I think it possible for some ear damage if not fairly aware of the power of these kinds of items - they are capable of great loudness but you may be compelled to listen at high levels because the bass/treble is more flat. In long sessions, it's a struggle to keep the volume safe sometimes, I know all too well. It's always really tempting to just listen another few times at borderline unsafe levels. Sure you can also hurt your ears with atypical headphones, just saying with reference flatness plus power comes some risk that you aren't getting enough bass etc. Just a little more reliance on EQ maybe and/or an external headphone amp - and a lot of extra pieces of string - or more frog hairs

Thank you for your valuable opinions, I really appreciate it. What you describe in the quote is interesting but my experience is actually the other way around, I find a flat response curve to reveal the details in the midrange to a greater level and that makes me play at a lower volume. That counts for playing piano, listen to music in general could possibly be like you describe.

Greg

You might like them more than anything - but just because more expensive, doesn't mean you'll prefer them. They're probably more in a similar bracket as Beyerdynamic 1990?

I think it possible for some ear damage if not fairly aware of the power of these kinds of items - they are capable of great loudness but you may be compelled to listen at high levels because the bass/treble is more flat. In long sessions, it's a struggle to keep the volume safe sometimes, I know all too well. It's always really tempting to just listen another few times at borderline unsafe levels. Sure you can also hurt your ears with atypical headphones, just saying with reference flatness plus power comes some risk that you aren't getting enough bass etc. Just a little more reliance on EQ maybe and/or an external headphone amp - and a lot of extra pieces of string - or more frog hairs

In the end though, unless you know why you might want a particular flat response (reference) earphone, you may be better off with a sweeter (enhanced bass and treble) type like Beyerdynamic 990 - IMO. [reason being, it took me years to properly get my head around the 'paradox' of listening for mixing vs. listening for pleasure - it's always a thing, you never truly 'know' like a robot extracting data on the fly, except experience guides you with time. Every room, every earphone, every instrument, every player, every 'mix' is different - reference flat lines give us 'extra' surety in our decisions to tweak something or not for recording/mixing mainly.

This day and age, you can make a career out of a telephone level output via Youtube and millions of fans say "wow" an buy all your T-shirts. Maybe it's old school but IMExperience, quality studios and maybe majority? of long-time respected audio techs, engineers/producers will have grappled with this - you really may not want to, or have to, to be honest.

But [main point], knowing it's a thing, might save you from buying really expensive headphones which sound not so inspiring, to you, for playing piano

Worth saving some money though, if you can get a better long-term enjoyment from 990s or other exceptionally good consumer style - just IMO.

If you have the budget (you say 500EU) maybe you can get a 990 and 880 or the 650 and 990

Last horse feather, sorry I mean frog hair ;0) - how to get to try them in person, that's the real question - there should be at least a good selection in any mid size music outlet, but don't buy unless you really feel comfortable with your choice, always good if not redundant advice

[edit to add]:

@Pianoteqenthusiast, thank you for your good advice. And to everyone else.

@Lanny, nearly 30yrs with the same Beyerdynamics and going strong - wow - if they still make 'em like they used to, I'm thinking of buying them. My Rolands are gaining noticable fuzz in ~6yrs.

@skip, yeah, similar here sometimes. I've been putting it down to a mix of jawbone vibrations to nerves meeting up somewhere with adrenaline system (good/exciting music helps it along for sure) - and suspension of disbelief which only getting easier in Pianoteq.

Greg

Lanny

Regarding bassines..

DT990 Pro website description:

DT990 website description:

Then about the 880s:

So - it would be safe to say, the difference is about use case scenarios. 990 indeed may sound more bassy. Good or bad would be up to you

Flavoured gear (enhanced bass etc) is more for listening enjoyment (either will do) but "neutral" is going to be best IF you are going to be critically listening for recording/mixing purposes - but you may like/enjoy either better than the other.

Rule of thumb, consumer gear is sweetened to make anything sound richer/creamier etc but it seems like a paradox that "neutral" might be considered better when it's probably not nice for listening for pleasure. The even more high end earphones (like the others in the range like 1990) can sound stark in a way - too clean, or clinical - but that's the job, to hear all that patent detail so it is mixed in a way that sounds arguably "best" on consumer grade equipment in the end.

If you want the best experience, also agree with EvilDragon, not easy to beat large speakers in a good studio - even best consumer systems can be amazing.

But for headphones I'm happy with the Roland RH-300 because they are good for both (in my experience).

Like so many audio things, there's so much more than meets the eye

Best of luck, take your time and hope you get what you like most johanibraaten.

990 had too much bass overall IMHO. 880 is the golden middle, as balanced as it can be.

Well thats your personal opinion. He should decide for himself. I personally felt the difference between those models more, than i heard the difference.
Also i think Beyerdynamics are very bright, to give you a detailed sound. So a bit more bass fits in nicely.

But I guess get the 880 when you want to hear good piano recording, get the 990 when you want to feel the piano.

Lanny

But others will hear your output.