Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

[Lockless]

M50s sound anemic and harsh, very harsh. I believe that x version has not gone too far from them...

By harsh... you mean the treble being troublesome?

[SSL]

M50s sound anemic and harsh, very harsh. I believe that x version has not gone too far from them...

 

Your ears are broken or your had a bad pair, because I have NEVER heard anyone describe the M50/X as anemic. The FR graphs don't bear out this description either.

[Philosobyte]

Shit, you guys have been doing lots! This was a short post, I didn't think I was going to get any replies. 

which one?

That's because it's a subject we have somewhat strong opinions about. The M50x headphones are commonly recommended by people who haven't used other studio headphones, but they're actually not very good compared to other offerings in the price range. 

 

As for how many ohms, that depends on what you're plugging your headphones into. If you're mainly plugging into mobile devices, get the 32 Ohm. Otherwise, get the 80 Ohm. The 250 Ohm is best suited for good DACs/audio interfaces.

[mattonfire]

That's because it's a subject we have somewhat strong opinions about. The M50x headphones are commonly recommended by people who haven't used other studio headphones, but they're actually not very good compared to other offerings in the price range. 

 

As for how many ohms, that depends on what you're plugging your headphones into. If you're mainly plugging into mobile devices, get the 32 Ohm. Otherwise, get the 80 Ohm. The 250 Ohm is best suited for good DACs/audio interfaces.

I am using them for my PC audio, so 250 or 80, what's the difference?

EDIT: I just looked at the preferences and 80 is the way to go for me.

 

Thank you absolutely everyone who has helped in this post and the previous post!

 

<3

[Philosobyte]

I am using them for my PC audio, so 250 or 80, what's the difference?

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/667557-help-headphone-impedance.html?highlight=beyerdynamic+impedance

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/146524-beyerdynamic-headphone-dt770.html?highlight=beyerdynamic+impedance

 

According to the answer from Beyerdynamic mentioned in the second thread I linked, the 80 Ohms is a bit more mid-accentuated and the 250 is smoother. However, 250 Ohm headphones are more electrically demanding from your sound card, requiring higher voltage and less current. This might affect the frequency response negatively. 

 

I would get the 80 Ohm version to stay safe. 

 

edit: also found this

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/146524-beyerdynamic-headphone-dt770.html?highlight=headphone+impedance

Edited October 19, 2015 by Raymondbl

[KaminKevCrew]

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/667557-help-headphone-impedance.html?highlight=beyerdynamic+impedance

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/146524-beyerdynamic-headphone-dt770.html?highlight=beyerdynamic+impedance

 

According to the answer from Beyerdynamic mentioned in the second thread I linked, the 80 Ohms is a bit more mid-accentuated and the 250 is smoother. However, 250 Ohm headphones are more electrically demanding from your sound card, requiring higher voltage and less current. This might affect the frequency response negatively. 

 

I would get the 80 Ohm version to stay safe. 

 

edit: also found this

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/146524-beyerdynamic-headphone-dt770.html?highlight=headphone+impedance

If anything, the 80 ohm version is "less safe" because the lower impedance will mean a higher possibility of the headphone FR being affected by the damping factor.

[mattonfire]

- snip snippiata -

 

- snippity snip -

Ahhhhhh guys! Help me make a certain decision!

[Philosobyte]

Ahhhhhh guys! Help me make a certain decision!

KaminKevCrew definitely has more knowledge than I, but Getafix and Hysteria on the Gearslutz thread I linked had first-hand experience and preferred the 80 Ohm versions. I would trust first-hand expierence over theoretical knowledge. 

[KaminKevCrew]

KaminKevCrew definitely has more knowledge than I, but Getafix and Hysteria on the Gearslutz thread I linked had first-hand experience and preferred the 80 Ohm versions. I would trust first-hand expeirence over theoretical knowledge.

fair enough, but depending on the output impedance of their sources, damping factor could have had an effect that they liked over (effectively) no damping factor. In which case, that would be very gear specific. Also, was it done through blind listening, or sighted? That makes a HUGE difference.

[Philosobyte]

fair enough, but depending on the output impedance of their sources, damping factor could have had an effect that they liked over (effectively) no damping factor. In which case, that would be very gear specific. Also, was it done through blind listening, or sighted? That makes a HUGE difference.

A lower damping factor as in the 80 ohm variant should increase the bass response, right? Apparently the 250 ohm variant had a scooped FR with a boomy bass and shrill top end, while the 80 ohm variant had more balance with a more pronounced midrange, so that would be the opposite of what you'd expect to come from a damping factor, I think. They didn't specify if they compared blindly.

 

However, keep in mind that the manufacturer stated that the two variants have different frequency responses: "The transducers of the 80Ω versions are stronger and more powerful, a bit more mid accentuated. The 250Ω version sounds more smooth and voluminous."

[KaminKevCrew]

A lower damping factor as in the 80 ohm variant should increase the bass response, right? Apparently the 250 ohm variant had a scooped FR with a boomy bass and shrill top end, while the 80 ohm variant had more balance with a more pronounced midrange, so that would be the opposite of what you'd expect to come from a damping factor, I think. They didn't specify if they compared blindly.

 

However, keep in mind that the manufacturer stated that the two variants have different frequency responses: "The transducers of the 80Ω versions are stronger and more powerful, a bit more mid accentuated. The 250Ω version sounds more smooth and voluminous."

In my experience, having closer to a 1:1 ratio decreases bass, although it depends on the headphone.

 

Other than that mid-accentuated bit, none of those descriptors actually mean anything. Also, I don't know how much I believe without seeing an actual comparison with FR graphs.

[Philosobyte]

In my experience, having closer to a 1:1 ratio decreases bass, although it depends on the headphone.

 

Other than that mid-accentuated bit, none of those descriptors actually mean anything. Also, I don't know how much I believe without seeing an actual comparison with FR graphs.

Yeah the Beyerdynamic's descriptors were all fluff except for the mid-accentuated bit. I was frustrated that I couldn't find FR graphs for the 770 Pro, only for the discontinued 770 on InnerFidelity and Headphone.com. 

 

As for the impedance ratio, I had trouble finding a definitive impedance for DACs; they all say 32 - 600 Ohms. However, I saw that the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface has an analog output impedance of under 10 Ohms. If getting closer to a 1:1 ratio decreases bass, that means a lower impedance, as given by the 80 Ohm variant, will have less bass?

[SSL]

Yeah the Beyerdynamic's descriptors were all fluff except for the mid-accentuated bit. I was frustrated that I couldn't find FR graphs for the 770 Pro, only for the discontinued 770 on InnerFidelity and Headphone.com. 

 

As for the impedance ratio, I had trouble finding a definitive impedance for DACs; they all say 32 - 600 Ohms. However, I saw that the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface has an analog output impedance of under 10 Ohms. If getting closer to a 1:1 ratio decreases bass, that means a lower impedance, as given by the 80 Ohm variant, will have less bass?

 

I think you both may be overstating both the impact of damping on frequency response, as well as the predictablity. A 10ohm or even 30ohm output impedance is probably not going to do anything radical to the sound of the DT 770 since it as a relatively low phase angle and a fairly subdued mid-bass impedance peak.

[Philosobyte]

I think you both may be overstating both the impact of damping on frequency response, as well as the predictablity. A 10ohm or even 30ohm output impedance is probably not going to do anything radical to the sound of the DT 770 since it as a relatively low phase angle and a fairly subdued mid-bass impedance peak.

So, would you recommend to the OP the 80 Ohm or 250 Ohm variant of the DT 770 if he's just going to plug it into his computer? 

[SSL]

So, would you recommend to the OP the 80 Ohm or 250 Ohm variant of the DT 770 if he's just going to plug it into his computer? 

 

If the issue is drivability and impedance matching, either will work. I don't know enough about the possible sound signature differences to comment on that.

[Packdemon]

http://www.headphone.com/pages/build-a-graph

[Packdemon]

What's your budget, btw?

[Packdemon]

What audio source are you plugging into? Your computer, a sound card, an external amp (I know that sources don't refer to amps, but whatever)? What is the name of your motherboard, sound card, or amp?

[KaminKevCrew]

What's your budget, btw?

$1,000,000,000,000 (Zimbabwe Dollars, BTW...)

[Philosobyte]

@Packdemon We already established that headphone.com and innerfidelity.com do not have the frequency graphs for the DT 770 Pro, only the discontinued DT 770 consumer version. 

 

He said he was plugging into his"PC," which probably means a motherboard and not a sound card or DAC. 

 

He wants the DT 770 Pro, but just doesn't know whether he should get the 80 Ohm or 250 Ohm variant. 

[spwath]

@Packdemon We already established that headphone.com and innerfidelity.com do not have the frequency graphs for the DT 770 Pro, only the discontinued DT 770 consumer version.

He said he was plugging into his"PC," which probably means a motherboard and not a sound card or DAC.

He wants the DT 770 Pro, but just doesn't know whether he should get the 80 Ohm or 250 Ohm variant.

The dt770 is about the same as 770 pro

[mattonfire]

I don't have a sound card well maybe I do but if I do it's integrated. The solution is?

[Packdemon]

I don't have a sound card well maybe I do but if I do it's integrated. The solution is?

So what's the name of your motherboard?

[Packdemon]

@Packdemon We already established that headphone.com and innerfidelity.com do not have the frequency graphs for the DT 770 Pro, only the discontinued DT 770 consumer version. 

 

He said he was plugging into his"PC," which probably means a motherboard and not a sound card or DAC. 

 

He wants the DT 770 Pro, but just doesn't know whether he should get the 80 Ohm or 250 Ohm variant.

My apologies, I really should have read through all of the comment before posting first.

[mattonfire]

Anyone know weather I should go with the 250 or 80, they draw more power but as I am using it just for my of that surely won't really matter, if the 250 is worth the power draw I'll get it unless you guys say otherwise.