Superficial comparison Beyer DT 990 (old) and DT 770 Pro

Yes, me again, it's my headphone weekend it seems.

When reading Andreas Beyer thread, I remembered my antique & broken DT 990 (ca. 1990, no idea how much ohms, in theory 600). I had little hope to repair them, but after all, I succeeded 2 hours ago , cable exchange helped (they still look as if they were in the iraque war !)

Thus I compared them with my brand-new DT 770 Pro (250 Ohms) on big amp and on average amp.

Sound:
Very different cans. The old 990 sound is quite close to the Senn 595 sound (I had these here some days ago). I think it's a bit less squawky than the Senns on big amp, a bit warmer, but still rather on the naturalistic and realistic side of sound. The 770s are not realistic at all, with that well known "wall of sound" with strong highs and BASS BASS BASS. Yes, the mids are recessed in direct comparison with the 990s. The 990s are cans for conventianal music like classical, jazz, folk and that boring rock stuff. The 770s are rather for the music after 1990, trance, ambient, trip hop and (if liked) techno.

3D / Stereo
The 990s are really close to what the instrument is to sound like. But you get no idea where that instrument is located, location is really muddy. The 990s sound tends a bit into a "mono-effect" compared to the 770s. The 770s give you the impression to be in a large hall and thus represent the other extreme. I personally find that more fun. But I think most people will prefer the 990 sound after all.

Amp
Both sound better on big amp, but the amp does more for the 990s. They should be high ohm cans thus.

Comfort
The 990s are nice to wear, the 770s (Pro!!!) are head-squeezers. Luckily, I'm not that headache-type with uncomfortable phones. (BTW, the most comfortable cans I ever wore were Sony's CD 580)

Conclusion
After all, I'm really glad how this weekend turned out to be . First, the new bombastical 770s, then an headphone-amp for 5,50 € at Ebay, now my old 990s work again. I think I will use the 990s for all "serious" things like classical or jazz in future. But I seldem listen to that genre via headphone. So most work will be done by my new 770s still.

Funny (and a bit shy) that you've warmed up one of my newbee threads. I was so new then that I didn't even know how to subscribe to a thread.

To talk at large, I'd vote for 600 Ohms as well. E.B.M.heads remarks gives you a second hint in respect of that typical old DT990 sound. If bass isn't that heavy and soundstage doesn't create bombastical 3D impressions, it will propably be one of these old 600 Ohms versions.

BTW, it worked out that I don't use my old 990's at all. Can't stand them. These are my wife's gaming cans meanwhile.

Let's fix that the chance of these cans to be old 600Ohm models is 50% or higher. Thus, I severly recommend to look elsewhere for decent HPs. Even if that guy will only charge 20$ for them (what I doubt), you'll get technically inferior bad sounding deadly boring crap.

Hint: My "little Grado" Koss KSC75 (~20$) sounds 10 times as good as that stoneage can. If you prefer neutral sound, the Senn PX100 (~50$) would serve you adequately. Both would be highly portabel and did not need an amp.

I personally did not care at all. But if they broke down again, my wife had to use her LCD-Monitor built-in speakers again. Thunder, I can tell you...
770's are "made" for all kind of electronica, Trip Hop, etc. But they're specialists which fall (to a certain extend) short with all sorts of stringed and acoustical instruments. So if your music style varies more than mine and sometimes leans towards Rock or Classical, you better head towards a DT990 (but not the 600Ohms version )

If I could "restart" my whole HP carreer again, I might begin with the unamped AT A900 instead of my thunderous Beyers plus amp.