Short answer: the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#44 and #47 of 134 over-ear headphones), and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro costs $149.99 against $209.95 for the AKG K612 Pro, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the AKG K612 Pro does well: A preference score of 81 in crinacle’s measurement shows a response that sits reasonably close to the Harman target with a slightly bright tilt. The tradeoff: The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation, so it is best for quiet rooms.
What the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro does well: A preference score of 82 comes from a lively, bass-forward tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.4 dB above target for punch and drive. The catch: Treble runs about 5 dB above target and air above 10 kHz is nearly 9 dB hot, with a peak near 10.9 dB at 11.9 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can sound harsh, especially at high volume.
Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $59.96 less than the AKG K612 Pro.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| AKG K612 Pro | Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $209.95 | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #47 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #44 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 82 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.27 dB standard deviation | 2.08 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 120 ohms | 250 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB SPL/V | 96 dB SPL |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (238 g) | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro:
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro vs Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
- AKG K612 Pro vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
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- Sony MDR-ZX310 vs Yamaha RH5Ma
- Philips SHP9500 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG K612 Pro: $209.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 81 in crinacle’s measurement shows a response that sits reasonably close to the Harman target with a slightly bright tilt. The open back gives an airy, spacious presentation at 238 g. At 120 ohms and 101 dB SPL/V it is workable from a good source.
Cons: The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation, so it is best for quiet rooms. The 120 ohm impedance benefits from a dedicated headphone amp rather than a phone.
Full AKG K612 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.27 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB SPL/V |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 175 Hz | -1.9 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 744 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.70 |
| Peak | 2,519 Hz | -2.4 dB | 3.07 |
| Peak | 5,923 Hz | -2.8 dB | 6.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.17 |
| Peak | 85 Hz | +2.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,518 Hz | +0.7 dB | 4.54 |
| Peak | 4,342 Hz | +0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 82 comes from a lively, bass-forward tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.4 dB above target for punch and drive. The open back gives a spacious, airy soundstage, and the presence and treble lift adds a sense of detail on bright recordings.
Cons: Treble runs about 5 dB above target and air above 10 kHz is nearly 9 dB hot, with a peak near 10.9 dB at 11.9 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can sound harsh, especially at high volume. Sub-bass is about 2.5 dB low. The 250 ohm impedance needs a headphone amp, and the open back leaks sound.
Full Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.08 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 250 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB SPL |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +10.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 541 Hz | +3.1 dB | 0.52 |
| Peak | 64 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.38 |
| Peak | 7,731 Hz | -4.6 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 640 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.47 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -9.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,136 Hz | +3.1 dB | 2.08 |
| Peak | 5,897 Hz | -4.8 dB | 5.30 |
| Peak | 4,193 Hz | +1.1 dB | 1.51 |
| Peak | 9,436 Hz | +2.7 dB | 3.53 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons