Game Audio Headphone Review - Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro
Beyerdynamic has been perfecting their pro audio products since 1924, which is worth mentioning since many hyped headphone companies are appearing like flies. Their DT990 Pro headphones deliver insane quality for the price and handily dominate the $200 price point for reference headphones. Like the Sennheiser HD600, they are open-backed. These received big praise online and in print media like Sound on Sound.
The first thing I noticed is how lightweight these feel. The grey velour earpads are super comfy with an overall shape that is less oval and more of a perfect circle. They are more open than the HD600's with external sounds being even more audible.
The imaging and spacing are precise with highs coming across as silky but everything feels really balanced in general. The bass isn't quite as prominent as the HD600s but the differences are subtle. They can easily handle the faithful reproduction of modern audio content for games, film, TV and music projects.
The Ohm rating on the DT990Pro is 250 Ohm whereas the HD600's are 300 Ohm. A higher Ohm rating requires more power from a headphone amp. The output impedance on your audio interface should be as close as possible. Since your studio monitors are now one inch form your eardrums, it is really important to get this right. Audiophiles are obsessive about matching gear specs and you should be too. When plugging the DT990 Pro's into a smartphone, expect a quieter signal. Most consumer listening devices hover around 32 Ohm or less.
Conclusion
I can now confirm that the DT 990 Pro's are a fine addition to any game audio studio. The rave reviews and cult following of these cans are now confirmed. Once you hit this caliber of headphone, it comes down to comfort and matching the specs with your gear. These are supported by Sonarworks headphone calibration plugin which gives a "birds ear view" of how they color the content. This allows you to instantly toggle between normal and flattened response, in real time.
Related:Mixing on Headphones
Headphone Review Sennheiser HD600
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