beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Review for Competitive Gaming
·~4 min·Peripherals · Gear · Tech
Today's a quick unboxing and review of the beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro, the 250 ohm version, which have been my primary gaming headphones for about seven months now. I only really use my desktop for gaming, streaming, and editing, so I'm keeping this review focused on the gaming side. And full disclosure: I'm no audiophile. I'm not too picky about sound these days, and as long as a pair does what I need, I'm happy. These do exactly what I need.
WHY I UPGRADED
Before these, I was on a pair of Sennheiser PC 350s that I'd had since 2013, so they lasted a good long while. But I'd rolled over the cable one too many times and the ear cups were really deteriorating, so it was time for something new, and I landed on the DT 990 Pro.
PRICING
They retail for about $240 CAD, but I picked mine up on sale for around $180 CAD, and I've seen that price pop up a few times since. They're on the more expensive side, so if you're not in a rush, I'd hold out for a deal.
WHY OPEN-BACK FOR COMPETITIVE SHOOTERS
The PC 350s were closed-back, and this time I specifically wanted open-backs. Most of my research pointed to open-back being the best choice for competitive shooters because of the soundstage. You can pinpoint exactly where a sound is coming from, which is a huge advantage in something like Counter-Strike.
The trade-off is that open-backs leak sound, so people around you can hear what you're listening to. I worried this might be an issue at home, but it really hasn't been. It's not nearly as loud as I expected. And there's an upside: you can hear people around you too, so you're not completely walled off.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
You get the headphones, a 1/4-inch adapter, and a carrying bag. These are studio headphones, so they don't have a "gamer" look, and there's no attached microphone. If you want a headset, these aren't it. You'll need an external mic like a Snowball or a Yeti.
COMFORT & BUILD
The ear cups are big and fit nicely over my ears, and the headband has a leathery strap that's detachable, so you can replace it if it wears out. On comfort, these are excellent. The PC 350s would give me a bit of pain over long sessions, but I can wear the DT 990s for what feels like forever with rarely any discomfort. The ear cups are super soft, almost like a pillow.
My one real gripe is the cable. It's coiled, and I'd have preferred a straight cable that's easier to manage, because the coil gets caught on things under my desk. Worse, the cable is attached directly to the headphones rather than detachable, so if something goes wrong with it, you can't just swap it the way you can on a lot of other open-backs.
DRIVING THEM AT 250 OHM
Because these are 250 ohm, you do need something to drive them, an amp or equivalent. Luckily my motherboard handled them fine, and my GoXLR could drive them as well. I haven't tried them on a dedicated DAC/amp yet, but that's something I want to look into as I do more research.
SOUND
For me, they sound really great. I don't listen to a ton of music on them, but when I do, it's usually piano covers of anime songs or lo-fi hip-hop, and it sounds amazing. Just know they're not a bass-heavy pair, so genres that lean on bass won't shine the way they would on bassier headphones.
For gaming, sound might not matter much in some games, but in competitive shooters it carries a lot of information: where enemies are, where they're rotating, so you can pre-fire and pre-aim for a real strategic edge. The DT 990's soundstage lets me pinpoint that. It took me a little while to adjust, and at first I wondered if it was placebo, but after using them for a while I genuinely have a good sense of enemy positions and can call them out for my team. Upper, tunnels, mid, cat, whatever it is.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you're after a pair of headphones for competitive shooters and you've got something that can drive them, the DT 990 Pro is a great choice. I'll admit I don't have a ton of other high-end headphones to compare them to, and I want to review some Audio-Technicas next once I muster up the funds, but as an open-back gaming option that's comfortable enough to wear all day, these have been excellent.
Questions about the DT 990s or what to drive them with? Drop them in the comments or join the Discord.