DT 990 Pro (80 Ohm) with MacBook M4 Pro + PC: Do I need an amp?
I recently received the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (80 Ohm) as a gift. I really love how they sound, but I only truly enjoy them when the volume is cranked up to 100%.
They sound significantly better on my MacBook than on my PC, which was expected: I've already read about the MacBook's upgraded high-impedance headphone jack and that it should be more than enough for these headphones. However, on both devices, I find myself maxing out the volume slider just to get that "wow" factor. On the MacBook, 100% is actually a bit too loud and not very comfortable for long sessions, but it’s the only way the sound feels punchy, rich, and spacious. At lower volumes, it doesn't feel like I'm lacking loudness itself, but the sound just becomes completely flat and loses its life.
My question is: is this just the natural sound signature of these headphones that I need to accept, or could a dedicated amp/DAC actually change the situation? Google tells me that an amp doesn't just add raw volume, but can also bring out richer bass and better highs even at lower listening levels.
It just feels weird having to keep the volume at 100% to enjoy my music, especially when the entire internet claims that the M4 Pro audio output is completely sufficient.
fyi: translated my own text for this post via llm so it feels a bit strange, sry my english is not that good