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Does Impedance Have Any Affect?

post #1 of 6
1/2/13 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 
Just bought the sennheiser Momentums, and I notice they have an oddly low impedance (18) and even apples in ear buds are 23. Is there something g I'm losing out on when the impedance is this low (like 1/5 mos headphones in the price point) because if it makes them easier to drive youd think all headphones would be a low impedance like that if there was no major drawbacks
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post #2 of 6
1/2/13 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
Also I bought a portable amp for these headphones (Fiio E6), becaus of the low impedance will the amp have lesser of of a benefit or even a disadvantage
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post #3 of 6
1/2/13 at 11:43pm

In this case, don't even worry about it. High impedance headphones are less sensitive to hiss. Such cans can be harder to drive, but there are many more factors involved. 

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post #4 of 6
1/3/13 at 12:44am

Mostly higher current consumption, but nothing to worry about. Lower impedances are made for portable devices, but you don't want really low impedance because then the output impedance of the amp starts to come into play, and overall, the system becomes inefficient in terms of power transfer.

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post #5 of 6
1/3/13 at 8:11am
Thread Starter 
Thanks you! Also when you say sensitive to hiss what do you mean? Sorry for all the questions just that I plan in writing a review and want it to be as detailed as possible
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post #6 of 6
1/3/13 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ty123 View Post

Thanks you! Also when you say sensitive to hiss what do you mean? Sorry for all the questions just that I plan in writing a review and want it to be as detailed as possible


 Sensitive to hiss would mean it'll convert even small amplifier noise into sound (hiss).

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