Short answer: the Beyerdynamic DT 770 M, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #205 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.0/5, at $199.99; the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z ranks #208, rated 1.8/5, and costs $249, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Sennheiser HD 550 instead, ranked #6 at $199.95.
What the Beyerdynamic DT 770 M does well: A closed back design that blocks outside noise better than an open back, with an 80 ohm load and 105 dB sensitivity that a phone or laptop can drive. Watch for: A deep 15.6 dB dip near 3.6 kHz and a presence band about 7 dB low push vocals and guitars back and make the sound muffled.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z: The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out, which suits shared rooms and late night listening. The catch: A preference score of 32 in crinacle’s measurement puts it far from the response most listeners prefer, so it will sound noticeably colored without EQ.
Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 770 M. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 M | Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $249.00 |
| Ranked | #205 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #208 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 37 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 32 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.83 dB standard deviation | 4.08 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 80 ohms | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Beyerdynamic DT 770 M compares with other leading options:
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
- AKG K271 MKII vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs Sennheiser HD 569
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs iBasso SR1
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs Audio-Technica ATH-G1
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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
Beyerdynamic DT 770 M: $199.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A closed back design that blocks outside noise better than an open back, with an 80 ohm load and 105 dB sensitivity that a phone or laptop can drive. The bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the low mids sit slightly above target, which suits listeners who like a warm tone. It is rated higher than the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z and Meze 99 Classics.
Cons: A deep 15.6 dB dip near 3.6 kHz and a presence band about 7 dB low push vocals and guitars back and make the sound muffled. Sub-bass falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz, so the deepest synth bass and kick drum rumble fade out. The AKG K271 MKII is rated higher for similar money.
Full Beyerdynamic DT 770 M review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2003 (22 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.83 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 37 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 75 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 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 | +7.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 91 Hz | -14.9 dB | 0.66 |
| Peak | 4,980 Hz | +5.4 dB | 0.84 |
| Peak | 75 Hz | +7.3 dB | 2.66 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.94 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,666 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.42 |
| Peak | 3,533 Hz | +4.7 dB | 2.91 |
| Peak | 8,793 Hz | +2.4 dB | 2.64 |
| Peak | 1,011 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.03 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z: $249.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out, which suits shared rooms and late night listening. At 44 ohms and 100 dB/mW it gets loud from a phone or laptop without a dedicated amp, and the large 53 mm dynamic driver suits listeners who like a warm, colored sound.
Cons: A preference score of 32 in crinacle’s measurement puts it far from the response most listeners prefer, so it will sound noticeably colored without EQ. The AKG K271 MKII and the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X both rate higher and cost less, and at 335 g it is on the heavy side.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z review and specifications →
| Released | 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.08 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 32 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.2 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 | 81 Hz | -10.2 dB | 0.44 |
| Peak | 8,626 Hz | +4.9 dB | 1.18 |
| Peak | 2,626 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 905 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.97 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,151 Hz | -3.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,030 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.35 |
| Peak | 3,282 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.47 |
| Peak | 2,359 Hz | -1.4 dB | 5.88 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons