Beyerdynamic recently released 3 new headphone models selling for $600, the DT1770 Pro, the DT1990 Pro, and the Amiron Home. The DT1770 Pro is a studio workhorse and does not have high-end sound quality. The DT1990 Pro and the Amiron Home are both high-end headphones. The DT1990 model number is a progression of the DT990 model number. However, the DT1990 is an entirely different sounding headphone than the DT990. But it is still ideal for the style of music that the DT990 would likely be used for.
The DT1990 Pro is a high transparency headphone. Its spectral balance with its bass boosting ear cushions minimizes the need for tone controls. Its bass sound is articulate and non-boomy. Its coloration component is tone lowering which means that it's not pleasant to listen to. However, it is at worst faint for some listeners and not noticeable for most. I found its overall sound personality ideal for listening to EDM (electronic dance music) and other genres where beautiful sound is not a virtue.
To be "transparent" is to pass through clearly. A headphone that masks or otherwise clouds detail in audio sound lacks transparency. A headphone that has super high transparency is a headphone that passes sound through with negligible loss in detail.
There are 2 overwhelming performance characteristics that determine the overall sound quality of a headphone. They are coloration and frequency response. "Frequency response" is a more technical term for spectral balance. "Spectral balance" refers to the evenness of sound intensity across the audio frequency spectrum. Frequency response gets a lot of attention. Coloration gets none.
"Coloration" is a lingering and overlaying sound that masks or clouds detail. It is produced by a driver's diaphragm in addition to the sound being reproduced from the sound source. I call this added component the "coloration component". I quantify the amplitude of this coloration component as a percent of the amplitude of the sound being reproduced from the sound source. This value of percent is an estimate that I determine during listening tests.
Below is a compilation of headphone models that I have evaluated over the past 3 years. This compilation provides a perspective on how different models compare with respect to transparency. Tier numbering in my past 2 headphone rankings has been completely redone for this compilation. Headphone models new to my rankings in this compilation are placed in brackets.
RANKED IN ORDER OF INCREASING COLORATION DISTORTION:
TIER 1: Col. Dis. 0.3% ... Not audible
Beyerdynamic T1 (original)/(2nd Gen); [Focal Utopia]
TIER 2: Col. Dis. 0.5% ... Tone lowering
[Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro]
TIER 3a: Col. Dis. 0.7% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp.
Beyerdynamic T70/T70p (closed)
TIER 3b: Col. Dis. 0.7% ... Tone neutral
Beyerdynamic DT880 (all ohmic values); Beyerdynamic DT990 (all ohmic values); Beyerdynamic T5p (original)/(2nd Gen) (closed); [Beyerdynamic Amiron Home]; Ultrasone Edition 12
TIER 4a: Col. Dis. 1.0% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp.
HiFiMan HE400i/HE560/HE1000; [HE1000 V2]
TIER 4b: Col. Dis. 1.0% ... Tone neutral
Shure SRH1840
TIER 5: Col. Dis. 1.5% ... Tone lowering
AKG K812 Pro; Beyerdynamic T90; McIntosh MHP1000 (closed)
TIER 6a: Col. Dis. 2.0% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp.
B&O H6 (original)/(2nd Gen) (closed); Abyss AB-1266
TIER 6b: Col. Dis. 2.0% ... Tone lowering ... Wide BW col. comp.
Fostex TH900 (closed)
TIER 7: Col. Dis. 3.0% ... Tone lowering
Grado SR60e/SR80e/SR125e/SR225e/SR325e/PS500e/GS1000e; Audeze EL-8 (open)/(closed); Audeze LCD-2/LCD-3/LCD-4; EnigmAcoustics Dharma D1000
TIER 8a: Col. Dis. 5.0% ... Tone neutral
Sennheiser HD800/HD700; AKG K701/Q701/K702; Bower & Wilkins P7 (closed); Grado PS1000
TIER 8b: Col. Dis. 5.0% ... Tone lowering
Audeze LCD-X; HiFiMan HE400s; HiFiMan Edition X; NAD VISO HP50 (closed); Audioquest Nighthawk
TIER 8c: Col. Dis. 5.0% ... Tone raising
Grado RS1e/RS2e
TIER 9: Col. Dis. 7.0% ... Tone lowering
[Beyerdynamic DT1770] (closed)
TIER 10: Col. Dis. 10.0% ... Tone neutral ... Wide BW col. comp.
Sennheiser HD600/HD650
Closed back headphone models are indicated by "(closed)". Headphones that have a tone neutral coloration component are a fit for genres where beautiful sound is a virtue. Headphones that have a tone lowering coloration component are a fit for genres where beautiful sound is not a virtue. Tone lowering coloration is unpleasant but can be appealing for EDM and badass genres. Headphones indicated by "Wide BW col. comp." have a wide bandwidth coloration component that makes them sound "musical". Headphones not indicated by "Wide BW col. comp." have a narrow bandwidth coloration component that makes them sound "clinical".
The Sennheiser HD800 in Tier 8a is a highly popular headphone model in the audiophile world. What makes it popular is its nice sound at first listen, and that produces sales. However, as one ups one's depth of perception with this headphone one can not hear more detail because its coloration masks it. Being able to up one's depth of perception can be equated to looking at the sky at night with a telescope. Without a telescope one can see only so much detail. With a telescope at low power one can see more detail. With the same telescope at high power one can see even more detail. With headphones one can hear more and more detail as one moves up the order of tiers from Tier 8a to Tier 1. But, there is a catch here in that one needs to develop the mental skill necessary to do so. Professional musicians who play acoustic instruments develop this skill naturally in their effort to hear their performance better. Headphone enthusiasts also develop this skill naturally in their effort to hear their music better.
When evaluating high-end headphones, it can take me up to 1.5 hours to raise my depth of perception from base line (Tier 8a) to maximum (Tier 1). If from a point of maximum depth of perception I then go back to an HD800 headphone I feel like I have ear plugs in my ears. Its like I'm part deaf. Reviewers who can't discern the dramatic difference in transparency between a Beyerdynamic T1 and a Sennheiser HD800 don't have the metal skill to evaluate high-end headphones. This leads to argument, debate, imagination and so on.
I use an amplifier with tone controls to do evaluations. I've never had a pair of headphones with which I didn't want to touch up its spectral balance. Tone controls do not degrade sound quality, not even to the slightest degree.
In the following tier by tier paragraphs I comment on the headphone models in the compilation.
TIER 1: Since 2010 the Beyerdynamic T1 (original) has been the real gold standard of headphones. It has a natural and nice sounding spectral balance and works beautifully with tone controls. The T1 (2nd Gen) has a tilted spectral balance in favor of bass and is a bass heavy version of the T1 (original). The Focal Utopia also has a tilted spectral balance in favor of bass. Its low end spectral balance is nicer than that of the Beyerdynamic (2nd Gen) but comes with a boomy bass. It has a slight lushness to its sound due to audible harmonic distortion. This audibity is made possible by its extremely high transparency. The Utopia has the best "wow factor" of any headphone made. All 3 headphone models have cavernous ear chambers. For a detailed comparison of all 3, check out my review on the Focal Utopia "From Bright Sounding to Bass Heavy".
TIER 2: The Beyerdynamic DT1990 is supplied with 2 pairs of ear cushions, one with 20 vent holes for bass boosting and one with 4 vent holes for best bass detail. The 20 vent hole pair is the one that comes installed on the headphones and it mechanically tunes up the bass. It is the same as the one used on the Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Gen). You use that one when you don't have tone controls. If you have tone controls and want more bass detail you then install the 4 vent hole pair. To install the 4 vent hole cushions retract the ear cup/headband extensions and remove the installed cushions. To install a cushion find the notch on the mounting ring. The mounting ring and the ear cup flange form a grove that the lip of the cushion fits into. With a finger behind the lip guide the lip into the groove on the right angle side of the notch (not the sloping side) until about a quarter way around. Then twist the cushion clockwise until fully installed. For classical music listeners with a high depth of perception the T70/T70p, the DT880, and the T5p (original) would be a better choice. Better still, would be the Tier 1 models.
TIER 3a: The T70p is a 32 ohm version of the 250 ohm T70. It has an angled mini jack with a cable that is only 4 feet long. It is intended for use with portable devices. Both have a nice spectral balance and to a small degree a soft seductive sound. Their seductive sound may be due in part to the mushing effect of enclosure sound in closed back headphones. Their bass can be boosted by converting to bass boosting leather ear cushions. Replacing their ear cushions is easy. The T70 paired with the Beyerdynamic EDT 5P LB genuine leather ear cushions is like a poor man's Focal Utopia. The EDT 5P LB cushions will boost the T70's bass so as to minimize the need for tone controls. The imitation nubuck leather cushions supplied with the T70 are shallow. Should one want a deeper cushion, any ear cushion used on any other Beyerdynamic model appearing in this review will physically fit the T70. But different cushions affect bass emphasis differently. For example, the Beyerdynamic EDT 770 SG cushions will make the T70 bass heavy. The T70 paired with the EDT 5P LB genuine leather cushions is one of the 3 gems of the headphone world, the other 2 being the Beyerdynamic T1 (original) and the Focal Utopia.
TIER 3b: The coloration components of 4 Beyerdynamic headphone models indicate that they have the same diaphragm material. They are the DT880, the T5p (original), the T5p (2nd Gen), and the Amiron. Since 2006 the DT880 has been a constant of the Beyerdynamic line. Its spectral balance gives it a bright sound which can be balanced off with bass boost. An integrated amplifier with at least 10dB of bass boost would be good for this model. The T5p (original) is a closed back version of the DT880 with cavernous ear chambers like that of the T1. The T5p (2nd Gen) is like the original T5p except that the bass has been tuned up. One reviewer commented that it was like Beyerdynamic added a subwoofer. Not a good upgrade. The Amiron continues the trend towards bassier sound so that users can get adequate bass without the need for tone controls. It is a bass heavy and boomy version of the DT880. Since the DT1990 Pro with its bass boosting cushions and the T70 or T70p with the EDT 5P LB bass boosting leather cushions do the same but with better overall sound quality, I cannot recommend the Amiron. The DT990's diaphragm is made of a similar if not the same material as that of the DT880. It has a "V" type spectral balance where the treble is overly emphasized and the bass is boomy. The treble needs a tone control to tone it down so one needs an integrated amplifier. If one gets an integrated amplifier then one has a bass boost capability for a DT880 with its smoother high end and more articulate low end. The Ultrasone Edition 12 has an overly accented treble.
TIER 4a: I re-evaluated the Tier 4a HiFiMan headphones for this review. This time I compared them directly to the Beyerdynamic T70 using popular music with heavy and light bass content. I found that the HiFiMan models do not match the T70/70p in transparency and they clearly belong a step below in tier ranking.
TIER 4b: The headband of the Shure SRH1840 is so uncomfortable that placing a foam pad under it isn't enough.
Tiers 5 through 10 are too far down in transparency compared to the top models to recommend. The only thing of interest here is that the B&O H6 is good for escaping the recording studio's acoustics and the Abyss AB-1266 is a good upgrade to the Sennheiser HD600/HD650's muddy sound. The HD650 is a muffled version of the HD600.
Why buy the top tier models? You buy the top models so that you don't have to upgrade when your depth of perception improves. Many audiophiles spend a lot of time and money buying various headphone amplifiers and DAC's trying to improve on something that can't be improved. And then there's the so called "burn in" (break in) period. That's when audiophiles spend hours listening to a new pair of headphones until their minds fully adapt to the offending coloration component. You can avoid all of this by choosing a high transparency headphone. If you buy an integrated amplifier with tone controls, you then have the pleasure of tone adjustment along with no headphone compatibility issues.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
$200 - Beyerdynamic DT880 - Moderately bright sound
$550 - Beyerdynamic T70/T70p - Closed back w/seductive sound
$600 - Beyerdynamic T70/T70p w/EDT 5P LB leather cushions - Poor man's Focal Utopia
$600 - Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro - Best where beautiful sound is not a virtue
$800 - Beyerdynamic T5p (original) - Closed back version of DT880 w/cavernous ear chambers
$1000 - Beyerdynamic T1 (original) - Best realism and best overall sound
$1000 - Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Gen) - Bass heavy version of T1 (original)
$4000 - Focal Utopia - Out of this world "Beats"
Update - March 28/18
For more evaluation of the Amiron Home and 4 audiophile myths go to my recent review "Amiron Home - Good for Those Who Like to Wallow in Bass" - March 28/18.
The EDT 5P LB leather cushions are not available at this time. For more bass boosting cushion options go to my recent review "T70 - One of the 3 Gems of the Headphone World" - March 27/18.
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From the manufacturer
Made in Germany
As with all beyerdynamic professional studio headphones, the DT 1990 PRO is also handcrafted in Germany. Backed by high-quality materials and meticulous workmanship, this high-end product is a long-term investment.
Uncompromising studio reference headphones
For precise listening, mixing and mastering
For decades now, professional users all around the world have placed their trust in beyerdynamic studio headphones. They remain the number one choice for music producers, sound technicians and broadcast users and are a firmly established piece of equipment in studios worldwide.
The DT 1990 PRO reference headphones combine these decades of expertise in headphone technology with the latest Tesla driver technology and an open design.
High-resolution sound
Power and precision are critical requirements when it comes to sound reproduction. The efficiency of our latest Tesla driver technology is characterized emphatically by accurate resolution and high output power. Brilliant highs, a richly detailed mid range and precise bass combine to ensure a sublime sound quality that is second to none.
Together with an ingenious open-back design, the high-resolution Tesla drivers ensure a wide, dynamic and extremely natural stereo image. Titanium-coated acoustic fabric and carefully selected precision-woven textiles round off the balanced sound quality.
Features
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Maximum wear comfortThe perfected design of the DT 1990 PRO combines innovation with decades of expertise in headphone technology. High-tech textiles and memory foam-filled ear pads ensure exceptional wear comfort. Headphones so comfortable you almost forget you are wearing them. |
Open designNatural and exceptionally spatial sound is achieved thanks to the open, circumaural design. The optimized spatial sound reproduction makes the DT 1990 PRO headphones a reliable reference for mixing and mastering applications as well as for critical listening. |
Two sound characteristicsChoose between a well-balanced sound or deliberately analytical sound tuning thanks to replaceable velour ear pads. Both ear pad variants are included in the scope of delivery and uncompromisingly round off the overall package. |
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| DT 990 PRO | DT 1990 PRO | |
| Customer Reviews |
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| Price | $169.00 | $529.00 |
| Tranducer Type | Dynamic Driver | Dynamic Tesla neodymium driver |
| Cable Length and Type | Coiled cable (5m), fixed | Straight cable (3m) / coiled cable (5M), each with detachable and lockable 3-pin mini-XLR cable connector |
| Sound Profile | Accurate sound, very good resolution and spatiality | Very balanced sound image, excellent resolution and spatiality, high output sound pressure level |
| Extended scope of delivery | Drawstring bag | Two pairs of velour ear pads with analytical sound characteristics, coiled cable in addition to a straight cable, premium hard case |
| Recommended use | Musicians, sound engineers, producers as well as beginners, who want a reliable, robust and affordable headphone as a working tool | Mixing and mastering engineers, producers and musicians who want open and high-end studio headphones with uncompromising performance in all relevant aspects, such as sound, comfort, design and acessories |
From the brand
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Audio technology with outstanding sound quality is our great passion at beyerdynamic - and it shows. Anyone who has ever put on a pair of beyerdynamic headphones and listened to music or played their favorite game with one of our headsets will confirm this. Our DT 770 PRO is now a legend and our MMX 300 is recognized as THE professional gaming headset. Made in Germany.
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| Price | $529.00 | -20% $135.49 New Price: $169.00 | $269.00 | -11% $239.00 List: $269.00 | -19% $219.00 New Price: $269.00 | $799.00 |
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| Sold By | DigitalDJGear | 6ave | Focus Camera LLC | Focus Camera LLC | Kaviso | Zorro Sounds |
| connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wireless |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | 3-pin XLR plug, 6.35 mm stereo jack plug | 3 5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack, 6.35mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack, 6.35mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack, 6.35mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack, 6.35mm Jack |
| noise control | — | sound isolation | sound isolation | — | sound isolation | — |
| headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| cable feature | Detachable | Retractable | Detachable | Detachable | Retractable | Detachable |
Reviews with images
My favorite pair of cans in the $500 range
I got myself the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones, and I'm really impressed. They look and feel really well-made with their metal construction, and the ear cups are super comfortable. I can wear them for hours without any issues.But the best part is the sound quality. The bass is tight, the mids are clear, and the highs are detailed. They deliver a neutral and balanced sound that's perfect for studio monitoring or just enjoying music. And the detachable cable is a handy feature that lets you customize or replace it easily.They're a bit expensive, but if you're serious about audio production or just want top-notch sound quality, these headphones are worth the investment.edit: I ended up returning them for the Hifiman Edition XS. Build quality isn't as good on the Hifimans but the sound quality is better.
Top reviews from other countries
Luca
Cuffie di un altro pianeta
Reviewed in Italy on January 4, 2024
Luca
Reviewed in Italy on January 4, 2024
Che dire, le ho accoppiate con un DAC Topping E30 II e un amplificatore Topping L30 II, applicato l'equalizzatore di oratory1990 per rendere il suono neutro (lo trovate in rete) e non appena provate ho capito di non aver sbagliato acquisto!
Partendo dall'unboxing, piuttosto minimale in quanto la scatola contiene solo la custodia protettiva delle cuffie e i due cavi di collegamento (uno dritto e l'altro con il coil), la qualità dei materiali si nota subito. Le cuffie sono belle a vedersi e a toccarsi!
Il suono è pieno, corposo, preciso e incredibilmente vasto, sembra veramente di essere circondati dagli strumenti musicali!
Da notare che è un suono NEUTRO, non aspettatevi quelle paia di cuffie con i bassi sparati a mille che coprono tutto e le voci che quasi non si sentono.
Le DT 1990 Pro sono fatte per replicare esattamente la musica così com'è stata registrata, nulla di più, decisamente nulla di meno. Poi si fa sempre tempo a regolare il suono a proprio piacimento tramite un equalizzatore.
Piccola nota su questo punto: replicano talmente bene la musica che ho dovuto riavvolgere alcune delle mie tracce preferite perchè in alcuni punti ho sentito strumenti e dettagli che mai avevo notato prima in diversi anni di ascolto. Incredibile quanto mi ero perso fino ad'ora!
Ascolto diversi generi, dal classico all'elettronico, al folk e anche audiolibri (per quanto la qualità di questi ultimi non sia mai molto elevata), e le cuffie si sono rilevate assolutamente perfette per ogni genere di ascolto.
Sempre online leggevo di due principali "pecche" che diverse persone lamentavano.
Punto primo: i suoni sibilanti.
Le cuffie hanno una precisione e intensità elevata sugli acuti, tra cui appunto le lettere e i suoni sibilanti (lettera S, piatti, strumenti a corda ecc). Qualcuno lamentava addirittura "dolore" con alcuni suoni vista appunto l'intensità delle cuffie. Devo dire che con l'equalizzazione che corregge questo picco sugli acuti non ho mai notato alcun suono disturbante e neppure doloroso.
Punto secondo: comodità delle cuffie
Qualcuno lamentava una stretta troppo forte dell'archetto, ma io personalmente non la noto, anzi sono le cuffie più comode che abbia mai provato. I cuscinetti sono morbidissi e confortevoli, i padiglioni sono spaziosi e l'archetto morbido e mai fastidioso, neanche dopo diverse ore di ascolto. I padiglioni sono regolabili come su diverse cuffie, e trovando la regolazione corretta in base alla forma della propria testa dovrebbe garantire un ascolto confortevole per la maggior parte delle persone. Forse potrebbero risultare strette a qualcuno con una testa "larga", consiglio quindi di provarle.
Posso consigliare questo acquisto a tutti coloro che amano ascoltare musica e che cercano delle cuffie di qualità quasi professionale.
Dico QUASI professionale perchè posso immaginare che cuffie come le HiFiMan o similari possano essere ancora migliori, ma a prezzi decisamente inarrivabili per i più.
Non che che le DT 1990 siano regalate, ma per i "comuni mortali" credo siano tra le cuffie che regalano le migliori emozioni ad un prezzo tutto sommato non impossibile.
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Dominik
Der Alleskönner in bester Verarbeitungsqualität
Reviewed in Germany on December 31, 2022