Sometimes it has to "open" its (compared with Beyerdynamic DT990 Edition 2005 T5p)

Since I barely get to since around 2005, to listen to music on my system (you do not want the whole family, especially sleeping babies, "disturb"), I have moved me almost exclusively on listening to music through headphones.
My first was a KH Beyer DT990 Edition 2005 (32 Ohm), I own still and like very much. Its fresh, crisp and beautiful spatial reproduction constant source of delight. Already clear that this KH a bit 'towards fun "is matched, but my taste in music (especially pop / rock, electronic and jazz) does the contrary. Older, not perfect shots from these genres will benefit from the slight "shower" vote and the famous "Beyer-peak" at around 8 kHz.
Added to this was in the meantime a Sennheiser HD 650, but I sold again sometime because I could carry him hardly more than an hour (no comparison with the extremely comfortable DT990) and me sonically promised the characteristics of DT990 more.
In 2010, I earned a Beyerdynamic T5p, although a costly affair, but also a real piece of cake (for a closed headphone) To this day I do not regret a penny. He is more neutral than matched the DT990 and does not quite reach the space, but that is already inherently (open vs. closed headphone). Nevertheless, he is preparing on hearing a lot of joy and is my favorite on the go, because although it passively, but still very well insulated from outside noise, it does not bother anyone and ensure especially the Tesla technology, and the low impedance of 32 ohms for that one itself can achieve a decent volume on mobile players.

After a brief interlude with a Ultrasone Signature Pro, which is also great, but I could not convince quite a few months ago a Beyerdynamic T90 is moved in with me.

My sources are at home a SACD player Marantz with attached Meier audio headphone amplifier (older model of 500 euros class) and my PC with foobar2000 and audiophile components M2Tech hiFace soundcard, VDAC D / A converter and Lehmann Audio Black Cube Linear KHV. On the way I use the PC with the AudioQuest DragonFly (see my review in this regard), and since a few weeks to really divine Astell & Kern AK100 (see my review in this regard). In particular, with the T5p, substitute a Sony XBA4 In-Ear, the AK100 forms a fantastically good-sounding combination.
My music repertoire covers all grades, beginning with newer, audiophile recordings (mainly jazz and folk) as SACD or in FLAC format with up to 24 bit / 192kHz, and ending at not remastered 70s / 80s recordings that I mostly as 160 kbps Ogg Vorbis files have encoded.

So, that was a long introduction, but so you can classify my next assessment of the T90, you must also have a brief overview I feed my headphones on my listening habits and with what equipment and material.

The reader will now be wondering what I yet another headset "needed" is actually next to the DT990 and the T5p. I can not really explain it. Probably I'm a "nerd", always looking for the even better, in this case for an ideal mix of the (open as KH) very airy and fresh aufspielenden, extremely comfortable, a little in the direction of "fun" and coordinated DT990 the tremendously precise, high-resolution and more analytical T5p, which is due to its closed design and its high efficiency also go very well used. In addition, a number of tests and reviews made me on the internet that often move the T90 very near the Beyerdynamic flagship T1, extremely curious.

But in order. After all, we are talking about headphones very different price ranges. The DT990 is the best, followed by the T90, which is about twice as expensive as the DT990 and then the T5p which (ie approximately four times the DT990) facilitates account by almost twice the T90.
This is reflected in the first place, appearance resist. The T5p is clear with its leather earpads and leather headband the noblest piece. The seat is, as actually all I know Beyerdynamics, very comfortable. When T90 indeed is already evident when unpacking where Beyerdynamic has set the red pencil, but gently: There is no sense of inferiority on. The materials used to make a solid and thoroughly quality impression. The microfiber cloth is likeable and comfortable, the seat back close to perfection, both for small and large heads, the pressure Beyerdynamic typically moderate. The design is relatively simple, but I personally like it. The DT990 forms with his Velourpolstern and leatherette headband, the "bottom", but this is not meant negatively, because it also affects anything but cheap.

We come finally to the most important, the sound.
Actually, yes a bit unfair to let the T5p compete as representatives of the enclosed design against two open headphones, but this comparison it must be given its higher price range Just put up.
To anticipate the result the same: In direct comparison to the T90 sets, albeit with only wafer-thin distance to T5p, to the top. With regard to resolution of detail and in the mids and highs I can, frankly, identify any significant differences. Both headphones make the music spatially excellent from the T90 sounds but naturally somewhat airy and builds a slightly wider stage than the T5p, in the bass is clear that the T90 indeed has a slight emphasis on the bass, but that comes first, my personal music style counter , and secondly, is no time the impression as if the bass "concentrated". The T5p sounds in the bass slightly slimmer, but without me, when I hear him solo, something was going to miss. The difference is marginal, but audible in a direct comparison.

For me personally it is very important that a headset sounds good not only with perfect images, but also with those in which the recording equipment according to the current state of the art was suboptimal or the engineer not just counting the elite of his craft (which does not concern always, but often older recordings). Because who's counting exclusively audiophile recordings in lossless compression and high resolution to Favorites?
T90 and T5p do everything right here. As an example I would like the trance-piece "Ready, Steady, Go" by Paul Oakenfold (present as 256 kbit / s VBR MP3) mention that although at least 2002, but is anything but audiophile. Both the T90 and the T5p makes the piece despite the modest engineer performance enormously fun. However, the T90 produces the feeling of a larger space, which has a positive effect especially for those club pieces.

Given the price difference between the T90 and the T5p is the result, I think, a little sensation, but it also shows that the construction makes a significant difference and that of course it is possible, but is simply more difficult, a "regular" closed headphones to build.

In direct comparison to the two "racers" T90 and T5p the DT990 has not got a real chance at first or second place in the sound rating. Nevertheless, I am far from him "herunterzuputzen" in some form. While he is in all disciplines by about a grade behind the other two, but is one solo, he still makes a lot of fun and is tonally in its price range is still a leader. So it remains definitely a good alternative if you are not willing or capable of, "sacrifice" more than 250-300 euros from the nest egg for a headset to.

What about the suitability Portable Player?
Here the T5p is thanks to Tesla and impedance of 32 Ohm, as expected far forward. Even on "European castrated" mobile devices, it achieves still a considerable volume. I must indeed confess that it benefits in such cases by an intermediary mobile headphone amplifier, because the music then total a trace powerful and dynamic effect, the bass more precise and contoured comes along, but a necessity is not the mobile KHV. On players like the AK100's needs not already; the amplifier is powerful enough to wrest T5p also hearing harmful levels (which you should of course refrain).
The DT990 can be at least in my 32 ohm version is still very good run at AK100; Although it requires a 5-6 stages (of 75) higher setting to produce subjectively the same volume as the T5p, but that gives the AK100 her loose.
On a par with him is the T90; Thanks to Tesla, he is so efficient despite 250 Ohm that one to devices like the AK100 no headphone amplifier required. An "European castrated" devices, it is likely but probably no longer sufficient for occasional listening.

In summary, each of the three handset has its strengths:
The T90 offers the best sound within this trio and a solid finish for a moderate price. He is the clear recommendation for everyone to listen exclusively at home on a good headphone amp or in mobile use a high-quality, powerful players like the AK100, alternatively a mobile headphone amplifier uses.
The T5p is expensive, but sounds even nearly as good as the open T90 as closed headphones, has a slightly more noble outfit and provides the optimum is for someone who primarily go also less powerful (but high quality) devices to enjoy music in the best possible quality and / or his music not want to share with other people in the area.
The DT990 Edition 2005 is sound, although the weakest in this trio, but makes, in absolute terms, still a lot of fun while listening to music and continues to be a top recommendation, if the budget for the "big brothers" is not sufficient. This applies to the mobile usability when T90 has been said (but only for 32 Ohm version!).

Please note that this is my very subjective judgment. In other musical tastes and listening habits other one can come to quite different conclusions and handset vendors as a more appropriate feel. My favorites are now sometimes referred Beyerdynamic listeners, although I would not rule out to be because of my history on the "Beyerdynamics sound" which is used by other music fans yes here and there also criticized conditioned.