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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 75). Only 2 of the 27 comments naming both explicitly choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 600, 1 for the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO), too few to call a winner.
- Comments naming both
- 27
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the HD 600
- 1
- Choose the DT 990 PRO
- 1
Preference evidence:Limited2 explicit choices among 27 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 15 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 | $300 | $200cheaper |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #8 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 75 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 109 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 775 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | Open-backBass and trebleBuilt to last |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | Recommended for big, spacious sound on a budget by people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $200Direct |
People who mention both, in their own words
“DT990 and HD600 are my go to headphones currently”
Owns bothA commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
1 of the 27 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
#8 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm)
2 of the 27 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 Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO?
- Only 2 of the 27 comments naming both choose one (1 for the Sennheiser HD 600, 1 for the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO), too few to call a winner. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 75 the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO?
- The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is cheaper: $200 against $300 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 990 PRO?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 75. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is #8.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO?
- Yes. 1 of the 27 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 990 PRO.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 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 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.