hifi headphones for gaming
Given that I'm something of an audio noob, I'd appreciate if you could take the time to explain how this works.
Don't know the details specifically, but I have personal experience with high impedance beyerdynamic headphones. I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm, which I use for work. Plugging them directly into my work laptop or my phone I get low volume out of them at the device's maximum volume. With my FiiO E12 Mont Blanc on the no gain setting I also don't get enough volume. I have to almost max out the volume on it to get it to listening levels. On it's high gain setting it works fine. I also briefly owned a pair of Beyerdynamic T1s, which have 600 Ohm impedance. I could barely hear anything when plugged directly into my phone at max volume. On the other side is my Audeze LCD-2. They have an impedance of 50 Ohms, but plugging them directly into my phone I have to set the volume at max to get them to listening volume. For the short time I had Hifiman HE-560s (also 50 Ohm), max volume on my phone wouldn't generate enough volume. These two headphones are planar magnetic headphones and require a lot more current to get them sounding properly. My Schiit Lyr was able to drive them everything just fine.
The gist is, higher impedance is going to require some kind of amp because at the very least you won't get enough volume out of them. However, low impedance doesn't immediately mean it'll sound fine from any source if the headphones end up requiring a lot of current.
In case of the Beyerdynamic headphones it is true that the higher impedance modells are technically better. The only difference is that the lower impedance models use thicker wires in the voice coil, this makes the membrane heavier on the low impedance models.
This is also true. I have heard the DT 770 80 Ohm and they sound different. They have a lot more bass for some reason. I haven't heard the other ones, but if you google them there seems to be a consensus that they all do sound differently.
If you don't want to carry around an amp with you, you'll want the lower impedance ones.
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