The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is a high-performance open-back headphone and provides amazing sound quality at a modest price. The DT 990 Pro is probably one of the very best under 200 headphone choices to go for and is even been promoted as a pair of studio headphones. This does indicate their overall sound reproduction may have a high level of transparency and accuracy. To make full use of their sonic capabilities, you would need an equally remarkable DAC.
We will need to learn more about the sonic characteristics of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro, so as to match the right DAC. This is one of the main criteria and the other influential factor will be your own DAC requirements. Everyone has their own sonic preference and needs when it comes to D/A converter, and all these will directly influence your DAC choice. Now let us start with finding out more about the DT 990 Pro and your requirements before we share with you the best DACs to go for.
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Sonic Characteristics of Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro and Your DAC Requirements
Something about the way they used the monochrome color for the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro design as it gives off a level of class that you won’t get to see much in headphones at this price range. There is a sense of style and looks rather premium for an affordably priced open-back headphone. It does look and feel comfortable as well, and we find that we could wear them for hours without feeling discomfort. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro earcups are large and well-padded, not to mention, they are breathable too. If we were to nitpick, it will be the tightness of the headband which may cause a bit of discomfort for some listeners.
For casual listening at home, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro will be fine and dandy. If you were to wear them outside then it might pose a problem due to its open-back design. It won’t be able to isolate much noise and the environmental noises would disrupt your music listening experience. The music you are listening to will also leak out and people near you will be able to hear them. This might cause some annoyance to the people around you especially if you are playing music which they don’t really like at high volume levels. Joke aside, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is best used for private listening sessions in a quiet indoor environment.
More Details at Amazon – Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 ohm Studio Headphones
The DT990 Pro has really good bass performance for an open-back headphone and does dig quite deep into the low-end department. The bass output is rather impressive but maybe a little too much for some listeners. Fortunately, it doesn’t affect the treble by much as the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro has airy highs and the level of clarity is astounding. It also produces plenty of musical details and also makes the DT 990 Pro headphone pretty revealing. Subtle details are clear and there’s no need for us to strain our ears which is great. The midrange reproduction on the other hand is calmer than the rest and is smoother as well.
The soundstage is wide which is as expected from an open-back headphone. The overall sound reproduction can be rather lean sounding due to its exciting treble. We should be a little cautious when pairing the Beyerdynamic headphone with a bright-sounding DAC. As mentioned earlier, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is not really meant for outdoor use and so you probably wouldn’t need a portable DAC. Unless you are facing space constraints then having a compact and portable D/A converter would be ideal as you can easily keep it after use. A desktop DAC would be cool for listeners who have ample space to accommodate it.
Another requirement to consider will be the type of high-res audio files you are listening to which will affect your DAC choice. How high of a sampling rate you need from the digital-to-analog converter will be another requirement for you to consider. The sonic characteristics of the DAC will be another requirement that is worthy of your consideration. How much you are willing to spend on a D/A converter is a factor as well and the higher your budget, the more choices you can go for. We will suggest taking some time to add more DAC requirements of your own into the list and you should seek others for their opinions especially they are sharing the use of the headphone/DAC. Once you have a firmer idea of what you require from a D/A converter, you can check out the list of the best DACs that you can choose and match with your Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones.
Best DACs to match with Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
The Schiit Audio Modi 3+ is an impressive entry-level DAC with very affordable pricing and will match well with the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. This is an entry-level desktop D/A converter, highly regarded by critics thanks to how entertaining it could sound. Schiit Audio Modi 3+ is able to enhance the soundstage, allowing it to be more focused and this complements the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones. Furthermore, the DAC helps ease the brightness a little and provides a fuller-sounding music presentation. If you want a more relaxed listening experience then check out Schiit Audio Modi 3+.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Modi 3+ Delta-Sigma DAC – Silver
The Topping D10 Mini USB DAC is another excellent entry-level DAC to go for and the very modest price tag makes it even more attractive for your Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones. This is a DAC that will help provide a smoother-sounding music presentation and enables you to play at high volume levels without worrying about the overall sound reproduction being too shrill. The bass performance of the Topping D10 Mini USB DAC will help to add a bit more weight to the low-end reproductions of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro, and also makes it sound more energetic. It does make the DT 990 Pro sound a bit warmer too.
More Details at Amazon – Topping D10 Mini USB DAC – Black
The FiiO K5 Pro is one of the best DACs to pair up with the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. For listeners who need a desktop DAC that decodes DSD files and support up to 768kHz/32bit resolution, the K5 Pro is up for the job. This is a highly rated D/A converter with plenty of positive ratings, praising its exceptional sonic performance. It also has a headphone amp which provides even more value to its users. The FiiO K5 Pro’s polished low noise background will work well with the DT 990 Pro and the smooth music presentation with a hint of warmth makes it a suitable DAC match for this amazing headphone.
More Info at Amazon – FiiO K5 Pro Deskstop DAC and Amp
Schiit Audio Modius is a balanced DAC and will match well with your Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro open-back headphones. This is a higher-end Schiit DAC model and performs slightly better than the Modi 3+, the overall bass performance is even more suited for the DT 990 Pro. With the Modius, the bass reproductions now have more punch and gripe. The bolder bass performance doesn’t compromise the overall accuracy which is really impressive for a DAC at this price point. The Schiit Audio Modius is also capable of producing a high amount of music details and the clarity of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro will make them sound even clearer.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Modius Balanced Digital to Analog Converter – Silver
If portability is important to you then the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt is an exemplary DAC choice for you and your Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. It is an incredibly compact USB DAC and you can easily keep it almost anywhere including inside your own pockets. The accuracy of the DragonFly Cobalt is fantastic and will provide us with a precise high-resolution music presentation of our favorite tunes. Its spacious soundstage and astounding clarity further enhance what the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is already good at. This is an expressive D/A converter and will pump in more rhythm into the overall sound reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt USB DAC
For gamers, you might want to take a look at the Sennheiser EPOS GSX 1000, it is one of the best gaming DACs to go with the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones. If you are a competitive gamer, you’ll know that accurate sound reproduction and precise spatial awareness is one of the keys to winning a competition. Along with the astounding level of clarity and deep reverberating bass performance of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro will help give you an edge over your competitions. The wide soundstage of the DT 990 Pro will complement the Sennheiser EPOS GSX 1000 DAC really well especially if you are planning to use the EPOS Surround feature.
More Info at Amazon – EPOS | Sennheiser GSX 1000 Gaming DAC and EQ
To Sum It Up
It is wise to arrange an audition with the chosen DACs first before making your final decision. As you should hear them out using your Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones and see if you like the overall sound quality. Doing a side-by-side comparison of the selected DACs would be a good idea too as you will be able to differentiate the difference in sound quality immediately. If you weren’t able to finalize which DAC to go for during your first audition, you should arrange a few more rounds of auditioning just to play safe.
