Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO // DT 1990 PRO MK II -- Impressions Thread

[oldson]

still makes me laugh how this is regarded as open back when most of the grill that you see on the front is closed off inside!
did enjoy them while i had them though

 

[FritzS]

The best result - Mac AUGraphicEQ, 8kHz -2 dB

 

[Sanctuary]

Hi there,

First of all, im pretty new to this forum so bear with me.

I just have a quick question and would love to get your thoughts here.

I recently picked up the DT1990, used from the Beyerdynamic shop for around 350. Saw some videos&posts that these were great for music and gaming and indeed they are, I love them but there is a problem in my brain.

Maybe there is a headphone for the same price or even less that sounds better than these and is also great for gaming and music? This thought is killing the joy I get from the 1990s, which is pretty sad, but that is how my fkked up brain works. This may sound very silly, I know that....

I was thinking about getting the Hifiman 400SE for music and some IEMs like the Simgot for gaming. Do you have any ideas as to which HP (or HP/IEM combo) I should definitely check out before buying the DT1990? I listen to a few genres like rock, metal, deep house but mostly rap/hip hop.

Thanks for your help and sorry for bothering anyone.

If it makes any difference, I've had the 1990s for a few years now, and they're my favorite headphone for the A16, gaming and music. They're also very close to sounding as open as the HD800s.

Thing is, I can't stand the default pads at all. Instead, I'm using some very old (and falling apart) JMoney pads that were released about a decade ago that were mainly meant as replacement pads for the Denon D700. The interior diameter is narrower than the typical pads that fit these headphones (including Dekoni). They keep the clarity and overall brightness without being as harsh as they could be by default, and also improve the bass immensely, but aren't bloated or "boomy".

I'm dreading the day when they deteriorate so much that they will no longer remain affixed, because I've tried countless other pads as a replacement, and none sound the same. Mainly because the interior diameter is always quite a bit wider. The Dekoni pads are much better than the default, but only around 80% or so of the JMoney pads.

In any event, the pads are changing the sound signature, so as others have suggested, EQ them if you can. Or, get different pads and EQ them.

 

[SuperBad1990]

Thank yall so much. I just the DT 1990.

Which pads from Dekoni should I get? And do you have any short cable recommendations for Europe/Germany.?

 

[FritzS]

Thank yall so much. I just the DT 1990.
..... And do you have any short cable recommendations for Europe/Germany.?

Thomann
beyerdynamic Pro X Straight Cable 1,8 m https://www.thomann.de/de/beyerdynamic_pro_x_straight_cable_18_m.htm
https://www.thomann.co.uk/beyerdynamic_pro_x_straight_cable_18_m.htm

beyerdynamic Pro X Straight Cable 1,2 m https://www.thomann.de/de/beyerdynamic_pro_x_straight_cable_12_m.htm
https://www.thomann.co.uk/beyerdynamic_pro_x_straight_cable_12_m.htm

 

[oldson]

Thank yall so much. I just the DT 1990.

Which pads from Dekoni should I get? And do you have any short cable recommendations for Europe/Germany.?

before i sold my 1990 i was using Dekoni elite hybrid pads, which i prefered to stock options.
kept the pads and now using on my Kennerton Magni

 

[wmf]

When i had the DT 1990s, i had the Dekoni velours on them...(and i have them currently on my T1.2s as well )

 

[audiobomber]

I have Dekoni Elite Velour pads, which ameliorate the high treble, but ruin the PRaT and musicality of the DT 1990. I am a huge fan of the Analytical pads, and have no use for the Balanced pads.

 

[FritzS]

...... I am a huge fan of the Analytical pads, and have no use for the Balanced pads.

YES! Me up! I use Analytical pads too.
With Sennheiser HD490 Pro plus the mixing pads.
I don't like basses blown up between ~100 and ~500 Hz.

 

[Pan Varox]

I don't like this notch at ~4.7 kHz.
Is that just a consequence of the measurement method?
Does this also occur in the real ear?

In reality you dont perceive it as so deep, first beacuse there is a resonance at this point and second because DT1990 has 8-8,5kHz peak, which is roughly a second harmonic for any sound in that range.

 

[audiobomber]

I attended the Toronto Audiofest this past weekend. There were many headphones available for demo. I only listened to a couple that I thought might be an upgrade at a price point I would entertain. My normal headphone is the DT 1990 with Analytical pads. I listen to local NAS and Qobuz music through my desktop system: TP-Link MC220L with iPower X supply, singlemode fiber optics, Windows 11 PC, iFi iDefender with iPower 5V, Belden USB 3.0 cable, iPurifier2, Modius DAC, via XLR to Jotunheim 2.

Demo 1: Tablet, Sennheiser HDV-820 amp, HD-800S
Very comfortable to wear but the treble was at times aggressive, and bass extension was limited. I didn't take particular note of the famous HD-800 soundstage, but soundstage on a headphone is not a big deal to me. My main concerns are tonality, transient response and microdetail. I liked everything about the HD-800S, but the frequency response was a deal killer. No go!

Demo 2: My music, Motorola G Play phone with USB Audio Pro software, Holo Audio Bliss KTE amp, Audeze LCD-X
Clunky and heavy to wear, and where's the treble? I felt like 1/3 of the music was missing. No thank you, rolled off high frequencies are a fatal flaw. I don't care what else it does.

My thoughts from the 2019 show:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bey...back-mastering-headphone.814629/post-15271706

 

[Chastity]

My main concerns are tonality, transient response and microdetail.

Then it's time for you to stop looking at dynamics and planars, and start looking at estats or ribbon solutions, like AMT. You sound like you are stuck where I was, and explored into the DT-1990 and the Monolith M1070 / M1570 planars. The Monolith AMT are finally giving me that experience I was looking for, and solid accurate FR across the full spectrum. (caveat: these have a flat response from 1K-6KHz so you need to correct it to your desired curve, else it sounds low-mid centric)

 

[Pan Varox]

Then it's time for you to stop looking at dynamics and planars, and start looking at estats or ribbon solutions, like AMT. You sound like you are stuck where I was, and explored into the DT-1990 and the Monolith M1070 / M1570 planars. The Monolith AMT are finally giving me that experience I was looking for, and solid accurate FR across the full spectrum. (caveat: these have a flat response from 1K-6KHz so you need to correct it to your desired curve, else it sounds low-mid centric)

Funny you mention that. I also love DT1990 with A pads (in no way I feel „stuck” with them), but I feel it’s time for something new. Especially after I bought Fibae 5 (CIEMs that use three different driver types: dynamic for bass, BA for mids and planar for highs) and damn do I love these super fast articulate highs!

It made my attention go to planars but also AMT drivers. Now I am looking forward to try the new Heddphone 2 GT. The Monolith AMT are also worth checking out? Any comparison with Hedd products?

 

[Chastity]

Funny you mention that. I also love DT1990 with A pads (in no way I feel „stuck” with them), but I feel it’s time for something new. Especially after I bought Fibae 5 (CIEMs that use three different driver types: dynamic for bass, BA for mids and planar for highs) and damn do I love these super fast articulate highs!

It made my attention go to planars but also AMT drivers. Now I am looking forward to try the new Heddphone 2 GT. The Monolith AMT are also worth checking out? Any comparison with Hedd products?

The variable sized, full range AMT driver was co-developed by HEDD and GoldPlanar, so they have access to the same design patents. GoldPlanar makes the headphones for Monoprice, ergo the Monolith AMT has come to be. (GP's AMT model is the GL850) The HEDD 2 uses a smaller driver and of course different chamber tuning.

I caught a magic moment when the AMT were discounted down to $599, and it coincided with a 30% off sale, so I paid $319 for new. Plus I already have a compatible XLR balanced cable since GoldPlanar uses their wonky wired version on their models, like the M1570. The presentation from the Monolith AMT is very lively and dynamic, and super fast and resolving. Imaging is unlike my experiences with planars and dynamics, with great soundstange in front/back as well as to the side. Also some of the best natural sounding timbre. (The DT-1990 come across as being somewhat laid back in comparison)

The model is great for exposing the shortcomings of other headphones, including the HD800S you tested. While the headphone is not a 10/10, it scores 9.5 / 9 in all categories, and really has no weaknesses sonically. It uses magnets so it will be heavy. 680g heavy, but I am very used to it having worn the 700g M1570 for so long. I did need to add a pad under the headband to have it sit on my head properly. (It comes down a tad too low even at smallest band setting to sit comfortably around my ears.)

 

[FritzS]

DT1990 Pro, analytic Pads, Audirvana Studio, M1 Mac, Mac OS EQ

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro plus, Mixing Pads don't need EQ!