If you want an open-back wired headphone for a wide, natural soundstage, choose beyerdynamic DT 990; if you need wireless listening with adaptive noise cancellation, choose Sennheiser M4. For TV watching, the choice is straightforward: DT 990 suits a quiet room and compatible audio equipment, while M4 brings Bluetooth convenience and noise-control features.
• beyerdynamic DT 990 strength: Open-back construction is designed for spacious, natural sound and critical listening; its 250-ohm impedance is a trade-off because it suits dedicated headphone amps, studio interfaces, and home hi-fi systems.
• Sennheiser M4 strength: Bluetooth listening, adaptive noise cancellation, transparency mode, and up to 60 hours of battery life make it more flexible away from a desk; it needs charging.
• DT 990 is for: Someone listening in a quiet space with suitable wired equipment who values an open presentation for shows, music, and close listening.
• M4 is for: Someone who wants wireless TV listening options, adjustable sound, and a way to reduce or let in surrounding sound.
• My quick take: For a stationary setup built around open sound, I’d pick the DT 990. For a more adaptable everyday headphone, I’d choose the M4.
The DT 990 is an over-ear, open-back wired headphone built around a clear, spacious presentation. Its open design is the defining feature: rather than being closed off from the room, it is intended to give listening a broad, natural sense of space. That can suit a film or TV viewer who watches in a quiet room and wants dialogue, music, and background detail to feel less confined. It is also designed for critical listening and professional editing, so it makes more sense for someone who values hearing a recording carefully than for someone seeking noise isolation.
The 250-ohm impedance matters when choosing the rest of the setup. The product information points to studio interfaces, dedicated headphone amplifiers, home hi-fi, and audiophile systems as appropriate partners. If your TV setup already has a compatible headphone output or an audio system that can drive a 250-ohm headphone, the DT 990 offers a simple wired route. If you are hoping to connect it directly to any device without checking compatibility, that impedance is a real consideration, not a detail to overlook. It is wired, with 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm jack connections listed, and has no noise-control feature.
Comfort is part of its appeal for longer listening sessions. The DT 990 has soft, circumaural velour ear pads, and the pads are replaceable. Its over-ear shape surrounds the ears rather than resting on them, which may appeal to viewers settling in for a long episode or a movie. The listed package also includes a jack adapter, giving the wired design options for connecting to different compatible audio outputs. None of that makes it a wireless living-room headphone, though: the cable and the open-back design mean you remain tied to your listening position and should expect sound to pass between the headphones and the room.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-16 · 9 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the DT 990 if you need Bluetooth, adaptive noise cancellation, or a headphone designed to block out household sound.
The Sennheiser M4, also called MOMENTUM 4, takes a very different approach. It is a wireless over-ear headphone with Bluetooth, adaptive noise cancellation, and a transparency mode. For TV watching, that gives it a more flexible role if your listening routine includes moving around, switching between shows and other audio, or wanting some control over surrounding noise. The spec sheet lists a Bluetooth range of 10 meters, although your setup and surroundings will affect how useful that distance is in a particular room.
Noise control is the M4’s clearest practical contrast with the DT 990. Adaptive noise cancellation is intended to reduce surrounding sound, while transparency mode lets outside sound through when you want to remain more aware of the room. That can be useful if you are watching while other people are nearby or need to hear what is happening around you. It is not a promise that every sound will disappear, and it does not make the headphones a dedicated TV system; you still need to confirm that your TV or audio source can send sound to Bluetooth headphones.
The M4 also offers more ways to adjust the listening experience. Its Smart Control Plus app includes an equalizer, presets, and sound modes, and the product features list aptX Adaptive. Those options give listeners room to tailor sound for different content rather than relying on a single fixed setup. The listed 42 mm transducer system is described as audiophile-inspired, while the product information gives a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range. For a viewer who watches a mix of dialogue-heavy programs, sports, and music-led content, the ability to choose sound settings may be more valuable than an open-back presentation.
Comfort and battery life support longer sessions. The M4 has a cushioned headband and ear pads, a lightweight foldable design, and up to 60 hours of playback. It also supports fast charging; the product description says a 10-minute charge can provide a further six hours of listening. Those are useful details for someone who does not want to recharge after every viewing session. The trade-off is that it is a battery-powered wireless headphone, even though a 3.5 mm-to-2.5 mm audio cable is included. Buyers should also check the TV’s Bluetooth compatibility and how its audio connections work before choosing it.
I’d choose the M4 if one headphone needs to cover TV, music, and listening around the house. Its wireless operation, noise-control modes, app-based sound adjustments, and long stated battery life make it the more adaptable pick.
Who should skip it: Skip the M4 if you specifically want an open-back wired design or prefer not to manage a rechargeable battery.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a wide, open presentation → beyerdynamic DT 990. Its open-back construction is the central reason to choose it, especially for focused listening in a quiet room.
• Best for noise-control options → Sennheiser M4. Adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode let you choose between reducing surrounding sound and hearing more of it.
• Best for a compatible studio or home hi-fi setup → beyerdynamic DT 990. Its 250-ohm impedance is specifically suited to studio interfaces, dedicated headphone amps, and home hi-fi systems.
• Best for long stretches without frequent charging → Sennheiser M4. It offers up to 60 hours of battery life, with fast charging also described.
• Best for replaceable ear pads → beyerdynamic DT 990. Its soft circumaural velour pads are listed as replaceable, a practical point for a headphone intended for extended sessions.
• Best for adjusting sound in an app → Sennheiser M4. Its app includes an equalizer, presets, and sound modes.
• Best fit for a stationary, wired TV setup → beyerdynamic DT 990. Choose it when the audio equipment can handle 250 ohms and you are comfortable staying connected by cable.
I’d buy the Sennheiser M4 for TV watching because its Bluetooth connection, adaptive noise cancellation, transparency mode, and long stated battery life make it the more flexible household headphone. I would pick the DT 990 instead if I had a compatible wired setup and wanted an open-back presentation for focused listening. In my opinion, the M4 is the easier choice for someone who wants one headphone to move between television and other listening, while the DT 990 is the more specific choice for a quiet room and suitable audio gear.
Before choosing either model for television, check how your TV sends headphone audio. The DT 990 uses a wired connection and has a 250-ohm impedance, so compatibility with the headphone output or connected audio equipment matters. Its listed 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm connections, along with the included jack adapter, can help match a compatible output, but they do not remove the need to consider whether the equipment can drive it.
For the M4, confirm that your TV or other source supports Bluetooth headphone audio. Its wireless design adds freedom from a cable, but Bluetooth compatibility and the distance between the headphone and source will shape the experience. The listed range is 10 meters. If you prefer a wired connection, an audio cable is included; the M4 still has a rechargeable battery for wireless use, so battery care remains part of ownership.
Think about the room, too. The DT 990 is open-back and has no noise-control feature, making it a more natural fit for quiet listening rather than a noisy shared space. The M4’s adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode offer more control over outside sound, but those features serve different purposes: one reduces surrounding noise, while the other lets more of it through. Neither model is an open-ear headphone. If your search for the best open ear headphones for TV watching is really about hearing the room, the M4’s transparency mode is the relevant listed feature, but it remains an over-ear headphone.
There is a similar distinction for searches such as best sports earbuds for TV watching. Neither of these products is an earbud; both are over-ear headphones. The M4’s Bluetooth operation may suit someone who does not want a cable, while the DT 990 is intended for wired listening. And if you are searching for the best spatial audio headband headphones for TV watching, do not assume either model includes a dedicated spatial-audio feature: the supplied information highlights an open soundstage for the DT 990 and app-based sound options for the M4, not a named spatial-audio mode.
The M4 is the more flexible option if your TV supports Bluetooth, thanks to wireless listening, adaptive noise cancellation, and transparency mode. The DT 990 suits a compatible wired setup and a quiet room, especially if you prefer an open-back design.
It can connect through its listed 3.5 mm or 6.35 mm jack connections, but compatibility and amplification matter. Its 250-ohm impedance is aimed at equipment such as studio interfaces, dedicated headphone amps, and home hi-fi systems, so check your TV audio setup before choosing it.
A 3.5 mm-to-2.5 mm audio cable is included, giving it a wired listening option. For wireless use, it relies on Bluetooth and has a rechargeable battery with up to 60 hours of stated playback.
The M4 is the clear choice for noise-control features because it has adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode. The DT 990 is open-back and lists no noise-control function, so it is better considered for quiet environments.
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