Best Headphones

Head to head ยท 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

Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 10 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 PROSennheiser HD 800 S
Typical price$200cheaper$2000
Overall rank#8higher#10
People who recommend it75more71
Say they own it109more71
Mentions775more675
Typeopen-back wiredopen-back wired
Known forOpen-backBass and trebleBuilt to lastClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp
Best forRecommended for big, spacious sound on a budget by people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp.Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone.
BuyAmazon ยท $200DirectAmazon ยท $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

#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

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 Sennheiser HD 800 S?
None of the 10 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 75 people recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and 71 the Sennheiser HD 800 S. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
Which is cheaper, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO or the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is cheaper: $200 against $2000 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 Sennheiser HD 800 S?
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: 75 people recommend it against 71. On the site-wide leaderboard the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is #8 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10.
Do people own both the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
Not that we found. Of the 10 comments naming both, 1 come from owners of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and 1 from owners of the Sennheiser HD 800 S, and none says they own both.
What do owners complain about on the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Sennheiser HD 800 S?
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 Sennheiser HD 800 S: lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun. The full lists are on each side below.

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