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Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO vs HIFIMAN HE400se

More people recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO overall (75 vs 15). None of the 11 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.

Comments naming both
11
Say they own both
1
Choose the DT 990 PRO
0
Choose the HE400se
0

Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 11 comments naming both.What the levels mean

Counted across 8 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.

At a glance the better number on each row is highlighted
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PROHIFIMAN HE400se
Typical price$200$109cheaper
Overall rank#8higher#27
People who recommend it75more15
Say they own it109more13
Mentions775more187
Typeopen-back wiredopen-back planar wired
Known forOpen-backBass and trebleBuilt to lastPlanarBudgetAmp helps
Best forRecommended for big, spacious sound on a budget by people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp.Recommended as the entry ticket to planar sound for just over $100.
BuyAmazon · $200DirectAmazon · $109

#8 overall

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm)

1 of the 11 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • Wide, open soundstage with sharp imaging; owners who came from gaming headsets call it a revelation
  • Very comfortable velour pads; owners keep them for 5-7 years
  • Built like the DT 770 and repairable: pads, headband and cable are replaceable

The complaints

  • The treble: bright to sharp, the most repeated complaint of any Beyer; some EQ it down
  • Bass is present but not deep
  • 250 ohm version wants an amp; the Pro X or 80 ohm editions are easier to drive
  • US service and repair experiences are poor

In their words

#27 overall

HIFIMAN HE400se

1 of the 11 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.

What owners love

  • Cheapest planar-magnetic headphone people take seriously; called hands-down the best budget headphone by one owner
  • Open, fast sound well above its price
  • Open-box units direct from HIFIMAN keep the full warranty

The complaints

  • Needs more power than a phone gives
  • Same HIFIMAN quality-control worries as the Sundara
  • Basic comfort and build

In their words

Questions people ask about this pair

Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.

Is the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO better than the HIFIMAN HE400se?
None of the 11 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 75 people recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and 15 the HIFIMAN HE400se. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
Which is cheaper, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO or the HIFIMAN HE400se?
The HIFIMAN HE400se is cheaper: $109 against $200 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
Which do more people recommend, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO or the HIFIMAN HE400se?
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: 75 people recommend it against 15. On the site-wide leaderboard the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is #8 and the HIFIMAN HE400se is #27.
Do people own both the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the HIFIMAN HE400se?
Yes. 1 of the 11 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and 1 the HIFIMAN HE400se.
What do owners complain about on the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the HIFIMAN HE400se?
The most repeated complaint about the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: the treble: bright to sharp, the most repeated complaint of any Beyer; some EQ it down. About the HIFIMAN HE400se: needs more power than a phone gives. The full lists are on each side below.

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