[sovrastasis]

Hi!
I'm using a Sennheiser HD 660 S driven by FiiO K5 Pro. (Btw, I'm a total noob) K5 Pro has a gain switch that allows to increase decibels. At gain 1 there is an increase of +0 dB, gain 2 is +6 dB and gain 3 is +10 dB. I noticed that, when I'm at gain 3 I can hear a more detailed sound than at gain 2. But, since K5 Pro can drive up to 300 Ohm headphone, and HD 600 S has an impedance of 150 Ohm, I'm wondering if gain 3 should be used only with 300 Ohm headphone. Can HD 660 S be damaged in the long term if used at gain 3 (at a comfortable volume level)?

 

[gimmeheadroom]

If it is not too loud for your ears it will not damage the headphones. Most headphones can play much louder than people can stand and still be fine.

 

[sovrastasis]

@gimmeheadroom Thank you! Happy to know that there is no danger of damage.

The gain switch and volume knob both change the decibel value, so one may expect that setting a gain 3 is equivalent to setting at gain 2 but with the volume knob raised, but this seems not be the case: in the first case I get a more detailed sound.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Headphones can be strange. Sometimes they need more power than you would think to be at their best. Enjoy!