I've read many places that a "120 ohm adapter" seriously improves the sound of the Beyerdynamic DT-831 + a headphone amp such as my Creek OBH-11.
Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding a "120 ohm adapter", however, there is a "220 ohm adapter" available for cheap from Amazon.
If this would work fine at the expense of driving the amp a little harder that'd be fine with me, but if it wouldn't work at all to improve the sound obviously I wouldn't want to get it. Anyone know for sure?
Here is the specific item I'm looking at:
FAAEAL Conductor Earphone Impedance Plug 80 220 ohm Noise Cancelling Adapter 3.5mm Jack Professional Reduce Noise Filter Plug (220 Ohm 80 Ohm)
by Fibest
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FMGTBBL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_j3WLFb3K25564
I did find an 120 ohm one sold from 2 AliExpress stores, but I'd like to avoid buying from AliExpress if possible as direct shipping from China is variable and worst-case can take months.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32860270299.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.469823eb93EBhb
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32860330667.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.1e477b4b3Gu3Ze
UPDATE: I found this eBay listing which isn't for 120 ohms, but in the description, it says they can make pretty much whatever you want including 120 on request. As it looks significantly higher quality than the above ones (e.g. it is metal) and also functions as a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, removing the need to have 2 adapters between the headphones and the headphone amp, I think it's what I'm going to go with if no one knows of anything USA-local.
IMPEDANCE / RESISTANCE ADAPTOR (3.5MM TO 6.35MM PLUG)
https://ebay.us/hOmTbc
UPDATE 2: I called "Q Audio" - https://www.qaudio.com/ - a renowned local hi-fi shop right next to MIT, and asked if they sold or could make one. The tech, who is an electrical engineer who repairs the highest-end equipment and I think also makes some stuff, pretty much convinced me that this was a Bad Idea, and that in order to get improved sound quality by varying impedance was much more subtle, requiring lower-level design and equipment specifically designed to work with the higher impedance levels. So unless someone has a really good argument in favor of doing this, I think I'm going to drop it.
Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding a "120 ohm adapter", however, there is a "220 ohm adapter" available for cheap from Amazon.
If this would work fine at the expense of driving the amp a little harder that'd be fine with me, but if it wouldn't work at all to improve the sound obviously I wouldn't want to get it. Anyone know for sure?
Here is the specific item I'm looking at:
FAAEAL Conductor Earphone Impedance Plug 80 220 ohm Noise Cancelling Adapter 3.5mm Jack Professional Reduce Noise Filter Plug (220 Ohm 80 Ohm)
by Fibest
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FMGTBBL/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_j3WLFb3K25564
I did find an 120 ohm one sold from 2 AliExpress stores, but I'd like to avoid buying from AliExpress if possible as direct shipping from China is variable and worst-case can take months.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32860270299.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.469823eb93EBhb
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32860330667.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.1e477b4b3Gu3Ze
UPDATE: I found this eBay listing which isn't for 120 ohms, but in the description, it says they can make pretty much whatever you want including 120 on request. As it looks significantly higher quality than the above ones (e.g. it is metal) and also functions as a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, removing the need to have 2 adapters between the headphones and the headphone amp, I think it's what I'm going to go with if no one knows of anything USA-local.
IMPEDANCE / RESISTANCE ADAPTOR (3.5MM TO 6.35MM PLUG)
https://ebay.us/hOmTbc
UPDATE 2: I called "Q Audio" - https://www.qaudio.com/ - a renowned local hi-fi shop right next to MIT, and asked if they sold or could make one. The tech, who is an electrical engineer who repairs the highest-end equipment and I think also makes some stuff, pretty much convinced me that this was a Bad Idea, and that in order to get improved sound quality by varying impedance was much more subtle, requiring lower-level design and equipment specifically designed to work with the higher impedance levels. So unless someone has a really good argument in favor of doing this, I think I'm going to drop it.
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