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View Full Version : Ohm Impedance?

DaveK
01-26-2010, 06:27 AM
I'm looking at DJ headphones, both are 107dB, 5-30kHz but one is 24ohm impedance and the other is 36ohm.

What is the difference?

The only difference is the ohm impedance and the price, one pair is €105 the other is €295. I'll end up getting the more expensive pair later I'm just wondering what the difference would mean to me in the working environment.
JC316
01-26-2010, 08:13 AM
The impedance is the resistance of the speaker and how much power it draws from the amp. The lower the number, the more power it draws. That is why certain amps have a specific OHM range, the wrong resistance can overheat them. Also the reason that newer Bose speakers only work with their respective amps, they are 1ohm which is damn near a direct short, hook em up to a 4ohm amp and it frys itself.
Wile E
01-27-2010, 04:15 AM
The higher the ohms, the less volume. And you can't go by those specs you listed to know how they sound. What cans are you looking at specifically?
DaveK
01-30-2010, 04:25 PM
The higher the ohms, the less volume. And you can't go by those specs you listed to know how they sound. What cans are you looking at specifically?

Sony MDR-V700DJ and Pioneer HDJ-2000.
Kreij
01-30-2010, 04:46 PM
As JC eluded to, you want to make sure the impedence of the headphones matches the output impedence of the device you are plugging it into. Missmatched impedences will not always destroy the amp or speakers, but it sound like crap.
JC316
01-30-2010, 11:05 PM
As JC eluded to, you want to make sure the impedence of the headphones matches the output impedence of the device you are plugging it into. Missmatched impedences will not always destroy the amp or speakers, but it sound like crap.

Exactly, you can hook up an 8 ohm speaker to a 4 ohm amp and be fine. I have even hooked up a 4 ohm speaker to an 8 ohm amp without issue, it just doesn't sound that great. Just avoid hooking up a 2 ohm speaker or lower to any amp not rated for that.
Wile E
01-31-2010, 04:23 AM
Standard headphone outputs can generally handle anything from 24-64 ohms. Impedance should nnot be a real issue here.

I've been reading about the cans, and I lean towards the Pioneer set. Higher impedance, but all reviews put them above the Sen HD25's in sound quality. They also handle more power than the Sony cans, meaning you'll get much less distortion at high volumes, leading to less ear fatigue.

My vote goes pioneer.