beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MK2 is the missing piece of my setup, and I honestly couldn’t be happier with them. I already had the MixPre-3 II running my Sennheiser MKH-50 and Shure SM7DB, so I needed headphones that could keep up with that level of clarity and detail. After a lot of searching, these were the obvious choice—and they absolutely deliver.

First off, they’re shockingly easy to drive. The MixPre-3 II has no issue powering them, and they sound phenomenal straight out of it. What really blew me away is the airiness—it feels like I’ve got high-end speakers floating right next to my ears. This is my first open-back pair of headphones at this level, and the sense of space they create is just unreal. Everything sounds so natural, spacious, and effortless, and it’s made a huge difference in how I listen to and work with audio.

Then there’s the build quality, which is just next level. These feel like something that should cost 20 times more. The materials are premium across the board—leather, metal, everything just screams quality. They’re also way more robust than any other headphones I’ve used, yet they’re still light and ridiculously comfortable. The ear cushions? I could wear them for days without any discomfort. Softest things I’ve ever put on my head, period.

Even the cable is perfect. It’s a solid two meters, routes around my desk easily, and just adds to the overall premium feel. Plus, the protective case they come with is top-tier—keeps them safe, organised, and makes them feel like a proper high-end product.

This is the best complete headphone package I’ve ever come across. If you’ve got a serious setup and need headphones that can truly match the quality of your interface and mics, this is the one.

The bad: It was with great regret that I sent these headphones back. I liked everything about them but the clamp pressure and the part where the headband touches the top of the head made it just too uncomfortable to wear for an extended session. It also puts pressure on that part of the jaw that seems to have glands with some relation to saliva production. I don't really know what I'm talking about here but that's what it felt like — not comfortable.

The good: I listened to tracks I thought I knew inside and out and I heard things in the high mids I'd never noticed before. When I switched to other headphones and speakers I heard them again of course, it was just that the DT1990 Pro Mk2s made it stand out with its excellent clarity. Soundstage is fantastic also. That said, mixing headphones must be comfortable if I'm gonna wear them for long.

Verdict: Your head and ears will be different from mine so take what I said about comfort with a grain of salt. They sound really amazing.