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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 38). None of the 69 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 69
- Say they own both
- 6
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the DT 1990 PRO
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 69 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 17 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 | $179cheaper | $700 |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #17 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 38 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 51 |
| Mentions | 806more | 470 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | DetailTwo pad setsNeeds amp |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended to detail-first listeners and home producers who want a headphone that will outlast several amps. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $700Direct |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
10 of the 69 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
- Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
- Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
- Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it
The complaints
- Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
- Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
- Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars
In their words
“I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it”
A commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I got my Sundaras at a crazy price, and I love them”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“I use the sundaras and i would recommend them”
A commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#17 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO (now sold as MKII)
9 of the 69 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Build quality owners describe as the best in its class; metal, made in Germany, everything replaceable
- Detail and technical precision that producers and mixers pick it for
- Comes with two pad sets (analytical and balanced) that genuinely change the sound
The complaints
- Treble peaks: the reason most people who move on from it give
- Heavy and warm on the head after long sessions; pads flatten over time
- 250 ohm, needs an amp
In their words
“I got the DT-1990 mkiis and I love them”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
“These DT 1990 are worth every penny”
A commenter under Z Review - Beyer-Dynamic DT1990 [Like a German Porno...] (Z Reviews) · Mar 2017
“I love my DT 1990 Pros :)”
A commenter under Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Review: Big, Built, but TOO Bright?? (BadSeed Tech) · Oct 2019
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Sundara better than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- None of the 69 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 38 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $700 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 38. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is #17.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- Yes. 6 of the 69 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 10 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 9 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO: treble peaks: the reason most people who move on from it give. The full lists are on each side below.