[Dave Anderson]

I normally use a pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphones and I enjoy the sound they produce. I listen to mainly classical music but not exclusively. As I am something of an amateur sound recordist I also own a pair of closed back Beyerdynamic DT250's which I find useful.
 
Now to my problem. The Sennheisers are getting quite old and I've had some reliability issues with them (they needed a repair last year after the loss of one channel). I have started to really like the sound of my DT250's and they compare surprisingly well to the HD600's.
 
I am looking for an alternative open backed set of headphones for general use. I am attracted to the Beyerdynamic DT990 pro model but am not quite sure what to expect. If they are anything like my DT250's but with a more open sound then I think I'll like them. I am also hoping to gain some improvements in comfort.
 
The DT990 pro suits my budget and seems to offer what I want. I am tempted to jump in and buy a pair but how will they compare to my Sennheiser's? Any views or comments will be much appreciated.
 
Dave.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I normally use a pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphones and I enjoy the sound they produce. I listen to mainly classical music but not exclusively. As I am something of an amateur sound recordist I also own a pair of closed back Beyerdynamic DT250's which I find useful.
Now to my problem. The Sennheisers are getting quite old and I've had some reliability issues with them (they needed a repair last year after the loss of one channel). I have started to really like the sound of my DT250's and they compare surprisingly well to the HD600's.
I am looking for an alternative open backed set of headphones for general use. I am attracted to the Beyerdynamic DT990 pro model but am not quite sure what to expect. If they are anything like my DT250's but with a more open sound then I think I'll like them. I am also hoping to gain some improvements in comfort.
The DT990 pro suits my budget and seems to offer what I want. I am tempted to jump in and buy a pair but how will they compare to my Sennheiser's? Any views or comments will be much appreciated.

The Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250-Ohm headphones are full bass and full treble, which slightly over shadows the mids, but the mids are clear.
Also the DT990 needs to be used with a decent headphone amplifier to sound their best.

 

[skyforger]

Sibilance, so much so that it would make my eyes water(no joke) though that was unamped. Would be interested in trying them amped, now that I have one.

 

[Dave Anderson]

I have the opportunity to buy either the 80 ohm or 250 ohm versions, both at the same price. I don't, at present, have a headphone amp and am unsure which impedance version to choose. I have no real trouble driving my HD600's which I understand are 300 ohm. My DT250's are 80 ohm and there is no discernible difference in output between the two models I have.
 
If I were to buy a headphone amp would the Little Dot 1+ model be a suitable partner for the DT990's? Again I have looked at various models but the Little Dot seems to offer good performance at a reasonable price.
 
I appreciate the comments so far. The reference to strong bass and higher frequencies does not deter me too much. I like listening to church organ music (i.e. J.S. Bach, Buxtehude etc.) and an articulate bass response would be a desirable feature. As to high frequency response, I don't want sibilance but clarity is important. I am on the wrong side of 50 and my hearing is probably not as good as when I was 21. Some of the recordings I will be listening to are speech recordings so the headphones I choose need to be good at reproducing the human voice.
 
When I listen to my Sennheiser's everything seems to sound 'nice'. I will keep the HD600's because they are lovely. The DT250's expose bad recordings but make good recordings sound stunning to me. This difference between the two bothers me. I guess what I'm looking for is a more honest portrayal of the variation between recordings in my collection.
 
Dave.

 

[Darpa Hunter]

I'm thinking about getting the DT990 250ohms pro version.  It's < $150 at amazon.com now.  It's a good deal.
I have an old pair of Yamaha YST-M15 PC speakers that's not in use.  Is it enough to act as the amp for DT990?
The spec said output is 900 ohms.
 
Any help is appreciated.
 

Specifications

Type	Bass-reflex enclosure / Yamaha Active Servo Technology
Output Power	10 w/ch. (1 kHz., 4 ohms @ 10% THD)
Input Sensitivity	230 mV (1 kHz., 4 ohms @ 10 W)
Input Impedance	25 k ohms
Frequency Response	70 to 20 kHz + or - 3 dB
Speaker	1 x 8 cm (3") full-range cone, magnetic shielding
Tone Control	Up to 7 dB cut/boost at 10 kHz
Output Impedance	900 ohms
Output Level	0.6 V (at 230 mV input)
Power Supply	DC 14 V
Dimensions	W 94mm (3 11/16") x H 245mm (9 5/8") x D 155mm (6 1/8")
Weight	Right: 1 kg (2 lbs 3 oz) Left: 0.8 kg (1 lb 12 oz)
Compatibility - computer	Computer (PC or Mac) with audio output from soundcard, motherboard, CD-ROM
Compatibility - other	CD player, tape player, AM/FM radio, TV, electronic keyboard with audio output

 

[TsukiNick]

My DT990 Pro 250 ohm work well with my Schiit Magni (only $99 dollars for the amp)  A little bright but the bass is a nice change from my HD598s which are like the complete opposite in sound signature.
 
You can expect a nice soundstage as expected from an open headphone, great bass, and of course the slightly overdone treble but a bit of EQ can fix this.

 

[Darpa Hunter]

Thanks.
I did a little bit of research and will probably get the new Schiit Vali to power the DT990.  I will also try to use the speaker and compare the 2.

 

[brandonlyz]

I own a DT990, and yes the treble and bass is accentuated, but the mids are still great!
 
However, I cannot emphasize this enough. You need a good amp + high quality source files in order for them not to sound sibliant.