If you want lightweight studio listening and a wide, open presentation for workout recovery or private listening, choose Audio-Technica ATH-R50X; if you need a 32-ohm headphone with a lively bass-and-treble character for everyday wired listening, choose beyerdynamic DT990. Neither is designed for exercise: both are over-ear, open-back headphones, so outside sound remains audible and neither provides noise control. For workout use, I’d look elsewhere rather than treat either as a secure or noise-isolating sports headphone.
• Audio-Technica ATH-R50X: Its 207 g build, open-back soundstage, and two detachable cables suit long sessions in a private space; the open design provides no noise control and lets outside sound through.
• beyerdynamic DT990: Its 32-ohm specification and pronounced bass-and-treble character make it a straightforward wired option for compatible phones, tablets, laptops, and other non-amplified devices; its open design also leaves background sound audible.
• Choose the ATH-R50X if you prioritize a lightweight reference-style headphone, accurate midrange, extended bass, and cable flexibility.
• Choose the DT990 if you want the described energetic low-and-high presentation and a single-side cable for home or desk listening.
• For workouts: neither is a purpose-built sports headphone, and neither has noise control.
The ATH-R50X is an open-back, wired headphone designed around reference listening and audio production. Audio-Technica describes its sound as having extended bass, accurate midrange, quick transient response, and a wide, realistic soundstage. That combination points toward focused listening, mixing, or mastering in a studio or another private room—not commuting or blocking out a busy gym.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-14 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The ATH-R50X makes the most sense for someone who wants a spacious presentation and intends to listen in a quiet setting. Its two detachable cables—one 3.0 m and one 1.2 m—give more choice in how far you sit from your source. Both use a twist-lock connection at the left earcup, and the package includes a 6.3 mm adapter and carrying pouch. Skip it if your priority is wireless convenience, exercise-specific fit, or isolation from gym noise: the listed connection is wired, and noise control is absent.
The DT990 is also an open-back, wired over-ear headphone, but its stated sound profile leans into strong bass and treble. That can suit listeners who enjoy an emphatic, lively presentation for pop and rock, or who want a headphone for music listening, gaming, and other home use. Its 32-ohm version is described as suitable for phones, tablets, MP3 players, laptops, and other non-amplified applications.
The cable is a 10-foot, single-side design, with a 3.5 mm plug and a 1/4-inch adapter. That setup is practical at a desk or listening chair when the source is within reach, but it is less flexible than the ATH-R50X package’s two cable lengths. The DT990’s adjustable, padded headband is intended to provide a comfortable fit. The product information also says its components are available as replacement parts, a useful consideration for buyers thinking about long-term maintenance.
Its open construction is a meaningful limitation, not a minor detail. Background noise remains audible, even at higher listening volumes, so the DT990 is a poor match for someone trying to shut out a crowded workout room. It also lacks noise control and is not presented as a workout-specific design. Choose it for wired listening in a setting where hearing some surroundings is acceptable; skip it if isolation or a compact sports setup is your main goal.
• Best for a lighter listed build → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. It weighs 207 g, while the DT990 is listed at 0.2 kg.
• Best for reference-oriented studio work → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. Its stated strengths include accurate midrange, extended bass, and quick transient response.
• Best for a bass-and-treble-forward character → beyerdynamic DT990. That sound description may appeal if you prefer an energetic presentation for pop and rock.
• Best for choosing between two cable lengths → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. It includes 1.2 m and 3.0 m detachable cables; the DT990 has a 10-foot single-side cable.
• Best for a listed 32-ohm option for non-amplified devices → beyerdynamic DT990. Its product information specifically identifies phones, tablets, and laptops as suitable sources.
• Best for airflow during long, private listening sessions → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. Its open earcups and velour earpads are described as supporting comfort, though the open design does not isolate you.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → either, with a caveat. Both have open-back designs, and the DT990 description explicitly notes that outside noise remains discernible.
• Best for a workout? → Neither. Neither product is described as a sports headphone, and neither offers noise control. Open-back designs can leave gym noise audible, while these are wired over-ear models rather than workout-specific earbuds.
In my opinion, I’d choose the Audio-Technica ATH-R50X for private listening and studio work because its lighter listed weight, two cable options, and reference-focused description make it the more adaptable fit for those uses. The DT990 remains appealing if its 32-ohm specification and stronger bass-and-treble character better match your listening habits.
For a workout, I would buy neither: both are open-back and wired, with no noise control. If exercise is the priority, search specifically for a secure sports design rather than trying to make either of these home-listening headphones do that job.
Neither is described as a workout headphone. Both are wired, open-back, over-ear designs without noise control, so they won’t block gym sounds. I’d choose a purpose-built sports option for exercise.
No noise-control feature is listed for either. Their open-back designs allow surrounding sound to remain audible; the DT990 description specifically notes that outside noise can still be heard at higher volume.
The DT990’s 32-ohm version is specifically described as suitable for phones, tablets, laptops, and other non-amplified devices. The ATH-R50X is listed as a 50-ohm wired headphone; the supplied information does not make the same device-compatibility claim for it.
The ATH-R50X is listed at 207 g and has a headband designed for extended comfort, along with replaceable velour earpads. The DT990 also has an adjustable padded headband, so comfort preference matters, but the ATH-R50X has the lower listed weight.
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