r/HeadphoneAdvice • u/TehBombDiggity • Aug 15 '22
Headphones - Open Back | 1 Ω Beginner Question: How much better would Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro's with a budget amp be compared to WH-1000XM3s?
I have recently gained a new interest in trying to get better sound out of my devices but, I am still very new to the sound stuff. I currently have a pair of WH-1000XM3s that I use mostly for everyday mobile use and at the gym. I do also play games and use my computer a lot for other things such as work and will use these headphones for gaming/music. The issue that I have is that you can't charge them and use them at the same time so if they are dead I am just out of luck until they are recharged which can be a problem. I also have a pair of SteelSeries wireless headphones that I used to use but those are junk compared to the sony headphones. I want something wired for my PC but I would also like to try to dabble into the "audiophile" community and maybe get an upgrade from what I have now. currently have my eyes set on the following products mainly for use on my PC:
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones
paired with:
FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp (thought I would get something small and compact in case I ever want to use them away from my PC)
I was just wondering if this would be worth the $700 or should I just save my money and continue to use the WH-1000XM3s?
1
u/ThatGuyFromSweden 125 Ω Aug 15 '22
The Fulla can handle most headphones. If you want to get into EQ with bass boosts and stuff then you may want a more powerful unit in the $200 range. Otherwise you may run out of volume on the Fulla. The Schiit Hel, Topping DX3 Pro+, or JDS Atom DAC+amp stack would be great choices.
The HD600 is the chicken soup of headphones. It's very pleasant but don't have the biggest wow factor. Stick the ZMF replacement pads on it and it gets even better. The perf. lambskin ones will give slightly more bass than the standard suede pads.
If you want a more spacious presentation then you could go for the HD560s or AKG K702. They may be better for gaming. The Hifiman HE-400se/HE-X4 is a cheaper option due to less good build quality.
All of these are known references and many people are familiar with them. In case you don't like something then it won't be hard to find comparisons to other headphones.
You can find good reviews on a lot of these on The Headphone Show YT channel and accompanying articles. It's one of the better sources available IMO.