Beyerdynamic DT-1990 Pro Review - Trebling Sound

[@geolectric_universe]

Your EQ for the DT1990's is crazy extreme - to the point of causing more problems than the headphones have originally. I def agree about the 8khz peak, but applying an 11db adjustment just destroys them. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5 - 4 db is much more sensible, imo.

[@himboslice_]

sonarworks soundID = chefs kiss

[@josehaya6362]

amen

[@rorangseac]

There is a 8.5khz peak. But applying -11db to 8.5khz is way too much, which even goes down under harman target curve and makes haze in treble area.

[@33AndAThirdRPM]

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones are for studio audio engineering in the mixing and mastering stages. Why anyone would want them for gaming or extreme low end audio signal frequencies is somewhat puzzling. The headphones are neutral and tuned to expose the truth of an audio mix,... for better or worse. They will uncaringly tell a audio engineer and mastering engineer if their work sucks or is on the right track. If the mix sounds good through the headphones you can be assured the audio track will translate very well to the many various playback environments outside the studio walls.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Resolve here - if you look at the FR, these aren't actually all that neutral. They deviate quite strongly in the treble relative to well established targets, and they also don't match h&m DF. The dt880 actually gets a bit closer to that even if I remember correctly. If you want neutral studio reference, I suggest using something like an HD600, Sundara, or K371.

[@launchpadmcquack98]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow I wonder if industry proffesionals are more likely to pick up a 1990 Pro or a K371 to check their mix... 😂 Having a perfectly neutral response is rarely the most desirable quality for a set of studio headphones. Same reason that engineers still have NS-10 in their studios: If it sounds good on them, it will translate.

[@artureff3046]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow naaaa 1990 rulez

[@pedrosilveira2972]

I Own the DT1990 Pro, and i agree it is pretty piercing in the highs. I saw your EQ Preset, i think it really makes it sound better, but i have a slightly different preset that don't kill THAT much of the 8.5Khz peak (to me -11db is too much). And i think with my EQ the treble is a little bit less hazy, and have increased perception of detail. Instead of that 11db reduction, i apply -6db to 8350Hz at Q3.5 and -4db to 7350hz at Q5 I also apply +1db to 11k @Q3 and +1.5db to 6400hz @Q3 to balance the curve. I find that reducing less of that peak raise the percieved detail in the treble and reduce the Hazyness. It really took a lot of time and listening to get to this result. I hope it helps other fellow DT1990 Pro owners. Other than that, i only apply -2db to the 5500khz range and the rest of the EQ is pretty similar to yours.

[@jeanpierre008]

Hello! What program you using to EQ these headphones?

[@pedrosilveira2972]

@@jeanpierre008 I'm using Equalizer APO with the Peace GUI addon. I think this setup is one of the most common ones.

[@jeanpierre008]

@@pedrosilveira2972 Thank you!

[@jeanpierre008]

@@pedrosilveira2972 Could you please upload preset file for this program, never worked with EQ before, not sure how to do it correctly

[@pedrosilveira2972]

@@jeanpierre008 I Exported the profile to this link: drive.google.com/file/d/14ZxPixPMW0GrqdKYC7nhwbYr-kQbDQ3N/view?usp=sharing but i don't remember how set it as your EQ profile, you will have to check online

[@JohannesLabusch]

I think it's very important to emphasize that this review is done from a listener/consumer perspective. If you are looking for headphones for mixing, the 1990 are at the very top of the heap, precisely because they emphasize potential trouble frequencies. Headphones for that application are not meant to sound pleasant or pretty, they're meant to sound revealing.

[@mettacitta2000]

Spot on, thank you!

[@tkelong3569]

Mine sound pretty. 😂

[@dRew-something]

Couldn't agree more.. I'm a producer,love these cans

[@sagarchawla8145]

Confused between these and hd660s for mixing. I tend to mix quite harsh and the mid information is lacking from my mixes. After watching so much videos and reading a lot of reviews for the the both. I tend to lean on 1990s’ now more. Although my genre for mixing is linkin park style rock. Sort of.

[@JohannesLabusch]

@@sagarchawla8145 Hm. Can't really give you solid advice, sorry. It would be great if you could hear one of your existing mixes on both ...

[@worldgonewrong2049]

They are a superbly crafted headphone with a great tuning for mixing, mastering and editing, straight out of the box. That is their use case. I use them for this purpose, very successfully. They are also not the 'successor' to the DT 990.

[@g.wavvymusic]

These reviews for people not dealing audio engineering I guess.

[@alexejnemov]

I realy enjoy my DT 1990 Pro, and my ears totaly disagree with the negative parts of this rewiew .

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Yeah I mean some people like the sibilance peak. That's why this is such a controversial headphone.

[@elias38]

I like to hear crisp hight so maybe that what I need.

[@kentbergstrom3020]

Hearing is subjective, and it also has to do with age, I am 65 years old and am no longer sensitive to high frequencies, I think my 1990s sound heavenly.

[@BI-km6dl]

I’m relatively new to the headphone world. Still, having watched tons of reviews on several headphones I’ve been considering, I’m amazed at how subjective and all over the place reviewers are on sound equipment! Seriously, one “expert” reviewer puts a headphone in his “hall of fame” and another says the same headphone is average or overrated. It’s really hard to find consensus and a bit frustrating when a buyer is turning to reviewers to help make a decision on what to purchase. My conclusion: “experts” aren’t as helpful as one would think when it comes to sound equipment. It appears there are no clear standards on the subject.

[@johnritter9947]

I am in your same position. I went ahead and bought the 1990s. It’s amazing how a different DAC/AMP combo can change the sound of headphones. A review may not like a pair simply due to their other equipment

[@BI-km6dl]

@@johnritter9947 Thanks for your message. I will mainly be using them to listen to music on MP3 player. Any recommendations on what amp you use or recommend are highly appreciated. It’s a good Sony MP3 player so I don’t imagine I would need a DAC.

[@mikeshinwa3398]

@@johnritter9947 honestly, on certain tracks, which steer clear of that peak at 8k, the 1990 always blow me away. At first I hated the treble, now I really dig it except for the sibilance on consonants and any other “ss” sound. I’m hoping for a way to reduce that without sacrificing too much of detail (maybe Solderdude’s passive filter or very light eq). After that, this and the 6xx are my personal “endgame”.

[@danielmulholland5869]

That's because you're watching tech reviewers talk about audio gear. There's a massive disconnect between the two, and being knowledgeable in computers and smartphones doesn't make you knowledgeable on audio equipment. If you want good headphone reviews go watch videos from musicians, not techies

[@october65-h6e]

When I was looking for new headphones at the beginning of the year, I also watched various videos and informed myself in forums. But I was only guided by the descriptions of the sound of the headphones. I knew what I was looking for and the more descriptions matched, the more a model for my preferred genres of music fixed itself. I was looking for more detail and clarity in the sound for a maximum of 200€ without the need for an additional external dac/amp. And bang I found him. Are there better? Yes, of couse. But I strongly doubt at this price. Also, I think music genres play a role too (not everyone excels in every discipline).

[@ucbui2891]

Long time owner of dt 1990 here, the only thing i can say is this headphone is not for everyone. Regarding on the controversy "shhhh" ppl making fuss about, imho it will depend on how the studio handle their recording. I don't want to touch the surface of good or bad recording in here, but to my ears, the treble could sound elevate but not to point "shhhh" if for the love of god ppl in whatever studio know what they're doing. Put that aside, while this cans can sound decent on most of cheap AMP like Liquid Spark or Atom as you mention. But in my experience, this cans will scale up by a lot if you use it with a good solid state or tube AMP. And tbh I don't think even with JDS Labs Element II, you are doing any justice for this cans. Bottom line is, I may not listen to all the shit in this world, but I have listened enough to know what I'm hearing. Call me deaf or whatever, I just want to put my opinion in here, that's all.

[@Flavius7]

Exactly my thoughts and experience with the 1990 Pro. Yours is the only opinion here I can get behind. With poor dac/Amp combination it doesn't scale to the maximum. I agree with the recessed miss, but everything else...

[@viapobeats]

Do you recomend for studio sessions? mixing masterng etc. Because most tutorials are also fun listening oriented

[@tremot7143]

I wholeheartedly agree! Whoever listens to the DT 1990 Pro and calls it out for sibilance, is neither right nor wrong. It will sound sibilant with many recordings that have a rather hot treble region, but will sound perfectly enjoyable with plenty of others. Lots depends on the mastering. They push loudness levels, but don't de-ess/EQ all that much. Most consumer audio products are so dull sounding that they need an extra 0.X dB in that region, and the Beyers, being studio tools, show that. They're like NS10s. Whatever sounds harsh on those, sounds amazing in your car or on earpods.

[@gitarowydominik]

The EQ advice provided at the end of this video is really radical, I have played with EQ of these headphones on my ADI-2 DAC FS and I noticed that adding such a big adjustments (more than 10dB) in the treble range kills the treble too much. I would rather make an adjustment of -3dB around 8-8.5k and maybe additionally -2dB around 6.5k and that’s it. I guess just because the headphone measures to be 10-12dB too much in treble doesn’t mean a 10-12dB adjustment will sound well.

[@ohnonate]

Hi just wondering how the Dt1990 Pro sound with the RME ADI2 when listening to classical music?

[@screwb1882]

They are EXCELLENT EDM cans if you get them at a good price. I got mine for $400 basically new and i would say they are worth that based on the combo of the build and sound. I would NOT get them at $600.

[@gameravioni7839]

I sold my dt 1990 to go for a hifiman arya. I didnt have any issues with siblance during the time I owned these. I could not relate to that sizzling sssss sound the reviewer mentioned that was always there hiding detail under it. Never heard this effect, maybe an issue with the gear. There where some songs that where too bright sounding on them I found somehow using amazon music made all songs sound bright but other streaming services didnt. I never found the need to eq them although in the end I did try oratory1990 eq settings and loved the outcome. I did end up increasing treble a bit over what the Harman curve was. To me instrument separation and imaging was great on this headphone but sound stage not as much. Detail retrieval was great as well. The 1990's scale with amp used. And aparently people have different tolerances to different frequencies. So I'll say on the points I couldn't agree from experience it has to be either the amp used or the user sensitivity.

[@sPPolanco]

Has it occurred the you that the reason why the highs are “annoying” is because music is mastered to compensate for the fact that most headphones don’t respond well to high frequencies? These “pro” headphones were after all designed for the production process as opposed to the listening process. Also, as the headphones break in, the high frequency tends to balance out a bit.

[@musicxxa6678]

Who is this ? Am i in the correct channel ? lol. Very good review. I can say bass is really impressive on the DT 1990. Speed, control and slam very good. It's basshead type of experience with balanced pads. They are definitely oversharpened. There is no way around it. What i think is they are extremely fun for the rock/metal aggresive songs. Driver is very fast and controlled does a very good job on congested, energic, stimulating tracks. I think that treble peak is the magic of this headphone. It loses magic and it's characteristic when you eq it down. Adrenaline packed headphones. These are actually lot cheaper in EU around 330€ (excluded tax). I think Beyer should remove the included case, extra cable and one of the earpads and sell them at a lower price. They are indeed better than DT990 and veery well build though. I think there is a distinction between resolution and detail. I know it's weird but i feel like this for audio. DT 1990 feels very high resolution (yes they are sharpened but they are also fast and don't have much roll offs, dips) but not as detailed as others at this price point. Still 1990 one of the best headphone in the EU market in my opinion. Price and availability is much better than most audiophile headphones. No reason to buy them in US. They are expensive and better options are easily reachable with a good price. I heard that Elex is similiar sounding without having flaws. Haven't listen them myself though. US people who consider buying 1990 might look at Elex.

[@Tesseract9630]

I like chrono. Great presentation.

[@WheezyTech]

Yeah this sums it up. I do love my 1990, because it is so different to the 6xx which was my main headphone when I bought the 1990. I thought with EQ it was more resolving than the 6xx but the Sundara is next level and so much cheaper so no one should really buy the 1990 over the Sundara. It could be a useful tool in the studio for finding flaws to fix in a mix and I think thats why some audio pros like them, and frankly they sound excellent when used with Sonarworks. Put against the Sundara as a home hifi headphone tho, most people are not going to like that treble peak. All that said the 1990 is the best gaming headphone I have ever used particularly for first person shooters, and that is the main reason I still love the 1990. Yeah its an expensive gaming headphone, but its bling so... Yeah.

[@MiguelMartinez-yj7yu]

I think the 1990 are horrible for gaming. I think the 770 (mmx300) do better, especially with the gaming software beyerdynamic offers

[@Spyrozzz]

I have heard that the HD 700 have also very good imaging , tho I haven't heard them myself... Why no one talks about them ?

[@rekkiesbub423]

how good is the new (revisioned) sundara anyway... feel like all the hype and good words about it will lead up to overblown expectations....

[@Spyrozzz]

@@metal571 Even more that the HD 800 , well that hurts , I see

[@ResilientME]

@@rekkiesbub423 The new Sundara has to be pretty good based on the comments I see comparing it to other headphones, the OG was one of the least detailed headphones I've ever owned(over $150.)

[@zelareka]

after listening to your review I concluded you need a better amplifier to drive the dt 1990. The balanced pads bass increase does not blur anything on a good amp.

[@jessreggae]

Can you share wich amplifier do you recommend to drive them?

[@zelareka]

@@metal571 you dont have money, dont complain and get a real job to buy amps

[@zelareka]

@@jessreggae v280, eufonika, phonitor

[@zelareka]

@@metal571 did I say that? Thats a valid criticism of the dt 1990. You can use EQ, very easy to fix. I use a eufonika dual mono NOS amp and -3db EQ and its perfect. Now try fixing the lack of dynamics of your beloved Sundara with the same ease. Or try to fix the bad imaging on the akg k712 you recommended.

[@zelareka]

if you tell me the balanced pads bass blurs the mids on the dt 1990 then I tell you to go get a new amp, ITS NOT COMING FROM THE DT 1990

[@UnknownS0und]

Good to have Chrono ("Donny Osmond") presenting. Adds a bit of freshness to the channel.

[@tak351]

Did Resolve get a haircut? Something looks different

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

I DID actually get a haircut as well! Wow that's like... a weird reviewer Gettier case in the making.

[@RC-qc2nz]

Resolve has a haircut but he gained weight. I saw a video of him from last year and an actual video and you can clearly see it.

[@ProtestTheHero04]

Just as information regarding the price: Beyerdynamic knows 600€ is too much. In Germany they went down to 450€, as b-stock often available for 390€. I have them and enjoy them a lot for metal.

[@adamgreenhill110]

They're average £360 in the UK too. Much better pricing nowadays

[@senyorc]

Great review Chrono!

[@kentbergstrom3020]

I do not hear the treble peak so many complain about, maybe because I'm 65 years old and that I'm not sensitive to high frequencies anymore, but I remember that I was in my youth, but now it does not bother me , I think they sound fantastic, I tried your EQ for fun, but then they sound muffled and not as open and clear, so that was nothing for me.

[@markrussellsmith]

Great review. I've owned the DT-1990 Pro, and this pretty much mirrors my experience with them. I owned the T1. 2 at the same time and the DT-1990 seemed to have very fuzzy treble in comparison. I ended up selling both.

[@elias38]

What did you get instead?

[@DBSTH0R]

This comment is coming from a DT 1990 Pro owner... For first few months of ownership I was in the first camp, believing this headphone is revealing and superbly detailed. However, I did get fatigued even after as long as 30 minutes with them and was slowly and steadily turning down the volume. Especially with Balandecd pads. By then, I have watched almost every review out there on the 1990 Pro, and amongs them was Andrew's (negative) review which really opened my eyes. With the sobering done, I first learned my way around Peace plugin and Equalizer APO. And what do you know - just like you said in the video, toggling off nothing else but that 8K peak really shows what you are missing with this headphone. The cymbals shimmer, and everything is veiled behind that "SSSSSS" in top end. Further play with EQ really showed me what this headphones really can do. It does take EQ nicely indeed. However, since I like my music lossless coupled with exclusive playback - I just didn't want to mess around with EQ that can't go through exclusive playback. More investigation and study on these revealed you can actually get a passive filter specially made for Beyer peak taming, made by a dude called solderdude that runs diyaudioheaven website. With this filter installed, I could finally enjoy DT 1990 Pro in a proper way. Perhaps losing some of the detail in the top end, but the passive filter revealed details in other frequency ranges previously not present without it. I can only highly recommend it for DT 1990 Pro users as it transforms this headphone into that it should have been from the start and saves you the trouble of messing around with EQ. With A pads and that filter, this really is a fun headphone to listen to. Especially if you are like me who previously only had Sennheiser cans and is yearning for more bass extension. my setup: Topping D90 & THX AAA 789 link for the passive filter: diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/passive-filters/ Fast forward to today. I have picked up a pair of B/R Focal Clear Pro on a sale, and am selling my DT 1990 Pro. Focal Clear is everything that I wanted from DT 1990 Pro.

[@mangodsky2809]

are you me, lol. I got myself Frans' filter as well for my DT1990. It makes them a lot better, but I found myself subtracting more at 8.5 kHz than that.

[@DBSTH0R]

@@mangodsky2809 lol... Yeah, it doesn't make them not bright. Just not fatiguing. You need EQ for that.

[@MC-rb5tf]

@@mangodsky2809 Frans is awesome...Have been using an amp designed by him called the Project Polaris and it works so well for all my headphones. I just received his filter for the 1990 and so far I'm quite impressed. I personally enjoy the bright sound signature, but to my ears the fatigue is gone. And sibilance is only an issue on some tracks, where even other headphones have the same issue with said track. I'm torn on getting either the Elex or a ZMF dynamic as my next purchase.

[@timbacchus]

As my ears are getting older, will be 75 this year, I am looking for more treble in headphones than most have. Sounds like I would like these.

[@Brandon-qs3jq]

Great review man. You seem to have a great ear and a wealth of knowledge. You’re a solid addition to this channel - keep up the good work!

[@jakeslavin9355]

CHANGE THE PADS AND USE AN AMP WITH A LOW OUTPUT IMPEDENCE . I have spent the last year trying to optimize the Dt1990's and I will say that these headphones can be substantially improved by simply buying Dekoni elite velour pads. Turned the treble from unbearable to tolerable/good. These headphones overall follow the ideal harman curve better than almost all headphones out there, minus the Warwick Acoustics Sonoma model 1 and the HE-1. Tuning isn't everything, but with the right pads and the right amp, these headphones are hard to beat in that department. The resolution is also very high for a headphone of this price. STARTING SETUP: DT1990 balanced pads with Beyer A20 amp and apple dongle to tidal. Ending setup: Dt1990 with elite velour, SMSL SU-9 (fast linear or fast min rolloff), Topping A90 and apple music lossless. I have yet to hear a headphone that justifies the upgrade (unless you have no budget) and I've tried a lot.

[@Thee_Jadex]

Oh crap welp, i feel a little silly now. I just got a pair of 1990 and a A20 amp and really thought the A20 gave so much depth to everything that has a low enough sound floor to support it, like echos are fantastic now with the amp. My only issue with it is i swear it also takes some of the pizzazz out of the treble that i liked, like i swear it cuts off the very tips of the high-end treble thats nice to hear while also not removing any of the annoying peaks the headphones can get. Overall floored by them both so far, definitly one of my best purchases ever. I've had to relisten to everything iv ever listened to lol but it is sad to know i might have missed out on the perfect set-up™. I used to use a Turtle Beach Aero headphone and oh my word do not do that, those things were so painful to listen to and just made everything feel hollow, you could hear notes but it didnt sound like someone talking or like an instrument that played it, only a note. The 1990's do have a noticiable peaking problem going on but its hard to say its really sibilance, or atleast sibilance as ive known it. Like with these I really want to say its now only the original audio causing the sibilance but i also know the headphone peak is certainly not helping. Anyhow if ya want to know real what sibilance pain is use the aeros, they put it on everything. actually if youve got another pair of good headphones around to test iv found that Lemon Demons music consistently has sibilence issues, do you find that with both pairs or is it just the 1990 doing it (Assuming you actually have a pair and are willing to check)

[@Thee_Jadex]

Oh this is gonna sound silly but did your 1990 ever have a annoying friction issue with the hinges (the spot where the headband connects to the cup specifically) like it will have a slight but very noticable creak when you move your head? Mine sure does and its super annoying though only happens somtimes and only after not moving my head for a bit. I figure that a little bit of lubricant in the swivel area would fix it but wasnt sure what to use or how to apply it. If you have no idea what im talking about thats all good lol

[@krzysztoflaskowski6110]

its very easy for everyone to dismiss these headphones, but has anyone ever tried them with top quality dac and top quality headphone amp? I DID, and all i can say is there is no words to express what they can really do. if people listen bad recorded, mastered, overly compressed music (mostly everything from 2000 until now, plus some of 90s too), then these phones shows you bad mastering, not how bad they sound. try to listen music from 80s, or vinyl, or very good clasical on them and they are absolutely brilliant, but they cant correct badly recorded music, thats my opinion about them.

[@mangodsky2809]

As a DT1990 owner, I think this review is completely accurate. I did a lot of things to mine to make them right for me (I bought a passive treble filter and I EQ'd the treble down even further). That being said with the treble peak tamed I think they are quite good at their German asking price. I was looking specifically for a headphone that had a good build quality because my second AKG K701 had just died on me back then lol. You get amazing build quality, good technicalities and you can EQ them nicely (but I feel like that's a necessity). Tbh I still don't know if I should sell these and go for a Sundara or maybe even a Clear (as both of those have reports of bad build quality, especially the Sundara), but I use them mostly for playing my virtual pianos. They are comfortable and sound well with that. And with the treble EQ'd I can use them for shorter sessions. I feel like the under 500 euro area is just a very competitive area where you have a lot of upsides and downsides to each headphone. I think I fixed my DT1990 so I am fine with it. But anyone who says these aren't bright in stock form just had to toggle the 8 kHz EQ on or off while listening to music with S - vocals. You will know what I am talking about.

[@garychen2181]

The clear has great build, the sundara build is not refined but sturdy

[@DBSTH0R]

I switched to the Clear and can only recommend them. A substantial upgrade from DT1990Pro.

[@mangodsky2809]

@@garychen2181 Yeah I have no doubt about them having great build, but I have heard about rattling issues with their drivers and while the earpads are replaceable the headband doesn't seem to be. Thing is that I would have to audition the Clears first before buying them (I don't buy anything that expensive before trying them first) and auditioning is kind of not possible right now. So I will just stick to the DT1990 with EQ (btw, I think the EQ posted in the review is accurate apart from the EQ at 2,5 k and 5,5 kHz, changing that makes my virtual pianos sound weird), for long listening sessions I have the ZMF Aeolus. Still curious about both the Sundara and Clear though :)

[@ZeBubba]

Detailed and nicely balanced review of sound, this is how it's done. A certain reviewer from the last letters of the alphabet should take notes ;) Cheers!

[@konradherrmann3213]

👍👍👍

[@ZeBubba]

@@metal571 Hey, you could do the same! Actually I just don't have the time. Playing drums and football is way more fun too :)

[@temskee6792]

Not sure if you heard a hi hat in person.. but hi hat really does sizzles more when you hit it compared to what dt1990 renders

[@antoinep9733]

You’re a great reviewer, I enjoyed the video. Comfortable in front of the camera and very good at describing sound.

[@gav4855]

If you own these, get a pair of Dekoni Velours before passing judgement. These are my absolute favorite headphones now, even compared to some costing over $1000.

[@nikonovandrej1985]

This so accurate about the treble, can not say better. Very precise review.

[@hpol3603]

Great review!!! Spot on

[@tkelong3569]

The 1990s sound incredibly good. Just a really clean delivery of sonic quality. The bass is intelligent and well crafted. One of my favorite aspects of the sound this pair of headphones delivers. One thing that isn’t often taken into account during these types of headphone quality comparisons is the reviewers hearing and also what the reviewer is listening to the headphones through. There is a very slight increased presence in the highs which I only notice on incomplete compositions, highs are pristine on completed pieces of music. I would highly recommend the 1990s. Yamaha MGP32X mix/Topping A30 Pro headphone amp (XLR Input and Output)/ DT 1990 Pro) With this setup these headphones sound insanely good.

[@ivayloivanov3744]

I have 1990 and for me they are too analytical and transparent. Recently I trued Hifiman Dive and to me they sound very nice and musical.

[@DuranInternational]

I changed the pads for dekoni pads and they fix the treble quite a bit

[@mjjm6220]

Oh, hell yes! I put the Dekoni Elite Hybrid on the 1990 and its all good.

[@MaskedOG]

I find the Sundaras to be a muffeld DT1990. When i listen to Songs like Bubbles- Yosi Horikawa the DT´s make you feel like you are there the SUndaras are like a good recording of you when you were there. If thats understandable. So i enjoy the DT´s a lot they are super precise and i hear stuff i cant with the SUndaras. BUT they are so Present with everything its so clean it starts to hurt. Thats my take on these HP´s because they get compared a lot. For relaxed listening = Sundaras For Details = DT´s My take would be, dont buy either, save a tad more and go into a little bit highter prizepoint wise.

[@qupeter1224]

for pure relaxed listening, hd650/6xx would be a way better choice

[@ynnadk9859]

You have a great looking setup dude, we need a setup tour!

[@FabioKasper]

Good stuff Chrono.

[@gtifury310]

I've had 3 weeks with these headphones now and have to completely disagree. The "S" sibilance is all but gone after burn-in and extended listening. These things just push detail from everywhere in the range, sometimes to the point of pointing out mistakes in the quality of the production. I've switched back to my 6xx a couple times after living with the 1990 and clawed back to the 1990 as early as I could. They just manage to be more analytical, have more bass, and be more fun all at the same time. All on the SP200 amp btw. Zero regrets here.

[@reco9632]

i want to ask a question, i used neumann ndh 30's and i found ndh30 feels realy muffled and only focues mid range not high's. so when i try to mix in them i always try my best to hear the difference but its so muffled that even if i boost the highs in eq on logic pro, its realy hard to hear the difference and the bass is also the same situation. now i selled ndh 30's and i'm looking the monitor headphone to tell me the faults in the mix and helps me to fix those. Honestly, i was thinking to buy dt1990's but i saw your video and i am so confused. can you please help me to find a good mixing and mastering headphone for 600 dolars? or should i ok with dt1990's becouse i searched all over the internet and i find only two of those models that i mentioned to be the best.

[@soulfulfool]

the best headphones beyer made are DT880 600ohm, those with proper source are so amazing, timeless literally

[@Muffinheadman]

Nice review, was going to consider these but will keep looking!

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaa0aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Where did you get those Kimetsu no Yaiba posters? Looks amazing as hecc

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

Online store called Displate

[@RandyDaMan]

Thank you. I did enjoy my dt1990s for sometime and was glad I sold em. The treble is not great and I do get that feeling of artifical detail. The slam is great but lack stage. I do think they do scale well with better amps though.

[@chefgav1]

They need a burn in and smooth out after a few months

[@Baphometus666]

1) You are really quiet 2) I really need to see your review of ZMF Aeolus

[@DarkPa1adin]

and Verite Open!

[@chickenpasta7359]

I'm new here so I'm just wondering what your source was giving these headphones a listen for the review. Was it solely Spotify? I'm saving up for these and the 8k sibilance worries me from enjoying these cans

[@mariussocaci9554]

how is the soundstage compared to the Ananda? thanks for the great review!

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

The Ananda’s soundstage is undoubtably wider. If I’m being honest, I haven’t heard many headphones under $1K that can soundstage like the Ananda. Oddly enough I still found the imaging to be a bit more precise on the DT 1990 Pro.

[@JTB--]

Dekoni Elite Hybrid are a must on the 1990's. Smoother Treble, better Bass. EQ helps

[@aviinuo2694]

Do they help that much? I already own elite hybrids for a previous beyer I had to return and am trying to decide if the the 1990 is worth 3 to 4 times the 770 or 990

[@JTB--]

@@aviinuo2694 I sold my DT 1990 Pros about a year ago. I've moved onto other headphones I like more. I'm not crazy about Beyerdynamic headphones because of their harsh treble. I only really used the 1990 for gaming tbh. Keep researching. You can find something better for a cheaper price than the 1990. Or buy the 1990 on Amazon and return them if you don't like them

[@aviinuo2694]

@@JTB-- Im a little aprehensive to buy another off amazon and return if I dont like it as I just returned one this week. Im looking for a headphone for gaming and edm, i dont need too much bass but i definately want some body and thump in the low bass area. I have akg550's which are suppose to be flat with a extended bass but i find myself adding at least 6db sub 125hz. Im thinking maybe getting sundara's and getting a amp that can add like 10db of bass

[@JTB--]

@@aviinuo2694 Sundara would be a solid choice and then EQ to your preference. And I've returned tons of headphones to Amazon over the last 2 years so I wouldn't let that be the reason to stop you if you really wanted to try the DT 1990 with those Dekoni Hybrid Pads. But with all that said... I'd probably go the safer route with the Sundara and get some real bang for your buck, instead of overpaying for the DT 1990. The 1990 are definitely overpriced at $600

[@axchisler]

Excellent review and kind of unexpected. I don't really have any questions but for someone looking for that Beyerdynamic sound, would you say the DT990's are a better buy than the DT1990's?? Are the 990 as sibilant as the 1990?

[@Milchschndde]

I have both. The 990 is way more fatiguing to listen to. They have a even bigger peak around 10k. They are also more V shaped than the 1990. The 1990 with -3db at 8k is the nether pick if you got the money.

[@AchoReviews]

Buena reseña Chrono ;)

[@dukdive]

Can we get Chrono some better gear to review on? Not saying he needs an Eddie Current Aficionado, just something at least middle of the road. A 789 even fed by a modi? I'm really not trying to be a jerk, would just add a little more credibility

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Yeah he'll have some more sources shortly

[@Yurkinz]

Thanks for a video!

[@ResilientME]

Sounds like it has the same Beyer treble death-spike as my T70, with significantly less detail and some actual bass.

[@ramli1111]

hey gang, recently demoed both senheiser 660s and hifiman ananda against my dt 770 pro 80 ohms, and i must say i prefer how the 660s sounded, now to check off my list im planning to demo the dt 1990 and 1770, but 1770 seems to be out of stock, am i better off with 1990 than 1770? im gonna be running them on a ifi zen dac and i love me some good bass cause ill be gaming and listening to music in these.

[@Scepsis_]

how bad do you think the leakage is? will everyone in my room be able to hear the music I'm listening to?

[@Satyajit_Dey]

What EQ software do you use? I am using Foobar in ASIO mode..

[@Tesseract9630]

For treble resolution nothing beats Hifiman Sundara at any price range.

[@Tesseract9630]

@@metal571 by any price I actually ment something till 2000$ or around that range.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

I'd say a few things beat Sundara for treble resolution under $2000. Ananda, aeon 2, Arya, lcd-x... I guess it all depends on if you're okay doing EQ or not.

[@SAMA-ct2li]

I have no budget issues ! which headphones do you reccomend for mixing ?

[@fan2hd277]

Besides the bashing about the bad frequency response and resolution you did a good review. Compared to completely flawed LCD‘s its very easy to get rid of the one peak in the highs. I also did a balanced mod added the Dekoni Elite Verlour pads which have been measured and voila you have a fantastic headphone for the price. You could have just said its not a headphone for everyone it would have been fine.

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

That's way headphones reviews are so confusing, sound is very subjective. Some people only like hd600 and Sundara other don't.🙄 Some people said they are artificially detailed some don't. Because hearing actually matters. Really confusing 😑😑

[@kentbergstrom3020]

Hearing is subjective, and it also has to do with age, I am 65 years old and am no longer sensitive to high frequencies, I think my 1990s sound heavenly.

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

@@kentbergstrom3020 yaa

[@Milkman76]

I own these, and I use dSoniq Realphones, which seems to improve the upper range and overall sonic performance of these. I produce, game, and listen to music on them and they dont fatigue for many hours. I agree, overall, that they have a high frequency peak and can be problematic in that regard, but I loooove them for gaming and for use via Realphones.

[@estebandavilajr7632]

Great review, this is the second review I have seen on the dt-1990 and both reviews say the highs are sharp or very bright. I defenently will not be buying them that is a no no for me

[@ethanwasserman4054]

As an owner of these headphones, I must disagree with this opinion of these having ear piercing treble. I actually find these to be extremely balanced throughout all frequencies and the treble to be very pleasing my ears. The “S” sounds don’t come through near as harsh as the 880 600ohm imo. The good thing about this hobby is that sound is all subjective and that no one person’s opinion is the absolute truth for your ears.

[@SugaFree2387]

I kinda agree with this review, although I will say that, I did find the imaging actually better on the 660s than on these, but the soundstage was much better in 1990.

[@joshbunter825]

I would like to hear what you think of the DT 990 Pro 250 ohm, I had a look and couldn't seem to find a previous video on them.

[@TheSteve57]

I sent Sundaras back, they were too recessed and lacked detail in vocals. I loved everything else about the Sundara. I love punchy bass but I'm vocal oriented, so would you recommend the HD 660s or DT 1990pro ????

[@geolectric_universe]

For vocals? HD 660s absolutely.

[@TheSteve57]

@@geolectric_universe thank you, my feeling exactly 👍

[@DarkPa1adin]

can't wait for your focal vs elex comparison!

[@Music-ic3uw]

I have the DT990 Pro 250 Ohm version and the 600 Ohm versions. At some point they both started to crackle on high bass. Would that likely still be the case if I upgrade to a DT 1990? I also have the Sennheiser 660s and the T1 2nd Gen in mind. Or should I be looking at something else altogether? My budget is $1000. Oh…and I’m buying this primarily for action and sci-fi movies.

[@Thee_Jadex]

Hmm he never responded to ya and its been like a year but incase you still care i can say its mixed, like a few people have had problems with drivers going out in a month while other have gone years and years without any issues. Id say the either the 177x or the T1 (i acutally dont know about the T1 im just assuming from what iv seen is that its not as rough) would be the best so you get more of that epic bass you get from movies without the annoying peaking of the 1990's though im sure youve made up your mind by now lol

[@giogrig6574]

Let's agree with disagree, whenever EQ is applied on that peak it ruins the headphone all day long, rather consider a hybrid amp, they shine so good.

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

I'll admit, I have not try them on a tube amp yet. Hopefully I'll get around to it some day, thanks for the recommendation!

[@InternetUser-d7s]

What he said. They're smooth as butter on my Pathos, requiring no Eq adjustment. No 7khz issues at all. I suspect this reviewer like so many in this demographic prefers a warmer signature.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

@@InternetUser-d7s I'd recommend looking at its frequency response to get a sense of where the peak issue is if you think this is just preference. This headphone has a reputation for being 'revealing' but as Chrono said, that's not exactly true for precisely the reasons he mentioned. I do think they would be smoother on a tube amp as well though, and I can see that being more enjoyable.

[@InternetUser-d7s]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks, I know the FR very well, ditto Oratory1990's response to them (which I think he does an excellent job). I know all that. I'm talking about a general tendency prevalent on the blogs and on Head-Fi toward warmer headphones and a parallel resistance toward "brightness." I'm not an unequivocal "fan" of the DT1990 Pro (I actually think the DT990 is superior in some senses) but when reviewing a pair of headphones, it's beneficial to state one's leanings at the outset. A reviewer is not a detached subject analyzing frequency graphs, he or she is a living subject with his or her own set of aesthetic values.

[@InternetUser-d7s]

@@metal571 users have varying levels of tolerance and intolerance for the entire frequency spectrum. The graph is merely a guide which generates an overall picture of the headphone but it doesn't take into account the structure of auditory experience. A comprehensive review needs a more complex sort of analysis. Maybe I'll do it (Big fan of your reviews, btw).

[@soundsilove6123]

What you recoomend for pleasing listening than dt 1990 pro? tbh i wanna try sundara, i allready owned 1990 and sold it.

[@mikaiyelmiah8538]

Hifiman xs (superior version of the sundara), bunch of b stock around.

[@jwester7009]

Is the 8.5 kHz 11 dB above the harman curve? I'm confused. Some also claim they can't hear any peak at all even though they can measure it. I've tried the current revision of the 770pro 250ohm (after they changed the drivers), and they sound absolutely awful. I believe they changed them to sound bad just so they can sell some new more expensive headphones (and yes I own a pair from 2002 with the old drivers. So I know how they should sound). If the 1990's have the same horrible treble sound I'm not going to like them. On the other hand I also own a pair of Bose QC35. Everybody claim they sound bright but they don't. They are instead dark and muffled sounding

[@onlyspace9813]

Hi! It's important. For you it's better for ENJOY music Dt 1990 or Sundara?

[@mikaiyelmiah8538]

Dt1990 for gaming and intense music sessions . Sundara for chilled back music session

[@anupambphoto]

I couldn't keep these because of the treble.

[@ninhbac04]

really the best thing about the 1990 is how great it looks, its heavy on your head and screeching treble is unbearable

[@Nile645]

are the analytical pads better for gaming?

[@johnellison3173]

Wow! I thought these were a bit sharp but a 12db peak 😮 thats just rediculous. ill definately stick to my 660S

[@elias38]

Love my 660S!:) I'm still thinking to get 1990 or something else? I need better lows.

[@johnellison3173]

@@elias38 You want closed back cans if you like good quality sub bass etc

[@GalenVaughn]

I have a question, if I’m watching something and I get like a popping noise for like half second in one scene and I rewind that scene at the exact same timestamp and hear the same thing again. Does this mean it’s the file itself or is it possible the headphones?

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

It's most likely the file haha, so don't worry, your headphones are probably fine

[@GalenVaughn]

Chrono it’s just weird that multiple different files are like that though, and some are Blu-ray. I just don’t understand why it happens... like it’s not a big deal but I hate this annoying random pop in the background when like music is playing with dialogue

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

@@GalenVaughn Yeah that happens a lot with audio. Even some of the really well-recorded music out there has hiccups here and there, and they're very difficult to ignore once you hear them.

[@oscarsanchez3201]

Someone in the comments recommended the k371 instead of these and I thought I was upgrading 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@alanchicas]

What amp u used?

[@jamiesmith6838]

The treble is trouble in the DT-1990. I've tried to identify with the hype of these phones numerous times, but failed to reach in my pockets for them. My preference always led me back to Focal Eligia over the Beyerdynamic DT-1990.

[@nikpapa]

I don't know man. No offence but everytime I watch Chrono I get the same sense. His facial expressions and talking style feels like he really wants to say the right thing to the audiophile folks that enjoy headphones by looking at freq response charts.

[@hibernative]

Damn. Guess I was lucky choosing the Sundara over these. Btw, that Bill Frisell album is great! Love him.

[@waterbuffalo4225]

I need some assistance. I stream music through my mobile device, and I'm looking for the best open back headphones (let's say my budget is $1000)

[@shaolin95]

Firsr, get your ears checked . Second, learn how to use EQ

[@elias38]

I can't decide between 1770 vs 1990. What is the benefit of 1770 over these ones besides open back benefits. I suppose the bass is better in the closed back?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

I don't really recommend either to be honest. But you should decide if your situation requires closed back or if open back is okay. Because open will generally be better.

[@ChrisKeyman]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow what is your top 3 for mixing and mastering ?? Thank you

[@MiguelMartinez-yj7yu]

I just got these, barely entering into the audiophile scene, and I'm not impressed by the damn sound.

[@ninhbac04]

sell the 1990 and get the sundara or 6xx you'll be happy

[@dzy428]

You can get the sundara and 58x for the price of the dt1990

[@CaptnKrksNippls]

Do you have an amp

[@matthewhilty4209]

This headphone is for mixing and mastering. It's in the name. Many studio Headphones have certain frequencies emphasized so the engineer can identify and isolate unwanted common anomalies when mixing.

[@MiguelMartinez-yj7yu]

@@CaptnKrksNippls I do. It's a love-hate relationship though. I question if it's worth the price but listen to a song and say "mmm nice nice"

[@Rashomon00]

Sounds trebleing

[@ZeBubba]

Treblible?

[@user-js2dr9gv1u]

"Sizzle in the background." Like bacon frying? 😒

[@InternetUser-d7s]

Seriously, worth it in 2020?! They only came out in 2016. The DT990 came out in 2004 and they still hold up and are amazing value for money. Unless one has fickle tastes, headphones don't just go out of fashion or suddenly lose their merits.

[@testek3053]

merits fade faster when they're overratted.

[@InternetUser-d7s]

@@testek3053 ok. What's your preferred open back?

[@garychen2181]

the hype train ended, 1990 was competitive at the 600 dollar range when it first came out but since then, the 660s and sundara price has dropped dramatically, also the elex and ananda has also arrived near the 600 dollar range which makes the dt1990 more redundant than it used to be.

[@InternetUser-d7s]

@@garychen2181 I can't think of a less "hype" company than Beyerdynamic. They're hardly some exotic boutique company. They're like the meat 'n potatoes of the audio world. In the EU, a pair of DT1990 costs about 380 Euros. A pair of DT990s costs about 130 Euros. Value for money is not the issue here.

[@gtifury310]

What amp were you listening to these on? If it's that GS1200 I see on the desk, you're doing it all wrong.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Would've likely been the iFi iDSD Micro Black Label, or JDS Element.

[@gtifury310]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow interesting. I just got these in today. I agree with the "S" sounds and symbols on some tracks. If they come in right in that peak they're sibilant. IMO a tube amp would work wonders with these cans. The level of detail is definitely a bit better in the mids, and miles better in the bass than the 6 series. I've been hearing things I never heard with the 600 or 6xx. Also I get no hiss in the treble region. IMO that could be equipment or power related.

[@higochumbo8932]

For roughly the same price, would you still choose the Sundaras over the DT1990 as a general purpose headphone? (immersive casual gaming, music, movies) In Australia you can find the DT1990 for only 30-55 usd more than the Sundaras.

[@samgilliland3423]

Fiio utws5 and your favorite iems 😁 , galaxy buds live. God I love those beans so comfortable. i wear mine 10 hours a day while working. bose qc2 buds best anc, sony wf1000xm4, soundcore liberty 3. I have all of these and honestly I use the galaxy buds live most because of comfort and the features aren't bad either.when I'm not working I really love my fiio utws5 with either my lava's ,olina's , blue hookx , mest mk1 ,oh10's on them. And if I need super anc I'll take out the bose or the soundcore l3 .the sony's are my wife's choice for anc . the buds live are her choice for comfort. But her favorite setup is the fiio utws5 and og ej07 , u12t , modded dioko, heyday, elixir Although we do swap sets quite a bit

[@teemuvesala9575]

Professional studio people seem to disagree with these amateur audiophiles as DT 1990 is very popular in studios. It is extremely detailed, more so than these cheap China junk Headphone show keeps shilling. DT 1990 is merciless, it will show any flaw in the music. If it was poorly mastered, it will show you that...

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Resolve here. This is actually a common misunderstanding within the pro audio side of things. There's a long-standing history of these types of Beyers being used in studio environments, and so there's a canonical reason why you consistently see them there - and it's a direct function of their marketing success in this area (not a bad thing by any means). However, if you look into the research on what constitutes 'neutral' or 'flat' in headphones (look into this on the audio engineering society website if you're curious), the dt1990 is more of a colored headphone than a 'reference' style sound, particularly because of the elevated 8.5khz harmonic. Under no circumstances is this suitable for pro use UNLESS that is understood by the mixing engineer. However, in that case, it's totally fine to use.

[@teemuvesala9575]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow Flat headphones don't have soundstage... Soundstage is created by dipping upper mid range. I don't care whether the way Beyer does it is the "right way" or not, they do have better detail than pretty much any other headphones I've listened to and that includes overpriced Hifiman and Audeze garbage. This is like in gaming community people whining NVIDIA is "cheating" performance with DLSS, when AMD is dumb enough to render 4K in 4K instead of using smart upsampling technique like NVIDIA does. The end result: NVIDIA performs at higher FPS while maintaining same or better image quality than AMD. I see exactly same thing going here, "purists" whining how Beyerdynamic "cheats" on detail, but at the end no one cares. They do sound more detailed, only thing I care about. Not how they got there. Also relaxed and laid back sound is inherently less clear and less detailed than more forward and aggressive sound. You keep shilling this isn't the case, but it actually is.

[@0Wayland]

Does the 1990 have more aggressive treble than the original 990?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Now there's a good question. I think maybe if you use the balanced pads. They're both intense.

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

I’d say it’s just as aggressive at 8.5K, but the 990 also has peaks of the same magnitude at 6K and 13K. The pads didn’t really change the treble that much in my experience. However, the balanced pads made the treble feel ever so slightly more elevated because the mids were a little recessed; giving that peak a slight emphasis.

[@KCC46]

I just sold my 990 Pros but for the months I owned them with my 1990s I found the 990s to have notably more sibilance and edgier treble, more recessed mids, and a bit more bass relative to my preference of the 1990 analytical pads (no EQ applied). I also feel though that the 990s soundstage was wider and more open, so make of that what you will. Signal chain is Spotify high quality --> LG V30/G8 quad DAC --> THX 789 or Emotiva A-100 (no jumpers). I like the unjumpered A-100 with the Beyer's because it gives just a tough of warmth and roundness vs the absolute precision of the 789.

[@jouhajohnny]

They are really good for music production

[@Shoaibexpert]

This guy won't be here for long, sadly! He speaks plainly and truthfully...kinda what people need to make decisions...but what people want is someone who can sell! After all this is a shop sponsored channel...not saying that it's a bad thing!

[@taronlissimore5613]

The HEADPHONE Show doesn't exist to sell headphones (that also goes for any reviews published on the website). Chrono is a great reviewer and we're very happy to him as part of the team!

[@allansh828]

What DAC/AMP do you use as reference?

[@chrono-headphonereviews242]

JDS Labs Element II

[@InternetUser-d7s]

@@chrono-headphonereviews242 LOL

[@mikaiyelmiah8538]

Just buy inner foam pads and it fixes the treble peak without eq. Simple

[@thegroove2000]

Im looking for the flattest response in headphones. These just dont cut it.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

While I agree with the sentiment, it's important to remember that headphones shouldn't measure flat on a raw graph, and that anytime we mention 'flat' we're assuming a given target response curve. So essentially 'flat' is meaningless unless you identify the target.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

@@thegroove2000 Not sure why you're linking me that. But the same thing applies there. A flat response requires a given target curve for the compensation, otherwise it'll sound horrible. I'm not sure what they've tuned those to.

[@thegroove2000]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow Have a look on the website. Many mixing mastering engineer's are praising them and have a guess why?. for their frequency response as you should know a flatter response is the goal the same with audiophile music systems. Companies like to tweak certain frequencies for certain types of music and listener's but for a more accurate response the flatter the better. More accurate.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

@@thegroove2000 "the flatter the better" is an empty claim though. You could have something measure flat to a DF target, or you could have something measure flat to a 2018 harman target. They will sound wildly different. So when you see engineers praising a flat response, you need to know which target they're aiming for. Read this for more info on the subject: www.headphones.com/pages/measurements-and-frequency-response And this: www.innerfidelity.com/content/headphone-measurements-explained-frequency-response-part-one