Beyerdynamic - DT 1990 PRO MKI

Thing about the v1 1990 pros is that they are 120ohms impedance, so you kinda need a DAC/amp. Apparently, with the v2s being a lot less, you can get away with skipping the DAC, however, you'll always get better quality with one.

I have dt1990 pro mk1 and they simply don't work for gaming, i cannot connect with the game, i get no environment awareness, can't tell my own position in the game, but for music they're outstanding, it sounds very vibrant, any sound has a vibration, like feeling individual sounds touching my eardrum. Sometimes they can be bright AF, it takes time to get used to them, you may not like them instantly. I prefer them over my HD 800 any day. Also tried hifiman ananda nano for 2 days, the treble quality is insane but I dislike the bass, lower mids and mids on them, it sounds too thin/tiny, sounds don't have any weight, it doesn't sound dynamic. Worse than dt1990 pro for gaming, it sounds "screechy" wihout any warm/rumble and the imaging is awful for gaming, it's like playing with IEMs. Keep those Hyperx for gaming.

The design is a matter of taste. I prefer the old one to the old one, such as the DT 900 Pro X, which looks cheaper to me. The STELLAR.45 driver provides better sound. I would prefer this to the normal version. There is also the DT 990 Edition, which also looks different if you want a certain look. A beauty is otherwise the DT 1990 Mark 1 250 Ohm, which I own, but which costs around 400 euros.

Depends how loud your keyboard is tbh. Closed backs for gaming are a lot better on PC. I had 1770 Pros for gaming/mixing before but there was a huge discount on 1990 Pros and the 1770 Pros had way too much bass for mastering I so went for those and gave the 1770 pros to my wife. I had to buy new keyboard because I had MX blues and gaming was horrible on open backs and loud switches. I still kinda prefer the 1770 for gaming tbh as they isolate better. For mixing and mastering the 1990 pros are perfect and for gaming as well after getting silent switches. But for budget I would go with DT 770 Pro 250Ohm and pair them with ifi zen dac v2. I made testing with 1770 Pros and 770 Pros on ifi zen dac V2 and the difference wasnt that huge I was expecting (the 770 were decade old lol). https://youtu.be/5nQ4Za2Qd6U?si=xCDnnywE-Gdw9lgS When it comes to gaming they are really good. I used to play a lot of competitive fps before (OW1, Cod, CS) and all games I played I reached top 1% so no complaining.

There is no best, it's subjective. Though I would generally prefer open-backs over closed backs, especially when you're just using them in your chair and not a noisy environment. "Audiophile grade" is also not a clearly defined term. There are a lot of good options available for under 1000$, I would recommend ordering a few different pairs and comparing them. Like, as far as open-backs are concerned, get a Hifiman Arya, Sennheiser HD 6XX and maybe a Beyerdynamic DT1990 (note that there's two versions, you can get some great deals on the older MK1 but it has a very spicy treble). If you really need/want something closed, your options will be more limited, you could try a Senny HD620 and Beyer DT1770. Personally, I think the AKG K702 (open) for 180 USD is an incredible deal, but some don't like the mid-heavy sound. And there's no doubt there are better headphones to be had for three or four times the price, but they won't really sound three of four times better, and whether it's worth it spending so much is up to you.

1990 pros have been serving me well for the past 5 years

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro They have steel housing. Built very well and very comfortable to wear This would be for a desk setup

I have the HD 6xx and DT1990Pros. If I drop the 6xx, I wouldnt sweat it. If I dropped the 1990s, I would be nervous whether the floor got damaged.

I got my DT 1990 Pros on sale for $530, and they're my favorite pair of cans, although they are quite sibilant and listening fatigue can set in pretty quick if you don't EQ

A lot of people praise the HD 800/S as the best but I prefer my DT 1990 Pro (OG). Unlike a lot of people, I like the treble spike as it brings out detail in the games I play. The mids and bass are good too. If you're gonna buy them, I recommend looking at these as well: For even an even better Beyer sound signature - [https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-beyerdynamic-dt-series-fenestrated-elite-sheepkin-ear-pad-set/](https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-beyerdynamic-dt-series-fenestrated-elite-sheepkin-ear-pad-set/) For extended bass and warmth - [https://dekoniaudio.com/product/elite-hybrid-ear-pads-for-beyerdynamic-headphones/](https://dekoniaudio.com/product/elite-hybrid-ear-pads-for-beyerdynamic-headphones/) For the OG - you'll need a DAC/Amp. For the newer versions, you won't.

Metal cased dt 1990 and I think there's a 7xx version too. Love them