Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style
    2. Comfort
    3. Controls
    4. Breathability
    5. Portability
    6. Case
    7. Build Quality
    8. Stability
    9. Headshots 1
    10. Headshots 2
    11. Top
    12. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Sound Profile
    2. Frequency Response Consistency
    3. Raw Frequency Response
    4. Bass Profile: Target Compliance
    5. Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
    6. Treble Profile: Target Compliance
    7. Peaks/Dips
    8. Imaging
    9. Passive Soundstage
    10. Virtual Soundstage
    11. Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    12. Test Settings
  6. Isolation
    1. Noise Isolation - Full Range
    2. Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
    3. Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
    4. ANC Wind Handling
    5. Leakage
  7. Microphone
    1. Microphone Style
    2. Recording Quality
    3. Noise Handling
  8. Active Features
    1. Battery
    2. App Support
  9. Connectivity
    1. Wired Connection
    2. Bluetooth Connection
    3. Wireless Connection (Dongle)
    4. PC Compatibility
    5. PlayStation Compatibility
    6. Xbox Compatibility
    7. Base/Dock
  10. Comments

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO vs SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC

Tested using Methodology v1.8

Updated Jan 18, 2025 12:01 AM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Jan 17, 2024 03:14 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Studio

Variants

  • DT 990 PRO (Black)
  • DT 990 PRO (Grey)
  • Arctis Pro GameDAC (Black)

Our Verdict

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC

The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC each provide better value for different purposes. The SteelSeries are wired gaming headphones that come with a powerful microphone and lots of customization options. The Beyerdynamic are studio headphones designed for mixing and mastering; however, they can be a viable option for gamers who don’t need a mic thanks to their comfortable fit and well-balanced, immersive sound.

0 

Check Price

Black
DT 990 PRO
Searching
Finding store
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Neutral Sound

Threshold 

0.10

Neutral Sound 

8.2
7.6

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance 
 

9.4
8.4

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

7.9
6.4

Passive Soundstage 
 

6.9
6.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Design Picture 2
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Design Picture 2

Type  

Over-ear
Over-ear

Enclosure  

Open-Back
Closed-Back

Wireless  

No
No

Transducer  

Dynamic
Dynamic
Show Text 

Comfort 
 

7.5
7.5

Comfort Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Comfort Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Comfort Picture

Weight  

0.6 lbs
0.9 lbs

Clamping Force 
 

1.4 lbs
1.2 lbs
Show Text 

Controls 
 

0.0
6.2

Controls Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Controls Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Controls Picture

OS Compatibility 
 

No Controls
Not OS specific

Ease Of Use  

No Controls
Decent

Feedback  

No Controls
Great

Call/Music Control  

No
No

Volume Control  

No
Yes

Microphone Control  

No
Mute/Unmute

Channel Mixing 
 

No
Yes

Noise Cancelling Control  

No
No

Talk-Through 
 

No
No

Additional Controls  

No
Presets
Show Text 

Breathability 
 

7.4
5.4

Breathability After Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Breathability After Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Breathability After Picture

Avg.Temp.Difference  

3.3 °C
8.3 °C
Show Text 

Portability 
 

5.8
5.7

Portability Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Portability Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Portability Picture

 

7.6" (19.3 cm)
7.4" (18.8 cm)

 

5.5" (14.0 cm)
6.8" (17.3 cm)

 

3.3" (8.4 cm)
3.0" (7.6 cm)

Volume  

137.00 in³ (2,245.02 cm³)
150.00 in³ (2,458.05 cm³)

Transmitter Required  

No
No
Show Text 

Case 
 

6.5
0.0

Case Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Case Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Case Picture

Type  

Pouch
No case

 

N/A
N/A

 

N/A
N/A

 

N/A
N/A

Volume  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
6.0

Build Quality Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Build Quality Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Build Quality Picture
Show Text 

Stability 
 

7.0
7.0

Stability Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Stability Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Stability Picture
Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Angled Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Angled Picture

Side Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Side Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Side Picture

Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Front Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Front Picture

Rear Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Rear Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Rear Picture

Top  

Top Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Top Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Top Picture

In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO In The Box Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC In The Box Picture
Show Text 
Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Sound Profile  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Normalization Frequency 
 

450 Hz

Bass Amount 
 

-1.1 dB
0.4 dB

Treble Amount 
 

0.2 dB
-2.59 dB
Show Text 

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

7.2
5.4

Consistency L  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Consistency R  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

0.57 dB
1.33 dB
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Raw FR R  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Bass Profile: Target Compliance 
 

8.6
8.6

Bass Profile: Target Compliance  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

3.4 dB
2.01 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

25.75 Hz
10 Hz

Low Bass 
 

-4.3 dB
-1.81 dB

Mid Bass 
 

0.41 dB
-2.69 dB

High Bass 
 

2.35 dB
-0.7 dB
Show Text 

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance 
 

9.4
8.4

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

0.85 dB
2.19 dB

Low Mid 
 

0.66 dB
0 dB

Mid-Mid 
 

-0.72 dB
-1.07 dB

High Mid 
 

-0.75 dB
-3.28 dB
Show Text 

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

7.9
6.4

Treble Profile: Target Compliance  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

2.54 dB
5.25 dB

Low Treble 
 

-1.26 dB
-5.42 dB

Mid Treble 
 

2.22 dB
-1.93 dB

High Treble 
 

-1.19 dB
-9.05 dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

7.5
7.6

Peaks/Dips Graph 
 

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Peaks 
 

1.27 dB
1.44 dB

Dips 
 

2.26 dB
1.56 dB
Show Text 

Imaging 
 

8.7
8.7

Group Delay  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Phase Response Mismatch  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted Group Delay 
 

0.17
0.16

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

1.95
3.53

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

0.79
0.71

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

1.86
2
Show Text 

Passive Soundstage 
 

6.9
6.1

PRTF  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

2.35 dB
5.02 dB

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

1.4 dB
6.68 dB

PRTF Distance 
 

8.49 dB
18.19 dB

Openness 
 

9.0
4.9

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

8.1
3.9
Show Text 

Virtual Soundstage 
 

0.0
2.0

Virtual Soundstage  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Virtual Soundstage
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Virtual Soundstage

Head Modeling 
 

No
No

Speaker Modeling 
 

No
On/Off

Room Ambience 
 

No
No

Head Tracking 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No App
DTS 7.1
Show Text 

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.4
7.7

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

WHD @ 90 
 

0.070
0.362

WHD @ 100 
 

0.153
0.122
Show Text 

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

No Firmware
Unknown

Power 
 

Passive
USB

Connection 
 

USB
Wired

Codec 
 

PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz

Test Instrument  

THX AAA 789

EQ 
 

No EQ
Default

ANC 
 

No ANC
No ANC

Tip/Pad 
 

Default
Default

Microphone 
 

No Microphone
Boom
Show Text 
Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range 
 

2.1
4.5

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Noise Cancelling  

No
No

Overall Attenuation 
 

-4.66 dB
-13.24 dB

Isolation Audio 
 

Bass 
 

0.09 dB
0.28 dB

Mid 
 

0.19 dB
-8.65 dB

Treble 
 

-15.74 dB
-32 dB
Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios 
 

2.3

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph  

See details on graph tool

Airplane Noise Attenuation 
 

-3.72 dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Office Noise Attenuation 
 

-4.32 dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Street Noise Attenuation 
 

-4.43 dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling 
 

Female Voice 1 
 

Male Voice 1 
 

Female Voice 2 
 

Male Voice 2 
 

ANC Wind Handling 
 

ANC Wind Handling Graph  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO ANC Wind Handling Graph

ANC Wind Noise 
 

N/A

Leakage 
 

2.6
6.6

Leakage  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

59.71 dB
42.08 dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

No
No

In-Line 
 

No
No

Boom 
 

No
Yes

Detachable Boom 
 

No
No

Mic  

No
Yes
Show Text 

Recording Quality 
 

0.0
7.6

Microphone Frequency Response  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Microphone Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Recorded Speech 
 

N/A

LFE 
 

N/A
85.99 Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

N/A
4.57 dB

HFE 
 

N/A
10,240 Hz

Weighted THD 
 

N/A
5.105

Gain 
 

N/A
34.68 dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

0.0
7.7

SpNR  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO SpNR
See details on graph tool

SpNR 
 

N/A
33.22 dB

Noise Gate 
 

No
Always On

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

N/A
7.5

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

N/A
8.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

N/A
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

0.0
0.0

Battery Type 
 

No Battery
No Battery

Continuous Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Additional Charges 
 

N/A
N/A

Total Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Charge Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Power-Saving Feature 
 

No
No

Audio While Charging 
 

No
No

Passive Playback 
 

Passive Headphone
Passive Headphone

Charging Port  

None
None
Show Text 

App Support 
 

0.0
8.0

App Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO App Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC App Picture

App Name  

No App
SteelSeries Engine

iOS  

No
No

Android  

No
No

macOS  

No
Yes

Windows  

No
Yes

Equalizer 
 

No
Graphic + Presets

ANC Control 
 

No
No

Mic Control  

No
Adjustable Level

Room Effects 
 

No
No

Playback Control 
 

No
Yes

Button Mapping  

No
No

Surround Support 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired Connection 
 

9.1
10

Cable Picture  

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Cable Picture
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC Cable Picture

Analog Audio 
 

Yes
Yes

USB Audio 
 

No
USB Type A

Detachable 
 

No
Yes

Length 
 

3.77 ft (1.15 m)
5.00 ft (1.52 m)

Connector 
 

1/8" TRS
Mini B 8-Pin

Latency - Analog 
 

0.2 ms

Latency - USB 
 

N/A
1 ms

Recorded Latency 
 

Recorded Latency Connection  

Analog
Show Text 

Bluetooth Connection 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth Version 
 

No Bluetooth
No Bluetooth

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

NFC Pairing 
 

No

Quick Pair (Android) 
 

No

Quick Pair (iOS) 
 

No

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - SBC 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality) 
 

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) 
 

N/A

Latency - LDAC 
 

N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

N/A

Recorded Latency Codec  

No Bluetooth Audio

AAC Support 
 

No

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A

iOS Latency 
 

N/A

Android Latency 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Wireless Connection (Dongle) 
 

0.0
0.0

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - Dongle 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

N/A
Show Text 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio + Microphone

Wired USB 
 

No
Audio + Microphone

Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio + Microphone

PS4 Wired USB 
 

No
Audio + Microphone

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No

PS5 Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio + Microphone

PS5 Wired USB 
 

No
Audio + Microphone

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio + Microphone

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

No
Audio Only

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Audio Only
Audio + Microphone

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

No
No

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Base/Dock 
 

0.0
7.8

Type 
 

No Base/Dock
Wired USB dock

USB Input 
 

No
Yes

Line In 
 

No
Yes

Line Out 
 

No
Yes

Optical Input 
 

No
Yes

RCA Input 
 

No
No

Dock Charging 
 

No
No

Power Supply 
 

No Base/Dock
USB
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
DT 990 PRO
Searching
Finding store
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Arctis Pro GameDAC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC

Comments

  1. Comparison

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO vs SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones