Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO 250 Ohm Studio Headphones

Bought these for gaming and I have not been disappointed. Incredible sound with an immersive sound stage. Locating footsteps in games like Hunt: Showdown is phenomenal.

11/10 would highly recommend!

They're a feast for the eyes too, so that doesn't hurt ;)

I originally bought the HD660S as I had heard so many good things about them. These DT1990s weren't spoken about as much until I delved a little deeper. I'm glad I did. The build quality alone is vastly superior. A shorter and coiled cable much preferable for me. The sound is more alive. They just feel fantastic on your head - you know you're wearing some quality audio gear.

I did umm and ahh about it for a while comparing to some closed backs. I have some DT 770s and it took a while to adjust to the open sound. But the clarity and atmosphere is definitely improved with open backs. Just be aware that a decent amount of sound will leak if you're near others. An amp/dac will also be necessary to drive it whether you use it through your desktop or phone.

These will last a number of years if not for life. Especially at this price-point.

Can't fault them.
Clean and analytical with an incredible build quality that combines robustness with comfort.
I am able to wear them for hours.

Firstly, I should point out that I am not an audio professional or someone that has had extensive experience with high end audio equipment. I have, however, started to dip my toe in to the audiophile water over the last couple of years and can quite categorically state that the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro 250 ohm studio headphones are by far my best purchase yet.

This review is based on a set-up of: Astell & Kern A&norma SR15 portable music player (playing predominantly TIDAL HiFi, as well as FLAC), Audioquest Evergreen 3.5mm to 2 RCA Audio Cable, Schiit Magni 3+ Headphone Amplifier and the DT 1990s.

BUILD: Right from the moment of opening the box it's clear that these are a premium pair of cans. Solid, attractive, yet understated design won't cause anyone to double take but then, that's not the point. These headphones are very much purpose built for studio and home use. Nicely finished metal, leather headband and velour earcups combine for a level of luxury that is very impressive at this price point. The sturdy travel case contains two detachable cables (one coiled, one straight), a jack adapter and an extra pair of ear cups for a slightly more analytical sound to the incumbent balanced pads. This is great if you want to mix things up a bit.

SOUND: Oh baby! I've never had it this good. The listening experience is extremely well balanced with great separation and clarity. To my tastes the highs, mids and lows are all present and correct without being pushed to the forefront or oppressed. This gets said a lot about high end headphones but I have genuinely heard things in some of my favourite tracks that I never had before putting the DT 1990s on my head. As stated earlier, I'm no expert so I don't possess the vernacular to go in to detail on this but what I can say is that the listening experience I get every time I use these headphones is nothing short of delightful.

FURTHER COMMENTS: At 250 ohm impedance, the DT1990s really do need to be driven sufficiently to do them any kind of justice so a decent headphone amplifier is a must. And, of course, the better the quality of your source the better the listening experience. Also, these are open-backed headphones which means they leak a substantial amount of sound so they're not really suitable for public use. If you're looking for a closed-back equivalent at a similar price point you might want to check out the DT 1770 Pros.

If you're in the market for some truly exceptional cans without wanting to get into the thousands you need look no further!

The Beyerdynamic's DT 1990 Pro, circumaural headphones are intended for use by recording and mastering engineers, are rugged in design and are very comfortable. As a DJ, I use them for producing and editing my mixes. I found the best price to be right here at Bax Music as with many of their other products

At an RRP of nearly £600 they are not cheap, so make sure you do your research and you are buying them for the right reasons. The semi closed design and detailed yet flat response means they are not best suited to the casual afternoon/evening listener wanting to relax by the fire. A different model of Beyerdynamics or a pair of Sennheisers or Bose perhaps might be better for that. Check out the other options right here on Bax Music for some great deals.

Two pairs of earpads ship with the DT 1990 Pro: one pair for neutral listening (grey), and one that gives a slightly enhanced bass response (black). Inside the earcups, 45mm Tesla drivers deliver a frequency range of 5Hz to 40kHz, with an impedance of 250 Ohms. . One cable is 9.8 feet and straight, and the other is 16 feet and coiled. Both cables terminate in 3.5mm connections, and there are two screw-on 0.25-inch headphone jack adapters in the box. The connection for the cables, located on the bottom of the left earcup, is a mini XLR—rare to see on headphones even in this price range. Both cables lock into place.

In terms of sound stage and audio quality, I am certainly no expert but the amount of detail is certainly more noticeable with these headphones than any other I have used in the past. The neutrality of them means that some question how good the listening experience is for audiophiles which is why I say they are not best suited for listening and chilling. You hear every instrument as it was recorded on the track, you hear if their microphone they recorded it with was properly set, you hear if mastering of the track is done professionally or not. In saying that, when you need to hear the nuances of two tracks to blend the EQ and beat match (I don’t use auto beat match as am old skool DJ) then these headphones are the best I have ever used. Now I can’t blame the quality of my mixing on the headphones!

Overall, the DT1990 Pro are an excellent offering by Beyerdynamic. Just remember that this is a headphone you concentrate with not a headphone to relax with whilst supping your favourite alcoholic beverage!