Decrease headphone volume

Introducing any components into the signal path is always going to affect the sound. Kiwame resistors are supposed to be very good. These are carbon and yes carbon resistors are supposed to sound more natural. Also why dont you just turn down the volume the normal way? i.e using the volume knob.

That depends on the output power and the input sensitivity of your    headphones and sorry to say the price. 

As they are to you too loud and you have lost clarity   is it  just the type of  headphones used that arent so open. You need to specify them so that others may get an idea of the quality of them.Because to hear the difference between carbon and metal resistors you need good quality ones

If you have high quality ones then metal will give a more clearer response /on the negative side it will show up any  problems with your system more .Thats why a top system can hear the difference easily and it wont effect the quality of reproduction as all parts are very good.
 

Ok, that makes sense. Normally in modern amplifiers the volume control works by reducing the amount of voltage that the amp is using.

Don't do it that way.

Either use the volume control on the amplifier or whatever source you are using, or put a resistor divider (not just a single resistor) or a pot (variable resistor) between the source and the amplifier. You'll need a dual-gang (stereo) pot.

Putting a resistor between the output and the phones will almost certainly have a negative effect on the sound.

w

Transformers (FTMFW!) 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/553094/continued-sidetrack-discussion-from-tiniest-portable-amp-i-can-build-nikongod-microtransformer-based-impedance-step-down-box

If output impedance matters (sometimes it does, particularly with multi-way-IEMs), any practical resistor divider has WAY more output impedance than those transformers.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakibaki 

Putting a resistor between the output and the phones will almost certainly have a negative effect on the sound.

 

With many headphones the effect is quite positive. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod 

With many headphones the effect is quite positive. 

How about these particular ones?

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnknownAX 

The headphones(~40ohm, Sony xb500)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakibaki 

How about these particular ones?

 

It sounded like you were talking about all headphones. No, I haven't tried the headphones the OP has. Have you? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod 

Transformers (FTMFW!) 

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/553094/continued-sidetrack-discussion-from-tiniest-portable-amp-i-can-build-nikongod-microtransformer-based-impedance-step-down-box

 

If output impedance matters (sometimes it does, particularly with multi-way-IEMs), any practical resistor divider has WAY more output impedance than those transformers.  

 

 

With many headphones the effect is quite positive. 

LISTEN TO THIS MAN!!!

He knows what he is talking about.  I have made at least a half dozen resistive impedance adapters over the decade (anywhere from 75 - 300 ohms) and to my ears output transformer attenuation sounds MUCH better.  The transformers present the amp with the optimal impedance load it "wants" to see, and I think the end result is cleaner, smoother less congested amplification circuit.  Bass extends deeper and is smoother overall.  Bass impact while deeper, also has cleaner initial impact.

I now use OTs on my darkvoice and Earmax tube amps.  I even use it on my 18V / OPA2107 Cmoy with the RS1 and it sounds much better.  FWIW, all my cans are under 65 ohms except the HD580.

Works great with 16 ohm IEMs and OTL amps too.