Headphones for xbox Mac

[Oak9948]

I'm trying to get headphones  for my Mac and for my xbox looking at dt 990 pro used but it seems like most of them are at 250 ohms which I don't think I could drive. I don't have a whole lot of cash right now but I do have an old focusrite 2i2 pretty sure its 3rd gen preamp thing that I could try to run audio as an input to the preamp then using the monitor output to drive heaphones- shows how much I know about audio- but I'm mainly trying to know if I could drive with this on my Mac mini m4 and xbox series x, so just wondering if this set up would work and if you guys have any other ideas for a 150 ish usd setup or if this is a dumb idea thank you

[Blue4130]

39 minutes ago, Oak9948 said:

I'm trying to get headphones  for my Mac and for my xbox looking at dt 990 pro used but it seems like most of them are at 250 ohms which I don't think I could drive. I don't have a whole lot of cash right now but I do have an old focusrite 2i2 pretty sure its 3rd gen preamp thing that I could try to run audio as an input to the preamp then using the monitor output to drive heaphones- shows how much I know about audio- but I'm mainly trying to know if I could drive with this on my Mac mini m4 and xbox series x, so just wondering if this set up would work and if you guys have any other ideas for a 150 ish usd setup or if this is a dumb idea thank you

You are confused. A preamp doesn't amplify the sound and from what I read, the dt990 pro are not very sensitive at all. You will need an amp to get decent sound from them. Not sure if the gen 3 is the same as the gen 4, but the scarlett only outputs 22mV @ 300 ohm.

 

And this is the chart for the dt990 pro's

 

 

[Psittac]

The Douk Audio U3 is an excellent budget amp you could use a 3.5mm to RCA cable to connect to it to your motherboard or better yet 1/4" to RCA from your focusrite to the amp.  The DAC is the expensive part with in the dac/amp budget world, with cheaper options offering sub-par sound.  My point being, an adequate amp is cheaper than an adequate DAC.  I'll look up my budget solution round up and link it here for you to skim.  It's possible to spend more on an amp with your budget however I'd just get the douk and be happy.  It can be jumpered to output more power if you find it's not enough but I'm sure it will be.  Be warned that I haven't done this on this amp and only on a mainstream higher end amp, but it makes sense.

 

*edit: added hyperlink to thread for budget round up

**edit: If you want to maximize your budget you could look at this Topping L30 II

[saintlouisbagels]

DT 990 Pro is okay sensitivity. It should get loud enough as you approach max volume on the Xbox Series X controller, probably.

As for the Mac Mini, Apple outfits theirs Mac laptops and desktops with great headphone outputs. You'll have no problem driving them.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/108351

 

The Focusrite 2i2 has a pretty weak headphone amplifier, but it should be fine since the DT 990 aren't that insensitive.

[Oak9948]

17 hours ago, saintlouisbagels said:

DT 990 Pro is okay sensitivity. It should get loud enough as you approach max volume on the Xbox Series X controller, probably.

As for the Mac Mini, Apple outfits theirs Mac laptops and desktops with great headphone outputs. You'll have no problem driving them.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/108351

 

The Focusrite 2i2 has a pretty weak headphone amplifier, but it should be fine since the DT 990 aren't that insensitive.

what model would you be taking about right now does 250 vs 80 ohm how a major difference on volume. thinking of buying used but it seems like most of them are 250 ohms so would that be ok? but i think i might just buy the headphones and trouble shoot whatever happens when i plug them in might get an amp later thanks

[saintlouisbagels]

Ohm does not matter here. Only sensitivity - and both models are 96db/mW which makes them easily drive-able from nearly all sources.

250 Ohm would sound more accurate but that doesn't equal better since everyone has different preferences.

 

People who say "you need an amp because of XXX ohms" are just parroting other people who have not even made an attempt to listen to their device without an amplifier. It's like trying a new cuisine and you immediately sprinkle salt and dunk it in ketchup before you take your first bite.

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, saintlouisbagels said:

Ohm does not matter here. Only sensitivity - and both models are 96db/mW which makes them easily drive-able from nearly all sources.

250 Ohm would sound more accurate but that doesn't equal better since everyone has different preferences.

 

People who say "you need an amp because of XXX ohms" are just parroting other people who have not even made an attempt to listen to their device without an amplifier. It's like trying a new cuisine and you immediately sprinkle salt and dunk it in ketchup before you take your first bite.

ohm does matter though, doesn't it? Since that dictates how much power the amp is giving out to the headphones.

 

Take the scarlett 2i2 for example.

• Maximum Output Power32mW into 33Ω
  22mW into 300Ω

So if both sets of headphones are 96db/mw but one is 250 ohm and the other is 80 ohm, then the 80 ohm will be getting more power and be louder.

[saintlouisbagels]

53 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

ohm does matter though, doesn't it?

It doesn't matter because the Scarlett at max power will be too loud for the user at either Ohm.

[Psittac]

less sensitive headphones require more current, higher ohm headphones require more voltage.  Or the other way around, can't remember but I think that's right.

 

Also it's a misnomer to think that volume is the only thing affected, bass response is the first thing to go when a headphone becomes underpowered.  Just can't forget that headphones will never produce the bass that speakers will.

 

Still, going off total volume is a good enough metric to go by, as in most people in the general tech and PC field would find that if it makes enough volume then it's just fine.  I have tested the dt880-600ohm which is basically the only time I've topped out a volume wheel but the bass went bloomy and boomy and loose far before that.  But again we're talking small percentages here and finer detail, while most people here are looking at gaming headsets I'm not certain the use of spouting mid-fi or hifi ideals.  The one and done philosophy tends to be what most in this space are looking for.

[E-waste]

On 3/17/2025 at 9:36 PM, Oak9948 said:

I'm trying to get headphones  for my Mac and for my xbox looking at dt 990 pro used but it seems like most of them are at 250 ohms

Here is the sound output of the non-pro 990 with fresh earpads, whatever difference that makes to the measurement.  Whatever the standard resistance is for this model, that's what this chart shows

 

https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/oratory1990/over-ear/Beyerdynamic DT 990 (fresh earpads)

 

Very uneven high-end, I'm not a fan of spotty treble, rather it just roll off smoothly.

 

Here's the 600 oHm output

 

I'd say treble tries to at least keep up, but it's still a bunch of spikes

 

https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/Headphone.com Legacy/over-ear/Beyerdynamic DT 990 (600 Ohm)

 

Here the 990 pro

 

It looks identical to the 600 ohm chart, spiky treble

 

https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/oratory1990/over-ear/Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro

 

Change that link to stop at /results and you can browse a very large list of models of headphones and ear buds, even House of Marley headphones are measured!