DT 880 vs DT 990 sound leakage

[TheNightSkye]

Ok, so I'm looking at getting some new headphones and I was wondering whether I should get the DT 990 PRO or DT 880 PRO, keep in mind, I don't want closed back headphones, so my question is, which ones are the best when it comes to the least amount of sound leakage?

[DoctorNick]

48 minutes ago, TheNightSkye said:

Ok, so I'm looking at getting some new headphones and I was wondering whether I should get the DT 990 PRO or DT 880 PRO, keep in mind, I don't want closed back headphones, so my question is, which ones are the best when it comes to the least amount of sound leakage?

I got DT 880's and I don't think they're very bad. But on the other hand I haven't tested. 990's is slighty more open, so would leak a little more. 

[Spuriae]

From Rtings. DT990 on the left, DT880 on the right. They're both open-backs leakage wise and there isn't a significant difference. The DT880 leaks a little bit more. Even though the DT880 is semi-open, the space behind the driver is completely open, which means there's nothing to reduce the leakage. Meanwhile the DT990 has additional obstruction behind the driver (though the rest of the cup is more open), which does reduce leakage a bit.

[CTR640]

I have the DT880 and it's more of openback than semi indeed.

[OfficialTechSpace]

Comparing the leakage between two open-back cans is probably the most confusing and disappointing thing I've seen in a while. Lol.

[ShearMe]

They call the 880 semi-open to indicate that it is ported, not to indicate it has some sound isolation or leakage reduction.

[Ham sandwich]

Probably the cheaper ones that don’t get as loud?