Beyerdynamic DT1990 PRO Headphones

Pads

Beyerdynamic have included two sets of pads with this unit. They claim that:

Choose between a well-balanced sound or analytical sound thanks to replaceable velour ear pads. Both ear pad variants are included to finish off this impeccable studio headphone package.

When swapping between the pads, there is a very slight audible difference between the two. One pad feels slightly firmer and more dense, and delivers a slightly better seal. As a result, the bass becomes a little tighter and stronger. For the remainder of this review, we used the “standard” set of pads.

Sound

Similar to its previous iteration (the DT 990), the bass on the DT 1990 PRO is strong and pronounced. The elevated sub bass is crucial for mixing live, as in loud environments, the bass is often the first thing to go missing in the mix. The DT990 is heralded for its superb bass - and the DT 1990 PRO has expanded on this successfully. It reaches low and deep, with a nice meaty bump in the 70-125hz range, giving kick drums a heavy, deep punch. Even when firing off the modest power of the FiiO X7, bass is still very quick and responsive, and is very pleasing to listen to with rolling basslines and low-end heavy music.

The mids are not as “scooped” as the older DT 990 and DT 770 - a welcome change. The DT 1990 PRO feels considerably more neutral than their older counterparts. Whilst there is still a recession in the midrange, it still overall retains an analytical and flatter response signature. Users can rest assured knowing that they still feel accurate and there isn’t any strong overbearing colouration taking control of their music.

Upper mids and highs are sharp and detailed, but not strong enough to cause piercing or ringing. Much like the midrange, accuracy is the main name of the game here. Highs are slightly pronounced and keep up with the midbass kick nicely. There is a little extra bite in the upper mids, which can bring out those extra details hidden in music.

The soundstage is quite wide, and imaging is accurate. There (subjectively) doesn’t seem to be any major issues with driver mismatching or cross-talk. The headphones can be driven from the average smartphone to loud enough volume, but only at the upper end of the volume selection range.

We recommend driving these with a source with a little more amplification than a smartphone - but don’t expect the headphone to be terribly difficult to drive.

IN COMPARISON

Beyerdynamic DT880 Premium
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 is a common favourite amongst audiophiles worldwide. It’s comfort, range and accuracy are famous, and is commonly compared to the likes of the mighty Sennheiser HD800.

The DT 1990 Pro has the same weight as the DT 880 (with cable), and has the same driver size (45mm), yet the DT 1990 pro has Tesla drivers.

The DT 1990 PRO has a more pronounced low-end, and seems to reach a little lower and stronger. The midbass kick also leaves a noticeable point of difference, especially with electronic/dance music.

The DT 880 also has a far more flat and less energetic presentation - the bitey upper mids and bass of the DT 1990 PRO leave for a far more upfront signature.

Conclusion

The DT 1990 PRO comes with exceptional accessories, looks great, is comfortable, and sounds excellent, with emphasis leaning towards midbass and upper mids, rather than being completely flat response. We would be happy to recommend it to engineers, audiophiles and Beyerdynamic fans alike.

Specs

●    Transducer type: Dynamic Operating principle
●    Open Frequency response: 5 - 40,000 Hz
●    Nominal impedance: 250 Ω
●    Nominal SPL 102 dB SPL (1 mW / 500 Hz)
●    Max. SPL: 125 dB SPL (200 mW / 500 Hz)
●    T.H.D: < 0.05% (1 mW / 500 Hz)
●    Nominal handling capacity: 200 mW
●    Sound coupling to the ear: Circumaural
●    Nominal headband pressure: approx. 6.6 N
●    Weight (without cable): 370 g
●    Length and type of cable: 3 m / straight cable or 5 m / coiled cable (stretched)

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is available now for $1,159 RRP and is distributed in Australia by Syntec.

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Posted in: Headphones & Portable Audio
Tags: beyerdynamic  dt 1990 pro  syntec