For professional-grade studio headphones, discerning producers need look no further than the beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII: Thanks to their open-backed design, these German-made circumaural headphones produce an extremely balanced sound. They are more than capable of reproducing the lowest bass frequencies and the highest trebles, although the newer model has actually reduced the treble slightly, making the headphones even more suitable for working on contemporary pop and rock productions. Two pairs of ear pads are included with the headphones, designed to provide different sound profiles – users can choose between bass-emphasised or natural. Thanks to the new TESLA.45 drivers, the MKIIs are even better suited for use with smart devices and laptops. The beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII headphones come with a generous accessory package, including a 3m straight cable and a 5m coiled cable, both of which have gold-plated jacks, as do the two screw-in adapters also provided as standard. The headphones and all the extras can be safely stored and transported in the accompanying case.
beyerdynamic's DT 1990 Pro MKII headphones reproduce audio starting at a super low 5Hz and going all the way up to 40kHz, exceeding the typical human hearing range in both bass and treble. Even though they're open headphones, bass and sub-bass frequencies are clear and well-defined. Another strength is how well they differentiate the mid-range frequencies – without overemphasising them, something many other headphones are guilty of. The MKIIs' transitional range of high mids and lower trebles is less pronounced than their predecessor, making them an excellent candidate for mixing and mastering contemporary music productions, which frequently rely heavily on this range in particular.
A pair of beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII headphones will provide professionals – and practised amateurs – with a tool that gives them reliable insight into whatever audio material they're working with. Professional users will appreciate the fact that these headphones have no need to cheaply hype up individual frequency ranges. Owners of first-generation DT 1990s will quickly realise that the MKII version hews closely to the earlier model's familiar sound profile, with the exception of the slightly muted trebles; as such, there's no need for technical alternations in terms of sound input. The cables provided are eminently suitable for owners of small project studios, as well as for professional engineers in mid-sized control rooms.
beyerdynamic was founded in 1924 by its namesake Eugen Beyer in Berlin and initially manufactured loudspeakers for film palaces before making a huge impact on the sound engineering industry in 1937 with the development of the first pair of dynamic headphones, the DT 48, followed in 1939 by the first dynamic microphone, the M 19. After World War II, beyerdynamic moved its headquarters to the German town of Heilbronn, and today has locations in the US town of Farmingdale, New York State, as well as in Shenzhen, China. The company’s most popular products, a large proportion of which are still manufactured in Germany, have always included headphones and microphones for both live and studio use, and a wide selection of audio equipment for gamers and streamers is also on offer, particularly headsets for broadcast and gaming applications.
Capable as they are of reliably localising specific sonic characteristics, the beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII are well-suited to arranging the stereo image of an audio production. And when it comes to dynamics, the headphones' precise transients make them a good choice not just for mixing and mastering, but also for editing, as any unwanted clicks and pops are easy to detect. Users can also quickly switch between two slightly different sound profiles with the two sets of ear pads, so the headphones can be optimised for mixing and mastering or for audio production, as required. Finally, the beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII headphones are also a good choice for monitoring, ensuring the distortion-free reproduction of even very loud instruments or groups.