The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are great, well-built open-back headphones. They have the most premium look and feel of all the Beyerdynamic models we've tested, and they're a durable, sturdy option that should last you a while. They're comfortable and deliver an excited and open sound, but they can be tight on some heads and sharp on bright tracks. Also, like most open-back headphones, they won't be a good option to use outside a quiet room.
Our Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are great for neutral sound. Using their 'Balanced' ear pads, they have an excited sound that delivers extra warmth to mixes while vocals and instruments are clear and present in mixes. That said, sibilants like cymbals are piercing and painful. That said, some users may prefer this sound as it can help highlight imperfections in mixes. You can even swap out these pads for the 'Analytical' ones, which lower the amount of boom in mixes, but ensure the brightness of sibilants. Thanks to their open-back design, they're also able to create an immersive soundstage.
- Comfortable.
- Excellent build quality.
- Great and open audio reproduction.
- Slightly tight on the head.
- Can sound a bit piercing with bright tracks.
Not designed for commuting. The open-back ear cups do not block any ambient noise and leak a lot. Also, they're not portable and do not have a control scheme for mobile devices.
- Comfortable.
- Excellent build quality.
- Great and open audio reproduction.
- High leakage and poor isolation, by design.
- Slightly tight on the head.
- Can sound a bit piercing with bright tracks.
Not meant for sports. The Beyerdynamic 1990 are decently tight on the head but a bit too bulky, unstable and require an amp, so they're not suitable for sports or to use outdoors.
- Comfortable.
- Excellent build quality.
- Great and open audio reproduction.
- High leakage and poor isolation, by design.
- Slightly tight on the head.
- Can sound a bit piercing with bright tracks.
Sub-par for office use. Unless you work alone or in an isolated office, the leakage level will be too bothersome for those around you. Also, the open back design does not block any noise so you will hear your environment fairly easily even when listening to music at higher-than-average volumes.
- Comfortable.
- Excellent build quality.
- Great and open audio reproduction.
- High leakage and poor isolation, by design.
- Slightly tight on the head.
- Can sound a bit piercing with bright tracks.
Mediocre for gaming. They're comfortable, they sound great and have a low latency wired design. However, they do not have a microphone for voice chat when gaming, and no customization options which are typical for most gaming headsets. Also, they do not have the convenience of wireless design or multiple connection options for an optimized experience on Xbox One or PS4.
- Comfortable.
- Excellent build quality.
- Great and open audio reproduction.
- Slightly tight on the head.
- Can sound a bit piercing with bright tracks.
Changelog
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Updated Feb 26, 2025:
We now mention the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII in the Sound Profile section.
- Updated May 15, 2023: These headphones come with two different pads. We have retested our Sound measurements using the 'Analytical' pads and added graphs into our text. However, the default graphs use the 'Balanced' pads, and the scoring of these tests hasn't changed.
- Updated Sep 16, 2021: We've updated the 'Analog/USB Audio Latency' test results.
- Updated Jul 21, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 are open-back audiophile headphones. They come with two sets of ear pads that help change their bass, which help you get a more desirable sound to fit your needs. They also have an excellent and sturdy build quality that looks and feels premium enough to justify their price range. Unfortunately, their sound quality resembles the lower-end Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. They may not be worth the additional premium cost for some, especially compared to some of the models below. Regardless of using either set of ear pads, they still have piercing sibilants, which some users may find painful.
See our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best studio headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are slightly better critical listening headphones than the Sennheiser HD 650. They're noticeably better-built and feel premium. They have a better bass performance than the HD 650 and are able to create a wider, more immersive soundstage, although some people may feel like they sound overly bright and sharp.
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO and the Sennheiser HD 660 S are both very good open-back audiophile headphones, each with their own different sound signature. The Sennheiser have a warm, smooth sound but lack thump and punch in the bass and clarity in the treble. The Beyerdynamic have a fuller, brighter sound, but they can also make sibilants and cymbals seem rather piercing. Listeners who prefer a more speaker-like passive soundstage will prefer the Beyerdynamic, which are also a bit more comfortable. On the other hand, the HD 660 S are cheaper.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for critical listening than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO, though it may depend on your priorities. The HiFiMan have a much flatter treble response, which some listeners may prefer. They're also more comfortable. On the other hand, while both pairs have an open-back design, the Beyerdynamic deliver a brighter treble, which you may prefer. They also trap less heat against your ears and come with a case to protect your investment.
The original Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are the predecessor to the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII. Both headphones are extremely similar with only minor differences in sound signature; in the treble, the original model have fewer but more pronounced deviations from our target curve across bands—vocals and instruments, in general, sound underarticulated and slightly piercing. In contrast, the MKII have more fluctuations across bands, leading to more alternation between too much or too little articulation and brightness. Unlike their predecessor, they also have a lower impedance and don't require an amp to drive them.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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