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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 800 S vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S overall (71 vs 38). 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
- 2
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
- Choose the DT 1990 PRO
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 19 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 14 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 | $2000 | $700cheaper |
| Overall rank | #10higher | #17 |
| People who recommend it | 71more | 38 |
| Say they own it | 71more | 51 |
| Mentions | 675more | 470 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp | DetailTwo pad setsNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. | Recommended to detail-first listeners and home producers who want a headphone that will outlast several amps. |
| Buy | Amazon · $2000 | Amazon · $700Direct |
#10 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
2 of the 19 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
“Ok, i got encourage to get the HD800 after i saw this”
A commenter under Sennheiser HD 800 Unboxing, Review & Shootout w/ HiFiMAN HE-500 Headphones (Music + BF4) (Barnacules Nerdgasm) · Oct 2013
“I have all sennheiser hp and hd800 my daily driver”
A commenter under Is Sennheiser's new headphone REALLY an upgrade? (The Headphone Show) · Feb 2023
“I use HD800s as my daily driver”
A commenter under Open vs Closed Back Headphones for GAMING - Which Is Best? (Hardware Canucks) · Jul 2019
#17 overall
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO (now sold as MKII)
3 of the 19 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 800 S better than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- None of the 19 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 71 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S 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 800 S or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is cheaper: $700 against $2000 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 800 S or the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The Sennheiser HD 800 S: 71 people recommend it against 38. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO is #17.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- Yes. 2 of the 19 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 2 say they own the Sennheiser HD 800 S and 3 the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 800 S: lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun. 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.