Updated October 2026 · prices checked Oct 10, 2026. Covers the original 250Ω DT 1990 Pro and the 30Ω DT 1990 Pro MKII.
Drives both versions with 18 dB or more of headroom and under 0.1Ω output impedance.
Best value one-box: about 10 dB of headroom on either version from the 6.35mm jack.
One box with large headroom on every output, plus built-in EQ for the original's treble peak.
Two Different Headphones Under One Name
The original Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro is a 250Ω open-back with Beyerdynamic’s Tesla drivers, rated at 102 dB/mW, and shipped with two pad sets (one more analytical, one more balanced). Beyerdynamic now sells the DT 1990 Pro MKII in its place, and retailers are clearing out the original.
The MKII is not a cosmetic update. Retailer spec sheets list it at 30Ω and 94 dB/mW, which flips the amp requirement: the original wants modest voltage, the MKII wants current and a low output impedance. If you own the original, the advice for it is below. If you are buying new, you are buying the MKII.
See today's price for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII on Amazon ↗The Power Math for Both Versions
| DT 1990 Pro (original) | DT 1990 Pro MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 250Ω | 30Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW (≈108 dB/V) | 94 dB/mW (≈109 dB/V, retailer spec sheets) |
| Volts for 110 dB peaks | ~1.26 V | ~1.10 V |
| Current for 110 dB peaks | ~5 mA | ~37 mA |
| Power for 110 dB peaks | ~6 mW | ~40 mW |
| With 6 dB headroom | ~2.5 V, ~25 mW | ~2.2 V, ~160 mW |
| Max source output impedance (Z/8) | ~31Ω | ~4Ω |
Two things stand out. The voltage requirement is similar and modest for both: about 1.1 to 1.3 V, so neither is “hard to drive” the way a 300Ω Sennheiser is. But the MKII needs about seven times the current and power, and its output-impedance ceiling drops to about 4Ω. Phone jacks and some laptop outputs that would drive the original fine will run out of current, or color the bass, on the MKII.
Amps vs Each Version
Headroom for the original is calculated against 1.26 V; for the MKII against 40 mW, using the published 32Ω ratings as the nearest load.
| Amp | Original 250Ω (volts / headroom) | MKII 30Ω (32Ω rating / headroom) | Zout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple USB-C dongle | ~1 V / −2 dB | ~30 mW (ASR) / −1 dB | <1Ω |
| FiiO K11 R2R, 6.35mm | ~3.9 V / +10 dB | 460 mW / +11 dB | <1Ω |
| FiiO K11 R2R, 4.4mm | ~8.1 V / +16 dB | 1.3 W / +15 dB | <1.5Ω |
| JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 | ~9.3 V / +17 dB | 2.65 W / +18 dB | 0.7Ω |
| Schiit Magni (Unity) | ~11 V / +19 dB | 2.5 W / +18 dB | <0.1Ω |
| Schiit Asgard X, ¼-inch | ~10.7 V / +19 dB | 2.8 W / +18 dB | 0.7Ω |
| Topping DX5 II, 6.35mm | ~8.5 V / +17 dB | 2.2 W (listed) / +17 dB | n/a |
| Topping DX5 II, balanced | ~17 V / +23 dB | 6.4 W / +22 dB | n/a |
Every desktop amp on the list clears both versions by 10 dB or more. On the original DT 1990 Pro even a good dongle is nearly enough at normal levels. On the MKII, the dongle is at its limit and the output-impedance rule matters more.
Recommended Pairings
Schiit Magni (Unity), $119: the simple answer for both
The current Magni replaced the Magni Heresy this guide used to recommend. Its ¼-inch output is rated at 2.5 W into 32Ω and 415 mW into 300Ω, with output impedance under 0.1Ω, so it covers the MKII’s current needs and the original’s voltage needs equally well. Three gain settings; use the lowest one that reaches your level. With Schiit’s DAC card it’s a $199 one-box. The JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 (~$129, See today's price for the JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 from JDS ↗ ) is the equivalent alternative.
FiiO K11 R2R, ~$170: best value one-box
R2R DAC and amp. Its 6.35mm jack gives about 10 dB of headroom on either version, which covers loud listening. Because both DT 1990 versions have a detachable mini-XLR cable, you can add a 4.4mm balanced cable later and get roughly 5 dB more.
Topping DX5 II, ~$299: one-box with EQ
More output than either version needs, on every jack. What makes it a good DT 1990 match is the built-in headphone EQ: the original DT 1990 Pro’s treble peak is its most common complaint, and EQ is the reliable way to address it.
High end: Schiit Asgard X ($399) or Jotunheim 3 ($499)
These replace the Asgard 3 and the Drop THX AAA 789 from older versions of this page. Neither is needed for power. The Asgard X ( See today's price for the Schiit Asgard X from Schiit ↗ ) adds a Class A-biased output stage, a 4.4mm output and a preamp; the Jotunheim 3 ( See today's price for the Schiit Jotunheim 3 from Schiit ↗ ) is fully balanced (6 W into 32Ω balanced, 2 W single-ended) with an optional DAC card. Buy them for features or a future planar, not for the DT 1990.
Treble, EQ and Amp “Character”
The original DT 1990 Pro is bright, with a pronounced treble peak that owners consistently mention. Older versions of this page recommended a “warm” amp to soften it. In practice, competent solid-state amps measure close to flat into these loads, so swapping one for another won’t remove a peak that size. The dependable fixes are:
- EQ. A cut of a few dB in the 8 to 10 kHz region, via Equalizer APO on Windows, system-wide EQ on macOS, or an amp with built-in EQ like the DX5 II.
- The pads. The original ships with two pad sets; owners generally describe the “balanced” pads as the less bright option.
We don’t yet have enough owner consensus on the MKII’s tuning to say how much of this applies to it.
Avoid OTL tube amps with the MKII. At 30Ω, its output-impedance ceiling is about 4Ω, and OTL amps sit at 25Ω or more. The original 250Ω model tolerates them better, but there is little reason to choose one for a headphone this bright. Background: tube amp vs solid state .
Who Should Skip What
- Skip the dongle for the MKII as a main source: it’s at its current limit.
- Skip the Asgard X and Jotunheim 3 if the DT 1990 is your only headphone.
- Skip “warm” amps bought to fix the treble: use EQ or the other pads.
- Skip OTL tubes with the MKII.
What Owners Say (as of October 2026)
Across r/headphones, Head-Fi and the Audio Science Review forum, the original DT 1990 Pro is consistently described as detailed, comfortable, well built and bright, with EQ as the most common recommendation for the treble. Discussion of the MKII is still thin compared with the original; the main practical point owners raise is the change to a low-impedance driver, which makes it easier to run from interfaces and portable gear. For Beyerdynamic’s other open-backs, see the DT 990 Pro pairing guide and DT 990 vs DT 880 .
Want the full breakdown on the original? Read our Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro review .