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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 38). None of the 12 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 12
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the DT 1990 PRO
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 12 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 11 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 | $300cheaper | $700 |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #17 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 38 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 51 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 470 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | DetailTwo pad setsNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | Recommended to detail-first listeners and home producers who want a headphone that will outlast several amps. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $700Direct |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
1 of the 12 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The most natural, neutral mid-range people can name; a 25-year reference
- Super comfortable for long sessions
- Timbre and tone that owners call perfect for acoustic, classical and vocals
- Owners who tried many others keep coming back to it
The complaints
- Needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops
- Small, intimate soundstage; some call it boring
- Bass does not go deep
In their words
“My favorite headphones are my painted hd600s with a custom matching cable”
A commenter under Crinacle's ULTIMATE Guide to Headphones (crinacle) · Dec 2024
“After trying all other options, we highly recommend the HD 600”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“I love my HD600 but have to compensate for the weak bass”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
#17 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO (now sold as MKII)
2 of the 12 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 Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- None of the 12 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 38 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The Sennheiser HD 600 is cheaper: $300 against $700 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 38. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is #17.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- Yes. 1 of the 12 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the Sennheiser HD 600 and 2 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. 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.