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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 75). None of the 19 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 19
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the DT 990 PRO
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 19 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 9 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 | $200 |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #8 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 75 |
| Say they own it | 109 | 109 |
| Mentions | 806more | 775 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | Open-backBass and trebleBuilt to last |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended for big, spacious sound on a budget by people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $200Direct |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
4 of the 19 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
#8 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm)
2 of the 19 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
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 990 PRO?
- None of the 19 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 75 the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $200 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 990 PRO?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 75. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is #8.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO?
- Yes. 1 of the 19 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 4 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 2 the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO: the treble: bright to sharp, the most repeated complaint of any Beyer; some EQ it down. The full lists are on each side below.