Post by solderdude on Mar 18, 2015 14:15:43 GMT
The DT990 Pro in 250Ω impedance is a well known headphone in the headphone community.
It is a rugged headphone intended to be used from amplifiers with a higher output voltage.
The 32Ω version is more suited for portable use. The 'editions' are said to be slightly better sounding and are closer to the old DT990-600.
The edition version is slightly less bassy and treble sounds slightly more refined.
This one has black velours pads, they measure exactly the same as the grey DT990 pads.
These headphones are very comfortable and have a decent clamping force, slightly higher than the edition version.
The cups swivel in all directions and the sliding mechanism works problem free and has proven itself in this classic design.
It can be taken apart pretty easily and components can be replaced easily and support for obtaining spare parts is excellent.
The cable for the Pro version is partly curled and strurdy. Not ideal when using it on the go but it is not intended for this anyway.
The coiled cable is better suited for studio work. The plug is 3.5mm and comes with a 6.3mm adapter.
Below the frequency response of the DT990Pro (Left, Right):
This represents pretty well how it sounds. It is U-shaped and has lots of 'warmth' and is bassy. It also has a LOT of treble energy up top.
The mids thus are relatively 'sucked out' which gives it a 'musical' and 'forgiving' nature on popular music and other not so well recorded studio material. Recordings that sounds 'midrangy' on flatter headphones and lack bass and treble will sound guite 'full' on these headphones.
Music that is recorded pretty well sounds overly bassy/fat and sharp/shrill/piercing though.
Jazz, classical as well as vocal or 'hifi' lovers may find this headphone too euphonic, as it lacks 'realism' but is 'pleasant' on most pop music.
The DT990 also lacks sub-bass but this is more or less 'masked' by the overblown bass/lower mids.
Depending on music genre and taste, these headphones may be a good choice as they are relatively cheap and 'forgiving' and have a 'fun' sonic signature.
Below the CSD of the stock DT990Pro - 250 (Left, Right) It is actually pretty decent and doesn't show any long lived resonances that may be problematic. The small 'dip' at 4kHz is a small but 'non-lethal' resonance.
All in all a nice sounding 'fun' but not realistic sounding headphone that is very forgiving/flattering with lower quality recordings.
Applying a bit of felt in front of the driver makes it less sibilant sounding.
Of course this headphone can be corrected with the Kameleon amplifier quite a bit further.
Below the difference between the stock DT990Pro-250 and via the Kameleon amplifier.
Bass extension is formidable and well below 10Hz, the bass hump has been removed which 'tightens' the bass.
I gave it a bit of extra 'bass' because the headphone is open and DT990 owners do prefer 'strong' bass.
The treble peak has been removed.
As both the bass and treble peaks have been removed the midrange isn't recessed any more. Treble extension, clarity are excellent.