Sennheiser HD 650

Design

We think the DT 990s are sharp-looking headphones. The splash of color doesn’t make them a goofy set of DJ headphones that aren’t appropriate, it just makes them delightful. They’re also a more traditional design as opposed to the beehive-like grate on the HD 650s. The DT 990s are also slightly more durable, sacrificing a true open back for a less permeable design. They also implement metal in leiu of plastic.

One additional aspect to keep in mind is Beyerdynamic’s MANUFAKTUR feature, where you can order a pair of DT 990s online and choose your own color combination.

Sennheiser HD 650	Beyerdynamic DT 990

Frequency Response

The DT 990s did a better job staying within our frequency response limits, but they have a significant decibel hike around the 7kHz mark.

Sennheiser HD 650	Beyerdynamic DT 990

Distortion

There’s virtually no distortion on either side, although the HD 650 features slightly less.

Sennheiser HD 650	Beyerdynamic DT 990

Tracking

The HD 650s have better tracking. Like most headphones, the DT 990s have a slight blip towards their high-end.

Sennheiser HD 650	Beyerdynamic DT 990

Isolation

Neither set of headphones are good isolators. The DT 990s do a slightly better job, but it’s nothing to brag about.

Sennheiser HD 650	Beyerdynamic DT 990

Comfort

While both headphones are comfortable initially, the DT 990s got increasingly uncomfortable over time. The band pressed hard against the top of our testers’ heads after a few hours, requiring them to shift the band to continue use.

Wear
Sennheiser HD 650	Beyerdynamic DT 990

Verdict

The DT 990s feature a slightly better set of test results and an uncomfortable fit. This comparison is so close that it’s really up to the user to decide which one is better. Be sure to wear them for a few hours to check for any fit issues. If you find the DT 990s are comfortable, they slightly superior sound and lower price point will probably be the better bet.