[Ryokan]

Of course there are 250 Ω headphones, but not "crazy ones" needing lower output impedance than 10 Ω.

Why do company's make some very high impedance headphones (compared to average) what are the benefits?

 

[71 dB]

Why do company's make some very high impedance headphones (compared to average) what are the benefits?

Impedances used to be higher in the past in general. Portable audio has generated the need for lower impedances.

High impedances => home use (because there is plenty of voltage available)
Low impedances => portable use (because available voltage level is limited)

 

[bigshot]

In one niche part of the market, ridiculously non standard impedances are used to force consumers to buy the same brand of amp as headphones.

 

[Ryokan]

Impedances used to be higher in the past in general. Portable audio has generated the need for lower impedances.

High impedances => home use (because there is plenty of voltage available)
Low impedances => portable use (because available voltage level is limited)

Yes I get that. So headphones for home use sound better? If not why such a high impedance?

In one niche part of the market, ridiculously non standard impedances are used to force consumers to buy the same brand of amp as headphones.

Sounds very likely. Stax headphones need their own amps (preferably), or are electrostatics completely different?

 

[bigshot]

Higher impedance doesn't necessarily mean better sound. I have Oppo PM-1s and they have low impedance and high sensitivity so they don't require amping at all and they sound great. You can shop around and find a set of cans that fits what you want it to fit.

Some IEMs require proprietary amps too. I wouldn't buy non-standard stuff like that myself.

 

[Ryokan]

I went to a local shop a few years ago to try out some headphones and one set were Oppo PM2's. I only had a short listen and they weren't very loud (though I was driving them with a Dap) but they left an impression and I hoped to pick up a pair on offer but they quickly sold out everywhere.

 

[bigshot]

That's a different model. The PM-1s were the flagship model, the PM-2s was the midrange one. They aren't being made any more. But if you shop around, you can find good sounding cans that shouldn't require amping.

 

[Ryokan]

I thought they were the same just different extras and packaging? you get a nice box with the PM1.

 

[bigshot]

Not sure because I've never seen the PM-2s, but I think they have different specs.

 

[megabigeye]

Why do company's make some very high impedance headphones (compared to average) what are the benefits?

Impedances used to be higher in the past in general. Portable audio has generated the need for lower impedances.

High impedances => home use (because there is plenty of voltage available)
Low impedances => portable use (because available voltage level is limited)

I thought the reasons for high impedances were a) in lieu of an actual headphone amp, home receivers used to have a resistor off of the main power amp circuit which could power headphones; and b) studios often use multiple headphones in parallel, so high impedance is necessary to keep the resultant impedance from being too low and presenting a difficult load for the amp.

Somebody more knowledgeable please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ryokan]

I thought the reasons for high impedances were b) studios often use multiple headphones in parallel, so high impedance is necessary to keep the resultant impedance from being too low and presenting a difficult load for the amp.

If you're correct this would answer my question as manufacturer's can make headphones practically any impedance they want for home use and higher impedance doesn't automatically equate to a superior sound as others have said.

 

[71 dB]

Yes I get that. So headphones for home use sound better? If not why such a high impedance?

Not really. Both can be good or bad. Audio amps often have high output impedance so it is a high impedance world while portable audio is low impedance world. I am sorry I don't have a better answer.

 

[Ryokan]

Not really. Both can be good or bad. Audio amps often have high output impedance so it is a high impedance world while portable audio is low impedance world. I am sorry I don't have a better answer.

Why not make them all 'low' impedance if they can all sound good (unless for reasons @megabigeye has stated) to not need such a big amp and save power?

 

[71 dB]

Why not make them all 'low' impedance if they can all sound good (unless for reasons @megabigeye has stated) to not need such a big amp and save power?

I have this idea of headphones that can be used in low and high impedance mode: The headphones have double voice coil and depending on how the cable is attached to the phones (with special connector) the voice coils are connected electrically in series or in parallel. For example using 70 Ω voice coils the impedance would be 35 Ω (parallel, for portable use) or 140 Ω (series, for home use).

 

[bigshot]

Maybe because if they made headphones you could plug straight into your phone, they couldn't sell you an amp to go with it... and a DAC... And then they couldn't convince you to "upgrade" your amp and DAC.