Beyerdynamic DT880 250ohm or 600ohm model??

[N WILLIAMS]

I am a little unsure which Beyerdynamic DT800 model to chose. I have read the 600ohm model is a little less forward in the treble range. This has made me think this maybe the choice to buy.

I am using a Steinberg MR816 for my sound output. The spec for the headphone outputs is as follows:

25mW (@ 8 ohm)/75mW (@ 40 ohm)

I don't know how to calculate whether this spec is adequate to drive either model of DT880 headphone, or whether I will need an additional amp in the chain from the headphone output.

Any ideas/advise or experience anybody?

[Hugh Robjohns]

I'd go for the 250 ohm model and stop worrying about it!

hugh

[whis4ey]

Do you actually mean the Beyer DT880?
I have just bought the 250 ohm model ..... it is considerably quieter than the 80 ohm DT770 which I currently use for recording purposes, and which I prefer ( I monitor on JBL GS-115's normally, and the 880's were bought for monitoring on occasions with 'phones)
Not yet sure if the 250 ohm improves much on the 80 ohm for my purposes ... I doubt it
I certainly wouldn't consider the 600 ohm model with my set up. I think you would need a pro headphone amp or similar
Depends on what you already have ........

[Goddard]

Hmmm, those rated output values look funny, as if reversed wrt to impedance.

IME, lower impedance cans work better on the heaphone outs on bus-powered interfaces, which tend to be pretty weak in output, so if that's all you'll be using the cans with then I'd get the lower impedance model, especially as the headphone out on the MR816 is known to be pretty wimpy.

That said, I get plenty of volume on 600 Ohm DT770s plugged into the headphone out of a USB-powered Tascam interface.

[James Perrett]

Hmmm, those rated output values look funny, as if reversed wrt to impedance.

Looks like there's a resistor in series with the output. You'll get maximum power out when your headphone impedance is the same as the output impedance of the amp. For example; if they use an 80 ohm resistor driven by a perfect amp, you'll need 80 ohm headphones to get the maximum power.

James.