[mrseldowski]

Hi there, I am looking to purchase the DT 990s as they sound like great headphones for rock which is what I like to listen to, but I am unsure of what version of these cans I should get. There is 32 ohm, 250, and 600. I would just be plugging them into my Creative X-Fi Titanium sound card most of the time....and I have a fifo e5 small headphone amplifier, which I realize is not a great headphone amplifier.
 
Please advise
 
PS: if a headphone amp is really needed please suggest one I could use with my PC and is not super expensive.

 

[stokitw]

I don't know how does my DT990 600ohm compare to 250ohm and 32ohm..
I use Aune mini USB DAC/AMP MK2 with it and the result is ok (don't have many chances to compare with other amps).
The Aune ($160 from ebay) is definitely more powerful than portable unit ibasso D2.
 
The downside of 600ohm is that you have to get an amp..
My portable player Cowon D2 or portable amp can only output acceptable volume at max level...
 
Quote:

Hi there, I am looking to purchase the DT 990s as they sound like great headphones for rock which is what I like to listen to, but I am unsure of what version of these cans I should get. There is 32 ohm, 250, and 600. I would just be plugging them into my Creative X-Fi Titanium sound card most of the time....and I have a fifo e5 small headphone amplifier, which I realize is not a great headphone amplifier.
 
Please advise
 
PS: if a headphone amp is really needed please suggest one I could use with my PC and is not super expensive.

 

[jp_zer0]

the 600 version I heard is the only one worth considering. I'm not convinced they're meaningfully harder to drive either, heard some people say they're equally loud at the same settings.

 

[GreatoGrado]

600 or nothing, but your amp might have trouble...

 

[joelpearce]

There are some exceptional low-cost USB DAC/amps.  I would ask about that on the amp forum.  The 990/600s are indeed great, especially for the sale prices they've been at lately.  Well worth it.

 

[KnightK]

Quote:

600 or nothing, but your amp might have trouble...

x2.
 
A decent enough amp can be had for around $100.
 

 

[cyberidd]

I'm wondering if all these people who are saying the only DT990 to buy is the 600 ohm version have actually tried a DT990, let alone more than one version.  Please try to only comment based on your own experiences. 

 

[joelpearce]

I have owned a 990/250 pro and 990/600.  They have similar sound signatures, but the 600 is a significantly better sounding headphone.
 
According to Beyerdynamic, the same drivers are in the 990 pro and 990/250.
 

 

[cyberidd]

Quote:

I have owned a 990/250 pro and 990/600.  They have similar sound signatures, but the 600 is a significantly better sounding headphone.
 
According to Beyerdynamic, the same drivers are in the 990 pro and 990/250.
 

This is exactly what this forum needs, more people who can give opinions based on experience!  Its important that we don't go too far towards only posting what others have written. 

 

[maverickronin]

I've never tried the 32 ohms, but the 250s just plain suck.  The 600s are quite awesome if they're the sound sig you're looking for.  The treble was a little to much for me, but I loved everything else about them.

 

[tonsosnot]

I currently own both the 250ohm and 600ohm 990s, and personally, I prefer the 250ohm. It comes down to what you're looking for in the phones. The 600s have a much smoother and refined sound, but the treble is a bit too recessed for my tastes. The 250s are less detailed, but are much "funner" to listen to. They give the music a lot of energy and pop, probably due to the scooped-mids kind of sound versus the more neutral presentation of the 600s. I'd say the 600s are definitely better for say, jazz and classical, but for rock, I'd strongly suggest the 250s over the 600s.
 
Edit: Also, the 600s are much more amp dependent, which means they're harder to drive, but will also improve more as your upgrade. Moving from a Head-Direct EF-1 to a Woo Audio 6 didn't make nearly as much of a difference with the 250s than it did on the 600s.