Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm Studio Headphone Review

Unless you listen exclusively on low volume, then the DT 990 Pro will require something beefier than the output of your phone or computer. The story here is similar to that of DT 880 Pro 250 Ohm or DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm versions – even though the nominal impedance is lower than, for example, Sennheiser HD 650, these are less sensitive and thus harder to drive. Most modern audio interfaces should have no problem reaching dangerous SPL’s with the DT 990 Pro, the same goes for the majority of dedicated headphone amplifiers. The 250 Ohm does present a nice benefit of the DT 990 Pro being rather insensitive to high output impedance.

Like its sister headphone DT 770 Pro, the DT 990 Pro won’t be winning any beauty contests. They do feel sturdy and you won’t have to babysit them. The ear-cups are made out of plastic, but the U-frame holding the ear-cups is metal, which should take any abuse from everyday studio work. Ear pads, which are replaceable, are made from velour, which hugs the sides of your head without any pronounced pressure points. Do keep in mind that with use the ear pads will deform and soak up the sweat you’ve been producing to finish those projects in time! Swap them out every year or so, as worn ear-pads change the sound of your DT 990 Pro and there’s always the smell…

DT 990 Pro bears a similarity to its siblings, the DT 770 Pro & DT 880 Pro, and exhibits some excitement towards the top and low end. One could actually call this a U-curve. The treble iceberg which starts at around 6.5 kHz makes it hard to judge any instrument overtones. Despite the manufacturer’s recommendation, it’s very hard to imagine the DT 990 Pro to be suitable for mastering. The emphasized highs might make it easier to pick out some issues in the mix, but the price to pay is an overall skewed presentation which will force the engineers’ hand and tire their ears.

Overall, DT 990 Pro does well here, there is some imbalance down low which shouldn’t present a problem. The slight discrepancy in the highs wasn’t audible in our listening tests.

The DT 990 Pro is very comfortable to wear. These headphones rely on their clamping force to stay on one’s head, but the clamp is well distributed thanks to the large ear pads. The headband presses on the top of the head very lightly and shouldn’t cause discomfort.

At around €139/$159, they’re decent entry-level headphones. However, the sound signature is very colored and serious work can only be done if one has spent considerable time learning their peculiarities.