ATH-M40x vs DT990 Pro (250 Ohm)

Headphones Headphone Discussion / Help
1

Hey guys! Weird title, I know, but I need your help. (I am very new to this world of good sounding stuff, after I got off the gaming train)

TLDR: Got M40x, don’t really like how they feel compared to DT990 Pro and need help for a fix or suggestions on another pair of headphones;

So, I got a pair of DT990 Pro and a pair of ATH-M40x (with HM5 pads) around the same time, a couple of weeks ago, after my DT770 Pro went to crap, and I decided to get separate headphones for on the go and for my PC.

The 990 came first, because I ordered them from different places, and while the M40x didn’t arrive, I decided to use them for a bit on my phone (a Samsung Note 9), instead of just sticking to my PC, and they were really good. I really enjoy the 990, and I think they suit me even better than the 770, so I was ecstatic other them.

But then the M40x arrived, and I was a little heart broken. These sound so more “dull” than the 990s. I was already expecting them to sound less “clean”, but it was fact they’d be easier to drive that I was looking for.

But that’s not what I got. They feel very low on volume, and not all the lively at all. I even tried them on my PC, with a Scarlett Solo, hoping it was the phone that was the issue. But the same thing happened.

I already thought about getting another pair of DT990 and just modding for a custom cable, but my daily commute is made of so much background noise, that I fear it would be impossible to use them.

So, I ask you, that know way more than me, for other suggestions, or fixes. I’m kinda broke at the moment, so something that would involve this returning these and getting something else would be the favourite one, instead of added costs, but at this point I might as well just be one to anything.

Thanks for your time!

2

On my Scarlett 2i4, I get 1° on the pot between silence and deaf. Renders the M40x’s unuseable directly of the (mediocre) headphone out.

The “dullness” when switching from the DT-990 to the M40x fast may be simply down to the less pronounced upper mids and treble. From memory (I don’t own DT-series headphones because I dislike their treble characteristics).

4

I’m going to be honest with you, I never notified it. I only plugged them into it like two or three times. The 990s always stay connected to the PC :sweat_smile:

The 990 feel more alive even on the phone. I partially blame it on the volume though. Because the 990 feel like they’re louder than the M40x even though the M40x have less resistance by 215 Ohm (I think the M40x are around 35 Ohm, don’t quote me on that though)