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The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro and DT 990 Pro are the two most common headphones in professional studios. They look almost identical, but they serve very different purposes in 2026.

The Differences

  • DT 770 Pro (Closed-Back): This is for isolation. If you are recording vocals, drums, or live instruments, you need the closed-back design to prevent bleed. It has a punchy, V-shaped sound that is great for monitoring during tracking.
  • DT 990 Pro (Open-Back): This is for mixing and enjoyment. Because it’s open, it has a much wider soundstage and better imaging. It’s significantly more natural sounding than the DT 770.

Which Should You Buy?

If you are strictly mixing in a quiet room, go for the DT 990 Pro. If you are doing any recording (vocals, podcasts, instruments) where sound bleed into a microphone is a concern, go for the DT 770 Pro.

Driveability

Both versions come in various impedances (32, 80, 250 ohms). If you don’t have a FiiO K7 or a Topping DX3 Pro+, stick to the lower impedance (32 ohm) versions.

For more, read our Best Audiophile Headphones for Gaming 2026.