Wondering whats recommended for a good pair of headphones for listening to music and play FPS. I'm stuck between AR5000, HD490 pro and have mixed feelings about the DT1990 MK2. Thinking of pairing with a schiit gunnr for easy Mic control. Currently using razer black shark V2 pro wireless which are fine but id like to try open back with increased sound stage.i live in the UK and Budget with a dac is around £700. Priory is hearing crispy footsteps while playing fps and i enjoy a wide range of music with a lively bassy sound. Don't have ability to sample any which is a bummer
Originally was wanting a wireless gaming headset, but now I’m thinking about getting an audiophile one. Don’t know much about headphones or anything. I use them for gaming mostly but music and movies too.
Current headset is Hyperx cloud alphas s and they are awesome. Honestly, the reason why I’m looking for something else is because I’m bored and wanna try something new, but so far haven’t found anything better. Maybe thinking open back?
Headphones I’m deciding on
sennheiser hd 560s
beyerdynamic dt 770 pro/880/990 closed or open back
beyerdynamic mmx 300
turtle beach stealth pro
Corsair virtuoso pro
Headsets I’ve tried
Audeze maxwells (ok, not worth 300 bucks compared to my alphas)
turtle beach stealth 700 gen2 max (ok)
steelseries arctis 7x (shit)
hyperx cloud flights (shit)
From what I’ve tested, I like spacious, clear audio with good imaging. I play everything, so footsteps and good sounding immersion is important. I use Dolby atoms, and the pre sets I use are
gaming setting I use the balanced preset
movie setting I use the balanced preset
music setting I use the balanced preset, but like detailed too
There’s that if it helps in deciding what kinda headset/phone id like lol
Overall whats some good headphones? I play on Xbox, ps, and pc. Idk how I feel about a dac amp, maybe in the future. Would I be able to get something that works on everything?Would I even tell the difference from my alphas and I should just save my money?
UPDATE: Tried the hd 560s but returned them. They were cool and the soundstage was awesome, but they didn’t sound as full as the Hyperx and after wearing them for 5 minutes they make my tinnitus go crazy. Like, it got so loud after using them.
Hd560s- awesome soundstage, it sounded less full then the Hyperx but good neutral sound. They were uncomfortable and for some reason made my tinnitus worse when wearing them. And I think I like closed backs better.
Hyperx- way more comfortable, decent soundstage, sounds more full and fun, can listen to them all day. Honestly think I prefer the tuning of them as well.
Hd560s were good, but I think for me personally the Hyperx is the best sound I can get and after that it’s diminishing returns.
Videos
Are audiophile headphones best for gaming?
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Hi all,
I am looking for a headphone and dac/amp setup for my computer only, for gaming and music listening / got a midi keyboard as well..
My main purpose surely will be gaming like bf6 or singleplayer games.
Currently I use a Steelseries Nova Pro Wireless.
Budget around 700 Euro.
My first idea is the Sennheiser HD660s2, a colleague said if I ever want to play games with mic with it I should use a closed back.. but I honestly did not find a comparable closed back to the 660s2.. only at least Sennheiser option is the HD620s.. reviews are mixed..
For the DAC/AMP I looked at the FiiO K7.. honestly watched a lot of reviews and tests and comparisons but the marked is very unclear for me ..
So if it shall be a closed back.. is there any comparable 500 euro option? Is the DAC fine or anything else for around 200?
Many thanks!
I've recently bought a pair of headphones that's fairly recommended by audiophiles in my budget which are the Sennheiser Accentum plus. Turns out I didn't do enough research and I really regret my purchase for a few reasons. These headphones feel fairly uncomfortable when worn for a long time due to their small earcups and also you can't change any settings for them through PC it has to be done through mobile. Also the max volume is weirdly low on my PC.
But the biggest issue for me is that using these headphones for Discord sucks. I chose them because they are wireless and have a built in microphone but turns out that when you're using bluetooth the microphone messes everything up so it's completely pointless because you don't have any other options to connect them other than bluetooth.
Could anyone recommend me an alternative that meets these criteria:
Budget of up to 300$.
Wireless or wired with an easily replaceable cable
relatively large over-ear earcups that are comfortable for long periods of time.
preferably comes with a detachable mic but no mic is also fine.
And most importantly good sound quality for the price especially for music.
I know it's a bit specific but I'd just like to avoid spending a lot of money again and be disappointed so I'd be grateful for any help!
Budget is $100-$200
I had bought the hd560s but they were mad uncomfortable to the point where they were causing headaches even after stretching the clamp.
I was looking into the sennheiser 599 but i’ve heard mixed things about it
Mainly looking to buy to help with footsteps
I'm seeing more and more posts here and elsewhere that gaming headsets suck, and you should never buy them. I'm here to tell you why that isn't completely true, and why most gamers should either buy a gaming headset or surround speakers.
There is a major drawback to getting generic high-quality headphones: you don't get positional audio. Most games, even in "headphone" mode, don't provide you with 3D (often colloquially called binaural) audio. You can tell whether sounds are coming from the left or right, but you don't know whether they're before, behind, or even right on top of you. The best audiophile headphones on the market won't fix this, but any gaming headset that's worth the money has virtual 7.1 surround sound. They come with an external DAC and connect to the computer via USB or Bluetooth so the game registers you as having 7.1 surround speakers and gives you positional audio. The DAC takes the audio and positional information and runs it through some filters to make you hear the noise as coming from a certain direction. This is incredibly important in shooters, horror games, and any other immersive games.
The lack of virtual 7.1 surround on headphones/DACs and 3D headphone audio support in games means that you will nearly always get a better experience from a decent gaming headset or surround speaker setup.
All that being said, the headset I use and recommend to anyone as the best value in gaming headsets is the HyperX Cloud II. They're well-built, extremely comfortable, have a decent mic, and can deactivate the virtual 7.1 surround for stuff where it doesn't make sense, like listening to music.
Do you know how virtual 7.1 surround sound actually works?
Listen to this. it'll work even without 'virtual 7.1 surround sound' capable headphones.
but any gaming headset that's worth the money has virtual 7.1 surround sound. They come with an external DAC
So... you're telling me I should buy shitty gaming headphones, because they come with a DAC, so I can get virtual surround? Instead of getting a seperate DAC, soundcard or program that does virtual surround?
Requirements:
> Dont care if its Open-back or Closed-back, wired or wireless
> Pinpoint accuracy and good/loud volume of footsteps while the gunshots not overshadowing footsteps and faraway steps/ happening
> Dont need overpowering gunshots strictly
> Dont need/ care about mic - I have standalone EPOS B20 mic where I will plug my headset for the time being (if they are 3.5mm wired, amp/dac in future for sure)
> Dont care if gaming headset or audiophile, I would prefer Audiophile headset
> Budget - Around $300 USD
Headsets I have used ranking from Best to worse (for me) in ascending order:
> Corsair hs50 (with loudness equilization)
> EPOS GSP500 (with EPOS B20 mic as an amp/dac as my motherboard b550 was very low volume for it)
> Hyperx Cloud Alpha S (with the surround sound card plugged)
> EPOS H3
> Hyperx Cloud Stinger Core PS4 (the $20 one) (with loudness equilization)
> Alienware AW920H (mixed feelings about this one, only using because wireless)
> Blackshark v2 pro wireless
> Moondrop Chu
> Sony XB910N
> Coolermaster MH650 (worst headset ever btw personal opinion)
I will buy a good $200-300 amp/ dac in future for my PC 'if needed'
For the time being, 3.5mm will be plugged to my EPOS B20 mic's own amp/dac
I'm considering using audiophile headphones, possibly with a DAC and amp, for PC gaming (mainly first person shooters but not only) using an LG C1 as display.
Does anyone have experience with this? How was it? Any advice?
Hello! I am on a 100€ budget and am looking for some audiophile headphones for gaming. I don't want just a gaming headset because I don't care about a mic or the design. I just want some good headphones to play and maybe listen to some music. Thanks in advance!
Open or closed back? Some options to consider include the Audio Technica ATH-AD700x, Audio Technica ATH-M40x, AKG K240/M220, Status Audio CB-1, Koss KSC75, Koss PortaPro, Sony MDR-7506, perhaps a Philips SHP9500 if you can find a pair.
DT 990 Pros. Hands down one of the best at 100.
My arctis pro wireless have started to breakdown and i have been looking at some headphones to replace them and i really want to get some that are better than them but i did really enjoy them alot. I looked at LCD-2 Classic but have heard that they are not good for really long sessions because of the weight. I have also looked at Hifiman Edition XS and sundara aswell but cant really decide. my budget it at a maximum 800$ for the headphones alone.
if u want to conserve the wireless the Audeze Maxwells are the best in that format, they are a little heavy but it’s worth it
fostex t60 ~$300. leaves you plenty to get an adequate amp because they need power. fostex t50 and t60 are easy to modify too if you don't like part of the sound signature. I just received new pads for my new t60s and it helped with the brightness a little and the bass stayed the same. I will probably now mod internals a little to get a slight bass boost. t50/t60 are both excellent for gaming as well as music. need a dac/amp recommendation? I got the fiio k7 just for these headphones and I like it.
I have the steel series arctic pro garbage and am so sick of how bloated the software is and it is super buggy. After some research I've realized I should have gone with some real headphones instead of gaming headphones. I play almost exclusively apex legends so hearing footsteps and directions is paramount for me.
After researching this forum, I've come up with the following:
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Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
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Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
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Beyerdynamic 880 Pro
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Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
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DROP + EPOS PC 38x
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Sennheiser HD 560 S
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Sennheiser HD 650
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Sennheiser HD 599
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Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Final VR3000
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HarmonicDyne Zeus
I left out the HD800's because that's a bit out of my budget. I'd like to keep it under $500.
Also, I know absolutely nothing about DAC's. I have a Corsair Vengeance i7200 which doesn't have a great sound card it looks like. For my purposes, would a DAC be a good investment? I've seen recommendations for iFi Zen V2, FiiO K7 or K5 Pro, Sound Blaster X G6, EPOS GSX 1000.
Ya'll would be doing me a real solid helping me choose hear. Can't wait to hear your input!
I didn't realize how much difference a headset could make until I bought my ASTRO A50 Gen 3's. I've been looking for an upgrade, but keep buying re-furb Gen 3's from a guy on Ebay bc I can't find anything I like more. I've been researching for days, but can't find a unanimous best "high end headset" for 2021. I've narrowed it to the Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless, Audeze Mobius/Penrose X, ASTRO A50.. but it seems like each of those has significant flaws too. Also, are headsets like mouses in the sense that you'll get the best performance out of wired vs. wireless? Thanks for the help!!
What I can think of off the top of my head are the as mentioned Audeze Mobius, the Audeze GX (both using planar magnetic drivers), the Beyerdynamic Tygr 300R and the Sennheiser PC38X (with dynamic drivers). These brands take a huge departure from the Gaming headset market as these are definitely audiophile brands with sets that go into the $4K range.
Most headphones that get past the $300 dollar range will be great for gaming as they are tuned for sound imaging, soundstage, instrument separation that will usually translate into object and player location, game audio resolution and just sound clarity. These headsets don't usually have as many features other than an attached mic on a few and a few color accents and they don't have any RGBs either.
As far as wired vs wireless I would always recommend wired as you wont have to worry about any latency in sound retrieval. Sound quality will take a hit as well but I don't think it would be as noticeable.
In the end I would recommend getting a good headphone with an external mic. If you're set on a headset with an attached mic, the PC38X are great for the price or if you're willing to spend more for better quality sound, the Audeze GX. You'd also have a fantastic headset for music as well with either one.
Came from Astro A50s and Plantronics Rig to Sennheiser PC38X, world of difference and best headset I have used. I am on console and they are wired just to controller. Basically wireless with no need to charge, better/lower latency, and better mic sound. Work great for 3D Audio on PS5 and Dolby Atmos on Xbox or PC.
Hello everyone,
i am searching for 1000-2000 dollar headphones (dont mind if they are cheaper) for excellent immersion in single Player games. From what i gathered a comfortable fit, good bass for actions scenes, high detail retrieval and clearness for sound effects as well as a spacious soundstage with good 3d localization are most important here. I am new to the audiophile microcosmos, so if you think i should focus on other criteria please let me know!
any headphone type is ok for me. right now i am considering the sennheiser hd 800s becausse they fit all the criteria, except they fall a bit short on bass. does anyone know a headphopne that is similar but has more better/punchier bass?
would be much aprecciated!
Hello friends, I've always used gaming headsets and I'm trying to find a new one since mine broke, I've tried couple ones but didn't like any of them because they felt uncomfortable, so I decided to try audiophile headphones since I never had one was wondering if there's a good audiophile headphone + mic combination under $200(I live in the US), that's my budget unfortunately but I hope I can get some help here on what to do since I'm kind of lost right now.. and do I need to buy anything else to use these headphones on PC?
Thanks a lot
Hello! I am planing on buying sennheiser hd560s's as my first audiophile headphones, but then I saw a comment saying that it isn't really worth it buying audiophile headphones for primarily gaming, so I questioned myself. I mean I listen to music, but it's jot my passion and I do t put on music to only listen music. So I am wonderin, do I really need them. Thanks in advance!
Edit: After reading the replies I decided that I will go through with the hd560s. Thanks all for your help!
I think the best way to think of this is not whether you should use audiophile headphones for gaming but what is the best headphone for gaming and music period.
Gaming gear tends to have pretty poor tuning and performance for their price ranges. Part of their budget is spent on features like RGB and wireless tech which may not be important to you. Headphones made by companies which focus exclusively on audio tend to perform better.
The 560s is an excellent headphone in terms of tuning, performance and build. They would work very well for gaming.
Can't talk specifically about the HD560's as I haven't used them, but I bought a PS5 and a pair of Steelseries Arctis 7P+ and they were very poor both in sound quality and comfort in comparison to my Focal Clear Pro's that I have been using for listening to music for the last year or so.
I guess that's not too surprising when there is a 4-5x difference in price.
Ended up selling the Steelseries and now use the Clear Pro's for both gaming and music.
Basically wondering what peoples thoughts are on the hifi gaming headset market, which I feel is very under utilized to be honest. If you search 'top gaming headsets of 201X' you don't even see the sennheiser GAME/PC line it's just a load of rubbish about how the razer, steelseries and logitech flagships headsets all sound 'good'. It's practically what everyone wants, the ease of use/utility of gaming peripherals without losing audio quality.
With the upcoming release of the Vokyl erupt, I wonder if people think it is worth holding out for over getting the sennheiser pc37x? If anyone wants to give their thoughts on this or point me towards other hifi gaming headsets also that would be great! I saw the audeze mobius but I don't like the look of them for some reason. I think this could be a good little thread for information on this niche that totally should not be a niche.
TL;DR: Looking for more hifi gaming headset products at it seems to be hard to find many or get any information on.