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General discussionheadphones(44 posts)(44 posts)
(44 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted November 06, 2020
Guys, I need new headphones. but I don't know which should I pick. After searching and asking around I narrowed it down to AKG K371, Beyerdynamic dt 770 pro, Beyerdynamic custom one pro plus, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X or maybe ATH-M40X, and Sennheiser HD 569. Do you recommend any? I'm leaning towards Beyerdynamic dt 770 pro, but there's another thing about it which is the impedance. I don't know which to pick if I'd be plugging it into a desktop computer and a record player. I've checked a bit and people said that 32ohm and 16ohm are good for portable devices like cellphones and laptops, so obviously the desktop and record player would run those just fine even if getting maybe a lot of volume into them. Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus is 16 ohm and Beyerdynamic dt 770 pro has 32, 80, and 250ohm. I was considering the 80ohm but I couldn't find any info on how suited it is for desktop computers. Like it would run it but would I get the best out of it? Or would I have to raise the volume on the computer by a lot? I mean the cheapo headphones I used for the last 10 years until the right ear cable died were probably 16 or maybe even 32 ohm but I had to have the volume set to 5% for regular stuff and 15 to 25% for movies depending on the volume of the video itself. Also should I get an amp if I get 80ohm ones for the best sound? Also do higher impedance ones use more electricity and also if I get the amp does it use a significant amount too? The electricity costs went up again lol :D
Posted November 06, 2020
Higher impedance = less current for the same voltage. High impedance is good, because it reduces the voltage divider effect that messes with your frequency response due to the frequency dependent headphone impedance and more than infinitesimal output impedance of your sound card. (You can imagine that your sound card is a voltage source with a resistor at its output (the internal impedance), connected to the headphones which have a resistor whose resistance depends on the frequency of the sound that is being played. Voltage drops between the two resistors, and the exact drops depend on frequency. As long as the sound card's resistor is significantly smaller than the headphones (or the headphones have a high impedance), the voltage drop at the sound card's output is correspondingly relatively small, i.e. almost all the voltage is making it into the headphones)

What you're concerned about is sensitivity. That is the important factor in deciding whether it gets to play loud enough or not. Whether that should be a concern or not depends entirely on your sound output. Some desktops' built in cards are powerful enough to drive big cans to ear shattering levels. I've never seen one that was particularly wimpy. So volume level was hardly ever an issue for me.

Noise has been a constant problem though; internal sound chips tend to pick up a lot of noise from everything in the computer. Annoying noises. That is why I use an external dac + amp, and it has nothing to do with the impedance of my phones :) (Which range from 16 to 300 ohms)
Post edited November 06, 2020 by clarry
Posted November 06, 2020
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clarry:
Clarry sumed up pretty much on a more technical level.

I'll just add that lower impedance needs less "volume" input (on the device) level to attain the desired level. This may or not be desirable.
Posted November 06, 2020
I have my eye for some time on FiiO E10K USB DAC + GRADO SR80e headphones combo.
Posted November 06, 2020
I'm a big Sennheiser fan, but I have no experience with that closed back model, only the open ones like 598 (yes the Noctua beige and tan coloured one :)

But Sennheiser offers comfort and quality more than anything else. You could fall asleep with them on. High notes are amazing, bass is fine and not overpowering, in my experience. Again, for the 598, not your one, so it may not be accurate.
Posted November 06, 2020
Lots of headphones have too little metal in the cords and hence break soon.
Posted November 06, 2020
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XYCat: Guys, I need new headphones. but I don't know which should I pick. After searching and asking around I narrowed it down to AKG K371, Beyerdynamic dt 770 pro, Beyerdynamic custom one pro plus, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X or maybe ATH-M40X, and Sennheiser HD 569. Do you recommend any? I'm leaning towards Beyerdynamic dt 770 pro, but there's another thing about it which is the impedance.
It depends what kind of sound you like. DT 770 Pro is a fine choice, we are using them daily (250ohm version) at my workplace - very comfortable, bass is detailed and plentiful, midrange is little recessed but precise, and highs are, for my taste, little to much, even fatiguing. 80 ohm version is similar in sound, driving them with my pc was non problematic.

Audio-Technica is not my cup of tea, for me they sounded somewhat artificial (M50X), AKG didn't try but I've heard good things about them (some say K361 is more enjoyable then K371)

Sennheiser headphones are my go-to cans. From entry level ones to mid level headphones, always satisfying. Usually I use HD 598 (smooth sounding, warm, middle focused, wide sound stage, open back), and HD 58x (more detailed, intimate, with better bass). I paired them with Ifi Zen Dac/Amp, but without any amp there were no problem with driving them with my on-board sound chip.
So I would recommend Sennheiser if you want open back headphones, but I think HD 569, or 598CS or new 560s should be also fine.
Posted November 06, 2020
Got a pair of Sony XM3's earlier in the year. Best pair of headphones I've ever owned, but without surround sound unfortunately.
Posted November 06, 2020
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XYCat: AKG K371
I have a set of AKGs myself and about half the bands I work with also use them, as do at least two of the studios. For the price theyre great value.
Posted November 06, 2020
Maybe look at some reviews before deciding on the ones to get. I can recommend you a few audiophile youtube channels, like Z Reviews, Joshua Valour and DMS.
Posted November 06, 2020
I use USB headphones (the little I use headphones). I presume all this discussion about impedance and picking up noise signals from the computer is irrelevant to them, right?

Frankly it seems headhones are more and more going to wireless Bluetooth headphones as those will be the only ones you can use both with computers (including laptops), tablets AND phones, as more and more phones don't have analog 3.5mm audio jack connectors anymore...? I don't like recharging them all the time though, so with computers I use the aforementioned USB headphones.
Posted November 06, 2020
i belief for the pc your best of with a set that comes with its own integrated soundcard, if your not set with your own dedicated card that is. especially to get the most out of the higher segment range of headsets

i use the logitech x pro myself, a not to expensive set which delivers quite well in adventure/fps games and quite good for online meetings
Posted November 06, 2020
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timppu: I use USB headphones (the little I use headphones). I presume all this discussion about impedance and picking up noise signals from the computer is irrelevant to them, right?
Pretty much. Of course USB phones are still powered by the PC and thus it is possible that noise on the supply would affect the output. I don't know how much of a concern it is in practice.
Posted November 07, 2020
I'll be honest, I just went with a pair of Monoprice ANC.

One of these.

As you can tell from the length of my post, I'm not an audiophile. Reading many of these posts feels like that one ProZD skit.

Still. For being the host of Foobar2000, the main media player I used for years, I'm going to have to offer a shoutout to the folks at Hydrogen Audio, who probably have their own opinions.
Post edited November 07, 2020 by Darvond
Posted November 07, 2020
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PainOfSalvation: I have my eye for some time on FiiO E10K USB DAC + GRADO SR80e headphones combo.
I’m using the FiiO E10K in combination with AKG 702 headphones, and I’m super happy with it. The Olympus2 / E10K is a damn great DAC, especially for the price.
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This is my favourite topic
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General discussionheadphones(44 posts)(44 posts)
(44 posts)