Headphone Product Library · Full specs
| Series | DT 990 PRO |
| Form | Over-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 45 mm |
| Impedance | 250 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB |
| Frequency Range | 5-35000 |
| Weight | 250 g |
| ANC | No |
| Microphone | No |
| Waterproof | — |
| Released | 1985 |
Acoustic specs
Spec comparison · relative to this model
| Product DB | Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO 250 ★ | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 | Sivga SV021 Robin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 250 Ω | 38 Ω↓-212 | 80 Ω↓-170 | 32 Ω↓-218 |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 99 dB↑+3 | 96 dB | 102 dB↑+6 |
| Frequency | 5-35000 | 15-28000↓-7000 | 5-35000 | 20-20000↓-15000 |
| Weight | 250 g | 285 g↑+35 | 270 g↑+20 | 306 g↑+56 |
| Battery | — | — | — | — |
| ANC | No | No | No | No |
| Year | 1985 | 2014↑+29 | 1985 | 2022↑+37 |
| Price | $179 | $169↓-10$ | $169↓-10$ | $169↓-10$ |
↑↓ = difference vs the ★ model; lighter, longer battery and wider response are shown in green. “—” means the maker does not publish that figure.
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO 250 is Beyerdynamic’s over-ear, released in 1985 at $179. The spec sheet lists dynamic、45 mm、250 Ω、96 dB、250 g。Its value is not one dramatic number but where those specs land at this price.
1. Where it sits on the shelf
On this over-ear shelf its price ranks 80th (102 models with a price), and 11th most expensive of the 26 models in the $100–200 band. At 250 g it ranks 20th lightest of the 101 models with weight data. 250 Ω ranks 9th highest of the 62 models that publish impedance. 96 dB ranks 54th lowest of the 68 models that publish sensitivity.
2. What the numbers change in daily use
At 250 Ω and 96 dB sensitivity. A phone alone struggles, so a desktop amp or a decent dongle is effectively required.
The rated frequency response reaches 35 kHz.
3. Fit, isolation and use cases
At 250 g it is on the light side for this form factor. No water-resistance rating is published, so sport and rain are out.
4. Head to head with its three closest rivals
The three closest rivals at this price are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 and Sivga SV021 Robin. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x ($169 ($10$ more))：285 g、38 Ω、99 dB；Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 ($169 ($10$ more))：270 g、80 Ω、96 dB；Sivga SV021 Robin ($169 ($10$ more))：306 g、32 Ω、102 dB。
5. Weaknesses worth stating
- No water-resistance rating is published: sweaty workouts and rainy commutes are out.
- It needs a front end: 250 Ω with 96 dB is a hard load for a phone.
- Price position: of the 26 models in the $100–200 band, 8 cost more and 15 cost less.
- It is an older release (1985); newer same-price models differ in sensitivity and weight.
6. What to buy instead at the same price
- The direct rivals are the three models from section 4 (Audio-Technica ATH-M50x、Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80、Sivga SV021 Robin) — which to pick depends on the spec you care about.
- Other checkable models in the $100–200 band: Sennheiser Accentum（$179、222 g）、Marshall Major V（$179、186 g）、Audio-Technica ATH-M50x（$169、38 Ω、99 dB、285 g）.
7. Who it is for — and who it is not
- Anyone who already owns a desktop amp or a good dongle: its ceiling is the front end.
- Long sessions: 250 g is on the light side for this form factor.
- Straight out of a phone: 250 Ω with 96 dB is a real struggle.
- Sport or rain: no water-resistance rating is published.
Data note: every claim comes from maker-published specs in our own product database and same-price comparisons (price, weight, impedance, sensitivity, frequency response, codecs and battery are checkable fields). No unmeasured listening impressions are included; unpublished figures show as “—” in the table.