150 ohm no amp?
Mar 18, 2017 at 7:44 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 13
Aivar123

Aivar123

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Hello, i was lookin for cheap headphones and found SUPERLUX HD330 that looks perfect. The problem is that I am on low budget and don't want to get amp for this.
Is it possible to use them with Lenovo T400 or LG G4 without damaging my device?
How will 150ohm sound without amp. I have philips sound system(fw-28 i think it was) that has hp jack also, will it work as amp?
I really want these headphones, saw good reviews and they have that premium look too.
 
Mar 18, 2017 at 9:24 PM Post #2 of 13
I doubt your device will be damaged because of higher ohms. If anything, your headphones are less likely to be damaged because of high impedance. 
 
But honestly, I can't tell you what your headphones will sound like. 150ohms is considered rather high, but that doesn't mean that they're hard to drive. What's the sensitivity on the headphones? If they're sensitive(100db+), you should have absolutely no issue driving them loud enough without an amp.
 
Mar 18, 2017 at 11:22 PM Post #4 of 13
aivar123 said:
Hello, i was lookin for cheap headphones and found SUPERLUX HD330 that looks perfect. The problem is that I am on low budget and don't want to get amp for this.
Is it possible to use them with Lenovo T400 or LG G4 without damaging my device?
Click to expand...

 
OK, first off, you can't really "damage" the device unless you have it at max volume for a really long time, enough for heat from the audio chip and other components to cook themselves, the soldering, or the battery. You'd pick it up and charge it, getting a feel for how warm it is, long before that happens, so it's not going to happen by itself.
 
Hell, using LTE or even WiFi while browsing on a phone builds up heat and drains the battery a heck of a lot faster.
 
aivar123 said:
How will 150ohm sound without amp
Click to expand...

 
Somewhat close to an SR60 with a lot of low bass (comparatively), just slightly less dynamic if you're using the same low power source. I have one although I use it more on my gaming rig, but it's running off a Xonar U3 card, which AFAIK has even less power than a ZXR or Soar for example.
 
aivar123 said:
I have philips sound system(fw-28 i think it was) that has hp jack also, will it work as amp?
Click to expand...

 
Yes, and compared to the SR60, you won't need to worry too much about the output impedance on that vs low impedance headphones like Grados.
 
aivar123 said:
I really want these headphones, saw good reviews and they have that premium look too.
Click to expand...
 

One caveat though: the stock earpads have a very narrow opening. I used pleather third party earpads for the DT770 and the stitching gave up recently. If you don't like the fit I'd suggest you try authentic Beyer pads on it.
 
Mar 19, 2017 at 1:29 AM Post #5 of 13
aivar123 said:
Hello, i was looking for cheap headphones and found SUPERLUX HD330 that looks perfect. The problem is that I am on low budget and don't want to get amp for this.
Is it possible to use them with Lenovo T400 or LG G4 without damaging my device?
How will 150ohm sound without amp. I have philips sound system(fw-28 i think it was) that has hp jack also, will it work as amp?
I really want these headphones, saw good reviews and they have that premium look too.
Click to expand...

 
I own the Superlux HD660, guess it's the closed version of the HD330.
Assuming the stuff I did not like about the HD660 apply to the HD330.
The head clamping it tight, replacing the stock ear pads with some used Beyerdynamic EDT770 V Velour ear pads, helped with comfort and tightness of clamping.
The coiled cable is too stiff, does not like to be stretched out much.
 
In general the HD660 offered great audio quality, for it's price, assume the HD330 is the same.
 
I would try to get you to buy the (62-Ohm) Takstar Pro 80 (Gemini HSR-1000).
Currently only appears to be sold under different names and all with a built in mic.like Kingston HyperX Cloud.
 
Mar 19, 2017 at 1:44 AM Post #6 of 13
purpleangel said:
 
The head clamping it tight, replacing the stock ear pads with some used Beyerdynamic EDT770 V Velour ear pads, helped with comfort and tightness of clamping.
Click to expand...

 
The headband is metal and can be bent to shape easily.
 
Stock


My HD330 after adjusting the headband. Note how far apart the earcups are set now vs the shape they were compacted into by the case to maximize how many will fit in one crate.

 
aivar123 said:
Sensitivity is 96db. I hope they will get at least half of the volume i get on 32ohm
Click to expand...

 
32ohm what? If that's a 32ohm Grado you won't - the sensitivity on those is higher at around 98dB to 101dB.
 
Mar 19, 2017 at 2:13 AM Post #8 of 13
petebull said:
  If we talk theory here, the higher the impedance the more heat dissipates through them.
Click to expand...


Cranking up for low sensitivity, low impedance headphones would generate more heat also, and sometimes very low impedance loads cause stability issues. Then again, I've heard of more integrated amps breaking something driving 4ohm speakers than people breaking smartphones or DAPs with the SE846, and if I had to guess, having the device in your pocket or hand tends to issue a warning sooner than an amp on a rack 2m away, something more in the realm of practice than theory (although thinking this is the case in how break downs occur or not is a hypothesis also).
 
Mar 19, 2017 at 11:19 AM Post #12 of 13
petebull said:
  Well, if you connect 4ohm speakers to 8ohm rated amp and push them to the max, the amp will melt.
Click to expand...

 
I actually mentioned that, and the difference in practice. Read it again.
 
 
aivar123 said:
So you think I will get okay sound with these headphones without amp? If the sound will be too bad ill buy a cheap 25€ amp.
Click to expand...

 
I wouldn't bet on the cheap amp - barring CMOYs and such - to do anything better than for example a motherboard.
 
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