[pbirkett]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am just wondering if high impedance headphones (like DT880 @ 250 ohms) will sound better out of a stereo speaker amplifier than a lower impedance phone (like 32 ohms), as I seem to be getting that impression from what I read (problems with hissing, and such like).

My amp manufacturer recommends 32 ohm phones, but says I can use any as long as they dont go below 4 ohms or over 1000 ohms, and my 250 ohm phones sound really rather nice out of it, whereas the only 32 ohm phones have been somewhat disappointing.,..

 

[lini]

Yes, that seems to be true in many cases. Low impedance headphones seem to prefer very low impedance outputs - otherwise the frequency response gets a bit tilted and everything tends to sound rather congested. If you still have your Corda, low impedance headphones should sound better with that.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[wallijonn]

pb,

it's all about synergy. some receiver HOs (headphone outputs) sound better than others because they are either directly tied to the speaker outputs or are IC based. Receivers have a lot more circuitry which can bleed off sound, and the signal can get dirtier if it goes through many switches and circuits. In the case of ICs it is a matter of trial and error. You'll just have to try them and see if you can live with them, just like regular HAs (headphone amps).

 

[pbirkett]

Cheers. Just wondering how the CD3000's might go with my Rotel.

Hold on. Just have to catch the wallet thats just sprouted legs and ran out the room...

 

[MD1032]

I got my KSC-50's back and I am deeply confused about them. They have an impedence of 60 ohms and yet I find them easier to drive then any other headphone I own. In fact, they're incredibly easy to drive and an equalizer works well on them.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally posted by MD1032 I got my KSC-50's back and I am deeply confused about them. They have an impedence of 60 ohms and yet I find them easier to drive then any other headphone I own. In fact, they're incredibly easy to drive and an equalizer works well on them.

I found the same thing with my HD 590's vs. my step-father's HD 570's it seems that some cans are more efficient than others.

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jasper994 I found the same thing with my HD 590's vs. my step-father's HD 570's it seems that some cans are more efficient than others.

Yes, of course. Problem is, that the obvious comparision of the volume knob position at equally perceived sound levels isn't necessarily a valid indicator for efficieny, as the volume pot actually controls the output voltage, not the output power.

So as soon as different impedances come into play, you have to add that into your calculation - otherwise you can only compare sesitivity (sound pressure per voltage (dB/mV), but not efficiency (db/mW).

Unfortunately, even headphone manufacturers are not very exact in that area - for example you can frequently find dB/mW figures mistakenly given for "sensitivity" in AKG's specs, whereas Senneheiser's specs on their web-site only give you a pretty worthless "sound pressure level" with a dB(SPL) figure (because they forget to tell, whether that's an efficiency (per mW) or a sensitivity (per mV) figure...).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[rohan575]

---> http://www.head-fi.org/wiki/headphone-impedance