DT 1990 PRO

Released September 2016

The DT 1990 PRO are beyerdynamic's original open-back Tesla studio headphones for mixing and mastering, with 45 mm Tesla drivers at 250 ohms and two sets of ear pads, replaced by the MKII in 2024.

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Battery: –
With case: –
Best codec: Wired
Weight: 370 g

Over-ear

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the DT 1990 Pro is superbly built and comfortable, with detailed, spacious sound, and Headfonia and SoundGuys found it needs an amplifier to sound its best. Headfonia found bass body modest even with the bassier pads, SoundGuys found the pads hard to swap, and Audio Science Review measured good tonal balance but too much distortion to recommend it.

From headfonia.com, soundguys.com and audiosciencereview.com

Specifications

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Sound

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Driver size: 45 mm
Back: Open
Impedance: 250 ohms
Bluetooth codecs: None (wired)
Drivers: 45 mm Tesla dynamic drivers, open; 5 – 40,000 Hz; 102 dB SPL (1 mW, 500 Hz); max. 125 dB SPL (200 mW, 500 Hz); THD < 0.05% (1 mW, 500 Hz); rated power handling 200 mW

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim): No battery (wired)

Design

Weight: 370 g
Headphone cable: Yes
Fit and ear tips: Circumaural, open-back; nominal contact pressure approx. 6.6 N; replaceable headband padding and ear pads, two sets supplied ("analytical" for a neutral sound, "balanced" with slightly more bass)
Works with: 3 m straight cable and 5 m coiled cable (extended), detachable, with a 3-pin mini-XLR connector on one side; gold-plated 3.5 mm stereo jack with 6.35 mm adapter (the manual; beyerdynamic's product page lists a 6.35 mm jack plug)
In the box: Headphones, two sets of ear pads, 3 m straight cable, 5 m coiled cable, hard case