good for games along with many others like Q701, but they are all just mediocre for me. I had the Q701 and everything was so far away in the imaging by default that anything you did hear you couldn't understand where exactly, like anywhere right 90 degrees, which obviously expands as it gets further away. DT 990 pro Bit better, you can tell where people are coming from more better, however the distance is really meh and as soon as someone is behind a wall you are even more confused as to where exactly that is, not even talking about up and down. And I figure Yeah, this is probably good. Maybe a better amp. At that point I was meddling with Surround sound and got the sennheiser GSX, for immersion maybe, for actually hearing where people are coming from? Ahahahahaa, good joke. At which point I had also obtained Sennheiser Game one and I was completely blow away by the pinpoint accuracy. I was just "There is a guy behind that box reloading...I can hear him put the clip in..." And soon after that I got DT 1990 which was about the same as 990 for games... As soon as I heard reviews about the 660 I was like I gotta have it for games. And I was right it is on par with what I experienced with Game one. Incidentally I also like 660 better for music and everything else. 1990 is a bit anal at times and can get a bit fatiguing.
WildStyle hmmm 660s was same as 990 for me when it comes to imaging, i can pinpoint where someone is with 990 for example in six siege, i can hear someone behind me, infront, upstairs, downstairs, behind a wall. There is something wrong if you cant tell where something is coming from if the headphone tells you very well. I think theres something with your hearing, try siege with 990 if you have a chance and tell me if you cant hear it well, or maybe its just games at fault.
WildStyle or... i just thought about it.... maybe soundstage confused you, sennheiser doesnt have a big soundstage in almost any of their headphones, beyers do though and so do akgs, so that might have confused you in game.
Seems to be across multiple games I have played over the years, I have not played siege six. Could be my hearing, maybe my ears just prefer the way the driver sits in sennheiser? Who knows. But that was my experience with multiple headphones.
Sweet review. Got the 1990 as an upgrade from the 990 pro but i'm honestly not sure whether to keep them or not... I think they sound so similar yet the price difference is quite heavy.
Ive owned the 990 for 20 years. They sound quite a bit different. Are you amplifying them like you should be? OTL amps work very well on both cans and the Senn 600 and 800 series (Dont know about 660 as they are lower impedance, probably not as good). if you dont want to amplify them and think the sound is not worth it then by all means return it. Im selling an expensive set of cans because I think the 600ohm 990dt's I have which were supposed to be just back up cans actually sound better. Im talking well over 5x more expensive. More $$$ doesnt always= better sounding for you.
Using a Clarett 4 Pre... I think the neutral pads are just fine but with the open pads they sound similar to the 990 (250ohm). There's also more contact pressure which I think supports lower frequencies quite a bit - Like I said there's no real advantage when doing the post production of a piece. However I'm going to keep them, love the idea of the mini XLR
The Beyers have a burn in period and after that the shrill and harshness of the highs settle in beautifully just like the DT990. Most people either don’t know this or don’t talk about it and miss out on the big payoff by writing them off way too soon. If you’re mixing or mastering the Beyers are king.
Hi Zac, this is really good information, as I was really interested after many reviews I read or watched, but pretty disappointed, when I actually tried them...
@@baddog6003 iN rEALItY. If you're using a headphone for more than a year, buy one more pair of those. I grantee you will notice the difference. The old one will sound more lively
nope. I cannot decide and cannot find a place to test them. Since I cannot choose, the money will continue to be stacking up until I hit the thousand milestone. From then, new horizon.
PlebAndProud I actually owned them twice and sold them twice. I sold the first pair because of comfort, I missed the sound and bass so much I bought them again. I had a real struggle with the weight of the unit and the headband. I also had the issue with the 990, 880 and 770. I am in the very small minority who have this experience. The sound of the 1990 is really exceptional. When the 660 s came out I gave them a try and decided the soundstage was enough for gaming, the mids compensated enough for the lack in bass, and they have the comfort I needed. Sold my Mrspeakers Aeon Flows and have used the 660 s since with no regrets. Running a modmic 5 with them. Running it unbalanced at the moment with a Fostex hpa4bl.
Thanks for the reply :) I'm about to buy the 1990's but I have a question. Are they good for gaming? I play mostly CsGo and some other games like Overwatch, Battlefield and others, but I'm mostly wondering if steps in CsGo would be clear and accurate on these? I believe they are but since you seem to have gamed on them and there's basically no other reviews talking about gaming in them.
PlebAndProud I'm b+ on ESEA, can confirm they are great for footsteps. The beyers can be fatiguing sound wise to some after long sessions, but I never noticed it. Unfortunately, the comfort was really the only thing for me. They really shined in pubg because of the imaging, I was able to pinpoint snipes so much easier with them.
With the B pads, you get insanely good sub bass. The headphones won't rumble, but the bass will be significantly prominent. The 1990's have much better bass than my custom studios (essentially DT770's) which was insane as these are open back. I absolutely love my 1990's for all genres of music.
To me the dt1990 is not really open , they are semi open because they have only some halls not a full open back like hd660s , this is the reason they have more bass imo
Out of the two, the 1990. Better soundstage. However, if you are really serious about gaming, get 668B, AKG K712 or HD800. They have much much wider soundstage, and are better for that sort of thing.
You wont get that much better in terms of gaming than dt 990 and a good amp to go with it. I'm planning on getting the k712, would be interested in hearing your opinion on it for music and games (fps). Take care.
Hello...i want to spend some money for a good headset...and idk witch one to get for gaming... i have Amp acram rhead + dac cambridge dacmagic 100.... HD660 VS DT1990 | Sennheiser vs. Beyer witch one i sould get for gaming + streaming... thank you :)
DT 1990 is the better one for gaming. Wider soundstage, and pinpoint imaging, but they're more fatiguing (brighter). The 600 series were never that great for gaming. If you want to game on Sennheisers you either use the lower end 500 series, which have worse imaging but wider soundstage, or go straight to the big boys (700/800 series)
The HD700 have massive earcups, you'll have no problem whatsoever. Keep in mind that they're fairly bright as well, since they have some pretty nasty peaks with their highs. There's a mod that "fixes" this problem, but they make the headphone a little darker, some people don't appreciate this type of change, so you'll need to pick your poison.
So i think is better to go with hd660s...i wild like to go also with 1990pro but is heavy "380g" ...i gaming and streaming for like 8-12 hours per day..
I would definitely go with the DT 1990 pro. They're good for music and gaming, and are fairly comfortable (not as good as Sennheisers, but still high!) They're bright but NOT that bright, specially with the balanced pads, so they take a while to get fatiguing, and their shrill highs make bullets wiz by your head and footsteps sound gargantuan. 380g while a little bit heavier then an average dynamic, is still not orthodynamic weight haha. I would take the HD660s if my goal was mainly music and just game on the side (like adventure games, RPGs, nothing "competitive"), but since you're streamer, the DT 1990s would be my choice. If you still want to game with Sennheisers at this price point, i would get the HD 700 and mod them! like so: www.modhouseaudio.com/hd700-mod/hd700-mod-kit
HD 660s are in my opp better for gaming, you can pinpoint footsteps more accurately and sound stage seems more real . and DT 1990 better for music because of better bass extension at lower range.
I have the HD6XX and wanted an upgrade and bought the DT 1990 Pro. Very honestly I like alot more the general sound on the HD6XX.... sorry. Can you recommend an upgrade for the HD6XX with similar sound signature?
Funny, I am looking for headphone and think about both models. I mostly listen to heavy stuff: metal, power metal, death metal etc., so looking for solid bass and great vocals (grunts, opera etc). Which model do you think is better for this?
