[Kalius]

Hello,
 
I have recently ordered my DT 990 Premium 250 Ohm on Amazon.fr for 148€. I also ordered a Fiio E10K that costs 90€ and is capable of driving the 250 Ohm version (although the impedance suggested of this device is from 16 to 150 Ohm). However, they made a mistake and sent me the 600 Ohm version, which costs 215€. I sent it back to them and they sent me another 600 Ohm version again (and I'm honestly tired of going to the post office all the time).
 
I decided to connect it and indeed it sounds amazing, and the volume is high enough (not extremely loud due to the impedance allowance of my Fiio amp, but fairly tolerable). I do know these headphones will sound way better with a stronger amp, but I do not plan to spend much more money for a little bit more sound quality. Here are my questions:

1.- Will the DT 990 Premium 250 Ohm version sound better (in quality) in my Fiio E10K than the 600 Ohm version or worse? 
2.- I can return both, is it worth for me to purchase a better Amp/DAC and keep the 600 Ohm version? Any recommendations?
 
I also considered selling the 600 Ohm version, they're brand new.
 
Thank you all for your time reading this
 
Best Regards,
Kalius

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

The 250ohm is the easiest of the three variants to drive, though I don't think the E10 is close to ideal.

The 32ohm gets louder, but it actually behaves best when feed strong current. The 600ohm deserves an amp capable of supplying enough voltage, and the 250ohm falls in between, where you don't need too strong a current or strong voltage.

I'd honestly get something better than the e10 for these headphones, but if I had to choose one for it, it'd be the 32ohm. I feel amping is pickier than the 250ohm though it is indeed easier to get louder, and the 600ohm is gonna be lacking a bit without a good amp. If you're ever considering getting something a bit stronger, then get the 250 now. People who auto recommend the 600ohm just don';t understand that even though it's the best of the three, it isn't that way in ALL setups. I enjoyed the 250ohm off lesser equipment as I felt the 600ohm was thin sounding when under driven.

If you need to know more, check out my guide, where I compared all 3 at the same time.

the differences betqeen them are not night and day, though I do feel the 32ohm is a bit more restricted sounding than the other two.

 

[Kalius]

The 250ohm is the easiest of the three variants to drive. Yes, the 32ohm gets louder, but it actually behaves best when feed strong current. The 600ohm deserves an amp capable of supplying enough voltage, and the 250ohm falls in between, where you don't need too strong a current or strong voltage.

I'd honestly get something better than the e10 for these headphones, but if I had to choose one for it, it'd be the 32ohm. I feel amping is pickier than the 250ohm though it is indeed easier to get louder, and the 600ohm is gonna be lacking a bit without a good amp. If you're ever considering getting something a bit stronger, then get the 250 now. People who auto recommend the 600ohm just don';t understand that even though it's the best of the three, it isn't that way in ALL setups. I enjoyed the 250ohm off lesser equipment as I felt the 600ohm was thin sounding when under driven.

If you need to know more, check out my guide, where I compared all 3 at the same time.

Hey man, thanks a bunch for your fast reply. That's what I had in mind. I have already checked some guides on this site and they are quite good. I just ordered the 250Ohm. Have a nice day, and thank you again <3

 

[Kalius]

Aw! I saw you edited your post after I replied to you
 
Well, I guess it should not be an issue. I do not really want to spend much more money in an amp. Bearing in mind that the 32Ohm version is way more expensive here in France (around 205€ for the best price) and the 250 Ohm version costs 155€ (used to cost 148€ in amazon, but it's gone now), I guess the difference of quality won't be a lot. These would have been the options:

DT 990 32 Ohm (205€) + Fiio E10k (89€) = 294€
DT 990 250 Ohm (155€) + Fiio E10k (89€) ) 244€
 
I had received the 600Ohm version for the same price as the 250 Ohm version. My doubt was the comparison of quality between the 600 Ohm version and the 250 Ohm version (which I got for the same price) with the Fiio E10k.
 
 - Considering all these details, would the 250 Ohm still be my best option?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

No worries, you should be fine. The 250ohm is effectively the easiest to drive in terms of scaling.

 

[Kalius]

No worries, you should be fine. The 250ohm is effectively the easiest to drive in terms of scaling.

Perfect! Thanks a lot mate

 

[Me x3]

If I were you, I would keep the 600 Ohm version, as long as you get enough volume for your preferences.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I have recently ordered my DT 990 Premium 250 Ohm on Amazon.fr for 148€. I also ordered a Fiio E10K that costs 90€ and is capable of driving the 250 Ohm version (although the impedance suggested of this device is from 16 to 150 Ohm). However, they made a mistake and sent me the 600 Ohm version, which costs 215€. I sent it back to them and they sent me another 600 Ohm version again (and I'm honestly tired of going to the post office all the time).
I decided to connect it and indeed it sounds amazing, and the volume is high enough (not extremely loud due to the impedance allowance of my Fiio amp, but fairly tolerable). I do know these headphones will sound way better with a stronger amp, but I do not plan to spend much more money for a little bit more sound quality. Here are my questions:
1.- Will the DT 990 Premium 250 Ohm version sound better (in quality) in my Fiio E10K than the 600 Ohm version or worse? 
2.- I can return both, is it worth for me to purchase a better Amp/DAC and keep the 600 Ohm version? Any recommendations?
I also considered selling the 600 Ohm version, they're brand new.

 
I own both the DT990 Pro 250-Ohm and DT990 Premium 600-Ohm headphones.
To me the 600-Ohm offers better bass control
 
Better off keeping the 600-Ohm version and buying something like a Bravo Ocean tube (hybrid) headphone amplifier.
Connect the add-on headphone amplifier to the E10K's 3.5mm line-output jack.
 
Sometime you can find a good deal on a used Bravo Ocean.

 

[Kalius]

  If I were you, I would keep the 600 Ohm version, as long as you get enough volume for your preferences.

The volume overall is fair enough, but with specific movies or tracks that have low volume by default it is not that great (this is casual though). After doing some research and asking other experience users, it seems the volume is not the only factor that matters in this regard, although the difference will not be huge.

 

[Kalius]

Better off keeping the 600-Ohm version and buying something like a Bravo Ocean tube (hybrid) headphone amplifier.
Connect the add-on headphone amplifier to the E10K's 3.5mm line-output jack.

 
I also considered getting a new amp at the beginning... the issue is the money invested for the difference of sound quality obtained. I did not intend to spend much more money

 

[PurpleAngel]

   
I also considered getting a new amp at the beginning... the issue is the money invested for the difference of sound quality obtained. I did not intend to spend much more money

 
The Soundmagic HP200 headphone is fairly close to the DT990 type sound
and as the HP200 is only 32-Ohm, it's easier for the E10K to drive them.

 

[Me x3]

 

The volume overall is fair enough, but with specific movies or tracks that have low volume by default it is not that great (this is casual though). After doing some research and asking other experience users, it seems the volume is not the only factor that matters in this regard, although the difference will not be huge.

 
Well, yeah... volume is not the only factor that matters but most of those who say it don't really know why.
 
1- Where's your volume pot typically?(number)
2- Low or High gain?

 

[Kalius]

   
The Soundmagic HP200 headphone is fairly close to the DT990 type sound
and as the HP200 is only 32-Ohm, it's easier for the E10K to drive them.

 
I will write that one down, I heard of the SoundMagic HP150 and comfortability is a strong point. Thanks a bunch
 
 

   
Well, yeah... volume is not the only factor that matters but most of those who say it don't really know why.
 
1- Where's your volume pot typically?(number)
2- Low or High gain?

1.- If you mean the dB, I have no way of knowing. Bear in mind I'm almost new in this world and don't know much about "theorycrafting", so to speak.
2.- I guess the 600 Ohm gain is low compared to other headphones, if we can even consider it a "gain". 32 Ohm earbuds will get way too louder compared to these.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I will write that one down, I heard of the SoundMagic HP150 and comfortably is a strong point. Thanks a bunch

 
The HP150 is the closed version and the HP200 is what I would call semi-open version.

 

[Me x3]

  1.- If you mean the dB, I have no way of knowing. Bear in mind I'm almost new in this world and don't know much about "theorycrafting", so to speak.
2.- I guess the 600 Ohm gain is low compared to other headphones, if we can even consider it a "gain". 32 Ohm earbuds will get way too louder compared to these.

 
I'm talking about the FiiO E10K
 
1- The volume pot has numbers, my question was regarding your preferred/normal volume level using E10K and DT990 600 Ohm.
2- E10K has two gain settings "Low Gain" and "High Gain", my question was regarding which of these two modes are you using.