Beyerdynamic T90 Premium Stereo Headphone

Sayed2020

Member of the Trade: Elise Audio
Pros: Very high sound quality, comfort, looks, lightweight, value
Cons: Non-detachable cable, headband/yoke issue
Hi everyone.

My cans have been burned in for at least 150 hours.

I am pleased there is a lot of love for the T90 here on Head-Fi, it is worthy of it.

These cans are light and very comfortable. The ear pads are of high quality and are easily replaceable. I think they are quite small full size open back circumaural cans and they look classy and neat. The grills/mesh look great.

I’ll be trying out some leather ear pads soon, just because.

Credit to Beyerdynamic for the weight, comfort and looks : )

Build quality is good but I do not like the headband. The headband is comfy but It loosens over time and the yokes can move when putting on or removing the cans. This is annoying but I know Beyerdynamic have addressed that with their newer cans, from experience the Amiron Home and T5P 2nd gen have superior headbands with solid clicking when making adjustments.

I also really dislike the fact that it’s cable is non-removable, again Beyerdynamic have addressed this with their newer cans.

Sound.

These are just so stunningly revealing, detailed, spacious, airy, resolving, dynamic, clear and insightful headphones.

They are very clean and open sounding with superb resolution and imaging.

Now that is a LOT of qualities : )

There must be very few headphones in the world that surpass these brilliant cans in those areas.

Maybe the only headphone I have ever heard that beats the T90 in all the areas I just mentioned are Sennheiser’s HD 800, just maybe. And that is at least double the cost of these!

That is an astonishing feat, incredible work from Beyerdynamic.

Truly special cans. They are excellent for testing gear and equipment and they scale up brilliantly.

They are a bit bright and can sound harsh or piercing sometimes so system and cable matching have a factor.

They remind me of the HD 800 but a scaled down version. But I think the T90 has more enjoyable bass.

The mids are very good and have good body.

Vocals can sound a little further back, a little recessed but are authentic and realistic. You can hear the singers breathe easily.

Sometimes the bass can be a bit subtle and lack a little slam and impact but it does sound smooth and it can go deep. The texture, extension and definition of the lows are very good.

I tested these cans on 2 set ups I luckily had at home, as per usual I only listened to 16 & 24-Bit WAV lossless files.

Setup 1.

Digital optical toslink cable,

Gustard DAC-X10 (with a HiFi Tuning internal fuse),

connected to a custom SOLID CORE PURE SILVER 99.999% 5N 2MM 12 AWG power cable with a IEGO gold over copper IEC and a Furutech FI-UK gold over copper plug and a AMR gold-plated 13 amp fuse,

custom pure silver XLR cable,

Lake People Phone-amp G93 fitted with a gold-plated UK plug and a AMR gold-plated 13 amp fuse,

all connected to a custom Russ Andrews Yello power mains extension with a Supra gold plated UK mains plug with a AMR gold-plated 13 amp fuse inside.

Setup 2.

Digital optical toslink cable,

Cambridge Audio DacMagic with a linear power supply,

shielded copper RCA cable,

Graham Slee Solo with the PSU1,

all connected to a Tacima CS947 mains conditioner with a AMR gold-plated 13 amp fuse inside.

Phew!

Here are my findings:

Setup 1 was more detailed, spacious, airy and clear.

The attack was better.

Slightly better controlled lows.

Better imaging.

Larger sound stage.

Setup 2 had fuller and bigger bass, a warmer signature.

But it sounded more closed in, sound was more centred, dome sounding.

Good impact and slam.

Missing some obvious detail and sounds.

Looser but deeper bass.

I wish setup 2 had the same mains extension block and a pure silver RCA cable to make it even more similar and fairer.

For the majority of T90 owners or potential buyers, I would recommend a warm sounding amp with good quality copper cables.

I would very much like to hear them balanced but annoyingly because of the fixed cable that will be tricky.

These are excellent cans and they are available for decent prices pre-owned now as they are discontinued by Beyerdynamic, the Amiron have replaced them but they do sound different to them...
Used T90's offer excellent value considering it's sound quality and comfort.

It is a big shame that Beyerdynamic have discontinued them, maybe they should release a T90 with their newer headband and with a detachable cable. That would be awesome but just don't change anything else.

If you are coming from a warm/veiled/dark sounding headphone to these, they may initially shock you.

But hopefully in a good way as they have many, many fantastic attributes : )

I really enjoy listening to them and I do listen to them for extensive sessions with any fatigue.

I highly recommend them.


Update 1.

I thought I’d mix things up and try this setup.

16 & 24-Bit WAV lossless files,

Foobar2000 with WASAPI event output,

Digital optical toslink cable,

Gustard DAC-X10 (with a HiFi Tuning Silver Star internal fuse),

connected to a custom SOLID CORE PURE SILVER 99.999% 5N 2MM 12 AWG power cable with a IEGO gold over copper IEC and a Furutech FI-UK gold over copper plug and a AMR gold-plated 13 amp fuse,

a custom 6 core pure silver litz RCA cable,

Graham Slee Solo with PSU1,

all connected to a custom Russ Andrews Yello power mains extension with a Supra gold plated UK mains plug with a AMR gold-plated 13 amp fuse inside.

(I ended up getting a pair of silver RCAs).

Wow!

Just wow!

What an incredible combo!

I am writing this whilst listening to many genres of music.

Utterly bewitching and mesmerising.

Truly stunning energy and life.

So captivating, immersive and enjoyable.

There is warmth, fullness and smoothness to the sound but still supremely detailed and clear.

Great impact and low end extension.

There’s an immediacy about it, it sucks you in.

The realism and musicality on offer here, simply marvellous.

You can feel the singers emotion and hear the intricacies in well recorded songs with high production values.

The volume rarely went above the 9 o’ clock position on the dial.

When pushed, the T90’s bass never created distortion or a rattling sound. It was just clean, deep and smooth with great texture and definition.

The T90 just doesn’t get overwhelmed when there is a lot happening in some songs, it doesn’t sound congested or muffled.

The way it points out sounds moving laterally is quite something, sometimes sweeping and sometimes subtle.

As mentioned before, it has a dynamic and punchy presentation.

All the wonderful strengths of the T90 are still present, which I am so happy about : )

It is hard to fully describe how immensely impressive this setup sounds with the brilliant T90.

Very, very difficult to find faults and flaws.

And you know I’m going to listen to this for many hours with no issues at all because the T90 are just so comfortable.

Any person who thinks the T90 are too bright, harsh or piercing I urge you to try it with a decent DAC and the Solo with PSU1.

Please, for the sake of ears.

(I believe my DAC-X10 is more than decent, very good in fact).

So the T90 may be demanding or picky, unforgiving of devices and components.

It is a very transparent and revealing pair of cans.

But get it right, and audio bliss awaits you. That is how high the rewards are.

This is 1 of the very best audio experiences I have heard, EVER!!!

I am astonished that all this has been achieved unbalanced and single ended to be honest…

And I have had quite a few DACs and amps over the years, as well as many great and expensive headphones. Many, many cans. Just look at my profile, Utopia, HD 800S, LCD-X, GS2000E, Edition X V2, PM-1, etc.

I want to share this setup with my family and friends, immediately. Lol.

I have a massive smile on my face listening to my music, I won’t forget this moment.

End game cans and setup for me? Maybe, just maybe...

Happy listening everyone, zellous out.
Sayed2020
Sayed2020
Thanks selvakumar : )
beyerdude
beyerdude
I loved these headphones when they weren't getting a lot of love. They are a near equal to the HD800/HE560, in some ways I prefer them. They are a bargain S/H. They are comfortable/light and tough. They can get a little intense but only with a harsh/glaring DAC in my experience.
trellus
trellus
I can report that after hearing them, when I first got them, as sometimes too bright and thin to my ears, that they sound rather full and pleasant, and with fast, tight, deeply extended bass on a pretty cheap setup -- Mac mini TOSLINK to Matrix Mini-i DAC then cheap RCA cables to iFi iCAN (1st gen at that).

amartignano

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: dynamic contrasts and subtleties, airiness, detail, punch, euphony, comfort
Cons: can be too much in the highs to someone, not replaceble cable (if you're interested in it)
(sorry for my sometimes hesitant english...)
 
The Beyerdynamic T90 is one of the milestones in my personal headphone journey. I’ve started with my father’s Sennheiser HD424x and a Sony MDR44, which generated my love for the on-ear open tipology, so I still adore my Grado Sr60e.
 
Obviously I’ve had many over-ear and on-ear open headphones, the most important to my appreciation and formation were the Sennheiser HE60, the Beyer DT880, the AKG K501, the original Grado Rs1, the Grado Sr60e and my beloved personal  reference  the Sennheiser HD600.
 
To fulfill the desire to improve a bit my musical enjoyment, I was flirting with the idea to buy again an electrostatic headphone. For the sake of ease of use, I’ve ended ordering the T90, without having ever heard it. The incautious purchase has proved to be almost exactly what I’ve looked for.
 
 
1.jpg
 
 
 
The headphone
 
Briefly: the little open Tesla sister of the Beyer’s interpretation of an über-kopfhörer, the T1.
 
  1. Design: typical Beyerdynamic, no news, still good news, as the ergonomics is top notch.
  2. Quality: sturdy and solid, grills maybe prone to scratch.
  3. Comfort: it’s subjective, but I find the T90 to be one of the most comfortable headphone I’ve ever listened to, it’s gentle on the temples, the ears don’t touch the foam and the headphone is light enough to be worn for hours without fatigue.
 
 
Technical stuff
 
The T90 has a declared 250 ohm impedance, 5-40000 Hz frequency response (no attenuation data given), a sensibility of 102 dB  @ 1 mW @ 500 Hz, max SPL of 125 dB with 200 mW.
 
The frequency response curve is very extended, and shows an increase of 5-8 dB in the 7-10 kHz region. The bass response suggest a slight amount of musical “hump”.
 
The impedance curve shows a pronounced but broad resonance peak, suggesting a sensible but not-too-rude behavior in matching amplifiers of different output impedance.
 
Distortion is generally low, but above 100 Hz it’s slightly worse than the Dt880. Bass frequencies instead are less distorted than the Dt880.
 
Sensibility: to play 90 dB the T90 wants 0.18 mW or 0.225 Vrms, while the Dt880 wants 0.38 mW or 0.299 Vrms. The increase of sensibility is clear and evident, and gives the T90 the possibility to be driven at decent sound pressures also from smartphones and tablets, although these are clearly not the best ways to drive a T90 (but I’ve never heard my smartphone sound so good).
 
 
Setup
 
Sources: Marantz Cd5001, Thorens TD160 + Ortofon Om20 + Pro-Ject Cork It, Samsung A3 smartphone running Neutron, Samsung Galaxy Tab A running Neutron
 
Amplification: Marantz Cd5001 headphone output, Marantz Pm6004 integrated amplifier headphone output, smartphone and tablet outputs, LittleDot MkIII dedicated tube amplifier
 
Headphones compared: Sennheiser HD600, Beyerdynamic Dt880 Premium / 250 ohm
 
 
Listening
 
The Beyer T90 is: comfort, dynamic contrasts and subtleties, airiness, detail, punch, euphony.
 
The Beyer T90 is not: perfect correctness, softness, relax.
 
If it were a VST plugin, it would be a gentle enhancer that preserves musicality and nuances. Compared to the Dt880 the sound is generally more “present”, focused and detailed; the general impression is of a slightly u-shaped response, but the mids to my ears are not recessed at all. The headstage, more intimate than the Dt880 one, retains spaces and proportions, and is quite tridimensional, scanning with ease the different depth plans, when present in the recording. The T90 are capable of revealing many details across all frequencies, also in that bass region which I think is one of the best bass in headphone I’ve heard. If compared to the Dt880, the latter seems a tad more “rounded”, but overall the Dt880 tends to sound somewhat lean on the bass, while the T90 remains always satisfactory, complete, very dynamic and impactful, although the T90 sure isn’t a “bass-head” object.
 
The sound can be described as clear and shiny, but the strong dynamics give the correct evidence and rhythm to the low frequencies. Almost physical is the impact of the drums, and I liked a lot the way the T90 manages the pipe organ pedals: the lowest pipes in the Carillon de Westminster by Vierne (Simon Preston, DG) suggest in an almost surprising way the real broad and deep effect you hear in the church. When listening to the bass of the T90, I automatically thought about ex-my mighty He60 electrostatic Senns; quite remarkable. The perspective is nearer to the instrument compared to the Dt880: the latter puts you in the middle of the church, while the T90 sits in the first pews. The timbres seems analyzed near the pipes, but the perspective of the instrument remains correct.
 
The overall sound of the T90 shines with acoustic guitar and voice duets, like Suzanne Vega and her elegant Solitude Standing or Teresa Salgueiro in O Paraiso. Sounds are vivids, engaging, and still “natural”.
 
2.jpg
 
 
There is a price to pay for all this entertainment: the timbres of some instruments (like violins or cymbals), are slightly modified by the mid-high enhancement in the frequency response, and sometimes the T90 can sound at the limit of accuracy. Human voices don’t seem to show this characteristic: they are present and timbrically evident but always correct. I understand if people will find the T90 too aggressive in the highs: we hear differently. But me? After being accustomed with the T90 sound, these colorations are not evident anymore to me, and they transformed themselves in the particular ability to enter the score and the space in which the performance happens.
 
In this regard the reproduction of the part II of the 8th Mahler Symphony (Abbado, Berliner, live DG) was astonishing: intimate in the more rarefied moments, powerful and tangible in the more frantic measures. I thought to know perfectly this recording, and I was wrong: there were more to discover. Other “drier” recordings like the Sibelius of Barbirolli (EMI Classics) sound maybe less engaging, but properly mastered ones (like Mahler 7th directed by Boulez with the Wieners (DG), or Eric Whitacre's choral Cloudburst performed by Stephen Layton's Polyphony ) sound simply astonishing to me.
 
3.jpg
 
 
All this energy is retained in reproducing rock programs: I’ve listened to Alan Parsons Project’s 1987 mix of the Tales of Mistery and Imagination, to Pink Floyd’s ’92 remaster of Dark Side Of the Moon and The Endless River and many others, and the almost explosive dynamics, the great extensions (particular in the lows, i.e. the 22 Hz impulses in The Endless River) and the “musically aggressive” colors of the T90 always made the listenings exciting and engaging. Combined with the tridimensional headstage, I think this is quite a remarkable performance.
 
4.jpg
 
 
 
Amplification
 
Brief comments:
  1. The T90 is sensible to output impedance, but not in a rude way: you can play with it to compromise between presence and tightness.
  2. The T90 has a peculiar sound signature… that suggests tubes? Maybe, it’s a matter of tubes, and a matter of tastes.
  3. Like always, subjectiveness rules, it’s up to you…
 
 
IMG_4263R.jpg
 
 
Conclusions
 
I really liked the T90, it is on a higher class compared to the Dt880 or the Hd600, but I also think that they are not so linear and correct like these old masters. Nevertheless, the T90 are more extended, more detailed, more refined, more dynamic, more engaging and entertaining: I must say, nowadays my proper listening are with the T90.
 
I had not the possibility to compare the T90 with the T1, the Hd800 ore the HiFiMan planars: nevertheless, I think I will not go wrong if I say that the T90 is a bargain in the today headphone’s market. The peculiar sound signature can be a love/hate affair, but if you like it, you will like it a lot. Recommended.
amartignano
amartignano
swannie007 Thank you!
I didn't find the T90 so "picky" with recordings, but I understand that sometimes can be bothersome given that peculiar frequency response in the mid-high frequencies. Anyway, I'm more and more in love with the sound of this headphone!
L
lrsdrn
Thanks for the review! I am currently trying to decide between the Dt880 and the T90 (second hand). Would you say there is any reason to pick the 880 over the t90?
amartignano
amartignano
Hi @Irsdrn, yes, the Dt880 is less coloured, more correct, but also less fun to listen to. Not an easy choice without auditioning.
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glennkresge

Head-Fier
Pros: Everything is good. Some complain its too bright.
Cons: Fixed cables
I really like the t-90;  I have had them for about two months and really enjoy the brightness. I also have the T70p and the t-5p second gen. I like the t70p better than anything so far. The t 90 are fun to listen too-there's treble and brightness-but I like it. The sound stage is good-again, I like the t-70p.
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glennkresge
glennkresge
I just got the T-1 first Generation! I like them compared to the T-5 second. However, I have been liking the T-5 seconds better and better everyday. I am wondering how much different between the t-1 and t-1 second?

SoundShip

New Head-Fier
Pros: Soundstage, Imaging, Transparent Exciting Sound, Accurate bass representation, Detailed Treble
Cons: Non-Detachable Cable
Having spent a lot of listening time comparing Sennheiser HD650, Shure 1540 & 1840, Final Design Pandora VI, Grado PS-500 and the BeyerDynamic T90 I had no doubt in opting for the T90s.
 
What surprised me with this listening test just how much I disliked the Pandora VI, especially after all the praise they have been getting. I found them way too forward on the mid and highs. The bass extension was very good though, the build was lovely but the fit on the head and ears is flawed (too much movement and weight is an issue.)
 
The HD650’s were a nice set but a tad underwhelming compared to the T90s, as too were the Shure – solid but lacked some magic in top end and soundstage. The Grado’s were the closest to the T90s but the build and comfort is quite frankly poor for such a product.
 
I can understand why some have marked down the T90s for being too pushed at the treble end of the spectrum. For me this only became apparent on tracks that I know have been mastered at source too high in the top end in my option (I used spend a lot of time in pro studio in previous life and use tracks I am familiar with from the source recording to test these cans.)
 
Bass is wonderful and accurate but in a bass mad world some might find these a little underwhelming but still engaging though. Comfort is fantastic – no complaints.
 
But for me the soundstage and imaging was the standout of the listening tests – quite astonishing that this level of quality is on offer at this price and ultimately this is what clinched the deal for me. That and the fact that these headphones transfer the emotion of the music I’m listening to so well.
 
I’m sure there are better cans out there (the P1 and LCD2s come to mind, perhaps) however, there simply isn’t a pair at a comparable price that comes close in my opinion. That said, the appreciation of sound, as we all know, is a truly subjective affair. 
beyerdude
beyerdude
Yes, I think they are criminally underrated too - I never got some of the reviews, thought I had a different pair of headphones....Lucky for me I bought them when they didn't have the 5* reviews for a song :)

szoze

New Head-Fier
Pros: high-end sound, imaging, balance, details, comfort,
Cons: can be too bright (too good, too resolving?) for some people
This headphone really has it all. It is easily comparable with other headphones costing twice it's price. Shame it doesn't get more love it really deserves here on head-fi. 
 
A highly musical headphone with good bass, open mids and very detailed treble. It will probably earn a legendary status with time for it's unique sound and great comfort. Well done Beyer.

bracko

Previously known as muxamed.
Pros: Beautiful crisp loudspeaker-like sound, immersive soundstage, fantastic tonality, transparency, comfort, timeless design, price
Cons: non-detachable cable, makes you want to go through your music collection once again, nothing else at this price
These headphones are all about quality. Quality in workmanship and craftsmanship. Quality of sound. Quality of design. Quality of comfort. The moment you take them out of their box you can feel there is something special with them. Personally I have never been so impressed by a pair of headphones before. Maybe my HD650 come close. I really didn't expect anything near this magnificent performance for $600. I got them used (6 months old) for $220 and it is the best purchase I have ever done in hi-fi.
 
Dare I say that these headphones are probably among top three headphones I've ever heard? Other two being HD800 and Stax SR-007. A bold statement I know. But I am impressed indeed.
 
The sound of T90 is very unique and hard to describe. It is a headphone that disappears in its transparency, airiness and great tonality. Listening to classical orchestral pieces really feels like sitting there in the concert hall a couple of rows back. Having the orchestra inside your head. The soundstage is very coherent. Imaging pinpoint. Detailing is really fantastic. You can easily concentrate on any instrument in the orchestra and follow it, almost feel it. The tonality is natural and real, very expressive. Mids are really beautiful. Vocals for instance, are full of character. Bass is a little bit slim but very finely defined and textured. It goes very deep and has slam when needed. 
 
The price/performance ratio of T90 is unbeatable. T90s are experience. They are highly recommended from me. In this case I don't have enough stars to award.
Nekrosov
Nekrosov
Thanks!
mkrzych
mkrzych
Totally agree with your review. Besides the cable, which could at least look more sturdy these are superb cans and ticket to audiophile sound.
mkrzych
mkrzych
Maybe one additional comment. Even there are efficient in 250Ohms, you need a good amplifier from my experience to make them sing. I paired them with Lake People G103 and so far I am very happy  - gain left at +8dB as default.

motion2082

New Head-Fier
Pros: Sound Quality, Price
Cons: Makes my ears warm, not as comfortable as I would like
I have owned these headphones for about a week.
 
The sounds quality is great but I'm not sure if I can wear these longer than 1 hour. My ears get way too warm. Would love a bit more airflow.
whitemass
whitemass
Beyer makes Warm Sounding Headphones? I doubt this.

xskugga

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Bass, clarity, transparency, imaging, comfort
Cons: Treble, build quality for the price, price
Pros: Bass, clarity, transparency, imaging, comfort, 
 
Cons: Treble, build quality for the price, price

 
Introduction
I should start off by describing myself, experiences, among other things. The term "audiophile basshead" fits me well. I like bass, but also appreciate great sound quality. Give me bass and a good soundstage and I will be a happy camper. With that being said, I tend to look for open headphones that have good bass...which this definitely fits. I have only had/tried three other headphones. Those being M-Audio Q40s, Numark Electrowaves, and Beyerdynamic DT990 pros. The Q40s where my first "real" headphones other than gaming headsets that I have used for music and gaming. They were quite nice, but died within months, which lead to the Numark Electrowaves which were a replacement to the Q40s as InMusic (the parent company) didn't have any replacements for the Q40s. The Electrowaves were the same thing as the Q40s basically, except for more quality oriented which leads me to wanting quality over quantity...thus leading me to the DT990s. I had the DT990s in February ´15, but returned them within a month as they couldn't handle much bass. They did have quite a bit of bass...but a boost was out of the question which limited the bass I could get form them. After months of researching, this leads me to today and to the T90s. 
 
Burn-in so far: about 50 hours.
 
Equipment: FiiO E6 + Behringer UCA222 cheap, but will edit once I get a better amp or amp/DAC.
 
Ergonomics
These are basically the same as the DT line, except with a different design. Not much to add here other than they are stylish, yet simple. 10/10
 
Build Quality
I would say this is a significant con. For $650 (I paid $549) these have okay build quality. They have the same generic build quality as the DT line which makes no sense. For $650 I would expect more metal, but instead...there is plastic. Had the mesh been metal, I wouldn't be writing this, but it's plastic. I certainly don't think this will be falling apart or breaking any time soon, but I expected more. I could just be picky here, but I really do expect a premium feel for a premium price. 8/10
 
Comfort
These are quite comfortable, the earpads are valour and are plush as well as soft. The clamp is a little more than I like, but it's acceptable. I do find the DT990s to triumph in comfort though, the earpads on those were softer and plushier, perhaps it is because these weight a little more, but it's not a major difference. I do find that these can get a little warm though and airing out the ears every once and a while is necessary, but not a big problem. 9/10
 
Sound
Overall, this is a quality oriented pair of cans. These are not neutral by any means. They are hot, and they can be sibilant to some. The treble on the DT990s only bothered me slightly on some tracks. For these, they tend to bother me a bit more in general, but it's nothing to complain about. The biggest thing about these cans are what you put into them is what you get. They are extremely transparent, and will give you what you want, this is a massive pro as you can do what you want with the sound to make it sound a certain way. 
 
Treble
As previously stated...these are hot. The treble can be harsh to those who are sensitive to it. With a little EQ drop in the treble, this potential issue is fixed. Upon being fixed, the treble is airy, and crisp. It does exactly what it should. I cannot really go much into it as I really don't pay attention to the treble, but I would say it does treble well and that listening to it without an amp/DAC or whatever else, the treble is going to be the most present. 8.5/10
 
Mids & Details
Mids...I really don't pay much attention to these, nor am I familiar with many terms, but from what I can hear these are very present. No matter what situation I have put these cans in, the mids were definitely there, which I assume would make them "forward". As far as vocals go, this pair doesn't do as well as the DT990s, but vocals are still done very well. I think the 990s had an artificial boost to the mids that gave vocals a better sound, but I am unsure. The vocals seem very natural and as they should with the T90s. The mids are just behind the treble when just listening to them and nothing else. 9/10
 
Bass
The reason why I love these is that they can take a massive boost to bass. If you don't want a whole lot, they can do that, if you want a lot, they can do that. They can't go to an XB1000 level, but they can definitely do bass. Out of the box, they have some thump, but it depends on the song. As I said before, what you put in is what you get out, and that is definitely true for the bass. Compared to the DT990s, they have less bass overall, but can handle a lot more. There really isn't much to say here other than it can handle a lot. It really depends on what the song has in it and what you want out of them. I can say these are not basshead cans out of the box, but can be if you amplify and EQ them to act like basshead cans. Although, don't expect anywhere near the same bass levels as heavier basshead cans. Inn regards to the three bass regions, I find that sub-bass is slightly lacking, while upper bass is present and mid bass is very present accounting for most of the bass. 9/10
 
Soundstage (& Imaging)
This is where I was a little disappointed. The DT990s has a wider soundstage, but these have a deeper soundstage. Personally...I prefer a wider soundstage. That being said, these do not lack soundstage at all. They are wide to the point where they need to be, but sadly, not any more than that. There's really not much more to say in regards to soundstage. As for imaging, I am not familiar with imaging, but I can say it definitely is there. I personally think the DT990s did a better job of this, but you can definitely tell where things are with these, that's really all there is to it. 8/10
 
Leak
Open headphones leak...that is fact. In comparison to the DT990s, they leak more. I could put a more dark EQ on the 990s and put them on 50% volume and have them not leak much at all. These won't do that, but it will help. I wouldn't advise listening to these in public since they leak quite a bit, especially considering the treble is higher on these. These are definitely more open than the 990s, that is apparent. At 25% volume with just my DAC, I could hear the music from about 1 meter away. Where as, with DT990s I kind of could, but not as much. They aren't really loud and obnoxious, but people could hear and maybe make out what you're listening to. 8/10
 
Isolation
Again, these are open, so isolation won't be great on these. With my DAC, amp, and EQ on 25% volume, I could hear my TV and make out what what being said when set to a volume of 10. That is slightly louder on my TV, so the isolation is definitely not great. With that being said, don't expect isolation from these unless at volume where leak is an issue. 7/10
 
Drivability/Impedance
These are rated at 250 ohm, so that means they're harder to drive...right? Not these babies. My Note 3 was able to drive them with more than enough volume very easily. The Note 3 may have an amplifer (not sure) but they can be driven with a cheap amplifier such as an E6 like I am using. 10710
 
Final Thoughts
Overall, I greatly enjoy these headphones. There really isn't much else to add that I haven't already said. These headphones are like a little soldier. They do what they're told to do, and I think that's how the Tesla driver is designed. Beyer says they're "precision" magnets, and I definitely agree with that. They deliver the music how it's meant to be heard by default, but are more than open minded as to EQ and amplification. They lean heavily towards enjoyable rather than analytical. From metal to rap to pop to EDM to screamo there wasn't anything they couldn't make sound amazing, I am impressed. 
 
I would highly recommend giving these a try. While they are expensive and not everyone will have the pleasure of trying them (which is why I listed price as a con) they are worth every single penny I paid for them. I am extremely happy with these, and am excited to see what else Beyer can do with the Tesla drivers. 
 
Overall rating: 9.5/10
 
TL;DR - These are a very transparent pair of cans that can make anything sound amazing. They do what is asked of them without compromise. They may be expensive, but they take music to the next level.
 
Update: After about 20 hours burn-in, they seem to be getting warmer in the sub-bass and mid bass region. I'm listening to them more naturally just from a headphone jack and they sound amazing. What I liked about the DT990s was they sounded great any way you listened to them, these do take that to a new level. They are still hot, but not as much as they were. Will update again at 50 hours. I have to say though...I think I have fallen in love with Tesla drivers, the precision and efficiency is amazing. 

 
Update2: After about 50 hours burn-in, there isn't too much difference other than them being significantly less hot. The bass does seem to have tightened up a bit more too as well as is more pronounced. Listening them through my headphone jack with no EQ or anything of the sort, the treble has really tamed down. Using a vocal and treble enhancing EQ the treble still isn't bad, it was hot at first...but it's definitely more mellow now. Still enjoy them, and enjoy them much more in a natural state than I did before. 
 
Update3: I got a Samsung Galaxy S6 (early, thanks T-Mobile) and it is said to have a Wolfson WM1840 DAC chip. I was using a Behringer UCA222 before, so this is a definite upgrade...and I could see that right away. The soundstage opened up a bit and the sound got more airy. Will update when I try high quality files and with the E6. 
 
* Copied from T90 thread. 
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socks mk2
socks mk2
"They lean heavily towards enjoyable rather than analytical. From metal to rap to pop to EDM to screamo there wasn't anything they couldn't make sound amazing, I am impressed."

Gah! It's like this review was written just for me. Thanks for writing it. I've been looking for something that comes across as a more refined DT990 with better detail retrieval, clarity, etc. While not exactly alike, the T90 sounds like a better pairing than a T1 would be for me. I've been looking at the HE-560 as well, but with regard to price the T90 sounds like it's worth an attempt first. If I like the T90, I'll no need to even audition a T1 or HE-560.
xskugga
xskugga
I felt like that with some of the reviews too, and I can say that all of the reviews are right. The only problem sound-wise with these are that they are definitely hot, but that can be fixed and may not be an issue. They are superior to the DT990s in every way except for soundstage (likely due to their precision) and initial bass. It is definitely worth at least a try, Tesla drivers are a whole new level, just like Orthodynamics are. 

cs098

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Extended tight bass, good amount of sub bass, clear detailed highs, netural mids, good soundstage and imaging
Cons: Mids are distant and may sound thin then depending on source, grills are dust magnets and are easy to scratch. Bass boost may cause rattling
WP_20150107_002.jpg
 
Some say the t90 is 95% of a t1. And while the t1 is easily the better can and the t90 does fall short of being a totl headphone. It’s pretty close, and definitely has the potential to be your end game headphone.
 
Unboxing
Pros: Simple minimal packaging, comes with a carry case, no annoying plastic to throw out
Cons: Lack of accessories, said case isn’t portable
 
While it lacks a lot of accessories,  the fact  it comes with a useful carrying case is a plus that many other headphones don't even have. Other than that easy to unbox and no fussy plastic to throw out.
4/5
IMG_0153.jpg
Burn in
I bought a year old demo with 10 hours of burn in, so I don’t think I can give my impression for this category.
 
N/a
 
Design
Pros: Classic beyer looks with more premium materials
Cons: none
It’s a beyer, so the t90 has that base look from any beyer you can get. Just with nice metals and cloth.
 
10/10
 
Build
Pros: Tough steel, inspires rigidity
Cons: Hinges don’t inspire confidence, non removable cable, dust and scratch magnet
 
It’s quite the tank, despite its refined looks. However the hinges do feel a bit wobbly. And even worse the grills are scratch magnets with a scratch and a few scuffs appearing on both sides with prolonged usage. Still said scratches very light and needs close attention to see. But it’s still there.  It also collects dust and dandruff like there’s no tomorrow. Not good for those who like visual perfection. But despite my worries of the hinges, even rough use of the headphones did nothing to damage them significantly. Hence why I think it’s quite a tank.
 
7.5/10
 
Comfort
Pro: Classic beyer comfort
Cons: Moves a bit when moving around
 
(Again) It’s a beyer, and like all beyers, comfort is near perfection. Though the headphone does move a bit when I turn my head. Which is a tad annoying. No big deal though.
9.5/10
 
Sound
 
Pros: Plenty of sub bass and bass impact, clean highs without any sibilance, solid imaging and detail. Engaging detailed bass.
Cons: Mids a tad thin and lacks a bit of engagement. Bass boost and poor amping can cause rattling at loud volumes, soundstage while decently sized and encompassing is a bit compressed to the top.
 
First of all this is a U shaped can. This means while the mids are not recessed whatsoever, it’s also not enhanced in any way unlike the bass and highs.  And the bass and highs are great.
 
Bass
While bass boosting and poor amping can cause rattling a loud volumes, even at decent volume you will get great bass impact and subbass. Plus it’s still pretty tight and detailed when it needs to be. Great for bass heavy songs, movies and games.

 
Highs
The highs sparkles and is quite clean, and unlike many others reviewers, I didn't get the much feared sibilance. Lucky me ^.^
Mids
The mids to me are the worst part of the sound. Though by worst I just mean it’s just good, quite good in fact. Just not as good as the bass and highs. Nicely detailed, but to me it’s a bit too thin and a tad distant for my tastes. But otherwise done very well.
Soundstage/imaging
The soundstage is decently wide and deep, but it isn’t huge. A good part of the sound is still “inside my head”, and I also feel the soundstage is a bit compressed to the top. But imaging is great. It was the first headphone that made me realize that in one of my favorite jazz songs, the piano moves from left to right and back to left. Never noticed that on my older headphones.
 
Forwardness
Mids are a tad distant, but the highs are right between forward and distant, and the bass is quite forward and engaging.
Speed
Short of TOTL status, but it’s not slow either.
9/10
 
 
Conclusion
If you skipped everything and just went to the conclusion, let me tell that this is probably the best u shaped can under 1K. I hadn't tried any other u shaped at at below the price point that did the sound sig as much justice as the t90s.  But the mids didn’t sound as enjoyable as some mid heavy and neutral headphones I tried and there was a rattling issue with bass boost at loud volumes. Nor will it beat flagship 1k+ headphones in any way. Still the aspects that fall short of totl headphones are still stellar even at it's mrsp price point. If you take the t90s for what it is, a pre summit fi u shaped headphone, you’ll be treated to engaging visceral bass with clean detailed highs.
 
IMG_0151.jpgIMG_0152.jpg
 

40/45
MrEleventy
MrEleventy
Going to echo Koolpep. Great review and matches my findings as well. Couldn't have worded it better myself.
Had them paired with a Darkvoice 336se with a pair of mid-centrics tubes. Definitely loved my time with them.
Koolpep
Koolpep
Indeed sad :wink: I only sold my T90 to fund my T90 Jubilee purchase, LOL I still have a E07K but once you heard the T90 on a Crack there is no way going back... While I must say if you need portability the C5D is also quite capable... But if you enjoyed the T90 with the E07K that's fab! It's a nifty little device for sure.
xskugga
xskugga
"...you’ll be treated to engaging visceral bass..." O lordt I hope I get that from them too, they would be perfect. These will be my first higher end cans coming from the Q40s and the 990s for a little while. 

SoundApprentice

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Detailed, Exciting, Has Soul
Cons: Very System Dependent, Sibilant

A lot has been written about Beyerdynamic’s T90 Tesla headphone. It’s easily one of those headphones that falls in the “love it or hate it” category. The sound signature is interesting, it’s involving, but it’s definitely not for every ear.

The T90 is often referred to as the DT990’s big brother. In a sense that is true and in many ways it is so much more. Having had both, I feel confident saying that you will love the T90 if you like the DT990. While the frequency responses are relatively similar, the T90 is a truer reference level headphone. It takes everything good about the DT990 and makes it better: Smoother treble, wider soundstage, tighter bass, more space and depth, and, of course, better build quality (particularly when compared to the DT990 PRO). 

In all, the T90 is much more refined, and it should be when you consider the price difference. Compared to its higher priced sibling, the T1, I truly believe you are getting probably 80-90% of the performance for a fraction of the cost. My particular gripe with the T1 is the angled driver that makes performance very dependent on the cup placement on your head. The T1 will sound very different depending on how the driver is lined up with your ear, and this is something I personally can’t stand. Otherwise, I’d say the T1 is simply a touch more refined across the frequency range, but this is a classic case of diminishing returns as prices rise.

Anyway, all that said, I find the T90 to be one of the pickiest headphones I have ever used. I’ve gone from absolutely loving it... can’t stop listening, “Just one more song,” to “Get these things off now.” So I guess I have a love/hate relationship with it. The T90 is quite sensitive, it gets loud very easily, it’s incredibly revealing, the treble can get peaky easily and what all of that means is that without a high quality source with the power to get the drivers really moving and recordings that match the T90’s characteristics, they can be incredibly unpleasant to listen to. 

For example, mated with my Ray Samuels Audio “The Raptor” tube headphone amp, the T90 performs admirably. Despite some background gain hiss, the T90 balances out the Raptor’s warm, lush tube sound to create a dynamic, full-bodied atmosphere that engulfs your ears and transports you into the concert hall. This combination always has my toes tapping and head bopping across all of my preferred genres. It’s easily one of my favorite headphones with that amp. The T90s driven by my Woo Audio WA6-SE on the other hand is absolutely underwhelming at best, and this saddens me. I can’t technically explain why, but the sound is thin, the treble is incredibly sibilant, and they lose all of the gusto that they had with the Raptor or the solid state Grace Model 901. With the terrific little ALO Audio Pan Am I use on my PC, the T90 performs somewhere between the Raptor and WA6-SE, regaining some warmth and a mellowed out high end with nice treble extension. But my point here is that the T90 is very amp dependent and it will likely take some trial and error to get the T90 performing to its full capabilities, and this is why I believe it is often loved or hated. 

I’ve owned a lot of headphones: AKG K701, Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO (review), Beyerdynamic T90, Brainwavz HM5, Grado GS-1000i (review), HiFiMan HE-500, Sennheiser HD650 and Shure SRH840 (review). Each of these is unique in its sound signature, but the T90 is one that I think can really excel at everything and every genre, but it’s all about getting the synergy right with your amp/DAC. Get it wrong and you’ll likely hate every second of your listening session. But when you get the match right, the T90 absolutely sings. It shimmers; it has soul. It’s engaging for all of the right reasons and it will take you another step closer to Audio Nirvana.

 

 ​
Riddick
Riddick
"Anyway, all that said, I find the T90 to be one of the pickiest headphones I have ever used. I’ve gone from absolutely loving it... can’t stop listening, “Just one more song,” to “Get these things off now.” So I guess I have a love/hate relationship with it."
 
As an owner of a pair of T90's I have to admit, you absolutly nailed it with this.

DangerToast

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Natural and smooth sound, exciting treble, bass texture, comfort
Cons: On the brighter side, lower bass impact and quantity, the cable might be an issue
After owning the Beyerdynamic T90 for more than a year, I'm finally ready to post a review. Since I purchased these wonderful headphones, I've had the chance to test out many fantastic offerings from more brands than I can remember, but I keep coming back to the T90. It's the mainstay of my collection. The T90 has outlasted headphones from Fostex, Hifiman, and AKG. Even when compared to cans that cost a great deal more, the T90 offers a unique and addictive sound that can't be found elsewhere - certainly not at its price.
 
IMG_20150106_145410500_HDR.jpg
 
In terms of sound, these remind me of the new Grado "e" series headphones in that they're a tad on the bright side, but have a very natural presentation. The treble is certainly lively and exciting, but not shrill or etched. In fact, this is one of the most natural sounding headphones I've ever heard, and not just in the higher registers. There is very little coloration, allowing each instrument to stand apart. The result is a dynamic, engaging sound signature that works well across genres.
 
The T90 also excels when it comes to bass texture. Bass takes on a life of its own with these headphones. I've never heard so much detail, nuance, and complexity in bass notes as I have with the T90. That being said, this is not a bass-lover's headphone. Especially when used with cheaper gear, bass impact is middling at best. However, if you crave more flavor at the lower end, as opposed to more bass quantity, you won't be disappointed.
 
Another reason I reach for the T90 more frequently than any other headphone in my roster is the unparalleled level of comfort it offers. It's light, clamps just the right amount, and doesn't move around once you've put it on. The T90 is an exceedingly well-designed headphone with the exception of the cable, which is not user-replaceable and a too long for my tastes.
 
If you love hearing the details and dynamic changes in your music the Beyerdynamic T90 is a must-hear, especially at its price.
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cs098
cs098
Aw, I was about to finish my review of the t90s, now I have to wait a little while before posting it.
 
Fyi, my impressions are pretty similar to yours, but I find the mids to be neutral at best and a bit thin at worst depending on the source and with a fiio bass boost you can bring the out bass impact and sub bass though at the expense of detail and a risk of grattling.
mrmoto050
mrmoto050
Thanks for the review. I love these headphones. I listen to them through a Schit Valhalla with a DAP as my source. Great late night listening.
coletrain104
coletrain104
I just wanted to mention that BTG Audio offers recabling services as well as installing jacks for removeable cables

josephpino07

New Head-Fier
Pros: punch, transparency, detail, clarity, definition, soundstage
Cons: Not for bassheads, non-detatchable cable
Best headphones I've tried up to date (and I've tried the rs1e, the hd650 and the k702 among others)

windplr

Head-Fier
Pros: Detailed, elegant sounding. Outstanding comfort. Well balanced.
Cons: Occasional piercing treble (depending on recording)
My first review on head-fi.  I have only had the T90s for a few weeks, and have maybe 30 hours of listening time so far.  I have mainly been listening to ripped CDs (44.1khz/16) and some HD 96Khz/24 recordings.  I've also listened to some 320kbs streaming audio.  My audio path is a Macbook pro to an O2/ODAC via USB.  I also have a DacMagicXS that I use at work.
 
I came to the T90s from a set of ATH-M50 cans.  Putting on the T90s was a revelation.  I never realized how much more music there was to the recordings, in almost all cases.
 
One of my personal peeves regarding playback systems in general, is a tendency for many to emphasize one aspect of the sound, heavy bass for example.  The T90 is well balanced at all frequencies, with the possible exception of an occasional over-emphasis of treble.  Even so, I am not in the least bit bothered by this as it seems to be somewhat recording dependent and is easily dealt with.  For me, the bass response is just right.  Ever present, but not overbearing and with a pure sound.  The mids shine and really highlight how much better these are than the ATH-M50s I have been using.
 
I'm not going to talk about soundstage or other somewhat abstract audio concepts, except to say that when I listen to music through these headphones, I feel very close to the music.  Not in the middle, but close enough.  I don't feel as if I am in a large concert hall, but more a smaller venue, maybe a night club.  This may be more to the type of music I listen to, primarilly acoustic jazz, folk, with some classical mixed in.
 
The sound of the individual instruments always comes through well with the T90s.  Ensembles sound right, with my only criticism being that some string ensemble tracks can sound a bit muddy.  I think this is one of the most difficult types of music to get right for any playback system.  Voices are magnificent on these headphones.  Especially female vocals.
 
To conclude, the T90s have been a significant upgrade to my listening experience.

twelvebears

Head-Fier
Pros: Comfortable, well built.
Cons: The way they sound!
In two words, hugely disappointing.

I was looking for an open-back 'phone to use as an alternative to my AKG 550s and having owned Sennheiser HD 600s and AKG K701s previously, I thought I give Beyerdynamic a try and I was REALLY hoping I would like the T90s

The T90s have plenty of positive reviews, with the consensus seeming to be that they are supposed to be a bit more open, lively and less 'dark' sounding than the HD600s, which sounded just what I was after.

I know personal preferences will be a huge factor, but I found the T90s unbelievably thin and tinny sounding - note this is being driven from an Audioquest Dragonfly, with 24/96 files and not just an iPod or portable device, so I was using a decent, if not amazing quality source.
 
I found the treble to be totally OTT and the mid completely devoid of any body or warmth.

I have now returned the T90s in favour of a pair of AKG K702s which I obtained as a perfect Amazon Warehouse deal at less that half of the T90s already discounted price. For me, the AKGs frankly destroy the T90s in absolutely every single area.

Of course I respect the views of other here, but personally I'm finding it hard to think of how or why anyone would choose these in preference to Sennheiser's HD600 or HD650, or AKG's K701/2 range, let alone the HD700 or HD800.

If you are using a USB source, my advice would be to grab a pair of AKG702s and a CEntrance DACport, which can BOTH be bought for the cost of the T90s. The difference in quality and VFM is staggering.
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cakebreaker
cakebreaker
I have a feelimg he is not being sincere.
huberd
huberd
I agree with your review. The T-90's are way to bright and lack bass. I have used both solid state and tubes. I have a Valhalla and an Asgard 2. I used a Meridian Explorer2 for a DAC. 
adydula
adydula
I wonder if your source material is the culprit, the T90's here have plenty of accurate and very musical bass, a bass being played sounds like a bass, not boomy at all. I went thru many sets of cans and sold most all except the T90s. My amp is a Bottlehead Crack with Speedball upgrade and two solid state amps, O2 and ODA, and use ODAC's rev A's with bitperfect setup. Absolutely stunning,

hk1388

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Bass, Treble, Overall very balanced neutral
Cons: Non-removal cable
This was supposed to be an extremely short review of the Beyerdynamic T90 after owning them for several weeks. Didn’t really notice the sound changing (burn-in) as I’ve owned them. Setup is a custom built desktop running Windows 8.1 and Ubuntu Gnome 14.10. Music sources are FLAC files played through Foobar2K and streaming Google Play Music. I used ifi nano > ifi micro ican > T90.
 
Ergonomics
Beyer as usual knocked the ball out of the park. I never thought something would be as comfortable as the DT990, but Beyer has outdone themselves. Clamping is light. Almost feels like you have nothing on your head allowing you to get lost in the music. The pads are microfiber. No itchiness or scratchiness I’ve experienced with velour or some other materials. Ears do not get hot after multiple hours of use.
 
The headphones themselves are beautiful to behold in person. They look good in pictures but even better when they’re in front of you. Everything about the headphone feels well crafted and you can tell time was put in to make an excellent product.
 
If I do have one complaints, it is the cable. Length is decent but at the price the headphones sell for, they should be removable.
 
Sound
Before getting these, I probably did too much research. I’ve been through a few headphones over the past few months (HD600 x2, HE400, Sound HP100, AKG Q701). While each of them had some great qualities, there was always something wrong like the comfort, mids, or soundstage. So I ended up selling them in the For Sale section or returning them. The T90 is the one that felt like the complete package.
 
Treble
Many reviews mentioned that this had a lot of treble and that almost stopped me from getting them. I’m glad I bought them because the treble is a non-issue for me at least. I haven’t heard any sibilance or any sharp or piercing highs. Maybe my ears have adjusted after having the Q701. The highs extend well and are very present but not overbearing.
 
Mids & Details
The details are incredible. You hear things you didn’t even know were there before. A singer’s breathing becomes clear. Instruments that you didn’t hear before are now there. I have gained a new appreciation for producers.
 
In Bel Biv Devoe’s poison, you can hear the bass line in other headphones. But it is more textured and detailed on the T90. To test the mid range of headphones, I like to listen Coexist by The xx. On the opening song, Romy’s voice is so clear and engulfing. You can hear her breath after singing a note.
 
Hearing the T90 is like going from SD to 1080p. The T90 do a great job of showing all the details but not throwing them in your face. You can get immersed in the music but the details still shine. It’s like sitting in the middle section at a theater.
 
There is a negative to the hearing the detail though. You hear all the details even the bad stuff. It is truly like putting a microscope on your music. As I found out, a lot of the music I listen is not mastered well. There is static and random pops and crackles. The mastering problem happens on more modern music especially pop. Most of the 80s music I listen to (pop, r&b) sounds incredible.
 
Bass
This may not be the basshead’s headphone of choice, but there is good bass here. There is quality and quantity. The bass does not bleed into the other parts of the music. Impact is solid and well textured with a quick decay. The bass depends on the song. If bass is present in the song, then it will be there in the T90. On Candy Girl by New Edition, there is very little bass. However on Disclosure’s Tenderly, the bass is very present and addictive. Because the bass doesn’t become overbearing, you can appreciate other parts of the songs but still bobb your head.
 
Soundstage (& Imaging)
One complaint I read about the Q701 is that the soundstage was too wide. I didn’t get what they meant till I got them. Basically the soundstage was wide all the time even if the music needed something more intimate. The T90 is soundstage done right.
 
The T90 has a decent sized soundstage. It is wide but there is also depth. While it’s not perfectly 3-d, you can easily discern where a sound is coming from. To recycle the theater analogy from earlier, it really is like sitting in the middle section at the movies. Instrument separation is top notch. Everything sounds like it’s in its own lane on the same road and they come together to make some sweet music.
 
Final Thoughts
This was supposed to be a micro review. Don’t know how I ended up rambling for so long and I almost thought about going further.
 
Anyways, the T90s are the most balanced sounding and best sounding Beyers I’ve heard. Whatever is in the Tesla technology is magic. I’ve never smiled and bobbed so much listening to music before. Simply put, these are the greatest sounding headphones I have heard so far. To be fair, these are the only $400 plus headphones I’ve heard as well :p.
 
Hierarchy of headphones I’ve owned so far
T90 > HD600 > HE400 > HP100 > DT990 >= Q701 > DT770 > M50

TL;DR… Comfortable and great sounding. Buy them especially if you can find it for around $400 on eBay like I did. Make sure the quality of your music is up to par (no 128kbps mp3s) and mastered well.
 
Some Eyecandy 
beyersmile.png

 
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hk1388
hk1388
T90 is better is just about every way from what I remember. Bass (quality, quantity, and presentation) are better. There is more treble on the T90 and increased clarity. Mids are about the same with maybe a slight edge to the hd600. Wish I could provide more detail, but it's been a while. You can ask in the T90 thread and I'm sure others will chime in.
potatoe94
potatoe94
@hk1388 hahah welcome ! Enjoy !! ^^
Hifihedgehog
Hifihedgehog
Thanks! I think I will be selling the Senny's I just got and get some T90's in their place. I prefer a bright and happy sound that can my toes tapping to a slightly warm and controlled approach. The long story short, I have owned practically every sub-$400 Beyer and Sennheiser open-back headphone. In short, I loved my DT860 because I could groove with disco on them but my HD600's never engage me and leave me wanting more.

Over time, the treble roll-off I thought was non-existent in the Sennheiser HD600 has become apparent. It is only a matter of five decibels or so but it means two things. I either have to jack up the volume to lifelike levels or higher to get some clarity or I do some EQ'ing to get things to sound normal or exciting. If the T90 can give me a WOW factor and not stray too far from neutral like the DT990 Pro or Premium, I may have a match made in heaven.

I demoed the HD800 at Sweetwater and, to borrow your analogy, it is like going from 480 to 4K. I could effortlessly hear each sound in a recording as if it were a transparency, one atop another, and the differences in tone color, reverberation and distance became obvious. It is pretty cool at first until you hear the flaws in recordings, kind of like noticing the lighting difference between CGI and the real life objects in a scene or the strings on a character in a movie. It also lacked energy and by that I mean the upper midrange and lower treble was somewhat shy and slightly grainy middle treble took away from the body. It was a good league above the HD600 but I prefer to the HD600 to it because HD600 is more natural, or coherent within and to its own sound response, than the HD800 regardless of technical abilities.

Davidoffdgh

New Head-Fier
Pros: very transparent and comfortable
Cons: first 5 hours not very good, too clear with bad records, limited soundstage (IMO)
I coupled the O2 Odac with this T90 to have the most transparent  combo possible for the price.

After 1 month and almost 80 hours of usage, I can honestly it is the best purchase of my life

I may not have the most fancy amplifier, but spending more would have been a waste of money and space ! 


Every song I throw at it is perfectly transcripted (all genres from classic to rock and Pop):

-bass : just what is required, precise, deep
-middle : very good, voices have volume and detail
-treble : definitely the strong point with extreme clearness especially with classic music where it takes all its power.

Special mention for classical music : if you would like to have good/very good classical music listening for less than 800USD, do not look elsewhere : T90 + O2 Odac
All the other genres are delightful as well do not worry !!

FYI : the first 5 hours might be disappointing, especially if you come from a "dark" headphone. Your ears get used to it after that and the headphones' treble get smoother and bass deeper

Movies are breathtaking as well.

Only disappointing point of this combo is the lack of soundstage (my perception might be due to a lack of peers comparison or too high expectations, the soundstage is anyway very respectful)
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JoeDoe
JoeDoe
Nice job man. I agree with almost everything! Surprised you don't think the soundstage is very big. I found it to be quite above average. 

ngweekiat

New Head-Fier
Pros: interesting sound signature !
Cons: nothing much ~
if you have the money , go get it , it is definately bang for the buck !!! Hi Fi sound !! open sound stage !
MrTechAgent
MrTechAgent
Excellent comprehensive review , good job !!

adydula

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Great Overall Tonality, Accurate Bass, Extreme Resolving Power, Very Comfortable and very affordable...
Cons: Clicking sometimes in adjusting headset
I can not believe these headphones are rated at #64 in this category.
 
I have had many headphones in the last few years and sold most of them once I discovered these Beyer T90's.
 
No headphones are perfect and a lot of them are far from even being close.
 
I am not going to be-little other cans here but the T90s deserve a listen to and compare for yourself how great they are compared to your other cans.
 
Using cuts from Brian Broombergs "Wood" cd allows you to see how well and accurate bass from a musical instrument really can sound in a set of headphones.
 
The bass is as good as my LCD2's IMO.
 
The human voice both male and female are re-produced wonderfully, from Linda Rondstadt to John Hiatt.....
 
The T90s are a very accurate but very musical set of headphones, very immersive and amazing uncanny ability to reproduce what the recording engineer was trying
to capture when mastering.
 
They are quick and snappy when the source material demands it.
 
Guitar plucks are reproduced with depth and wonderful tonality, Preston Reeds, Instrument Landing, "Bye Bye Boo Boo" is reproduced with magnificent sound.
 
If the source material is well mastered and recorded the T90's will allow you to experience all of it wonderfully.
 
Some say there is sibilance etc on the high end.....but listen to a live band or concert and listen to how sharp and brittle some instruments sound when they are whacked unmercifully...or breaking glass.
 
The T90s reproduce these sound very accurately...if the high end is "hot" you will hear 'hot"....
 
These cans are very comfortable and fit my normal sized head well. The only minor hit to me is the adjustment sometimes moves a little bit when putting them on or off.
You get a clicking sound from time to time in this on/off removal, dependent on how you hold them etc..really a nit to me.
 
Searching for a really great transparent set of headphones in a $500-$600 range to rival the $1K range, I find the Beyer T90's fit that bill very nicely.
 
Highly Recommened
 
Alex
Hifihedgehog
Hifihedgehog
They aren't discontinued. The DT860s are being discontinued, though. :/
bracko
bracko
Really nice headphones. One of the best I've heard. Thanks for the review
adydula
adydula
Bass with Bottlehead Crack and Speedball is about as good as it gets...a 10 out of 10.

porkchop3

New Head-Fier
Pros: extremely clear high, slightly dynamic in sound, bass very tight, midrange sounds pretty neutral, Smooth soundstage
Cons: I feel that the earpads are a bit hot after a while, clamping force a bit too tight to me, maybe because of the pad
I have been looking for upgrades after using DT990 pro for more than 4 years.
 
I bought this T90 immediately when I see that ebay sold this headphone for 409 USD.
 
The first thing that caught my ears is its crystal clear high and clean separation of instruments.
 
This headphone is not bassy, but it has a very tight bass that provides enough impact on your ears.
 
The airy sound of the open back design really stands out, even though its soundstage is not as wide as the AD900x, it provides a very good smooth feel when it comes to songs that contains tons of instruments.
 
This beast is simply not the same class as the DT990 pro. The use of Tesla magnet makes its clarity superb. It is unmatched.
 
Also, this headphone is pretty easy to push. Simply by using the Schiit Magni and Modi combo can push this headphone very well.
It sounds okay when directly push by phone and laptops.
 
After getting this headphone I am very satisfied, if you are looking for something analytical and fun to listen at the same time, this is the headphone for you.
 
 
[  Edit: Since I cannot find a way to reply comment lol I actually did have a vali before, but there is a problem, since t90 is generally a higher efficiency headphone due to the addition of the Tesla magnet, it actually has a higher sensitivity.
 
When plugged into Vali, I can hear a pretty clear "hiss" sound no matter what volume I am on. For that reason, I changed the Vali for a Magni. Another reason I don't really like the Vali personally is the fact of the microphonic tubes. They bugged me a lot.
 
However, I do have a pretty good experience when using my DT990 pro with it. Thanks for your comment anyway =]  ]
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Makiah S
Makiah S
If you get a Schiit Vali you may like the T90 even more! I loved my Vali with the DT 880
mattykam
mattykam
I just got a Schiit Vali + Modi to go with these headphones as an upgrade from an Audioengine D3. I have to agree with porkchop3, the hiss is very annoying.
Question: since you've tried both the Magni and the Vali, do you notice any sound quality difference? To my ears, the Vali is too warm and the detail I came to love in the T90 has been mellowed out and lost. I'm thinking of exchanging it for a Magni as well.
mattykam
mattykam
Just a follow up: After a day or so I've gotten used to the Vali, the fullness and bass that comes with it. I'd say the detail is still there, but the hiss is there too at low volumes. Probably not worth returning for a Magni, but I'm still curious if it would have been a better choice.

potatoe94

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Amazing instrumental imaging, amazing detail retrieval, beautiful sound stage.
Cons: non-detachable cable, unforgiving with poor recordings .
Beyerdynamic T90 Review

Headphone - Beyerdynamic Tesla90 {250 Ohm} [Open]
Portable Amplifier – iFi iCan Nano
Player Source – Lenovo Y470
Music Source – 16/44.1kHz CD FLAC & 24/192kHz FLAC
Music Bands – Eric Clapton , Westlife , Michael Buble , Jason Mraz , Chris Daughtry, David Cook, Maroon5 , Taylor Swift , Green Day , Avenged Sevenfold.

Introduction
Having done research on the leading products on Hi Fi headphones over the past few months, I’ve audited a small group of Hi Fi headphones, such as the Senn HD800, Beyer T1, Beyer T5, Beyer DT990, AKG 701, AKG 702 etc. Every one of these headphones showcased very different sound signatures and built quality. I have read online reviews regarding these high end headphones and weighed their pros and cons before deciding to lie my money on them. Measured Graphical Statistics of these headphones from companies like Golden Ears, Head Fi & Inner Fidelity were also taken note of. The T90’s definitely stood out from the rest with its price to performance ratio, where I bought it on the second time I audited them.

First Impressions

Design
These headphones looks like they have a bold statement to deliver when you first look at them , most of the parts which look like metal , are metal . The construction is very rigid, looks durable and feels good with a premium weight in your hands. The headband and ear pads are microfiber velvet, comfortable to put on over extended periods of time, the headband and ear pads are fully removable, allowing it to be easily exchanged at a small cost. The earpads felt like they are filled with memory foam and are thick enough to provide comfortable cushioning and prevents your ear from touching the headphone driver felt padding (which was a problem for the DT series) It is very comfortable and fits like a glove with the aids of multiple swivels. The opening for the drivers on the outer side has a beautiful tight weave which prevents dust from interfering whilst maintaining its open headphone properties. You cannot see through the Headphones or see the driver itself like other headphones, however it is quite evident that it is open due to the sound produced where I would touch on later in the review. The headband could be extended in notches, discretely cut. The cable is a 3m fixed rubber insulated cable which prevents one from changing cable types for sound tweaking, it extends out to a 3.5mm audio jack with a ¼ inch audio plug screw on. Overall Design felt exquisite and felt like no corners were cut during the assembly process. The Beyerdynamic T90s were Designed, Hand assembled and Tested in Germany.

Frequency Response of the headphones were wonderfully and tastefully tuned , having low bass reach whilst keeping it minimally amplified to make the music interesting . The mid-range were good and have a slight warm tint. The treble reach is good, it is well controlled and do not cause discomfort with sharp piercing spikes like some other HiFi headphones, it is bright enough to keep the treble realistic and believable, it does have very well presence in the music and occasionally tells you “hey I’m here!” Overall a rather “fun” sounding headphone, not boringly balanced, but yet enough to keep the listeners looking for “fun” and critical listening smiling. The Beyerdynamic line of headphones generally have a very unique sound signature they have kept over decades, this unique sound signature kept in an interesting manner that one will only understand after trying a few from their DT or T line of headphones.

Sound Stage is one of the thing which sets this T90 apart from Closed headphones, from my experience, Open headphones will definitely have a wider soundstage than Closed headphones, that was the main objective of Open headphones from the start, to recreate a broader sound stage. They were truly impressive, the sound stage was wide. You are no longer confined in the small room of which Closed headphones were limited to, you felt that there is a sudden space between the music and you, making it a very pleasurable listening experience, echoes and reverberations becomes present in realistic amounts making it natural and absolutely satisfying. Each instrument has it’s space and you could hear them being displayed very beautifully as itself. The depth and resolution is simply a treat, an audio bliss.

Instrumental Imaging is of a high calibre with the T90 , and I am not exaggerating it just because I’ve spent good money on them , because the instrumental imaging is of a very high standard, perhaps one of the first few things you would naturally take into notice when running them, immediately you know how many instruments are present in your music, upon that, you know exactly what key each individual instrument is on, at which angle the instruments are placed and played, at what distance these instruments are played in relative to other instruments, are the more forward or backward, it’s very clearly evident and superbly enjoyable to be able to pin point all of the instruments present in the music, that is also the reason why new electric music never caught my ear, they were veiled and had no depth and resolution in them . The instrument details and textures were stunningly true, guitar’s strums and plucks were so real, you could picture the strings vibrating, piano were so clear, you could feel the hammer striking the piano strings, Violins were smooth and beautifully displayed, Drum bass kicks has a wholesome body and head to it. Snares tight and impactful, Hi Hats and Crashes were neither confused nor disorientated, but well controlled and delivered even when the other instruments were present. Rides were true with the ring, Bells rang clear like a bell. It is undoubtedly a very pleasant listening experience, as you know very clearly each instrument is doing its job, the imaging of the T90 is very close to its flagship brother T1 with about 90% resemblance in my opinion. And that also was backed up by a number of other critical listeners whom have owned them both.

Clarity, as claimed by the manufacturer the total harmonic distortion is of 0.05%, as you already know, many companies do put false frequency response range, rounded off impedance, and similarly the low 0.05% should not be taken too seriously. But however, the music sounds neat and black were black, there were no noticeable sibilance and it could perform as it is even in higher volumes with no change in personality Detail Retrieval is good with minor nuances being picked up and delivered with great realism, everything feels just right with the T90 and there were little or nothing to complain about.

Music Genre Handling were interestingly good, they could handle a vast variety of music genres and display them wonderfully for your pleasure. They could handle most of the genres thrown at them with great results. They will sound as they should be displayed. However they are very sensitive to poor recordings and will hiss and spike in poor recordings to tell you explicitly that they are not its cup of tea. Hence, lossless or high quality music must be fed to it, or you will have a rather terrible time with these headphones too. But clear enough, if you play mp3, it’s clear that you will not achieve the depth, detail, imaging, realism and quality as compared to a quality audio file.

Isolation, being an open headphone, it is obvious that it isolates minimal environmental noise, which means, in trade of the wide sound stage, you get a headphone where you could only use at home, in a quiet environment, and end up disturbing the quiet environment with your music. As an open headphone, you could hear the chatters that happen outside of your headphones and the people outside can too, hear your music very clearly. Running at my comfortable volume, the sound could be heard clearly throughout my room even when I have the headphone on. And my little brother sleeping a meter away could easily tell the title of the song I just played. Hence, these headphones are meant for home and to stay home.

Amp Preference, I’ve heard that the T90 performs very differently with different amplifiers and if you manage to find one that suits your preference, you’re in for an immersive good time. I am currently using a good solid state portable amplifier, but I will go on and give tube amps and other solid states a go, to double this theory and to discover the potential of which the T90 holds.

Conclusion
“ Everyone whom have owned these pair of headphones come back to tell me of their new found love “ The T90s are better sounding than the more expensive HD700 , it fought tiers up and resides on the Beyerdynamic T1’s shoulder. Overall Delivery is an interesting, unique pair of headphones which is both enjoyable for pleasure listening and detailed for critical listening. I do strongly recommend this for audio enthusiasts who are interested to know how a high end headphone sound like, and are in for a preview of high end audio from headphones.

Review Updated as of 26/3/14

(Singapore Only)
Auditioned Various headphones at Jaben & Stereo. Do check their stores out, Headphones, inEars, Amplifiers, DACs and more could be auditioned just by asking, both companies has great customer service, items which Stereo do not carry, high chances are that Jaben does. Jaben allows bundles and bargains, making them a recommended place to check out if you are buying more than 1 item per trip. Stereo has more lucky draws, Fixed Prices or Occasionally Fixed Discounts.

https://www.facebook.com/JabenSG
https://www.facebook.com/stereoelectronics?fref=ts


potatoe94
potatoe94
@vaibhavp if im not wrong it's about S$230 @ Stereo . honestly , i have not remembered the sound of any other amplifier , as every time i got a chance to try a new amp , im using a different headphone , making it a waste that my exposure of amps were insufficient , however i will be using my T90s to pair them up with different amps and DACs soon . just to check on the improvements or alteration . the iCan nano is rather impressive with it's 3D Holographic and X bass switches , they make the music come alive , however treble may sound harsh in some recordings with the 3D holographic , but otherwise the 3D holographic will display a sound that is vast , and further allows for better imaging and detail retrieval , making it a real treat to your ears . i've not regretted getting the iFi iCan nano , and im looking forward to my purchase of the iFi iDSD Nano , they were both very highly rated in many reviews and i would confidently lay my money on them , if you live in singapore iFi products could be audited in Stereo ! :)
vaibhavp
vaibhavp
thanks
raptor84
raptor84
Gonna be using this with a DX50 in office heh.... poisoned after reading this and many other reviews.
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