When comparing AKG K553 Pro vs Beyerdynamic DT990Pro, the Slant community recommends Beyerdynamic DT990Pro for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Beyerdynamic DT990Pro is ranked 28th while AKG K553 Pro is ranked 132nd. The most important reason people chose Beyerdynamic DT990Pro is:
These headphones should be able to withstand minor impact and drops, and will last you years of use. The headband and yokes are made from solid yet lightweight metal, so they won’t break easily. The ear cups are made of plastic materials which, while not as durable as metal, are strong enough to not come off as flimsy.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Quite comfortable to wear
The K553 Pro's earpads feature pleather materials which feel supple on the skin. Inside, the quality foam should provide ample cushioning. The headband also features a pleather surface and has some padding, which should help ease the pressure off of your head.
Pro Produces clean and accurate yet versatile sound
The sound is clear and accurate, and it should be very easy for the listener to pick out the details in the music. The bass level is just right without sounding boomy or muddy. The mids sound natural and neutral so these frequencies do not jump out of the mix. The highs are slightly extended, but do not make the sound harsh in any way.
Pro Solid build quality and premium feel
These headphones have very good build quality. Solid plastic and durable-feeling plastic is used for most of the headphones' parts. The matte finish adds a softer and more premium feel to the plastic surfaces. The headband is made of metal so it can handle some flex without breaking.
Pro Great noise isolation qualities
The closed design helps to greatly minimize sound leakage from these headphones. People near you will not hear what you are listening to when using these headphones. Also, the pleather pads allow for a great seal which further helps to minimize sound isolation and block outside noise from interfering with your listening experience.
Pro Well-built
These headphones should be able to withstand minor impact and drops, and will last you years of use. The headband and yokes are made from solid yet lightweight metal, so they won’t break easily. The ear cups are made of plastic materials which, while not as durable as metal, are strong enough to not come off as flimsy.
Pro Full and rich bass with very detailed treble
The low frequencies are what stand out from the sound signature. The bass is powerful, deep and tight so you get a lot of thump without muddying up the overall sound. This is complemented by very detailed and airy high frequencies, so you should be able to easily hear the fine details from your music.
Pro Wide soundstage
The audio from these headphones will sound wide and quite immersive, which can be attributed to the open-back design. This also results in good instrument separation, so you’ll be able to easily identify the directions where the various sound sources are coming from. The wide soundstage can result in a truly immersive music listening experience, and also makes these headphones a good choice for movies and gaming.
Pro Soft on the head
You can wear these headphones for many hours straight with little to no issue, as the head band and ear pads have thick padding. The ear pads have a suede cover which allows some airflow to the ears, and helps minimize heat build-up.
Cons
Con Earpads may be too small for some
While the ear pads are able to provide ample cushioning, they are quite thin. Large ears may come into contact with the driver housing. This can lead to some discomfort and annoyance, especially when wearing the headphones for long periods of time.
Con Long, non-detachable headphone cable
You may encounter some hassle when using these headphones due to the cable. While the length is quite good at around 3 meters, the cable can get in the way and can be quite difficult to organize. The cable is also non-detachable, so replacing it can be difficult.
Con Requires a headphone amp
You won’t get a lot of volume and a good music listening experience from these headphones when plugged straight to your phone or computer. These have a high impedance rating so you’ll need a powerful amp to run the DT990 properly.
Con Leaks a lot of sound
The DT990s are not ideal for use in an office environment, if you share your space with others or when traveling. These headphones are fully open, so they leak out a lot of sound, which can be annoying to others.
Con Tight clamping force
You may find the clamping force to be quite tight, especially if you have a fairly large head size. This can make wearing the headphones for hours straight uncomfortable, even if the padding on the ear cups and headband are quite thick.
Con The highs can get quite sharp
too boosted and harsh, which can feel fatiguing.This can be apparent if you listen to more aggressive styles of music like rock or metal, or music which involves a lot of cymbals and high-pitched instruments.