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.

[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!

[oofdayz]

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.

[harmny]

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. ))

[garygarlucialuciani]

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.

[janaauskssl]

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!

[BoredMike]

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

[chrisbogart]

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.

[Nexz]

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.

[johnnydiamondsmusic]

People sometimes don’t understand the difference in requirements for using headphones for mixing audio recordings. For this you don’t want the phones to falsely boost the audio. You need to hear accurately the different frequencies so the finished mix/master sounds good when played back via non studio listening devices. If you want headphones to listen to music/games etc then you need something different. Also open back is better for mixing but not for wearing when recording a singer as the audio bleed from the open backed will be picked up by the mic. So I’m that case you need good closed back isolating phones.

[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.

[ng]

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

[District.]

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.

[ivanlukic]

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.

[chrishalle]

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.

[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

[death]

Higher impedance means it is easier to drive, less Ma to reach tye same voltage meaning less power for the same volume at the same sensitivity.

[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,

[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?

[steelyman]

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

[Bextra]

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?