Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus. It ranks #82 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $199.95; the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro ranks #96, rated 4.0/5, and costs $199.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus: A preference score of 83 in crinacle’s measurement is excellent for a closed-back headphone, and a slightly warm tilt of minus 0.28 suits listeners who like a smooth, full sound. The tradeoff: It is a wired design with no wireless or ANC features.
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 Sennheiser HD 25 Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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A preference score of 83 in crinacle’s measurement is excellent for a closed-back headphone, and a slightly warm tilt of minus 0.28 suits listeners who like a smooth, full sound.
Amazon $199.95 eBay
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 25 Plus | Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199.99 |
| Ranked | #82 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #96 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 82 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation | 2.08 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 70 ohms | 250 ohms |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (140 g) | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 96 dB SPL |
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