As a german I can say the main reason for the overemphasized treble is that we all have hearing damage, caused by the angry and harsh language we have been exposed to our whole lives.
DT990 is very popular with pianist - it sounds good with digital piano. For some reason it makes the piano sounds real with an open sound that is not 'in the head'. Also, it is comfortable to wear for hours when practising the piano.
Pad wear on Beyerdynamics has a MASSIVE impact on the sound. I remember when I first got mine and they were unlistenable. I didn't want to return them (they were a gift) so I murdered them with EQ, but after a few months I found myself not using EQ as much. I thought maybe I was just getting used to them, but my friend got a pair and they were just as horrible as I remembered mine being.
Now I'm wondering what they would be like with pads that aren't made out of carpet. As much as I was hoping this would be a plus because they do look comfy.
I've had these since 2014, no issues other than replacing pads. They have been my daily driver, even though I have many other pair of headphones I keep coming back to these, they are very comfortable and the frequency response hits the spot for what I listen/play to.
Beyer DT series headphones are designed for live monitoring, mixing, and critical listening. They aren’t designed to make music listening more pleasing because audio engineers and musicians need to hear detail to make objective decisions.
I thought I would hate the 990 being treble sensitive but I really like them. Use them mostly for gaming. The open airiness and precision imaging is absolutely amazing on these.
@@DaveRessler Yeah some music is OK but ive noticed on certain tracks that have already been recorded that way with elevated treble like most modern stuff in the charts these days the vocals do get a bit hot🔥I still like them a lot though. I have the 600 ohm 👍
Hey man what amp are u using to power these? I’m about to buy the 990s 250ohm and I’m really struggling on which amp to buy for it! I looked at the fiio e10k but people say it’s not powerful enough to run these. Please help!
@@lew_7 Im using SMSL SH-9 and Schiit Asgard 3 but If you dont have a powerful amplifier then you could just buy the 32Ω version. That will pretty much run off anything including your phone.
@@johnellison3173 I bought the Creative Sound Blasterx G6, now I just need a solid pair of cans. Should I go with the DT990 250 ohm or DT990 600 ohm version??
I honestly don't understand all the hating on DT990s. I own a pair of the all black 80-ohm DT990 Pro's (granted, this is the only pair of 990's I've ever heard, so maybe it's the only version that doesn't suck) and I don't find them objectionable AT ALL. They were my first pair of non-garbage headphones (yeah, yeah, silence in the peanut gallery, please) when I dipped a toe in the headphone +DAC+Amp world, and I've since had several other phones, including Sennheiser HD560S and 6XX (which admittedly are both nice) and a couple planars. My "best" pair of cans is probably Sundaras - and I love them - but honestly I can switch to the DT990 Pro's and it doesn't bother me one lick. I still use the DT990s quite often and with zero regret. And they're more comfortable than the Sundaras to boot.
well the 80 ohm version i think is super good, ive listened to both 250 and 80 ohms. in the comparison to the 250 ohm the 80 version was much clearer and detailed (i think it has better mids. i could easily hear "pads" in music), but the only downside they had is the shallow bass so could you also say your 990s has shallow bass?
Due to numerous recommendations (at work and on UA-cam) I thought I would love these. When I got a pair, the sibilance was piercing. I had to return them right away.
I had the same experience as you, and this was back when I didn't even know much about headphones. I immediately felt something was wrong, and then while playing online with it I realised I was wincing every single time there was a high pitched SFX in the game. As Andrew put it, it's madness.
I'll be interested in your thoughts on the DT770 variants. I bought the 80 ohm ages ago because I needed a closed back and I was told it was the most forgiving. I found it tolerable but a teeny bit too much sizzle, and the bass was fun but not very tight. Then I bought the 250 ohm to run with my Bottlehead Crack, thinking tubes might do something to soften it out. Except the 250 seemed to go WAAAAAAY harder in the treble, than the 80 irrespective of amp. I made the mistake of listening to Integrity's To Die For at a decent volume, and the cymbals felt like someone lighting a match on my tympanic membrane.
I recently purchased the 250-ohm DT 990 Special Black Edition directly from Beyerdynamic. Initially, I was hesitant after i saw this review mentioning heightened treble, considering I am quite treble-sensitive myself. Beyerdynamic claims no sonic difference between the normal and the black version, nearly leading me to cancel my order. However, upon receiving and extensively listening to them, I found the opposite to be true. Despite concerns, I couldn't detect the elevated treble noted in the review. Perhaps variations in source and amplification play a role, but as someone prone to tinnitus, I'm sure my ears would have picked up on elevated high frequencies.
I have the DT990 Pro 250ohm and I installed a mod kit from Custom Cans to bring out the low bass. I eq them this way: a small cut around 180Hz, a wide 5db boost around 3100Hz, and a second cut around 9500Hz. (Edit: I now use Oratory1990's "Harmon target - worn earpads" EQ curve adjusted by ear for the modification.)
@@Csaba4359 I use Equalizer APO in Windows (and the stock Reaper EQ in Reaper). I edited my comment to say I now use a different EQ correction. You can find it by searching "oratory1990 presets"
I have a MacBook M2 (2022 model), so a Mac equipped with Apple's revolutionary latest-generation Silicone chip. This MacBook has a high-impedance headphone jack and automatically senses the ohms of Pro headphones that are plugged in to supply them with the adequate RMS volts. The question I ask myself is this: since I have the equipment that allows me to plug in different ohm levels of headphones -- and therefore that I don't have to worry about the loss sound volume -- what is the advantage of choosing 250 ohms rather than 80 ohms for example? Several specialists or sound engineers claim that one of the advantages of having high ohms (level for example 250 ohms) is that by listening at a fairly high volume, the chances of saturation and distortion are almost nil (unlike 32 ohms), that they explain it's that at very high volume we will continue to hear every detail in a 250 ohm headset without any loss of quality or impoverishment of the sound texture. What do you think ? Finally, you also say that the "OPEN" headphones are particularly appreciated by those who use particular gaming applications, but I think the argument behind the preference for open headphones is rather the fact that the sound is more natural than in a closed helmet (to put it succinctly: less artificially improved) My experience : I have currently at home for a week 2 Beyerdynamic headphones: the DT 990 80 ohms OPEN and the DT 770 80 ohms CLOSED. So the same level of ohms but with headphones open OR closed. I did tests yesterday with the same clips of classical music and movies in HD, as well as a high definition classical concert video. Result : The DT 990 (which is open) is better for music I find, it doesn't envelop the sound by wanting to improve it, no artificial confinement of the sound to inflate it. On the other hand, for films (HD quality for example), the CLOSED DT770 offers a result with more perspective, let's say more "cinema room": the equivalent if you want a depth of field for the photo but from the point of view of sound. This difference is in itself quite inexplicable, for why is the sound alone of classical style music less off-putting in OPEN earphones and movies more convincing in CLOSED earphones (?). IN SUMMARY : the rebound of the sound inside closed headphones gives a very good "cinema" effect but spoils a bit the classic type of musical listening (less clean, too surround, but still well defined to be honest ). There is therefore at the same time the problem of the choice between Closed and Open. But then, that of the choice of the quantity of ohms (as I approached it at the very beginning of this comment). * Please note that my text has been translated from French (my first language) to English by google tools, followed by my corrections.
Even at the "risk" of being the only person on the planet, I love my 32 ohm DT 880 Edition. I plug it into the socket of my notebook and I'm happy, without an amplifier or other additional devices, and the force of the compositions by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard bounces around my ears. In my opinion on of the best in price performance ratio.
My first entry into quality audio was dt990 250 ohm. My first listen it killed my ears. Super siblant. I immediately returned them to get the dt880 instead. I honest think the dt880 250 ohm are pretty decent. headphones.
Very good review. It’s easy to just attack them regarding the treble but resolve also mentioned that it can be good for some people. They are very good for gaming. I’m interested to see what you think of the dt880
I have a pair of DT 990 32ohm edition and I like them a LOT! They're a really fantastic sounding headphones with deep bass, sparkling treble and a very decent sound stage. Even though they're not the most engaging or energetic headphones, their airy and mellow sound appeals to me. I think that their sound signature is way more interesting than the hyped Meze or the Focals who are too forward sounding by artificially enhancing mid frequencies.
My beyers were the first headphones I listened to and bought 3 years later. Now, 15 years later I cant live without that treble. Tried eq-ing it down but the vocals just sound muted and muddy. Seems like I ruined my ears with them and are now brand loyal.
Great review. The 32ohm were my first real cans and enjoyed them but could only listen for about an hour tops. After getting the 6xx I realized how harsh they were in comparison (and learned what sibilance and fatigue was). I now only use them for gaming mostly.
@@kyron42 That's the issue, well tuned headphones shouldn't need to be EQ'd. That workaround is meant for e-waste you get with phones, not professional, supposedly competent headphones
Disappointed in this review, specifically because I’m looking for impressions of the 600ohm version when it comes to tube/otl tube amps. Any chance you’ll update after using a variety of amps?
I've simultaneously had DT990 PRO 250 Ohm and DT990 Edition 600 Ohm (both tested with fresh pads). In comparison the 600 Ohm version was smoother, with better soundstage and imaging. TBH I don't get the hate these headphones receive - they are excellent for gaming, soundtracks and generally older recordings. Of course an amp with good voltage delivery is necessary. On used market they can be easily found for around 100 Euros which makes them an easy recommendation and no - my hearing is fine, I've checked it numerous times ;)
The ideal it seems to me, and basically the first criterion, should be clarity, sharpness, a bit like for computer screens (a high screen resolution like 2560 x 1664 rather than 1680 x 1050 will give you a more detailed, sharper screen). In this sense, a muffled sound with bass and less sharpness in the treble (apart from a sought-after musical context on a particular piece of music) is a handicap in my opinion.
I bought the DT 880 and the DT 990 Edition 600 Ohm + 2x new grey earpads for 200€ all together at Beyer website during BF sales. That's 90€ for the headphones and 10€ for the pads (pads cost MSRP 24€). Almost like a steal for that price :). Alone because of the built quality. Had the 990 Edition 250 Ohm for 10 years now. Great for Gaming, Movies and electronic music like Techno! Only the bag is garbage. The "leather" breaks in to pieces after some years. Everything else very good quality.
And yes 600 Ohm is the best version of the DT 990. It's not a different headphone but you can definitly hear it. The more detailed and precise highs and high mids give it a further soundstage.
I use the DT 990 600 Ohm driven by a Fiio K5 Pro. I add some EQ to bring the subbass up. The treble is elevated, but it can be easily adjusted via EQ. In my experience, the crucial is around 6k. What I like is the openness and the tight, yet warm bass on these. Just add some extra subbass.
It really is interesting how all ears are so different. I own the 990 600ohm and I don't mind the treble unless the recording is poor. My hearing goes to 16.5khz btw, so it's not a hearing loss thing but I do listen quiet at around 70-75db peak so that might have something to do with why it doesn't bother me as much. And just for reference, I own 50+ headphones, including 6 Beyers so I have some exposure to other headphones and tunings as well as the Beyer "house" sound. What I find really interesting, however, is that I recently got a K712 and I found the treble UNBEARABLE until I swapped pads, and even after that they still sound harsh/sibilant to me but I can listen for longer than 15 minutes now. Those aren't even a typical "treblehead" can. Point is, you don't know if it works for you or not unless you hear them for yourself and/or you know exactly which regions bother you from experience with other cans and tunings.
Black DT 990 EDITION are so comfortable. Wayyyyy more comfortable than the DT 900 X. I prefer the DT 900 X sound with EQ, but the comfort of the 990 EDITIONS is 🥰🥰
Purchased another DT 990 Edition today-32 Ohm this time-have it already at 250 Ohm, but it needs a cable repair, so rather than buy another 250, wanted to try the 32 Ohm version. The construction is sturdier than what it seems-these are indestructible to me, and that along their immense comfort is what made me buy them "again". My new 32 does appear to have more bass than my old 250. I never understood why people claimed the DT 990 had "too much bass", as I am *not* a basshead and always found the 250 variant to have just a tiny bit above "neutral." So it matches Mr. Resolve's graphs. The 32's treble appears strong, but it may have been stronger on the 250? Need to have them repaired to compare, as it's hard to tell from memory. My hunch is the treble was more emphasized on the 250. I have already tested "problem tracks" for treble heavy 'phones/iems (such as Iron Maiden's Only the Good Die Young), and I have one or two IEMs that have much more trouble, unless I use specific eartips. The 32 Ohm is not really bad at all-I expected even more treble from all the bad opinions about the 32 version out there. It does have more bass, but it sounds rather clean, and not muddy at all. Beautiful sound, mids of course sound recessed in comparison to the treble region (I believe playing them too loud to emphasize these mids is what gives these classic phones its bad reputation, rather than hearing age-could be both of course.) Perhaps there is a chance that Ohm differences matter, but headphone variance matters even more? The DT 990 250 Ohm was one of my first good headphones, and that I bought it again should speak as to how high a regard I have for it. We are all different. It can be used for musical enjoyment, not just "gaming". Indeed I am surprised that due to the low sensitivity, even at 32 Ohms it most definitely can benefit from amping. The puny "amp" of a thing such as a New Nintendo 3DS is not powerful enough for loud volume, unlike most balanced armature IEMs I have tried with it regardless Ohms. It benefits from some power-not super loud due to the relatively low sensitivity. But from a phone, portable amp, or computer, it is plenty powerful, though usually at high volumes. I think the biggest finding is that the 32 Ohm variant is not bad at all, and I would recommend it to anyone who does not want to buy a separate powerful amp. For bass practice, it must be awesome, though haven't tried it yet (bought it less than a day ago.) The price is cheap enough to make me question the higher prices of most other brands, that are even made in China. I know these used to be expensive. But DT990s from $159-$199 are really a great value, if you love your clear, airy treble. This is one headphone I have found no other to achieve the same for me, even within the Beyerdynamic brand-the more expensive options appear to me as side-grades. The price is just very good right now. Thanks so much, Mr. Resolve, for the comparisons-surprised the 600 Ohm version measured as such, as so many people claim it has "the smoothest treble" of the 3. Best wishes on the New Year.
And so 7 months after making this comment, what is now your verdict for listening to music and the problem of the presence (or not) of the bass: do you now prefer, with this DT 990, model 32 ohms or 250 ohms ?
@@paulwoaert Mr. Paul, I have the 32 Ohm headphones nearby-brought them on a trip, by chance, working outside home-though still I fear I am not able to be of much use to you because my DT990 250 Ohm 3.5 connector is still broken, so I can only speak to my current experience. Bass is evident, but not too bassy. Just as I stated before, I "remember" the 250 had less bass emphasis, yet calling the 32 Ohm model "bassy" would be a bit of an exaggeration unless you are super used to flat bass audio headphones/earphones. I also brought with me the Final F7200 IEMs, and compared to these, they are "bassy". Bassier than DT990 250 as I remember them, but not as bassy as bass heavy headphones/earphones. Also the difference between the two is not too wild-it will sound like a DT990! I did not feel I bought an entirely different headphone back then and now. But a tiny few decibels on certain frequency response areas may offend *or* please some. For an open headphone, the bass is quite above average, so in that case it will be "bassier" than most open cans, for better or worse. It avoids muddiness, and its worst character would be that some treble-happy tracks may be over emphasized, which some do not enjoy. Stand on all my previous comments. It is not bass-shy at all-just not too heavy. My apologies for not having repaired my old 250 Ohm headphones after so long. The 32 Ohm are quite fine, and I prefer to have them than otherwise-I generally like treble if done well, and not just an upper-mids/lower treble push with little air. Do have a few models like that (IEMs, actually) that I like, but always prefer some "airy" extension if possible. For the modern consumer, they just have to be aware that DT990's 32 Ohm headphone still needs a bit more power than usual, and that amping them is never a bad idea, though most low powered devices will do fine (normal volumes at high volume settings for very dynamic music.)
Impedance is noted on the plug. I do like mine 32 ohm version. While you whine at cable like my wife, It's worth to note that that while fixed, this one is build like a tank, and you somehow manage to break it you can buy it from their site and use soldering iron to fix it as they are pretty easy to work on. I use them heavily everyday, I do have fplenty incidents with leg, cat and dog - no issues. Most of my previous cans came without fixed cable, I thought at first that's a good sign. Totalled 5 o these on sennheiser somehow, call it tought luck if you will but my wallet was not impressed. Highs were too much at first , gave them a day or two and now I can listen to them 24/7. Super comfy, breathable, semi open cans with sturdy design. The only trade-off for me is actually joke regulation, while sturdy I have to re-set them every day, it's not as annoying like wear out regulation and I get used to it luckily. No eq here, just plugged straight to focusrite gen 3.
The real purpose of this headphones is to find Problems in a Recording. Its like a Focus Lens for the ears. Phasing issues, backgroundnoises in vox Recording etc. Like the AKG k-712 pro. They are Gold for this purpose. Sorry for my english, Not my native Language
I actually love my DT999 600 Ohm headphones. Listening at moderate levels can be great and plays to their strengths, but some recordings are unlistenable (James Blake, older jazz with hot cymbals). I think they are still worth some consideration for what they can do and at their price.
This is a very interesting and informative video. There is an audience for these cans... anyone 60 and older, lol! I'm listening through my new DT 990 32-ohm cans, thinking how nice an balanced they sound, lol! Here's why: So on my DAW tower where I write orchestration and film scoring, I'm an HD 650 guy for quite a long time with an RME Babyface Pro interface, so, great setup for writing music. Also have done mixing for 40 years, so, familiar with the audio landscape. For my laptop, I do regular work things but also some minimal music work so I have a simple Focusrite Solo interface, which runs best with 32-ohm cans, so that's why I bought the 32-ohm 990s. And the laptop is where I listen to the most music and videos during my day job. WELLLLL, I recently tested my hearing and my wife's (we are 60 and 63), and by natural decay at my age, I can't hear anything above 11KHz and my wife barely hits 10KHz, and after that we hear NO test tones at all. Think about that, the whole problem doesn't affect the older listener, lol! As they stand, these sound great with my limited ears, SO, if you want to get nice cans for your parents' iPad, etc, the 32-ohm 990s are comfy, sound great and work superbly naturally with devices. You might ask if sound is dull when you are older, and the answer is no, at least for me, everything sounds normal. And my mixes sound fine to others because the highs aren't as crucial (compared to mids of course), and I can simply monitor the graph on the high end, plus I have many years of time at a mixing desk so highs are no trouble to manage. So, now y'all now know what to get your parents next Christmas, if they are over 60, you can pretty much be confident that 12KHz and up is gone from their lives and they don't even know it. 😉
I have owned the 600 ohm DT990 Edition for a few weeks now, using it with a Tascam 102i Series desktop audio interface amplifier, and I absolutely love these headphones! I have owned many - many, many many headphones over nearly 2 decades, including the original 300 ohm Sennheiser HD800, and the 600 ohm DT990 Edition is the best i've ever heard. I owned the 250 ohm DT990 several years ago and remember them well, and I don't recall them sounding as detailed across the whole frequency spectrum, as the 600 ohm version. These Beyers are so much better than the Sennheiser HD800 that has no bass whatsoever to the point of sounding broken. HD800 is a terrible headphone, in my opinion. DT990 600 ohm is the king, as far as I am concerned. Better than HD800, AKG K702, DT880 600 ohm, DT990 250 ohm, better than A&K T5P first gen, better than the DT770 80 ohm, better than biocellulose Fostex and Denon headphones, better than the planar Fostex and Hifiman Sundara - better than them all, in my opinion.
Even after comparing my dt990 to my lcd2c, sundara and dt1990 I still don’t get why people have such a big problem with the treble. It’s bright, yeah, but not painful or annoying in any way, at least to me
@@Bl4ckWarHawk was going to say this. This usually goes towards people that around 40 and above. Or if your younger you never wore hearing protection when needed to
I couldn't stand the Sundara. It just sounded dull and lifeless to me. I thought I would hate the 990 but I really like them. Use them mostly for gaming. The open airiness and precision imaging is amazing on these.
i get comments about having hearing loss every time i say something positive about the dt990s so i actually did get my hearing checked and i dont have any significant hearing loss for my age (23) at any frequency. (Well except for stuff above 16k but thats not unusual for adults^^)
@@TheHypeCom Yeah I hear this comment a lot too. I think the 990 can sound a lot brighter on some gear. I once tried them on my cheap lindy dac amp and they wear unbearably harsh but when listening on my SMSL SU9-SH9 stack or Schiit Asgard 3 stack they sound great.
You forgot to mention the compressed dynamics on these compared to say a hd650. I found them hard to mix on due to everything sounding dynamically compressed compared to my mainstays of the hd6** series.
Yeah that's what I get from listening to the DT 880's. But the DT 770 doesn't seem to have that. Maybe because of the bass performance making the sound more "alive". I did try the DT 990 Premiums besides my DT 1990's some years ago but I quickly sent back the 990's because the treble was too much, even compared to DT 1990's. I'm now interested in trying the DT 990 Pro's, some have said they aren't as boosted in the treble as the Premium editions. Idk how much bs that is. I'm also wondering if they are as compressed as the DT 880's, then I probably won't bother.
There has to be some use case reason they tuned these the way they did right? It obviously wasn't an accident, so they had to have released these intentionally. But what would they be for? Maybe just people with hearing loss, or people that just can't hear high frequencies anymore?
I don't think you're too treble sensitive. You'd have to have medically significant hearing loss in the upper 6k+ frequency ranges to find these tolerable. For context, when I entered the hobby at the very end of 2005, these (250ohm version) were my first highend headphones. I loved them because I didn't know any better. Over time I got a better and better chain, and stepped it up to the 600ohm version. I was actually very happy with those for a number of years, but I was able to tune my Asus Xonar STX with different opamps to synergize with them. I eventually got out of the hobby, and when I returned I repurchased them with a more neutral chain, and found them completely intolerable. It was unbelievable. I was shocked I ever found them so enjoyable, but maybe unit variation and pad wear made my original pair actually listenable.
I actually love all of the Beyerdynamic headphones much better, than the sennheisers I heard. I can recommend putting leather pads from the dt1770 pro on the 880/990.
As of today my ears are 41 old exactly. I just bought the dt 990 premium 600 ohm, to pair it with my class A amplifier to tame the high freq. But especially to use the 990 with my tube amplifier. I wanted a cheap put very open sounding headphones with boosted highs.
If you’re mixing audio and there’s no sibilant sound then I would imagine your music would be absent from sibilant sound on other speakers as well. Perhaps in the studio their signature is welcome actually. Smooth sounding on the 990 would translate smooth everywhere else likely.
I’m so confused - my friend has a pair of the 600Ohm 990s (probably 6 years old or more) and they sound warm, inviting, and not particularly harsh on the high end at all...
LOL i think i know, there can be a huge difference between pairs. ive listened to a pair of usual 990s 250 ohm latest revision and a pair of limited black 990 250 ohm latest revision. yk what?? the black version sounded much brighter! the usual grey 990 had SO much more bass but sounded duller and softer. also ive listened to 990s 80 ohm. and wtf they sounded more clear and detailed (not sibilant, treble amount was ~the same), i just could easily hear everything in music, especially pads (backgrounds). but the 80 ohm version's bass was super shallow compared to both 250 ohms. so the 80 ohm has better mids imo
Dekoni velour elite pads swap can fix the low bass extension and high treble easy which was great for all types of music but the stock pads were best for gaming unless you EQ them to your preference which is another great option Bellari makes some great stuff for 4 band EQ or sonic exciter to play with tone. Very inexpensive gear to bring the most from any headphone you own.
Yes, you are too treble-sensitive. I enjoy BD ever since I worked at Shure and we used closed back 770's for critical listening in the early 00's. I enjoy my DT990 250 Ohm with a dragonfly black headphone amp, as a 'daily driver' for most enjoyment listening most days.
Got a pair of DT990 Pro today and holy shit, my ears are bleeding. I will get a pair of Tygr 300 r (That seem to have the same Pros but less intense treble) and will see if they fit better. Seeing a lot of people say that it gets better over time... well, but i have to use them NOW, not in six months or so.
What is "loud enough"? I don't use any amp with my 250ohm DT990, and have never found them to be lacking in volume. And I keep seeing in these reviews on UA-cam that you NEED an amp, but in my expirience, that's not true.
I just got the 990 pro 250 Ohm with KnoxGear amp. Coming from MDR 7506, these have much better mid-range, and they are comfortable. But, I listen to Techno all day, and these have no defined bass and def. do not get loud and can't handle much power at all. It's then I realized the are rated 100mW. I'm looking for good set that bumps for Techno, has better mids than the 7506s, but still gets loud without being shrill. Prefer to give open back a go; otherwise, it looks like I should have gotten the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or something else. Anyone have any ideas?
Compared with the Audio technica ATH 910 my Beryerdynamic. T70 sounded not good at first, after 100 hours it sounded much better. This was 8 years ago. Because i bought a Meyer headphone amp i felt that the 600ohm ath and t70 sounded not so good so after reading a few reviews bought the T5 gen3. It bass and treble sounded different but after 80 hours it sounds much better. I still have the ath910 and t70 to compare with. Perhaps my ears are different but i can recommend the T70 and T5gen 3 headphone. I also use the Leben cs600 , with all of the headphones i can listen for hours on both amplifiers.
Beyers is super easy to mod and get rid of peak and boost bass, without spoiling other freq. Also dt990 sound signature have no alternatives right now. Its cheap, light, airy, with cool ruble. Just fix peak and they great!
It depends on your source. I have the 880 in 32 ohms directly on the notebook and it sounds fantastic. If you now connect a 600 ohm model, I don't think it sounds as good as the 32ohm (always on the premise without an amplifier). And I deliberately didn't want one, because then you doubt yourself again that you bought the "wrong" one (this can also end in an endless spiral cost wise) And what you don't have/need you didn't buy "wrong" either. He says himself that the differences between 32ohm and 600ohm are not that big. However, only you can determine whether the difference is so big that it is relevant for you by listening to both (however, with the 600ohm there are additional costs associated with amplifiers). Good luck.
When you all realize this HP are not meant to satisfy your wannabe audiophile world. This is working tool and should be rate for this purpose. For music enjoyment there are many better choices, of course.
I had no idea unit variation was so wild with these cans. That might explain some of the polarizing opinions surrounding them, because your 32Ohm unit seems like a fairly sensible attempt at a V-shaped sound, whereas your 600Ohm one looks like an absolute meme. Thanks for the informative video ~
As a german I can say the main reason for the overemphasized treble is that we all have hearing damage, caused by the angry and harsh language we have been exposed to our whole lives.
Hahahah
Sennheiser as a company I think throws a monkey wrench into that hypothesis
@@RoyalProtectorate It's called humor. 😉
😂. No In fact I think it's because audio pro destroys their ears very young.
As someone who has hearing loss, I LOVE this lbvs
This man is a saint, he took nails to his ears so we wouldn’t have to.
😅
DT990 is very popular with pianist - it sounds good with digital piano. For some reason it makes the piano sounds real with an open sound that is not 'in the head'. Also, it is comfortable to wear for hours when practising the piano.
Ty, i've ordered those yersterday for my Kawai 49. Hopefully 32 ohm was the right choice.
@Eldawn hopefully you wont regret it. I just got the 600 ohm version
The most surprising tidbit about this was the thumbnail haha!
Awesome review as always. Looking forward to the DT880 version
Pad wear on Beyerdynamics has a MASSIVE impact on the sound. I remember when I first got mine and they were unlistenable. I didn't want to return them (they were a gift) so I murdered them with EQ, but after a few months I found myself not using EQ as much. I thought maybe I was just getting used to them, but my friend got a pair and they were just as horrible as I remembered mine being.
Which model did you have?
@@Terra101 DT 990 Pros although I bought my dad the 770 for his birthday a year ago and noticed the same thing.
could also be some “burn in”
Now I'm wondering what they would be like with pads that aren't made out of carpet. As much as I was hoping this would be a plus because they do look comfy.
@@arnehurnik I wouldn't mess around with pads. Just let them break in and they're extremely comfortable.
I've had these since 2014, no issues other than replacing pads. They have been my daily driver, even though I have many other pair of headphones I keep coming back to these, they are very comfortable and the frequency response hits the spot for what I listen/play to.
How many ohms do your headphones have ?
600ohm version@@paulwoaert
The treble sounds perfect for me. No harshness at all
Beyer DT series headphones are designed for live monitoring, mixing, and critical listening. They aren’t designed to make music listening more pleasing because audio engineers and musicians need to hear detail to make objective decisions.
mine are converted to a removable cable with a n XLR connector. Works a treat. I found the treble softens over time.
Thankssssss for the review
I thought I would hate the 990 being treble sensitive but I really like them. Use them mostly for gaming. The open airiness and precision imaging is absolutely amazing on these.
Same. For gaming they're great but female vocals in music can be downright piercing with the Ssssssssizzle.
@@DaveRessler Yeah some music is OK but ive noticed on certain tracks that have already been recorded that way with elevated treble like most modern stuff in the charts these days the vocals do get a bit hot🔥I still like them a lot though. I have the 600 ohm 👍
Hey man what amp are u using to power these?
I’m about to buy the 990s 250ohm and I’m really struggling on which amp to buy for it! I looked at the fiio e10k but people say it’s not powerful enough to run these. Please help!
@@lew_7 Im using SMSL SH-9 and Schiit Asgard 3 but If you dont have a powerful amplifier then you could just buy the 32Ω version. That will pretty much run off anything including your phone.
@@johnellison3173 I bought the Creative Sound Blasterx G6, now I just need a solid pair of cans. Should I go with the DT990 250 ohm or DT990 600 ohm version??
I honestly don't understand all the hating on DT990s. I own a pair of the all black 80-ohm DT990 Pro's (granted, this is the only pair of 990's I've ever heard, so maybe it's the only version that doesn't suck) and I don't find them objectionable AT ALL. They were my first pair of non-garbage headphones (yeah, yeah, silence in the peanut gallery, please) when I dipped a toe in the headphone +DAC+Amp world, and I've since had several other phones, including Sennheiser HD560S and 6XX (which admittedly are both nice) and a couple planars. My "best" pair of cans is probably Sundaras - and I love them - but honestly I can switch to the DT990 Pro's and it doesn't bother me one lick. I still use the DT990s quite often and with zero regret. And they're more comfortable than the Sundaras to boot.
well the 80 ohm version i think is super good, ive listened to both 250 and 80 ohms. in the comparison to the 250 ohm the 80 version was much clearer and detailed (i think it has better mids. i could easily hear "pads" in music), but the only downside they had is the shallow bass
so could you also say your 990s has shallow bass?
Due to numerous recommendations (at work and on UA-cam) I thought I would love these. When I got a pair, the sibilance was piercing. I had to return them right away.
That's why man invented EQ.
@@kyron42 But why EQ bad headphones, when you can EQ good headphones?
@@kyron42 For professional purposes, no. For editing, mixing & mastering, a flatter untouched sound is needed out of headphones.
I had the same experience as you, and this was back when I didn't even know much about headphones.
I immediately felt something was wrong, and then while playing online with it I realised I was wincing every single time there was a high pitched SFX in the game. As Andrew put it, it's madness.
@@kyron42 No parametric EQ on my phone nor my switch though. Besides there are just better headphones at this price.
I'll be interested in your thoughts on the DT770 variants. I bought the 80 ohm ages ago because I needed a closed back and I was told it was the most forgiving. I found it tolerable but a teeny bit too much sizzle, and the bass was fun but not very tight. Then I bought the 250 ohm to run with my Bottlehead Crack, thinking tubes might do something to soften it out. Except the 250 seemed to go WAAAAAAY harder in the treble, than the 80 irrespective of amp. I made the mistake of listening to Integrity's To Die For at a decent volume, and the cymbals felt like someone lighting a match on my tympanic membrane.
DT770 Closed
Closed back . Dt770 is a studio headphones. A lot of studios using that headphones. They are very popular. In my country its super popular in studios.
Maybe with real music (rather than this garage noise of METAL than any non-musician can produce) you could evaluate your headphones more...🤣
As people start to hear less treble as they get older, I found this Beyerdynamic just what I need. Younger ears are too sensitive to treble :)
Yes when you are old and listen at low levels the V shape works f8ne
I recently purchased the 250-ohm DT 990 Special Black Edition directly from Beyerdynamic. Initially, I was hesitant after i saw this review mentioning heightened treble, considering I am quite treble-sensitive myself. Beyerdynamic claims no sonic difference between the normal and the black version, nearly leading me to cancel my order. However, upon receiving and extensively listening to them, I found the opposite to be true. Despite concerns, I couldn't detect the elevated treble noted in the review. Perhaps variations in source and amplification play a role, but as someone prone to tinnitus, I'm sure my ears would have picked up on elevated high frequencies.
I have the DT990 Pro 250ohm and I installed a mod kit from Custom Cans to bring out the low bass. I eq them this way: a small cut around 180Hz, a wide 5db boost around 3100Hz, and a second cut around 9500Hz. (Edit: I now use Oratory1990's "Harmon target - worn earpads" EQ curve adjusted by ear for the modification.)
hey cool, what Equalizer do you use ?
@@Csaba4359 I use Equalizer APO in Windows (and the stock Reaper EQ in Reaper). I edited my comment to say I now use a different EQ correction. You can find it by searching "oratory1990 presets"
Probably Peace APO 👍
I have a MacBook M2 (2022 model), so a Mac equipped with Apple's revolutionary latest-generation Silicone chip. This MacBook has a high-impedance headphone jack and automatically senses the ohms of Pro headphones that are plugged in to supply them with the adequate RMS volts.
The question I ask myself is this: since I have the equipment that allows me to plug in different ohm levels of headphones -- and therefore that I don't have to worry about the loss sound volume -- what is the advantage of choosing 250 ohms rather than 80 ohms for example? Several specialists or sound engineers claim that one of the advantages of having high ohms (level for example 250 ohms) is that by listening at a fairly high volume, the chances of saturation and distortion are almost nil (unlike 32 ohms), that they explain it's that at very high volume we will continue to hear every detail in a 250 ohm headset without any loss of quality or impoverishment of the sound texture. What do you think ?
Finally, you also say that the "OPEN" headphones are particularly appreciated by those who use particular gaming applications, but I think the argument behind the preference for open headphones is rather the fact that the sound is more natural than in a closed helmet (to put it succinctly: less artificially improved)
My experience :
I have currently at home for a week 2 Beyerdynamic headphones: the DT 990 80 ohms OPEN and the DT 770 80 ohms CLOSED. So the same level of ohms but with headphones open OR closed. I did tests yesterday with the same clips of classical music and movies in HD, as well as a high definition classical concert video.
Result :
The DT 990 (which is open) is better for music I find, it doesn't envelop the sound by wanting to improve it, no artificial confinement of the sound to inflate it.
On the other hand, for films (HD quality for example), the CLOSED DT770 offers a result with more perspective, let's say more "cinema room": the equivalent if you want a depth of field for the photo but from the point of view of sound.
This difference is in itself quite inexplicable, for why is the sound alone of classical style music less off-putting in OPEN earphones and movies more convincing in CLOSED earphones (?).
IN SUMMARY : the rebound of the sound inside closed headphones gives a very good "cinema" effect but spoils a bit the classic type of musical listening (less clean, too surround, but still well defined to be honest ).
There is therefore at the same time the problem of the choice between Closed and Open. But then, that of the choice of the quantity of ohms (as I approached it at the very beginning of this comment).
* Please note that my text has been translated from French (my first language) to English by google tools, followed by my corrections.
Even at the "risk" of being the only person on the planet, I love my 32 ohm DT 880 Edition. I plug it into the socket of my notebook and I'm happy, without an amplifier or other additional devices, and the force of the compositions by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard bounces around my ears.
In my opinion on of the best in price performance ratio.
What kind of cable does it have can you put in an aux?
My first entry into quality audio was dt990 250 ohm. My first listen it killed my ears. Super siblant. I immediately returned them to get the dt880 instead. I honest think the dt880 250 ohm are pretty decent. headphones.
Very good review. It’s easy to just attack them regarding the treble but resolve also mentioned that it can be good for some people. They are very good for gaming. I’m interested to see what you think of the dt880
Did you try any eq on them?
Yeah I like these a lot. I like treble. I like high pitched singers too, especially male.
dt880s are much better tuned
Also weirdly, I tried some of the black limited edition 250ohm but they didn’t sound as sharp
I have a pair of DT 990 32ohm edition and I like them a LOT! They're a really fantastic sounding headphones with deep bass, sparkling treble and a very decent sound stage. Even though they're not the most engaging or energetic headphones, their airy and mellow sound appeals to me. I think that their sound signature is way more interesting than the hyped Meze or the Focals who are too forward sounding by artificially enhancing mid frequencies.
Lol @ mellow
Are you listening with your phone without an amp?
880 600ohm are my go to for everything. so amazingly versatile and cheap. just need a good amp and oratory1990's worn pad eq
My beyers were the first headphones I listened to and bought 3 years later. Now, 15 years later I cant live without that treble. Tried eq-ing it down but the vocals just sound muted and muddy. Seems like I ruined my ears with them and are now brand loyal.
if you really think they ruined your ears u should get a hearing test to see if you have hearing loss right where the peak is
@@Artoria858 Thanks for the thoughtfulness but it is only changed preference.
Great review. The 32ohm were my first real cans and enjoyed them but could only listen for about an hour tops. After getting the 6xx I realized how harsh they were in comparison (and learned what sibilance and fatigue was). I now only use them for gaming mostly.
I'm sure they sound a lot better with EQ.
@@kyron42 That's the issue, well tuned headphones shouldn't need to be EQ'd. That workaround is meant for e-waste you get with phones, not professional, supposedly competent headphones
@@mariozenarju6461 of course however if I can use EQ to get an absolute bargain then why not.
@@kyron42 EQ can't fix a bad headphone
@@Fiend404 EQ can help with a bad frequency response.
Disappointed in this review, specifically because I’m looking for impressions of the 600ohm version when it comes to tube/otl tube amps. Any chance you’ll update after using a variety of amps?
I've simultaneously had DT990 PRO 250 Ohm and DT990 Edition 600 Ohm (both tested with fresh pads). In comparison the 600 Ohm version was smoother, with better soundstage and imaging. TBH I don't get the hate these headphones receive - they are excellent for gaming, soundtracks and generally older recordings. Of course an amp with good voltage delivery is necessary. On used market they can be easily found for around 100 Euros which makes them an easy recommendation and no - my hearing is fine, I've checked it numerous times ;)
maybe your ears loved sibilant, piercing, and sharp treble. And that's fine! it's preference.
With the 600 ohm version for classical music or old jazz, are the treble too high ? The bass is it too discreet ?
The ideal it seems to me, and basically the first criterion, should be clarity, sharpness, a bit like for computer screens (a high screen resolution like 2560 x 1664 rather than 1680 x 1050 will give you a more detailed, sharper screen). In this sense, a muffled sound with bass and less sharpness in the treble (apart from a sought-after musical context on a particular piece of music) is a handicap in my opinion.
I bought the DT 880 and the DT 990 Edition 600 Ohm + 2x new grey earpads for 200€ all together at Beyer website during BF sales. That's 90€ for the headphones and 10€ for the pads (pads cost MSRP 24€). Almost like a steal for that price :). Alone because of the built quality. Had the 990 Edition 250 Ohm for 10 years now. Great for Gaming, Movies and electronic music like Techno! Only the bag is garbage. The "leather" breaks in to pieces after some years. Everything else very good quality.
And yes 600 Ohm is the best version of the DT 990. It's not a different headphone but you can definitly hear it. The more detailed and precise highs and high mids give it a further soundstage.
On the 880s the Ohms are written on the cable / plug. Unless you prefer a post it
I use the DT 990 600 Ohm driven by a Fiio K5 Pro. I add some EQ to bring the subbass up. The treble is elevated, but it can be easily adjusted via EQ. In my experience, the crucial is around 6k. What I like is the openness and the tight, yet warm bass on these. Just add some extra subbass.
how is the sound quality without an amp
@@samirxvcHe said 600 ohm. He is not going to be listening to them without an amp. At least I hope he isn’t.
hello, fiio k5 pro enough for dt 990 600 ohm ? on what gain lvl you listening them ?
It really is interesting how all ears are so different. I own the 990 600ohm and I don't mind the treble unless the recording is poor. My hearing goes to 16.5khz btw, so it's not a hearing loss thing but I do listen quiet at around 70-75db peak so that might have something to do with why it doesn't bother me as much. And just for reference, I own 50+ headphones, including 6 Beyers so I have some exposure to other headphones and tunings as well as the Beyer "house" sound. What I find really interesting, however, is that I recently got a K712 and I found the treble UNBEARABLE until I swapped pads, and even after that they still sound harsh/sibilant to me but I can listen for longer than 15 minutes now. Those aren't even a typical "treblehead" can. Point is, you don't know if it works for you or not unless you hear them for yourself and/or you know exactly which regions bother you from experience with other cans and tunings.
i thought this is the guy that said the 900 pro X is a great headphone on the review
now he call it dull WTF
these audio fellas smh...
Black DT 990 EDITION are so comfortable. Wayyyyy more comfortable than the DT 900 X. I prefer the DT 900 X sound with EQ, but the comfort of the 990 EDITIONS is 🥰🥰
No wonder, clamp force of the edition models are 2,8N vs 5,3N of the new DT 900 pro x. The reason why I´ll never choose a pro.
These headphones are a great way of giving yourself tinnitus.
Purchased another DT 990 Edition today-32 Ohm this time-have it already at 250 Ohm, but it needs a cable repair, so rather than buy another 250, wanted to try the 32 Ohm version. The construction is sturdier than what it seems-these are indestructible to me, and that along their immense comfort is what made me buy them "again".
My new 32 does appear to have more bass than my old 250. I never understood why people claimed the DT 990 had "too much bass", as I am *not* a basshead and always found the 250 variant to have just a tiny bit above "neutral." So it matches Mr. Resolve's graphs. The 32's treble appears strong, but it may have been stronger on the 250? Need to have them repaired to compare, as it's hard to tell from memory. My hunch is the treble was more emphasized on the 250.
I have already tested "problem tracks" for treble heavy 'phones/iems (such as Iron Maiden's Only the Good Die Young), and I have one or two IEMs that have much more trouble, unless I use specific eartips. The 32 Ohm is not really bad at all-I expected even more treble from all the bad opinions about the 32 version out there. It does have more bass, but it sounds rather clean, and not muddy at all. Beautiful sound, mids of course sound recessed in comparison to the treble region (I believe playing them too loud to emphasize these mids is what gives these classic phones its bad reputation, rather than hearing age-could be both of course.)
Perhaps there is a chance that Ohm differences matter, but headphone variance matters even more?
The DT 990 250 Ohm was one of my first good headphones, and that I bought it again should speak as to how high a regard I have for it. We are all different. It can be used for musical enjoyment, not just "gaming".
Indeed I am surprised that due to the low sensitivity, even at 32 Ohms it most definitely can benefit from amping. The puny "amp" of a thing such as a New Nintendo 3DS is not powerful enough for loud volume, unlike most balanced armature IEMs I have tried with it regardless Ohms. It benefits from some power-not super loud due to the relatively low sensitivity. But from a phone, portable amp, or computer, it is plenty powerful, though usually at high volumes.
I think the biggest finding is that the 32 Ohm variant is not bad at all, and I would recommend it to anyone who does not want to buy a separate powerful amp.
For bass practice, it must be awesome, though haven't tried it yet (bought it less than a day ago.)
The price is cheap enough to make me question the higher prices of most other brands, that are even made in China. I know these used to be expensive. But DT990s from $159-$199 are really a great value, if you love your clear, airy treble. This is one headphone I have found no other to achieve the same for me, even within the Beyerdynamic brand-the more expensive options appear to me as side-grades. The price is just very good right now.
Thanks so much, Mr. Resolve, for the comparisons-surprised the 600 Ohm version measured as such, as so many people claim it has "the smoothest treble" of the 3. Best wishes on the New Year.
And so 7 months after making this comment, what is now your verdict for listening to music and the problem of the presence (or not) of the bass: do you now prefer, with this DT 990, model 32 ohms or 250 ohms ?
@@paulwoaert Mr. Paul,
I have the 32 Ohm headphones nearby-brought them on a trip, by chance, working outside home-though still I fear I am not able to be of much use to you because my DT990 250 Ohm 3.5 connector is still broken, so I can only speak to my current experience. Bass is evident, but not too bassy. Just as I stated before, I "remember" the 250 had less bass emphasis, yet calling the 32 Ohm model "bassy" would be a bit of an exaggeration unless you are super used to flat bass audio headphones/earphones. I also brought with me the Final F7200 IEMs, and compared to these, they are "bassy". Bassier than DT990 250 as I remember them, but not as bassy as bass heavy headphones/earphones. Also the difference between the two is not too wild-it will sound like a DT990! I did not feel I bought an entirely different headphone back then and now. But a tiny few decibels on certain frequency response areas may offend *or* please some.
For an open headphone, the bass is quite above average, so in that case it will be "bassier" than most open cans, for better or worse. It avoids muddiness, and its worst character would be that some treble-happy tracks may be over emphasized, which some do not enjoy. Stand on all my previous comments.
It is not bass-shy at all-just not too heavy.
My apologies for not having repaired my old 250 Ohm headphones after so long. The 32 Ohm are quite fine, and I prefer to have them than otherwise-I generally like treble if done well, and not just an upper-mids/lower treble push with little air. Do have a few models like that (IEMs, actually) that I like, but always prefer some "airy" extension if possible.
For the modern consumer, they just have to be aware that DT990's 32 Ohm headphone still needs a bit more power than usual, and that amping them is never a bad idea, though most low powered devices will do fine (normal volumes at high volume settings for very dynamic music.)
Impedance is noted on the plug. I do like mine 32 ohm version. While you whine at cable like my wife, It's worth to note that that while fixed, this one is build like a tank, and you somehow manage to break it you can buy it from their site and use soldering iron to fix it as they are pretty easy to work on. I use them heavily everyday, I do have fplenty incidents with leg, cat and dog - no issues. Most of my previous cans came without fixed cable, I thought at first that's a good sign. Totalled 5 o these on sennheiser somehow, call it tought luck if you will but my wallet was not impressed. Highs were too much at first , gave them a day or two and now I can listen to them 24/7. Super comfy, breathable, semi open cans with sturdy design. The only trade-off for me is actually joke regulation, while sturdy I have to re-set them every day, it's not as annoying like wear out regulation and I get used to it luckily. No eq here, just plugged straight to focusrite gen 3.
The real purpose of this headphones is to find Problems in a Recording. Its like a Focus Lens for the ears. Phasing issues, backgroundnoises in vox Recording etc. Like the AKG k-712 pro. They are Gold for this purpose. Sorry for my english, Not my native Language
Well, I use these for practicing bass so it's nice to have a little high-end
Can you do the DT 880 600 ohms next? :)
I actually love my DT999 600 Ohm headphones. Listening at moderate levels can be great and plays to their strengths, but some recordings are unlistenable (James Blake, older jazz with hot cymbals). I think they are still worth some consideration for what they can do and at their price.
EQ can make tracks match more listenable.
Im really interested in matching those to darker tube amp, seems like that would be really good combo
This is a very interesting and informative video. There is an audience for these cans... anyone 60 and older, lol! I'm listening through my new DT 990 32-ohm cans, thinking how nice an balanced they sound, lol! Here's why: So on my DAW tower where I write orchestration and film scoring, I'm an HD 650 guy for quite a long time with an RME Babyface Pro interface, so, great setup for writing music. Also have done mixing for 40 years, so, familiar with the audio landscape. For my laptop, I do regular work things but also some minimal music work so I have a simple Focusrite Solo interface, which runs best with 32-ohm cans, so that's why I bought the 32-ohm 990s. And the laptop is where I listen to the most music and videos during my day job. WELLLLL, I recently tested my hearing and my wife's (we are 60 and 63), and by natural decay at my age, I can't hear anything above 11KHz and my wife barely hits 10KHz, and after that we hear NO test tones at all. Think about that, the whole problem doesn't affect the older listener, lol! As they stand, these sound great with my limited ears, SO, if you want to get nice cans for your parents' iPad, etc, the 32-ohm 990s are comfy, sound great and work superbly naturally with devices. You might ask if sound is dull when you are older, and the answer is no, at least for me, everything sounds normal. And my mixes sound fine to others because the highs aren't as crucial (compared to mids of course), and I can simply monitor the graph on the high end, plus I have many years of time at a mixing desk so highs are no trouble to manage.
So, now y'all now know what to get your parents next Christmas, if they are over 60, you can pretty much be confident that 12KHz and up is gone from their lives and they don't even know it. 😉
I think Beyerdynamic is better than Beyerdynamic, but there's also something to be said about Beyerdynamic.
I concur :-)
I have owned the 600 ohm DT990 Edition for a few weeks now, using it with a Tascam 102i Series desktop audio interface amplifier, and I absolutely love these headphones! I have owned many - many, many many headphones over nearly 2 decades, including the original 300 ohm Sennheiser HD800, and the 600 ohm DT990 Edition is the best i've ever heard. I owned the 250 ohm DT990 several years ago and remember them well, and I don't recall them sounding as detailed across the whole frequency spectrum, as the 600 ohm version. These Beyers are so much better than the Sennheiser HD800 that has no bass whatsoever to the point of sounding broken. HD800 is a terrible headphone, in my opinion. DT990 600 ohm is the king, as far as I am concerned. Better than HD800, AKG K702, DT880 600 ohm, DT990 250 ohm, better than A&K T5P first gen, better than the DT770 80 ohm, better than biocellulose Fostex and Denon headphones, better than the planar Fostex and Hifiman Sundara - better than them all, in my opinion.
Even after comparing my dt990 to my lcd2c, sundara and dt1990 I still don’t get why people have such a big problem with the treble. It’s bright, yeah, but not painful or annoying in any way, at least to me
Well no offense but that most likely means that you have some degree of hearing loss. Most people do, its really common in our modern and noisy lives.
@@Bl4ckWarHawk was going to say this. This usually goes towards people that around 40 and above. Or if your younger you never wore hearing protection when needed to
I couldn't stand the Sundara. It just sounded dull and lifeless to me. I thought I would hate the 990 but I really like them. Use them mostly for gaming. The open airiness and precision imaging is amazing on these.
i get comments about having hearing loss every time i say something positive about the dt990s so i actually did get my hearing checked and i dont have any significant hearing loss for my age (23) at any frequency. (Well except for stuff above 16k but thats not unusual for adults^^)
@@TheHypeCom Yeah I hear this comment a lot too. I think the 990 can sound a lot brighter on some gear. I once tried them on my cheap lindy dac amp and they wear unbearably harsh but when listening on my SMSL SU9-SH9 stack or Schiit Asgard 3 stack they sound great.
You forgot to mention the compressed dynamics on these compared to say a hd650. I found them hard to mix on due to everything sounding dynamically compressed compared to my mainstays of the hd6** series.
Yeah that's what I get from listening to the DT 880's. But the DT 770 doesn't seem to have that. Maybe because of the bass performance making the sound more "alive". I did try the DT 990 Premiums besides my DT 1990's some years ago but I quickly sent back the 990's because the treble was too much, even compared to DT 1990's.
I'm now interested in trying the DT 990 Pro's, some have said they aren't as boosted in the treble as the Premium editions. Idk how much bs that is. I'm also wondering if they are as compressed as the DT 880's, then I probably won't bother.
There has to be some use case reason they tuned these the way they did right? It obviously wasn't an accident, so they had to have released these intentionally. But what would they be for? Maybe just people with hearing loss, or people that just can't hear high frequencies anymore?
It's for music production.
If the track isn't raping your ears with 990s, it's not going to be a problem for anyone
My hearing goes to 18,450hz and the 990's 600ohms are just fine. I often think the people who make bad comments about them don't own a pair.
I just got a pair of 990's and they aren't what id buy for gaming or just listening. But they are exactly what i needed for mixing.
the beyerdynamic won with ease
The fix was in
The infamous Beyer sound.
I have the 770 80 love it
I don't think you're too treble sensitive. You'd have to have medically significant hearing loss in the upper 6k+ frequency ranges to find these tolerable.
For context, when I entered the hobby at the very end of 2005, these (250ohm version) were my first highend headphones. I loved them because I didn't know any better. Over time I got a better and better chain, and stepped it up to the 600ohm version. I was actually very happy with those for a number of years, but I was able to tune my Asus Xonar STX with different opamps to synergize with them. I eventually got out of the hobby, and when I returned I repurchased them with a more neutral chain, and found them completely intolerable. It was unbelievable. I was shocked I ever found them so enjoyable, but maybe unit variation and pad wear made my original pair actually listenable.
Or maybe... you've now got super hearing! 😉
I actually love all of the Beyerdynamic headphones much better, than the sennheisers I heard. I can recommend putting leather pads from the dt1770 pro on the 880/990.
I luv u resolve.
Welcome back.
As of today my ears are 41 old exactly.
I just bought the dt 990 premium 600 ohm, to pair it with my class A amplifier to tame the high freq. But especially to use the 990 with my tube amplifier.
I wanted a cheap put very open sounding headphones with boosted highs.
If you’re mixing audio and there’s no sibilant sound then I would imagine your music would be absent from sibilant sound on other speakers as well.
Perhaps in the studio their signature is welcome actually.
Smooth sounding on the 990 would translate smooth everywhere else likely.
That sandwich comparo is just *perfecto*
Oh boy here we go
@resolve Can’t you just EQ the treble down?
I’m so confused - my friend has a pair of the 600Ohm 990s (probably 6 years old or more) and they sound warm, inviting, and not particularly harsh on the high end at all...
Like mine. Best cans out of all the high ends I have. Absolutely adore using them for everything. I think this guy needs a ear checking.
LOL i think i know, there can be a huge difference between pairs. ive listened to a pair of usual 990s 250 ohm latest revision and a pair of limited black 990 250 ohm latest revision. yk what?? the black version sounded much brighter! the usual grey 990 had SO much more bass but sounded duller and softer.
also ive listened to 990s 80 ohm. and wtf they sounded more clear and detailed (not sibilant, treble amount was ~the same), i just could easily hear everything in music, especially pads (backgrounds). but the 80 ohm version's bass was super shallow compared to both 250 ohms. so the 80 ohm has better mids imo
Well there's your problem, you asked for a sandwich with bread and got a croissant instead
I like croissant. It's the only sandwich like thing that was near me at the time haha.
Is 990 pro and premium version sound same or different??
Is 770 and 880 reviews coming??
Yes and yes
@@chefsteve8381 thanks bro👍
Can you share your thoughts on the DT series when used with EQ? I think that would be interesting coming from you for the 880 too.
NEUMANN NDH 30 pls
+1
Finish your drink every time Resolve mentions Burzem
Dekoni velour elite pads swap can fix the low bass extension and high treble easy which was great for all types of music but the stock pads were best for gaming unless you EQ them to your preference which is another great option Bellari makes some great stuff for 4 band EQ or sonic exciter to play with tone. Very inexpensive gear to bring the most from any headphone you own.
The impedance should be marked on the 6.35mm plug
I was going to buy the 990 ended up with 560S, what a decision!! Love the 560S
Same just arrived today. Do they need amp ?
@@bilalshaikh6603 I don’t use one & I use them with computers, laptops, mobiles, tablets just everything
@@bilalshaikh6603 I haven’t needed any so far
i know the 990 pro 250 ohm did me right for a long time until I jumped to the Amiron home. So much better
Thanks Resolve. Heavy Plastic is the new Metal and that’s only the genre. 🤔
I'm trying to think of the artists who fit that description hahah.
@@ResolveReviews Narrowing the list down to artists should help. 🙂
@plastic571
Some funny stuff in here. I'm waiting for the Headphone Comedy Hour with free deli sandwiches for the audience.
Yes, you are too treble-sensitive. I enjoy BD ever since I worked at Shure and we used closed back 770's for critical listening in the early 00's. I enjoy my DT990 250 Ohm with a dragonfly black headphone amp, as a 'daily driver' for most enjoyment listening most days.
Got a pair of DT990 Pro today and holy shit, my ears are bleeding. I will get a pair of Tygr 300 r (That seem to have the same Pros but less intense treble) and will see if they fit better.
Seeing a lot of people say that it gets better over time... well, but i have to use them NOW, not in six months or so.
These TrebleDynamic cans are ones to avoid for sure, I liked the Fly cameo ; )
What is "loud enough"? I don't use any amp with my 250ohm DT990, and have never found them to be lacking in volume. And I keep seeing in these reviews on UA-cam that you NEED an amp, but in my expirience, that's not true.
Are you using the DT990 250 ohm with your phone without an amp? How's the sound? Many people have said that the sound is low without an amp.
For this review to be more effective, Andrew really should have shouted the entire time.
how do the 32ohm ones sound when used in ps5 joypad?
I just got the 990 pro 250 Ohm with KnoxGear amp. Coming from MDR 7506, these have much better mid-range, and they are comfortable. But, I listen to Techno all day, and these have no defined bass and def. do not get loud and can't handle much power at all. It's then I realized the are rated 100mW. I'm looking for good set that bumps for Techno, has better mids than the 7506s, but still gets loud without being shrill. Prefer to give open back a go; otherwise, it looks like I should have gotten the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or something else.
Anyone have any ideas?
I use these to make me hate music.
Why dont you test them with a normal hifi amplifier?
I hear about a break-in period for those headphones of about a week. After that, the 600 ohms should smooth out a bit
Compared with the Audio technica ATH 910 my Beryerdynamic. T70 sounded not good at first, after 100 hours it sounded much better. This was 8 years ago. Because i bought a Meyer headphone amp i felt that the 600ohm ath and t70 sounded not so good so after reading a few reviews bought the T5 gen3. It bass and treble sounded different but after 80 hours it sounds much better. I still have the ath910 and t70 to compare with. Perhaps my ears are different but i can recommend the T70 and T5gen 3 headphone. I also use the Leben cs600 , with all of the headphones i can listen for hours on both amplifiers.
Beyers is super easy to mod and get rid of peak and boost bass, without spoiling other freq. Also dt990 sound signature have no alternatives right now. Its cheap, light, airy, with cool ruble. Just fix peak and they great!
harsh highs in studio mix headphones are horrible for listening to your favorite jams but a life saver when taming shotty vocals
Very interested on the 880 variants. It was always said the 600 ohm was the best variant is this true?
It depends on your source. I have the 880 in 32 ohms directly on the notebook and it sounds fantastic. If you now connect a 600 ohm model, I don't think it sounds as good as the 32ohm (always on the premise without an amplifier). And I deliberately didn't want one, because then you doubt yourself again that you bought the "wrong" one (this can also end in an endless spiral cost wise) And what you don't have/need you didn't buy "wrong" either. He says himself that the differences between 32ohm and 600ohm are not that big. However, only you can determine whether the difference is so big that it is relevant for you by listening to both (however, with the 600ohm there are additional costs associated with amplifiers).
Good luck.
The 990 Pro looks so much better than the Premium edition
Novraught, is that you?!!
That desn´t matter when you can´t live with the higher clamp force and the coiled cable(much weight)
When you all realize this HP are not meant to satisfy your wannabe audiophile world. This is working tool and should be rate for this purpose. For music enjoyment there are many better choices, of course.
I like your voice
What’s better dt770 or dt990
I had no idea unit variation was so wild with these cans. That might explain some of the polarizing opinions surrounding them, because your 32Ohm unit seems like a fairly sensible attempt at a V-shaped sound, whereas your 600Ohm one looks like an absolute meme.
Thanks for the informative video ~
Yo thank you ! for the clarification on this. At work multi tasking and looked over right when "wtf was that a fly" lold irl hahahah.
Why is the frequency response graph of the DT990 600 ohm giving us the middle finger salute, maybe it's trying to tell us something perhaps....
Is the 32ohm version that different to the TYGR? The TYGR are supposed to be the 990 32ohm new version
Our tygr was a bit different. But could be unit variation
I think the tygr has the foam used in the Amiron behind the ear pad. Dampens the driver more
I don't know what you canadians call bread, but we Aussies call it a croissant, that's actually a pastry.......
Hey resolve DT 1990 pro or Hifiman Edition XS? Both going for $499
Definitely edition XS, unless you're after that spicy treble
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks! I've been watching and enjoying your videos for a while now
@@TheHEADPHONEShow which can be tammed with EQ. I have both....It's all about taste. XS is very refined.
EQ master didn’t talk about how do they take EQ! It’s ok for thousand dollar audeze to need eq but not those?
Downshelf above 4khz by like 5-10dB. Fill in the mids and reduce upper bass. They take it fine, but they're no Audezes.
I use it mostly for youtube and Netflix, it doea a nice job wth that, would i use it for High End audio, no.
Do they have a 3.5 mm aux cord?
I sadly found out that the whole Beyer hp colection is way too bright for me.
The only thing i did like are the 177x Go from drop....
what the actual fuck i was listening to burzum on my m50x watching this XD
May someone recommend me the best dac/amp with enough power to drive the 990 DT 600ohm version headphone? Thanks!
My main purpose is to use these for gaming only, especially FPS such as R6 for detailed sounds and footsteps
So much treble that Resolve listens to flies! Hahaha