TEST: BEYERDYNAMIC DT 900 PRO X

It’s like getting a hug when you put on the DT 900 Pro X. The legendary Beyerdynamic delivers pleasure and comfort, with little weight, to convince of its quality and precision. DT 900 Pro X are open (open back), which entails both disadvantages and advantages. However, the disadvantages are so obvious right from the start that you simply chose the wrong trick if these are a problem. The DT 900 Pro X excels at most things, but also misses a bit. However, there is no doubt that there is both tradition and knowledge in the craft here. The headphones feel dedicated for reference listening, music production and even mastering. They have the same construction as the DT 700 Pro X, except for the basic feature of being open.

So why would you want a pair of open-back headphones? And what pitfalls are there when we start talking wired headphones? If you feel that you have a complete grasp of these parts, you can just read on, otherwise feel free to start reading this headphone guide , where we go through some basics and parts that may be good to have an eye on.

Overall – Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X

Returning to the test of the DT 900 Pro X, it is clear that this class and type of headphones is mostly focused on comfort and sound quality. The headphones are meant to be used for a long time and provide a fair sound image, which is neither amplified nor modified. It must reproduce the signal as it is transmitted. Hence there are no niceties such as EQ in apps (Beyerdynamic’s app exists, but is for their wireless headphones), listening modes and charging variants. You get a pair of headphones and that’s it. And in just that there is a calm and a focus that feels pleasant.

In the box you will find a 180cm long and a 300cm long cord. Both of these are basically 3.5mm male but come with 6.3mm adapters. Added to this is a travel bag that feels surprisingly lavish and luxurious.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X – The feeling

As mentioned in the introduction, it feels like a hug when you put on the DT 900 Pro X. The ear cushions are like two teddy bears and just as comfortable and cozy as it looks in the pictures, it is in reality. The mix between metal and plastic gives a solid and robust impression. Nothing is missing or wanting. There is an elegance and confidence that shines through.

After about an hour and a half of listening, the temperature around the ears is slightly elevated, not uncomfortably high, but a little warm around the ear. If you are also sitting in a warm environment, there are many other headphone models that ventilate better. This model puts some pressure around the ears, which to some extent has to do with head size but also the weight of the headphones. The DT 900 Pro X weighs 343g (without cable), which is not particularly heavy, but makes them far from the lightest headphones in the class. By comparison, Sennheiser’s HD-600 weighs in at 260g and Audio-Technica’s ATH-R70x at just 210g.

A detail that bothers with the DT 900 Pro X is the socket for the cord on the earphone itself. The fairly long connector sticks out far enough to occasionally catch on the left shoulder. This varies a little depending on how you sit, straight as a pine tree – no weirdness. But slightly sunken, well then head movements to the left become annoying.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X – The sound picture

High frequencies are presented with razor-sharp precision and let no details pass by. With a register of 5 – 40,000 Hz there is absolutely no risk of missing anything, especially when the human ear can at best perceive frequencies up to 20,000 Hz. In really optimal cases, when you are still a child. But it won’t be sticky, just clear.

In the middle register, it unfortunately becomes less clear. We choose the expression less obvious because it is certainly not messy, really not, but there is a coldness and a bit of a lethargy. In parts where the usual feeling is envelopingly warm and caressing, it instead becomes a bit thin and clinical. Lower peak frequencies drown out together with low frequencies and the feeling that the middle register has to stand a little further back in the queue persists. This becomes clear in AIR – La femme d’argent, we don’t get changed as much as we usually do.

The base is clear and tangible. Not over the top, but powerful and direct, something that open earphones to some extent can have a hard time delivering. Especially when mixing, sometimes low frequencies are set a bit too high, precisely because the impression of weak bass appears more often on the format. But that is not the case with the DT900 Pro X and it is worth paying close attention to.

The stereo image and the wealth of detail is magnificent. The ability to place details in the music exactly where they should be is really evident in Hans Zimmer’s – Buyer Beware . It becomes a fascinating experience if you focus precisely on the stereo width and the play with placing percussion and effects on all axes.

Even open headphones are more or less insulating and the DT 900 Pro X places itself at a puncture-proof level. It is not so isolated that just about everything can be heard, especially not if you have your music playing. If you pause, however, you quickly become aware that all the sounds from the environment that you actually hear.

So what you get is a powerful, natural and precise version of your favorite songs. Some songs come alive when the DT 900 Pro X is allowed to show its best side. If you produce music, these can reveal, or praise, your mixes. Because everything is heard, for better or for worse.   

The content – ​​Beyerdynamics DT 900 Pro X

You get a lot for your money. That’s how it is, simply. The DT 900 Pro X impresses with its direct and powerful bass, no high frequencies are lost, however, the middle frequencies may be held back somewhat. But it somehow feels ok, it is after all the only compromise that shines through. It’s a phenomenal wealth of detail and you’re mesmerized away from what you should be doing with these over the ears. 

The low impedance means that the headphones work on almost all transmitting devices, a definite plus if, for example, you don’t have a sound source that can sleep a little extra, and with the DT 900 Pro X you don’t need that.

The headphones are somewhat heavy, which contributes to reduced comfort, especially if you sit for a long time. Then after a while it will be quite nice to take them off.

So finally to the question on everyone’s lips: should I buy a pair of Beyerdynamics DT 900 Pro X? The answer must be somewhat adapted, these are not ordinary headphones to be used on, for example, the subway. No, this is of the more dedicated type. More for those who critically want to listen to their music, and preferably for long periods, and decidedly in environments that offer low background noise, and without wireless solutions. In summary, an area of ​​use that is perhaps somewhat narrower than usual. But if these criteria are not a problem, you will find in the DT 900 Pro X a pair of headphones that give you almost everything, at a really high level.