Putting on the DT 900 Pro X provides an immediate sense of quality. Beyerdynamic delivers a comfortable and substantial design, inspiring confidence in its build and precision. As open-back headphones, the DT 900 Pro X present both advantages and inherent limitations. These limitations are readily apparent, making them unsuitable for users who require closed-back isolation. The DT 900 Pro X excels in many areas, yet exhibits minor shortcomings. However, the craftsmanship clearly reflects Beyerdynamic’s legacy and expertise. These headphones are well-suited for reference listening, music production, and even mastering, sharing a similar construction with the DT 700 Pro X, distinguished primarily by their open-back design.
What are the benefits of open-back headphones, and what are the potential drawbacks of wired headphones in general? If you’re familiar with these concepts, continue reading. Otherwise, we recommend reviewing this headphone guide, which covers essential background information.
Overall – Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X
The DT 900 Pro X headphones prioritize both comfort and accurate sound reproduction. Designed for extended use, they aim to provide an uncolored and faithful audio image, reproducing the input signal without artificial enhancement. Consequently, features like EQ apps (Beyerdynamic’s app is intended for their wireless models), listening modes, or charging capabilities are absent. The focus is solely on delivering exceptional sound quality through a dedicated pair of headphones. This simplicity promotes a sense of focused listening.
The packaging includes both a 180cm and a 300cm cable, each terminating in a 3.5mm male plug and supplied with 6.3mm adapters. A surprisingly high-quality travel bag is also provided.
Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X – The Feeling
As mentioned, the DT 900 Pro X offers a comfortable and secure fit. The earcups provide a plush feel, matching their appearance in photographs. The combination of metal and plastic components creates a robust and premium impression, leaving little to be desired. The headphones exude a sense of refined confidence.
After approximately 90 minutes of listening, the temperature around the ears increases noticeably, though not uncomfortably. In warmer environments, alternative headphone designs might offer improved ventilation. The DT 900 Pro X exerts a moderate amount of pressure around the ears, influenced by head size and the headphone’s weight. At 343g (without cable), the DT 900 Pro X is not exceptionally heavy, but it’s not among the lightest in its class. For reference, the Sennheiser HD-600 weighs 260g, and the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x weighs only 210g.
A minor inconvenience with the DT 900 Pro X is the cable socket on the headphones. Its extended length can occasionally snag on the left shoulder, particularly when slouching. Maintaining an upright posture alleviates this issue, but head movements to the left can become irritating when leaning back.
Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X – The Soundstage
High frequencies are rendered with exceptional precision, capturing even the most subtle details. With a frequency range of 5 – 40,000 Hz, the headphones exceed the limits of human hearing (typically up to 20,000 Hz), ensuring comprehensive reproduction. The result is clarity without harshness.
The midrange performance is comparatively less distinct. While not muddy, there is a subtle coolness and slight sluggishness. In sections where a warm and enveloping sensation is expected, the sound can feel somewhat thin and clinical. Lower peak frequencies tend to dominate the low frequencies, creating a perception that the midrange is slightly recessed. This characteristic is noticeable in AIR – La femme d´argent, where the sonic experience is less immersive than usual.
The bass response is clear and well-defined. It is powerful and direct without being overbearing, a characteristic that can be challenging for open-back headphones to achieve. When mixing, low frequencies are sometimes boosted to compensate for perceived weakness in bass reproduction. However, this is not necessary with the DT900 Pro X, which delivers commendable bass performance.
The stereo imaging and detail retrieval are impressive. The ability to accurately position sonic elements in the soundstage is evident in Hans Zimmer’s – Buyer Beware. Focusing on the stereo width and the placement of percussion and effects across various axes reveals a captivating listening experience.
Open-back headphones offer varying degrees of isolation, and the DT 900 Pro X strikes a balanced compromise. While not completely soundproof, they effectively attenuate ambient noise, especially when music is playing. Pausing the audio reveals the extent of environmental sounds that are still audible.
Overall, the DT 900 Pro X delivers a powerful, natural, and precise rendition of your favorite tracks. They can reveal new facets in familiar music, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses in mixes. Their revealing nature makes them a valuable tool for music production and critical listening.
The Bottom Line – Beyerdynamic’s DT 900 Pro X
The DT 900 Pro X offers excellent value for its price. Its strengths include a direct and impactful bass response and precise high-frequency reproduction. While the midrange is slightly less prominent, this is the only significant compromise. The level of detail is phenomenal, making these headphones a captivating listening experience.
The low impedance ensures compatibility with virtually all transmitting devices, eliminating the need for a high-powered source. This is a significant advantage of the DT 900 Pro X.
The headphones’ weight can contribute to a slight reduction in comfort during extended listening sessions, making occasional breaks desirable.
In conclusion, should you purchase the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X? The answer depends on your intended use case. These are not general-purpose headphones for use on the subway, for example. They are designed for critical listening, ideally for extended periods in environments with minimal background noise and without the need for wireless connectivity. This specialized application may limit their appeal. However, if these criteria align with your needs, the DT 900 Pro X offers exceptional performance across a wide range of sonic characteristics.
Beyerdynamic provided test units for this review. The provision of review units does not influence our editorial objectivity.
- Playlist for testing
- Thomas Bergersen – Empire of Angels
- Seven Lions – Freesol
- Solar Fields – Sombrero
- Agnes Obel – Familiär
- Alan Jackson – Drive
- Von Dinkelmeyer – Countach 1988
- John Powell – Once There Were Dragons
- Armin van Buuren – Beautiful Life
- Dawn Upshaw – Lorsque Vous N’Aurez Rien A Faire (ur Cherubin)
- Christian Sandquist, Nina Fylkegård – Wanderers
- Hans Zimmer – Buyer Beware
- AIR – La femme d´argent
