What difference does high impedance make?

[snell_hest]

I have the Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 80ohm version without a DAC, and I think it sounds great. My question is if a higher impedance version would sound better with a proper source.

Does a higher impedance headphone sound better given that it has a proper source, and what differance does higher impedance make?

[OmanGS]

I'm going to keep this short, but it is a topic that you can go on and on about, so I would recommend researching more into it if you're extremely interested.

 

Low impedance headphones require a lesser power source to deliver their high audio levels. You're looking at these working best with things like iPods and on-board audio for PCs.

 

High impedance headphones require higher power sources to deliver their high audio levels. This comes with a few awesome benefits though - they're able to be used with a huge selection of audio equipment and are in much less danger of being damaged (think of a subwoofer blowing out - that's because you're pushing more power than it can handle).

 

So, basically - high impedance is safe with audio equipment. You're able to push a lot more power into them (which usually means higher quality equipment).

 

Now, my understanding is pretty well limited past that point. There's obviously a lot of information out on the internet, so I would definitely recommend doing some research!

[Flojer0]

Yes most higher impedance headphones have better sound quality. Usually due to Ohms law (relation between voltage, impedance and amperage) they do require more voltage and hence a more powerful amp to drive. But whether or not headphones need an amp is a product of the impedance and their efficiency, there are low impedance headphones that benefit from amps too. High impedance headphones also have the added characteristic that if your amp has a high output impedance (think resistance of your headphone jack) then they won't be effected as much as a lower impedance set. But also keep in  mind that theses days that on board audio isn't as bad as it use to be and if you can get loud enough and you are happy with the sound you may not need a new amp.

[snell_hest]

Do you know if my headphones would benefit from a DAC or an amp?

[Kevinkt]

Yes most higher impedance headphones have better sound quality. Usually due to Ohms law (relation between voltage, impedance and amperage) they do require more voltage and hence a more powerful amp to drive. But whether or not headphones need an amp is a product of the impedance and their efficiency, there are low impedance headphones that benefit from amps too. High impedance headphones also have the added characteristic that if your amp has a high output impedance (think resistance of your headphone jack) then they won't be effected as much as a lower impedance set. But also keep in  mind that theses days that on board audio isn't as bad as it use to be and if you can get loud enough and you are happy with the sound you may not need a new amp.

That's not always true. Most headphones that come in diff ohms sounds the same for the most part other than the loudness.

 

 

Do you know if my headphones would benefit from a DAC or an amp?

 

What headphones do you have?

[snell_hest]

That's not always true. Most headphones that come in diff ohms sounds the same for the most part other than the loudness.

 

 

 

What headphones do you have?

I have the Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 80ohm version.

[Kevinkt]

I have the Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 80ohm version.

Yeah an amp can help if you feel like you're not geting that loud

[snell_hest]

Yeah an amp can help if you feel like you're not geting that loud

It gets loud enough, but would it improve my soundquality?

[Kevinkt]

It gets loud enough, but would it improve my soundquality?

An amp? no, and a dac, depents on what you're using right now but mostlikey yes.

[snell_hest]

An amp? no, and a dac, depents on what you're using right now but mostlikey yes.

I'm just using my onboard audio, thanks for all the help though

[mr moose]

Yes most higher impedance headphones have better sound quality. Usually due to Ohms law (relation between voltage, impedance and amperage) they do require more voltage and hence a more powerful amp to drive. But whether or not headphones need an amp is a product of the impedance and their efficiency, there are low impedance headphones that benefit from amps too. High impedance headphones also have the added characteristic that if your amp has a high output impedance (think resistance of your headphone jack) then they won't be effected as much as a lower impedance set. But also keep in  mind that theses days that on board audio isn't as bad as it use to be and if you can get loud enough and you are happy with the sound you may not need a new amp.

This, except the SQ thing, impedance is no indicator of sound quality.

[Flojer0]

That's not always true. Most headphones that come in diff ohms sounds the same for the most part other than the loudness.

 

This, except the SQ thing, impedance is no indicator of sound quality.

That's why I said most and not all. How do you propose I re-word it to clarify then?

[mr moose]

That's why I said most and not all. How do you propose I re-word it to clarify then?

I usually just ommit any reference to sound quality unless it is the specific reason for the post.

[Flojer0]

I usually just ommit any reference to sound quality unless it is the specific reason for the post.

Alright. Though the OP did ask if higher impedance would sound better. So I thought it was a relevant point since while impedance doesn't guarantee quality Quality does often come with higher impedance.

[EmoRarity]

Alright. Though the OP did ask if higher impedance would sound better. So I thought it was a relevant point since while impedance doesn't guarantee quality Quality does often come with higher impedance.

At which point I would cite planers. Which are easy enough to drive. 

[mr moose]

Alright. Though the OP did ask if higher impedance would sound better. So I thought it was a relevant point since while impedance doesn't guarantee quality Quality does often come with higher impedance.

Your right, I missed that. My apologies. 

 

With regard to better quality at higher impedance's,  the correlation between impedance and SQ is also sorta sideways, consider that the factors that cause the SQ improvements are also the factors that determine the impedance, so It is not so much higher impedance that causes  better SQ but along with many other characteristics that make the SQ better, so to will the impedance change.  (the caveat of course is the planers).   and just to completely under the statement I made, because preference is subjective, many people could prefer a lower impedance headphone over it's higher impedance counterpart, thus perplexing us further as to the importance of impedance with regard to SQ.

 

If that makes any sense.

[Flojer0]

Your right, I missed that. My apologies. 

 

With regard to better quality at higher impedance's,  the correlation between impedance and SQ is also sorta sideways, consider that the factors that cause the SQ improvements are also the factors that determine the impedance, so It is not so much higher impedance that causes  better SQ but along with many other characteristics that make the SQ better, so to will the impedance change.  (the caveat of course is the planers).   and just to completely under the statement I made, because preference is subjective, many people could prefer a lower impedance headphone over it's higher impedance counterpart, thus perplexing us further as to the importance of impedance with regard to SQ.

 

If that makes any sense.

I could have said some of that to keep the explanation more clear. Because you are right that it is "quality can equal impedance" much more than it is "impedance can equal quality". Otherwise I would just solder a Megaohm resistor into all of my headphones, or better yet don't even plug them in .

 

In short, a little perspective can make things make a lot more sense.

[mr moose]

 Otherwise I would just solder a Megaohm resistor into all of my headphones, or

The sad sad thing is there are people out there that have done exactly that *cough head-fi *Cough, they have soldered a resistor in line with their headphones to increase the impedance.  An absolutely mind boggling uneducated thing to do.