Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO 250 Ohm Open-Back Studio Headphones

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO 250 Ohm Studio Headphones – Open-Back Tesla Reference

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is an open-back studio reference headphone built for mixing, mastering and critical editing in a quiet room. Its 45 mm dynamic Tesla neodymium drivers are designed for high efficiency and fast, controlled transient response, and the open circumaural construction gives the sound a natural sense of space that closed headphones struggle to match. Stereo imaging, reverb tails and small balance decisions are easier to judge, which is precisely the work this headphone exists for. This is the original 250 ohm model, distinct from the later lower-impedance MKII generation.

One design decision makes the DT 1990 PRO unusually flexible: two different pairs of velour ear pads are included, and they change the tuning. The balanced pads, fitted as standard, give a well-rounded presentation for general mixing and listening. The analytical pads tilt the response towards detail and precision, exposing edits, noise and high-frequency balance problems. Swapping pads takes seconds and gives the engineer two reference perspectives from one headphone.

Key features

• Open-back, circumaural design for natural, spatial sound
• 45 mm dynamic Tesla neodymium drivers
• 250 ohm nominal impedance for studio headphone outputs
• Frequency response of 5 to 40,000 Hz
• Two velour ear pad sets, balanced and analytical tuning
• Single-sided detachable cable with mini-XLR connector, handcrafted in Germany

Sound character and working use

With a nominal sound pressure level of 102 dB SPL at 1 mW and 500 Hz, the DT 1990 PRO is efficient for a 250 ohm headphone, but it is still designed around proper studio outputs and dedicated headphone amplifiers, which deliver the voltage swing it needs to reach working level with headroom. The 5 Hz to 40 kHz response means low-frequency decisions are judged on what is actually in the recording rather than on a boosted bass shelf, and the top end extends well beyond audibility so the audible band is reproduced without strain. Because the design is open, sound leaks in both directions: it belongs at the mix position, not beside a live microphone.

Build, comfort and cabling

The DT 1990 PRO is handcrafted in Germany, with a robust headband, anodised aluminium yokes and materials chosen for daily professional use. At 370 g without cable it is substantial but well distributed, and the soft velour pads and replaceable headband padding support long sessions. The single-sided cable connects with a locking three-pin mini-XLR plug, and two cables are supplied: a 3 metre straight cable for the studio desk and a 5 metre coiled cable, stretched, for moving around a live room or vocal booth. A 6.35 mm stereo jack connection suits studio interfaces and amplifiers, and a hard case protects the headphones in storage and transit.

Matching it to your setup

Choose a headphone output or amplifier rated to drive 250 ohm loads, set a comfortable level with familiar reference tracks, and the DT 1990 PRO will faithfully report a poor converter or noisy output rather than covering for it.

For engineers who mix on headphones by necessity or by preference, the DT 1990 PRO remains a benchmark reference: honest tuning, two voicings in the box, and construction built for years of daily sessions rather than a product cycle.