Are there any benefits to buying high OHM headphones?
Nov 7, 2016 at 3:43 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 5

Denon2010

Formerly known as Denon5220
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Like 300 ohm sennheiser or 250 ohm beyer or 80ohm beyer or 30 ohm
 
What exactly are the benefits?
 
If a company can make the same headphones in 30ohm why would they bother making it in 250 ohm?
 
Kinda like how the 32 ohm beyer on Amazon is cheaper than the 250 ohm version why would anyone then buy the 250?
 
I have a SMSL 793 DAC AMP that I assume can run anything
 
Nov 8, 2016 at 7:22 AM Post #2 of 5
https://www.cnet.com/news/headphone-buyers-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-low-vs-high-impedance-models/ 
Google is your friend. 
 
Nov 8, 2016 at 10:17 AM Post #3 of 5
Like 300 ohm sennheiser or 250 ohm beyer or 80ohm beyer or 30 ohm

What exactly are the benefits?

If a company can make the same headphones in 30ohm why would they bother making it in 250 ohm?

Kinda like how the 32 ohm beyer on Amazon is cheaper than the 250 ohm version why would anyone then buy the 250?

I have a SMSL 793 DAC AMP that I assume can run anything


InnerFidelity, and probably others, have done a write-up on the Beyers that come at different impedance levels. As far as I'm aware they're the only manufacturer that actually does variable impedance like that - for example there's not a 32 ohm HD 600 or 600 ohm K701. So basically this question only applies to Beyerdynamic in a meaningful way, and they have their reasons for making variations on their products (usually relevant for professional users). You can read InnerFidelity's write-up here:
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/comparison-beyerdynamic-dt-880-32-ohm-dt-880-250-ohm-and-dt-880-600-ohm-headphones

As far as the bigger question you may be asking "does impedance impact sound quality" - not in any way that can be appreciably discussed, again except for Beyerdynamic. For example you cannot say "oh, well because Sennheiser HD 600 is higher impedance, it's better/worse than Grado RS-1 which is low impedance!" - that just wouldn't work. Don't buy into arguments that "low impedance is low quality" or "low impedance is only for portability" either - there are plenty of high end cans (yes including Summit-Fi stuff) that are low impedance. Basically the only reason you should worry about impedance (again, except for Beyerdynamic) is for compatibility (and I'll add to this, impedance is NOT a linear metric of "hard to drive"-ness or anything of that sort), since you don't really get a choice in the high/low debate for the vast majority of headphones on the market.

Amazon's pricing is itself fickle - I've seen the 600ohm Beyers going as the cheapest of the set at times in the past, or the 250ohm "Pro" being the cheapest, etc. It moves around.
 
Nov 8, 2016 at 1:42 PM Post #4 of 5
  Like 300 ohm sennheiser or 250 ohm beyer or 80ohm beyer or 30 ohm
 
What exactly are the benefits?
 
If a company can make the same headphones in 30ohm why would they bother making it in 250 ohm?
 
Kinda like how the 32 ohm beyer on Amazon is cheaper than the 250 ohm version why would anyone then buy the 250?
 
I have a SMSL 793 DAC AMP that I assume can run anything


High impedance headphones drain less current than low impedance ones (assuming similar sensitivity "dB/V") and thus they are easier to drive. You can plug four Beyerdynamics DT880 (250 Ohm) into a single amplifier and they will demand less power than one AKG K702 (62 Ohm)
 
Nov 8, 2016 at 3:07 PM Post #5 of 5
InnerFidelity, and probably others, have done a write-up on the Beyers that come at different impedance levels. As far as I'm aware they're the only manufacturer that actually does variable impedance like that - for example there's not a 32 ohm HD 600 or 600 ohm K701. So basically this question only applies to Beyerdynamic in a meaningful way, and they have their reasons for making variations on their products (usually relevant for professional users). You can read InnerFidelity's write-up here:
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/comparison-beyerdynamic-dt-880-32-ohm-dt-880-250-ohm-and-dt-880-600-ohm-headphones

As far as the bigger question you may be asking "does impedance impact sound quality" - not in any way that can be appreciably discussed, again except for Beyerdynamic. For example you cannot say "oh, well because Sennheiser HD 600 is higher impedance, it's better/worse than Grado RS-1 which is low impedance!" - that just wouldn't work. Don't buy into arguments that "low impedance is low quality" or "low impedance is only for portability" either - there are plenty of high end cans (yes including Summit-Fi stuff) that are low impedance. Basically the only reason you should worry about impedance (again, except for Beyerdynamic) is for compatibility (and I'll add to this, impedance is NOT a linear metric of "hard to drive"-ness or anything of that sort), since you don't really get a choice in the high/low debate for the vast majority of headphones on the market.

Amazon's pricing is itself fickle - I've seen the 600ohm Beyers going as the cheapest of the set at times in the past, or the 250ohm "Pro" being the cheapest, etc. It moves around.

 
Thanks dude this helps a lot.

And you are right Amazon prices changes drastically I guess based on their stocks etc.
 
I am strongly considering pulling the Trigger on a Beyer this black friday I currently have a new SHP 9500 phillips but I hate the slack loose headband with a passion it always falls off your head and also the highs are faaar too harsh for any type of Rock N Roll or Metal
 

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