The DT 1990 PRO MKII open-back studio headphones are the second generation of the popular premium model. They boast improved sound, increased comfort and industry-leading workmanship made in Germany. At the heart is the newly developed TESLA.45 driver technology. Suitable for mixing, mastering and editing, they are the perfect choice for discerning users who want to take their tracks to the next level.
Product Highlights
High wearing comfort thanks to fontanelle recess
Detachable cable with mini-XLR plug
New TESLA.45 driver: Excellent resolution & extremely low distortion
For mixing, mastering & editing thanks to open-back design
Soft & breathable velour ear pads for long studio sessions
THE OPEN-BACK REFERENCE
Thanks to their open-back design, the DT 1990 PRO MKII offers a natural, spatial sound pattern, which makes them ideal for professional mixing, mastering and editing.
With the DT 1990 PRO MKII, we had a very balanced sound in mind”, explains Ante Mihalj, the acoustic engineer in charge. “Modern productions often have very complex treble frequencies. That’s why the DT 1990 PRO MKII now reproduces highs a little more smoothly than its somewhat brasher predecessor.
Ante Mihalj
Acoustic engineer
With the DT 1990 PRO MKII, we had a very balanced sound in mind”, explains Ante Mihalj, the acoustic engineer in charge. “Modern productions often have very complex treble frequencies. That’s why the DT 1990 PRO MKII now reproduces highs a little more smoothly than its somewhat brasher predecessor.
Ante Mihalj
Acoustic engineer
THE NEW GENERATION OF TESLA TECHNOLOGY
TESLA.45
The DT 1990 PRO MKII feature the latest generation of TESLA driver technology TESLA.45. Redesigned from the ground up, the 45mm driver system boasts an excellent resolution, extremely low distortion and outstanding impulse behaviour. The TESLA.45 provides signal fidelity even at high volumes. Our engineers have managed to combine studio-sound and flexibility thanks to weight-optimized materials. The DT 1990 PRO MKII has an impedance of 30 ohms, which means that the studio headphones can be used with a variety of end devices.
When it comes to sound, the reference headphones boast precise bass response right down to the lowest octaves. The slightly reduced highs compared to the previous model offer a high amount of information and help to avoid wrong decisions when mixing. Thanks to the wide soundstage, instruments and voices can be precisely pinpointed. The sound transducers are manufactured at the company headquarters in Heilbronn, Germany. Each DT 1990 PRO MKII contains two TESLA.45 sound transducers, which are measured several times during the various production steps.
MAXIMUM COMFORT
The DT 1990 PRO MKII is designed for several hours of use in the studio and offers outstanding comfort. The robust, flexible spring steel headband design ensures optimum contact pressure. Thanks to the skin-friendly velour ear pads, the headphones are comfortable to wear even during long sessions. The headband, consisting of soft memory foam and durable leatherette, adapts perfectly to the shape of the head. And thanks to the fontanelle recess, potentially pain-sensitive areas on the head are avoided. Both the headband and the ear pads can be replaced if necessary.
two sound signatures
Designed to maximise flexibility, the DT 1990 PRO MKII is supplied with two different types of ear pads. The ‘Producing Velours’ fitted as standard deliver a full sound thanks to a slight bass boost. The ‘Mixing & Mastering Velours’ offer a more analytical sound. Two cables are also included: a 3m straight cable and a 5m coiled cable. Both cables have a lockable 3-pin mini-XLR plug. Everything is safely stored in a high-quality hard case.
The ear pads can be identified by the cutouts on the back. While the "Producing Velours" have a number of small holes on the back, the "Mixing & Mastering Velours" have exactly four small holes.
Your studio in your headphones
beyerdynamic HEADPHONE LAB delivers the sound of a high‑end studio. For better mixes — no matter where you produce. Free, easy to use, and ready to go.
Thanks to our German manufacturing expertise, the DT 1990 PRO MKII sets the benchmark in workmanship and durability. The TESLA.45 driver systems are measured within tight tolerances several times during production. High-quality materials such as anodised metal and hard-wearing plastics make the DT 1990 PRO MKII a long-term investment. In the interest of sustainability, almost every part of the premium headphones can be replaced.
Both the closed-back DT 1770 PRO MKII and the open-back DT 1990 PRO MKII are equipped with two TESLA.45 drivers, each measuring 45 mm in diameter. The powerful neodymium magnet achieves a flux density of over one Tesla in the voice coil air gap, resulting in particularly strong driver performance.
Thanks to the structurally optimized diaphragm, the level of distortion and impulse response has been significantly improved compared to the previous model, leading to a clearer sound profile. The diaphragm, made of high-performance PEEK polymer, ensures precise bass reproduction, while the refined treble profile is achieved through a lightweight voice coil made of aluminum-coated copper wire.
The newly developed system combines flexibility and exceptional sound quality due to the use of modern materials and manufacturing techniques. With an impedance of 30 ohms, both models are suitable for a wide range of devices, providing reference-quality sound that meets the needs of professional users.
Many playback devices lack the output voltage necessary for driving high-impedance headphones. The lower impedance of these models increases versatility, allowing them to perform well with various devices.
The "Producing Velours"" of the DT 1990 PRO MKII, recognizable by the many small acoustic cutouts on the back of the ear pads, offers a full and powerful sound, ideal for music production. In contrast, the "Mixing & Mastering Velours" deliver an analytical sound that is optimized for the highest precision when mixing and mastering. These can be recognized by four small acoustic cutouts on the back of the ear pad.
The DT 1990 PRO MKII offers precise bass reproduction and improved treble balance for an open-back headphone compared to its predecessor. The treble at 8 kilohertz has been slightly attenuated to avoid mixing errors, while the clarity and precision in the treble range of the predecessor have been retained.
Crystal clear sound, very spacious soundstage and fantastic details audible
DT 1990 PRO MKII
Florian C. | 04.01.2026
Well detailed space and sound. I get to hear every detail I am looking in jazz and "complex" music.
Paired with a DX3+ pro, really incredible (coming from a DT900 Pro X)
AWARDS
TEST REPORTS
beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII Review: Outstanding studio headphones
Even when used for gaming, the beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII impressively demonstrate their qualities and tease out acoustic details in competitive shooters that remain hidden with other headphones (not to mention gaming headsets). I particularly like the reduction of shrill sounds in the high frequency range around 8,000 Hz, which takes the edge off current productions (and games) and thus has a positive effect on listening pleasure, while at the same time further increasing the level of detail.
