Do you need an amp for 250 ohm headphones?

When looking to buy a new set of high impedance headphones (anything over ~80 ohms), you'll surely learn that you "need" an amp to use them. But sometimes, as a beginner, this can be confusing. Do you "NEED" an amp to be able to use these headphones at all? Will these work with a gaming PC, USB audio interface, with your phone? Is the amp a necessity, is it just an upgrade in sound quality? Let's find out in this video.
Think of getting an amp?
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I am Andrew Dandrew, a man on a mission - to search this universe for answers to important existential questions such as why do we eat cake on our birthdays :) Hope you have a great time watching my videos.

[@BoredMike554]

i rarely watch videos all the way to the end, you're amazing lmao

[@lasertaco1452]

Your videos are so high quality, man! Hope you get more subs soon. Maybe adding a plant in the background/side might help, lol. Everybody likes plants!

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

You are right, I should get some plants in here :) Thanks for the tip, Oskar!

[@yusuferdogan5747]

Yeah but there seems to be some audio issues which very notable if your using a headphone.

[@District.24]

Beyerdynamic’s DT 770 Pro information guide clearly states that the 250 ohms version is for professional devices: mixing desks and audio interfaces. While the 80 ohms is for universal studio usage. Lastly, the 32 ohms is for use with mobile devices, which includes gaming consoles.

[@Parziivalll]

Okay I got a question I want the dt700 pro but I’m not getting an amp which one do I get the 32, 80, or 250 ohms and does it matter which one pls and thank you

[@gabrielp1183]

@@Parziivalll if you aren't interested in getting that "high high quality" you will be okay with 32 or 80 ohm headphones... it all depends in the devices you'll be using.

[@Parziivalll]

@@gabrielp1183 wym with the devices part

[@jfidjdjjdh]

@@gabrielp1183u think i can use 80 ohms on a pc?

[@Audfile]

Yes! I ran them on my phone, just to try it, could barely hear them. On my powerful headphone amp, they will drop your jaw with the *drive* and power they can produce. Not volume, anything can get loud. The power of the sound is something a 32 or 80 ohm can't do.

[@Amvdere_backup]

What amp do you use ?

[@Audfile]

@@Amvdere_backup schiit Lyr. With a Schiit Lokius EQ, through a Gustard X26 Pro Dac.

[@Amvdere_backup]

@@Audfile lol I already ordered a amp it’s was the Magni unity with a built in internal dac by schiit , I hope it also works well for me

[@Audfile]

@@Amvdere_backup just remember this headphone needs power. I've since moved on to a better headphone, Focal Elegia, but still have the Beyerdybamics.

[@Amvdere_backup]

@@Audfile yea I learned that yesterday, when I ran them on my phone they sounded very underwhelming and weird and on my laptop it was a little better but still underwhelming and nowhere near the quality I’ve seen KZbinrs talk about , so I did some research and learned about dac and amps , magni unity with the internal dac has 2.5Watts into 32ohm so it should be able to power the bereydynamic. And which Focal Elegia did you get ? I might not get it since most are way out my price range but I’m still curious

[@LyuboA]

Most Definitely and a good amp

[@BearBlair]

TLDR; If you really really like listening to music & getting the absolute most out of the track your listening to, get an amp. There is less distortion at the same dB from an amp (especially over 1/2 vol) vs something like your phone or computers audio jacks. Also without proper power from a device like that, you won't see much of a volume difference after about 2/3 - 3/4 vol. Yes you can boost the audio with certain programs or some laptops do it automatically but that just introduces more distortion.

[@FPSTUGA]

Dude I just bought the 770 Pros 80 Ohm because of your videos. When I first saw them I though you had 100k+ subs. Very nice content!

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

You made a great choice! Enjoy them and thanks for stopping by 😊

[@chunkyg4m3r]

​@@odysseyofcuriosity I recently bought the DT 990 pro 250 ohms and my interface is giving some sort of static noise/beeping sound, when I put the headphones straight in my PC that noise is gone. Does that mean that my interface isn't strong enough? I hope u see this, because I love these headphones 😅

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

@@chunkyg4m3r does the static noise become louder/change when your GPU is busy (for example when you move your mouse around your screen, or when you start a game)?

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

that's exactly the combo i just bought

[@WorthlessDeadEnd]

Here's how I look at it: Open ear headphones are not designed to be used outside, so the issue of volume is moot. High impedance closed back headphones are a different matter, but should probably not be used outside, either. Plus, who wants a dangling *coiled* headphone cable getting snagged on something in a subway train or on a bus, anyway?

[@randyhollier]

you can use current or voltage to find power of an amp you dont need both XXDDDD V=IR theyre equivalent

[@notREDi]

thanks bro

[@snakemaster_lp8417]

Hi Andrew, I wanted to ask you if i would need an amp and wich one you would recommend. Im mostly playing games and listening to music on an enjoyer basis (like u mentioned in the video, this wouldnt need an amp), but i sometimes need to listen to music (of different styles) LOUD, i mean, if i listen to more then 3 songs my ears hurt LOUD and u said without an amp, lounds and especialy clear sounds are harder to achiev. Im currently using the Asus B450-F with Razers Kraken headset, so nothing special. im just scared about being let down by theese headphones that are praised by so many people (would propably go for the 990 because of your 770 vs 990 video) just because i expected something they cant deliver without an amp. Hope you can give your opinion on this. Keep up the good work 😊

[@DeCi3eLL]

Hi! Great video. But for a non-native speaker you talk pretty fast 😅. I see you have Behringer's U-phoria audio interface. So is it working fine with dt 770's (250 Ohm)? I have U-phoria UMC404HD and would really like to order 250's instead of 80's. Another question is can you do mixing throug Behringer because I don't believe my laptop would be up to the challenge. Thanks a lot!

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hi man! Thanks for the heads up, I will try to keep that in mind for future videos✌️ As for your question, to be honest, the UMC404HD is a great budget interface that has good converters, but it doesn't have a great headphone out. I'm fine with it + 250 ohms headphones for normal usage (gaming/media consumption/music) with the volume knob staying at around 11 o'clock. I take good care of my ears, and normal content gets loud enough at this level for me, and the sound stays relatively clean. But if you need more amplification (and with 250 ohms you might need it if editing raw sound with a lot of headroom or trying to mix) you'll likely find that the headphone out in the UMC404HD starts distorting a bit when pushed. I have a separate headphone amp which I use for more serious stuff where I need the extra gain/lower THD. So depending on how loud you usually need your headphones to go, you might have a better experience with the 80 ohms version. Hope this helps!

[@DeCi3eLL]

Very helpful! Any recommendation for a good budget headphone amp?

[@siriosstar4789]

i plugged the DT 990 250 ohm headphones into the headphone jack of my marantz model thirty and , ,,,,,,,, a faint whisper of sound in the distance 😂 i'm currently waiting for beyerdynamic to return my inquiry with a solution

[@darkarim]

Amazing video. great job

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Thank you! Glad you found it useful!

[@lucianolizana446]

is it there a noticeable difference betwen 80 and 250 DT770 pro?

[@siprturo]

Hey Andrew, thanks for this. I have a question I am hoping you can answer. I recently bought the 770 Pro 250 ohms and I have a KA6 audio interface. The volume wasn't loud enough for me with this setup, so I bought a PreSonus HP4 amplifier, which sorted the volume issue out, but now I have lost the feature of direct monitoring (without latency) that the KA6 provides when recording through a mic into Ableton. What do you think is the solution for this? Is there an audio interface I can switch to that gives me both the amplifying + the direct monitoring feature in one piece of gear?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hey man! So first, try this: Turn the Headphone Out of the KA6 all the way down. Do the same for the HP4. Get a 3.5mm TRS to dual 1/4" TS jacks cable (or a TRS to dual RCA splitter + 2 RCA to 1/4" jack adapters) and try feeding the HP4 from the existing headphone out of the KA6 (instead of the line out you are probably currently using). Raise the volume of the HP4 to about halfway (so that it's loud, but not ear damaging). Put on your headphones and start raising the level of the KA6 Headphone Out - do it in tiny bits and look for any sort of distortion - you want to avoid this. Keep raising it until you get enough clean, distortion free power from the HP4 set halfway. Then, for any extra volume, you can use the HP4 headphone out knob. Now you should also have direct monitoring + a louder signal. This of course isn't ideal, but will work in a pinch with your current gear. If you want to skip this and get a better interface, check out the Audient iD 14 or the Motu M2 - they have plenty of power for the DT770 250 ohm. Hope this helps!

[@siprturo]

@@odysseyofcuriosity thanks so much, that actually worked! the only thing is I do feel like the headphone volume was higher when I had the KA6 connected to the input of the amp, but this does the job. I might actually consider the Audient iD in the future. Any other interfaces you recommend that have plenty of power?

[@ddrrr_]

Do you think that 80 ohm is good for just a laptop and no amp or interface?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Yes, your laptop should be able to drive 80 ohm headphones well enough on its own 👍

[@BlueLark]

Thanks for the vid

[@irfanhanafi2735]

Can my audio interface Midiplus Studio S do its job for 250 Ohm headphones? It says POWER OUTPUT INTO 150Ω - 15MW and POWER OUTPUT INTO 50Ω - 30MW

[@tianzhuli5063]

Bought DT990 250Ohm with a DAC/AMP combo; I tested them all night and I don't really find any difference between using the amp or not on my new laptop......I guess the motherboard these days are capable of performing good sound.

[@COZY_0223]

i wanna buy the 990 pro. i only play games and watch youtube. so am i fine by buying it?

[@LukeWatts85]

This was really useful. I'm looking to buy the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro's soon and I have the Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD as my interface. I saw it in this video too if I'm not mistaken, so hopefully you can tell me if you would recommend a headphone amp? I'll be doing music production with it, but more hobby that anything serious. A mix of metal and electronic, so bass and drums are important to me :) Thanks

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

To be honest, if you're doing this as a hobby and you are not searching for the perfect audio quality, you might be able to use your UMC404HD interface with your headphones directly plugged into its headphone out, as long as you are not crazy for listening at loud volumes. It is true, I do currently use this specific interface :). I think it is great in terms of the price/performance ratio - I got it some time ago when I was forced to downgrade and was low on money - but even if I told myself I was going to upgrade it at some point in the future, I stuck with it because it does the job, has decent preamps and great converters. Its main downside though is definitely the headphone output, so yes, it will bottleneck 250 ohm headphones. At low volumes, it's not that bad (that's why I said you might be able to live with them), but as you raise the volume you start hearing some ugly distortion - that's why I decided it made sense to upgrade to a dedicated headphone amp. In my case, I went with a Topping L30 (with the same price/performance return mindset), and it works really well for my current needs, so I would definitely recommend it. You can also take a look at the Schiit Magni - a great budget option that is also often praised for its price/performance ratio. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[@LukeWatts85]

@@odysseyofcuriosity Thanks, I ended up getting an ART HeadAMP 4 preamp in the end also. Figured why risk not getting the best out of the headphones just to save an extra 80 bucks. And the additional headphone outs are worth it too. Should all arrive next week. 😀

[@yousifalidani1842]

@@odysseyofcuriosity that's great info, but one question i have about the schiit magni, if i got the magni would i also need to get the modi dac to connect them both together or can i use just the magni alone?

[@almanashshi]

Hey can motu audio express 6x6 audio interface drive BD dt770 250ohm ? i am really so confused coz they sound same on pc, mobile and audio interface 😐 also kinda too flat

[@Pavic8]

Hi brother, any amp for around $100 recommendation? Thanks

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hey man! Check out the Schiit Magni - it should be ~100$. It has plenty of power, it's well designed and people who own it love it. Hope this helps!

[@Pavic8]

@@odysseyofcuriosity excellent, thanks a lot

[@k00l_aid_man96]

so basically i bought the dt 770 pros and 250 ohm versions cuz they were cheaper , now if I plug them in my motherboard it will still sound good but not as good as with an amplifier , say the game si play are escape from tarkov bla bla bla shooter games in general , will it sound better than a 90 dollar headset ? And i play osu which is a rythm game so theres music playing in the background at all time , would i have a problem with listening music like death metal , rock ? And if i do need an amp could you recommend me one thats in the 30-40 bux range . thanks

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

That should be the case, yes. You'll be fine listening to rock and death metal and playing FPS games. The sound quality will be limited by the DAC/Amp in your motherboard. Some people are fine living with that. But if you find you want more loudness, you can either check out the very cheap HA400 amp (comes in multiple flavours from many brands, I have the Behringer one for example - its sound quality is what you would expect for the price, but it does drive 250 ohms very loud) or even better, with something like the Syba Sonic DAC/Amp combo for ~$44. This should be an upgrade in terms of sound quality/max volume compared to your motherboard for a decent price. Hope this helps.

[@k00l_aid_man96]

@@odysseyofcuriosity thanks for an amp i found out that an apple dongle works out so i guess ill get that , though i might go for the dt 880 im not sure tho , ill have to see. thanks for responding

[@k00l_aid_man96]

@@odysseyofcuriosity hello again in the end I got the dt 770 pro's , now I have a quick question which you might not know the answer to but , can I use the hyperx cloud alpha 2 dongle with the 770 pros for them to sound as good/loud as a cheap amp or will it make no difference, if you have a hyperx cloud alpha 2 dongle could you care to try it out with the 770s pro 250 ohm and let me know (you dont have to ) . Thanks

[@Da-Sage]

I have the DT990 Pro 250 OHM and yesterday it started to not register it as a output device, and when I re plug the jack in it doesn't work, how do I fix this problem

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Plug your headphones into any other device. If they sound normal, then it 100% is a problem related to your PC - the female headphone jack on your system could be damaged or there could be some software issue that's preventing the pop-up from showing up. Good luck!

[@krispybowgod9656]

I was worried my Apollo Twin might not drive my 250’ohm dt1990 but even at 50% volume it’s too loud for my ears

[@VishakPillaiNagercoil]

Thanks a lot. Very informative. I have LG G8X phone with Quad Dac. The Quad DAC switches to high power output when any earphone / headphone with more than 50 ohms impedence is connected. I see that the phone is able to output 2 VRMS through the headphone jack. Do you think this should be able to manage to drive Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 ohms headphones. Will I be able to utilize its full potential for different types of music ? Please advise. Thanks in advance.

[@sbekarton3458]

a phone is not enough for 250

[@stevepricemusic]

Thank you for your video. I'm wondering if Focusrite Scarlett Solo is able to power DT770 250ohm. The Focusrite website says that it can power up to 200ohm, but a KZbinr named Sanjay C said the Focusrite audio interface powered it 'just fine'. So I'm kind of stuck here.

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

It is a bit confusing because everyone has different standards for what "powering" some headphones means. In reality, unless you want your headphones to be crazy loud, most devices can drive 250 ohms to listenable (read as "healthy for your ears") levels under normal indoor conditions (with no loud noises around you that the headphones need to cover). Most motherboard soundcards (let's say post-2015) I've tested can also do a decent job (they go way louder than you should be listening at in long runs). Some cheaper audio interfaces, like my Behringer UMC 404HD, start distorting when pushing the headphone volume knob past 12 o'clock (which needs to be done with 250 ohms if you want to rock out), so a keen ear might sense this lack of fidelity, but honestly a lot of listeners might not. Below that volume, for moderate listening levels, it is quite ok. There are also other interactions between a headphone output and the impedance of the connected headphones that could change the frequency response. These are out of the scope of this comment, but in my tests, the changes, if present, weren't so severe to render such a setup (motherboard built-in Realtek soundcard + 250 ohms Beyers or cheap Focusrite interface + 250 ohm Beyers) completely useless. It's still an upgrade from Realtek + your random Gaming Xtreme 8.1 surround sound killer scorpion 3000 gaming headphones 😁. And you can always just upgrade the soundcard to a better-matched setup later down the line if you can settle for less than perfect in the beginning. So, to end this neverending comment, I think the Focusrite Solo will be fine 👍

[@stevepricemusic]

Thanks a ton!

[@Arrtoorrn]

Hi, I'll start at the beginning. I use headphones for music and games (mainly games and communication with friends). I bought dt770 pro 250 ohm through my mistake and they are very quiet (20% of what I had in logitech g35). What amp for such headphones would be similar to the logitech g35 and with good sound quality? I would also not like to overpay for some super amplifier. I am also thinking, isn't it better to sell them and buy 32ohm?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hey Arrtoorrn! I have the perfect video for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGbcaXyfatqVhrc . This sounds like a perfect option for your needs. Have a look and let me know what you think about it.

[@jace7541]

My 770's 250ohm with FiiO K5 aren't loud enough! I'm running them at 3 o'clock on the highest gain..

[@ncarlson12]

Same with my 770s 250ohm powered by a new Schiit Magni Heresy...volume is at about 3 oclock and thats barely waking them up. New to headphones and wondering if this is the way it is.

[@jovantrendmaker4722]

Would behringer ha 400 mini amp work for these 250 ohm version???

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Yes, the HA400 works well with these in terms of volume - it can push them to where they are quite loud. Just don't expect crystal clear sound quality from it. It is obviously not comparable with a 200$ amp. But for its price & features (small size, low power, 4 outputs), it is really hard to beat it :)

[@managingaccounts]

Hi Thanks for the detailed and precise review for the case if we need an amp or not for a 250 ohm headphone (Beyerdynamic dt 990 pro). I am planning to purchase a headphone for audio editing on logic pro, listening to music or movie would be secondary. Do I need an amp with Beyerdynamic dt 990 pro in order to do audio editing? or I should go for Beyernamic dt 900 pro or dt 700 pro?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

For your use case, an amp would be great, because when editing, you're often dealing with low gain sounds, and you'll need to turn up your headphones to hear them. I use the Topping L30 and it is a great option that's also friendly enough with your pocket. As for the DT900, I didn't get a chance to try some yet, so I don't want to comment on them. Hope this helps, anyway!

[@trapped-ion]

Dude, you must have gotten a bad one. To say "don't buy it" just because you probably got a defective one is a bit of a stretch. I've many different brands of these Bluetooth devices, and I've pushed the Neotek BT NTK 106 with great HPs like A & H , BD and ATs. I've even bought a second one of the NT NTK 106. I guess that's my experience 😎. E

[@keezyjr8762]

Complete BS dude, the dt 990s without an amp are literally so quiet they are unusable lol

[@Colyon]

Yes, 250 ohm requires amp.

[@advarkmerrygoround1425]

Why are you shouting? It's really annoying Sir

[@saraseavin7240]

So i can use a 250 ohm headphone on my macbook for mixing and mastering

[@RoverWaters]

yes

[@saraseavin7240]

@@RoverWaters well do u know what amp I should buy for that use

[@user_bilal]

you need to invest in a good microphone, your current one sounds horrible

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Yup, I agree. My audio input chain definitely needs improvement. I'll strive to make it better and better over time. Thanks for the feedback🙏

[@garygarlucialuciani9794]

exa@@odysseyofcuriosity It doesn't sound horrible though. That's an exaggerated statement.

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

@@garygarlucialuciani9794 I agree it wasn't perfect, and it wasn't simply the microphone. It was mostly the fault of my setup at the time (that couldn't properly handle the processing I was doing). Anyway, I knew it was a problem that urgently needed fixing, and since this video was recorded, I did rethink my input routing completely, so hopefully, my latest videos sound better. Thank you both for the feedback :)

[@whitefata12]

@@odysseyofcuriosity wats ur current setup vs the new one?

[@chrisbogart687]

FTI - There are several reviews out there about this - the M1/2 series MacBook Pro's and Mac Studio now automatically detect high impedance headphones when attached and the output is increased for them. I have the DT990 pros and they work just fine with my MacBook Pro 14" M1 - volume is only half way to 2/3 and is more than loud enough. All the way is painful to listen to. I also have a Schiit Mangi 3 Heresy to use when needed. With the new MacBook Pro's - not required.

[@direktoraliby]

Does m1 air makes this too

[@chrisbogart687]

@@direktoraliby I don’t know. I only know about the Pro and Studio.

[@harm0ny260]

I have DT770s 80 ohm version plugged straight to my PC. (i have MSI B-250M PRO-VD motherboard) They sound amazing and when I'm doing shit in FL, I have my PC on around 70% and FL Studio between 40-50% and that can be sometimes too loud for me... Also, having higher impedance headphones without an amp can be an advantage for me, as I sometimes (very rarely) do trash, almost earrapey beats and sounds. Having an amp would most likely blow my ears out.) Anyway, very good video, man! You definetely deserve more subs. ))

[@abraham5701]

Bro this comment and the video helped me tons lmfaoooo buying my headphones now

[@higher_rpm]

Mine sound quiet plugged in directly into the pc aux

[@ng6030]

you most definitely need a amp with the 770 250 ohms anybody who buys these headphones obviously arent looking to get some regular headphones and without an amp thats what these sound like.. you would be wasting your money to use these without an amp..the volume is too low ,the good thing is its safe for your ears at max volume

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

I agree. If you buy these and intend to plug them into a cheap mp3 player you are totally wasting their potential. But if you already own a decent 100$ sound card or external audio interface, things aren't as black and white anymore. For the best case scenario, yes - you should get an amp that helps them reach their full potential. But they are usable without one if you can't afford/don't want the best case scenario/don't want unhealthy loudness. Anyway, thanks for sharing your view!

[@msnrc]

As I see in my interface's manual, maximum power is 150 mW and impedance working range is from 32 ohms to 300 ohms. I'm almost sure that 250 ohm version of the headphones will work. Am I right?

[@billyhilly030]

should work like a charm. i have the 990 pro 250ohm version plugged into the same pocket size dac (fiio e7) as i had a 50ohm teufel aureol real before. the volume difference was very slight so the beyerdynamics are very efficient and not so power hungry despite being 250ohms.

[@garygarlucialuciani9794]

Perfect review and analysis. Covered all the bases in concise way. None of the exaggerated claims made by many reviewers. Andrew Dandrew deserves more subscribers.

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Thank you, glad you found this useful! :)

[@oof4dayz]

From my knowledge, unless your motherboard has a good sound card, at 250ohms I would recommend getting an amp, or better yet a DAC/amp combo for the best sound. I use the Creative SoundBlaster X G5 as my portable amp for powering my headphones on something like my iPad, and it works well. It’s not terribly expensive either and for the price point it’s good. (around $100) It makes my DT 770 32ohm limited edition and DT 990 250ohms sound much better and louder.

[@gutsuthemasterchef]

60Ohms with lower sensibility could be enough to fuck up your experience with integrated audio, those sound chips are ususally trash.

[@trainingsamit]

@@yeti5857 is there a 32 ohm DT990 available? Im only able to purchase the 250 ohm one

[@bartthebos]

would a GoXLR be good enough to power them?

[@idkwhattoputhere5503]

not a lot of people would be willing to spend 100 dollars on an amp when they could get a lower impedance level headphones that are pretty good for 100 dollars

[@Peremptor]

@@idkwhattoputhere5503 The nice thing about getting a good for the bang amp/dac around this price point is that it gives you consistent sound from all your different sources depending on the device you're using. I'm pretty happy with my SB X G6 for that very reason plus it has a bunch of extras to tweak around with for gaming and listening to music which are nice. But yeah if you only want to spend 100 bucks for good sound... you always got to start with the actual headphones and everything else is a very distant second.

[@chadsux]

I'm using the DT 770 250ohm headphones and I find I just don't have enough volume when tracking guitars through my focusrite 2i2. The issue is that once the headphones reach a certain level, raising the volume just increases distortion. I need it to be louder so I can track guitars at higher volumes. What's a better investment, a new interface that can power the headphones properly (if there is such a thing) or investing in a good headphone amp? Or...do I need both? Frankly, I want to start reamping so the 2i2 just isn't robust enough of a unit to do all the things I want to do so I'll be upgrading anyway. Any suggestions???

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hey Chad! You probably have a 2i2 gen 3, which is known to have a not-so-good headphone output (the gen 2 was better in this regard). To be honest, given that you want to get into reamping and need an interface upgrade anyway, I would skip having an extra piece of gear that needs wiring, power, and desk space (such as a dedicated headphone amp) and I would get a new interface with a good headphone out, instead (these do exist, of course). Look at the Audient iD14 - this one will work well with your 250 ohms DT 770s, and should have enough inputs and outputs to aid in your reamping process. You could also take a look at the MOTU M4 - this one is also known to be very good for the price, and will work well with your Beyers. Hope this helps!

[@chadsux]

@@odysseyofcuriosity I think you're right, getting a new interface probably makes the most sense. I don't have a ton of space (who does?!?!), so getting 1 piece of gear to solve both problems seems the smart play. Thanks for the response and insight!

[@Spinifex]

can i use dt 990 pro 250ohm with behringer ha400 ? can i get good performance?

[@jana20auskssl24]

lol I just bought the 770 Pros with 250 Ohm yesterday and was wondering about this exact question! As always amazing quality, keep it up!

[@supr1920]

So did u buy an amp?

[@firekg7347]

did you get an amp? or does it work fine without it?

[@supr1920]

@@firekg7347 I bought the headphone it's works without an amp but audio quality improves and the volume increases too (250ohm)

[@soulfulfool]

@@supr1920 only stupid person can think that underpowered headphones sounds best they can

[@max5250]

Awful presentation, with constant shouting.... That's really pity, because, judging from comments, information given in the video might be of a great value.

[@mynameisradman]

You need an amp with higher output impedence. It will change the sound for the better. 1/8 .

[@shadeliquid]

I had the 80 ohms version for mobile/ console and they didnt sound loud for sure you get sound but,, you have to crank up the volume and even then it doesnt sound loud,

[@anldaywalkeryalcin397]

I have Scarlett Solo 4th Gen (300 ohm capable) and people says don't buy 250ohm cuz it will not drive well, muddy sounds, not enough high volume sound etc. What you think? I'am already bought 250ohm DT770 Pro 250ohm and its on way..

[@anldaywalkeryalcin397]

Also im using sE electronics X1S microphone with XLR cable on my Scarlett

[@steelyman08]

My PC only provides low volume output for my better headphones. It's fine when I switch to cheaper, middle of the road $100-150 ones. So I do need an amp to power the high quality ones

[@spehco959]

You need one for 80 ohm, atleast i do i play hunt showdown and i cannot hear shit

[@andriykovach2736]

Just to put in my 5 cents. I've got DT1990 and Meze 109pro running without any dac or amp and they both sound great (provided the good source track quality). Buuut overall 109pro sound better: more depth and volume. With fiio k3 it gives more sound volume but still 109 pro is better.

[@chrishalle1982]

I only have the 32 Ohms version of the dt 770 pros and even i recognize a difference in dynamics plugin these into my ipad or into my macbook. The base is much more dynamic on my macbook than on my ipad.

[@pix_8624]

thank you very much man it's really helpful

[@djghettoblaster]

I just bought the 80 ohms version of the dt770 I tested them with my focusrite 2i2 and the volume is lower than my hd25 sennheiser. With the h25 volume at 12 o'clock is good with the dt 770 I have to raise it at 3 o'clock. The difference of impedence is only 10 ohms 70 for the hd25 and 80 for the dt770. Do you know where this difference of volume come from?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Yes. I will be uploading a video on this subject in the future, but in a nutshell, loudness is influenced not only by the impedance, but also by the sensitivity of your headphones. The HD25 are more sensitive (or more efficient, as sensitivity is also called efficiency) than the DT770, therefore their level will be much higher at the same volume on the Focusrite interface. Hope this helps!

[@Bextra242]

rn i got a cheap ass creative souldblaster play 3 usb audio adapter cuz my mb's built in audio is broken. I've read somewhere that this tiny audio adapter delivers 300ohms. The thing is that i'm switching to a xlr microphone and i'm going to buy a behringer UMC 204HD audio interface, can someone tell me if it produces enough to support the DT990 PRO?

[@scottlowell493]

I don't know of any portable device or headphone jack output that will solidly drive the 250 beyers correctly. They don't have the output, stability or current. It's stupid to buy high quality/ high impedance cans and not have an amp. it's like buying a pickup truck to tow with, but the engine is a 100hp 4 cylinder. Or drinking fine wine after it's been poured down a lead pipe.

[@Thoma96]

my dt990 pro 250ohm perfect with samsung phone audio without amp.just tune at 60 to 90 percent volume,sountage,clarity and tight bass.

[@zeebpc]

are dt 990 headphones usable for MIXING just plugged straight into my pc or laptop? or does it totally ruin the 'accuracy' and sound quality for mixing!?

[@idkwhattoputhere5503]

i see that the laptop u tested in the video is a hp omen laptop, which is the same laptop i have. just wanted to ask which model of hp omen u tested, and if 250 ohms sounded good on the laptop

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Indeed, I tested both an OMEN by HP - 17-an006nq and a OMEN by HP 15-dc0008nq. The 250 ohms Beyers are definitely useable on these laptops - there's enough volume without the need of a dedicated amp, and overall the sound is ok. Make sure to disable any "audio enhancements" from your operating system and you should be fine (maybe even install Equalizer APO if you want to take things a step further). Of course, these headphones can really shine with a good source, so if you are interested and have the budget to spend on this, you can improve the other aspects of the sound by upgrading to a dedicated DAC/amp - but this is only if you really want to have the best possible sound quality, as sometimes you can end up paying a lot for differences you might not be even able to perceive at first. Keep an eye on the channel as I'm currently working on a video related to this, and it might pique your interest :)

[@mikebauer6917]

Open-back mixing cans don’t need to be super loud, no? Buy a regular (lower impedance) set for music listening. They’ll sound better anyway.

[@jeremylindemann5117]

I have a Creative X-Fi HD soundcard which I believe has a very good DAC (burr-brown) and it seems like it has the power of a headphone amp. I currently use that card with Beyerdynamic DT250 80Ω headphones and I usually keep the windows volume level between 20 to 30 because higher is often too loud. Based on that I believe the soundcard will be strong enough for 250Ω headphones. So that leaves me wondering if there is a benefit of 250Ω over 80Ω headphones particular if they are the same model of headphone? And will a high quality headphone amp be better then the X-Fi soundcard?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hey Jeremy! Your X-Fi HD is a pretty good audio interface, and it should be able to drive headphones up to 330 ohms. That being said, there is no clear reason for which a higher impedance set of headphones should have a better sound compared to a lower impedance version (especially if they are of the same model). The benefits that high impedances bring are more related to the fact that you can use such headphones with older studio gear that runs on higher voltages (like vintage studio consoles) without fearing that you might damage your headphones or your ears (from high volumes). Plus you get to use the full range of the volume potentiometer instead of just the lower 10% on such a device. The main point is that there is no such rule that higher impedances always bring benefits, at least sonically. As for getting a better headphone amp that the one in your X-Fi, keep in mind the law of diminishing returns. You might pay double the cost of your X-Fi on a good amp, but will you be able to sense a clear difference in sound? It really depends on your ears, but there's a high chance you won't. Only you can decide if that upgrade is worth it.

[@vipulvishwas4960]

Bro I got Lenovo Ideapad gaming 3 R5 5600H RTX3050 , And Poco M4 5g .......will I be able to get good vol. to produce Music,,,, I make EDM .........And also plz suggest weather I shd get Dt 770 pro 80ohm vs 250 ohm..........................I watched all your videos still nedd your Opinion...........Later after few months I will Buy an Audio Interface

[@TheFakeWeelem]

Not sure what you're on, but plugging the DT 990 Pro in my laptop makes it sound like garbage. It's not even in the same ballpark as my bluetooth headphones. You need an amplifier to really hear all of the beautiful colors that this headphone has in store for you.

[@ivanlukic2360]

I still use my 40+ years old legendary Sennheiser HD424 which is 2000 Ohms impedance (two thousands) and I never experienced any problem using them without dedicated headphones amp. Even the cheap general purpose opamp like RC4558 can drive them without any problem provided that the gain is set properly, not too low.

[@dramitjohari]

Will new gen mobiles like SAMSUNG S22 ULTRA be able to power it? Of course I will use Samsung USB C CONVERTER not DAC

[@somerudedudeeee]

hello. I would like to know if these headphones are suitable for playing guitar if you connect them to an amplifier? (I have a fender mustang lt25) will there be enough volume or 250 ohms is this not suitable option for such a purpose?

[@SadBoy-mk5nj]

when i got my 250 ohm headphones they worked perfectly fine just plugging them into my mothorboard

[@Deepakdabaria11]

Can I drive DT 770 pro (80ohm) without amp at enough louder level . By pluging directly with my Asus gaming laptop??

[@PurpleDreki]

No need to amp! 250 ohm is easy to drive. You never answered the question

[@soulfulfool]

its a stupid question Andrew xD of course they need it, I did use them few times with my DAP sound was decent but it has got amp section anyway (weak but still)

[@ze_rll]

Do i need an amp if im using dt 990s on console like ps

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Realistically, you don't. I'm more of a PC gamer, but in terms of loudness, the Xbox One controller will get the DT990 250 ohm more than loud enough. And in terms of quality, you'll be limited by the wireless signal/controller DAC anyway. Plus - I don't have a PS, but I assume the headphones plug into the controller as well, right? That would make using an amp quite cumbersome - I would much rather just plug the headphones straight into the controller and call it a day. Hope this helps!

[@Itsjumbomuffin]

so in case of a lets say dt990 pro with 250 ohm you'd be fine with a scarlet solo, fiio ek3/ek5 ? even tho its not the most perfect match? i tried to understand that topic for so long and did research and am still stuck, even tho your video was the best i could find as of right now lol

[@alyctro8158]

For 250, absolutely not. But for good headphones that are 470 ohm and above, absolutely yes.

[@Jco252]

😢😢All of the links are outdated 😢. Amps are not available and the calculator is no longer active.

[@OfficialYounginwell]

I got 80 ohm headphones and a focusrite scarlette. 80 ohms or better I think you need an audio interface at least.

[@user02917]

i own an 80ohm version, but i don’t have a scarlett focusrite, am i missing on audio quality by not owning one? is it worth the purchase

[@Nexz222]

If you are iPhone you bypass around that law with high sounds and all of the warnings and alerts from it by changing the settings to the audio device you are using as an hearing aid instead of headphones in the settings. It works with all Bluetooth devices and wires ones as well if i remember it correctly.

[@eli_the_goat6453]

I don’t really get this but I want to use this for my phone and xbox and laptop but I don’t want or have a amp so do I NEED a amp or are they still usable?

[@chinguunamarsanaa7491]

Hi Andrew. I have Apollo twin usb and dt770 250 ohm. Do i need headphone amp or no need? Volume is good enough but music is records on my vocal when i recording. Could you tell me your experience please. Thank you.

[@prince-sonawane]

how about using Scralet 2i2 to be used with DT 990 Pro. also I have a shure Mv7 Mic.

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

The 2i2 Scarlett has a rather weak headphone output unfortunately, and most people find out that the maximum volume is too low for their needs when using 250 ohm headphones. If you don't want to risk it, better stick to 32 or 80 ohms when using a Scarlett. Hope this helps!

[@prince-sonawane]

@@odysseyofcuriosity I already own a dt 990 pro 250 ohm and shure mv. what should I get then for both of this ? also I need 2 xlr ports for 2 mics in future. and thank you for replying 😀

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

No problem, glad I could help :). Some great options would be the Motu M2 or the Audient iD14, if they fit your budget. They will work well without any need for a separate amp. Moreover, the Scarlett + a decent dedicated amp might end up being more expensive in the end, so I think getting a good interface right from the start is a better idea.

[@beornthebear.8220]

My 250 ohm DT 880 Pros sounded good with my Walkman CD player. I prefer to run them from my desktop iMac with Toppig DAC and headphone amp or my guitar pedal board (the pedal board has more jitter). but I don't need all this for these to sound good. It also sounded good out of my old desktop PC, but for a PC, it had a pretty decent sound card. I also don't listen really loud, as I want to retain some of my hearing.

[@halllwd94]

If you're so worried about not using an amp.. why not just get an 80ohm?

[@DarkSunset558]

can you answer me, I am new to this and wanted to know if the fiio ka2 can move the dt770 80ohms.

[@adamkwalczyk]

At last someone took care of building a measurement tool. Subjective sensational tests are not mu sort of thing.

[@ThunderKat]

In all honest a DAC ain't extra money, is an investment but definitely raise the price to enjoy any high-end headphones.

[@amalferry]

Can I use Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro 250 ohm in my Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen without having gain loss???

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hey man! Unfortunately, the 2i2 3rd gen is known to have a weak headphone out (unlike the 2nd gen), so you will probably have some issues when using it with the DT 770 250 ohms :(

[@martineikmeier]

I have DT880 250 ohms plugged direct to focusrite 8i6. Sounds good, but as you said some recordings they sound very quiet on max volume. So i bought recently an smsl ho100. Im plugging a balanced TRRS from focuarite out 3 and 4 that are line out not affected by the volume knob. Cabble terminates on balanced XLR to the Ho100. Sound improved slightly. More impact on bass and a little bit more detail. But not much. Its not night and day. Power on the other hand has improved a lot. Now i can hear all my music with a nice amount of volume

[@Abhishek_Sarvaiya]

Just one question can arturia minifuse 2 support 250 ohm dt770 ?

[@Garrisonsoutdoor]

What if you’re just using them for gaming on a PC?

[@zuprabeatz]

HEY! What do you think about DT990 Pro 250 ohm and Steinberg UR22mki together?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

The UR22 MKII actually works better with headphones of higher impedances (because it has a very high output impedance of ~90 ohms and you generally want the output impedance to be at least 10 times smaller than the impedance of your headphones. So the ideal headphone for the UR22 MKII would be rated at 900 ohms). The problem is that it's not extremely powerful. Some might say this is a bad design. But honestly, with the 250 ohms DT990, overall, I believe you will be able to do most things (media consumption/gaming/beat making/etc) just fine (the volume knob will probably stay close to maximum most of the time). Hope this helps!

[@llTheJVlusicInMell]

My cheap Laptop distort my ATH M40x at aprox. 1 volume even with an Apple Dongle as DAC. Bruh, I just bought a HD560s because I thought i just hated my ATHs. Now I have to get an AMP anyways 🥴.

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

How would you describe the distortion? Does it sound like clipping? Do you notice these problems while in a DAW or during normal usage? I suspect your issues could be related to buffering rather than impedance. You could try and investigate a bit in this area. Hope this helps!

[@nourhanmagdi_vo]

Hello, I am a voice over artist, and I use the headphones for editing and mixing, I bought the dt770 250 ohm but my focusrit solo does not drive them. I was thinking to buy a new interface audient id4 MKII, but I am not sure if I will still need to get an amp or not. What do you advise?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hi! The Audient iD4 MKII has a very good built-in headphone amplifier, so you shouldn't need anything extra besides the interface. Hope this helps. Good luck with the voice overs!

[@kobi2643]

what about blue yeti, can it power 250 ohms ?

[@chaos4316]

I just ordered the DT770 pro (250) for the sole purpose of using it straight into my helix floor. Did I get the right ones??

[@JonathanNeumann]

Theres still something I am not 100% sure about. I own a Focusrite 18i20 and a SPL Phonitor One in combination with sennheiser HD650 and Sonarworks . I am not sure how to set them up to get the most „clean“ gain. The Focusrite didnt provide enough gain as I have a calibration going with that loweres the Overall volume by 6db. The Phonitor has enough gain for sure but how do I „feed“ it properly? Can I use the 18i20 as a DAC only? If so.. how?

[@elliotandersson8302]

Do you know if it's possible to connect headphone dac/preamp and amp to guitar amp, so I can play guitar with my dt880 600ohms?

[@odysseyofcuriosity]

Hi Elliot. If your guitar amp has a line (ideally) or headphone out (less ideal but can work), you can take that output and feed it through your dedicated amp. What guitar amp are you using?