Shub-Niggurath
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
- Posts
- 74
- Likes
- 12
I use my headphones mostly for gaming and music. I play online shooters so positional cues are important. I have very eclectic musical tastes so I need cans that can do it all well. I like a balanced, "flat" sound. "Flat" has a negative connotation sometimes but that's not how I mean it -- I'm sure you get the idea
I have an itch to upgrade something and have about $250 to spend. I'd prefer if it were something available on Amazon since I have Prime and a $225 gift card balance. At first I thought I would just upgrade the headphones and had a mind to get Beyerdynamic DT 880 or 990, the 250-ohm versions.
I've been reading dozens of forums threads here and elsewhere though, and I'm getting the impression that it would be kind of a sidegrade, i.e. not really worth it (unless I spend a lot more than $250 on the headphones, in which case the rest of my equipment would also need an upgrade).
I'm also getting mixed feedback on my X-Fi Titanium HD's ability to drive headphones without an amp. I connect my headphones to my sound card's rear headphone output, which is rated for 330 ohms, so any headphones rated for 330 ohms or less should be fine, but since I'm not knowledgeable in this field, I'm not sure if there's more to it. But I read conversations with people looking to buy a desktop headphone amp to pair with my sound card, and responders seemed to say that there's no point.
At least, my understanding is that my current setup would not benefit from a desktop amp such as a FiiO E9. But would it?
And if I were to get the 250-ohm DT880 or 990s, would I benefit from a FiiO E9 then, or am I good to go?
Anyway, like I said, initially my thought was to get new cans and sell the ATH-AD700. Now I'm not sure if I should do that, or get an E9, or ditch the ATH-AD700 AND get an E9, and if I ditch my current cans, what to get instead... or just do nothing at all? Keep in mind I'm happy with my current setup. In a nutshell I have some money to spend and am wondering if there's anything out there that would be a worthwhile upgrade.
I have an itch to upgrade something and have about $250 to spend. I'd prefer if it were something available on Amazon since I have Prime and a $225 gift card balance. At first I thought I would just upgrade the headphones and had a mind to get Beyerdynamic DT 880 or 990, the 250-ohm versions.
I've been reading dozens of forums threads here and elsewhere though, and I'm getting the impression that it would be kind of a sidegrade, i.e. not really worth it (unless I spend a lot more than $250 on the headphones, in which case the rest of my equipment would also need an upgrade).
I'm also getting mixed feedback on my X-Fi Titanium HD's ability to drive headphones without an amp. I connect my headphones to my sound card's rear headphone output, which is rated for 330 ohms, so any headphones rated for 330 ohms or less should be fine, but since I'm not knowledgeable in this field, I'm not sure if there's more to it. But I read conversations with people looking to buy a desktop headphone amp to pair with my sound card, and responders seemed to say that there's no point.
At least, my understanding is that my current setup would not benefit from a desktop amp such as a FiiO E9. But would it?
And if I were to get the 250-ohm DT880 or 990s, would I benefit from a FiiO E9 then, or am I good to go?
Anyway, like I said, initially my thought was to get new cans and sell the ATH-AD700. Now I'm not sure if I should do that, or get an E9, or ditch the ATH-AD700 AND get an E9, and if I ditch my current cans, what to get instead... or just do nothing at all? Keep in mind I'm happy with my current setup. In a nutshell I have some money to spend and am wondering if there's anything out there that would be a worthwhile upgrade.