Using Beyerdynamic DT770 headphones, 80 ohms, with a headphone amp

[jbarkerhill92]

I got some Beyerdynamic DT770 closed back headphones, 80 ohms impedance.
I knew I'd need a headphone amp to get the most out of them, so got a Behringer HA400 compact headphone amp.

The headphone amp makes a massive difference. They basically sound like different headphones with and without. Without the amp, they sound kind of lifeless and flat, and the highs are too piercing.
Somehow the amp smooths out the highs, and also improves the soundstage and fills out all levels, low mid and high.

Also, the connector type into the headphone amp makes a big difference in usability. I've got a chain going from my audio interface into my computer.

The connection chain is:
- computer to audio interface with a usb out from computer and midi into interface
- audio interface to headphone amp, with RCA (the white and red cables) out from interface and 1/4 inch male into the input of headphone amp (need a y cable with RCA male on one side and 1/4 inch male on other side)
- headphone amp to headphones, with power cable powering amp, and 3.5 mm headphone cable into 1/4 inch jack of amp, using 3.5 mm to 1/4 inch adapter

I tried plugging the headphone amp input into the headphone jack of the audio interface, and it gave a loud buzzing / hissing sound when turned up amp which was unacceptable. I also tried using a cheap RCA y cable and it gave terrible sound quality. But today I picked up an audio-quality RCA cable, and now the headphones are singing. Glad I stuck with it as I was on the verge of returning them.

I'm curious why higher impedance headphones with an amp are better than lower impedance headphones. Because it's a pretty big pain to amp headphones, and high impedance headphones are unusable without an amp

[MaxKøngerskov]

Hi, high impedance headphones (like my dt 1990 ...

[jbarkerhill92]

Found this explanation: https://earrockers.com...

[MaxKøngerskov]

All new Macs from 2021 have inbuilt amp for hig...

[jbarkerhill92]

Hi, high impedance headphones (like my dt 199...

[MaxKøngerskov]

jbarkerhill92 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 12:16 am...

[jbarkerhill92]

Ever since I switched to Mac 1 year ago I’ve n...

[OSW]

I'm also in the same boat as you currently, sti...

[jbarkerhill92]

Yeah, it’s crazy how much an amp improves the s...

[OSW]

jbarkerhill92 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 6:26 am ...

[jbarkerhill92]

The cable type makes a big difference when conn...

[boingy99]

Careful with your choice of headphone amp. If y...

[jbarkerhill92]

Careful with your choice of headphone amp. If...

[J-&dre]

jbarkerhill92 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:08 pm ...

[jbarkerhill92]

I’m prob slightly exaggerating how much the amp...

[FL Studio 4 Life]

Got the HD600s and Denon headphones and wow wha...

[jbarkerhill92]

Got the HD600s and Denon headphones and wow wh...

[Zephyrean]

jbarkerhill92 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 12:16 am...

[OSW]

Zephyrean wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:49 am jbar...

[jbarkerhill92]

No, his conclusion made a lot of sense, when ...

[18onu]

there great but mine didnt last 2 years. good ...

[jbarkerhill92]

Yeah, cable isn’t replaceable so seems like the...

[jlevil]

As someone pointed out, higher impedance headph...

[jbarkerhill92]

Well, just as I’m endlessly blabbering about th...

[jlevil]

Do your interface and amp have digital ins and ...

[jbarkerhill92]

Just did some testing, and there is something w...

[jbarkerhill92]

One last update: I figured the source of the s...

[jlevil]

If you need a wider soundstage, you'd have bett...

[jbarkerhill92]

Yeah, I’m prob going to look into some open bac...