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Today we review the legendary Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO studio headphones. The question immediately arises: why have they been assigned to a Legendary Tier? We will talk about all this a little bit later, and our review will also be quite unusual as we will be comparing the DT 990 Pro with the DT 880 PRO model (which we have reviewed in detail separately). The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, 880 PRO, and 990 PRO series of headphones from the famous German company has been produced for decades and has deservedly gained respect around the world. Their reliability, sound quality, and usability in the studio have stood the test of time, which is one of the reasons why they can be called - legendary.
Beyerdynamic professional headphones are divided into three types according to their use: studio, concert, and headset. Everything that belongs to the studio is reduced to an open acoustic design. This makes it possible to listen to the material in relatively quiet conditions in the control room of a recording studio, in the editing room of a post-production studio, or in a home studio. At the same time, concert headphones necessarily have a closed design in order to be able to hear the sound at a concert and during performances. (The term "semi-open" is technically incorrect, as open-back headphones are always semi-open, it's all about the degree of acoustic loading. Let's leave that to the marketers). Closed headphones, such as the DT 770 PRO or DT 250, are also used by artists in the studio in front of the microphone to listen to the recorded audio track because the open headphones are sending a noticeable signal to the microphone.
Thus, it is clear to everyone that any division of headphones into categories is nothing more than a convention. When choosing headphones, the range of tasks to be performed is much more important. In the case of open/semi-open headphones, however, it is much easier to ensure natural sound and long-term comfort thanks to improved ventilation. Therefore, the DT 880 PRO and DT 990 PRO headphones are always preferable when the best sound quality is required. The main requirement when using open-back headphones is that the environment is not too noisy. So let's start the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO review as usual with the device's specifications.
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Best Price on Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is a legendary pair of headphones that has been a favorite among audio professionals, audiophiles, and music enthusiasts for decades. |
Classic Package
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So Beyerdynamic has several versions of the 990 headphones and in order not to leave you confused, we will clarify the whole situation with them.
The Beyerdynamic 990 headphones are initially released in two versions: with the prefix PRO and EDITION.
Let's start with the PRO version, which is available in several colors: All Black (Limited Edition) and the original (classic) coloring. The classic Beyerdynamic 990 Pro is available in two versions, 80 Ohm and 250 Ohm, and the Beyerdynamic 990 Pro Black (Limited Edition) is also available in 80 Ohm and 250 Ohm. The only difference between the 990 Pro and the 990 Pro Black (Limited Edition) is the color. The black version has a completely black housing and black velour ear pads. The Beyerdynamic 990 Pro Black (Limited Edition) headphones are, as you might have guessed, a limited edition, but at the time of writing they were still available in online marketplaces.
The Beyerdynamic 990 Edition was also available in two colors: original (classic with silver gray tones) and all black (with black housing & ear pads, and a slightly different headband). The classic Beyerdynamic 990 Edition and the Beyerdynamic 990 Edition (Black) are available with different impedances: 32 Ohm, 250 Ohm and 600 Ohm.
Now let's talk about the differences between the PRO and EDITION versions. The DT 990 Edition headphones for home use and the DT 990 PRO studio headphones. In terms of sound, the two models are identical, as they have identically designed acoustic transducers.
There are three main differences between the two models. Firstly, the Edition models have a softer headband for home listening, while the PRO headphones have a slightly firmer fit. The PRO version has a thicker metal frame and more spring pressure in the headband, as it is important to keep the ear cushions firmly pressed against the head during more intensive use. Also, the headband pad of the Pro version can be replaced in the future as it is removable.
Second, the Edition models come with a straight cable, while the PRO models come with a coiled cable (*there is a small nuance, see the specification block above, namely "Length and type of cable"). It is assumed that a music lover sits in a chair away from the rack with the equipment, but for a professional, 3 meters of dangling cable is annoying, so in the PRO version the cable is twisted into a spiral.
Third, the consumer (EDITION) version has three headphone options - 32, 250, and 600 ohms. The standard universal 250-ohm version is similar to the PRO. A special low-impedance 32-ohm version for portable use, and a high-impedance 600-ohm version for use with powerful headphone amplifiers.
Why such a high impedance of 600 ohms? According to the manufacturer, it allows the use of thinner wire in the coils and reduces the weight of the moving system, making the sound more natural. However, such headphones are only suitable for stationary use with headphone amplifiers specifically designed for such loads. Specifically, applying 1 Vrms to a 32 ohm headphone will produce 31 mW, 250 ohms - 4 mW, 600 ohms - 1.7 mW. This is a 16 dB difference in loudness! So the amp has to be really powerful - stationary with its own power supply.
Let's start our Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO review with the headphone packaging. The new revisions of the Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO and Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO come in large black cardboard boxes. The boxes have a strict minimalist design and are identical in appearance. Both boxes have the following inscriptions The studio legend and Your legend, Your sound, Your Beyerdynamic. The inscription "made in Germany" at the bottom of the box indicates that the models are still manufactured in Germany. Each model comes with a 2-year warranty.
Inside the box, on a cardboard and slightly sloped base, are the headphones themselves. The base is made of cardboard, but with careful handling can replace a stand for the headphones. The set includes a drawstring bag for the headphones made of synthetic fabric with a card attached to it for the owner's name, address, phone number, and e-mail. Also included is a screw-on gold-plated adapter from 3.5mm to 6.3mm, allowing you to plug the headphones into different diameter jacks on your audio equipment without too much trouble. The kit is not elaborate or rich, just the essentials. There are no extra interchangeable ear pads, headband cushion or leather case. This can be attributed to the minor drawbacks of these headphones, but we think such a package is due to the price. Usually, you can see a good set of headphones with a price tag of $200-250+. There are no complaints about the box, everything is packed securely, nothing dangles, and nothing will be damaged during delivery.
Here is what the manufacturer writes: Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is an open dynamic headphone suitable for a wide range of tasks in the studio and at home. The reduced weight of the diaphragm and the entire moving system results in impulse characteristics that are no worse than those of electrostatic headphones, and the flat frequency responce provides a natural tonal balance. The headband length adjusts to fit your head, and the earcups feature soft cushions for long listening sessions.
The headphones are made in Germany. It should be noted that the design is oriented towards normal European-sized heads and ears - a very important point that Japanese headphone manufacturers do not always pay due attention to. All supporting elements of the design are made of steel and inspire confidence. The ear cushions are removable for cleaning. According to some reports, they can even be washed properly. The headband cushion is removable, but is held in place by four buttons. Theoretically, both the ear cushions and the headband cushion can be replaced in the future - the manufacturer's catalog lists the items and indicates how to order them. However, all parts look reliable and durable. It is quite possible that as the headphones wear out over the years, the models will be discontinued and it will be easier to just buy new headphones.
And of course, as with all of our review articles, we couldn't help but talk about the ergonomics of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro and DT 880 Pro headphones. The Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO have some similarities in their design, but also some noticeable differences. The latter includes the design of the earpieces. The DT 880 PRO has silver rings with a decorative metal mesh and dark grey "DT 880 PRO" lettering. On the DT 990 PRO, the cups are covered by a black grill made of dense plastic. The white lettering "DT 990 PRO 250 OHM" can be felt on this grille. The DT 880 PRO is 45 grams heavier than the DT 990 PRO, weighing in at 295 grams. This difference in weight is noticeable in the hands, but it is virtually negated by the comfortable fit of the headphones on the head.
Now for the similarities. Both models have replaceable soft ear cushions covered in silver velour. The steel headband is covered in black eco-leather with buttons and soft padding. The headband is adjustable and lockable. The symmetry of its adjustment can be determined by the marked points. The DT 880 PRO and 990 PRO have black metal cup holders.
The cable on both models is black, thick, rubbery, and twisted. It is single-ended, attached to the left cup, and not removable. All this gives the impression that the cable is reliable for long-term use, but sometimes it comes in handy for certain scenarios. For example, if you listen to music at a distance of more than 2 meters from the source, the cable starts to stretch, sag and can pull your head a bit under its weight. Also, if the sound source has a small weight of its own and is not attached to a surface, the connected headphone cable may pull the sound source with it. This should be taken into account if you don't want to accidentally knock a portable audio interface off a table, for example.
In general, both models are high quality, well made, and look very reliable - all these are distinctive features of the whole PRO line of Beyerdynamic.
Now we come to the most important part/section of our Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO review. Of course, everyone wants to know what the headphones sound like. On the company's official website, the Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO and Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO models each have the same description - for mixing and mastering. This means that these models are positioned as headphones for studio use and professional work with sound. But the DT 880 PRO and 990 PRO differ in sound as much as in design.
A few words about the sound sources. The headphones have an impedance of 250 ohms and a sensitivity of 96 dB, so they are not the easiest to "rock". You can connect the headphones to a low-power player or the same smartphone, but what kind of sound will we get at the output? It will just be a thin and ethereal sound that has nothing in common with the sound that these headphones are capable of. That's why we connected the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and DT 880 PRO to a high-quality 600-ohm headphone amplifier, which delivers enough sound pressure even at 40% volume.
If you connect these headphones to a conventional sound card, you'll have to turn the volume up closer to maximum and the bass response will suffer. Also, when working with sound, each individual track can be recorded quietly enough, with a reserve to avoid overloading. A good amplifier is therefore desirable for these headphone models. The headphones have so much bass reserve that a slight lack of bass in the signal may not be noticeable if there is nothing to compare it to.
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. The open acoustic design allows the headphones to sound wide and spacious, with good instrument positioning. The 990 PRO features accentuated bass and emphasized treble. The emphasis on the bass has a positive effect on the depth of the stage.
Bass in the 990 PRO is clearly audible and quantitatively not insignificant, sometimes even too much. The bass is average both in speed and in its detail. We can not call the bass percussive, rather it is “thorough”. The transmission of bass in the headphones is well suited for slow jazz and rock. Bass in electronic songs can sound very engaging. But the headphones don't always manage to accurately reproduce low frequencies, as the tempo of the music increases, the bass response decreases.
The midrange is delivered without going analytical or audiophilic, conveying, above all, the essential details of the sound with good volume. The midrange depended on the correct mixing of the track itself, the midrange could be swept into the woofer range, which was clearly not in favor of the sound. Sometimes the instruments, including vocals, lacked a bit of body in the sound. Nevertheless, the midrange sound was in no way dry or boring, the upper midrange was particularly good, and the emotion embedded in the music was present.
We found the DT 990 PRO's high frequencies ambiguous. The high frequencies are emphasized in the headphones. The accentuated highs give the sound a sense of extra detail. Our first impression of the treble was the width and airiness of the sound. With longer listening sessions, our assessment of the tweeter sound changed a bit. No, the width of the stage and the airiness of the sound did not disappear, but the tweeter's performance was sometimes light, even synthetic. The brightness of the sound could turn into intrusiveness, sometimes even aggression, which started to get tiring. For people who are sensitive to the HF range, we would definitely recommend listening to the DT 990 PRO before buying.
Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO. Compared to the DT 990 PRO, the sound of this model is more neutral and balanced. In terms of stage width, the DT 880 PROs are inferior to the 990 PROs. The bass is less quantitative, more restrained and precise, but with more depth and definition. This is especially noticeable in double bass solos or slap bass guitar. At the same time, the bass in electronic music is not as massive and spacious as in the 990 PRO.
The midrange of the DT 880 PRO is more neutral and calibrated, although it is not as emotional as the 990 PRO. Yes, the DT 880 PROs are unlikely to cause a "wow" effect, but their midrange sounds truer than the 990 PROs. The midrange is well-balanced in the overall sound and the instruments get the body we were missing with the DT 990 PROs. The 880 PRO's midrange retains its transparency and is not overpowered by the rest of the sound range.
The high frequencies of the DT 880 PRO sounded less bright in most cases, without any hint of intrusiveness like the DT 990 PRO. Despite this relaxed presentation, the high frequencies of the DT 880 PRO are well-developed, natural and balanced in the overall mix. The differences in the high frequencies of these models are particularly noticeable when listening to symphony orchestras.
The sound of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 and DT 880 PRO headphones can be described as very good. It is definitely one of the best among the competition. One of the indicators of quality is that the switch between the sound devices of different classes is well felt. The DT 990 PROs sound sharper and brighter than the DT 880 PROs. In the DT 880 PRO, you can see that the manufacturer has decided to move away from resonances around 10kHz and has softened the sound a bit, shifting the priorities towards less fatigue during prolonged use. Both models benefit from equalization. At high volumes, it is desirable to limit the woofer's diaphragm excursion and tidy up the tweeter's resonance, while at medium and low volumes the sound probably needs no correction.
Due to the good attack and timbre fidelity in the midrange, the use of headphones is justified for professional purposes. However, we do not recommend the use of headphones when mixing or working on timbres due to the peculiarities of this class of sound-producing devices. Even the most expensive and sophisticated headphones are not a minimal substitute for wideband monitors.
To evaluate the sound quality in comparison to other models, we compared the headphones with the Beyerdynamic DT 250 and the Sennheiser HD-600. All of the headphones sounded completely different, and each is far from ideal in its own way. The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and DT 880 PRO are much closer in sound. The Sennheiser HD-600s sound the most natural. However, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is more interesting in attack and detail. The DT 880 PRO sounds somewhere in between.
Finally, we've reached the end of our Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO review, it's time to summarize the results. Both models Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO and Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO belong to studio headphones. Reliable construction, good ergonomics and high impedance allow them to be used in a professional environment. In addition to the differences in acoustic design, the headphones also differ in sound. The DT 880 PROs produce a more restrained, precise, sometimes even ingratiating sound that adds a certain sophistication to music. The DT 990 PROs have a wider stage, accentuated bass and treble, which makes them sound brighter, more sparkling and punchier.
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO and Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO are very worthy models of full-size headphones, each offering a different sound. Our choice leans toward the DT 990 PRO. And it's up to you to decide which sound you prefer.
It is almost impossible to choose between these two models. When working with sound, it is important not to miss any artifacts, but it is also important to have a balanced sound with low fatigue, otherwise "miracles" will appear later on good monitors. So make the most of your equipment's strengths. Although it is possible to work with headphones (especially if there is no other output), you don't have to turn off your brain!
We hope you enjoyed our review of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones. Please feel free to leave your comments, questions, and suggestions in the section below. We will be happy to answer them all as soon as possible. If you already own a DT 990 PRO or DT 880 PRO and have used it for a while, don't forget to share your impressions and tell us what you liked or disliked about these studio headphones.
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8.7
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