beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones

I use these for orchestration and film scoring in my home studio with n RME Babyface Pro FS interface. These are open back, they are designed to leak audio, so you can't use these to track vocals or any recording situation where the mic will pick up the sound from the headphones. For that you'll want the DT 1770 closed-back cans. Let's get right to it: What's Great - The more "exciting" sound on the Beyerdynamics after decently taming them (info coming on that) - The Bass Response... I'm already addicted. It is TIGHT and punchy and has great clarity. I'll put the bass response up against any cans under $1K, but we're not talking hyped Beats junk. First time I listened to the 1990s after 10 straight hours of running an album on repeat to do some burn-in, the piece I listened to a film score cue which has this huge cinematic deep timpani/sound design hit ijn the beginning, and I honestly thought I had left my KH750 Sub on in my room. It was late at night and I leaped up from the chair to turn it off. It was off. - The Soundstage... wow. As impressive as the bass response. First time listening my mouth dropped! I also own DT 990 Pro 80 Ohm for my laptop which sound great and have really nice soundstage reproduction, but the different Tesla design on the 1990s is really something. - Clarity & Detail: wow, I am hearing things in recorded pieces I never noticed, I am just bonkers over that, especially coming from the Sennheiser HD650 veil which I now know exists. The 650s sound wonderfully glued together, but now the detail I'm hearing in the 1990s is so nice, I'm hooked and never going back. - Volume: My Babyface Pro supposedly runs best at 100-150 Ohm headphones for volume output. The 300 ohm (320 actually) HD 650s never seemed to get the volume and punch I wanted, but these 250 Ohm 1990s can get loud enough to blow my neighbor's toupee off, even louder than the 80 ohm 990s I have. So it's not just ohmage... whatever that Tesla technology in the DT1990's drivers does, it works amazingly in both timbre and amplitude. No, BD's Tesla technology has nothing to do with Elon. - Second set of earpads are included. They are named Analytical pads for a flatter response. If you really want 1990s for mixing, use these pads instead. I'm fairly sure that correction software with the more precise Analytical pads would work well for mixing, but I prefer the gray velour Balanced pads for that addicting bass response, which are the pads the 1990s ship with that we see in the photos. The pads are changeable without tools but it's not easy, so you can't switch back-n-forth in any quick manner. Better to make the commitment to the soundscape you want to hear. - Comfort: Any BD owner will tell you that when it comes to comfort, BD sets the bar. Most comfortable I've ever worn, and I have a big noggin. - Made in Germany. I'm a snob I guess. Build quality is so nice on the 1990s. - Cable Connector: A Mini XLR jack is used for the removable cable. Hold that thought, because the BD-supplied cables almost get stuck in the jack, very hard to remove. More on that in a sec. - Case: Comes with a nice semi-rigid zippered case, which has a pouch for cables and a well to hold a second set of pads (the Analytical pads are in there for shipping). What's Important to Know It is quite easy to tame the odd 8.5KHz spike, plus two other spots that need a tweak (I'll list below). Sonarworks will fix approximately 9 spots but I'd rather Tame & Learn, NOT sterilize. Some 1990 owners use Sonarworks and then dial it back, FYI. For mixing and mastering, again go with the Analytical pads and correction software, you'll get there much easier as opposed to correction with the Balanced pads. Otherwise, Balanced with some EQ smoothing is my absolute fave (settings are coming!). What I Can't Stand The supplied cables. UGH. What was Beyerdynamic thinking?? I like a straight cable and they do supply a long 9' cable, but the rubber is so stiff, the "memory" is horrible. I can hold up one end and the remaining cable hangs like a spring coil, and I can even shake the cable and it acts like a Slinky (there's a toy to look up, lol). Completely useless. They supply a coiled cable as well but I can't use it (nor would I want to), I need the long straight cable to route around my desk. BUT, here's the worst part: the cheesy Mini XLR plug on the cable doesn't fit right in the headphones, it's almost like you have to jam it in, and then to remove it I have to grab the left can like gripping a baseball, and with the other hand, wiggle and rock the mini XLR jack to finally get it to pop out. REALLY? I found a perfect replacement solution from an online place called Fog City Audio. How to Tame These Cans The 1990s have the notorious 8.5KHz spike but three easy setting on your main output tame them very well and now they sound amazing. The settings: Main Listening (playing, composing, tracking, listening to recorded music) 225Hz Peak (not shelf): -2db, Q at 1.0 8.5KHz Peak: -10db, Q at 4.0 14KHz Peak: -4db, Q at 4.4 Mixing (my EQ profile based on several frequency response graphs online, including Oratory1990 w/Balanced Pads) 100Hz Shelf: +2db, Q at 0.7 210Hz Peak: -4db, Q at 0.6 1.4KHz Peak: +0.5db, Q at 1.0 3.8KHz Peak: -1.5db Q at 3.0 5.8KHz, Peak: +2db, Q at 3.0 8.5KHz Peak: -12db, Q at 4.0 14KHz Peak: -6db, Q at 4.4 Thes are definitely my desert-island headphones

Beyerdynamic recently released 3 new headphone models selling for $600, the DT1770 Pro, the DT1990 Pro, and the Amiron Home. The DT1770 Pro is a studio workhorse and does not have high-end sound quality. The DT1990 Pro and the Amiron Home are both high-end headphones. The DT1990 model number is a progression of the DT990 model number. However, the DT1990 is an entirely different sounding headphone than the DT990. But it is still ideal for the style of music that the DT990 would likely be used for. The DT1990 Pro is a high transparency headphone. Its spectral balance with its bass boosting ear cushions minimizes the need for tone controls. Its bass sound is articulate and non-boomy. Its coloration component is tone lowering which means that it's not pleasant to listen to. However, it is at worst faint for some listeners and not noticeable for most. I found its overall sound personality ideal for listening to EDM (electronic dance music) and other genres where beautiful sound is not a virtue. To be "transparent" is to pass through clearly. A headphone that masks or otherwise clouds detail in audio sound lacks transparency. A headphone that has super high transparency is a headphone that passes sound through with negligible loss in detail. There are 2 overwhelming performance characteristics that determine the overall sound quality of a headphone. They are coloration and frequency response. "Frequency response" is a more technical term for spectral balance. "Spectral balance" refers to the evenness of sound intensity across the audio frequency spectrum. Frequency response gets a lot of attention. Coloration gets none. "Coloration" is a lingering and overlaying sound that masks or clouds detail. It is produced by a driver's diaphragm in addition to the sound being reproduced from the sound source. I call this added component the "coloration component". I quantify the amplitude of this coloration component as a percent of the amplitude of the sound being reproduced from the sound source. This value of percent is an estimate that I determine during listening tests. Below is a compilation of headphone models that I have evaluated over the past 3 years. This compilation provides a perspective on how different models compare with respect to transparency. Tier numbering in my past 2 headphone rankings has been completely redone for this compilation. Headphone models new to my rankings in this compilation are placed in brackets. RANKED IN ORDER OF INCREASING COLORATION DISTORTION: TIER 1: Col. Dis. 0.3% ... Not audible Beyerdynamic T1 (original)/(2nd Gen); [Focal Utopia] TIER 2: Col. Dis. 0.5% ... Tone lowering [Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro] TIER 3a: Col. Dis. 0.7% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp. Beyerdynamic T70/T70p (closed) TIER 3b: Col. Dis. 0.7% ... Tone neutral Beyerdynamic DT880 (all ohmic values); Beyerdynamic DT990 (all ohmic values); Beyerdynamic T5p (original)/(2nd Gen) (closed); [Beyerdynamic Amiron Home]; Ultrasone Edition 12 TIER 4a: Col. Dis. 1.0% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp. HiFiMan HE400i/HE560/HE1000; [HE1000 V2] TIER 4b: Col. Dis. 1.0% ... Tone neutral Shure SRH1840 TIER 5: Col. Dis. 1.5% ... Tone lowering AKG K812 Pro; Beyerdynamic T90; McIntosh MHP1000 (closed) TIER 6a: Col. Dis. 2.0% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp. B&O H6 (original)/(2nd Gen) (closed); Abyss AB-1266 TIER 6b: Col. Dis. 2.0% ... Tone lowering ... Wide BW col. comp. Fostex TH900 (closed) TIER 7: Col. Dis. 3.0% ... Tone lowering Grado SR60e/SR80e/SR125e/SR225e/SR325e/PS500e/GS1000e; Audeze EL-8 (open)/(closed); Audeze LCD-2/LCD-3/LCD-4; EnigmAcoustics Dharma D1000 TIER 8a: Col. Dis. 5.0% ... Tone neutral Sennheiser HD800/HD700; AKG K701/Q701/K702; Bower & Wilkins P7 (closed); Grado PS1000 TIER 8b: Col. Dis. 5.0% ... Tone lowering Audeze LCD-X; HiFiMan HE400s; HiFiMan Edition X; NAD VISO HP50 (closed); Audioquest Nighthawk TIER 8c: Col. Dis. 5.0% ... Tone raising Grado RS1e/RS2e TIER 9: Col. Dis. 7.0% ... Tone lowering [Beyerdynamic DT1770] (closed) TIER 10: Col. Dis. 10.0% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp. Sennheiser HD600/HD650 Closed back headphone models are indicated by "(closed)". Headphones that have a tone neutral coloration component are a fit for genres where beautiful sound is a virtue. Headphones that have a tone lowering coloration component are a fit for genres where beautiful sound is not a virtue. Tone lowering coloration is unpleasant but can be appealing for EDM and badass genres. Headphones indicated by "Wide BW col. comp." have a wide bandwidth coloration component that makes them sound "musical". Headphones not indicated by "Wide BW col. comp." have a narrow bandwidth coloration component that makes them sound "clinical". The Sennheiser HD800 in Tier 8a is a highly popular headphone model in the audiophile world. What makes it popular is its nice sound at first listen, and that produces sales. However, as one ups one's depth of perception with this headphone one can not hear more detail because its coloration masks it. Being able to up one's depth of perception can be equated to looking at the sky at night with a telescope. Without a telescope one can see only so much detail. With a telescope at low power one can see more detail. With the same telescope at high power one can see even more detail. With headphones one can hear more and more detail as one moves up the order of tiers from Tier 8a to Tier 1. But, there is a catch here in that one needs to develop the mental skill necessary to do so. Professional musicians who play acoustic instruments develop this skill naturally in their effort to hear their performance better. Headphone enthusiasts also develop this skill naturally in their effort to hear their music better. When evaluating high-end headphones, it can take me up to 1.5 hours to raise my depth of perception from base line (Tier 8a) to maximum (Tier 1). If from a point of maximum depth of perception I then go back to an HD800 headphone I feel like I have ear plugs in my ears. Its like I'm part deaf. Reviewers who can't discern the dramatic difference in transparency between a Beyerdynamic T1 and a Sennheiser HD800 don't have the metal skill to evaluate high-end headphones. This leads to argument, debate, imagination and so on. I use an amplifier with tone controls to do evaluations. I've never had a pair of headphones with which I didn't want to touch up its spectral balance. Tone controls do not degrade sound quality, not even to the slightest degree. In the following tier by tier paragraphs I comment on the headphone models in the compilation. TIER 1: Since 2010 the Beyerdynamic T1 (original) has been the real gold standard of headphones. It has a natural and nice sounding spectral balance and works beautifully with tone controls. The T1 (2nd Gen) has a tilted spectral balance in favor of bass and is a bass heavy version of the T1 (original). The Focal Utopia also has a tilted spectral balance in favor of bass. Its low end spectral balance is nicer than that of the Beyerdynamic (2nd Gen) but comes with a boomy bass. It has a slight lushness to its sound due to audible harmonic distortion. This audibity is made possible by its extremely high transparency. The Utopia has the best "wow factor" of any headphone made. All 3 headphone models have cavernous ear chambers. For a detailed comparison of all 3, check out my review on the Focal Utopia "From Bright Sounding to Bass Heavy". TIER 2: The Beyerdynamic DT1990 is supplied with 2 pairs of ear cushions, one with 20 vent holes for bass boosting and one with 4 vent holes for best bass detail. The 20 vent hole pair is the one that comes installed on the headphones and it mechanically tunes up the bass. It is the same as the one used on the Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Gen). You use that one when you don't have tone controls. If you have tone controls and want more bass detail you then install the 4 vent hole pair. To install the 4 vent hole cushions retract the ear cup/headband extensions and remove the installed cushions. To install a cushion find the notch on the mounting ring. The mounting ring and the ear cup flange form a grove that the lip of the cushion fits into. With a finger behind the lip guide the lip into the groove on the right angle side of the notch (not the sloping side) until about a quarter way around. Then twist the cushion clockwise until fully installed. For classical music listeners with a high depth of perception the T70/T70p, the DT880, and the T5p (original) would be a better choice. Better still, would be the Tier 1 models. TIER 3a: The T70p is a 32 ohm version of the 250 ohm T70. It has an angled mini jack with a cable that is only 4 feet long. It is intended for use with portable devices. Both have a nice spectral balance and to a small degree a soft seductive sound. Their seductive sound may be due in part to the mushing effect of enclosure sound in closed back headphones. Their bass can be boosted by converting to bass boosting leather ear cushions. Replacing their ear cushions is easy. The T70 paired with the Beyerdynamic EDT 5P LB genuine leather ear cushions is like a poor man's Focal Utopia. The EDT 5P LB cushions will boost the T70's bass so as to minimize the need for tone controls. The imitation nubuck leather cushions supplied with the T70 are shallow. Should one want a deeper cushion, any ear cushion used on any other Beyerdynamic model appearing in this review will physically fit the T70. But different cushions affect bass emphasis differently. For example, the Beyerdynamic EDT 770 SG cushions will make the T70 bass heavy. The T70 paired with the EDT 5P LB genuine leather cushions is one of the 3 gems of the headphone world, the other 2 being the Beyerdynamic T1 (original) and the Focal Utopia. TIER 3b: The coloration components of 4 Beyerdynamic headphone models indicate that they have the same diaphragm material. They are the DT880, the T5p (original), the T5p (2nd Gen), and the Amiron. Since 2006 the DT880 has been a constant of the Beyerdynamic line. Its spectral balance gives it a bright sound which can be balanced off with bass boost. An integrated amplifier with at least 10dB of bass boost would be good for this model. The T5p (original) is a closed back version of the DT880 with cavernous ear chambers like that of the T1. The T5p (2nd Gen) is like the original T5p except that the bass has been tuned up. One reviewer commented that it was like Beyerdynamic added a subwoofer. Not a good upgrade. The Amiron continues the trend towards bassier sound so that users can get adequate bass without the need for tone controls. It is a bass heavy and boomy version of the DT880. Since the DT1990 Pro with its bass boosting cushions and the T70 or T70p with the EDT 5P LB bass boosting leather cushions do the same but with better overall sound quality, I cannot recommend the Amiron. The DT990's diaphragm is made of a similar if not the same material as that of the DT880. It has a "V" type spectral balance where the treble is overly emphasized and the bass is boomy. The treble needs a tone control to tone it down so one needs an integrated amplifier. If one gets an integrated amplifier then one has a bass boost capability for a DT880 with its smoother high end and more articulate low end. The Ultrasone Edition 12 has an overly accented treble. TIER 4a: I re-evaluated the Tier 4a HiFiMan headphones for this review. This time I compared them directly to the Beyerdynamic T70 using popular music with heavy and light bass content. I found that the HiFiMan models do not match the T70/70p in transparency and they clearly belong a step below in tier ranking. TIER 4b: The headband of the Shure SRH1840 is so uncomfortable that placing a foam pad under it isn't enough. Tiers 5 through 10 are too far down in transparency compared to the top models to recommend. The only thing of interest here is that the B&O H6 is good for escaping the recording studio's acoustics and the Abyss AB-1266 is a good upgrade to the Sennheiser HD600/HD650's muddy sound. The HD650 is a muffled version of the HD600. Why buy the top tier models? You buy the top models so that you don't have to upgrade when your depth of perception improves. Many audiophiles spend a lot of time and money buying various headphone amplifiers and DAC's trying to improve on something that can't be improved. And then there's the so called "burn in" (break in) period. That's when audiophiles spend hours listening to a new pair of headphones until their minds fully adapt to the offending coloration component. You can avoid all of this by choosing a high transparency headphone. If you buy an integrated amplifier with tone controls, you then have the pleasure of tone adjustment along with no headphone compatibility issues. RECOMMENDATIONS: $200 - Beyerdynamic DT880 - Moderately bright sound $550 - Beyerdynamic T70/T70p - Closed back w/seductive sound $600 - Beyerdynamic T70/T70p w/EDT 5P LB leather cushions - Poor man's Focal Utopia $600 - Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro - Best where beautiful sound is not a virtue $800 - Beyerdynamic T5p (original) - Closed back version of DT880 w/cavernous ear chambers $1000 - Beyerdynamic T1 (original) - Best realism and best overall sound $1000 - Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Gen) - Bass heavy version of T1 (original) $4000 - Focal Utopia - Out of this world "Beats" Update - March 28/18 For more evaluation of the Amiron Home and 4 audiophile myths go to my recent review "Amiron Home - Good for Those Who Like to Wallow in Bass" - March 28/18. The EDT 5P LB leather cushions are not available at this time. For more bass boosting cushion options go to my recent review "T70 - One of the 3 Gems of the Headphone World" - March 27/18.

I own Beyerdynamic dt990 600ohms, Amiron Homes, Sennheiser HD 560s, and Sennheiser HD650s. The DT1990s are my favorite of the bunch (right next to HD650- different sound signature but both are amazing), with Amirons being my least favorite BY FAR which is funny because they use the same drivers as the DT1990s but sound awful. These things are built like a tank. Very sturdy and substantial feeling. Not too heavy on the head. Earcups are big enough for me and significantly deeper than the DT990 earcups. Almost as comfortable as my HD650 (better shaped earcups, lighter.) TREBLE: Okay, this is what many people worry about when they buy Beyerdynamic headphones. The treble on these headphones with the balanced pads is.... nice. It's present and a little bit forward, but not in the tinny way that it is on the dt990 or the DISGUSTINGLY loud and annoying way it is on the Amiron Homes. It's fast, and though frequency charts will show the huge 8k peak, it doesn't bother me. I'm fairly treble sensitive, and I hardly ever come across a song that bothers me with the DT1990. I think the treble is pleasantly clear. Sometimes, on songs like exchange by bryson tiller or excited by trippie redd, those high hats can be a little hot, but they're far more tolerable than the other Beyers I own. It's like they come close to that threshold of unpleasantness, but never cross it. It's almost perfect. Mids: Fantastic. not sucked out and lifeless like on the Amiron Homes or recessed like they are on the DT990 600ohm. The mids are clear and present. There is substance and flavor in the mids. Bass: Best bass of all the headphones I own. Tight and punchy, deep. Just really a good time overall. TLDR; Fantastic bass and mids. Great treble. Comfortable. Built like a tank. A good contrast to something like an HD650. Sometimes, high hats can come in hot, but I wouldn't call it a real issue. Stellar headphones overall and I don't regret buying them for over half a grand which is the most important takeaway from all of this. UPDATE 02-23-2022 I've purchased the HIFIMAN Sundara since obtaining the DT1990, and it isn't nearly as exciting to listen to. I still love the DT1990s and use them over everything else daily. I've probably put hundreds or maybe even thousands of hours on these things since I got them, and they're just fantastic. No build quality issues or driver issues. They're built very well. At first, I preferred the analytical pads, as they're softer and more comfortable. But, they take a way a lot of the bass, and I do enjoy my fair share of bass. So, I swapped the B pads back on, and I wore them in for a few days. This has become the way I prefer the headphones configured. Really nice, strong bass. Great mids. Very clear treble. Using any of my other headphones makes me feel like I'm listening to music with a sheet over my ears or something. That being said, I did just order some Focal Clear Mg headphones. I'll be back in a while to update this again. Update #2- I've now owned these headphones for almost two years, and they're still my favorite for everything overall. I've since obtained: Focal Clear Mgs, and Hifiman Arya Stealths. I still prefer the dt1990. The way the produce the music I listen to (i.e. rap, hip-hop, EDM) is overall more exciting and fulfilling to my ears. Of course, the Hifiman Arya has bass that demolishes everything. I mean, it's just so good. It's not something I can explain really. It's just very... weighty? Meaty? Not sure how to phrase it, but it's nice. The Focal Clear Mg were a surprise to me. I found them to be a little brighter than I was led to believe from reviews I had watched on them. I get why people say they are close to HD650. The midrange is just as magical on the Clear Mg. My main problem with both the Mg and the Arya Stealth was the comfort. They just aren't comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The headband on the Clear SUCKS. It's brutally stiff and poorly padded. You can buy one of those ugly headband cover things, sure. But, that kind of defeats the purpose of wearing such an art piece. The Stealth were just fairly heavy, and the long pads irritated my beard. Overall, I think I'm done with my headphone search. The DT1990 have treated me well and have always done what have been asked of them. Good Bass. Good mids. Good treble, perhaps a little spicy but nothing is perfect. The comfort is fantastic (after break-in). They just do the most right and they've managed to beat two kilobuck headphones for me. S tier headphones all day. P.S.- forgot to add I also bought Audio-Technica ATH R70x headphones. Meh. Underwhelming in just about every way to me, and the comfort was weird because the pads were very small in diameter and depth. Nor did they swivel up or down. Odd headphones for sure.

For reference, I own or have owned DT880/600s, DT770/80s, T90s, HD600s, 598s, 712Pros, and have spent a goodly amount of time with the LCD-2s, HD800s, and the DT1990's big brothers, the T1/v2s. I have been amping the dt1990s with all kinds of stuff, but have found the best synergy with the Beyerdynamic A20 and the Lake People RS 02. I listen mostly to 1950s-1960s jazz. Think Roach and Brown, Ammons and Stitt, Blakey, Silver, Mingus, Ellington, Gillespie, Monk, Peterson, Davis, Coltrane, Coleman, Green, Montgomery, Hubbard, Shorter, etc. etc. A lot of Zorn (mainly Masada) and some contemporary classical (Reich, Riley, Bryars, Arnalds, Frahm, Guonadottir). When I'm listening to pop, it's usually stuff by Nick Cave, Greg Cartwright, or Jason Molina (RIP). Oh, also, Thee Oh Sees are the shiz. Let me just say that the DT1990s come ready to rumble no matter your tastes. Simply put, they just feel "right." That is, from the moment I put them on, I had the sense that I was finally hearing the music as the engineer intended. No coloration. No tricks, no treats. Just the straight business (for better and worse, depending on the quality of the original recording). It puts you right in the studio, in the first few rows of the concert hall, or at that corner table close enough to share your drink with the drummer. As transparent a set of headphones as I've ever heard. Now, I've always loved the HD600s for jazz (personally, far more than the HD650s), but I always felt that something was missing...a more robust low end. In this sense, the DT1990s deliver fully on the promise of the HD600s. Just as neutral, just as precise in terms of imaging, but with a more rock solid and effortless delivery (and much better built and loads more comfortable on the head). Ultimately, these headphones are miles beyond the other headphones I own (with the HD600s a distant second [though still a terrific set of phones]) The HD800s are fantastic, but in truth, I always found the soundstaging too exaggerated for the sort of small ensemble/chamber stuff I listen to. Really, they always took me out of the scene instead of putting me there as the DT1990s do. Personally, I've never found planar magnetics to play all that well with jazz and the LCD-2s are no exception. Just a tad on the slow side for my taste. I always felt like they were playing catch up through really busy sections, and frankly, just a touch dark. The T1s might be more detailed, but not $400+ more detailed IMHO. I say skip the T1s and invest in these bad boys instead. And regarding the price: sure, it seems a bit steep. But like all passive transducers, these headphones should last you decades. Hell, I'm still in love with (and have never felt compelled to replace) my mid-90s JBL monitors. Do yourself a favor and skimp on that new TV (which, if not relative junk from day one, will be obsolete in 4 years or dead in 8) and treat yourself to these, your new best friends for life. Oh, and by the way, I've never reviewed a product on Amazon before. With that in mind, the very fact that you are reading this review right now does these headphones more justice than my words ever could. yeah. these. you need these.

If you aren't too bothered by sharper (e.g. brighter) sound and you want something that is a touch neutral then this is all good. Analytical + Balanced pads for both tastes. Although most people are going to probably use analytical just to get more mids out of this - and that is where I have the biggest problem with this. The detail is more 'resolving' as you will hear. And it isn't bad for that. But the mids are a bit recessed - and not everyone will feel like they're getting the deathly satisfaction from it. While it isn't going to be a problem when watching videos or all of that, you are going to wish that they weren't the slightest bit drowned out by stronger lows & highs that give it the slightest hint of a V-shaped sound signature. So if you're used to those drivers that are a bit closer towards your ears and you feel that you're getting the ephemerally intimate vocal presentation - you may be a bit disappointed on those regards - and there are definitely some possible Sennheiser cans to look towards for that. Sound leakage - as long as you have the door closed and all, then chances are the volume you enjoy listening to for those isn't going to be such a big deal. You may not immediately notice the whole open-back design benefits yet but that shouldn't be an issue. Then again there are many products to look for if you want something that is closed back - and even then these may be a bit semi-open back as you aren't going to get any significant audio leakage at lower volumes. But regardless I wouldn't count on myself to be hearing anything outside too much if I have these loud - and you probably won't need an amplifier if you're on a desktop. And even then some amplifiers can make them brighter (like THX solid state amps) and they won't suddenly make it enjoyable for you if you were counting on that. So you should listen for a week if you aren't super impressed at first. If you wanted more bass if you were coming from something more neutral - then yes you will get more of that. And if you're like me and wanted more sparkle on the highs - then yes that will be clear here too. It's definitely good for what it is and around its price range - but like most headphones you will end up having preferences. Soundstage was discernable - but sometimes people can get the idea that a soundstage is more 'closed in' when there's a lot more bass kicking in. And sometimes soundstages can come at the cost of voices or instrumentation being more distant. So if you wanted mids that make your mids more forward, you may be disappointed with these. But it may not be too much of a big deal as some people don't have a terribly big problem with it. But that's just something to know about soundstage which becomes an important factor at these 100+ price ranges where you go from drivers that touch and come close in your ears, towards presentations designed to illustrate 'imaging or airiness or transparency - which can really give a tighter presence towards your sounds that feel like they have an ephemeral place within their space. But it's not overly thin to the point that you shouldn't feel like it completely takes life out of your music - but I can see where some people are coming from when they may say it's dull at first. And as far as comfort - yes these do clamp a bit and I'm sure you could easliy recess the clamp force by having it on something overnight, and the pads are a bit big, but personally it's not a big deal breaker, and is something that you can live with IMO. But it may not be a big deal. Overall if you've done your research then you may enjoy these - and even then it will hopefully make you really appreciate these for what they can bring out of their sound. If you use these everyday then they may very well be worth their price. But my only personal preference and serious gripe with these is that the mids are not forward enough to really give more life to the presentation. Had it done that I would've easily recommended it to a lot more people. Because it really feels like I am having to search out for the guitar and vocals that aren't so front and center like I'm used to, but it may be fun for some regardless. But I certainly feel like I'm getting a bit more out of the drums (or the supporting instruments) than I am from the life and body of the presentation - and that is the guitars & vocals. I don't know if it's something you can EQ to get it to where you like, I think it could help a bit, but it's something to keep in mind for sure and is the biggest thing that I would change about this headphone. And as for gaming, yeah I don't think you're lacking anything here (hopefully). Lows will stand out quite enough that you should already be able to enjoy advantages from just that - but I wouldn't recommend any headphone solely for gaming regardless. With all that said this isn't a bad pair by any means, and the only mark that I would advise for anyone that is concerned about these is a bit more accentuation in the highs - which could definitely be EQd if you so like with something such as AutoEQ, and this isn't a total dealbreaker as it isn't anywhere as bad as other Beyerdynamic products, and the next thing is to be aware for the slightly recessed mids. Which can depend a bit depending on how big your ears are. So if you really liked the M40x without needing any pad changes, then that is a concern I will give towards you - but if you had problems with it. then I don't think you will be so bothered by those mids.

After freeing the packaging of the DT 1990 Pro from the Amazon box and air bags, I immediately continued by removing the semi-rigid case from the packaging. The soft feel of the material with the embossed label in the debossed area of the black case struck me as particularly German in the attention to detail. Not the last time I felt this way about these headphones. Opening the container revealed the headphones and analytical ear pads. Clinging to the lid by hook-and-loop fastener, a pouch contained the cables. Again, this Germanic attention to detail grabbed my attention in a good way and I was left with no other thought than, “Yes, this is exactly how this should be.” Sliding the DT 1990 Pro headphones out of the case was the first time my finger felt the metal on the cups, the metal on the hinges, the leather on the headband, and soft velour of the ear pads. It exudes a premium feel in hand. The bright metal accents against the black of the headphones grabs the eye and demands attention. It would be very easy to spot a flaw as your eyes and fingers sweep over the superb finish so much so that begs you to look critically. And you will look, but there is no flaw. Again, how very German and precise, but with the added visual flair that colors it distinctly as another German luxury item like the fascia of a 2019 Mercedes (the one with the floating, polished metal dots). In listening critically on the balanced pads, it does sound a little V shaped but this is probably what you’d use for professional work. On the analytical pads, the lows and highs are made more neutral with a slight bump between the bass and mid range transition. And again, the Germanic precision shines as a positive since things are very detailed, image accurate, on a slightly above average sized sound stage. But these were more fun than I thought they would be. Recently I have added Dekoni Elite Hybrid pads, but even without the further enhancements my experience has been like hearing music for the first time. I had a previous experience when growing up in listening to random low budget speakers to Bose TriPorts and Bose QC2, and then from the Bose units to Westone W4 and UM Pro30 IEMs where the sound quality increased greatly to the point that it was a new experience. I didn’t think that a $200 difference from my old daily drivers, the Westone UM Pro30’s, to the DT 1990 Pro would have been as large, but I am glad to report that I was wrong. If you have experience listening and appreciating sound, have a DAC and AMP capable of driving 250 ohm headphones, and are in the position economically to treat yourself or an audio fan, then I would recommend the beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones. As an additional recommendation, the Dekoni Elite Hybrid pads add a bit more comfort, bass, and feel/smell of sheepskin.

What a fantastic set of headphones! The build is impeccable. Not a single flaw that I could find. The design is very understated, but it actually looks a lot better in person than on websites. The sound is great! Comfort wise the clamping is tight at first but loosens up with some use. Soundstage is probably not AKG wide, but wide enough that I could pinpoint different instruments and their positions. Treble is a bit on the harsh side at first, but gets much better with time. The bass reaches quite deep but the quantity of bass is dependent on the pads. On the A (analytical pads), the bass is very natural. It is not subdued, but it is not emphasized in any manner. On the B pads the bass hits with a punch, although I feel it comes with a slight decrease in clarity and resolution. Speaking of resolution and clarity, I have not heard better headphones than these (granted I have not tried any headphones in the $800+ range). I am essentially rediscovering my entire music collection. Everything just sounds.. so good! Probably the most neutral sounding headphones I have heard so far. However they are not forgiving. If the source track has bad production it is presented as is. Had a chance to compare it with the Hifiman he400i and the Sennheiser HD660s. The Hifiman has comparable speed, maybe it is even faster. The Hifiman's sound, for the price, is probably unbeatable. But the Beyers beat them handily in every other category. I also need to mention that the Hifimans broke apart within three weeks. The plastic quality on the HE400i is downright shameful. I ended up returning them.The Sennheiser was absolutely blown out of the water. If you really like the Sennheiser sound, you may prefer them over the Beyers, but to me these Beyers were in a different league altogether. To be fair, the Beyer sound is on the analytical/neutral side and some may find that bothersome - especially if the reference is the warmish Sennheiser sound. But the soundstage is much wider, clarity and resolution are miles ahead and the build on the Beyers is nearly all metal while the Senns are mostly plastic. The headphones are also very energetic. They are not the kind one would use for background music. They demand engagement. I got the headphones with a bundle containing a free amp (Fiio A5), free hard case and free MicroSD card. With the bundle, the price of the headphones is actually comparable/cheaper than the Sennheisers. To my mind, there is no comparison between the two. I run them with a Schiit Magni3+Modi2 stack. Expensive headphones - but absolutely no regrets so far.

So..................this is it, my personal sweet spot. (sorry if u cant understand some things, english isnt my first language) Let me tell you what i use my headphones for: i really like gaming, from FPS to single-player games to inmerse into the story, but mainly FPS. I have used a lot of gaming headphones, from ASTRO A50, Logitech G Pro X Wireless, HyperX Cloud Orbit S, Beyerdynamic TYGR 300R, Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro, Logitech G231, HyperX earbuds and i felt it lacked something in the sound area. My daily driver was the HyperX Cloud Orbit S and i loved that headset until the magnetic driver went loose and they stopped delivering good sound, so i had to get new headphones. I spent 2 months looking for "gaming" headphones until i fell into the audiophile rabbit hole, and let me tell you it was one of the best and worst things i could have done. Audio is subjective is the one thing all "audiophiles" agreed on, and i used to think that it had to be objective, there are good things and bad but no, audio IS subjective. I started looking for planar drivers, magnetic drivers, pros and cons, 3.5mm jacked headphones vs other jacks and it was pure caos for me. I began to think that the only way was to buy the old headset again cause i didnt want to spend 1000+ bucks on "studio headphones" that have good and bad reviews, that have quality control issues, that lack bass, mids, treble, etc... and i almost gave up until i saw a video on YouTube of a pal called BadSeedTech, who reviews so much tech and he talked about a brand called Beyerdynamic: a german brand that is known for their tank-made hand-made headphones, so i started to look more into them...........watched DMS, crinacle and so many other "audiophile" youtubers talking on the brand. And i found a specific model that seemed to be the one: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, let me tell you that this headset is loved by so much people and hated by so much people as well because of the treble. People placed this headphone in the B or A section in every tier-list, people used this headphone for gaming and given it was open-back it had a better soundstage and a more "natural" feel to anything u might listen to. So i bought the headphones from Kaviso, and they are awesome cause the headphones came in impecable condition, no scratches on the box, case or headphones and for gaming they are just fine. This are the games and music genres i listen so u have an idea: Games: -Squad -Escape from Tarkov -Assetto Corsa Competizione -Dirt Rally 2 -Battlefield 4 -Battlefield 1 -Rainbow Six -Red Dead Redemption 2 Music genres: - Classic music - Jazz - Rock - Hip-hop - Pop - Electronic music and for every single the headphone works perfect, i found sounds ive never heard before in music and in-game. I EQd this with SoundID Reference with the balanced earpads, u need a license but theres a free 21 day trial. So............hope i helped someone with their choice and, if this heaedphone is not for you remeber, sound is subjective and there has to be something for you to love.

I can't tell the difference between these and the Focal. The sound is very clear and neutral. It's not colored or modified. It sounds just like your music should sound. The build quality is very good with one exception. The sliders (square hubs attached to the headband) are plastic. On my Beyerdynamic T90s which is very similar in design, these cracked after a while. I don't think careful use matters much. They may crack over time which is the only drawback of the headphone. It fits good and is comfortable. If you like you can search some sites for "wool headphone headband cover" and get a washable knitted wrap that snaps on with 5 snaps and will keep the headband like new. The unit comes with two cables and two sets of pads which should last you quite a while. Third party earpads are available at inexpensive prices for replacement if you ever need them. I like everything about the headphone except the sliders. They should be made out of metal. On the Focal Elex I think the sliders are aluminum. Fortunately you can order replacement parts for Beyerdynamic products. It's a good headphone that doesn't meddle with the sound. These are MUCH better than the Beyer DT-880 headphones I had in the past. I don't notice any piercing treble problems with these either. The discontinued T90 is a good heaphone with more treble but it doesn't bother me. If you want great sound go for a pair of DT1990s.

Beautiful product like what you expect The headphone and the all parts included coming with a good way, and with a good original shape my package coming with a problem a little damage in the box and I contact with the seller I mean the owner miss Mariyam She contacted me personally very quickly to confirm that the mistake was actually not on their part, and showed the professionalism of their work with conclusive evidence. However, she compensated me with the value of the damage. Therefore, this act of ethics requires that If you wanna buy this product, this is the right choice %100

So good for music production, you can hear absolutely everything, every pop and every bit of static, comfortable as well. Definitely one of the best around this price range.

J'ai mis longtemps à me décider au regard du prix demandé, mais au final je n'ai pas été déçu. Venant d'un AKG K702 puis d'un Sennheiser HD660s, je trouve le Beyerdynamic plus homogène dans son rendu sonore. Il n'enjolive rien, ne pousse pas trop en avant les voix, comme le sennheiser, n'exagère pas la largeur de scène, comme l'AKG. La restitution est précise et fidèle, et le casque est de belle qualité.

Vous pouvez le garder sur la tête pendant des heures sans fatigue. C'est un des meilleurs casque que j'ai eu jusqu'à présent (12).