---
product_id: 1521071
title: "Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones"
brand: "beyerdynamic"
price: "$431.77"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
category: "Beyerdynamic"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/1521071-beyerdynamic-dt-990-premium-600-ohm-hifi-headphones
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Lightweight 11 oz design for all-day comfort 600Ω impedance for audiophile-grade clarity 20Hz-23kHz frequency range for full-spectrum sound Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones

**Brand:** beyerdynamic
**Price:** $431.77
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎧 Elevate your sound game—hear what others miss!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones by beyerdynamic
- **How much does it cost?** $431.77 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/1521071-beyerdynamic-dt-990-premium-600-ohm-hifi-headphones)

## Best For

- beyerdynamic enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted beyerdynamic brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Plug & Play Versatility:** Includes gold vaporized 3.5mm jack with 6.35mm adapter and a sleek carry case—ready for your high-end audio setup anywhere.
- • **Audiophile-Grade Precision:** Experience pristine, high-resolution sound with a 600 Ohm impedance designed for powerful headphone amplifiers.
- • **Immersive Open-Back Design:** Enjoy an expansive soundstage that delivers transparent, natural audio—perfect for critical listening and home studio use.
- • **German Engineering Excellence:** Crafted in Germany with a durable yet lightweight build and innovative bass reflex system for superior audio performance.
- • **Ultimate Comfort for Marathon Sessions:** Soft, circumaural ear pads and a featherlight 11 oz frame ensure fatigue-free listening during long work or creative hours.

## Overview

The beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition 600 Ohm headphones are premium open-back, wired over-ear headphones engineered in Germany for audiophiles and professionals. Featuring a wide 20-23,000 Hz frequency response and high impedance, they deliver crystal-clear, high-resolution audio optimized for headphone amplifiers. Lightweight and comfortable, they come with a durable cable, gold-plated connectors, and a protective carry case, making them ideal for immersive home listening and critical audio work.

## Description

The famous DT 990 Premium, 600 ohm version; Stereo Headphone for high power requirements, headphone amps, home audio applications Made in Germany, innovative Bass reflex system for excellent audio performance Open design, includes carry case, 11 oz light weight Gold vaporized stereo 3.5 mm mini-jack & 6.35 mm adapter Analytical and high-resolution audio reproduction

Review: Treble Cannons - Ear cups are nice velour and are very large and comfortable. Headband is soft leatherette with thick cushioning. However the headband has a reputation for going kind of bad over time. So I'd look into removing and replacing it early rather than when it's leaving nasty black goo everywhere. These headphones are a bit on the heavy side, so the headband could be wider for better comfort. However, they feel lighter on the head than they would seem to at first glance. The headclamp is fairly loose even on my large head, so comfort is overall excellent. Build quality is otherwise excellent except for one area. The sliders holding the earcups on suck. Neither side stays reasonably locked in place, and I find myself re-adjusting the headphones every time I put them on, because their own clamp force pushes them back in. They are hard to pull out in a reasonable way as well. I always feel like I am putting unnecessary wear or torque on my nice cans. I solved the problem by putting them in place then putting a thick wrap of electrical tape around the stem to block it from sliding in. It works great. So a cheap Beyerdynamic headband and some tape and boom, very solid and high wear headphones. Beware, if you get the 600 ohm version of these, you better mean it, because these babies take SERIOUS power to truly drive properly. The 600 ohm/80mW capable amp in my Sound Blaster ZxR took them to listenable levels for youtube and they sounded decent for games and movies. Music, however, was an entirely different matter. The ZxR really strained with pretty much all sources and couldn't really maintain a listenable volume for a lot of stuff. Also, the overall fullness of sound in all music was very lacking. I upgraded to a Schiit Asgard 2 headphone amp with over twice the power output of the soundcard at 600ohm/190mW. The sound quality was much improved. However volume was not a large jump, so turning it to near max for 24/7 use was still a requirement. Not for cranking them but just for basic listening. The poor Asgard could barely do it despite its great power with the rest of my headphone collection. I eventually moved up to a Schiit Valhalla 2 OTL tube amp with over twice the output of the Asgard 2 at 600ohm/450mW. It was finally enough to power these babies at full tilt, and they handled the power beautifully. These are by far some of the best high volume headphones I've ever listened to. It wasn't worth the cost of learning their needs, but dang do they put that power to good use! Awesome sound pressure and articulation. Indescribable at higher volumes. Their titanic power handling ability is an immense asset with a truly capable amp to back them up! Treble response is incredibly sharp and detailed on these cans. When I moved to the tube amp it had the side effect of taming the frequency spikes somewhat. I still had to use a very minor(-1 or -2dB) EQ change to drop their upper treble to comfortable levels. I don't think there's any real sibilance or screech but they are just incredibly sharp and emphasized. Definitely worth noting that the source makes a huge difference here. Some of my warmer vinyl recordings require no EQ at all. Likewise really well produced music is less likely to have huge issues. Gaming and movies as well really benefited from the extra treble response and detail, and I could generally get away with leaving the EQ off. Modern pop though, and metal, and a lot of other noisy, trebly music was just a little too hot on these without EQ. Not a major issue as there are plenty of fast, easy, and reliable EQ methods out there. However, the real saving grace is that the unpleasant spikes are in a very small range, and were very easy to tune out on both the SS and Tube amps. I prefer not to EQ headphones when I can help it, so it was great that they needed so little. Detail is uncompromising in the extreme. Absolutely revealing and resolving with superb precision! The timbre, response, and quality of it are incredibly pleasing to my ears. Like actual physical pleasure. Their tone is just awesome and energetic. I can handle the slightly hot treble because the amount of nuance and texture these reveal is astonishing! Simply amazing. I have never heard the like in any other headphone. Mids are a little recessed and dry but are nearly as fast and energetic as the treble. Very flat with a little growl. Not particularly smooth or refined but excellent detail and nothing is ever lost to the other frequencies. Vocals are perfect and instrument reproduction is near lifelike. Well produced music sounds INSANE on the DT990s. Their lack of warmth helps the mids maintain composure in exceptionally challenging music. However, there is always that glossy sheen on the incredibly bright treble hanging over the mids. The DT880s, AKG K712s and other headphones of this class handle mids with a more natural tone. Bass response is exceptional but nowhere near as overpowering as others seem to imply. Very snappy and tight response. Extension is good and deep without trying to reach too low. A little flubbiness on the lowest notes but otherwise great texture and definition. They give a satisfying thump, but their real strength is in the audible spectrum; mid and upper bass. Just incredibly full and well-defined low end. These are great for following bass guitar tracks, or for movie soundtracks, and work amazingly for classic rock. These aren't the fastest cans out there, but they are energetic and musical. A good amp helps with their bass response and quickness a bit. As far as open headphones go these probably have the most bass emphasis I've heard. Maybe not the most articulation or detail but plenty of oomph. Conclusions: Despite their intense energy and power, these can get pretty fatiguing after long listening sessions. I can use these fine for hours as daily headphones, but they can very quickly make my ears tired if I am not careful with the volume. I would more readily recommend these if they didn't basically require you to be a treblehead to get real enjoyment out of them. Their stock treble always has that potential for harshness, despite the incredible detail. For me, that's a blessing. For others, it maybe a curse. I would recommend the large majority of users steer clear of the 600 ohm and 32 ohm versions of these headphones. They both present challenges to driving them. The 250 ohm is enough and just about any proper amp will drive them with ease. The 600 ohm may have slightly better overall response and tone at high power, but the difference in usability is huge. I have since sold my 600ohm model and moved down to the 250ohm, and am much happier.
Review: Excellent quality and wonderful Beyer sound - Have had these for about a month. Though the burn-in may not have entirely finished but the sound signature is clear enough. At a first glance these may not look as gorgeous as Senn's of AKG's, but the real thing is more than I would expect, they have this particular circular shape in all aspects of the product that makes them spectacular from any angle. The manufacture is sturdy. The clamp and ear pads are very comfortable, surpass AKG Q701 and equals if not better than HD600. I often wear them for over 2 hours listening--and after the music stops I often forget its existence and keep wearing them for a long time. The first impression on their sound is not well worth exclaiming, the treble is indeed there, and mids are a bit recessed. I'm not a big fan for vocal except for some lyric songs though. But the treble seem to smooth little by little. And also an upgrade of amplifier (specifically, Lehmann Rhinelander) made significant improvement. So good source and amp are recommended, and perhaps you could throw some high-end amps to make them even better (That's at least what I feel). I listen to a lot of classical, and I find these cans suit most of them very well, perhaps especially late romantic genre and 20th century works (e.g. Shostakovitch), because their sound is an energetic and passionate one, with an exact sound-stage and many details. Occasionally I listen to some electronic, and they performed better than any cans I had before (Q701, HD600 for a short period). That's quite easy to understand though. The high seems to fit a bit better with brass than with strings, presumably due to the treble-ish tuning. The mids are NOT recessed, they are just not intentionally pushed forward as most other phones do, which is considered a plus for me, since I prefer large orchestral works. The bass is by far the best I ever had. The amount and speed are just right, and also incredibly deep. The whole body of music is quite full, so yes, if you continue listening to Allegro works over an hour (which is after all unlikely) there can be some fatigue. Comparing to Senn's HD600, these are 'faster' in the lower part and also more 'crispy' in the upper part--maybe not as natural and smooth though. That's a trade-out you have to choose.

## Features

- Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Frequency Response - 20 - 23,000 Hz and Impedance - 28 ohms

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0024NK34O |
| Additional Features | HIFI |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Antenna Location | Music, Calling, Recording |
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Best Sellers Rank | #122,755 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #2,233 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Brand | beyerdynamic |
| Brand Name | beyerdynamic |
| Built-In Media | 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter, Beyerdynamic DT 990 - 600 Ohm Gray Headphones, Soft Carrying Case |
| Cable Features | Not Detachable |
| Carrying Case Color | Gray |
| Carrying Case Material | fabric or leather |
| Color | Standard Packaging |
| Compatible Devices | Tablets, Smartphones |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Control Method | Touch |
| Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 729 Reviews |
| Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Earpiece Shape | circumaural |
| Enclosure Material | Plastic |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz - 23,000 Hz |
| Frequency Response | 23000 Hz |
| Headphone Folding Features | Over Ear |
| Headphone Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| Headphones Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Impedance | 600 Ohms |
| Is Autographed | No |
| Item Weight | 1.68 Pounds |
| Manufacturer | beyerdynamic |
| Model Name | DT 990 Premium - 600 Ohm Gray |
| Model Number | beyerdynamic |
| Noise Control | None |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB |
| Series Number | 483966 |
| Specific Uses For Product | Home |
| Style Name | Headphones |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Warranty Description | 2 Year Beyerdynamic Warranty |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
| Wireless Technology | Bluetooth |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** beyerdynamic
- **Color:** Standard Packaging
- **Ear Placement:** Over Ear
- **Form Factor:** Over Ear
- **Impedance:** 600 Ohms

## Images

![Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71H+Wcj8jWL.jpg)
![Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71sFJyHHHAL.jpg)
![Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/716JCJSlVpL.jpg)
![Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 ohm HiFi headphones - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81XoCYblLqL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Color, Size** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Will everyones ears fit into these? I like Astro**
A: My family stood side-by-side, ear-to-ear so we could all listen, but the headphones were too small to Fit “everyone’s ears into these”...plus my daughters ears get pretty waxy so the sound quality playing out of her ear hole would have been muffled.

**Q: What is the difference between the 250 ohm and 32 ohm models?**
A: The Ohm is the unit of electrical impedance. It's a measure of how difficult it is for current to flow through the conductor. A conductor with a higher impedance will require a higher voltage to push an equivalent current level through it than one with a lower impedance. A 10-volt source can drive 40 milliamps (.04 amps) through a 250 Ohm impedance, but you only need a 1.5V battery to push 47 milliamps through a 32 ohm impedance. This is why 32 Ohm headphones are recommended for portable equipment (phones, etc), where low-voltage battery sources are common. 

A 600 Ohm headphone is more appropriate for studio work, where the amplifier driving them often uses +/- 15 volts (a 30 volt swing).  A 250 ohm headphone is one that attempts to bridge both worlds - low enough to be used with battery powered sources, but "stiff" enough (electrically) to take advantage of the benefits that a big voltage swing provides, such as a higher s/n ratio.

A lower impedance headphone (everything else being equal) does NOT require less power to use. In fact, it requires slightly more. But you do not want to use a 600 ohm set of headphones (in general) with a low-voltage amp such as one the one in your phone or laptop. Generally, they will not play as loudly, as they will require more current than the amplifier can provide into the higher impedance.

**Q: Do these headphones have a removable cable?**
A: I have the dt 990 pro 250 ohms, and no they do not have a removal cable.

**Q: Will these completely encase the ear? I can't stand headphones that put the cushion on the ear instead of around it completely, only touching the head**
A: As long as your head is not very large, it can wrap your ears. if you want choice 250Ω or 600Ω before you need Bought a Amp。

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Treble Cannons
*by J***I on January 25, 2017*

Ear cups are nice velour and are very large and comfortable. Headband is soft leatherette with thick cushioning. However the headband has a reputation for going kind of bad over time. So I'd look into removing and replacing it early rather than when it's leaving nasty black goo everywhere. These headphones are a bit on the heavy side, so the headband could be wider for better comfort. However, they feel lighter on the head than they would seem to at first glance. The headclamp is fairly loose even on my large head, so comfort is overall excellent. Build quality is otherwise excellent except for one area. The sliders holding the earcups on suck. Neither side stays reasonably locked in place, and I find myself re-adjusting the headphones every time I put them on, because their own clamp force pushes them back in. They are hard to pull out in a reasonable way as well. I always feel like I am putting unnecessary wear or torque on my nice cans. I solved the problem by putting them in place then putting a thick wrap of electrical tape around the stem to block it from sliding in. It works great. So a cheap Beyerdynamic headband and some tape and boom, very solid and high wear headphones. Beware, if you get the 600 ohm version of these, you better mean it, because these babies take SERIOUS power to truly drive properly. The 600 ohm/80mW capable amp in my Sound Blaster ZxR took them to listenable levels for youtube and they sounded decent for games and movies. Music, however, was an entirely different matter. The ZxR really strained with pretty much all sources and couldn't really maintain a listenable volume for a lot of stuff. Also, the overall fullness of sound in all music was very lacking. I upgraded to a Schiit Asgard 2 headphone amp with over twice the power output of the soundcard at 600ohm/190mW. The sound quality was much improved. However volume was not a large jump, so turning it to near max for 24/7 use was still a requirement. Not for cranking them but just for basic listening. The poor Asgard could barely do it despite its great power with the rest of my headphone collection. I eventually moved up to a Schiit Valhalla 2 OTL tube amp with over twice the output of the Asgard 2 at 600ohm/450mW. It was finally enough to power these babies at full tilt, and they handled the power beautifully. These are by far some of the best high volume headphones I've ever listened to. It wasn't worth the cost of learning their needs, but dang do they put that power to good use! Awesome sound pressure and articulation. Indescribable at higher volumes. Their titanic power handling ability is an immense asset with a truly capable amp to back them up! Treble response is incredibly sharp and detailed on these cans. When I moved to the tube amp it had the side effect of taming the frequency spikes somewhat. I still had to use a very minor(-1 or -2dB) EQ change to drop their upper treble to comfortable levels. I don't think there's any real sibilance or screech but they are just incredibly sharp and emphasized. Definitely worth noting that the source makes a huge difference here. Some of my warmer vinyl recordings require no EQ at all. Likewise really well produced music is less likely to have huge issues. Gaming and movies as well really benefited from the extra treble response and detail, and I could generally get away with leaving the EQ off. Modern pop though, and metal, and a lot of other noisy, trebly music was just a little too hot on these without EQ. Not a major issue as there are plenty of fast, easy, and reliable EQ methods out there. However, the real saving grace is that the unpleasant spikes are in a very small range, and were very easy to tune out on both the SS and Tube amps. I prefer not to EQ headphones when I can help it, so it was great that they needed so little. Detail is uncompromising in the extreme. Absolutely revealing and resolving with superb precision! The timbre, response, and quality of it are incredibly pleasing to my ears. Like actual physical pleasure. Their tone is just awesome and energetic. I can handle the slightly hot treble because the amount of nuance and texture these reveal is astonishing! Simply amazing. I have never heard the like in any other headphone. Mids are a little recessed and dry but are nearly as fast and energetic as the treble. Very flat with a little growl. Not particularly smooth or refined but excellent detail and nothing is ever lost to the other frequencies. Vocals are perfect and instrument reproduction is near lifelike. Well produced music sounds INSANE on the DT990s. Their lack of warmth helps the mids maintain composure in exceptionally challenging music. However, there is always that glossy sheen on the incredibly bright treble hanging over the mids. The DT880s, AKG K712s and other headphones of this class handle mids with a more natural tone. Bass response is exceptional but nowhere near as overpowering as others seem to imply. Very snappy and tight response. Extension is good and deep without trying to reach too low. A little flubbiness on the lowest notes but otherwise great texture and definition. They give a satisfying thump, but their real strength is in the audible spectrum; mid and upper bass. Just incredibly full and well-defined low end. These are great for following bass guitar tracks, or for movie soundtracks, and work amazingly for classic rock. These aren't the fastest cans out there, but they are energetic and musical. A good amp helps with their bass response and quickness a bit. As far as open headphones go these probably have the most bass emphasis I've heard. Maybe not the most articulation or detail but plenty of oomph. Conclusions: Despite their intense energy and power, these can get pretty fatiguing after long listening sessions. I can use these fine for hours as daily headphones, but they can very quickly make my ears tired if I am not careful with the volume. I would more readily recommend these if they didn't basically require you to be a treblehead to get real enjoyment out of them. Their stock treble always has that potential for harshness, despite the incredible detail. For me, that's a blessing. For others, it maybe a curse. I would recommend the large majority of users steer clear of the 600 ohm and 32 ohm versions of these headphones. They both present challenges to driving them. The 250 ohm is enough and just about any proper amp will drive them with ease. The 600 ohm may have slightly better overall response and tone at high power, but the difference in usability is huge. I have since sold my 600ohm model and moved down to the 250ohm, and am much happier.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent quality and wonderful Beyer sound
*by W***. on October 3, 2013*

Have had these for about a month. Though the burn-in may not have entirely finished but the sound signature is clear enough. At a first glance these may not look as gorgeous as Senn's of AKG's, but the real thing is more than I would expect, they have this particular circular shape in all aspects of the product that makes them spectacular from any angle. The manufacture is sturdy. The clamp and ear pads are very comfortable, surpass AKG Q701 and equals if not better than HD600. I often wear them for over 2 hours listening--and after the music stops I often forget its existence and keep wearing them for a long time. The first impression on their sound is not well worth exclaiming, the treble is indeed there, and mids are a bit recessed. I'm not a big fan for vocal except for some lyric songs though. But the treble seem to smooth little by little. And also an upgrade of amplifier (specifically, Lehmann Rhinelander) made significant improvement. So good source and amp are recommended, and perhaps you could throw some high-end amps to make them even better (That's at least what I feel). I listen to a lot of classical, and I find these cans suit most of them very well, perhaps especially late romantic genre and 20th century works (e.g. Shostakovitch), because their sound is an energetic and passionate one, with an exact sound-stage and many details. Occasionally I listen to some electronic, and they performed better than any cans I had before (Q701, HD600 for a short period). That's quite easy to understand though. The high seems to fit a bit better with brass than with strings, presumably due to the treble-ish tuning. The mids are NOT recessed, they are just not intentionally pushed forward as most other phones do, which is considered a plus for me, since I prefer large orchestral works. The bass is by far the best I ever had. The amount and speed are just right, and also incredibly deep. The whole body of music is quite full, so yes, if you continue listening to Allegro works over an hour (which is after all unlikely) there can be some fatigue. Comparing to Senn's HD600, these are 'faster' in the lower part and also more 'crispy' in the upper part--maybe not as natural and smooth though. That's a trade-out you have to choose.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DT990 vs Q701
*by M***. on August 4, 2012*

About 6 months ago, after seemingly endless amounts of research and saving money, I decided to step up my listening experience from "better than iPod earbuds" to "legitimately decent" and bought a Fiio E9 (to go along with the E7 I already had) and an AKG Q701. I enjoyed the Q701, but it very rarely knocked me over with the beautiful pristine quality that everyone seemed to be talking about in reviews. But it was better than what I had before, so I was happy. But just recently, on somewhat of a whim, I decided to buy the Beyerdynamic DT990 600-ohm model - the headphone that I was, for a long while, going to purchase 6 months ago until I changed my mind and went with the slightly cheaper Q701. I mostly listen to rock music, so the DT990 always intrigued me, but the reports of too much treble turned me off. I tend to be somewhat sensitive to treble, and vocal sibilance (harsh "s" and "t" sounds) can kill my listening experience. The DT990 is a mixed bag, but it's hard for me to say that it isn't a *gorgeous* mixed bag. All of what everyone else says is there is indeed there - the strong bass and the strong treble. This colors the sound, of course, but the effect is in many cases nothing short of stunning. The music feels more alive and more rhythmic. Doing A/B tests with the Q701 and the DT990, the Q701 has more midrange but feels flat, with no noticeable improvement in detail or soundstage to my ears that seems like it should come along with that flatness. The DT990's soundstage is fantastic - although the Q701 is much-heralded for its soundstage, I always felt it wide but not quite accurate. Vocals always sounded somewhat behind your head instead of in front of it. The DT990 doesn't have this problem, and it creates a much better and more accurate sense of room than the Q701. Also, because of the DT990's boosted treble, it sounds like it often has more detail and definition than the Q701 - sort of like lifting a thin veil from the upper registers of sound. This perception of detail is particularly noticeable in drums, which sound amazingly lifelike and more propulsive in the DT990 than in the Q701. As a guy who can't get enough of a good drum sound, the DT990 is musical bliss. I've noticed a huge strength of these headphones is in classic rock recordings - the added propulsion (which comes as a result of the added bass and treble as well as the inherent high level of detail of the cans) revitalizes a lot of classic rock, and brings their often superb mixes to life for me. Where the DT990 falters, though, is in some modern rock recordings. Whether due to vocal mixes that are too high or just plain bad mixing/engineering/mastering/producing/whatever the hell it is when they were making the album, sibilance and treble become an issue. I was absolutely pumped for the new Gaslight Anthem record "Handwritten" (great band, go buy their albums), but after ripping the CD to my hard drive (Apple lossless bitrate) and using the DT990 to listen to it for the first time ever, the treble was just too much. Every "s" sound grated my ears, which grew fatiguing very quickly. This isn't inherently a problem with the DT990 - in fact, I listened to "Handwritten" on the Q701 and the sibilance was still prominent and only very slightly lessened. The Q701 is a bright headphone as well to a certain extent, but brightness doesn't equal harsh distortion. The problem is in the recordings which are too often overproduced to sound good and loud on the radio - a medium that inherently maims all frequencies, but especially bass and treble. So producers boost the bass and treble to come across stronger on the ol' car radio, but that boost is far too much for decent headphones which are designed to portray music accurately (without the distortion of the radio). The bass often isn't too much of a problem, because big bass usually doesn't fatigue your ears - but enhanced treble on the radio becomes distorted treble on headphones, and there's your sibilance and ear fatigue. Many good modern rock recordings don't have this problem - the Black Crowes "Before the Frost" album sounded better than I've ever heard it without any distortion at all, along with many many others. But any modern rock recording made to have that glossy modern sound probably will be fatiguing on the DT990s (and most headphones for that matter except for darker ones like the Sennheiser HD650, or so I'm told). So the treble is a mixed bag. Usually it sounds amazing and causes a song to sound far far better than I've ever heard it before (including on the Q701), and sometimes it sounds not so great because it won't hide vocal sibilance and distortion on some cymbal hits on bad recordings, and may even somewhat accentuate it. As the cliche goes, it's all a matter of preference. I may have been griping a little too long about the treble there, but don't get me wrong. This is a stunning headphone on good recordings that gives me that "wow" factor that the Q701 never seemed to give me. I'll be keeping the DT990 and either selling or shelving my Q701s - I really don't see much advantage the Q701s have over the DT990s, but they might be better for listening to some jazz or classical pieces. But the DT990, moreso than the Q701, is what music is about for me. It sounds alive, and propulsive, and it makes me feel the music and form a better connection to it. Overall, this headphone improves the experience of listening to music - an experience that, for people who care about music, can mean everything. (Note: They're also ridiculously comfortable - I'm putting that here at the bottom because I'm not skilled enough to fit it in somewhere that it would make sense in the body of the review. The plush earpads are luxurious and much softer than the already-soft Q701 earpads. Clamping force is just right and extremely comfortable, and the padded headband is wonderful. Plus, it all looks totally rad with its metal construction. Kudos Beyerdynamic.)

## Frequently Bought Together

- beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition 600 Ohm Over-Ear-Stereo Headphones. Open design, wired, high-end for use with headphone amplifiers
- Sound BlasterX G6 Hi-Res 130dB 32bit/384kHz Gaming DAC, External USB Sound Card with Xamp Headphone Amp, Dolby Digital, 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound, Sidetone/Speaker Control for PS4, Xbox One

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*Last updated: 2026-06-22*