Head to head · for music listening
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO vs Sennheiser HD 800 S
More people recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO overall (75 vs 71). None of the 10 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 10
- Say they own both
- 0
- Choose the DT 990 PRO
- 0
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
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.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $200cheaper | $2000 |
| Overall rank | #8higher | #10 |
| People who recommend it | 75more | 71 |
| Say they own it | 112more | 74 |
| Mentions | 775more | 675 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Open-backBass and trebleBuilt to last | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp |
| Best for | Big, spacious sound on a budget for people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp. | Classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. |
| Buy | Amazon · $200Direct | Amazon · $2000 |
#8 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm)
1 of the 10 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
“I have had the dt990 for like 10 years and love them”
A commenter under Watch this BEFORE buying DT990 Pro! (The Headphone Show) · Aug 2022
“I love my pair of beyerdynamic DT 990”
A commenter under Best Headphones for Music Production, Mixing, Tracking (Sanjay C) · Oct 2023
“The DT990 pro is my favorite headphone for acoustic music like bluegrass”
A commenter under DT990 Pro vs DT770 Pro - Which one should you get? (Andrew Dandrew) · May 2021
#10 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
1 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Huge soundstage and detail; the classic end-game dynamic headphone
- Several owners keep it as the serious-listening set beside a cheaper everyday pair
- Comfortable despite its size
The complaints
- Lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun
- Needs a good amp and good recordings
- Price
In their words
“Ok, i got encourage to get the HD800 after i saw this”
A commenter under Sennheiser HD 800 Unboxing, Review & Shootout w/ HiFiMAN HE-500 Headphones (Music + BF4) (Barnacules Nerdgasm) · Oct 2013
“I have all sennheiser hp and hd800 my daily driver”
A commenter under Is Sennheiser's new headphone REALLY an upgrade? (The Headphone Show) · Feb 2023
“I use HD800s as my daily driver”
A commenter under Open vs Closed Back Headphones for GAMING - Which Is Best? (Hardware Canucks) · Jul 2019
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