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Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£120Form factor:over-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition
5.4/10

Overall score

Score
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 89% of models
Score components

80%

5.4

Technical score

20%

?

User score

â–¼Worse than 89% of headphones
6.8

Value for money

Value for money
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components

70%

5.4

Overall score

30%

9.9

Price

â–¼Worse than 84%
5.4

Technical score

Technical score
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components

52%

6.2

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

6.0

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

4.9

Calls & Controls

â–¼Worse than 79%
?

User score

User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

  • beyerdynamic-dt-990-edition
  • beyerdynamic-dt-990-edition
beyerdynamic-dt-990-edition
beyerdynamic-dt-990-edition
Where to buy
    N/A~ £120
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition

Technical score
Technical score
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components:

52%

6.2

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

6.0

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

4.9

Calls & Controls

5.4
User score
User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

?
Popularity
Popularity
1.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Popularity:
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition has a popularity score of 1 point, which is lower than that of 73.4% of products in this category.
1.0
Value for money
Value for money
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components:

70%

5.4

Overall score

30%

9.9

Price

6.8
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
dynamic
Driver size
45 mm
Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
This pair of headphones uses a driver size of 45 mm, larger driver size than 83.7% of headphones and equal to 2.4% of headphones.
Number of drivers
1
Market range: <1 – >4
This pair of headphones uses 1 drivers, fewer drivers than 4% of headphones and equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
5 Hz
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 5 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 86.3% of headphones and equal to 10.8% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
0
Market range: <0 – >4
This pair of headphones has 0 microphones, fewer microphones than 73.2% of headphones and equal to 26.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
N/A
Show more
Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
no
This pair of headphones does not support multipoint. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
no
This pair of headphones does not work with a companion app. 21.6% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
no
This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
no
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Beyerdynamic
Form factor
over-ear
Weight
290 g
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 290 g, heavier than 77.7% of headphones and equal to 1.3% of headphones.
Acoustic design
open-back
Clamp force
2.8
Market range: <2.5 – >6.1
This pair of headphones has a clamp force of 2.8, lower clamp force than 82% of headphones and equal to 3.4% of headphones.
Show more

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    This pair of headphones has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average pair of headphones does not. 23.1% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • Spatial audio support
    This pair of headphones supports spatial audio, the average pair of headphones does not. 15.9% of headphones support spatial audio.
  • 13 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    5 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 5 mm larger driver size
    This pair of headphones uses a larger driver size than the average pair of headphones (45 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    45 mm vs 40 mm
  • 15,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (35,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    35,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • 1.5 lower clamp force
    This pair of headphones has a lower clamp force than the average pair of headphones (2.8 vs 4.3). The average headphones have a clamp force of 4.3.
    2.8 vs 4.3
  • 14 mm more spacious earcup width
    This pair of headphones offers more spacious earcup width than the average pair of headphones (58 mm vs 44 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup width of 44 mm.
    58 mm vs 44 mm
  • 1.5 lower clamp force
    This pair of headphones has a lower clamp force than the average pair of headphones (2.8 vs 4.3). The average headphones have a clamp force of 4.3.
    2.8 vs 4.3
  • 14 mm more spacious earcup width
    This pair of headphones offers more spacious earcup width than the average pair of headphones (58 mm vs 44 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup width of 44 mm.
    58 mm vs 44 mm
  • 1.8 m longer cable length
    This pair of headphones offers a more useful cable length than the average pair of headphones (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
    3 m vs 1.2 m
  • Open-back design
    This pair of headphones uses an open-back design, while the average pair of headphones does not. 9.1% of headphones have an open-back design.
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    This pair of headphones has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average pair of headphones does not. 23.1% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • Spatial audio support
    This pair of headphones supports spatial audio, the average pair of headphones does not. 15.9% of headphones support spatial audio.
  • 13 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    5 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 5 mm larger driver size
    This pair of headphones uses a larger driver size than the average pair of headphones (45 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    45 mm vs 40 mm
  • 15,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (35,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    35,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • No passive noise reduction
    This pair of headphones does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • 33% higher weight
    This pair of headphones is heavier than the average pair of headphones (290 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    290 g vs 218 g
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 6 dB/mW lower sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a lower sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (96 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    96 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • 5.87x less popular
    Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 5.87x less popular
    Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 7.5% worse value for money
    Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.76 vs 7.3).
    6.76 vs 7.27
  • 33% higher weight
    This pair of headphones is heavier than the average pair of headphones (290 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    290 g vs 218 g
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • Tangle-prone cable
    This pair of headphones uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average pair of headphones is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • 2 mm tighter earcup height
    This pair of headphones has tighter earcup height than the average pair of headphones (58 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    58 mm vs 60 mm
  • No passive noise reduction
    This pair of headphones does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • 6 dB/mW lower sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a lower sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (96 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    96 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 14 dB lower max SPL
    This pair of headphones has a lower max SPL than the average pair of headphones (96 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    96 dB vs 110 dB
  • 7 dB SPL lower sound pressure level
    This pair of headphones has a lower sound pressure level than the average pair of headphones (96 dB SPL vs 103 dB SPL). The average headphones reach a sound pressure level of 103 dB SPL.
    96 dB SPL vs 103 dB SPL
  • 0.5 dB looser channel balance
    This pair of headphones has a higher channel balance tolerance than the average pair of headphones (1 dB vs 0.5 dB). The average headphones have channel balance tolerance of 0.5 dB.
    1 dB vs 0.5 dB
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • 5 older release date
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2011 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    May 2011
    2011 vs 2016

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

9.0
#MPCOM ¦ MOVEPRODUCTIONS_COM
≈ estimated
26/12/2021
Studio review · mixing use, sound and impedance guide
Verdict
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition suits studio mixing with accurate sound, but you need to pick the right impedance version.
8.0
Unicorn Reviews
≈ estimated
10/05/2019
Hands-on review · sound, comfort and amplifier test
Verdict
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is a good choice only if you already own a powerful amplifier to drive it.
7.0
EposVox
≈ estimated
30/11/2016
Long-term use · daily driver and comparison with another headphone
Verdict
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is very comfortable, but its treble lacks the clarity a creator needs, so it isn't quite there yet.
Not graded yet
Not graded yet
Not graded yet

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

kenrockwell.com
01/05/2010
Long-term comparison · Open-back headphones
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 is a sturdy, clean-sounding open-back pair that most listeners will like for its boosted bass and treble, though it leaks sound and is best for home use.
H
head-fi.org
07/05/2010
Summary of the review
Beyerdynamic DT990 Premium 250 OhmGo to product viewer dialogue for this item. - Reviews - Head-Fi
H
head-fi.org
05/05/2010
Summary of the review
Beyer Dynamic DT 990 Premium 600 OHM Headphones - Head-Fi
pcmag.com
28/04/2015
Hands-on test · Open-back for home
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 32 Ohm is an accurate, comfortable open-back pair with deep, unboosted bass, suited to music listening and mix checking but not studio tracking.
whathifi.com
20/08/2014
Test-room review · Open-back comfort
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium offers detailed, open sound and a very comfortable fit, suited to listeners who can accept less bass punch than rival models.
kopfhoerer.de
05/11/2015
Hi-fi review · Open-back headphones
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is a comfortable open-back pair for acoustic, classical and dynamic mixes, but its glassy treble, especially at high volume, may tire some listeners.
av-magazin.de
Keine Angabe
Amplifier pairing test · Open-back hi-fi
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is a light, comfortable open-back headphone with clear, detailed sound and deep bass, and it sounds best with a high-end amp.
areadvd.de
28/08/2007
Hi-fi test · Headphone amp pairing
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 with the A1 amp gives full, natural sound and big bass, suited to focused listening at home rather than late nights.
misauriculares.com
12/02/2019
Personal listening test · Open-back headphones
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium 600 Ohm is comfortable and clean with a quiet background, but its hissy treble and recessed mids may tire some listeners.
stereo-head.it
07/06/2013
Comparison review · Premium build
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium Edition is a well-built, comfortable open-back pair, but it sounds almost the same as the standard model and is not worth the extra cost.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition

  • Exceptional long-term comfort due to soft velour earpads and lightweight design
  • Wide and immersive soundstage providing a speaker-like listening experience
  • Detailed and punchy bass response for an open-back design
  • High durability with a robust metal headband and replaceable parts
  • Excellent imaging and spatial accuracy, making them popular for competitive gaming
  • Detailed, high-resolution sound signature that reveals subtle nuances in recordings

What customers don't like about Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition

  • Aggressive treble peaks that can lead to listening fatigue or sibilance
  • Recessed mid-range frequencies can make vocals feel thin or distant
  • Significant sound leakage and poor noise isolation due to the open-back design
  • Non-detachable stock cable can be cumbersome or hard to replace if damaged
  • Requires a dedicated headphone amplifier to reach full potential, especially for higher impedance models
  • Large physical footprint may be less suitable for users with smaller heads

Verdict

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Edition is an open-back dynamic headphone handcrafted in Germany, featuring a wide frequency response of 5 Hz to 35,000 Hz and available in 32, 250, or 600-ohm impedance variants. Its primary characteristics include a spacious 'speaker-like' soundstage, a nominal sound pressure level of 96 dB, and a robust spring steel headband design with soft velour ear pads for high wearing comfort. Main pros are its detailed resolution with vibrant highs, punchy yet precise bass, and exceptional durability due to replaceable components. Notable cons include a fixed, straight 3-meter cable that can be prone to tangling, significant sound leakage due to the open design, and a sharp treble peak that some users may find fatiguing over long sessions.

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