So I see a lot of people asking what ideal gaming headset they should be using and a TONNE of conflicting information on whether a certain headset is good/bad. With this topic I'll be trying to clear up the confusion, define some different categories of headphones, dispel some myths but most importantly give some tips on getting you the sound that will blow you away, whether it be for music, gaming or movies.
What will you be using your headphones for?
This is an absolutely critical question you need to ask yourself. There is a good setup for almost any purpose at numerous price points in this day and age. Do you only need a setup for gaming on your pc/laptop? Or do you listen to music as well? Would you like to take the system on the go to connect to your MP3/laptop?
What is your budget?
A defined budget at the outset helps focus on what components you need instead of browsing for months on end and just wasting time. This also links to the above point, with $300 you can afford a great headphone/ in-ears and a DAC/AMP [ glossary ] to come later.
Do your research
Never take one person's advice [ even mine (: ] as sound is subjective to a degree. What I enjoy might not be to your taste and vice versa. The best way to find out if something works for you is to try it first hand of course, but in the market for expensive headphones that can be difficult. Hence, use Head-fi as a starting point and do a search and take it from there. The more you read, the more you'll end up knowing about the world of audio.
Now let's get down to the juicy stuff!
Headphones vs IEMs
IEM's What the heck are IEM's some of you may be asking? IEM stands for In Ear Monitors, such as
They're earphones essentially, but the critical difference between IEM's and ordinary crappy earBUDS that come bundled with iPhones/iPods and most mp3 players nowadays is that IEM's fit inside your ear, as in they plug into your ear like so
By being directly inside your ear, they block outside noise incredibly efficiently and of course, the sound is directly channelled into your ears rather than going all over the place [ the reason why you can hear "music" when someone using the iPod earphones ]
The problem with In-Ear-Monitors is that they're very hit or miss. Everyone's ears are unique so what may be a perfect fit for one may be atrocious for some. Some people just hate them because the feeling of having something penetrate the ear so deeply just doesn't work for them. However, IEM's are incredibly portable, the better ones sound absolutely spectacular ( but usually command a correspondingly spectacular price tag ) and they isolate outside noise very well, much more so than the headphones that claim to be "noise cancelling" [ more on that later ].
Headphones
Headphones have exploded in popularity of late with people walking around with $500 iPhones in their pockets and $300 dollar Beats on their heads. I would have normally said " I'll dispel the Beats myth " later but this needs attention, along with another myth.
DO NOT BUY BEATS OR A GAMING HEADSET
I'm positive I'll cop a lot of flak for this, but by god this needs to stop. Beats aren't rubbish, that's true. But at it's price point, there are vastly superior offerings from lesser known brands. Gaming headsets similarly are mostly garish offerings from companies that know almost next to nothing about creating a headphone. Plantronics, Steelseries, Turtle Beach are all brands to be avoided in regards to headphones. [ That being said, steelseries do make some epic peripherals that aren't headphones so props to them in that regard ].
Open or Closed?
Open headphones are just that. They're open to the outside world so your music/gaming sound will be heard by others, and others talking/traffic/general noise will leak in and will be heard. They offer a typically clearer and more detailed sound than closed and are cherished by high end audiophiles. If you're only going to be using headphones at home/quiet private environment, absolutely get open headphones [ suggestions to come later ].
If you live in a dorm [ as I do ] or if you have a family that's always yelling at something [ as I do ] or if you travel quite a bit by bus/train [ as I do ] then a closed headphone is more preferable. Closed headphones also have stronger thumpier bass than equivalent open headphones.
Circumaural vs. Supra-aural
What on earth? Clueless on what circumaural vs. supra-aural is? They're really just fancy terms for how headphones fit over your head. Circumaural headphones have earpads that completely surround the ear like so~
Because they surround the ear, they're typically more comfortable than supra-aural and are better suited for long gaming sessions. Supra-aural headphones meanwhile sit on the ears, pressing the ears against the head.
In terms of sound and comfort, circum-aural headphones usually come out on top but this is dependent on the headphones themselves. Some circum-aurals are incredibly heavy or "clamp" the head incredibly tight [ which leads to stronger bass but can be uncomfrotable ]. This can be fixed easily by leaving them clamped around a sofa chair arm or a ball overnight though.
Try wearing these $8000 babies for longer than a minute. I dare you
Noise cancelling or noise isolating?
Even though these two terms sound interchangeable, they are very different ideas. I'm sure most people will have at some point come across these "noise cancelling" earphones/headphones. Simply put, the "active noise cancelling" headphones picks up external sound through a microphone and creates a sound wave that negates the incoming noise.
Sounds great right? There are quite a few problems with headphones that offer "active noise cancelling " though. Firstly, they're vastly more expensive than an equivalent headphone sans noise cancelling. Secondly, they need more parts than a normal headphone and thus is heavier. A noise cancelling headphone needs the typical components of a headphone, along with a microphone to pick up outside sound, circuitry to produce a sound wave to negate the outside sound and a battery to power the aforementioned parts. Third, by creating sound through the speaker to negate the external sound there is an audible hiss and usually muffles the music/sound that you want to hear. However, there are some active noise cancelling headphones that are tremendous which I will recommend later.
I've been going at it for the past three hours now, going to get back to my paper I'll be back to finish this off sometime soon hopefully. Still to come are recommendations for headsets, open and closed headphones, noise cancelling headphones and IEM's for different budgets, along with a discussion of soundcards, the important things to look out for when buying a gaming headset and more. Let me know if there's something you think that needs adding. Post a comment, any comments are greatly appreciated. Adios!
Hey nice one as i just started looking for a new headset.
Use: Music listening mainly, but nice game sounds would be cool too of course.
Budget: less than 100 € preferably.
The problem with my current ones is, they were really cheap and even if i turn everything to max, music just isn't loud. Though on my old mainbord it was loud. I can't use my sound system late at night, while gaming late at night cause of my neighbors, so i need a headphone for loud music. My mainbord could be a problem in that regard, cause it's an ASRock H61M-S and on my old MB the sound with the same headset was waaay louder. Are there any headphones (with some kind of integrated amplifier or so) that can play music REALLY loud for less than 100 €? Or do i need a better mainbord / external soundcard for that? I'm really new to this topic, so don't smash me if it's just a stupid request Thanks in andvance anyways.
On March 10 2012 08:37 PlmpPlaya wrote: Hey nice one as i just started looking for a new headset.
Use: Music listening mainly, but nice game sounds would be cool too of course.
Budget: less than 100 € preferably.
The problem with my current ones is, they were really cheap and even if i turn everything to max, music just isn't loud. Though on my old mainbord it was loud. I can't use my sound system late at night, while gaming late at night cause of my neighbors, so i need a headphone for loud music. My mainbord could be a problem in that regard, cause it's an ASRock H61M-S and on my old MB the sound with the same headset was waaay louder. Are there any headphones (with some kind of integrated amplifier or so) that can play music REALLY loud for less than 100 €? Or do i need a better mainbord / external soundcard for that? I'm really new to this topic, so don't smash me if it's just a stupid request Thanks in andvance anyways.
On March 10 2012 08:37 PlmpPlaya wrote: Hey nice one as i just started looking for a new headset.
Use: Music listening mainly, but nice game sounds would be cool too of course.
Budget: less than 100 € preferably.
The problem with my current ones is, they were really cheap and even if i turn everything to max, music just isn't loud. Though on my old mainbord it was loud. I can't use my sound system late at night, while gaming late at night cause of my neighbors, so i need a headphone for loud music. My mainbord could be a problem in that regard, cause it's an ASRock H61M-S and on my old MB the sound with the same headset was waaay louder. Are there any headphones (with some kind of integrated amplifier or so) that can play music REALLY loud for less than 100 €? Or do i need a better mainbord / external soundcard for that? I'm really new to this topic, so don't smash me if it's just a stupid request Thanks in andvance anyways.
This is caused by electric resistance in your headphones and doesn't equate to quality. You need a stronger headphone amp. They're usually integrated with sound cards but in hifi and studio environments often external. Cheap external ones should retail for minimum 30 euros.
I would just buy a pci-e audio card, though. Same price, more fun.
Looking forward to OP's review of active noise cancellation headphones! I've never really heard a pair that doesn't completely destroy the timbral integrity.
Expensive makes it expensive, not necessarily good. (It might be good, I have no idea, but read up on the "speaker cable" hoaxes and you turn a skeptic eye to headphones >$1000.)
Style-branded headphones (or gear in generally) such as gaming equipment or hifi equipment tend to be overpriced because of the branding. They might lack experience and lack business intelligence in these new products, which means they can't get equally good deals from manufacturers, and they seldom manufacture parts themselves.
in my experience regarding steelseries is that the siberia v2 is pretty nice. however with that you get a mic too, so its not 100% for audio
anyway, for in-ear buds or ear monitors, Sennheiser are in my opinion the best. good sound quality and they dont break easily. Skullcandy are also good, however ive found they break pretty easily if you dont treat them really well.
side note: avoid noise cancelling headphones, the ones in particular that create a fake white noise are fucking appalling.
If you shouldn't purchase gaming headsets, what kind of headsets do you advocate for the sub $80 range? I know some people say just get a clip on mic with a decent pair of headphones but are there any decent headsets out there?
On March 10 2012 10:12 optical630 wrote: in my experience regarding steelseries is that the siberia v2 is pretty nice. however with that you get a mic too, so its not 100% for audio
anyway, for in-ear buds or ear monitors, Sennheiser are in my opinion the best. good sound quality and they dont break easily. Skullcandy are also good, however ive found they break pretty easily if you dont treat them really well.
side note: avoid noise cancelling headphones, the ones in particular that create a fake white noise are fucking appalling.
This is precisely the misleading information I tried to clear up with this topic.
A quite big number of pro gamers use the siberia v2
pic included for those not sure what it is, I'm positive the pic looks familiar. However, they sound absolutely horrid for music, unbelievably so. Many of the "reviews" of the headphone that speak in its favour are planted Planted review 1Planted review 2 How do you tell? Look for the "I would like to thank Icemat for supplying the review sample." That statement equates to " Thanks to icemat for giving us this product and other goodies for free, all we have to do is say some good things about it!"
IEM's are not only made by Sennheiser or Skullcandy as people would lead you to believe. Sure, some of the big names such as Sony, Sennheiser and Shure [ hmmm I sense a pattern ] make some astounding IEM's, but its the small players who don't spend millions in marketing but instead in R&D and the product itself that provide the best sound for value. Brands such as Vsonic, Soundmagic, Meelectronics and Atrio are incredibly obscure but offer brilliant IEM's at incredibly affordable prices. Sennheiser are usually overpriced and skullcandy focus on style rather than sound.
As a quick peek to what's to come, one of the noise cancelling headphones that receives my stamp of approval which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone in the market is the Audio Technica ANC7B. It's a mouthful I know but it's not often that you get great sound, noise cancelling, stylishness and affordability in one package. They're comfortable, sound great and the noise cancelling actually works unlike some other models.
I want to hear TL users' opinion on the Sennheiser HD598 with a FiiO E17 DAC/AMP. I'm actually more interested in knowing the bad about the setup more than the good since the hd598 receives too much praise from the head-fi community.
Nice thread! I bought some Sennheiser HD 650s along with a Burson HA-160DS DAC/AMP just for listening to music on my PC. I mostly listen to music while laddering but If i'm not playing any games I'm usually looking just searching for new music. For me the the getting some nice audio equipment was well worth it.
No offense, but I have my fair share of audio experience and gear and I have to say your statement about Beats and gaming headphones is absurd. I understand your sentiment of trying to help get people get better audio quality (subjective) for their dollars, but at the same time - who are you to judge?
Like you said so yourself, every listening equipment is made for a certain use. I admit gaming headphones to be of inferior quality relatively speaking to audiophile-marketed products but you must keep in mind that they are entirely different products. Gaming headphones have mics (with some having background noise cancelling features) and are usually made of lighter plastics instead of metals to rest easier on your head for long gaming sessions. These headsets are usually extremely convenient (plug+play/breathe easier), do not require an amp; nor does it benefit significantly from a high-end DAC. I argue that they are much cheaper and better than audiophile-marketed headphones for gaming purposes.
You explain everything well except when you interjected your personal opinion. Not to brag on the internet, but amongst my friends we all own a few flagships each and yet we don't talk shit about gaming headphones/Beats. They all have their own merits to certain kinds of people and I respect that.
For a guru who wants to help people the point about Beats/gaming headphones is short-sighted.
P.S HydrogenAudio is also a good place to check out more information about audio. P.P.S The more you read Head-Fi the more you get to know about FOTM (flavor of the month), the bandwagonning, and the politics/business interests. P.P.P.S This guy is pretty awesome
On March 10 2012 16:21 ThePurist wrote: No offense, but I have my fair share of audio experience and gear and I have to say your statement about Beats and gaming headphones is absurd. I understand your sentiment of trying to help get people get better audio quality (subjective) for their dollars, but at the same time - who are you to judge?
Like you said so yourself, every listening equipment is made for a certain use. I admit gaming headphones to be of inferior quality relatively speaking to audiophile-marketed products but you must keep in mind that they are entirely different products. Gaming headphones have mics (with some having background noise cancelling features) and are usually made of lighter plastics instead of metals to rest easier on your head for long gaming sessions. These headsets are usually extremely convenient (plug+play/breathe easier), do not require an amp; nor does it benefit significantly from a high-end DAC. I argue that they are much cheaper and better than audiophile-marketed headphones for gaming purposes.
You explain everything well except when you interjected your personal opinion. Not to brag on the internet, but amongst my friends we all own a few flagships each and yet we don't talk shit about gaming headphones/Beats. They all have their own merits to certain kinds of people and I respect that.
For a guru who wants to help people the point about Beats/gaming headphones is short-sighted.
P.S HydrogenAudio is also a good place to check out more information about audio. P.P.S The more you read Head-Fi the more you get to know about FOTM (flavor of the month), the bandwagonning, and the politics/business interests. P.P.P.S This guy is pretty awesome
"Beats aren't rubbish, that's true. But at it's price point, there are vastly superior offerings from lesser known brands. Gaming headsets similarly are mostly garish offerings from companies that know almost next to nothing about creating a headphone. Plantronics, Steelseries, Turtle Beach are all brands to be avoided in regards to headphones."
What merit do Beats have in comparison to a similarly priced headphone or even cheaper headphone? Like I said, taking price out of the equation sure they're not as bad as most head-fi'ers make them out to be, but when it comes to value they're pretty bad for their price point. In terms of gaming headphones, there's really no reason to be buying something like the Tritton AX Pro when a simple AD700 + a Zalmann clip on offers a better system in every possible way.
If you have any recommendations for gaming headsets, please do let me know. Because I certainly can't make any in good conscience. Likewise, if you can recommend the Beats to anyone please do so.
Gaming headphone manufacturers are the best at making gaming headphones. This is a fact that you aren't admitting by generalizing that all headphones are the same. How is the heavy LCD2 or a T1 better gaming headphone than a gaming headset that costs 1/10th or even less? Or even your AD700+Zalman mic? I can critique this all day and you'll dismiss it as it is merely my own opinion.
Music listening headphones aren't the same as gaming headphones and should not be contended/pitted against each other. It's pretty stupid IMHO. It's like saying if you can get a Ducatti that beats a performance car for MUCH LESS - DON'T GET THE CAR! Just because they are both transportation vehicles (and listening equipment) it doesn't mean they should be grouped together. They both have their tradeoffs and I don't understand why you think gaming headphones are so bad.
The most common headphones I see on the streets in my area are Beats. Clearly people like them enough to justfiy their pricetags - Do the owners of Beats need to justify their personal purchases to others? Very simply, It's a matter of personal choice and if I were to say I like Beats more than HD800 because it looks cooler what is anybody going to do about it? Nothing. Bang for buck or whatever factor you want to argue, is moot simply because I could like Beats better. It's nice of you to bring up how there are alternatives, but you shouldn't enforce this opinion of how nobody should buy Beats.
I've had my razer carcharias since august and I love it. Pretty good sound quality, long cord, and most importantly they're really freaking comfy. I can wear them all day and not notice. They are like pillows on your ears lmao.
On March 10 2012 16:21 ThePurist wrote: No offense, but I have my fair share of audio experience and gear and I have to say your statement about Beats and gaming headphones is absurd. I understand your sentiment of trying to help get people get better audio quality (subjective) for their dollars, but at the same time - who are you to judge?
Like you said so yourself, every listening equipment is made for a certain use. I admit gaming headphones to be of inferior quality relatively speaking to audiophile-marketed products but you must keep in mind that they are entirely different products. Gaming headphones have mics (with some having background noise cancelling features) and are usually made of lighter plastics instead of metals to rest easier on your head for long gaming sessions. These headsets are usually extremely convenient (plug+play/breathe easier), do not require an amp; nor does it benefit significantly from a high-end DAC. I argue that they are much cheaper and better than audiophile-marketed headphones for gaming purposes.
You explain everything well except when you interjected your personal opinion. Not to brag on the internet, but amongst my friends we all own a few flagships each and yet we don't talk shit about gaming headphones/Beats. They all have their own merits to certain kinds of people and I respect that.
For a guru who wants to help people the point about Beats/gaming headphones is short-sighted.
P.S HydrogenAudio is also a good place to check out more information about audio. P.P.S The more you read Head-Fi the more you get to know about FOTM (flavor of the month), the bandwagonning, and the politics/business interests. P.P.P.S This guy is pretty awesome
Very well put. This is something that has always bothered me in the other audiophile thread in the general forum.
I really enjoy threads like this (i.e. the new build suggestions thread) because it adds value to the community - I hope you don't take it as I'm threadcrapping because I really don't mean it. I (and I'm sure many others) appreciate you taking the time to summate a lot of knowledge for the community - it's just that I found the Beats/gaming thing to be detracting from your main intent and the purpose of your thread.
I clearly see you want to help out TL which is awesome, so I'm not going to argue any further as it may derail. But if you want we can PM.
Is there a -real- review that favors / recommend Beats to audiophile (taking into account the quality of other headphones at the same price range ) ? Cos what I see right now is just some people being pissed at OP for taking the conventional audiophile stance of not recommending Beats and gaming headset.
Sure a lot of people use Beats, then again a lot of people eat McDonald. Often enough popularity does not correlate with quality.
On March 10 2012 17:11 ThePurist wrote: The most common headphones I see on the streets in my area are Beats. Clearly people like them enough to justfiy their pricetags - Do the owners of Beats need to justify their personal purchases to others? Very simply, It's a matter of personal choice and if I were to say I like Beats more than HD800 because it looks cooler what is anybody going to do about it? Nothing. Bang for buck or whatever factor you want to argue, is moot simply because I could like Beats better. It's nice of you to bring up how there are alternatives, but you shouldn't enforce this opinion of how nobody should buy Beats.
As for the beats and speaking from my experience, most people who buy them don't really know much about headphones. Its more of a default well I want some good headphones and i hear them dre beats are really good. Not to mention that their is immense celebrity support for the beats.
While you can make the argument that people shouldn't be told what to buy, I feel that the OP was merely saying if you want headphones for audio quality chances are you can likely get "better bang for your buck" if u stay away from the beats. Of course we're presuming here an objective standard of better the merits of which can be debated.
No one would say you shouldn't get the beats if you just like them, but its important to note that if you are buying for sound quality there are better stuff out there, a fact that in my experience many people just do not know.
On March 10 2012 10:36 Ckalvin wrote: This is precisely the misleading information I tried to clear up with this topic.
A quite big number of pro gamers use the siberia v2 [image snipped]
pic included for those not sure what it is, I'm positive the pic looks familiar. However, they sound absolutely horrid for music, unbelievably so. Many of the "reviews" of the headphone that speak in its favour are planted Planted review 1Planted review 2 How do you tell? Look for the "I would like to thank Icemat for supplying the review sample." That statement equates to " Thanks to icemat for giving us this product and other goodies for free, all we have to do is say some good things about it!" ...............
Firstly I'm someone that's always used a cheap headset/speakers and don't know about audiophile stuff, so I can't reliably comment on the performance. The headset cost me 64€ which is about twice what I spent on my previous equipment, and I think I got my money's worth since it feels and sounds the best out of them, mic is reasonable and not obnoxious. I don't really see a reason to invest any more than this, but make a recommendation for me anyway if you want.
Oh, and none of those alledgedly planted reviews are for the siberia v2, they made the model in 2011 and the icemat brand got dissolved years before. Also how can you claim a review is bad just because they were supplied a review sample? You think there's some strings attached, like they'll take the review samples back if the review is bad? Lol.
Never take one person's advice [ even mine (: ] as sound is subjective to a degree. What I enjoy might not be to your taste and vice versa. The best way to find out if something works for you is to try it first hand of course, but in the market for expensive headphones that can be difficult. Hence, use Head-fi as a starting point and do a search and take it from there. The more you read, the more you'll end up knowing about the world of audio.
Exactly. If it means you end up liking supposedly shitty headphones, so be it.
The most important thing is that you get something that you're happy with - the only thing you can trust are your own ears. That means going out and actually listening to the things you're going to buy. I don't really put a lot of stock into audiophile forums or those British audiophile magazines since a large number of reviews seem to contain a bit of...um...brand/nationalistic bias (BRITISH HARDWARE IS #1 is a common opinion, though not unwarranted I guess) as well as a ton of psychoacoustic bullshit (even if they knew where these companies source their speaker wire, they'd still give rave reviews to $3,000/m speaker wire).
Obviously people can give you an idea of what to buy. But its only a guide and you might end up disappointed, especially if you actually know what sort of sound you like.
Just a small example: apparently Q Acoustics 2020is are amazing speakers. Since I want a small set of speakers for the bedroom, I auditioned them. I actually thought they had zero soundstage and sounded very dense, despite what Whathifi and the audio store staff claimed. If I bought them blind, I would have been extremely unhappy.
I'm currently using Superlux HD 668B's (these headphones cost ~28 euros at Thomann) with AKG Velour pads (because original Superlux pads are fauxleather - they sweat a bit when worn). Worth mentioning I do use them with an amplifier because my on-board soundcard can't run them at high enough volumes.
Now this is a very cheap set, but I've yet to see any pair of gaming headset that beats these in sound quality (or I've had bad pairs/setup, or the people whom sets I've tried have a bad pair/setup). Superluxes have "cheap" plastic build (they are durable however) that makes them about as light as any gaming headset. Some people suggest to mod them to make 'em heavier (and possibly sound better; there are ways to get tighter bass etc.) but what would separate them from a normal 100-200€ studio monitors then? I use them for long periods of time so weight is important.
Sound is clear and sound stage is very wide for the price. Bass can play low but won't make you shit your pants and seems to mix with lower mids slightly.
This is a worthwhile pair to consider if you're tight on cash and can amplify the sound with something (or if your soundcard can run them properly, at 56 OHMS it shouldn't be so hard).
Only issue I could see is bassheads that do think bass > everything. These do have a fine, deep bass - but it's not 'groundbreaking' as you could get with closed headphones. Also you need to run these for a while before the highs tame down a bit, when I started using these the highs were a bit too "clear & loud" so to say.
Something to mention about cord as well: I tend to forget my headphones are actually on my head/neck and stand up. The cord will 'snap' off from the phones (similar to how xbox controller snaps off to prevent breaking). Definitely more durable than my last Sennheisers that had it's cord die.
"Never buy X" is IMHO a bit strong, because it really depends on your priorities. If you want what's generally considered the best sound quality for money, you generally don't want a gaming headset (or any headset) or most headphones where the styling, branding, and marketing comprise a significant amount of the cost. And for that, you definitely don't want to buy most products at or near MSRP. But that's not the only priority for a lot of people, and that's the way it should be.
On March 10 2012 17:57 Tanukki wrote: Oh, and none of those alledgedly planted reviews are for the siberia v2, they made the model in 2011 and the icemat brand got dissolved years before. Also how can you claim a review is bad just because they were supplied a review sample? You think there's some strings attached, like they'll take the review samples back if the review is bad? Lol.
Whenever you get a free anything, you're more likely to think better of it, I would think. If you give a poor review, you may be less likely to receive review samples in the future.
At least with bench measurements the machine's not going to lie (unless the person running it is fouling up the data) and be influenced by all the other factors. Measuring headphones is a really tricky process though, all things considered, and different people normalize the data differently (in particular, note the frequency response normalization), but this is probably still of interest:
Can I get a recommendation for IEM's under $50? I don't know if the OP is gonna be updated with recs, but all of my headphones are broken, and I need to get new ones soon.
I have the Sennheiser HD650 headphones which are just amazing. What I don't have however is a good soundcard/amplifier to really make the headphones shine. I'm not sure this is the right thread but I thought I'd at least try, any recommendations around $200-250 (or 200€)
No offence, but anyone who states that a thread is "ultimate" in terms of sound is "at least" very badly informed. Start with the basis that sound is SUBJECTIVE! There is not better or worse here, there is "i like it this way or that way". Second, if you are trying to make some sort of a guide, that covers the spectrum of sound, it should be about 20 pages long. This would cover things like open cans vs closed cans in every single situation (like low, mid, high).
Im sorry if i seem a hard ass, but it pisses me off when people use words like "best", "ultimate" etc, when they just put a few things together.
Google hi-fi, read about 100 articles, compare, see opinions, and a real long list of ETC, and you can say you made a "decent guide".
Looks sweet, thanks! :D Read a few reviews of that card, it seems like people like it and it's way under budget.
Essence STX is very good in general, but as with any internal sound card you may get unlucky and end up with interference from a GPU or something else causing spurious noises or degraded performance.
FiiO E10 is cheaper but has no native 6.35mm jack, but it should run HD 650 just fine. Essence STX is more powerful, but that's really only needed for say the Beyerdynamic 600 ohms models and some planar magnetics. HD 650 is relatively sensitive for a high-impedance headphone, so it's in the drive capability of an E10.
In any case, I wouldn't expect very significant improvements unless the D/A on whatever you're using now is seriously compromised.
I've got to chime in and say the Sennheiser HD650's are hands down the best headphones I've ever owned. (Including Shure E4c, Shure 530, Shure 940, Audiotechnica M50, Klipsch S4.)
My subjective impression is that headphone engineers try to put their own thumbprint on a model by adding weird peaks. Shure 940s, for example, have a strong emphasis around 8kHz. Sony and Grado over-the-ear phones seem to emphasize the upper midrange. Most cheap IEMs have a really disgusting boom around 100Hz.
The HD650s have a pretty smooth frequency response. No weird peaks. The lower midrange is rolled up a little, and sibilants are rolled down, which is exactly what I like.
Oh, and internal soundcards are really bad in my experience. If you listen through sensitive headphones, you'll almost always hear little chirps and buzzes. Personally, I just turn my PC volume really loud to drown out the noise, then use a volume attenuator. But if you want to buy a better soundcard, try an external DAC. I've heard the HRT HeadStreamer is pretty good for less than $150.
On March 24 2012 04:07 FunkyLich wrote: Can I get a recommendation for IEM's under $50? I don't know if the OP is gonna be updated with recs, but all of my headphones are broken, and I need to get new ones soon.
Sign up to them and wait for their deals to come through. They have one every two weeks or so. Wait for the A151, SP51 or CC51 to go on sale and then get it. I can personally guarantee that you'll absolutely love them.
My SP-51 just came in today! These are the best headphones I've ever used. And they've got these little things that screw on the back to change the bass. The difference is noticeable, but even with weakest bass screw, the bass sounds really good to me. The extreme bass feels like a subwoofer, which is awesome. Plus they're sexehhh. >:D
Okay, new to the technical side of things for headphones, but I want to get into the scene with roughly a under $400 dollar transfusion. As I am going into college in August I imagine I would need something that is a circumaural headphone.
So requirements: ~<$400 dollars I would use them sometimes for gaming, but mostly for music. Responses with lots of information would be good because I am completely new to this sort of thing.
Since you're going to college, I'd assume that you want closed headphones? $400 would be in the range of D5000s or similar.
Honestly I'd recommend that you start with something cheaper, seeing that you're new to the more serious side of audio. Audio is really all about perception. If you're what you have, then there is no need to upgrade anymore.
But if you're serious about wanting to throw down $400, go on headfi and look at reviews of different headphones. Try to find an opportunity to try some, and decide what kind of sound signature you like before choosing what to buy.
On April 03 2012 12:24 TeuTeu wrote: Okay, new to the technical side of things for headphones, but I want to get into the scene with roughly a under $400 dollar transfusion. As I am going into college in August I imagine I would need something that is a circumaural headphone.
So requirements: ~<$400 dollars I would use them sometimes for gaming, but mostly for music. Responses with lots of information would be good because I am completely new to this sort of thing.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'm guessing you need portability along with isolation, so you can either buy some closed portables or IEMs.
$400 puts you pretty high up in the price bracket, check out Sennheiser's HD-25-I IIs or Amperiors, as well as Beyerdynamics DT1350. Some of Audio-Technica's closed portables are excellent as well, like the ESW9.
If IEMs are an option you will also be able to consider many of the higher-end products, the range is extremely wide so more information on what type of sound you prefer (types of music you listen to for example, and whether you want any emphasis on any part of the sound spectrum).
I would be okay with IEMs as long as they fit well (obviously) and as long as they would fit well into my price range.
As for my music tastes, I normally end up listening to pop, but what I truly love is listening to classical and jazz and being able to feel/hear the full range of the music. In addition, I am not looking for any particular emphasis on any part of the sound spectrum, a well balanced pair would do nicely.
As for UberBaller's response, I'm completely committed. I realize you don't want me to go wrong, but I'm tired of having terrible sounds being delivered to my ears and I absolutely love sound so I figure why shouldn't I go all in . I definitely will check out headfi though.
On April 03 2012 23:36 TeuTeu wrote: Wow, such detailed feedback and so quickly!
I would be okay with IEMs as long as they fit well (obviously) and as long as they would fit well into my price range.
As for my music tastes, I normally end up listening to pop, but what I truly love is listening to classical and jazz and being able to feel/hear the full range of the music. In addition, I am not looking for any particular emphasis on any part of the sound spectrum, a well balanced pair would do nicely.
As for UberBaller's response, I'm completely committed. I realize you don't want me to go wrong, but I'm tired of having terrible sounds being delivered to my ears and I absolutely love sound so I figure why shouldn't I go all in . I definitely will check out headfi though.
IEM-wise, this thread is a goldmine of information. You can simply scroll down to your price bracket and browse away.
Personal recommendations within that range are the Ortofon e-Q5/e-Q7 and Westone's UM3X for your tastes. Some models such as the excellent Sony EX1000 and Westone 4R are in a higher price bracket if you go by MSRP, but the actual street price is probably lower (I'm fairly certain you can get the Sonys at below 400) so if you can find a good deal they can be considered as well.
On March 10 2012 10:36 Ckalvin wrote: Many of the "reviews" of the headphone that speak in its favour are planted Planted review 1Planted review 2 How do you tell? Look for the "I would like to thank Icemat for supplying the review sample." That statement equates to " Thanks to icemat for giving us this product and other goodies for free, all we have to do is say some good things about it!"
Just want to state that this is totally untrue. I see you know what you're talking about with audio gear, but as for policies used by websites to review products, you're rather misled.
As somebody who reviews games and peripherals (including from SteelSeries), we receive all kinds of products from all kinds of manufacturers to review. This is for several reasons. Firstly, it greatly improves the company's chance of getting coverage, as many websites cannot afford to spend their profits on such things. Coverage from a lot of sites is worth what it costs for SteelSeries to send a headset out. Secondly, often products are received before public release, so that a review can be live the moment they are on sale.
Just because SteelSeries, or any other manufacturer for that matter, sends me a product, it doesn't mean I cannot be negative in the review. There certainly isn't any talk of "all we have to do is say some good things". It gets sent, the review is conducted, and the PR rep is then informed of the review being live. They'll often thank you for a positive review, but I've even had PRs say, "thanks for pointing out issues, we're working on fixing them next time". I've given products terrible reviews in the past, but still receive the next release to review.
Sorry for going off-topic, and your initial post is a great read (I'm looking forward to more). But, on this subject you are mis-informed, and to attempt to hurt the credibilty of a site such as TechPowerUp by saying they publish "planted reviews" is something I find annoying every time I see it. Receiving review samples is just the way it works with such publications.
EDIT: I'm not saying you are wrong about the music wuality of the Siberia v2, but just that the review isn't "planted", the reviewer was probably just far less of an audiophile than those who think they sound bad.
If I was to wear IEMs for say 4-6 hours at a time, would they become uncomfortable? I generally can be found listening to music at most times of the day, or at least with headphones on, so I would find that to be a major concern.
Looks sweet, thanks! :D Read a few reviews of that card, it seems like people like it and it's way under budget.
yea, that's a nice card, HT claro at similar price point and quality, they have a version with built in amp to power higher impedance headsets, should check specs to make sure everything will work out well.
On April 04 2012 01:51 TeuTeu wrote: If I was to wear IEMs for say 4-6 hours at a time, would they become uncomfortable? I generally can be found listening to music at most times of the day, or at least with headphones on, so I would find that to be a major concern.
And yet again, thanks for the lovely information.
It depends a lot on the fit of the IEMs and the person. Some would say yes, but some would say no.
IMHO supraaural headphones are the worst by far. Both IEMs and circumaural headphones are fine by me, but only certain models of those.
I don't know if you mean literally 4-6 hours straight, but even if they were comfortable for that long, I'd take them out every once in a while for break anyway.
On April 04 2012 01:51 TeuTeu wrote: If I was to wear IEMs for say 4-6 hours at a time, would they become uncomfortable? I generally can be found listening to music at most times of the day, or at least with headphones on, so I would find that to be a major concern.
And yet again, thanks for the lovely information.
Some IEMs are more comfortable than others - but it's not uncommon to feel fatigue/soreness if you are new to IEMs. 4-6 hours a time might be a stretch at first, but your ears will eventually get used to having something stuck inside. With the right tips and a good fit, the better fitting IEMs should fairly disappear in your ears and you *should* be able to wear them for prolonged periods of time. Everyone's ears and fit is different though so YMMV.
So, the general consensus is that IEMs would work better with a college grab'n'go life style? Much more portable, but with still great quality of sound?
I also forgot to mention that lighter is better because I tore a muscle in my neck last year and heavy headphones will aggravate it severely :/. My apologies, I realize that's a big deal .
great info in the OP! hey guys can you help me out im in the market for a new pair of IEM's. I mainly would listen to music and play sc2 with them but I would like them to have a mic so I can use skype. Ive been looking at the astro astars but im sure the seasoned audio veterans on TL would recommend a better one
On April 04 2012 02:15 TeuTeu wrote: So, the general consensus is that IEMs would work better with a college grab'n'go life style? Much more portable, but with still great quality of sound?
I also forgot to mention that lighter is better because I tore a muscle in my neck last year and heavy headphones will aggravate it severely :/. My apologies, I realize that's a big deal .
IEMs have much superior sound isolation and portability. However, not everyone can wear them for a long time. Better fitting tips will help in this regard, but it's still up to the person whenever they can wear IEMs for 4-6 hours without feeling fatigued. Like many other things in audio, this is really up personal preference and perception. And again, like I said in my previous post, you just have to try these things out.
Ugh, any suggestions on where/how to try these things out? I don't want to end up with a product that I find uncomfortable, but considering that I live in a small town in Southern Oregon, I'm not really sure how to go about trying anything at all that is any level above BAD.
On another note, thank you both for the excellent feedback!
First up, funky I'm glad you like them I have a pair myself. The bass on those things is just mindblowingly addictive.
Secondly, IEM's are hit or miss. Right now I'm using Atrio MG7's, i wear them for 12 hours a day and can't feel a thing. But that's because the foam tips are amazing. When it comes to your application, it sounds like IEM's are the way to go. Headphones are extremely obvious and relatively heavy, I prefer IEM's in college because it means I can hide in under my hair whilst listening to music in class. It's almost impossible to sample IEM's, since it's relatively unsanitary considering how far they get into your ear canal.
On April 04 2012 08:48 TeuTeu wrote: Ugh, any suggestions on where/how to try these things out? I don't want to end up with a product that I find uncomfortable, but considering that I live in a small town in Southern Oregon, I'm not really sure how to go about trying anything at all that is any level above BAD.
On another note, thank you both for the excellent feedback!
Ideally, you would know people who have mid-high tier IEMs, but yeah, it's hard to sample IEMs. If you do go this route, make sure you wipe down the tips beforehand.
Or you can just choose and buy a set off Amazon or some other retailer with a good return policy. If you don't like the sound, just return.
Comfort is really dependent on the tips. You really don't need to worry about comfort, just get different tips if the original are uncomfortable. In this sense, all IEMs can feel the same. In the universal IEM world, there are two types of tips, silicone or foam. Silicone tips tend to stay truer to the original sound, at the cost of a bit of isolation and comfort. Foam tips tend to alter the sound a bit, usually a bit more bass heavy, but most people find foam tips more comfortable and they also isolate better. However, foam tips degrade over time, anywhere from 1-3 months per pair, depending on type and usage.
Customs are another option. $400 is enough to get into the custom market. Custom IEMs are molded specifically to your ear canal. If you want to explore custom IEM options, look on headfi.
This thread is fantastic. Thank you so much, OP. Please keep updating it. Also quick question for the audiophiles out there. I have a set of Sennheiser HD650's that I really like. Did I get ripped off for the price range or are these a decent set of cans? Would pairing them with an amp and nice sound card increase the sound quality? I use them for listening and gaming. A friend recommended the Woo Audio WA3 however for that price I need to be damn sure it will be worth it. If anyone has input or advice on amps and the pairing of the HD650s with the WA3 I'd love to hear it.
I currently use a SiberiaV2, and an ASRock Extreme3 Gen3 integrated sound card. I think it sounds allright for music and such, but I have huge problems with the microphone. It's always either too quiet or too loud with static, there is no in between whatsoever. I don't know if this is caused by my mobo sound card, or my headset.
I don't know whether or not to get both a new headphones or a new seperate mic, a new sound card, or a new headset.
My budget is $200 and I just really want no mic static and sounds good, and can pick up my voice well from about 3 feet if I get a table mic.
On March 10 2012 11:33 They_ wrote: I want to hear TL users' opinion on the Sennheiser HD598 with a FiiO E17 DAC/AMP. I'm actually more interested in knowing the bad about the setup more than the good since the hd598 receives too much praise from the head-fi community.
I was thinking about this exact setup actually. Bit short on funds ;( Edit: I use HD555 + e7+e9 currently.
On April 04 2012 09:39 Mr. Nefarious wrote: This thread is fantastic. Thank you so much, OP. Please keep updating it. Also quick question for the audiophiles out there. I have a set of Sennheiser HD650's that I really like. Did I get ripped off for the price range or are these a decent set of cans? Would pairing them with an amp and nice sound card increase the sound quality? I use them for listening and gaming. A friend recommended the Woo Audio WA3 however for that price I need to be damn sure it will be worth it. If anyone has input or advice on amps and the pairing of the HD650s with the WA3 I'd love to hear it.
HD 580, 600, 650 are quite a legendary line. Even at current prices HD 650s are still well regarded. These are high-impedance headphones, so unless you feel like the volume is not sufficiently high, a more accurate amplifier is probably not going to make a significant difference. High impedance headphones are a lot easier to drive accurately for an amplifier, and they are less sensitive to amplifier output impedance issues. A lot of expensive audiophile amplifiers fall into the category of "less accurate" though, so if you want to reduce the fidelity in certain ways, you can pursue that if you want.
On March 10 2012 11:33 They_ wrote: I want to hear TL users' opinion on the Sennheiser HD598 with a FiiO E17 DAC/AMP. I'm actually more interested in knowing the bad about the setup more than the good since the hd598 receives too much praise from the head-fi community.
I was thinking about this exact setup actually. Bit short on funds ;( Edit: I use HD555 + e7+e9 currently.
I wouldn't expect big changes, unless you want to use the E17 EQ options, which are decidedly more flexible. By the way, for HD 555, using the E7 by itself is better than running it through the E9, though trying both isn't going to hurt. E7 performance with that kind of load is similar to E9; with HD 555, you won't need the extra power the E9 has, so that's mostly just increasing the noise a bit.
More importantly, E9 also has about 10 ohms output impedance on the 1/4" jack and 43 ohms output impedance on the 1/8" jack. E7 has close to 0.
Because HD 555 impedance looks like this (some other headphones shown just for comparison):
that means the higher the source output impedance, the larger of a hump in the effective frequency response (not impedance) you will see around that 80 Hz peak, from running with that source. It's essentially an unintentional hardware EQ, though it has other effects as well.
On April 04 2012 09:39 Mr. Nefarious wrote: This thread is fantastic. Thank you so much, OP. Please keep updating it. Also quick question for the audiophiles out there. I have a set of Sennheiser HD650's that I really like. Did I get ripped off for the price range or are these a decent set of cans? Would pairing them with an amp and nice sound card increase the sound quality? I use them for listening and gaming. A friend recommended the Woo Audio WA3 however for that price I need to be damn sure it will be worth it. If anyone has input or advice on amps and the pairing of the HD650s with the WA3 I'd love to hear it.
650s are good. They're considered one of the better options in that price range.
Ideally you want a DAC + amp, but that would be pretty pricey. HD650s would benefit pretty heavily from just a good amp. I have no personal experience with the WA3, but HD650+WA3 is supposed to be a good combo.
The more important question is whenever you need to spend that $500 on an amp. Dumping that much money into an amp is a pretty huge investment. IMO, getting a WA3 is a bit of a waste if you stick to 650s. If you intend to upgrade to higher end headphones sometime in the future and pick up a DAC somewhere along the line, it might be a good investment to get the WA3 now.
As someone who's worked as both a professional singer/voice actor, and as a studio tech, I love my HD280s. Cheap ($100), durable, comfortable. My oldest pair has probably seen 13k hours of action and I've had to wear a pair for about 16 hours straight. All in all, a fantastic headphone.
I have 6 pair in my studio. Serious audio mixing happens using nearfield monitors, not headphones. You do have to have a room properly set up to do that though.
I have yet to walk into a recording studio in LA that does not either use these or Sony MDR-7506 or AKG K-240 as their standard.
TLDR: 100 Bucks, Sennheiser HD280. Studio Standard. Worth Every Penny.
On April 04 2012 02:15 TeuTeu wrote: So, the general consensus is that IEMs would work better with a college grab'n'go life style? Much more portable, but with still great quality of sound?
I also forgot to mention that lighter is better because I tore a muscle in my neck last year and heavy headphones will aggravate it severely :/. My apologies, I realize that's a big deal .
IEMs have much superior sound isolation and portability. However, not everyone can wear them for a long time. Better fitting tips will help in this regard, but it's still up to the person whenever they can wear IEMs for 4-6 hours without feeling fatigued. Like many other things in audio, this is really up personal preference and perception. And again, like I said in my previous post, you just have to try these things out.
How do you like your MG7's I'm considering getting them and an A10 portable amp for them, I heard that it can have cord issues and there's only a 1 year warantee on it. What do you think of monster turbines (I heard they have a lifetime warantee)
Hmm IEM with mic under $100, you can go for what I recommended before, meelectronics or you can go for the audeo phonak 112 with the mic I think. A klipsh s4 could work for you but the fit's iffy for different people/
On April 04 2012 02:15 TeuTeu wrote: So, the general consensus is that IEMs would work better with a college grab'n'go life style? Much more portable, but with still great quality of sound?
I also forgot to mention that lighter is better because I tore a muscle in my neck last year and heavy headphones will aggravate it severely :/. My apologies, I realize that's a big deal .
IEMs have much superior sound isolation and portability. However, not everyone can wear them for a long time. Better fitting tips will help in this regard, but it's still up to the person whenever they can wear IEMs for 4-6 hours without feeling fatigued. Like many other things in audio, this is really up personal preference and perception. And again, like I said in my previous post, you just have to try these things out.
How do you like your MG7's I'm considering getting them and an A10 portable amp for them, I heard that it can have cord issues and there's only a 1 year warantee on it. What do you think of monster turbines (I heard they have a lifetime warantee)
Ckalvin has MG7s, not me.
Monster Turbines are an okay option in the price range. They're bass heavy and rather detailed in sound signature. They are also rather heavy because the casing is all metal. If that sound signature is what you want, and you can deal with the weight, Turbines are certainly a viable choice.
I've never owned any Monster products, so I can't speak about the warranty from personal experience, but according to friends who have, the warranty and Monster customer service are great.
Absolutely love the MG7's. They're my go to for every situation. Fit is superb, I wear them for over half the day. The cord is relatively thick and I've had no problems whatsoever. That being said, I've only had them for three months so only time will tell.
If you can find a good deal for the Turbines, by all means nab them. Otherwise, for a lot less money you can get an almost equivalent sound signature and build.
- Xonar STX is dead silent on 0~64 gain setting even sitting right next to a CrossfireX setup (max dial) but I hear hiss from anything higher than that.. I wouldn't get it unless you really really want it there are better options at the pricepoint. I got mine used for crazy cheap and have been using it daily. I like it a lot but there are better options tbh. - Just my lil tidbit on the current Shure line-up. Owned/listened to: 535/425/215/115... the best bang for buck is the SE215. It sounds amazing for $100~ or less. I ordered 5 on a crazy boxing day deal for $65 and gave em away. I sold the 535 and kept the 425s. The 115 is a piece of crap for the money.
- Replaceable cables for IEMs are a must for me and if they don't have it its a deal-breaker. IEMs break too easily and DIY soldering only works a few times. This is something I would suggest to people to look out for.
- Try not to be enticed by "upper mid/top-tier" gear - it's mostly just fanboyism (I unfortunately had it) and people get delusional and shit with their quest/journey in audio. Keepin it real within your constraints and maximizing utility is best.
- Protip for Canadians: If you want Monster IEMs or whatever just wait to a major holiday they will be on sale for 50% @ BB/FS (most people buy tons and just sell on craigslist lol don't get ripped~) Turbine pro coppers and whatnot
- Heard the HD650s from a friend's place connected to the little dot ... sounded good but I would never own it. It sounds somewhat dark/veiled? After listening to quite a bit of gear I found that I like the Audio Technica W-series colored/bright sound. Everybody is different so go out and try gear for yourself it's fun and you find out what you like and don't.
- Also, figure out what kinda music you mostly listen to and try to see which headphones are good for them (again maximizing utility) People who like dubstep will hate 425 and would be more inclined for more V-shaped TF.10s
- Another protip to save you money: CALL THE RETAILER before you order. Places like J&R have the D7000 for an online price but if you call them and say what's the best price and I heard bla bla bla then you will be eligible for a massive discount depending on the manager working. No joke and this applies to certain U.S based retailers so... yeah
- For people in Vancity: http://www.headphonebar.com/pages/About-Us.html (I have no affiliation juss sayin) It's these kinda places that let you try gear which is awesome. Toronto: Baybloorradio pretty good as well
- Regarding tips: Everybody has different shaped ear canals and some may get irritated after a while. I personal like the simple silicone ones it doesn't retain earwax (easy to clean). But I tried complys and the olives and those were pretty amazing for isolation/comfort but its harder to clean.
- TF.10s ~$100 on black friday sale is probably one of the sickest deal for U.S residents. triple BA driver, sounds awesome. The fit is notoriously bad but hey, you can get them re-shelled as customs =)
Hey, I just broke (again) my Jays q jays again and I am looking for an alternative (IEM or outside resistant Circumaural) : - Max budget 180 € - I loved the very neutral-precise sound of the q jays (did'nt mind the lack of bass because it could be compensated beautifully with an eq) - I loved the sound isolation. - I hated how well the transmited the cables noises (despite whering them above my ears) - I hated how fragile they where (it seem they can't survive a full year with me, while I was used to lesser quality IEM that survived ~3 year before).
Does any one have suggestions ? Ckalvin I like the way yout talk about it so I am especially interested in your advices.
For IEM's with a neutral/balanced sound, I can recommend the Etymotic series. They isolate incredibly well, are extremely precise and worn over the ear have very little microphonics. By the way, when you were wearing them over did you use the slider at the Y junction to push as high as you could? Etymotics also come with a two year warranty that comes with excellent customer service.
What will you be using your headphones for? For gaming on my PS3. Competitive play, so it must be decent.
What is your budget? 100 euro's, but I need a good headphone, good clip-on mic and a 3.5mm mic -> USB converter for that. If that's not possible, I can extend the budget a bit. (say, 30 euro's max)
I honestly have no idea what to look for in a headphone, as untill now I allways just bought a gaming headset. So I'll do my research after you guys have given me tips what products to look for.
I use the Sennheiser HD280pros and just recently also got to use the Steelseries Siberia V2 (got it on a sale, plus my 280's were falling apart). The HD280pros blow the Siberia V2 out of the water. The isolation is superior, the mids and bass sound clearer and more natural. The Siberia is slightly boomy, and the usb volume controller that comes with it, while handy, introduces annoying background hiss. They also fail to clamp on my head and thus isolate me from my environment. Even holding the headphones to my ears for a secure seal, the isolation and sound are inferior to the HD280pro's. I'm honestly kind of disappointed. Of course, without proper clamping, they're not that comfortable in comparison, though they are certainly comfortable on their own. If you don't get a proper fit, you're not going to block out much outside noise; I don't think this will be a problem for the 280's since it is far more adjustable. The mic on the Siberia is ok, nothing to write home about. All in all, I would rather use my run down 280's for music and, if it's noisy and I don't need a mic much, for gaming.
MorpheusEU, the 280's run about $100, so it's a bit less than 100 euros. You can get a Shure microphone with that, though I haven't tried those yet. There's also the popular Zalman mic that's a clip on, though I think the quality will not be as good as a Shure mic. I also hear you can install a microphone to the 280's, but I have no idea how. The HD25-1's are said to be the step up from the 280's, but they rest on your ears, so they might not be as comfortable, and they're a bit pricier so you'll have to look around a bit more.
I'd like to know what team liquid thinks of these headsets. I need them for mainly gaming but also i listen to ALOT of music. if there are any alternatives i should consider then let me know ^_^
My basic needs are:
- A mic that pics up very minimal background noise. - Comfortable to wear over long periods of time. - Cannot be more than $170. i am a poor uni student. - Something that is not going to break and take a bit of a beating, i would be taking them around with me a lot.
On April 06 2012 17:00 MorpheusEU wrote: What will you be using your headphones for? For gaming on my PS3. Competitive play, so it must be decent.
What is your budget? 100 euro's, but I need a good headphone, good clip-on mic and a 3.5mm mic -> USB converter for that. If that's not possible, I can extend the budget a bit. (say, 30 euro's max)
I honestly have no idea what to look for in a headphone, as untill now I allways just bought a gaming headset. So I'll do my research after you guys have given me tips what products to look for.
Going to quote my own post so you don't get lost :p
Allright, so the 280's were on the expensive end. Are the 215's + clip on mic decent? I'm not looking at great quality, just anything that's significantly better than siberia v2's for example. Furthermore, I can't find a 3.5mm mic -> USB converter. Maybe I'm not good at searching on google, but I do need one. Can you guys provide me with a link.
What exactly do you mean by a 3.5mm mic -> USB converter? As in an audio plug that can be converted into fitting into a USB slot?
As an owner of the 215's, I can say that they're excellent for gaming, extremely clear soundstage so it was perfect for playing competitive CSS.
Mazaire, seeing as you're a fellow Aussie you should try pick something up from http://headphones.com.au/
The headset that you provided is worrying for a few reasons.
1. Wireless is always inferior to the equivalent wired in terms of sound quality. Always.
2. 7.1 is labelled to sell the product. Excellent stereo headphones will most likely be able to trounce the "surround sound" afforded by the 7.1 headphones.
3. It's made by Logitech, who took over Ultimate Ears and promptly proceeded to ruin a perfectly profitable audio company within a few years by removing the highlights of the lineup and releasing crap instead.
http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=382 would be a better choice and in your budget. Light, strong, cheap, great audio. + you can feel safe knowing its German engineering AND it comes with both 3.5mm and USB jack.
On April 06 2012 20:30 Ckalvin wrote: What exactly do you mean by a 3.5mm mic -> USB converter? As in an audio plug that can be converted into fitting into a USB slot?
As an owner of the 215's, I can say that they're excellent for gaming, extremely clear soundstage so it was perfect for playing competitive CSS.
Mazaire, seeing as you're a fellow Aussie you should try pick something up from http://headphones.com.au/
The headset that you provided is worrying for a few reasons.
1. Wireless is always inferior to the equivalent wired in terms of sound quality. Always.
2. 7.1 is labelled to sell the product. Excellent stereo headphones will most likely be able to trounce the "surround sound" afforded by the 7.1 headphones.
3. It's made by Logitech, who took over Ultimate Ears and promptly proceeded to ruin a perfectly profitable audio company within a few years by removing the highlights of the lineup and releasing crap instead.
http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=382 would be a better choice and in your budget. Light, strong, cheap, great audio. + you can feel safe knowing its German engineering AND it comes with both 3.5mm and USB jack.
Thanks heaps for the advice ^_^ How does the mic stack up on those? The mic is pretty important to me.
On April 06 2012 18:06 DocTheMedic wrote: plus my 280's were falling apart.
Did you have them forever tho? my 280s seem to be bullet proof going on 6 years now 3 of which they spent working in a wood work shop :p
Cool thread, be nice if you went a little into explaining ohms and dedicated headphone amps seeing as you can have a pretty cost effective hi fi system going that way, I'm a little too amateur on the matter to give tips myself
instead of saying wich compagnies you wouldn't recommend, would you suggest some? i am looking for a new headset here since i dont want a standalone mic cuz i don't have the space for it, i would like to spend about 125-130 canadian dollars (minus taxes) could you point me towards the good stuff? was thinking about the diablo 3 steelseries since i am a fanboy by after reading the op, i ain't so sure anymore and i want a circumaural headset pls is the tritton compagny any good?
On April 07 2012 00:31 maxburn wrote: instead of saying wich compagnies you wouldn't recommend, would you suggest some? i am looking for a new headset here since i dont want a standalone mic cuz i don't have the space for it, i would like to spend about 125-130 canadian dollars (minus taxes) could you point me towards the good stuff? was thinking about the diablo 3 steelseries since i am a fanboy by after reading the op, i ain't so sure anymore and i want a circumaural headset pls is the tritton compagny any good?
As others said, unless you find an amazing deal on a gaming headset, generally gaming headsets are overpriced and inferior in quality to similarly priced headphones from dedicated headphone companies. Sennheiser, Audiotechnica, Beyerdynamic, Ultrasone, and Shure are all good companies. Your best bet is probably to spend the majority of your budget on the headphone, then get some clip-on mic. Alternatively, you can find a cheap headset like the labtec lva-7330 and attach the mic to your headphones.
Speaking of which, since the labtec lva-7330 is discontinued, is there any similar product out there? Any mic that's an improvement but you can also mod your headphones the same way?
There is a thread on Hi-Fi dealing with head-sets that are amazing for gaming and alternatively for music. Look it up ^^ The op might want to include it in his beginning post so that people don't bombard him with uneducated questions.
hmm where is that thread? Also does anyone have a reccommendation for >$20 earbuds? im getting sick of using my sony mdr7506 (too much sound isolation) also I will use the earbuds with my ipod
With the internal Asus Xonar STX, how much distortion would I get from it being in a system next to a graphics card somewhere along the 7870-7950, or 660-670 range?
Occasional amazing finds, will embed into original post soon.
ThomasR I haven't listened to Westone products myself, but I feel they're a bit too expensive to be too relevant here. That being said, I have heard nothing but good things about them.
On April 21 2012 19:20 Pwnographics wrote: With the internal Asus Xonar STX, how much distortion would I get from it being in a system next to a graphics card somewhere along the 7870-7950, or 660-670 range?
I have a Xonar DG (I know it's nowhere near an stx) near my 560ti, and holy fuck it gets a fair bit of distortion when the gpu is in use, most noticeable during bf3 loading screens etc.
I'd presume the stx would get a similar amount of distortion during heavy gpu use, even with the "emi shielding" as I've heard that's quite gimmicky. However it's really not a problem most of the time, unless you are doing low volume stuff (like loading screens) or listening to music (uncommon) whilst under really heavy gpu load.
EDIT: And I'm pleasantly surprised to see a Soundmagic mention on the front page Calvin. The pl-50 and pl-30 iems are some of the best value for money lower bracket iems around :3
On May 02 2012 09:17 Ckalvin wrote: +1 to Nabutso.
What you just experienced last night is the ultimate goal of this thread. Thanks from the OP!
Just make sure to watch your wallet. Audio is an expensively addictive game.
I used to have a sub to di.fm and re-subbed last night after hearing what it sounded like.
I used to have a good pair of sony studio headphones but they broke about 5 years ago, so I completely forgot how good music can really sound.
I spent 35 (after tax and shipping) on newegg for the sound card, and $130 for the headphones from amazon. I ordered a blue snowball mic (which honestly, i'm a little disappointed with) too. I'm glad I did my research and got the sound card for the headphone amp (A700s are 65ohm and the card has settings for 0-32, 32-64, and 64+ ohms).
By the way, the three different settings (for different ranges of impedances as you've listed) for the Asus Xonar sound cards doesn't do anything but limit the volume on the lower settings. The setting definitely isn't doing anything beneficial with regards to optimizing for a certain impedance, which might be implied.
On May 02 2012 12:42 Myrmidon wrote: By the way, the three different settings (for different ranges of impedances as you've listed) for the Asus Xonar sound cards doesn't do anything but limit the volume on the lower settings. The setting definitely isn't doing anything beneficial with regards to optimizing for a certain impedance, which might be implied.
Yeah, I noticed the volume go up drastically when I changed to the higher setting. I'm tempted to put it down to the middle setting since I find myself listening mostly at about 25% volume anyway.
Recently I've been using some $40 IEMs for when I'm walking or taking public transportation (daily). My cat has eaten through the cord of three pairs in a row, and it's motivated me to finally get a good pair of headphones again. And a new cat.
I have a pair of Grado SR225's which sound amazing, but they have no isolation which makes it impractical to wear in public. They also tend to become very uncomfortable after wearing for any length of time. I plan on wearing my new headphones both in public and for occasional use at home for music or games, so I want them to be comfortable to wear for at least a couple hours at a time.
I currently have my eyes on the Philips Fidelio L1's, but I've read they are a little lacking in the deep bass end. I listen to many different kinds of music, but I don't know how much of an issue this is and I don't think I will be able to listen to them before I purchase. Originally I was going to buy a portable amp (Fiio E17), but I don't really want to pay more than the headphones themselves or lug around more gear.
Anyone have experience with these or able to suggest a good alternative at a similar price?
I haven't heard it, but if anything the L1 should be pretty bass heavy, somewhat even down to the deep bass as well. As for most headphones, bass response depends on the fitment though. In any case, it seems like there's no way they should have less deep bass than Grados...
Those L1s are semi-open though. Note the venting on the earcups. If you want more isolation and a similar size and build, maybe AKG K550? Sennheiser HD 25-1 ii are earpad closed headphones that isolate pretty well, if you think a smaller size might be a better idea.
It depends though. The Fidelio L1's are known for being pretty good at isolation even with their semi-open design. Furthermore, a serious problem I would say with them is their distribution at the moment and their lack of a street price lower than their current MSRP.
The AKG K550 versus HD 25-1 ii would be a pretty stark difference due to their difference in presentations. HD-25-1 ii is a lot more forward with (although I haven't heard it) I would assume a smaller sound stage plus it is supraural, which means that it clamps onto the ears rather than over. The AKG K550 would isolate better if I had to guess even though the HD-25-1 ii is known for isolating pretty damn well due to the circumaural design (over-ear) plus it has very nicely padded ear cushions and its design is sleek as hell. However, it does have a 10 foot cable. Kind of doesn't make sense considering they seem to be marketed as a portable option to their AKG K701/702 etc.
Thanks for the replies. I went through the Inner Fidelity information, that's an awesome resource. I'm not really trying to compare what headphones I'm buying to the Grado's -- The new ones I will use all the time. My Grado's have great sound, but are rather uncomfortable and are starting to break.
I looked at the AKG K550s and the HD 25-1 ii's, and after reading some more about all three headphones I ended up going ahead and ordering the Fidelio L1's. They are returnable for awhile after I get them, so if you guys have other suggestions I'll definitely still look at them and consider my options.
Ckalvin: I'd only been looking at closed and semi-closed headphones, and would prefer them, but IEM's aren't completely out of the picture I guess. I've been using IEMs a lot for the last 2 years (I could use them at work), but always preferred wearing over the ear headphones.
Gaming Headsets are rubbish for Music, yes thats right. Audiophile headphones with lots of bass and nice balance are rubbish for gaming.
U get it? Stuff like those Steelseries headsets are not made to listen high quality music, hell most of the people at lan listen to some rubbish mp3 files or audio-streams which sound shitty no matter which speakers/headphones you use.
U say some headphones+zalman mic are better, maybe they are i own some superlux headphones+zalman mic too, but i would never use them at a Lan or even when gaming some in bed since its a)long cords and b)two cords.
In order to make it work nicely i bought some cable sleeve, now its okay but that cost some money too and in the end the zalman mic may not be worse but it aint better either.
While browsing ebay before going to bed i found some Steelseries 5hv2 headset at Ebay and i thought hey i once owned it and i liked it. It eventually lost its function due to some drunk totally walking over it(only the mic cable got damage, the headphones itself survived) and now im getting a practically new one for about 15bucks=>THATS good value.
I got my first one for like 35bucks, that also was good value, but there i also got it cheap.
What i wanna say? Get gaming headsets if u get them cheap, dont pay 80++bucks for them u can get them all the time and the more people write bad stuff about them the better the price gets so go on blaming them but for mobile gaming+teamspeak its the best, at least the steelseries ones with nicely short cable+awesome extension(i still use the extension for my superlux).
Theres nothing different between <100bucks headphones and headsets if u listen to mp3, if u want good music get amp+good soundcard+good headphones and ur fine, but if u want to play and listen to some internet radio dont worry, get what u like!
No way would I spend 100s of £ for a headphone when I just use them just for gaming. For music I use my speakers.
Thats a pretty solid point there, IMO getting an awesome headphone beats speakers all the time as long as u stay below 1000++usd and ur neighbors wont start to hate u
Had the DT770 Pros but sent them back, wasn't really what I expected from them. Most comfortable headphones I've ever had the pleasure of wearing. If only I could find a pair with a built-in mic that had similar size/depth earcups.
What would be some decent IEM priced around 60$, I am assuming there is nothing decent around this area. I currently have some steelseries but I am sick of wearing a big bulky set and want a mic that is decent quality and out of the way.
for your esoterikk. I'd highly recommend the SP51, as an owner and user myself.
Thanks! I was actually just looking at that site after scanning the thread deeper and wondering which ones were a good choice :D will have to try a pair out I think.
On May 24 2012 06:54 IlK wrote: Gaming Headsets are rubbish for Music, yes thats right. Audiophile headphones with lots of bass and nice balance are rubbish for gaming.
U get it? Stuff like those Steelseries headsets are not made to listen high quality music, hell most of the people at lan listen to some rubbish mp3 files or audio-streams which sound shitty no matter which speakers/headphones you use.
U say some headphones+zalman mic are better, maybe they are i own some superlux headphones+zalman mic too, but i would never use them at a Lan or even when gaming some in bed since its a)long cords and b)two cords.
In order to make it work nicely i bought some cable sleeve, now its okay but that cost some money too and in the end the zalman mic may not be worse but it aint better either.
While browsing ebay before going to bed i found some Steelseries 5hv2 headset at Ebay and i thought hey i once owned it and i liked it. It eventually lost its function due to some drunk totally walking over it(only the mic cable got damage, the headphones itself survived) and now im getting a practically new one for about 15bucks=>THATS good value.
I got my first one for like 35bucks, that also was good value, but there i also got it cheap.
What i wanna say? Get gaming headsets if u get them cheap, dont pay 80++bucks for them u can get them all the time and the more people write bad stuff about them the better the price gets so go on blaming them but for mobile gaming+teamspeak its the best, at least the steelseries ones with nicely short cable+awesome extension(i still use the extension for my superlux).
Theres nothing different between <100bucks headphones and headsets if u listen to mp3, if u want good music get amp+good soundcard+good headphones and ur fine, but if u want to play and listen to some internet radio dont worry, get what u like!
No way would I spend 100s of £ for a headphone when I just use them just for gaming. For music I use my speakers.
Thats a pretty solid point there, IMO getting an awesome headphone beats speakers all the time as long as u stay below 1000++usd and ur neighbors wont start to hate u
Well sure, but I dont want to be rooted in front of the pc all the time to be able to listen to music, I might want to do other stuff at the same time. Who actually just sits there, listening to music and doing nothing else? I want to cook, iron, talk with friends, move about etc etc
On May 24 2012 06:54 IlK wrote: Gaming Headsets are rubbish for Music, yes thats right. Audiophile headphones with lots of bass and nice balance are rubbish for gaming.
U get it? Stuff like those Steelseries headsets are not made to listen high quality music, hell most of the people at lan listen to some rubbish mp3 files or audio-streams which sound shitty no matter which speakers/headphones you use.
U say some headphones+zalman mic are better, maybe they are i own some superlux headphones+zalman mic too, but i would never use them at a Lan or even when gaming some in bed since its a)long cords and b)two cords.
In order to make it work nicely i bought some cable sleeve, now its okay but that cost some money too and in the end the zalman mic may not be worse but it aint better either.
While browsing ebay before going to bed i found some Steelseries 5hv2 headset at Ebay and i thought hey i once owned it and i liked it. It eventually lost its function due to some drunk totally walking over it(only the mic cable got damage, the headphones itself survived) and now im getting a practically new one for about 15bucks=>THATS good value.
I got my first one for like 35bucks, that also was good value, but there i also got it cheap.
What i wanna say? Get gaming headsets if u get them cheap, dont pay 80++bucks for them u can get them all the time and the more people write bad stuff about them the better the price gets so go on blaming them but for mobile gaming+teamspeak its the best, at least the steelseries ones with nicely short cable+awesome extension(i still use the extension for my superlux).
Theres nothing different between <100bucks headphones and headsets if u listen to mp3, if u want good music get amp+good soundcard+good headphones and ur fine, but if u want to play and listen to some internet radio dont worry, get what u like!
No way would I spend 100s of £ for a headphone when I just use them just for gaming. For music I use my speakers.
Thats a pretty solid point there, IMO getting an awesome headphone beats speakers all the time as long as u stay below 1000++usd and ur neighbors wont start to hate u
Well sure, but I dont want to be rooted in front of the pc all the time to be able to listen to music, I might want to do other stuff at the same time. Who actually just sits there, listening to music and doing nothing else? I want to cook, iron, talk with friends, move about etc etc
Rofl. So many uninformed opinions. First off, like I'm sure the OP has stated the AD700 from Audio Technica is pretty decent for listening and gaming, the HD598 is amazing for both also, their are more but if you just take the time to search you'll find out that there are useful multi-functional headphones.
Klipsch S4's are pretty darn good, if a little sharp on the treble end. The S5 has the remote which is a tad heavy since it's huge, but if you can get it for cheap ( and $40 is damn cheap ) then by all means go for it + the sound signature is more bassy than the S4. That being said, you'd probably be better off with the S4's from Klipsch if you can get em.
BW C5's are pretty bad from what I've heard, as opposed to the stellar P5.
All in all, try the klipsch, return them if they're not to your taste/don't fit too well and get the Sp51. If you do enjoy them, they'll be absolutely epic.
Problem: this Thursday the finals of the NSSL will be played live. The casters, players and audience will be in the same room. Obviously, the players should only hear their game sounds, and not the casters / audience. The players will have IEM's and on top of that a CM Storm Sirius blasting white noise.
However: I've tried out this setup in my living room, and asked my flatmate to talk to me. When he used his normal speaking voice I couldn't hear him at all, but when he talked with a raised voice I could quite clearly understand him. I had the game sound at a level that was comfortable for me, and the whitenoise as loud as it could go without blocking out the game sound. At the finals, the casters will be amplified through speakers to the audience which will be even louder. In other words: I think my setup is insufficient for isolating the finalists.
I need to think of a solution fast. What I cannot do: - Build an isolated booth. No time, no money. - Buy headphones with active noise cancellation - no money (we got the Sirius' from our sponsor)
What other options do I have? I could buy simple noise reducing headphones (like they use in construction), but I feel that without the white-noise it won't be enough. Or will it?
Edit: tomorrow I'll borrow some isolating headphones (construction type) from a friend to see how they work.
On June 03 2012 17:55 VanCaspel wrote: Problem: this Thursday the finals of the NSSL will be played live. The casters, players and audience will be in the same room. Obviously, the players should only hear their game sounds, and not the casters / audience. The players will have IEM's and on top of that a CM Storm Sirius blasting white noise.
However: I've tried out this setup in my living room, and asked my flatmate to talk to me. When he used his normal speaking voice I couldn't hear him at all, but when he talked with a raised voice I could quite clearly understand him. I had the game sound at a level that was comfortable for me, and the whitenoise as loud as it could go without blocking out the game sound. At the finals, the casters will be amplified through speakers to the audience which will be even louder. In other words: I think my setup is insufficient for isolating the finalists.
I need to think of a solution fast. What I cannot do: - Build an isolated booth. No time, no money. - Buy headphones with active noise cancellation - no money (we got the Sirius' from our sponsor)
What other options do I have? I could buy simple noise reducing headphones (like they use in construction), but I feel that without the white-noise it won't be enough. Or will it?
Edit: tomorrow I'll borrow some isolating headphones (construction type) from a friend to see how they work.
Earmuffs + iems work wonders, if the iems don't already isolate enough for you.
Obviously the IEM's alone don't isolate enough - don't think any IEM alone could do the job. So yeah: I hope the earmuffs I'm borrowing tomorrow will work better than full-volume white noise...
On June 03 2012 21:50 VanCaspel wrote: Obviously the IEM's alone don't isolate enough - don't think any IEM alone could do the job. So yeah: I hope the earmuffs I'm borrowing tomorrow will work better than full-volume white noise...
Do you know the headset-like clamps that Broodwar Progamers where on their heads.
I bought a pair of Razer Orcas a while back. I love how comfortable they are, I was very satisfied with the sound quality, but they are unbelievably lacking in the durability department. I was down to 1 side reliably putting out sound with the occasional guest appearance of the other within 3 months, and I'm lucky to get sound out of one side. I'm looking to replace these. I listen to music and play games, but I'm not looking for much more than generally decent sound quality. What I value most of all is sturdiness and comfort. (Around the ear) Any suggestions? I'm looking to spend up to 60ish bucks, but I can go all the way to 100 if there's a pair that fit the bill perfectly.
Call me crazy but I love my $10 Skullcandy jib in ear headphones. Clean, crisp, and clear with just the right amount of bass for the kind of music I listen to (mostly trance and some general radio and gaming). Also the rubber ear buds are very confortable. And they came with 3 different sized sets. All for $10.
Im not really huge on the audio department of things. I am looking for cheap and durable. I often find myself breaking my headphones(lol). I just want to be able to talk to my friends. I really like the feel of in ears that go straight down(think crappy ipod). I also want to able to talk to my friends. Also, I like to move around a lot (turning my head, bending down and up) when i play, so I feel that the arching type over your head always falls off.
I am looking for headphones for my 2v2's, talking on Skype and general gaming as well - on PC. What as of now, would people recommend? My budget would probably be about £100-£150 but cheap is always good!
On June 15 2012 20:59 Scoop05333 wrote: I am looking for headphones for my 2v2's, talking on Skype and general gaming as well - on PC. What as of now, would people recommend? My budget would probably be about £100-£150 but cheap is always good!
I'm not sure if this is the correct thread, but i have a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50s, which understandable, didn't come with a volume dial on the headphones themselves. This was never a problem until i started streaming, but either my music is ridiculously loud for me, or ridiculously quiet for my viewers, is there any way around this?
EDIT: Solved issue myself, turns out i can plug my headset into my speakers, and use them as an external volume control which doesn't affect stream volume
Looking for a pair of headphones to listen to almost exclusively music on my computer and maybe iPod, as I already have a headset for games. I mostly listen to rock and metal and have read on several sites that Grado is generally a good brand for that. Budget would be around $100, don't need crazy high-end. Should I still look at a pair of Grado's, or are there maybe others in that price range?
Entry level Grados, but have tons of modifications to help make them better. They have no sound stage, so don't consider them for gaming. They're amazing for rock/metal and actually do have some bass. You can modify them to have even more.
$75 Price Range:
Fostex T50RP
Brought up again because of their excellent mids and highs. These are great for rock. Their detail and clarity might scare some away from metal due to typically poorly recorded metal in recent years, but other than that a great addition for only $75. There are mods you can make for these headphones as well.
$80 Price Range:
Grado SR80i
Again, tons of modifications can be done to make them sound better.
$100 Price Range:
Alessandro MS1i
They're headphones made by Grado under the 'Alessandro' brand name. They shine for Rock and Metal. You can modify these as well.
I have looked at that page, although I think it's been edited since I last saw it. I was wondering if there were any other headphones worth mentioning. Also, I would like to try out the pair of headphones before I buy, do any websites offer that? Or maybe any stores in the Chicago area that let you do that
I am looking for headphones with a budget of about 120, somewhat flexible by 10-20, preferably around $100. I have done my research, believe me, and it is the conflict of opinions that puts me in such ordeal. I have read comments that praise Sennheiser, yet many say its headphones are overrated and simply used by gamers due to sponsorship. I have heard good and bad comments about the Razer Orca (I do NOT want Razer products btw, my family doesn't want snake items in the house for superstitious reasons...) I heard the Siberia breaks after a few months. Astro A40s are out of my price range. As shown, I do have a background from research.
Do I want a microphone? Preferably, I am okay if it doesn't come with one though. My current desktop mic is not the BEST of quality, and I would be glad if it had a mic, preferably detachable. However, I prefer quality over microphone.
What am I going to use it for? Gaming w/ Skype + Music I am not an audiophile. From research, I heard gaming headphones are just a scheme and brands such as Turtle Beach, Razer, and Sennheiser are all just ways to earn gamers' attention with inefficient quality. Anyway, I listen to Euro-Techno and some modern day music, e.g. K-Pop, American Top 40 (yes I am a modernist into contemporary music).
What plug? THIS IS A MUST. i must have audio jack (w/ or w/o mic) and NOT USB. (I want to use it for my iPod at home).
I am thinking about the Corsair 1500, but since its USB, i now cannot.
Hi, I am thinking about getting new headphones, I just really want them for a great music listening experience, I'm not into dubstep or a lot of pop, so I don't need extremely bass heavy sound. I'm just looking for a real, true sound. Any recommendations would be great, I'm willing to spend up to around 200$. Thanks.
On June 30 2012 10:48 Uzee13 wrote: Hi, I am thinking about getting new headphones, I just really want them for a great music listening experience, I'm not into dubstep or a lot of pop, so I don't need extremely bass heavy sound. I'm just looking for a real, true sound. Any recommendations would be great, I'm willing to spend up to around 200$. Thanks.
If you are really willing to spend up to 200$, i would recommend Grado SR60i with a decent portable amp. Their sound is very natural,neutral, not mainstream bass- or treble-heavy. They are, however, completely open, so no noise isolation whatsoever, you should mostly use them in a silent environment.
On June 30 2012 10:48 Uzee13 wrote: Hi, I am thinking about getting new headphones, I just really want them for a great music listening experience, I'm not into dubstep or a lot of pop, so I don't need extremely bass heavy sound. I'm just looking for a real, true sound. Any recommendations would be great, I'm willing to spend up to around 200$. Thanks.
If you are really willing to spend up to 200$, i would recommend Grado SR60i with a decent portable amp. Their sound is very natural,neutral, not mainstream bass- or treble-heavy. They are, however, completely open, so no noise isolation whatsoever, you should mostly use them in a silent environment.
The man wants to spend 200$ on a pair of headphones that he wants to use with his ipod (we have to assume he's gonna listen to his ipod on the bus, subway) so we need comfortable and noise isolating headphones. You recommend 80$ headphones that in no way fits his needs. The Grado aren't comfortable to wear for long hours and aren't ideal in noisy environment.
Get a pair of Ultrasone Pro 550, they sell for 145$ on google shopping.
The man wants to spend 200$ on a pair of headphones that he wants to use with his ipod (we have to assume he's gonna listen to his ipod on the bus, subway) so we need comfortable and noise isolating headphones. You recommend 80$ headphones that in no way fits his needs. The Grado aren't comfortable to wear for long hours and aren't ideal in noisy environment.
Get a pair of Ultrasone Pro 550, they sell for 145$ on google shopping.
He didn't say a word about where/how he is gonna listen to them and in which conditions, he didn't state his needs apart from the desired sound. Don't assume shit out of thin air to make other people sound stupid.
Alright so I need a recommendation. I've read through a fair amount of this thread, but would like some advice. About 3 years ago I got the Bose QC15 headphones as a gift. I dont know how they're viewed here, but I enjoyed the hell out of them. The noise cancelling was great, I got used to the hissing sound and was good to go. The sound quality seemed good, but I hadn't ever had a nice pair of headphones so its hard to say.
They broke on me last week. The sound doesn't filter correctly in the right ear, I think the noise cancelling part broke and I don't think it can be fixed. I'm hoping to stay under $200ish as I'm in college but hell, I'm already in debt and would like some nice headphones. If you think its really worth it I might go up again.
Like I said, I'm in college so having noise cancelling is nice. Noise isolating would do as well I think. Non-noise cancelling could be alright if the quality is amazing, but I really enjoy the ability to go home and listen to music and not hear all the people doing stuff around me. I'd be using them mostly to listen to music. I may use them to play games at times, but I'm more focused on having nice audio quality for music. Any recommendations for me tl?
edit: I forgot to add 1 thing. I absolutely can't stand over the ear headphones. Around the ear is much preferred.
I like listen to a lot of rock & roll, r&b, dubstep, and hip hop. I may be committing some sort of sacrilege by asking this, but are there a pair of wireless, circumaural headphones that won't break my bank (approx. $200 US) and have decent bass? I'd like for the mid range and highs to not suck either, but the bass is really important to me. From the searching I've done, it feels like I'm looking for the Holy Grail.
Hi guys! I know this is not strictly headphone related, but I've been thinking of getting into streaming lately and I've found out that my laptop (it's a really beefy laptop, yes it can stream fine) has a really terrible mic.
I've been trying to find a headphone that comes with a mic, but the thing is all the ones with good mics I found have very mediocre sound quality, or vise versa. I own a Sennheiser 558 so I'm quite spoiled in terms of sound.
Are there any good headsets + mic anyone can recommend, preferably within the $250 range? Alternatively, if I'm better off getting a separate clip-on mic, what are some good ones?
On July 26 2012 17:22 Ryhzuo wrote: Hi guys! I know this is not strictly headphone related, but I've been thinking of getting into streaming lately and I've found out that my laptop (it's a really beefy laptop, yes it can stream fine) has a really terrible mic.
I've been trying to find a headphone that comes with a mic, but the thing is all the ones with good mics I found have very mediocre sound quality, or vise versa. I own a Sennheiser 558 so I'm quite spoiled in terms of sound.
Are there any good headsets + mic anyone can recommend, preferably within the $250 range? Alternatively, if I'm better off getting a separate clip-on mic, what are some good ones?
PC360. Basically the HD598 (better than HD558 slightly). with a mic.
On July 26 2012 17:22 Ryhzuo wrote: Hi guys! I know this is not strictly headphone related, but I've been thinking of getting into streaming lately and I've found out that my laptop (it's a really beefy laptop, yes it can stream fine) has a really terrible mic.
I've been trying to find a headphone that comes with a mic, but the thing is all the ones with good mics I found have very mediocre sound quality, or vise versa. I own a Sennheiser 558 so I'm quite spoiled in terms of sound.
Are there any good headsets + mic anyone can recommend, preferably within the $250 range? Alternatively, if I'm better off getting a separate clip-on mic, what are some good ones?
PC360. Basically the HD598 (better than HD558 slightly). with a mic.
Hmm, a tad over how much I'm willing to spend.
How does the PC 320 compare to the 360? Any significant difference? (I'm an audiotard)
I feel a bit stupid asking this but I might as well anyway.
I've always bought cheap headsets/headphones/whatever for myself because I always find that they tend to break in some way within about two to three months. Sometimes one side stops working, the microphone becomes really poor all of a sudden, etc etc. I've mostly attributed this to the wires breaking up or something.
I don't think I'm particularly rough with my headphones at all but the fact that they keep breaking deters me from buying a better quality, more expensive pair because I feel it would be a waste of money. However I'm wondering if the reason they keep breaking could be simply because they're so cheap, and if a better quality set of headphones would have better wiring quality and thus last longer?
On August 07 2012 22:57 Firebolt145 wrote: I feel a bit stupid asking this but I might as well anyway.
I've always bought cheap headsets/headphones/whatever for myself because I always find that they tend to break in some way within about two to three months. Sometimes one side stops working, the microphone becomes really poor all of a sudden, etc etc. I've mostly attributed this to the wires breaking up or something.
I don't think I'm particularly rough with my headphones at all but the fact that they keep breaking deters me from buying a better quality, more expensive pair because I feel it would be a waste of money. However I'm wondering if the reason they keep breaking could be simply because they're so cheap, and if a better quality set of headphones would have better wiring quality and thus last longer?
Obviously a more expensive pair will have better build quality, and hence possibly last virtually indefinitely assuming you don't use them portably.
Also, you can make detachable cable mods and such, which means if you happen to accidentally overstrain the cable or similar, it will just pop out, further increasing the lifespan of the headphones.
On July 26 2012 17:22 Ryhzuo wrote: Hi guys! I know this is not strictly headphone related, but I've been thinking of getting into streaming lately and I've found out that my laptop (it's a really beefy laptop, yes it can stream fine) has a really terrible mic.
I've been trying to find a headphone that comes with a mic, but the thing is all the ones with good mics I found have very mediocre sound quality, or vise versa. I own a Sennheiser 558 so I'm quite spoiled in terms of sound.
Are there any good headsets + mic anyone can recommend, preferably within the $250 range? Alternatively, if I'm better off getting a separate clip-on mic, what are some good ones?
The Antlion ModMic is a great boom mic you can attach to those Sennheisers, no need to waste money on gaming headset crap. Sound quality is pretty great imo.
@above agreed just get an attachable mic to your already good pair of headphones. Most headsets are low quality, better to have good quality headphones and get the popular zalman mic for 5$.
I've been doing some research and it's hard to decide which IEM I should buy for less than 75USD.
Since I listen to both classical and bass-centric types of music I can't say I want IEMs that focus on bass or sacrifice highs.
I currently have the Soundmagic E10s, they're just whatever though - no surprises for a temp $20 pair.
Microphonics are a mustnot since I will be walking across campus...
I've looked at the incase capsule (quality, microphonics), image S4, Nuforce NE700m (meh?), denon AHC260R, as well as an assortment of sub30$ headphones that I'm no longer interested in.
Any advice? Leaning towards s4's despite some complaints of low build quality or poor for classicals... other people are saying otherwise ~_~
I have an Alienware m17x r3 and Google tells me I have a 'standard IDT 92HD73C1 Audio that is in a lot of new Dell laptops'. I do not know what reputation this soundcard and I cannot find any reviews.
That said, I am now looking to buy a decent headset. I am quite keen on getting a headset rather than a clip-on mic as I want to avoid the additional cable. Although cheaper is always nicer, I am not against splashing a bit more cash if it gets me a really good headset that will last me years.
With my Google prowess I am currently mostly eyeing either the Sennheiser PC360 or the Razer Carcharias. The Sennheisers are twice the price of the Carcharias. I have read tons of reviews on the internet and they range from saying that these two headsets are virtually identical (and thus not worth paying 2x for Sennheisers) to reviews that say the Carcharias' are absolutely shit and shouldn't be considered. Does the Sennheiser absolutely require an external sound card? That would be a dealbreaker for me as I don't want to spend extra money on one.
Although those two are the most attractive ones at the moment, I have come across the Razer Megalodon; from what I gather these are basically the Carcharias with its own sound card. Is it worth getting these over the inbuilt sound card that my alienware has?
I have also heard about the Logitech G930, which people seem to consider the best wireless headset. Do they have a downside?
Sorry for the convulated nature of this post but I'm new to the scene and have a lot of questions :D
On August 08 2012 03:30 Ktk wrote: @above agreed just get an attachable mic to your already good pair of headphones. Most headsets are low quality, better to have good quality headphones and get the popular zalman mic for 5$.
I've been doing some research and it's hard to decide which IEM I should buy for less than 75USD.
Since I listen to both classical and bass-centric types of music I can't say I want IEMs that focus on bass or sacrifice highs.
I currently have the Soundmagic E10s, they're just whatever though - no surprises for a temp $20 pair.
Microphonics are a mustnot since I will be walking across campus...
I've looked at the incase capsule (quality, microphonics), image S4, Nuforce NE700m (meh?), denon AHC260R, as well as an assortment of sub30$ headphones that I'm no longer interested in.
Any advice? Leaning towards s4's despite some complaints of low build quality or poor for classicals... other people are saying otherwise ~_~
Have you considered soundmagic pl-50's? They're balanced, microphonics are acceptable, etc, etc. Of course, there are a few new ones to the scene since I last researched around, but these seemed pretty decent at the time (~1 year ago).
On August 10 2012 17:54 Firebolt145 wrote: I have an Alienware m17x r3 and Google tells me I have a 'standard IDT 92HD73C1 Audio that is in a lot of new Dell laptops'. I do not know what reputation this soundcard and I cannot find any reviews.
That said, I am now looking to buy a decent headset. I am quite keen on getting a headset rather than a clip-on mic as I want to avoid the additional cable. Although cheaper is always nicer, I am not against splashing a bit more cash if it gets me a really good headset that will last me years.
With my Google prowess I am currently mostly eyeing either the Sennheiser PC360 or the Razer Carcharias. The Sennheisers are twice the price of the Carcharias. I have read tons of reviews on the internet and they range from saying that these two headsets are virtually identical (and thus not worth paying 2x for Sennheisers) to reviews that say the Carcharias' are absolutely shit and shouldn't be considered. Does the Sennheiser absolutely require an external sound card? That would be a dealbreaker for me as I don't want to spend extra money on one.
Although those two are the most attractive ones at the moment, I have come across the Razer Megalodon; from what I gather these are basically the Carcharias with its own sound card. Is it worth getting these over the inbuilt sound card that my alienware has?
I have also heard about the Logitech G930, which people seem to consider the best wireless headset. Do they have a downside?
Sorry for the convulated nature of this post but I'm new to the scene and have a lot of questions :D
What are you using them for? If you care about listening to music, the pc360 actually is designed to sound nice, the others are just generic shit sounding headsets... No headset will require a discrete soundcard, some will use usb (own dac), some will use a headphone + a mic jack, some a combined headphone + mic jack. If you're just playing non-3d games, get whatever is cheapest + most comfortable.
If you need good positional audio for fps', then dolby headphone or creative's equivalent (from discrete soundcards, generally impossible to achieve on a laptop) + a decent pair of open headphones is a must.
I don't play FPS games generally, and I don't take them seriously either. I play games like SC2, DotA, EVE and GW2. I do care about listening to music, but are the Sennheiser PC360's really miles ahead of the rest to warrant the price, with or without a sound card? How much is a decent USB sound card anyway?
$60-150 depending on sales, where you get it from, etc. Hardware from Fiio and NuForce should be very affordable and more than adequate. I'm actually not sure if there is a good reason to pay more than $200 for a DAC, which is the MSRP of the Logitech Squeezebox IIRC.
Don't see a lot of point paying more than that. I imagine those extra expensive DACs from guys like Red Wine Audio exist to suck money from audiophiles. After all, guys like Red Wine Audio have been known to do shit like sell T-Amps (they're like $50-$100 on eBay) for $500 USD.
I'm not a huge headphone guy but in the loudspeaker world, my impression are that the speakers are the most important thing. The amplifier just needs to be adequate to "sound good" and stuff like DACs have a really negligible effect on the experience.
On August 10 2012 18:27 Firebolt145 wrote: I don't play FPS games generally, and I don't take them seriously either. I play games like SC2, DotA, EVE and GW2. I do care about listening to music, but are the Sennheiser PC360's really miles ahead of the rest to warrant the price, with or without a sound card? How much is a decent USB sound card anyway?
A sound card is really only needed if: - You dislike the current snr of your onboard sound (especially noticeable with lower volumes, or when your computer is under a heavy load). - You feel (from listening) that your onboard DAC is somehow not clear enough or sounds weird.
A better/different amplifier is only needed if: - You can't get enough gain out of your current setup - Your headphones get a better sound response with a decent amp (this one requires research from headphone to headphone, treat any advice you find from people saying there are differences with a lot of skepticism, look around for repeated opinions) - You have extremely low impedance IEMs for example, which would require quite a sensitive amp to not mess up the sound signature, especially when at low volume. In fact, I find in general headphones are a lot more forgiving than IEMs, but I don't have a huge amount of experience.
If you don't need positional audio, then consider whether or not you currently consider the noisiness of your onboard sound an issue, if not, I wouldn't bother with a soundcard. As for whether or not to get a random headset or a proper pair of headphones (the PC360), it really depends on how picky you are with your music, and whether or not you'd care about the difference. For example, is a large portion of your music under 192kb/s? Does the artifacting on a 128k track significantly irritate you? If you aren't fussed, there may be no reason to get a proper pair, but I'm not sure how much nicer the 598 would sound for someone that's rather blase about SQ.
If you use it non-portably, and you treat it nicely, it could potentially last indefinitely. If you do get the PC360, you'll certainly like them, the decision is up to you if you feel you'll enjoy the difference for music enough to justify the additional cost. For those types of games, the difference in SQ won't matter, so keep that in mind.
I am looking for replacement headphones, old headphones were Aiwa HP-x223's and they were amazing. But they do not make them anymore.
The OP is rather light on technical data so I wasnt able to get much from it.
What I need is a pair of headphones that are as good as my last pair of headphones, when I bought them they were like $17 but I have tried $200 headphones that dont sound as good. And I think I might know why.
x223's did one thing pretty well and it as bass and high ends. Many headphones just sound like telephones in comparison to the x223's and I dont really have a lot of respect for telephones.
HD 280 Pro is mostly good (and bad) for clamping really hard, so you get good isolation. Actually, a lot of headphones have less deep bass than those.
It's hard to find any data on the HP-x223, so it's hard to say what is similar. A lot of cheap headphones can't put out much high treble and bass, so I can't tell if that means HP-x223 would be relatively boosted in treble and/or bass compared to flat, and by how much. I'm guessing the bass is probably boosted, at least, based on what you say and a user review I found.
btw I forget what the bandpass region for voice on telephones is (frequencies passed through), but I can assure you that most headphones can produce tones higher than the upper limit of that at least.
Maybe you should just save for some version of Beyerdynamic DT 770 (Pro 80 ohms is usually cheapest and supposedly most V-shaped). Maybe Ultrasone Pro 550, but I've not tried that. For cheaper options than the HD 280, maybe Panasonic RP-HTF600 (have not tried, apparently just above-average bass quantity), JVC HA-RX700 (boomy IMHO but understandable at that price). There's the Sony XB lineup, which mostly just has the bass and lower midrange up like 10 dB compared to everything else, some unevenness elsewhere—so not enough treble perhaps.
The bass on the x223 must have been enhanced or embellished on purpose but I happen to really like it for that.
I was thinking of a budget around $100 with some flex.
I should also mention that durability is a huge factor since I want something that will last a very very long time. The HP 280's have replaceable wires that can be replaced, as they are actually socketed into a unit inside the can as opposed to being directly soldered on. Thats a big time plus with me.
btw you linked the Sennheiser HD 280 and wrote Shure SRH550DJ. (For that matter, wtf did you mean by "Sennheiser brand?") I actually never heard of the Shure; it must be the ugly duckling of the bunch. SRH750DJ is not much more expensive and is much more well known (but known not to have boosted low end...plus it has more distortion in the bass than in many models).
Also, they're borderline small for circumaurals? There are too many retarded "circumaurals" that sit on the ears unless you have small ears.
Something else with definitely boosted bass is apparently the Denon AH-D1100, but that's no lower than about $133 anywhere. It's less popular than the discontinued AH-D1001 and Creative Aurvana Live (both are similar headphones OEM by Fostex), but that's mostly because the bass is boosted too much for some tastes. Those models should still be a bit bassier than SRH750DJ, HD280, etc. Aurvana Live seems to have gotten a 50% price hike recently though.
edit: above was responding to first post. Below to second part.
ATH-M50 has also gotten a price hike since a couple years back, but only like 20%?
Porta Pro is listed. Compare other headphones against the FR of the Porta Pro. The other issue is what region of bass you're talking about. Lots of headphones, particularly open or smaller models, start dropping off around 100 Hz or so.
Porta Pro is listed. Compare other headphones against the FR of the Porta Pro. The other issue is what region of bass you're talking about. Lots of headphones, particularly open or smaller models, start dropping off around 100 Hz or so.
Ah good. Numbers. I can start associating products and how they sound with these.
Compared to all the others these values are way higher. Whats the deal with this? If it helps on all of my equalizers I like to push the 30 60 and 125 sliders up a lot.
HD 429 (419, 439, 449) are closed Sennheiser headphones. I think that's just a mislisting on somebody's part. But it's not like I'd expect anybody to know otherwise. Just an FYI below to anybody.
Shure is a very old US audio company. They've got some legendary microphones and other gear. Sennheiser is a very old German audio company with a wide array of professional and consumer audio lines. Nothing to do with Shure AFAIK.
I'm not sure who makes the headphone drivers or headphones for these companies though; there could be some overlap, but probably not in the way you were thinking. That said, Sennheiser manufactures some of their own high-end headphones in Germany themselves; I'm not sure about Shure.
I'm pretty sure that the absolute y-axis positioning of the FR graphs at IF is meaningless. I've looked before and could not find any patterns relating to actual output levels or a common normalization. Just look at relative values.
edit: especially if you're boosting bass with EQ and if you're listening relatively loudly, I recommend finding something with lower distortion in the bass for the 90 dB SPL and even 100 dB SPL tests. That's the third graph on the left side. Some headphones just run out of excursion, and that'll muck up everything else.
On August 16 2012 13:04 Myrmidon wrote: I'm not sure about Shure.
Im glad we are having this discussion in text.
Ok so if absolute y doesnt matter. How do I find headphones that have a really prominent bass line.
I have previously thought this was related to driver size, and indeed headphones that advertise heavy bass do seem to have bigger drivers, but then I go into audiophile forums and they say its marketing. So Im not sure whats happening here.
You're looking for high values of bass relative to everything else. i.e. the line is higher at 20-200 Hz or so than everywhere else. Also, lower distortion is better. Larger drivers can help, but ultimately it depends on a lot more than that. It's not about the size of the driver, but how they use it. Yeahhhh.
They also have PortaPro listed. That said, usual caveats apply: measuring headphones is hard to do and inconsistent, different people have different setups that yield different results, the dummy head is smaller than the average male head and has weird-shaped ear canals, different sites use different FR normalization. i.e. values are not at all comparable between different sites, so don't try that.
I think I see whats going on. People like the high bass but people also like high volume so some headphones just make everything loud regardless to quality.
In the end I control the volume and the even the spread (after I apply equalization) right? What matters in the end is the quality.
Some "bass heavy" headphones have a boost to the bass that keeps going past 300 Hz and higher, which is really the midrange. That just makes the headphone sound like there's not much treble.
THD+N = Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise
ideally you want low values for that everywhere, but if you're boosting bass with EQ, it's more important for that to be better in the bass. There are four curves: two for left earcup, two for right earcup. One set is at 90 dB SPL loudness, while the other is taken at 100 dB SPL loudness. Some headphones start to have more trouble maintaining clean sound once you crank the volume past 90 dB or so, which is demonstrated by the graphs. This power handling capability is more of an issue if you use EQ, particularly if boosting the bass.
These are both bass heavy. And in the noise chart its really really high close to 8 percent. So they give up low range quality for low range volume at flat levels.
Supposedly the DT 770 Pro 80 has more bass than the other variants. I haven't heard the other versions, so I wouldn't know myself. But that makes sense since Beyerdynamic's Pro versions clamp a bit harder. That said, they're still very comfortable. Too bad the price is what it is.
Hesh2 is an example of a headphone where the bass boost probably extends too far into the midrange before plummeting down.
As for other options I can think off the top of my head, I already listed them a while back, other than the ATH-M50 that you already brought up.
That's not the JVC HA-RX700 measured there. I don't think I've ever seen graphs for those. Different product lines are often vastly different, so I wouldn't make the leap there. By the way, HA-FXT90 are in-ear monitors and much more expensive, so it's not even remotely related.
Most of these headphones have distortion that falls off greatly before 200 so I am wondering. How audible is less than 200hz? Is it a common enough tone in sound that I need to worry about it or can I write it off to maybe save on cost.
EDIT: Guess some stuff didnt sink in, Im always fiddling with the 60 to 130hz sliders, so for all intents and purposes below 200hz IS the low end for me.
Cuz I have to say those Koss portapros do sound quite alright. And I didnt even get a chance to use them on an equalized setup either.
Im having a hard time finding the charts for Audio-Technica ATH-M30, the ATH-M50 and the ATH-M10 I can find but I cant find anything about the ATH-M30 but its like a 3rd of the price....
EDIT: Hey Myrmidon what about the 419's you were talking about?
Have you looked at the Sony MDR-XB series (XB stands for "extra bass")? I own the XB-500 and the bass is certainly emphasized, but sounds good. Very comfortable, over ear, not sure about durability though as I've only had mine for a year.
Sennheisers are very similar, just throwing out another option. The Sony construction quality is very robust, but then Sennheiser is known for making great headphones. Considering the price, the brand, and the 2 year warranty, I don't see you going wrong with the Sennheiser 419. I kinda want a pair now...
Yeah, that looks about right. There are plenty more factors to sound quality than what we went through—that said, the frequency response is the most important thing. Impulse response plot seems to indicate that there may be some unwanted resonances at one or more frequencies. The funky bump at around 100Hz is a common artifact, particularly for closed headphones, but the corresponding increase in measured distortion there is a bit worrying. Maybe.
I don't know about the HD 4xx lineup, but relatively recent HD 5xx series is known for build quality issues like cracking headbands, but mostly only after a while and mostly just cosmetic, not affecting the adjustment and actual operation.
Warranties may only be honored if you buy through an official distributor in general. These official ones tend to abide by pricing guidelines.
Drivers are often mismatched somewhat, behave differently. Maybe the enclosure isn't made that precisely. Or it could be an issue with the test setup.
XB500 is another choice. People seem to like that more than the XB700.
Based on the gray lines, it looks like the XB500 depends more on the fitment to get the right sound compared to the HD 419. The bass boost extends even further into the midrange, which suits some tastes but not others. But it doesn't seem to have that anomaly or two, which may or may not be that important or noticeable. Flip a coin, or figure out what you think is better for you—or better yet, try both if you can.
Hm I listened to beats last week, and the large ones are quite good (rich and sonorous, albeit very bass heavy). The smaller ones on the other hand, sound like garbage. If you need the fashion, get the big ones, seriously.
I have a pair of XB700s - I can't really speak for sound quality, as I'm not confident enough in my own listening ability to really nitpick, and as it tends to be very subjective anyways. In terms of comfort, though, they're the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn (in the small set of Sennheiser HD 202, 438, AT ATH M50S, Ultrasone HFI 780, Koss Pro DJ100). The padding is actually an inch thick, and it doesn't clamp as tightly as the M50 or the HFI 780.
Regarding the Sony XB line, I also find them extremely comfortable since the padding is so thick; however, the super thick ear pads can make you look a little funny if you care about that sort of thing. Cord is only 1.2m as well.
@GalDiator, what exactly do you mean by "gaming headphones"? There usually isn't much meaning to the distinction; any pair of good headphones can be used for gaming.
For under $50 the Sennheiser HD 202 II (around $20) and Beyerdynamic DT 235 (around $40) are pretty good all-around headphones that you can look into.
I have a pair of XB700s - I can't really speak for sound quality, as I'm not confident enough in my own listening ability to really nitpick, and as it tends to be very subjective anyways. In terms of comfort, though, they're the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn (in the small set of Sennheiser HD 202, 438, AT ATH M50S, Ultrasone HFI 780, Koss Pro DJ100). The padding is actually an inch thick, and it doesn't clamp as tightly as the M50 or the HFI 780.
Sorry for not being specific. Probably just some good headphones that I can use to play Starcraft 2 , watch videos and listen to music. That what I am looking for. Thank you for the advice. I am quite clueless in these kind of things. I was gonna buy some Turtle Beach headphones before i read this thread. Now I know there are better out there for less.
I ended up going with the 419's. On closer inspection and reading about it the sound profile is perhaps a bit better regardless of the dip (other websites corroborate on the information).
But also 2 year warranty is good, and the price is very good. Worst case scenario I end up paying the restocking fee, 15 percent on 50 bucks, not too bad. And if I decide to go with a better pair of headphones, I can use these as a backup or for other things.
Anyone know a good IEM with superb build quality? All the ones I have tried break after a certain amount of time, first one ear starts to sort of go out (but then goes back on), then it goes out completely, then the other ear. It's the same pattern for multiple brands. Is this because the IEMs I'm getting are cheap or am I just not treating them well? If the former is the case, what is a good high quality one?
On August 17 2012 14:46 Nisani201 wrote: Anyone know a good IEM with superb build quality? All the ones I have tried break after a certain amount of time, first one ear starts to sort of go out (but then goes back on), then it goes out completely, then the other ear. It's the same pattern for multiple brands. Is this because the IEMs I'm getting are cheap or am I just not treating them well? If the former is the case, what is a good high quality one?
It depends: What brands are you getting and in what way are you handling them? (i.e. How are you storing them, wrapping them up? Wrapping them around your phone/music player? Not using them on-the-go? Are you getting Skullcandy? Sony? JVC?)
On August 17 2012 14:46 Nisani201 wrote: Anyone know a good IEM with superb build quality? All the ones I have tried break after a certain amount of time, first one ear starts to sort of go out (but then goes back on), then it goes out completely, then the other ear. It's the same pattern for multiple brands. Is this because the IEMs I'm getting are cheap or am I just not treating them well? If the former is the case, what is a good high quality one?
It depends: What brands are you getting and in what way are you handling them? (i.e. How are you storing them, wrapping them up? Wrapping them around your phone/music player? Not using them on-the-go? Are you getting Skullcandy? Sony? JVC?)
They are $30 monoprice headphones-- I can't seem to find them on the site any more though. I do carry them around a lot (in my pocket-- that's why I like IEMs) though normally I just wrap them around my hand and then put them in my pocket. I don't like using a "wrapping method" because it's very time consuming IMO.
On August 17 2012 14:46 Nisani201 wrote: Anyone know a good IEM with superb build quality? All the ones I have tried break after a certain amount of time, first one ear starts to sort of go out (but then goes back on), then it goes out completely, then the other ear. It's the same pattern for multiple brands. Is this because the IEMs I'm getting are cheap or am I just not treating them well? If the former is the case, what is a good high quality one?
It depends: What brands are you getting and in what way are you handling them? (i.e. How are you storing them, wrapping them up? Wrapping them around your phone/music player? Not using them on-the-go? Are you getting Skullcandy? Sony? JVC?)
They are $30 monoprice headphones-- I can't seem to find them on the site any more though. I do carry them around a lot (in my pocket-- that's why I like IEMs) though normally I just wrap them around my hand and then put them in my pocket. I don't like using a "wrapping method" because it's very time consuming IMO.
I've been using the same JVC marshmallow IEMs for an entire year (http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAFX30S-Headphone-Marshmallow-Silver/dp/B005FDOGCU/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1345227346&sr=1-5&keywords=jvc+marshmallow ~10$) without any issues so far. I don't know if that stands for the build quality as I use them whenever I go out of the house or if it's the way I use them, but it may be worth a shot as it's not too much money being thrown around.
These approximate the sound of my old Aiwa's quite closely.
These have a fuzzy distortion effect in the right ear at certain high pitch expressions, but it isnt major, my last headphones did this, and I half expect it to go away with time and use. (its also based on high volumes)
One nice thing is that the headphones have a small angle secondary joint that allows you to angle the headphones away from your head slightly so taking them on and off puts lets stress on the headband. And I also think it allows people with glasses to use them without the headphones squeezing.
Looking to purchase a set of speakers for music listening for the desktop. Currently running SRH840s on Xonar Essence STX. My 2.1 Logitech set up sounds horrible compared to the headphones and I would like to change that.
On August 25 2012 01:06 Womwomwom wrote: For $200, I honestly don't think you'll find anything significantly better. The cheapest "upgrade" would probably be the Audioengine 2s for ~$220 AUD.
Loudspeaker systems can get expensive extremely quickly, even if you buy second hand hardware.
I listed 200$ as USD, sorry to miscommunicate. I'm willing to spend up to $400 AUD for speakers, or whichever of the aforementioned is the highest equivalent ceiling.
Edit: was looking at harmon kardon sound sticks 3 - thoughts? Upgrading from Logitech Z4s
Are there any recommended computer speakers within the $50 range? I'm sure this range is filled with tons of crap just like it is in headphones, and I'd rather have the "best of the worst" rather than the "worst of the worst".
On August 25 2012 01:06 Womwomwom wrote: For $200, I honestly don't think you'll find anything significantly better. The cheapest "upgrade" would probably be the Audioengine 2s for ~$220 AUD.
Loudspeaker systems can get expensive extremely quickly, even if you buy second hand hardware.
I listed 200$ as USD, sorry to miscommunicate. I'm willing to spend up to $400 AUD for speakers, or whichever of the aforementioned is the highest equivalent ceiling.
Edit: was looking at harmon kardon sound sticks 3 - thoughts? Upgrading from Logitech Z4s
Sorry for the very late reply. 2.1 computer systems are all generally middling at best due to their limited size as well as their focus on being lifestyle products. Though, everyone has different standards so audition them if you think they're right for you.
Anyway, for $400 AUD, you have a few options: - The stock answer would be "get the Audioengine A5s". Very good powered speakers. Don't worry about the lack of subwoofer, the bass is still adequate. - You might find proper hifi stores selling stock for cheap. Some micro systems are quite good, like those from Cambridge Audio. - Vintage hardware is also an option but keep in mind many can be quite noisy and suffer from grounding issues. Old 1970s Japanese amplifiers and receivers (i.e Pioneer, Yamaha, Rotel, Luxman) are generally very good, most will still output very nice sound, and look pretty sweet. There's also some other brands but Japanese will generally be the most affordable. A lot of old speakers are still very good, due to the glacially slow progress of loudspeakers. This is generally an option for people who want to play vinyl because all old amps have phono inputs.
When you get proper bookshelf speakers, make sure you position them properly. Tweeters should be at ear height.
On August 26 2012 07:06 Misanthrope wrote: Are there any recommended computer speakers within the $50 range? I'm sure this range is filled with tons of crap just like it is in headphones, and I'd rather have the "best of the worst" rather than the "worst of the worst".
You don't have many options and those options aren't really good in some way or form. The options are basically...Altec Lansing, Logitech, or Sony...?
Just received my pair of Audio Technica AH-700X's. Sound great so far. Can definitely hear some new sounds that previous Siberia V2's and $20 Sennheiser earbuds couldn't pick up. These did come with an adapter for an amp, but I don't think an amp is really necessary for these (right?). Very comfortable headphones but they don't seem to be adjustable. They are not as snug as I would like them to be on my small head but its fine. Its not like they are slipping off. Listening to FLAC music is particularly enjoyable, as I expected it to be.
Ok. so my earplugs died today, Ive gone through 2 sets of Creative HS-730i in the last year, so Im looking for a replacement that will not break on me to easy, I will go up to around 60$
My 7h's decided to break again, so I decided to look for this thread and pay less than these are worth for something better and more reliable. This thread was really helpful to find quality for cheap, thanks!
On August 26 2012 21:03 Firebolt145 wrote: Just got my sennheiser PC360's.
They are beautiful :D
I have been dreaming about those for quite some time but I am thinking of the 350s since they are closed, and slightly cheaper I have HD 555s but I need a mic and the mic on the 350s and 360s Looks amazing and I have to share the 555s with my fiance so it's a bugger having to run around getting my headset since we both fight over who gets to use them since they are so damn comforatable.
My question is how do you like the mic? how is the positioning and I heard it was like of heavy what do you think?
I read through a few pages in this thread and I have absolutely no idea what to look for T_T
I just want a good set of headphones for music (computer/ipod) for under $100 =[ could someone more knowledgeable in this field point me in the right way? A friend recommended the Sony mdr v6, is this a good choice for what I'm looking for? What are some good there alternatives?
Supposedly the sony mdr zx700's are similarly priced with a more balanced out and clearer sound, for a similar price. The mdr v6 are possibly a little outdated is all, newer models such as the one I linked would probably be better for a similar price, but that's not to say the mdr v6 is objectively bad.
Sony V6 are perfectly good and have solid hardware design. It's one of those old designs that are unbreakable. Objectively they're going to be harder to listen to than zx900s because they're monitors. People say the zx900s sound like a better Bower and Wilkins P5 and I think that's kind of true.
^thanks for the above comments, would either of you recommend the Sennheiser Stereo Headphones (HD429)? Asking cuz they're currently on sale... + Show Spoiler +
I listed 200$ as USD, sorry to miscommunicate. I'm willing to spend up to $400 AUD for speakers
lol? our dollar is better than you think buy online
Saved mountains of money buying music gear from the US, from guitars to effects to amplifiers etc Aussie shops rip you off so much that i could afford to ship the same product back and forth between US and AUS around 5 times before it would be cheaper for me to buy it in Australia.
Also half those stores just get whatever they can online just like YOU CAN and put it on shelves... the customer always think that shops have some sort of a magic deal with the supplier, when in reality half the time they dont know the supplier they just sell what they can grab where ever they can grab it.
$400 is just below KRK Rockit 5", so i'd probably be looking at some cheaper M-Audio or Alesis alternatives.
Hope you dont find my advice off the topic, there is some people here who know alot more about Audio gear than I do, but I'm pretty good at not paying more than I should.
Does anyone here have any recommendations for the most comfortable headphones that do NOT clamp down very tight at all? Currently using G35's(I know, not suppose to use gaming headsets!) and they're way too tight. Like unreasonable tight and very uncomfortable after a few hours.
Anyone have any experience with wearing a headset that does not clamp almost all just enough to not randomly fall off and have like bit cloth closed or open ears or something? Preferably < $100.
I listed 200$ as USD, sorry to miscommunicate. I'm willing to spend up to $400 AUD for speakers
lol? our dollar is better than you think buy online
Saved mountains of money buying music gear from the US, from guitars to effects to amplifiers etc Aussie shops rip you off so much that i could afford to ship the same product back and forth between US and AUS around 5 times before it would be cheaper for me to buy it in Australia.
Also half those stores just get whatever they can online just like YOU CAN and put it on shelves... the customer always think that shops have some sort of a magic deal with the supplier, when in reality half the time they dont know the supplier they just sell what they can grab where ever they can grab it.
$400 is just below KRK Rockit 5", so i'd probably be looking at some cheaper M-Audio or Alesis alternatives.
Hope you dont find my advice off the topic, there is some people here who know alot more about Audio gear than I do, but I'm pretty good at not paying more than I should.
Importing means you get slugged by delivery fees and they're considered grey imports so you get no warranty (unless the company specifically mentions international warranty).
On September 29 2012 14:23 HansK wrote: Does anyone here have any recommendations for the most comfortable headphones that do NOT clamp down very tight at all? Currently using G35's(I know, not suppose to use gaming headsets!) and they're way too tight. Like unreasonable tight and very uncomfortable after a few hours.
Anyone have any experience with wearing a headset that does not clamp almost all just enough to not randomly fall off and have like bit cloth closed or open ears or something? Preferably < $100.
Can't you just get the headphones and leave it overnight over a tissue box? If the band is metal, this tends to loosen it up a bit. If its too loose, just bend it back.
On August 25 2012 00:38 etherealfall wrote: Looking to purchase a set of speakers for music listening for the desktop. Currently running SRH840s on Xonar Essence STX. My 2.1 Logitech set up sounds horrible compared to the headphones and I would like to change that.
Price range is sitting at around $200. Thoughts?
I have a pair of srh 840s that I love. It's insanely hard for me to find a pair or speakers I like that sound like them without spending at least 1k except for advent speakers. They are raved about on forums and they're 100 or less used on forums so I decided to give them a try.
I bought a pair of 5012w for 100 used that are my fav speakers and some of the best I've personally heard regardless of price. They sound just like the srh 840s to me. Even better because I like speakers more than headphones.
If you're in cali they tend to go more for at least 100 for a pair. People are being greedy and even asking for 150 now. In vegas the prices are more sane at around 50-100. I bought a pair of advent walnut with the bullnose in front speakers for 40 a couple months ago in vegas. They sound good, but too trebly to me. I have a feeling that they probably color the sound less though as what I think is natural probably has a mid bass hump like the srh 840s do. This isn't going to be a perfect analogy, but the srh 840s sound like the 5012w speakers and the srh 940s sound like the walnut with bullnose front speakers. The "newer" ones I bought still sound awesome, but the 5012w's are heavenly.
If you need help identifying them this thread is great. You have to signup to view the pics, but it's well worth it.
The only thing is since they're old speakers they might need a refoam. I have to refoam one of my 5012w speakers as the outer foam totally came off one and it's starting to come off on the other. Luckily someone already refoamed the newer ones I bought.
I'm using a random old onkyo 2.0 receiver I got off craigslist to power them which works great. Another thing is the speakers sound not listenable to me from the headphone jack on my motherboard, but if I use the audio gd compass I have as the dac (usb from pc) for them they are awesome. With my srh 840s I'm not sure if I could pass a blind test without a/b'ing songs from my compass vs onboard sound.
Just talking about it makes me want to order a refoam kit for my 5012w's and grab a record player again. Will probably be a christmas present to myself. I've listened to a ton of pc speakers and they just don't hold a candle to advent speakers. For me, I don't get that same quality sound until you start spending 500-1500 for book shelf or floor standing speakers depending on if they're used or on sale.
On September 29 2012 14:23 HansK wrote: Does anyone here have any recommendations for the most comfortable headphones that do NOT clamp down very tight at all? Currently using G35's(I know, not suppose to use gaming headsets!) and they're way too tight. Like unreasonable tight and very uncomfortable after a few hours.
Anyone have any experience with wearing a headset that does not clamp almost all just enough to not randomly fall off and have like bit cloth closed or open ears or something? Preferably < $100.
Bose headphones are amazing, but I've only tried them at kiosks. They're probably at every best buy for you to try if you're curious, and the sound quality is much better than other headphones I've tried in normal brick and mortar stores.
I listed 200$ as USD, sorry to miscommunicate. I'm willing to spend up to $400 AUD for speakers
lol? our dollar is better than you think buy online
Saved mountains of money buying music gear from the US, from guitars to effects to amplifiers etc Aussie shops rip you off so much that i could afford to ship the same product back and forth between US and AUS around 5 times before it would be cheaper for me to buy it in Australia.
Also half those stores just get whatever they can online just like YOU CAN and put it on shelves... the customer always think that shops have some sort of a magic deal with the supplier, when in reality half the time they dont know the supplier they just sell what they can grab where ever they can grab it.
$400 is just below KRK Rockit 5", so i'd probably be looking at some cheaper M-Audio or Alesis alternatives.
Hope you dont find my advice off the topic, there is some people here who know alot more about Audio gear than I do, but I'm pretty good at not paying more than I should.
Importing means you get slugged by delivery fees and they're considered grey imports so you get no warranty (unless the company specifically mentions international warranty).
On September 29 2012 14:23 HansK wrote: Does anyone here have any recommendations for the most comfortable headphones that do NOT clamp down very tight at all? Currently using G35's(I know, not suppose to use gaming headsets!) and they're way too tight. Like unreasonable tight and very uncomfortable after a few hours.
Anyone have any experience with wearing a headset that does not clamp almost all just enough to not randomly fall off and have like bit cloth closed or open ears or something? Preferably < $100.
Can't you just get the headphones and leave it overnight over a tissue box? If the band is metal, this tends to loosen it up a bit. If its too loose, just bend it back.
I tried stretching them over my computer case overnight a few times and they're still too tight
It's always going to depend on the person too. Some people complain about the srh 840s having a clamping problem, but they're fine for me. I wear them on avg probably 10 hours a day. I always like to try stuff before I buy it if at all possible. I haven't had many good experiences buying stuff blind even after thorough research.
Just wanted to say that the RE-262's highs and especially bass are definitely underwhelming. Even my packaged SGS3 cheap in-ear headphones had a more forward bass and high.... but I just changed my equalizer settings to boost bass and treble (leaving the amazing mids alone), and HOT DAYUM this is amazinggg :3 just unbelievable haha.
sup guys so i'm looking for a new headset since my old one stopped working T.T i'll be only using it for my pc and i want one with good bass and an at least decent mic budget is about 150 bucks but i'm not yet sure what brand i should buy i was thinking about sennheiser, but i've never had a sennheiser headset so i'm not sure whether or not their headsets are actually good advice plz
Hey guys, I'm looking for new In-ear headphones. I'm looking for something below 40 British pounds, but I would look at 50 pound ones if they are worth it. 40 pounds is around 60ish dollars. Any recommendations? I'm going to be using them in workouts as well if that's necessary to mention.
I am currently using the Audeo Phonak PFE 121s LINK
I got them when they were 140, now they're 200 >.< But they are REALLY comfortable (because Audeo Phonak makes hearing aids) and the sound quality is amazing. I also bought the Shure Black Olives (Earbud pieces) and it makes it sound really good too
Before that I had Audio Technica earbuds, and they were okay and had noise cancelling. But not as good as these PFEs. Also tried my brother's Beats, but the sound quality on my IEMs are much better.
On October 11 2012 10:40 DragoonPK wrote: Hey guys, I'm looking for new In-ear headphones. I'm looking for something below 40 British pounds, but I would look at 50 pound ones if they are worth it. 40 pounds is around 60ish dollars. Any recommendations? I'm going to be using them in workouts as well if that's necessary to mention.
HiFiMan RE0s are very very nice for their price range. They're almost exactly 50 pounds (before VAT or customs or whatnot) and have incredible sound. The highs are particularly good and it's quite accurate, though the bass isn't too strong. Build quality is also quite nice :3
On October 11 2012 10:40 DragoonPK wrote: Hey guys, I'm looking for new In-ear headphones. I'm looking for something below 40 British pounds, but I would look at 50 pound ones if they are worth it. 40 pounds is around 60ish dollars. Any recommendations? I'm going to be using them in workouts as well if that's necessary to mention.
HiFiMan RE0s are very very nice for their price range. They're almost exactly 50 pounds (before VAT or customs or whatnot) and have incredible sound. The highs are particularly good and it's quite accurate, though the bass isn't too strong. Build quality is also quite nice :3
I see, I will consider those then . Anything solid on the 40ish pound range?
I'm looking for something with top-notch audio quality for gaming (mostly SC2 but with occasional FPS games, etc) and with even better microphone quality. I'm going to be streaming and making youtube videos so you can see why mic quality is important. I've been lurking the forums and from what I can gather "gaming" headsets are not in the realm of superb quality.
Sennheiser PC 350 (If you know of a better Sennheiser headset with better mic quality, let me know.)
I'd really like to get the Audio-Technica BPHS1; I've seen Apollo and other people use it for casting/personal videos and it simply has great mic quality, on par with some USB microphones. The only problem is that it only comes with a XLR (mic) and a 1/4" (audio) cable. I could get adapters for these cables but I don't know if that would hinder the quality at all. (Would it?) I have no problem going with the Sennheiser PC 350 if that's the case.
What would you recommend? Any help would be appreciated.
On October 11 2012 10:40 DragoonPK wrote: Hey guys, I'm looking for new In-ear headphones. I'm looking for something below 40 British pounds, but I would look at 50 pound ones if they are worth it. 40 pounds is around 60ish dollars. Any recommendations? I'm going to be using them in workouts as well if that's necessary to mention.
HiFiMan RE0s are very very nice for their price range. They're almost exactly 50 pounds (before VAT or customs or whatnot) and have incredible sound. The highs are particularly good and it's quite accurate, though the bass isn't too strong. Build quality is also quite nice :3
I see, I will consider those then . Anything solid on the 40ish pound range?
Hmm... also Klipsch Image S4s are pretty good for their price. You might be able to find some from 30 to 50 pounds ish. They're also quite well-built and have stronger bass, possibly a bigger soundstage (the music's relative instrument positions is has a wider virtual range, so to speak).
SoundMagci E10's, I can't recommend them enough, got them for 35 dollars, are on par to those in the 60-80 dollar range. Comes very well recommended by head-fi.
On October 11 2012 10:40 DragoonPK wrote: Hey guys, I'm looking for new In-ear headphones. I'm looking for something below 40 British pounds, but I would look at 50 pound ones if they are worth it. 40 pounds is around 60ish dollars. Any recommendations? I'm going to be using them in workouts as well if that's necessary to mention.
HiFiMan RE0s are very very nice for their price range. They're almost exactly 50 pounds (before VAT or customs or whatnot) and have incredible sound. The highs are particularly good and it's quite accurate, though the bass isn't too strong. Build quality is also quite nice :3
I see, I will consider those then . Anything solid on the 40ish pound range?
Hmm... also Klipsch Image S4s are pretty good for their price. You might be able to find some from 30 to 50 pounds ish. They're also quite well-built and have stronger bass, possibly a bigger soundstage (the music's relative instrument positions is has a wider virtual range, so to speak).
Yes, I have the Image S4 and they're amazing. Great bass, sound quality and noise cancelling. However, I've recently noticed that when they rub against clothing you are able to hear some of that contact on low volume. Nonetheless, I recommend them.
On another note, does anyone have a strong opinion of the new V-Moda Crossfade M-100 headphones??? (Link: M-100). The pre-order is available but I am not sure if I should quite buy them... They look amazing in quality and aesthetics as far as I can tell. However has anyone tried V-Moda's headphones like M-80 or LP2? It seems tough to say no to them because apparently Morgan Page and Nervo use them :D, except for the $310 price tag... Thanks~
V-Moda should be legit these days. If you need well-isolating supra-aurals that fold (i.e. good portable headphones), you can probably do a lot worse. I'd assume they're not worse than the M-80s, but these assumptions can get you in trouble in audio land. How many times do you see increasing product numbers and prices in a product line, but worse sound?
On October 22 2012 13:32 phosphorylation wrote: What is the logical upgrade from HD650? I"ve loved my mind but looking for something different. Something still less than 500-600 dollars?
Any idea of different how?
I think if we were to somehow divorce ourselves from the ideas of pricing and product numbers, and we could somehow view headphones from a neutral perspective, you may not really find anything that would be classified as an upgrade. There should be headphones that do certain things better, but an upgrade? HD 650s have pretty much no narrow FR anomalies, some of the best phase response, some of the least ringing / resonances / unwanted energy storage, pretty low distortion (particularly in frequencies where the ear is more sensitive), etc.
What I mean to say is that you may not find much of a consensus, particularly if you don't know what really you're looking for. Good luck.
Yeah, I generally wasn't aiming toward the looks, but the sound (headphones) . I've looked into those, but I am pretty against having battery-powered headphones just because of the lack of convenience.
Yeah, I generally wasn't aiming toward the looks, but the sound (headphones) . I've looked into those, but I am pretty against having battery-powered headphones just because of the lack of convenience.
Those both can be operated without batteries. In fact, in the above review, that's the recommended mode of operation, because the sound is different with the noise canceling on.
Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
These are decently comfortable, but there are other options if you can't get them cheaply ~($100-$120). They don't have any trouble keeping noise in, but their noise attenuation from the outside isn't great.
Easy to drive/not that sensitive to source quality either, which is nice.
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
I'm looking for headphones to use while I work on projects at school. I want the headphones to reduce distractions, so I'd like them to be wireless, comfortable (circumaural), and noise-cancelling.
Am I looking for the right thing in these headphones, and are there any suggestions for a budget < $150?
I'm not sure noise-cancelling is what you want. How loud will your surroundings be? If this is in a library, where people definitely won't be talking loudly, simply closed-back circumaural headphones will be enough.
Noise-cancelling is fantastic for dealing with low frequency noise such as plane engines. I don't really recommend them for anything else to be quite honest.
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
Who knows, I think its best if you try and find a store where you can audition them. Most proper hifi stores, that stock this sort of hardware, have plenty of demo stock for you to play with. They won't bite, hifi stores have to attract customers purely through service. If you don't buy, they'll probably give you a business card or something.
On October 24 2012 19:56 Womwomwom wrote: I'm not sure noise-cancelling is what you want. How loud will your surroundings be? If this is in a library, where people definitely won't be talking loudly, simply closed-back circumaural headphones will be enough.
Noise-cancelling is fantastic for dealing with low frequency noise such as plane engines. I don't really recommend them for anything else to be quite honest.
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
Who knows, I think its best if you try and find a store where you can audition them. Most proper hifi stores, that stock this sort of hardware, have plenty of demo stock for you to play with. They won't bite, hifi stores have to attract customers purely through service. If you don't buy, they'll probably give you a business card or something.
The AD700s are quite bass light though. I agree.
With such a poor frequency range, how do so many people recommend the AD700s? Even my razer carcharias has a better frequency range than those. Is there something else that's better about them that makes up for it?
As far as a store, what sort of places carry things like this? I did a search online and I can't find any places that sell audio technica headphones.
On October 24 2012 19:56 Womwomwom wrote: I'm not sure noise-cancelling is what you want. How loud will your surroundings be? If this is in a library, where people definitely won't be talking loudly, simply closed-back circumaural headphones will be enough.
Noise-cancelling is fantastic for dealing with low frequency noise such as plane engines. I don't really recommend them for anything else to be quite honest.
On October 24 2012 04:31 Xanbatou wrote:
On October 23 2012 18:17 Ckalvin wrote:
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
Who knows, I think its best if you try and find a store where you can audition them. Most proper hifi stores, that stock this sort of hardware, have plenty of demo stock for you to play with. They won't bite, hifi stores have to attract customers purely through service. If you don't buy, they'll probably give you a business card or something.
The AD700s are quite bass light though. I agree.
With such a poor frequency range, how do so many people recommend the AD700s? Even my razer carcharias has a better frequency range than those. Is there something else that's better about them that makes up for it?
As far as a store, what sort of places carry things like this? I did a search online and I can't find any places that sell audio technica headphones.
Frequency range is generally not a good criteria on which to judge a headphone. Reviews and personally listening to them weigh far more than frequency range.
For example, your Razer Carcharias would probably be shat on by the AD700's in terms of sonic reproduction. Having a large frequency range means nothing about how good the headphones are. It only points out what the potential sonic characteristics of the headphones, either bass-light or mid-centric, for example.
The AD700 is bass light. You didn't search properly, because Audio-Technica is sold on Amazon.
On October 24 2012 17:25 Kaminate wrote: I'm looking for headphones to use while I work on projects at school. I want the headphones to reduce distractions, so I'd like them to be wireless, comfortable (circumaural), and noise-cancelling.
Am I looking for the right thing in these headphones, and are there any suggestions for a budget < $150?
I don't think wireless noise cancelling headphones exist at that price point. The Bluetooth Sennheiser PXCs hit the $300 market where they share with the Beats and Bose QCs. There are wired Sennheiser PXCs too at around $300. There's a noise cancelling Audio-Technica ANC7 which is okay for the price at $150-200 I think.
The wired Sennheiser PXC has the best sound. The Bose QC have the best Active Noise Cancelling and comfort. The Bluetooth Senns are wireless. The ANC7 is good budget but doesn't win in any categories.
On October 24 2012 19:56 Womwomwom wrote: I'm not sure noise-cancelling is what you want. How loud will your surroundings be? If this is in a library, where people definitely won't be talking loudly, simply closed-back circumaural headphones will be enough.
Noise-cancelling is fantastic for dealing with low frequency noise such as plane engines. I don't really recommend them for anything else to be quite honest.
On October 24 2012 04:31 Xanbatou wrote:
On October 23 2012 18:17 Ckalvin wrote:
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
Who knows, I think its best if you try and find a store where you can audition them. Most proper hifi stores, that stock this sort of hardware, have plenty of demo stock for you to play with. They won't bite, hifi stores have to attract customers purely through service. If you don't buy, they'll probably give you a business card or something.
The AD700s are quite bass light though. I agree.
With such a poor frequency range, how do so many people recommend the AD700s? Even my razer carcharias has a better frequency range than those. Is there something else that's better about them that makes up for it?
As far as a store, what sort of places carry things like this? I did a search online and I can't find any places that sell audio technica headphones.
Frequency range is generally not a good criteria on which to judge a headphone. Reviews and personally listening to them weigh far more than frequency range.
For example, your Razer Carcharias would probably be shat on by the AD700's in terms of sonic reproduction. Having a large frequency range means nothing about how good the headphones are. It only points out what the potential sonic characteristics of the headphones, either bass-light or mid-centric, for example.
The AD700 is bass light. You didn't search properly, because Audio-Technica is sold on Amazon.
Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. By store, I meant brick and mortar store. I searched online for brick and mortar stores that carried them but did not have any success.
Thanks for the info about frequency range. Should I expect the sound to be all around better with something like the ad700s even though they seem to be lacking bass/mid? I'm not one of those people that has to have their bass really loud, but I do like all parts of my music to be clear and defined.
On October 24 2012 19:56 Womwomwom wrote: I'm not sure noise-cancelling is what you want. How loud will your surroundings be? If this is in a library, where people definitely won't be talking loudly, simply closed-back circumaural headphones will be enough.
Noise-cancelling is fantastic for dealing with low frequency noise such as plane engines. I don't really recommend them for anything else to be quite honest.
On October 24 2012 04:31 Xanbatou wrote:
On October 23 2012 18:17 Ckalvin wrote:
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
Who knows, I think its best if you try and find a store where you can audition them. Most proper hifi stores, that stock this sort of hardware, have plenty of demo stock for you to play with. They won't bite, hifi stores have to attract customers purely through service. If you don't buy, they'll probably give you a business card or something.
The AD700s are quite bass light though. I agree.
With such a poor frequency range, how do so many people recommend the AD700s? Even my razer carcharias has a better frequency range than those. Is there something else that's better about them that makes up for it?
As far as a store, what sort of places carry things like this? I did a search online and I can't find any places that sell audio technica headphones.
Frequency range is generally not a good criteria on which to judge a headphone. Reviews and personally listening to them weigh far more than frequency range.
For example, your Razer Carcharias would probably be shat on by the AD700's in terms of sonic reproduction. Having a large frequency range means nothing about how good the headphones are. It only points out what the potential sonic characteristics of the headphones, either bass-light or mid-centric, for example.
The AD700 is bass light. You didn't search properly, because Audio-Technica is sold on Amazon.
Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. By store, I meant brick and mortar store. I searched online for brick and mortar stores that carried them but did not have any success.
Thanks for the info about frequency range. Should I expect the sound to be all around better with something like the ad700s even though they seem to be lacking bass/mid? I'm not one of those people that has to have their bass really loud, but I do like all parts of my music to be clear and defined.
Oh, well. I'm Canadian, but the only brick and mortar store that I know sells them is probably B&H in New York?
I personally found the AD700 comfortable, but a bit missing in bass. To be fair though, after any extended period of time, your ears adjust to the lack of bass. It depends on your tastes in music really, so listing them would help others try to specify what types of headphones would be your best choice in your price range.
I wouldn't say that the AD700s bleed, but it really depends on the volume you listen at. Some people say my headphones bleed but I never notice it.
Probably? The rather thin bass might be a deal killer but some people don't really want aggressive bass. The reason why audio can get away with so much pseudoscience is because whether or not something sounds good is entirely subjective. Which is why you should only trust your ears and no one else's opinion.
For loudpseakers, for instance, a lot of people cannot stand metal or horn-loaded tweeters because they feel they are revealing and fatiguing. Others love it for the same reason. Different stroke for different folks.
On October 24 2012 19:56 Womwomwom wrote: I'm not sure noise-cancelling is what you want. How loud will your surroundings be? If this is in a library, where people definitely won't be talking loudly, simply closed-back circumaural headphones will be enough.
Noise-cancelling is fantastic for dealing with low frequency noise such as plane engines. I don't really recommend them for anything else to be quite honest.
On October 24 2012 04:31 Xanbatou wrote:
On October 23 2012 18:17 Ckalvin wrote:
On October 23 2012 11:20 Xanbatou wrote: Anyone know of any good quality headphones that are as comfortable as the Razer Carcharias? Say what you will about Razer, but those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. That said, I want to keep those at home for gaming and buy another pair for use at work, but I want to make sure I buy some that are just as comfortable.
Also, it's relatively important that they don't bleed excessively. A little bleed is ok because I won't be blasting music into my ears.
As a sidenote, can someone explain to me why there are so many models of Seinheiser headphones? There are seriously dozens and dozens of headphones offered by them. It's hard to make an educated decision when there are so many options.
A lot of headphones offer comfort. For some unbeknownst reason, sound quality typically is inversely related to comfort.
Sennheiser has a million models because sennheiser is large enough to be able to design and manufacture them. They have perennial powerhouse models that are universally lauded such as the HD25's, and a lot of stinkers that just suck and are terrible value.
those look pretty good. couldn't seem to find any info on how much they leak though. also, is there somewhere I can go that sells these so I can try them?
Who knows, I think its best if you try and find a store where you can audition them. Most proper hifi stores, that stock this sort of hardware, have plenty of demo stock for you to play with. They won't bite, hifi stores have to attract customers purely through service. If you don't buy, they'll probably give you a business card or something.
The AD700s are quite bass light though. I agree.
With such a poor frequency range, how do so many people recommend the AD700s? Even my razer carcharias has a better frequency range than those. Is there something else that's better about them that makes up for it?
As far as a store, what sort of places carry things like this? I did a search online and I can't find any places that sell audio technica headphones.
Frequency range is generally not a good criteria on which to judge a headphone. Reviews and personally listening to them weigh far more than frequency range.
For example, your Razer Carcharias would probably be shat on by the AD700's in terms of sonic reproduction. Having a large frequency range means nothing about how good the headphones are. It only points out what the potential sonic characteristics of the headphones, either bass-light or mid-centric, for example.
The AD700 is bass light. You didn't search properly, because Audio-Technica is sold on Amazon.
Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. By store, I meant brick and mortar store. I searched online for brick and mortar stores that carried them but did not have any success.
Thanks for the info about frequency range. Should I expect the sound to be all around better with something like the ad700s even though they seem to be lacking bass/mid? I'm not one of those people that has to have their bass really loud, but I do like all parts of my music to be clear and defined.
Oh, well. I'm Canadian, but the only brick and mortar store that I know sells them is probably B&H in New York?
I personally found the AD700 comfortable, but a bit missing in bass. To be fair though, after any extended period of time, your ears adjust to the lack of bass. It depends on your tastes in music really, so listing them would help others try to specify what types of headphones would be your best choice in your price range.
I wouldn't say that the AD700s bleed, but it really depends on the volume you listen at. Some people say my headphones bleed but I never notice it.
I'm not too worried about bleeding anymore. According to headphone-info, the ad700s bleed less than my current headphones which I don't think bleed that much, but that might be because I don't listen to music that loud.
As far as taste goes, I have varying taste in music. I listen to a combination of 80s rock (GnR), trance, electro swing, acoustic guitar instrumentals, classical pieces, and a lot of Taylor Swift.
On October 10 2012 00:06 Womwomwom wrote: Get a clip-on mic. Most decent headphones don't come with attached microphones.
A common go-to headphone for bassheads is the Sony XB500. I believe its very affordable too so that's definitely a good thing.
Well I'm sort of on a cheap budget so this seems like a good option. Although do the XB500s keep in sound well? I've had a bit of problems with my earbuds being a bit loud for others. Additionally, would this be a decent clip-on microphone? http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX3193
On October 10 2012 00:06 Womwomwom wrote: Get a clip-on mic. Most decent headphones don't come with attached microphones.
A common go-to headphone for bassheads is the Sony XB500. I believe its very affordable too so that's definitely a good thing.
Well I'm sort of on a cheap budget so this seems like a good option. Although do the XB500s keep in sound well? I've had a bit of problems with my earbuds being a bit loud for others. Additionally, would this be a decent clip-on microphone? http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX3193
They're closed, so sound leakage should be minimal, but isolation could be anything. Yes that is a decent mic for the price, only need higher if you want to do some hobbyist recordings.
Is there a way to adjust the Steelseries Siberia V2 headset to be less tight? The headphones clamp just a tad too tight for someone wearing glasses and after a couple hours it gets a bit uncomfortable because my ears get pushed into my glasses.
On October 25 2012 21:21 Zzoram wrote: Is there a way to adjust the Steelseries Siberia V2 headset to be less tight? The headphones clamp just a tad too tight for someone wearing glasses and after a couple hours it gets a bit uncomfortable because my ears get pushed into my glasses.
My current system is foobar2000k-> KECES DA-151 -> Little Dot mk iii -> sennheiser 650
What would be the most logical upgrade from this? My source is probably the weakest but I am leaning towards a new headphone since my 650 is getting pretty worn out and I believe that transducers make the most difference in SQ. HD650 is pretty flawless but I'd like some thing with more "wow" factor, even at the cost of fidelity.
To be honest, you're not going to find anything that is a logical upgrade. The main thing you're going to do is get stuff that "sounds different" and not "better".
Edit: Wow factor doesn't even mean anything. Do you mean a more "forward" presentation? With such high end hardware I don't think there is any point "upgrading" for the sake of "upgrading" unless there's a very particular sound you're looking for.
Anyway, you're right that the source (i.e. the music itself) is probably the most important thing here. If you mean the DAC, I don't really agree: the differences between good DACs are really small, with loudspeaker systems anyway. But the problem is that often the source is terrible and you can't do anything about it.
I mean you can spend a billion bucks on top of the line audiophile hardware but it isn't going to make badly mastered music have a good soundstage or clear vocals. A lot of music is mastered terribly and there, frankly, isn't anything hardware can really do to really solve this problem. At times, you literally can't follow the vocals from a song without a lyrics sheet because the instrumentals are overpowering them.
The XB500s just came in today. I can say that I've missed out on A LOT. This is definitely an upgrade over my earbuds and was worth every penny Hopefully the clip-on microphone, when it arrives, will impress me as well.
On October 27 2012 12:03 Sovano wrote: The XB500s just came in today. I can say that I've missed out on A LOT. This is definitely an upgrade over my earbuds and was worth every penny Hopefully the clip-on microphone, when it arrives, will impress me as well.
On October 26 2012 15:08 Womwomwom wrote: To be honest, you're not going to find anything that is a logical upgrade. The main thing you're going to do is get stuff that "sounds different" and not "better".
Edit: Wow factor doesn't even mean anything. Do you mean a more "forward" presentation? With such high end hardware I don't think there is any point "upgrading" for the sake of "upgrading" unless there's a very particular sound you're looking for.
Anyway, you're right that the source (i.e. the music itself) is probably the most important thing here. If you mean the DAC, I don't really agree: the differences between good DACs are really small, with loudspeaker systems anyway. But the problem is that often the source is terrible and you can't do anything about it.
I mean you can spend a billion bucks on top of the line audiophile hardware but it isn't going to make badly mastered music have a good soundstage or clear vocals. A lot of music is mastered terribly and there, frankly, isn't anything hardware can really do to really solve this problem. At times, you literally can't follow the vocals from a song without a lyrics sheet because the instrumentals are overpowering them.
Nicely said. Even if there is a wow factor, it'll be from you being shocked by a new audio signature rather than a tangible improvement in the sound. Eventually you'll adjust to the new sound and the "wow" will become shortlived.
Go to an audiophile store, try them out, pick one that you like and agrees with your tastes. Its kind of a bad answer but just about all people on Head Fi will say the same shit like "increase bass depth", "opened up the sound stage", "beats $1,000 amplifiers!", etc. no matter what the amplifier is so how much is their opinion really worth?
The only opinion worth anything is your own. For instance, I hate Arcam amplifiers (boring as sin) but many people seem to like their sound for legitimate reasons (or I hope!). To give you a first step, apparently the Nuforce uDAC2 is a decent unit. Has an internal DAC, is fairly small, and looks pretty slick too.
Can anyone recommend a good microphone (clip-on preferred) to go with non-gaming headphones? Mainly for vent I have ultrasone headphones and a logitech desktop/standalone mic. It is decent but picks up a lot of background noise during the day, and at night when I have to talk quietly ppl barely hear me (max setting). I'm looking for a clip on mic or something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GG34RA/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
I'm currently using a Turtle Beach x12 headset, for both PC/Xbox. + Show Spoiler +
Perfectly happy with the sound/mic quality, but they make my ears bleed... literally. I'm not sure what it is about the fabric, but it rubs against the outside of my ears until they go raw. It's now so agonizing that I have to put tissues between my ears and the headset if I want to wear it.
So, obviously, I'm after a new headset. All I'm looking for is something that's comfortable and has a decent mic, something I can wear for hours at a time without hurting myself, I'm not fussy about sound quality. Preferably in the <$100 price range. A few friends recommended the Steel-series Siberia V2, but the OP doesn't seem a fan. Do you have any recommendations, TL?
edit: nm - I bought Blueball for now, though I might return it and go for PC360 or A40 Wired Headset. I'll use my ultrasones for gigs If I'm getting the message correctly this thread (OP) would not recommend any gaming headset because sound/music quality will be sub-par compared to similarly priced headphones. So I'd guess they would recommend a headphone + separate mic combination. If you do want a gaming headset no matter what than Steel-Series is a good option from what I've read. One of the reasons that people say gaming headphones are bad is that they are not produced by companies that specialize in sound. Bypassing that problem - found the following set by Sennheiser, which obviously specializes in sound. Also I read decent things about it, but it's pricey ($200): http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-360-Headset-Gaming/dp/B003DA4D2U
On November 02 2012 02:09 iokke wrote: edit: nm - I bought Blueball for now, though I might return it and go for PC360 or A40 Wired Headset. I'll use my ultrasones for gigs If I'm getting the message correctly this thread (OP) would not recommend any gaming headset because sound/music quality will be sub-par compared to similarly priced headphones. So I'd guess they would recommend a headphone + separate mic combination. If you do want a gaming headset no matter what than Steel-Series is a good option from what I've read. One of the reasons that people say gaming headphones are bad is that they are not produced by companies that specialize in sound. Bypassing that problem - found the following set by Sennheiser, which obviously specializes in sound. Also I read decent things about it, but it's pricey ($200): http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-360-Headset-Gaming/dp/B003DA4D2U
Opps forgot about your range, also heard corsair vengeance isn't bad for it's price. ($60 wired, $100 wireless)
I personally use a M50 and zalman mic1 combo and beats my Siberia V2s by far. After I bought the two, the V2s felt really cheap and obviously had worse sound quality. Same goes for the mic. I've read that the M50's are pretty bad for the $150 price range though. Any headphones from a company that actually specializes in headphones over $100 would be a lot better than most of those "gaming headsets".
On November 02 2012 02:09 iokke wrote: edit: nm - I bought Blueball for now, though I might return it and go for PC360 or A40 Wired Headset. I'll use my ultrasones for gigs If I'm getting the message correctly this thread (OP) would not recommend any gaming headset because sound/music quality will be sub-par compared to similarly priced headphones. So I'd guess they would recommend a headphone + separate mic combination. If you do want a gaming headset no matter what than Steel-Series is a good option from what I've read. One of the reasons that people say gaming headphones are bad is that they are not produced by companies that specialize in sound. Bypassing that problem - found the following set by Sennheiser, which obviously specializes in sound. Also I read decent things about it, but it's pricey ($200): http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-360-Headset-Gaming/dp/B003DA4D2U
Opps forgot about your range, also heard corsair vengeance isn't bad for it's price. ($60 wired, $100 wireless)
I personally use a M50 and zalman mic1 combo and beats my Siberia V2s by far. After I bought the two, the V2s felt really cheap and obviously had worse sound quality. Same goes for the mic. I've read that the M50's are pretty bad for the $150 price range though. Any headphones from a company that actually specializes in headphones over $100 would be a lot better than most of those "gaming headsets".
They aren't bad per say for $150, there are just newer options around that may be preferred by some. Certainly though, you can commonly get them for ~$120, so there isn't much point paying $150. Also, there are really bad headphones from some companies for over $100, but in general, you are correct there is a huge difference.
Hi, im looking to upgrade my current sennheiser HD 555's to something a little more high end.
I've been looking through a lot of different headphones and amps, where I've decided that the amp should be one of Little Dot's. Nothing like supporting the little companies instead of the big corporations
I haven't decided on headphones though, as it seems to be like a damn jungle out there. I've been looking at the Sennheiser HD 600, which is also the highest price im willing to dish out for a pair of cans. If there is anything besides the HD 600's that will fit my need (Its going to be used primarily for listening to music and playing games from my PC and listening to my vinyl collection) then please tell.
I have around 600$ (+/- a hundred) to use on headphones, amp and maybe a soundcard or DAC for my PC.
On November 02 2012 16:21 Aleteh wrote: Hi, im looking to upgrade my current sennheiser HD 555's to something a little more high end.
I've been looking through a lot of different headphones and amps, where I've decided that the amp should be one of Little Dot's. Nothing like supporting the little companies instead of the big corporations
I haven't decided on headphones though, as it seems to be like a damn jungle out there. I've been looking at the Sennheiser HD 600, which is also the highest price im willing to dish out for a pair of cans. If there is anything besides the HD 600's that will fit my need (Its going to be used primarily for listening to music and playing games from my PC and listening to my vinyl collection) then please tell.
I have around 600$ (+/- a hundred) to use on headphones, amp and maybe a soundcard or DAC for my PC.
The more you spend, the less you should buy blind. In the lower end, there are standout headphones that are just better than other headphones. In the high end, everything is "good" at the very worst and the real difference is that they all sound different.
Also, audio is very subjective so trust what you actually hear. So what I recommend is going into a dedicated audio store, setting a budget, and trying out every single headphone around that budget.
Most proper audio stores that dabble in headphones will have lots of options for you to play with. They will be more than willing to let you bring some CDs/records and your Little Dot amp into the store and play around with their gear. There are infinite options in the $300-500 region from companies like Denon, Audio Technica, Ultrasone, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, etc. so this is basically a must. It'll give you a better impression of each headphone than any Head Fi "flavour of the month impression" will give you.
This also allows you to compare your HD555s with higher end headphones. If its not a lot, then you've saved yourself a lot of money and you won't suffer from buyer's remorse.
In general, avoid OTL (output transformerless) vacuum tube-based output amplifiers if you want to use any lower-impedance headphones, probably some models like HD 555 as well (mid impedance but widely varying). There may be other suitable alternatives for amplifiers, but if you like how it looks, that should be okay, usually. These days, there isn't much to distinguish audio electronics except form factor and looks (excepting output power levels, to some degree), unless you want to design your stuff to sound intentionally different.
There are some mostly-accepted exceptions to everything at high end being good, but definitely it's true that it's mostly a matter of different rather than better. Trying headphones or speakers out for yourself is key.
I'm in need of some purchase consultation. The on-board sound has stopped working so I'm in the market for a new sound card.
Up until now I have not been much of an audiophile at all but I have become somewhat tired of using low budget parts so now I want to experience high quality sound (if nothing but to be able to fully enjoy this .flac music that I bought). I have a gaming headset that I want to eventually upgrade into a mid, mid-high end one, and I also have 2.1 speakers that I may want to upgrade to better 2.1 or 2.0 ones (speakers are less urgent than sound card and headphones at the moment).
For gaming I would use my headset, movies I would use speakers and for music I would use either. In terms of quantity of time spent it would probably look something like:
music > movies > gaming
Music genres are death metal and melodic death metal.
I've been researching sound cards and asked a friend for advice on the xonar essense stx but he said it is overkill for me, that it has too many features I won't use and that it is inferior to its competitors when it comes to speakers. This led me to look at the xonar dsx for its phenomenal price and I've been thinking to spend the money on speakers/headphones instead, if that makes more of a difference considering sound quality. Other cards that interest me thus far are xonar xense, xonar DX and creative x-fi titanium HD.
On speakers, the closest to winning are the Audioengine A5+
Regarding headphones, I am at a complete loss but I would say my budget is in the $200-250 range.
The one thing that I'm just a little irked by, is the over-usage of the word "junk".
"gaming" headset? junk. mp3 files? junk.
This and that, all "junk". I need to ask...how many of us out there, listen to FLAC files for our music? how many of us have our computers in a completely silent room devoid of any other sound? Probably the most important of all - how many of us have good enough ears to pick up all that sound, never mind appreciate all the little details in the music(or even have experience in a musical course in school)? There's an elitist attitude that really doesn't need to be there. IMO some of us here are seeking the "sweet spot" - the right price point which nails all the right things.
All that said, looks like Sennheiser PC350 seems to be the good, all-around headset for our gaming needs.
Question: Which sound card to buy? If I'm not supposed to buy a "gaming" headset - then does that also apply to a soundcard? I notice that a lot of soundcards I've used in the past pick up noise from inside the case and just amplify all that stuff to the headset/speakers. You hear that "hummm" or the "pszzzzz" sound the more you crank the volume up.
*EDIT
I missed the OCN section for sound cards earlier. But suffice to say, this combo appears to be the all-around, good combination for gaming and music:
Sound card: Creative Titanium HD Headset: Sennheiser PC350
Between FLAC and 320kbs MP3 I'll give you but if you know what cymbal crashes actually sound like (from live music or whatever), its quite easy to tell the difference between 128kbs mp3s and whatever. That's besides the point.
You're just throwing around a exaggeration fallacy argument. Yes audiophiles are often stupid spend thousands on HDMI cables and amplifiers. But I don't think the OP, or anyone sensible here, is really suggesting what you are saying at all.
The "sweet spot" is a separate headphone and microphone. This combo is better for a wide range of reasons: - Easy to replace headphone/microphone. So if the headphone dies, you don't have to ditch the microphone. - Separate headphones/microphones are typically better anyway. Sometimes even cost less. - Most gaming headphones look like crap anyway.
That's about it anyway. The "price point" doesn't nail all things unless you absolutely cannot have separate headphones and microphones.
This is just an example, you can replace the headphone with literally anything you prefer. If you don't want as much bass and want better stereo imaging, then there are tons of better sub-$150 headphones than those Sonys. You can't say for a minute that these products are "elitist" but they're probably closer to the "sweet spot" than those Sennheisers are, which I think have really awful bass for a headphone designed for "gaming".
On November 03 2012 01:50 D_K_night wrote: The one thing that I'm just a little irked by, is the over-usage of the word "junk".
"gaming" headset? junk. mp3 files? junk.
This and that, all "junk". I need to ask...how many of us out there, listen to FLAC files for our music? how many of us have our computers in a completely silent room devoid of any other sound? Probably the most important of all - how many of us have good enough ears to pick up all that sound, never mind appreciate all the little details in the music(or even have experience in a musical course in school)? There's an elitist attitude that really doesn't need to be there. IMO some of us here are seeking the "sweet spot" - the right price point which nails all the right things.
All that said, looks like Sennheiser PC350 seems to be the good, all-around headset for our gaming needs.
Question: Which sound card to buy? If I'm not supposed to buy a "gaming" headset - then does that also apply to a soundcard? I notice that a lot of soundcards I've used in the past pick up noise from inside the case and just amplify all that stuff to the headset/speakers. You hear that "hummm" or the "pszzzzz" sound the more you crank the volume up.
Aye? No-one here is being elitist, or I hope they're not. Recommendations made here are typically in the sub $300 range which is hardly "high end" top notch stuff that really isn't good value for money.
Personally, my movie soundtracks and albums that I absolutely adore are FLAC's, whereas the more pop-oriented stuff I am perfectly happy with 320kbps.
"completely silent room devoid of any other sound" = is actually why I love headphones. At any given time, my dog is barking, my brother is watching something on youtube, the vacuum is on etc. My headphones block all of it out so I can enjoy my music.
Everyone is looking for the sweet spot. I've reached mine after three years of trying stuff out and couldn't be happier. The difficult thing is, everyone's sweet spot is different as I outlined in the original post.
Gaming soundcards? Asus Xonar's are always reliable in that regards, but I've had a creative soundblaster card from almost eight years ago that still sounds great. If you want to get rid of the noise inside the case, go for an external DAC, a fiio e10 would do you nicely (:
On November 03 2012 21:13 Womwomwom wrote: Between FLAC and 320kbs MP3 I'll give you but if you know what cymbal crashes actually sound like (from live music or whatever), its quite easy to tell the difference between 128kbs mp3s and whatever. That's besides the point.
On this note, if you obtain lossless files and they sound like shit, it's easier to verify whether they have been reencoded, or if the cd was mastered like shit. You then have a decent archive to convert to your preferred audio format, if you don't like lossless for mobile usage for example.
And most tracks for me are quite easy to tell the difference between cymbals at 192k even (320k is a bit of a stretch though lol, never bothered to try to isolate the difference, and probably can't). 128k is pretty much unlistenable for the more technical styles of music I enjoy.
This week I've been researching/picking out a headset or a headphone + mic combo and decided to share my findings to hopefully help the next guy. This will be especially useful for those who are looking for quality and can afford to buy in $100-$300 range. My focus was on gaming/communication while minimizing sacrifice in other aspects, such as sound quality when listening to music etc. I am by no means an expert so take this with a grain of salt, just reflecting what I've read.
1. First decide if you want open-back or closed-back headphones to narrow your search. TLDR: get open-back if leaking sound from headphones or outside noise isn't an issue. Open below for more info (how do you name a spoiler tag?) + Show Spoiler +
From what I've read, open-back headphones generally sound better and have better sound-stage (great for spotting enemies in FPS) at equal price. The draw back is that they leak sound out and let sound from outside in. So as a rule of thumb, especially with gaming in mind, if you are in a quiet environment and won't disturb others, get open-back. If the outside sound is a concern to you or sound "leaking" from headphones will disturb others you will need closed headphones. If you are in an extremely loud environment you might want to focus on noise-cancelling headphones, but I haven't read much about that. Knowing right away if you are looking for open or closed headphones will help you narrow your search and save you time.
2. Addressing the "Do Not Buy Headsets", potential solutions, recommendations if you have to buy a headset: TLDR: OP is pretty much right, but if you have the money and must have one, check out PC360 or MMX300. + Show Spoiler +
From what I've read, the OP is pretty much right. Avoid them if you can because you will your sound quality/price ratio will suffer drastically. You are much better off buying good headphones and using a desktop mic, a clipon mic, or a modded attachable mic. If you just have to have a headset, first consider the modded mic I'll describe in point 3. If you still want a headset and have money to spend to spare, I have 2.5 recommendations that will give you great gaming experience + will still be pretty good for over tasks. I was in this category because due my gaming environment I needed a mic that is close to my face soon and the attachable mic is out of stock:
#1 - Sennheiser PC360, about $200 but you an get them for $160 + shipping here: http://www.dakmart.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=pc360&osCsid=3ga825dcsb92a2jsir18pc5pe7&x=0&y=0 I really, really wanted to get those until I realized that they are open-back and my wife would kill me if I bought them. Sound quality and soundstage is amazing for a headset, and they are still good for music etc. Mic is supposed to be very good. Controls are conveniently located on the headphone and mic is muted by raising it. If you have the money, open-back is ok, and want a headset, buy this pair.
#2 Beyerdynamic MMX300, about $400, but sometimes drops to $300. Again good all-around very sound quality, some reviews said its better than PC360's, but it's waaay to expensive... Still, it's great for gaming, very good mic, very good soundstage for closed cans. This is what I ended up buying, BUT I bought used for $217 in hopes that they will be in good operating condition (dont care about scratches etc., just sound quality). For $400 I couldn't really recommend them unless money is no object and you absolutely totally have to have a headset, because for $400 you could buy a $30 ModMic and spend that $370 on much better sounding headphones!!
Another good quality closed headphone I read a little about is PC350, if closed headset is a must, research it. I haven't read too much about it because MMX300 quality is supposedly a lot better and I didn't want to sacrifice that.
Also I read a lot of negative things about gaming headsets from Razor and other gaming companies, and my understanding was that they serve their purposes ok, but you can always get a better quality headphone + mic for the same price. If you have time, stay away and do research first. If you don't wanna bother, go for it, they aren't absolutely horrible like some people say.
3. Some mic recommendations to complement headphones: TLDR: www.modmic.com - good mic that attaches to headphones. + Show Spoiler +
If you buy headphones (good for you), and need a mic, I found 3 options, ModMic being my favourite: #1 - ModMic. Go to http://www.modmic.com/ to see precisely how it works, but it's basically a mic that attaches to your headphone. You can take it off and swivel it up/down just like on headsets. Sound quality is supposed to be very good, 4.9 stars on amazon and I've read good things about it on forums. Shouldn't pick up too much outside sound. This is the solution I was looking for, unfortunately it is out of stock at least for a month. It's $30, but you will save a lot more by buying headphones instead of a headset. #2 - Desktop mic - simplest, options, there are a few good ones out there. The problem is most are omnidirectional and will pick up other sounds in your room. My friends for example gave me shit because they could hear the TV while I was talking. If outside noise isn't in issue this is a simple and often an inexpensive solution. There are cardioid (unidirectional) standalone mics you can buy that pick up less noise. I tried Blue SnowBall and liked a lot (around $60). It has a cardioid setting, which picked up less noise than my previous desktop mic, but it was still too much for me. #3 - Clip on mic. Another solution I've considered is clipon mic, such as this one from zalman: http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ Inexpensive and according to many it does the job just fine, but some there are some complaints there; also I think I've read that it picked up too much noise as in loud environments as well. Costs like $8 though
Finally, the article I link below does a great job of reviewing and comparing a lot of gaming Dolby headphones while keeping overall sound quality in mind. And it is up to date! Must read if you are shopping for a pair. Actually this article and modmic are the main reasons I even started writing this.
Also might be good to add Mic section to the OP or to mention ModMic there. This is a perfect complement to the Do Not Buy Headsets premise, since headphone + modmic = headset. Wish I found it earlier, and came across it by accident on one of the forums; don't want others to miss it since it seems like a great solution.
Hi, I got a question. I got a DAC/AMP and HD650 and I plug the amp into the usb in the computer. But the computer has no sound card, is that okay because I already have a headphone amplifer?
As a total noob to headphone brands, I would love someone's advice.
I am thinking about asking for a set of headphones for christmas that I can use to play the drums to that have some decent quality compared to the cheap $80 sony's I have right now. I either play along acoustically and listen straight from my mp3 player, or use my electronic kit and hook my mp3 player up to the sound module on my set, and then use the audio-out for the set of headphones so that I get both mp3 sound and kit sound. I say this because the mp3 player has a 3.5mm jack and the module a 6.5mm, if it has an adapter, would that have an effect on the audio quality as compared to a dedicated 6.5 mm?
Since there will be a ton of outside noise, I assume noise isolating or cancelling would be preferred. Also, since I will be supplying the kick for the songs I'm playing, I'm not overly concerned with the strength of the drum bass (aside from hearing some sick bass (guitar) lines. I listen to a lot of metal, classic, and indie rock.
I'm thinking a budget of somewhere in the $200 range, max $250, possibly to be paid partly by me and partly by the gifter :D There seem to be a lot of options, which is daunting to say the least. Also I live in Calgary if it matters.
Any input on the matter would be greatly appreciated!
On November 05 2012 22:07 OneBaseKing wrote: Hi, I got a question. I got a DAC/AMP and HD650 and I plug the amp into the usb in the computer. But the computer has no sound card, is that okay because I already have a headphone amplifer?
The point of having a DAC/amp is that you can bypass the computer's original audio circuitry or any other sound card or interface, so its quality (also existence) does not matter. The DAC is doing the D/A conversion... go figure.
As a total noob to headphone brands, I would love someone's advice.
I am thinking about asking for a set of headphones for christmas that I can use to play the drums to that have some decent quality compared to the cheap $80 sony's I have right now. I either play along acoustically and listen straight from my mp3 player, or use my electronic kit and hook my mp3 player up to the sound module on my set, and then use the audio-out for the set of headphones so that I get both mp3 sound and kit sound. I say this because the mp3 player has a 3.5mm jack and the module a 6.5mm, if it has an adapter, would that have an effect on the audio quality as compared to a dedicated 6.5 mm?
Since there will be a ton of outside noise, I assume noise isolating or cancelling would be preferred. Also, since I will be supplying the kick for the songs I'm playing, I'm not overly concerned with the strength of the drum bass (aside from hearing some sick bass (guitar) lines. I listen to a lot of metal, classic, and indie rock.
I'm thinking a budget of somewhere in the $200 range, max $250, possibly to be paid partly by me and partly by the gifter :D There seem to be a lot of options, which is daunting to say the least. Also I live in Calgary if it matters.
Any input on the matter would be greatly appreciated!
Apparently a popular drummer's headphone is the Beyerdynamic DT 770 M. Beyerdynamic has several versions of the 770—the M is the monitoring version. Or if you can't find it, one of the Pro versions. All of these headphones isolate a lot, with M > Pro > Premium in terms of isolation.
Sound is a bit bass (particularly sub-bass) and treble-tilted, though good. Despite the clamping, it should be comfortable, unlike many other headphones with decent isolation. The pads are big and soft, and they go around the ears.
Audio cabling / connectors generally don't matter, except when they're broken (and a couple other exceptions). 6.35mm and 3.5mm jacks: any is fine, and adapters are fine too. The larger size is just less prone to breaking and contact issues after many insertions. It's just electrical conductors passing audio-frequency signals at relatively short distances, way way way less than a wavelength. There's not much to go wrong usually.
Hi guys, This is a very good thread, full of useful information. I'm thinking of buying the Bose AE2i. It seems to fit my needs: good quality, decent passive isolation, excellent confort, and in my price range. Does anyone have it? What is your feedback? Anyone has a reason why I should not buy it? Thanks !
How do the Astro A40's compare to the Sennheiser HD 598's?
Sennheiser HD 598 -http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=asc_df_B0042A8CW210515011?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B0042A8CW2
Hello there, sorry if this is retarded question but i was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for some headphones/headset which will be largely used for listening to music (rock,metal,jazz,blues that sort of thing) but it would be also usable for gaming (it doesn't matter that much, but it would be nice). Noise canceling would be nice thing to have since i live in a noisy neighborhood, but my biggest problem is money. I have ~50$ (give or take 10). I know that i can't get anything good for it, but everything is an improvement from what i have now (some generic headset for 5$). Oh and one more thing, it would be great if they had microphone (not necessity, but it would help out a lot). Thank you in advance and if the question is stupid feel free to delete it, but i would be grateful if someone can give me suggestion via PM or somehow.
There is a SICK deal on the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II at Amazon. They're typically ~$190-200. Right now, $107 and sold by Amazon so you know you're safe buying them. I'm so happy, I had JUST decided yesterday I was going to get these (I was a bit torn between these and the Beyerdynamic DT 1350, but this just seals the deal):
Just as a little personal comment: I know most people strongly prefer around-the-ear headphones instead of on-ear. That doesn't work for me. Around-the-ear stuff gives me headaches (anything pressing even very lightly on my head tends to do that). So I've always used on-ear headphones and never had comfort issues.
hey, so can anyone help me a bit since i'm in a pickle. I'm currently torn between 9 headphones, so your input on any of them would be greatly appreciated. Those are: Samson SR850 Superlux HD 681 senheiser HD 202 II Koss PortaPro Denon AH-P372 Panasonic RP HTX7 Maxell DHP-II MEElectronics HT-21 Panasonic RP-HTF600-S
They would primarily used for listening to music/movies and a bit of gaming (sc and dota mostly). Music i listen is mostly rock/metal/jazz/blues so if any of these excels in that department would nice to know. My soundcard is integrated if it helps.
On November 13 2012 06:31 Kotreb wrote: hey, so can anyone help me a bit since i'm in a pickle. I'm currently torn between 9 headphones, so your input on any of them would be greatly appreciated. Those are: Samson SR850 Superlux HD 681 senheiser HD 202 II Koss PortaPro Denon AH-P372 Panasonic RP HTX7 Maxell DHP-II MEElectronics HT-21 Panasonic RP-HTF600-S
They would primarily used for listening to music/movies and a bit of gaming (sc and dota mostly). Music i listen is mostly rock/metal/jazz/blues so if any of these excels in that department would nice to know. My soundcard is integrated if it helps.
My brother has the Superlux HD 681, they sound good, are really cheap and impressively durable. Would totally recommend them, but don't know anything about the others.
Anyone know if I'd need an amp for the DT770 Pro 80 Ohms? I was thinking about getting maybe a Xonar DG for my PC and something like an Astro Mixamp for Xbox 360? Would they be sufficient enough?
On November 16 2012 06:19 Mackem wrote: Anyone know if I'd need an amp for the DT770 Pro 80 Ohms? I was thinking about getting maybe a Xonar DG for my PC and something like an Astro Mixamp for Xbox 360? Would they be sufficient enough?
Depends on how fussy you are, is the best answer there is.
On November 16 2012 21:32 xrayEU wrote: Thinking of buying one of these two headphones: Shure SRH940-E AKG K 701
Anyone with any experience at all?
I got AKG 701s and really liking em, tho I doubt they'll do any good without a proper sound card or amplifier. But I can recommend Heed's CanAmp, ESI JULI@ and musical blue RCAs.
On November 16 2012 06:19 Mackem wrote: Anyone know if I'd need an amp for the DT770 Pro 80 Ohms? I was thinking about getting maybe a Xonar DG for my PC and something like an Astro Mixamp for Xbox 360? Would they be sufficient enough?
Depends on how fussy you are, is the best answer there is.
Just wanted to know if they'd be decent enough (Obviously they're not going to be audiophile level)
Anyone has any information on these usb sound card adaptors? My stock sound card is EXTREMELY HORRIBLE, it's a very old mobo and the one that I had before this one had better sound, so I absolutely need a new sound card, but I'm wondering if these adaptors can do the job for me, since they're considerably cheaper
Budget: under 120 dollars. Open or closest doesn't matter. I will be using it for call of duty on the pc and listening to music or movies. If it can plug into my iPhone that would be great but it isn't necessary.
I need it mostly for directional sound.
I've seen great things about the AD700s. Any recommendations? I'm in Florida USA
The Register had a pretty good review on Ten... Gaming Headsets priced between £40 and £250, all available on Amazon.co.uk (and I assume on all other Amazon sites as well)
Budget: $150 max Closed, Circumaural Use: Music listening, no amp, no need for portability. Some gaming (mostly D3 and SC2).
I'm transitioning from Grado SR80i supra-aural open-back headphones into something that will work for slightly more casual listening when I also need a little isolation. I've been really interested in the Audio-Technica M50 as it seems like they have really excellent sound for their price point. Has anyone here tried it out or does anyone have other suggestions?
I just went through this process myself. I never bought high end headphones before so I did a bit of research. And I bought them because I listen to a shit-ton of music, while I'm playing StarCraft 2 and usually when I'm doing anything else.
I used this link as sort of a primer on headphones. Much like the mechanical keyboard thread where the OP drops lots of general knowledge, I found this to be the same thing.
Then I saw this list and started hunting down some of the headphones to listen to. I've heard the following:
Audio Technica ATH-M50 My roommate had these and I got to listen to them. I really liked how they sounded and the pads are ultra comfortable. I don't exactly remember the sound quality since this was a few months back so forgive me. The pads were either real leather or a really good fake. The headphones are closed back. However, they're SO BIG. I really had an issue with the size and weight. I kinda felt like I was working at the airport tarmac and had those ear protectors on. Or the big ass ear muffs they had at WCS or any other event. The price was a bit steep for me when I was looking again recently.
Bose QuietComfort 15 These headphones are closed back and have noise cancelling so it seems like you're in a vacuum. The sound is really warm and rich. The bass is really nice as well. The cups are comfortable but a little tight around the ears and they seem to pick up a lot of the oils in your skin. My issue with these is that for the price I'm paying, the construction seemed a bit flimsy and it was just not in my budget. Also, if you have these on, you're not listening to anything else. So if you're looking for something in the office or at home that's fine, but anywhere in public and you won't hear ANY outside noise.
You can listen to these at Best Buy or Micro Center. Or if you're lucky and have a Bose store at the mall, they'll have these as well.
Sennheiser HD 280s This was my second choice for headphones. Really clear, good amount of bass without being overkill; it was a clear and crisp sound. They are also closed back so the outside sound is muffled but the music sounds great. The cups are huge and very comfortable on your head. They are a bit big though, so a bit of extra weight might be an issue. And again, you can't really hear any outside noise. The price point on these was in my budget range of about $100.
You can listen to these at Best Buy as well.
Grado SR-80i I bought these after listening to 2 songs. They're amazing. They're nice and light. And despite what I've read online about the cups being too hard, I think they're the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. The sound? They're open back so it's almost like you're on stage with the artists when they play. The bass is just right and the music sounds very natural and breathes. So in other words, you can hear what's going on around you as well as the music. I was blown away by the sound to be honest. However, the HD 280s were a very close 2nd. These headphones were right in my budget zone.
I got these at a specialty store in Ohio. They had a pair that I could demo. If you want to try a pair, you can use this link to try and find a place near you that sells Grados. You can see if they demo as well.
Now I heard that Guitar Centers carry a lot of good headphones that are listed in the Lifehacker list but that they don't allow you try them on. I'm sure you can go and find out yourself but I got lucky and found all the pairs I wanted.
I hope this helps a lot of people who were saying they're a bit noob-y to headphones. I'm only on my first pair of high quality headphones myself. Please feel free to add your comments to what I've written.
Hey guys. What would be a good headset betwen 20-60$ (loose but would rather not go over unless for a good reason)? Uses would be skype and starcraft, hours+ at both, and I wouldn't mind if they were good for music either.
Priority would be comfort over long hours, and then sound quality (obviously it needs to have some decent quality though).
I've had a logitech G330 for like 3 years now and it's getting old. I don't mind the super-aural, but over the ear seems like a better choice (the one that fits on top so nothing presses against your ear) because it would be more comfortable over the long run. However, I am not really sure what to grab, since there are so many choices nowadays.
Also, does anybody know a good, cheap pair of earbuds for listening to music? (An integrated mic would be a huge plus)
I was thinking about this Tritton headset, because it has such good reviews, but I don't know how it is value wise, although it seems to be pretty good. I assume the "for xbox 360" doesn't actually matter - it'll work fine with a PC?
Also thinking about the CM Storm Ceres-400. I know it said "don't get a gaming brand," but I love my CM storm keyboard (and I think it has insanely good value) and I like the look of these more, if anybody knows anything about them, or wants to add input on CM headsets?
Are there any 2.0 speakers similar to Audioengine for computers? I want to avoid having to get a audio receiver for bookshelf style speakers. or a place to get audioengine A2 or A5 for cheap?
On November 16 2012 06:19 Mackem wrote: Anyone know if I'd need an amp for the DT770 Pro 80 Ohms? I was thinking about getting maybe a Xonar DG for my PC and something like an Astro Mixamp for Xbox 360? Would they be sufficient enough?
Depends on how fussy you are, is the best answer there is.
Just wanted to know if they'd be decent enough (Obviously they're not going to be audiophile level)
The headphones or the potential sources? For the headphones, I would say they actually are entry level audiophile headphones (They are well regarded on Head-fi, though these headphones can be divisive at times when it comes to opinions due to the bass-heavy nature they have). I think they are incredibly good headphones and sound amazing. I own a limited edition 32 Ohm set of Dt770 Pros and I absolutely adore them (mine are designed to be used without amps. You might still be able to find this version. They were a limited run). For the 80 Ohm you might be okay unamped but they may sound kinda muffled.
Also, in terms of sound quality, I would put them far above either my Senn HD555 or my Senn HD280 Pro. The DT770 may be a bass-heavy headphone but they are still accurate sounding. The bass in them isn't overpowering either unless you EQ your music that way. I listen to tons of bass-heavy music and these headphones are about as good as you can get for that. They're great for all music but they truly shine with bass-heavy electronic music.
Edit: Also, they're built to withstand anything. The entire frame is metal.
On November 27 2012 10:32 wei2coolman wrote: Are there any 2.0 speakers similar to Audioengine for computers? I want to avoid having to get a audio receiver for bookshelf style speakers. or a place to get audioengine A2 or A5 for cheap?
Other options: - Swans - Near-field monitors - Proper microsystems (i.e. Denon). They come with an external amplifier but they're very small so you can easily tuck it away somewhere.
If you're looking for extremely cheap but good power speakers, stop looking. The A2s are pretty much the cheapest you're going to get.
I'm also wondering about new speakers for my computer, with the holidays coming up. I'm currently using a several year old 2.1 set from altec lansing that I'm "borrowing" from my brother, and before that, a REALLY cheap set of 2.1 ($20) from logitech. I've done some research, and at the $100-$150 price range, it seems that people seem to like either the klipsch promedia 2.1, or harmon kardon soundsticks. Is there anything else around this price range worth considering? Or are there far better set-ups at a slightly higher price range?
On November 28 2012 01:58 Wild Weasel wrote: I'm also wondering about new speakers for my computer, with the holidays coming up. I'm currently using a several year old 2.1 set from altec lansing that I'm "borrowing" from my brother, and before that, a REALLY cheap set of 2.1 ($20) from logitech. I've done some research, and at the $100-$150 price range, it seems that people seem to like either the klipsch promedia 2.1, or harmon kardon soundsticks. Is there anything else around this price range worth considering? Or are there far better set-ups at a slightly higher price range?
Could always look at passive speakers + amp/receiver, if you have the desktop space for it.
Like with what you said above, I'd rather not deal with that, and are there even good options of passive speakers and a receiver at the $100-150 price range?(Could maybe go up to $200) Although, if it fits the price and is easy to set up, I'm open to suggestions. Also, if it helps, the speakers would be for either movies or TV shows, or whenever I game or listen to music without my headphones
I know some of the lower end bookshelf speaker pairs are fairly affordable (like ~70 bucks)~, but I personally can't vouch for their quality, though I have read that some of them can be pretty good for the buck, like Daytons, Polk, or Sony ones.
The biggest issue is finding amp/receiver that goes well with them.
I'm still a little wary of bookshelf speakers, since I don't have a ton of room on my desk for really large speakers and a receiver, which is why I was looking primarily at computer speakers. Most of those bookshelf speakers don't come with a sub either. But do some of those 2.0 sets have enough bass to compete with some of the cheaper 2.1 sets that do have one? Because I was leaning towards the Klipsch speakers, but would something like the Audioengine A2s be a lot better for not that big a price jump?
On November 28 2012 09:20 Wild Weasel wrote: I'm still a little wary of bookshelf speakers, since I don't have a ton of room on my desk for really large speakers and a receiver, which is why I was looking primarily at computer speakers. Most of those bookshelf speakers don't come with a sub either. But do some of those 2.0 sets have enough bass to compete with some of the cheaper 2.1 sets that do have one? Because I was leaning towards the Klipsch speakers, but would something like the Audioengine A2s be a lot better for not that big a price jump?
I would say the A2's probably have more depth over all in terms of sound, so the sound "travels further" if you know what i mean. But, from what I heard the Klipsch are very nice in terms of sound quality, so I dunno how the overall sound quality compares. The main reason I'm switching out my logitech x540 for bookshelf speakers is that I want more depth, and bookshelf speakers are a great way to do so.
The Klipsch ProMedias (I'm assuming you're talking about them) have never really impressed me because it has the same problem as all 2.1 computer systems: the satellites are so small that every ounce of bass is coming from the subwoofer. This is good if you want to shatter windows but not much else. They're comparatively awful for music because the bass is nothing but loud and boomy.
Bookshelf speakers typically need proper placement so take that into account. We're talking about stuff like making sure they're not too close to walls if they have rear firing bass ports and making sure the tweeters are at ear level. If you're auditioning speakers at a proper audio store and wonder why they sound so good at the showroom and awful at home, look at the room and how the speakers are positioned.
I'm looking for a cheap DAC to hold me over until I have the money to drop on a more expensive one. Based on this review: http://nwavguy.blogspot.ca/2011/10/uca202-dac-take-2.html I've been considering this one. Does anyone here have any experience using it?
I trust his reviews pretty well since he does a very thorough range of tests and I built my amp (O2) based on schematics that he engineered, and I love it. But I was hoping for other insight/opinions. Any help much appreciated!
So Wom, if I were to get bookshelf speakers, would it be a problem if I put them on my desk, on either side of my monitor? Or should I find something to put them on to raise them up a few inches? And which ones would you recommend? Because I can see several different 2.0 sets in my price range. There are Alesis M1 Active 520, M-Audio AV40, Audioengine A2, and others.
On November 28 2012 14:55 Womwomwom wrote: The Klipsch ProMedias (I'm assuming you're talking about them) have never really impressed me because it has the same problem as all 2.1 computer systems: the satellites are so small that every ounce of bass is coming from the subwoofer. This is good if you want to shatter windows but not much else. They're comparatively awful for music because the bass is nothing but loud and boomy.
One, it depends on the music source, and two, if you're playing the bass at a bad level for the song, of course it'll be loud and boomy (although I'm not sure what you want bass to be...). If you turn the bass all the way down on the sub, the satellites don't do a bad job, but again, it's dependant on the song.
I got the ProMedia 2.1s last year and they've been phenomenal. A few of my friends are audiophiles and they have their crazy expensive setups and I hear what movies and music can truly sound like, but I've never been that hardcore about it (or as rich as them). Out of hearing their setups, and trying a lot of different 2.1 options out there, the ProMedias are pretty much the best value that I've seen/heard.
I always used to be a headphone/headset only person; always simply playing FPS games and such, I shunned speakers. But, my playing time went down with FPS', and now I find myself always using my speakers for music, movies to the point I don't bother watching Netflix or movies from my Xbox on my TV, simply because the sound is so nice through the Klipsch speakers.
Looking to buy a new pair of headphones. Budget is ~100$ but would prefer to spend 50-60$. Looking for over the ear headphones. They must be closed - I don't want to be leaking sound.
Another thing that is important to me is the headband - I would prefer something similar to the Steelseries Siberia v2 because I don't like to worry about breaking the headband.
Any recommendations? I've checked different models but since I don't know how well they sound (and more $ =/= better sound) I decided to come to you guys for advice.
On December 01 2012 00:06 ShaPeLesS wrote: Hey TL!
Looking to buy a new pair of headphones. Budget is ~100$ but would prefer to spend 50-60$. Looking for over the ear headphones. They must be closed - I don't want to be leaking sound.
Another thing that is important to me is the headband - I would prefer something similar to the Steelseries Siberia v2 because I don't like to worry about breaking the headband.
Any recommendations? I've checked different models but since I don't know how well they sound (and more $ =/= better sound) I decided to come to you guys for advice.
Sony MDR V6 were going for 40dollars at best buy on blackfriday, maybe you can get one for cheap still.
On November 28 2012 14:55 Womwomwom wrote: The Klipsch ProMedias (I'm assuming you're talking about them) have never really impressed me because it has the same problem as all 2.1 computer systems: the satellites are so small that every ounce of bass is coming from the subwoofer. This is good if you want to shatter windows but not much else. They're comparatively awful for music because the bass is nothing but loud and boomy.
One, it depends on the music source, and two, if you're playing the bass at a bad level for the song, of course it'll be loud and boomy (although I'm not sure what you want bass to be...). If you turn the bass all the way down on the sub, the satellites don't do a bad job, but again, it's dependant on the song.
I got the ProMedia 2.1s last year and they've been phenomenal. A few of my friends are audiophiles and they have their crazy expensive setups and I hear what movies and music can truly sound like, but I've never been that hardcore about it (or as rich as them). Out of hearing their setups, and trying a lot of different 2.1 options out there, the ProMedias are pretty much the best value that I've seen/heard.
I always used to be a headphone/headset only person; always simply playing FPS games and such, I shunned speakers. But, my playing time went down with FPS', and now I find myself always using my speakers for music, movies to the point I don't bother watching Netflix or movies from my Xbox on my TV, simply because the sound is so nice through the Klipsch speakers.
Yes, that's the point of a system with a subwoofer. Movies and games they're wonderful since the subwoofer is the most important aspect of your system.
The ProMedias are some of the best 2.1 computer systems (I think the Swan M10s are better) but they have all the problems lower end 2.1 systems have. Things like a gap between the satellite and subwoofer's range, the subwoofer doesn't extend very deep (what do you expect honestly? bass extension is probably only slightly better than mid sized bookshelves to be honest), and a fairly noisy amplifier. I'm not saying they're bad but I'm definitely pretty picky with these things.
For music, you don't want the bass to be boomy. The difference between boomy bass is well...a lack of clarity. I think the best way to explain it is to get some Beats Audio headphones and something like the AKG K702s and listen to a band with a good drummer (i.e. The Police).
For music, the source matters but I'm not convinced they're better than entry level powered 2.0 systems like the Audioengines. For most genres of music, I really think you're better off with properly positioned bookshelves.
Also just because they're audiophiles doesn't meant they know what they're doing.
Had some fantastic advice from the site previously for my keyboard and mouse, so i am looking to upgrade my headset. I currently have the Steelseries Siberia V2 Headset in blue and white. I got it off ebay. Ive used it for approximately 6 months and i just dont get on with it. It clamps to my head causing pain and also squashes my ears which is uncomfortable during any long SC2/DOTA2 sessions. Reading around, a lot of people and sites suggest purchasing seperate headphones and mic. Which i can understand.
My use will be for several things, i game a lot including SC2, DOTA2, BF3, Unreal Tournament etc so they need to be good to that. I watch a lot of films and streams and listen to a wide variety of music from classical through to indie rock to hardhouse. So i really need a jack of all trades set of headphones.
For headphones, i have come across these headphones reasonably priced, well reviewed online and seem to tick all the boxes. Has anyone purchased these? Are they as good as they appear on paper?
Hey TL, I'm searching for In-Ear Headsets for gaming and also for listening to music in the train. My Budget is around 100 Euro, maybe 150 Euro. I already made some research but i don't really see what headsets are good so I was looking for brands I know build good stuff, but they alle have some disatvanteges. What is important to me: - Good Sound (obv.) - Real In-Ear not like the standard apple headphones for example - Solid build, so they survive allday use - Shut out enviroment noises (at least most) - Simple Design
So these Headphones from Bose look promising but the website says they dont cancel enviroment sound. these Headphones I have my Sound System by this German manufacturer and I really like it but I don't know if these Headphones are any good Has anyone heard about them? Or has anyone other suggestions for headsets in this price range that are solid build and have good sound all together?
On December 07 2012 23:15 Compater wrote: Hey TL, I'm searching for In-Ear Headsets for gaming and also for listening to music in the train. My Budget is around 100 Euro, maybe 150 Euro. I already made some research but i don't really see what headsets are good so I was looking for brands I know build good stuff, but they alle have some disatvanteges. What is important to me: - Good Sound (obv.) - Real In-Ear not like the standard apple headphones for example - Solid build, so they survive allday use - Shut out enviroment noises (at least most) - Simple Design
So these Headphones from Bose look promising but the website says they dont cancel enviroment sound. these Headphones I have my Sound System by this German manufacturer and I really like it but I don't know if these Headphones are any good Has anyone heard about them? Or has anyone other suggestions for headsets in this price range that are solid build and have good sound all together?
All of these headphones are extremely well recieved among the headphone loving crowd over at Head-fi. I recently purchased a pair of Hifiman RE 262's for 100$ and I'm loving them.
On December 07 2012 23:15 Compater wrote: Hey TL, I'm searching for In-Ear Headsets for gaming and also for listening to music in the train. My Budget is around 100 Euro, maybe 150 Euro. I already made some research but i don't really see what headsets are good so I was looking for brands I know build good stuff, but they alle have some disatvanteges. What is important to me: - Good Sound (obv.) - Real In-Ear not like the standard apple headphones for example - Solid build, so they survive allday use - Shut out enviroment noises (at least most) - Simple Design
So these Headphones from Bose look promising but the website says they dont cancel enviroment sound. these Headphones I have my Sound System by this German manufacturer and I really like it but I don't know if these Headphones are any good Has anyone heard about them? Or has anyone other suggestions for headsets in this price range that are solid build and have good sound all together?
All of these headphones are extremely well recieved among the headphone loving crowd over at Head-fi. I recently purchased a pair of Hifiman RE 262's for 100$ and I'm loving them.
Thanks for the good suggestions. I don't really need a remote and i don't care if i wear them over the ear, whatever fits better. I am leaning to the Etymotics at the moment, but if I can find a german shop that sells the Hifiman I may buy them. And thanks as well for the Website head-fi.org seems to be a good resource to find information.
I'm looking for some over-ear headphones to order as a Christmas present for myself from my parents to replace my old $15 walmart special logitech gaming headset.
A bit about what I'm looking for:
These are going to be almost solely for home computer use. Isolation and leakage are complete non-factors..
I'll probably be doing more movies/gaming than music, but I listen to a decent amount of music as well (typically classic rock, but a bit of almost everything). Also lots of youtube/streaming/ventrilo/etc. So I'm (probably?) looking for some with a decent soundstage, not overpowering bass (but not underwhelming either, especially for movies), and solid mids.
Comfort is definitely a big concern. I have no idea what "normal" sized ears are, nor have I ever worn decent headphones for long enough to have point of reference. But I will probably be wearing these for a few hours at a time. My head is a bit on the large side, so something with a good amount of clamp force will probably get uncomfortable.
Budget: I have a strict $100 budget (but I'm ordering a Asus Xonar DG to go with it, so realistically only ~$75), and a relatively short time frame (Christmas present) to get them ordered.
Now, for what I've been looking at: Samson SR850, Samson RH600, Superlux 668b, Superlux 681 (on sale for $29), Phillips Citiscape Downtown (On sale for $40), Koss Pro DJ100, Sony MDR-V6, Sennheiser 428 and 429. (I've also had some CALs and KNK KNS-8400s recommended. I think the CALs would be my ideal choice, but grrrrr they're just a bit out of my price range).
Obviously, anything I pick will be a huge upgrade sound wise, but I'm pretty out of my depth when it comes to actually making the decision of what to buy. Any help would be appreciated!
Looking for headset or headphones+mic recommendation for gaming, currently have the Siberia V2 but the ear pads are worn out (Plastic is coming off everywhere), I liked the sound+mic quality and it's comfy :p
Use: Gaming Budget: ~ €200 Demands: - Good sound - Clear mic - Over ears - Closed (for LAN) - No plastic ear pads! - Wired - Comfy (gaming sessions of ~8 hours)
- Replaceable earpads (not a must but definitely a plus)
On December 07 2012 21:20 zoglug wrote: Hey everyone,
Had some fantastic advice from the site previously for my keyboard and mouse, so i am looking to upgrade my headset. I currently have the Steelseries Siberia V2 Headset in blue and white. I got it off ebay. Ive used it for approximately 6 months and i just dont get on with it. It clamps to my head causing pain and also squashes my ears which is uncomfortable during any long SC2/DOTA2 sessions. Reading around, a lot of people and sites suggest purchasing seperate headphones and mic. Which i can understand.
My use will be for several things, i game a lot including SC2, DOTA2, BF3, Unreal Tournament etc so they need to be good to that. I watch a lot of films and streams and listen to a wide variety of music from classical through to indie rock to hardhouse. So i really need a jack of all trades set of headphones.
For headphones, i have come across these headphones reasonably priced, well reviewed online and seem to tick all the boxes. Has anyone purchased these? Are they as good as they appear on paper?
Also, what mic would you recommend picking up?
Many thanks in advance,
Zog
Could also look at the Koss Pro DJ 100 - but keep in mind these are not really dj-headphones. Closed circumaural headphones, comfortable, about average sound isolation. Doesn´t look too good but fairly robust.
Sound is very very good for the price, which can be as low as 55 $. Precise well controlled bass, warm mids. I used to have Grado SR-80s, I like these just as much. Get good reviews over at head-fi.
On December 11 2012 01:44 Predje wrote: Looking for headset or headphones+mic recommendation for gaming, currently have the Siberia V2 but the ear pads are worn out (Plastic is coming off everywhere), I liked the sound+mic quality and it's comfy :p
Use: Gaming Budget: ~ €200 Demands: - Good sound - Clear mic - Over ears - Closed (for LAN) - No plastic ear pads! - Wired - Comfy (gaming sessions of ~8 hours)
- Replaceable earpads (not a must but definitely a plus)
Thanks in advance
With that amount of cash - anything ATH or Sennheiser. I've heard a lot of praise for ATH M50
On December 11 2012 04:08 ShaPeLesS wrote: With that amount of cash - anything ATH or Sennheiser. I've heard a lot of praise for ATH M50
Those ATH M50 have plastic ear pads which is an instant no go for me, someone recommended the HD 589 but I read they were open + I don't really like the colours :p
I know this thread is mostly for gaming headsets, but does anyone have recommendations for broadcaster headsets? This Audio Technica BPHS1 is the only thing I can find with XLR out at $200. Is there anything cheaper out there that still has decent quality?
Did some research and am planning to go with one of these 3 - PC360 - HD598 + zalman mic - HD595 + zalman mic Any opinions and/or recommendations? Keep in mind I'll primarily use it for gaming and occasional music (all genres) and movies E. also don't have a sound card if it matters, My mobo
On December 11 2012 23:13 Predje wrote: Did some research and am planning to go with one of these 3 - PC360 - HD598 + zalman mic - HD595 + zalman mic Any opinions and/or recommendations? Keep in mind I'll primarily use it for gaming and occasional music (all genres) and movies E. also don't have a sound card if it matters
The PC360 are closed cans (a bit lower sound quality, but dont leak sound, stronger Bass, yet a bit unnatural). The other options i belive are opened cans (Higher quality, but everyone around you hears what you hear, and you hear everything around you, less bass yet more natural).
For gaming i advice on the pc360, thou the 598 is more comfy (by a decent margin in my opinion).
I own the 380 PRO (its like the pc360 with no mic) and i like it a lot for gaming, music as well, but they tend to get swety (i iratidate more heat than a Sci-Vessel), and thats impossible to stand in long sessions.
On the other hand, they are awsome in winter (-20 C in Poland), and good to listen on the Bus (as long as i can hide the 3 meter cable somewhere).
So, For gaming at home, and in a cold country, PC 360. For music, hot country and home use only (and gaming still good, jsut a bit less) 598.
Personally im getting the HIFIMAN HE-400 or HE-500 soon for gaming, music and movies soon :D. Cant wait.
On December 12 2012 00:42 iloveav wrote: So, For gaming at home, and in a cold country, PC 360. For music, hot country and home use only (and gaming still good, jsut a bit less) 598.
Why would you suggest closed headphones for gaming, when they're worse for literally the only gaming application you need above mediocre sound for: positional audio for fps games.
On December 12 2012 00:42 iloveav wrote: So, For gaming at home, and in a cold country, PC 360. For music, hot country and home use only (and gaming still good, jsut a bit less) 598.
Why would you suggest closed headphones for gaming, when they're worse for literally the only gaming application you need above mediocre sound for: positional audio for fps games.
I am quite curious.
I also am quite curious how closed or not closed headphones have anything to do with this "positional audio" you speak of
On December 12 2012 00:42 iloveav wrote: So, For gaming at home, and in a cold country, PC 360. For music, hot country and home use only (and gaming still good, jsut a bit less) 598.
Why would you suggest closed headphones for gaming, when they're worse for literally the only gaming application you need above mediocre sound for: positional audio for fps games.
I am quite curious.
I also am quite curious how closed or not closed headphones have anything to do with this "positional audio" you speak of
Yer talking out of yer ass moit
From everything I've read, open cans tend to have a larger soundstage. Not always, but more often than now.
I can acquire Sennheiser HD650 (almost new) for 380$ (instead of 495$ new). Some mixed review about them. Mainly looking for something that can reproduce piano and that can be used on my computer
Am I overpaying for this? I'm seeing alot of people talking about AMP + other sound system. I have none and right now have no intention of getting any. I just want to use for personal use (computer, game, music, ipod)
On December 12 2012 00:42 iloveav wrote: So, For gaming at home, and in a cold country, PC 360. For music, hot country and home use only (and gaming still good, jsut a bit less) 598.
Why would you suggest closed headphones for gaming, when they're worse for literally the only gaming application you need above mediocre sound for: positional audio for fps games.
I am quite curious.
I also am quite curious how closed or not closed headphones have anything to do with this "positional audio" you speak of
Yer talking out of yer ass moit
Um, the only games that need any sort of fidelity are first person shooters, so you can hear where people are relative to you, where you want low amounts of bass, and as wide a soundstage as possible. Closed cans have reverb, generally somewhat muddier or less clear sound distinction, and a drastically smaller soundstage.
If you don't know what about a subject matter you're free to educate yourself. If you are just trolling, fuck off.
More closed headphones tend to have wonky dips in frequency and phase response, issues with stored resonances. Those aren't conducive to good sound quality, and they're not going to help for localizing things either. But are they a problem?
Properly, you should look at many headphones if you want to make any type of sweeping statement like I am, but just for illustration here are the phase responses (I didn't cherry-pick, I swear) for one closed and one (semi-)open headphone:
Beyerdynamic DT 770 (closed, top), DT 880 (open, bottom) — phase response is the top chart in each, from here
A very sharp change in phase in the treble like that is maybe audibly an issue, could affect sense of imaging. This means that certain sounds containing different frequencies are smeared in time. Note that you see there roughly a phase difference of about 120 degrees (2/3 pi radians) over the span of about 500 Hz (1000pi radians / s), at around the 4 kHz mark. So a group delay around there is maybe about 2/3 pi / 1000pi = 0.00067 seconds = 0.67 ms. Maybe an issue? Granted, wikipedia cites an old paper from '78 saying that group delay under about 1.5 ms in that frequency range is under the threshold of audibility. *shrug* Maybe it's not the phase response that's the issue. Maybe just the frequency magnitude issues, or just the air being sealed feels wrong, or...?
Anecdotally a large number of people who have tried both seem to say they hear positioning better with open headphones. That said, I'd be the first to warn against "common knowledge" and anecdotes with regards to audio, which are often dead wrong.
I'm sleepy so somebody correct me if I goofed somewhere.
Closed headphones sacrifice soundstage and clarity for isolation. Both soundstage and clarity (as well as lower levels of bass) are required for accurate audio positioning in fps games.
As it clearly states in like half those links, soundstage and clarity are the most important things for competitive (fps only) gaming audio, and as all of them state, the open cans surpass closed in both regards. Posting out of ignorance is unacceptable. If you need more links I can find more with the power of google for you.
E: myrm this comment obviously isn't directed at you (the below is now though)
And it's not that the frequency response is bad per say, although closed headphones tend to overemphasise bass, which is unhelpful in most shooters with there already being far too much crap spewed out at those frequencies. Primarily the issue is that the sounds are reflected back more, giving less clarity, and resulting in a perceived lack of depth, or "soundstage". I'm sure you know this though.
I'm not sure of anywhere that has a scienctific way of measuring perceived soundstage, nor have I see any reviews that scientifically measure reverb ^.^
So, I currently have some Audiotechnica ATH-M40fs and love them. However, after about two and a half years, the pleather cuffs are starting to rip and I've decided to use this as a weak excuse to upgrade (instead of superglueing the cuffs back ).
Budget is around $200 Looking for an open set I really love the flatness of the spectrum provided by the M40fs (eg. no colored bass, treble, or mid range) and I would really like another set that has this same response.
On December 13 2012 13:45 XenOmega wrote: I can acquire Sennheiser HD650 (almost new) for 380$ (instead of 495$ new). Some mixed review about them. Mainly looking for something that can reproduce piano and that can be used on my computer
Am I overpaying for this? I'm seeing alot of people talking about AMP + other sound system. I have none and right now have no intention of getting any. I just want to use for personal use (computer, game, music, ipod)
HD650 have great value/performance even at 495$ retail price, but for the headphones to perform their best you will need a clean sound system. They can sound bad when plugged straight to the computer as there are a lot of electrical noises.
Closed headphones sacrifice soundstage and clarity for isolation. Both soundstage and clarity (as well as lower levels of bass) are required for accurate audio positioning in fps games.
As it clearly states in like half those links, soundstage and clarity are the most important things for competitive (fps only) gaming audio, and as all of them state, the open cans surpass closed in both regards. Posting out of ignorance is unacceptable. If you need more links I can find more with the power of google for you.
E: myrm this comment obviously isn't directed at you (the below is now though)
And it's not that the frequency response is bad per say, although closed headphones tend to overemphasise bass, which is unhelpful in most shooters with there already being far too much crap spewed out at those frequencies. Primarily the issue is that the sounds are reflected back more, giving less clarity, and resulting in a perceived lack of depth, or "soundstage". I'm sure you know this though.
I'm not sure of anywhere that has a scienctific way of measuring perceived soundstage, nor have I see any reviews that scientifically measure reverb ^.^
Reverb, if it exists, should be evidenced in cumulative spectral decay (CSD) aka waterfall plots. That is, input a brief impulse (which contains all frequencies evenly) and graph the FFTs of what happens next. That shows you the magnitude of each frequency as it changes over time—hopefully to zero, and quickly, unless there are some kind of nonlinear feature like resonance at a particular frequency. In theory these should be shorter with higher electrical damping factor. Closed headphones often have more issues here, but many open cans do as well. That said, generally the decay for most headphones is relatively fast—over in 3-5ms or so down to 30-40 dB below, at least outside the bass. e.g. see here, here, here (note that the latter two sources do more smoothing than the first; some could argue procedural inaccuracies with all their setups)
So maybe that's a bigger deal than the phase issues.
Certainly one of the largest effects should come from elevated bass masking other frequencies.
Clarity mostly comes from an even mids / treble frequency response, mostly, so no unnatural dips or especially spikes that mask other frequencies. Maybe other factors too? It's hard to say for sure what corresponds to what people perceive, especially because perception is such a moving target.
Myrmidon please just refrain. I created this thread as a ways of helping the general team liquid public get a better idea of what headphones are for them not to discuss "cumulative spectral decay (CSD) aka waterfall plots."
On December 12 2012 00:42 iloveav wrote: So, For gaming at home, and in a cold country, PC 360. For music, hot country and home use only (and gaming still good, jsut a bit less) 598.
Why would you suggest closed headphones for gaming, when they're worse for literally the only gaming application you need above mediocre sound for: positional audio for fps games.
I am quite curious.
I also am quite curious how closed or not closed headphones have anything to do with this "positional audio" you speak of
Yer talking out of yer ass moit
Um, the only games that need any sort of fidelity are first person shooters, so you can hear where people are relative to you, where you want low amounts of bass, and as wide a soundstage as possible. Closed cans have reverb, generally somewhat muddier or less clear sound distinction, and a drastically smaller soundstage.
If you don't know what about a subject matter you're free to educate yourself. If you are just trolling, fuck off.
You got to be kidding me right, we're talking FPS games here, all you need is shitty headphones like fatal!ties and youre fine. Open and closed headphones have virtually no differences in games apart from the fact that closed ones cancel the noise coming from outside, stop acting like a fucking elitist
On December 14 2012 00:11 Ckalvin wrote: Myrmidon please just refrain. I created this thread as a ways of helping the general team liquid public get a better idea of what headphones are for them not to discuss "cumulative spectral decay (CSD) aka waterfall plots."
The idea is that a less superficial understanding on the processes involved leads to more informed buying choices, recommendations? Less being duped by hype and word of mouth? But if you disagree, you started the thread; I spoilered out the text to limit space.
On December 14 2012 17:29 MajuGarzett wrote: I'm looking for a pair of headphones under $60. I'm thinking of getting Sennheiser HD201 or Samson CH70. Does anyone know which is better?
Get some ATH-M40fs. Same price range, vastly superior sound. You could also opt for the D40s if you're a bass head.
MMX 300 going for about $280 on amazon, I bought one and really enjoy it, pretty good gaming headset and the price is lowest i've seen so figured I'd mention it for others
On December 23 2012 05:13 LiquidFahq wrote: Noise canceling earphones for < 100USD for listening to music without hearing all the loud noises but still having great sound quality.
You read the OP, and you want active noise canceling? Or passive?
Earphones meaning something that sticks into the ear canal, or what?
For max attenuation, Etymotic MC3. As always, tastes vary and some people wouldn't like those for music. Or sticking into their ears. Hard to say more without knowing exactly what you're looking for, and maybe you don't even know that perfectly either.
On December 23 2012 06:28 RiSkyToss wrote: just got my sennheiser HD 598's and they're amazing really clear quality while still being very very comfortable.
On December 13 2012 17:16 Rollin wrote: As it clearly states in like half those links, soundstage and clarity are the most important things for competitive (fps only) gaming audio, and as all of them state, the open cans surpass closed in both regards.
Open headphones might be nice at home, but when you are at a lan ... And if you're only used to open headphones and then have to play with closed ones at a lan, you have to readjust ...
I've been reading a lot and I'm wondering if anyone can give me specific advice.
I'm looking for : -Headset (with mic) -Decent sound quality -Passive noise cancelling. -Max 160$ or so range. -No small plastic parts (read ahead)
I'm using these headphones in a noisy apartment, so I want something that won't let sound in, and that will also let me listen to music at night without waking up others. Right now I'm using some Sennheisers which are pretty good, but there's no real sound barrier on them, and then microphone stopped working.
My biggest issue is comfort : headphones that clamp are not only very uncomfortable for me, but they ALWAYS break at the small plastic connector from the headband to the earmuff. I want something that's one big piece going to the earmuff for that reason. I honestly go through a pair of headphones each year, mostly because of that plastic piece breaking.
I have been looking to acquire myself a pair of really good headphones for quite a while. I have set my sights on the Sennheiser HD700's since I have owned a pair of HD555's for many years now and they have served me good. My problem is that I don't have any idea of which amplifier I should pick to go with them. Right now I am using a line6 toneport as external soundcard and amp for my HD555's, mostly because I'm lazy and want to be able to plug my guitar into my computer without any hassle, but it seems to do the job fine.
I'm basically looking for an amplifier to go with the Sennheiser HD700's, which will be used mostly for listening to classical/orchestral and rock music. If the HD700's are crap though, I would also be grateful for any suggestions for headphones + amp in the 0-1200$ range.
Thanks in advance to all the incredibly knowledgeable people in this thread.
I've been reading a lot and I'm wondering if anyone can give me specific advice.
I'm looking for : -Headset (with mic) -Decent sound quality -Passive noise cancelling. -Max 160$ or so range. -No small plastic parts (read ahead)
I'm using these headphones in a noisy apartment, so I want something that won't let sound in, and that will also let me listen to music at night without waking up others. Right now I'm using some Sennheisers which are pretty good, but there's no real sound barrier on them, and then microphone stopped working.
My biggest issue is comfort : headphones that clamp are not only very uncomfortable for me, but they ALWAYS break at the small plastic connector from the headband to the earmuff. I want something that's one big piece going to the earmuff for that reason. I honestly go through a pair of headphones each year, mostly because of that plastic piece breaking.
So any advice would be great, thanks.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything like that. Pretty much all larger sets have some sort of adjustment mechanism for the earcups. It's just that it is less flimsy on some sets than others. Smaller headsets mostly have less isolation.
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 should be fairly sturdy, and those supraaural Sennheiser HD25 -based headsets like you see sports broadcasters use would also work, but those are solidly way above $160.
Some people have modded a boom mic onto headphones without a mic. I'm guessing that you don't want any inline microphone if the background noise is high.
I have been looking to acquire myself a pair of really good headphones for quite a while. I have set my sights on the Sennheiser HD700's since I have owned a pair of HD555's for many years now and they have served me good. My problem is that I don't have any idea of which amplifier I should pick to go with them. Right now I am using a line6 toneport as external soundcard and amp for my HD555's, mostly because I'm lazy and want to be able to plug my guitar into my computer without any hassle, but it seems to do the job fine.
I'm basically looking for an amplifier to go with the Sennheiser HD700's, which will be used mostly for listening to classical/orchestral and rock music. If the HD700's are crap though, I would also be grateful for any suggestions for headphones + amp in the 0-1200$ range.
Thanks in advance to all the incredibly knowledgeable people in this thread.
I haven't heard them, but from what I gather in many places, many don't actually like the HD 700, especially for the price. When looking at published 3rd-party measurement data, HD 700 quite arguably looks worse than the older and cheaper HD 650: the 700 has more severe and narrow treble spikes, a larger dip in the upper midrange / lower treble, more ringing in those treble spikes, etc. High-end audio equipment is usually about different options being better and worse in different ways, rather than some models being straight-up upgrades—if in an alternate universe HD 650 (or 600) were released after HD 700 and the prices and model names reversed, I'd bet that people wouldn't find that weird. That said, I'm sure it sounds good. Just know that many people don't think it's worth the cost.
Amplifiers are a mostly totally overblown subject. It's not that hard to do things well for cheap these days—for a while back actually. Unless you're listening obscenely loud with very insensitive headphones (actually, in that case, a cheap speaker amp may do) or very sensitive IEMs that need something with a low noise floor and low output impedance, you can more or less just pick whatever looks nice. That said, in practice, there are plenty of audiophile products that decide to pursue archaic or intentionally low-performance designs or parts (so producing lower-fidelity sound, but who says "different" in a worse way can't necessarily sound better in some situations?), so there are a lot of options if you're looking for that kind of thing.
If an Objective2 (O2) looks to your liking, just get that and call it a day. If you have some issue with the design, lack of 1/4" jack, and so on, then look elsewhere. If you'll never use IEMs and stick to mostly insensitive or higher-impedance headphones, maybe try the new Schiit Magni, unless maybe you're scared off by historical precedent of some Schiit amps damaging peoples' headphones—but to be fair, that's mostly in the past, and on different kinds of designs. There are tons of products out there.
On December 26 2012 10:02 Watman wrote: I have been looking to acquire myself a pair of really good headphones for quite a while. I have set my sights on the Sennheiser HD700's since I have owned a pair of HD555's for many years now and they have served me good. My problem is that I don't have any idea of which amplifier I should pick to go with them. Right now I am using a line6 toneport as external soundcard and amp for my HD555's, mostly because I'm lazy and want to be able to plug my guitar into my computer without any hassle, but it seems to do the job fine.
I'm basically looking for an amplifier to go with the Sennheiser HD700's, which will be used mostly for listening to classical/orchestral and rock music. If the HD700's are crap though, I would also be grateful for any suggestions for headphones + amp in the 0-1200$ range.
Thanks in advance to all the incredibly knowledgeable people in this thread.
Hi, this should be considered in addition to Myrm's advice.
The HD700 are good if you can find them about $700. The problem is essentially that Sennheiser talked to all their distributors, pushed and fixed all the prices of their audiophile prices up bit so that they would have nicer pricing scheme and make the HD700 seem more "worth it" at $1000. It is definitely not worth it at that price because of the deficiencies Myrm mentioned. Essentially, they measure like shit.
The biggest problem however, is not that they measure horribly, but with their pricing, these kinds of deficiencies should not exist in a high-end headphone.
In terms of sound, the HD700 sounds slightly euphoric. It has increased bass and great soundstage. It also has decently good mids. Trance-like, heavy melody songs, pop and classical sounded good. I didn't get a good enough read on rock music though. The problem again is with the horrible measurements, including large spikes in the upper treble. If you are sensitive to these spikes (i.e. your ears aren't scarred), then you will most likely hear them. This makes it especially important to listen to them before buying, as you should always be doing at this price range. It also makes them way worse for the price of $1000.
I haven't had a chance to try the HD650 with a really, really nice amp, so I can't speak for how well it'll scale for its price in comparison with the HD700. With that in mind, I would definitely rate them above the HD650/600 at $700, even with the increased treble (if it turns out I can stand it. If I can't, then it'd be instantly out of contention). I haven't demoed them long enough to determine whether the treble bothered me, but I've had experiences with the Ultrasone PRO900 where I grew sensitive to the treble while others haven't, so the sound will differ from person to person.
I want to emphasize though, that it is your purchasing power that dictates whether companies are allowed to make headphones in this price range should be allowed to have wonky measurements and treble spikes.
(I like the look of the HD700 btw) ~.~
The HD700 are designed to not need an amplifier, and an extra amplifier isn't really necessary if you already have a quality sound card. There isn't any reason not to recommend the Objective2 in any case. I think there are reports of it reproducing bass very well, which should benefit the HD700. I'm not exactly sure about that statement though.
Holy shit the Schiit Magni looks good. Can't wait until NwAvGuy gets on that.
All that said, there are plenty of headphones at $500+ these days with much more questionable performance than the HD 700, just to keep things in perspective. Note to manufacturers: wtf happened to headphones like Senn HD 580 and Denon AH-D2000, and why do lots of expensive stuff perform worse than older, cheaper, and previously top-bracket models like HD 580 / 600 / 650, K601 / 701 / 702 / Q701, DT 770 / 880 / 990, D2000, etc.?
I think NwAvGuy's finally been assassinated on months-long unannounced hiatus with no end in sight. Anyway, maybe in a few months Tyll will be done hammering out the kinks at InnerFidelity and will have the amp benching routine ready to go. A Magni review or at least some numbers might be coming from there in the future, if current popularity is any indication. Certainly it seems like it might have replaced the FiiO E9's reason to exist.
Quick question: is it a given that most or all headphones sort of squish your hair? I have a pair of akg k240s, and every time I wear them, my hair is actually really uncomfortably flattened, and even though I'm hygienic no dandruff problems, etc, it actually makes my scalp itchy, it's so uncomfortable. Am I just being whiny about a common thing or it a bad fit or something?
Also, for re 262s and the k240s, would it be worth getting a fiio e17 as a DAC+amp? I only have an e6 atm lol.
Might be in the market for a nicer pair of headphones in a few months or so too :3
On December 23 2012 06:28 RiSkyToss wrote: just got my sennheiser HD 598's and they're amazing really clear quality while still being very very comfortable.
On December 23 2012 06:28 RiSkyToss wrote: just got my sennheiser HD 598's and they're amazing really clear quality while still being very very comfortable.
On December 26 2012 19:18 Aerisky wrote: Quick question: is it a given that most or all headphones sort of squish your hair? I have a pair of akg k240s, and every time I wear them, my hair is actually really uncomfortably flattened, and even though I'm hygienic no dandruff problems, etc, it actually makes my scalp itchy, it's so uncomfortable. Am I just being whiny about a common thing or it a bad fit or something?
Also, for re 262s and the k240s, would it be worth getting a fiio e17 as a DAC+amp? I only have an e6 atm lol.
Might be in the market for a nicer pair of headphones in a few months or so too :3
All headphones with a headband should squish your hair. Simple gravity, but it also depends on your hairstyle I guess. Wear them farther back on your head to try? Be careful they don't fall off though. XD
It really depends on your needs. Never had any experience with it, but it seems like it should be used mainly as a DAC whilst being plugged into the E9 for the E9's amplifier, so there doesn't seem to be any point in the device unless your input is really shitty and you need an external DAC. If you simply need an amplifier the O2 mentioned above would do well in all situations (I'm guessing you want it for mobile with the re262?). But it doesn't have any DAC so if you're having problems with that area the O2 won't help.
More information would be required before making more specific recommendations, mainly what you're planning to use the device for and why. In general, the O2 is a very good amplifier for its price, as is the O2+ODAC if you need both functions.
On December 26 2012 12:33 Myrmidon wrote: All that said, there are plenty of headphones at $500+ these days with much more questionable performance than the HD 700, just to keep things in perspective. Note to manufacturers: wtf happened to headphones like Senn HD 580 and Denon AH-D2000, and why do lots of expensive stuff perform worse than older, cheaper, and previously top-bracket models like HD 580 / 600 / 650, K601 / 701 / 702 / Q701, DT 770 / 880 / 990, D2000, etc.?
I think NwAvGuy's finally been assassinated on months-long unannounced hiatus with no end in sight. Anyway, maybe in a few months Tyll will be done hammering out the kinks at InnerFidelity and will have the amp benching routine ready to go. A Magni review or at least some numbers might be coming from there in the future, if current popularity is any indication. Certainly it seems like it might have replaced the FiiO E9's reason to exist.
Haha. Well, the HD580/600/650 look really outdated in my opinion, so it doesn't really win any new listeners. The K70x are too niche with the jazz and classical crowd, and those guys have already bought/tried them or gone into summit-fi. The DT770 are still recommended a bunch for newer listeners. I haven't seen any 880/990 recommendations in a while actually.
The D2000 still feels too posh if that's possible. It actually looks and feels like a really high-end product, it's just that it feels very flimsy like it would break (and it began squeaking during the time I had it). It also distributed weight in a completely weird fashion that made it feel like it would fall off my head when I leaned backwards. It was...interesting, and I can understand why it's not super popular. Not sure about those new headphones from Denon though initial reports weren't the best.
And haha :o I think the last time I checked up on him there was news of him starting up again. I don't remember when that was though, hah, possibly 4 months ago and I didn't check again. I really hope the Magni and Modi are not a FOTM thing, because they looks really nice, haha. I don't really like the way the O2 looks, and I'm not good enough to mod one myself, so it'd be nice to pick them up once the dust has died down a little instead of getting the O2+ODAC.
Looking to get a headset to be used mainly for skype chat with friends while gaming. I would also use them to watch tv shows on my computer.
I have a small head. When I wear a trucker hat I have only two of the dots overlap with each other for it to fit properly. Most of the headsets I've tried on don't fit properly because of this and put weight on my head or ears where they shouldn't. It's especially painful with my glasses that I wear all the time.
I'm looking for something circumaural. I'd prefer no active noise cancellation and open/closed doesn't matter to me. Lightweight is preferable.
I'm looking to spend around $100. If they were everything I wanted I'd probably go up to $130.
I'm surprised no one mentions the Razer Chimaera wireless headset. In my opinion, it is really convenient to have a wireless headset if you skype quite a lot. I can tidy up my room while talking to a friend in France, then set up a game with him, go to the toilets while it's loading (and hope load time won't be too fast so that I can finish peeing ), then play. I even can go out and drop the garbage while talking to my friends (though it looks awkward when I meet my neighbors with this huge headset) as the wireless range is pretty huge.
Imo, it's a really convenient "gamer headset", maybe not with the best sound but really decent. If you really need some perfect sound, then go and buy some Sennheiser or other audiophile brands (and I've used some, I can tell this headset isn't that far from them).
Here are the pros and cons only for my usage (so I don't take into account the 5.1 sound, the Xbox connectivity nor other features I don't have/use)
Pros : - Wireless = really convenient - Headphone sound is really decent, especially bass, though the sound is less clear than with some good audiophile headphone - Confortable, ear cups are quite big and it should be ok if you wear glasses. - Practically no loss with data transmission because it has a pretty huge bandwidth compared to other wireless headsets (although with the japanese version which has a lower wireless frequency, the sound tends to deteriorate when near my microwave running) - Easy access setting buttons - Good battery autonomy (with 2 AAA rechargeable batteries included), at the very least you can play more than 10 hours with it. A sound is emitted about 5 minutes before you run out of batteries (so you can ask for a pause) - Head set stand included for storage / battery charging
Cons : - Fragile ! - Price = $180 for 5.1, $135 for my japanese version without Dolby - Microphone sound not too great - I have almost never ran out of battery even if I play sometimes a lot, but you should keep a spare battery set just in case (preferably rechargeable ones so you can use both battery sets with the stand). - Big size. I don't really care about it but it looks big even if I have a quite big head. Also persons with really small head might not even be able to set it to the right size (I wonder if any healthy human being can have such a huge head to need the biggest size setting...). A bit heavy too but it didn't matter to me. - it will be hard to use a wired headset anymore, wireless is too convenient ^^
The only really big deal is about the fragility and the price imo. Better not rage with it. I did rage once with it (after a 10 loss streak or something ) by smashing it on my bed next to my PC. As it only hit my soft mattress with a duvet on it and without that much strength, I didn't expect the headset to deteriorate but it did. Now the sound is still ok but definitely not as great as it used to be, and a kind of humming noise can be heard when playing songs with certain low frequencies (it definitely didn't happen before).
I'm thinking about trying to use the warranty to get a replacement/repair, as there is no trace of any shock on it.
Looking for a headset between 150 - 200 dollars. Have three roomates so noise cancellation/isolation would be good. Need something that fits good on the ears without too much pressure (I wear glasses 24/7). Mic not really required, I can always just buy a clip on or something. Mostly play sc2, CS:GO, PS2 and stuff like that. Listen to a lot of different kinds of music from rock to electronic so good sound at all levels would be nice as well. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but I can definitely hear a lot of things in sound systems that others cant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I remember getting a recommendation earlier about a pair of sony (i think) headphones. The whole cup is pretty much cushion IIRC. Does anyone know what headphones I'm thinking of? I have been searching a bit and I can't seem to find which I'm thinking of :/
On December 30 2012 14:45 Infernal_dream wrote: Looking for a headset between 150 - 200 dollars. Have three roomates so noise cancellation/isolation would be good. Need something that fits good on the ears without too much pressure (I wear glasses 24/7). Mic not really required, I can always just buy a clip on or something. Mostly play sc2, CS:GO, PS2 and stuff like that. Listen to a lot of different kinds of music from rock to electronic so good sound at all levels would be nice as well. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but I can definitely hear a lot of things in sound systems that others cant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Crossing IEMs out of your list because they're pretty bad for CSGO.
For active noise cancellation, you have + good to great noise cancellation + comfort depending on brand (Bose QuietComfort++) - sound quality - you may hear a humming from the noise cancellation
In terms of headphones, you have the Bose QuietComforts if you can find any pair at $200 (unlikely). Otherwise, you have the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 at about $150.
The ANC7 has better sound quality than Bose, but the Bose has better comfort and noise cancellation. All noise cancelling headphones have subpar sound quality compared to regular ones at the same price point.
For passive isolation, you're really looking at any closed full-sized headphones. + comfort + okay isolation + sound quality per dollar - not the greatest ever isolation - not that good for first person shooters (still better than IEM)
If you can get a pair of Denon D2000 which hovers at about $180 street, it'll be pretty much as good as you can get. They're semi-open/closed, so the isolation is pretty bad, but it crushes everything at the price point in terms of sound.
If you want more isolation, you can go fully closed. So that means Audio-Technica ATH-M50 ($150), Audio-Technica ATH-A700/900 (if you can find them in your budget), Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO ($180), or AKG K 271 MK II ($140).
For headsets, the only thing I'd recommend is the Sennheiser PC350. I'm not that experienced in that area.
You haven't listed any other preferences, such as where/when/how you're using the headphones, what your headphone background is, and your music preferences are very wide, so this advice is pretty generic. All of them should be fine for your needs though. You will want headphones will less bass for CSGO, but all closed headphones have a higher amount of bass than usually. The best would definitely still be the Denon D2000, but the isolation might not be up to par.
On December 31 2012 04:31 9-BiT wrote: I remember getting a recommendation earlier about a pair of sony (i think) headphones. The whole cup is pretty much cushion IIRC. Does anyone know what headphones I'm thinking of? I have been searching a bit and I can't seem to find which I'm thinking of :/
You're probably thinking about the Sony XB-500, or any of the other full-sized XB series.
On December 30 2012 14:45 Infernal_dream wrote: Looking for a headset between 150 - 200 dollars. Have three roomates so noise cancellation/isolation would be good. Need something that fits good on the ears without too much pressure (I wear glasses 24/7). Mic not really required, I can always just buy a clip on or something. Mostly play sc2, CS:GO, PS2 and stuff like that. Listen to a lot of different kinds of music from rock to electronic so good sound at all levels would be nice as well. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but I can definitely hear a lot of things in sound systems that others cant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Crossing IEMs out of your list because they're pretty bad for CSGO.
For active noise cancellation, you have + good to great noise cancellation + comfort depending on brand (Bose QuietComfort++) - sound quality - you may hear a humming from the noise cancellation
In terms of headphones, you have the Bose QuietComforts if you can find any pair at $200 (unlikely). Otherwise, you have the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 at about $150.
The ANC7 has better sound quality than Bose, but the Bose has better comfort and noise cancellation. All noise cancelling headphones have subpar sound quality compared to regular ones at the same price point.
For passive isolation, you're really looking at any closed full-sized headphones. + comfort + okay isolation + sound quality per dollar - not the greatest ever isolation - not that good for first person shooters (still better than IEM)
If you can get a pair of Denon D2000 which hovers at about $180 street, it'll be pretty much as good as you can get. They're semi-open/closed, so the isolation is pretty bad, but it crushes everything at the price point in terms of sound.
If you want more isolation, you can go fully closed. So that means Audio-Technica ATH-M50 ($150), Audio-Technica ATH-A700/900 (if you can find them in your budget), Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO ($180), or AKG K 271 MK II ($140).
For headsets, the only thing I'd recommend is the Sennheiser PC350. I'm not that experienced in that area.
You haven't listed any other preferences, such as where/when/how you're using the headphones, what your headphone background is, and your music preferences are very wide, so this advice is pretty generic. All of them should be fine for your needs though. You will want headphones will less bass for CSGO, but all closed headphones have a higher amount of bass than usually. The best would definitely still be the Denon D2000, but the isolation might not be up to par.
On December 31 2012 04:31 9-BiT wrote: I remember getting a recommendation earlier about a pair of sony (i think) headphones. The whole cup is pretty much cushion IIRC. Does anyone know what headphones I'm thinking of? I have been searching a bit and I can't seem to find which I'm thinking of :/
You're probably thinking about the Sony XB-500, or any of the other full-sized XB series.
Thanks a lot for the help. Isolation/cancellation isn't too important as my roomates tend to be secluded in their rooms as well. No real background with headphones but I have played with quite a few high end systems. Gonna be my first mid range headphones. It seems as though the Denon D2000's are quite difficult to find.
As for when I'll be listening to them and such it'll only be connected to my computer. All my music is FLAC formatted. No sound card as of yet but will probably be upgrading to get one. Heavier bass is probably preferred to clearer highs as well if I had to give one up for the other.
Ya, i have a pair of plantronics, they are good, and have lasted for about a year now, still working fine. they were dirt cheap, $20-40, cant remember.
The headphone vs EMI thing was cool, ill think about that.
i'm thinking about picking up a pair of hd 598 for $211 on amazon right now and am looking at get an accompanying dac/amp. any suggestions on some good ones? portability is a non-issue and i'd like to keep it under $100 (though i wouldn't mind paying more if there is a significant improvement at some other price point).
On December 30 2012 14:45 Infernal_dream wrote: Looking for a headset between 150 - 200 dollars. Have three roomates so noise cancellation/isolation would be good. Need something that fits good on the ears without too much pressure (I wear glasses 24/7). Mic not really required, I can always just buy a clip on or something. Mostly play sc2, CS:GO, PS2 and stuff like that. Listen to a lot of different kinds of music from rock to electronic so good sound at all levels would be nice as well. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but I can definitely hear a lot of things in sound systems that others cant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Crossing IEMs out of your list because they're pretty bad for CSGO.
For active noise cancellation, you have + good to great noise cancellation + comfort depending on brand (Bose QuietComfort++) - sound quality - you may hear a humming from the noise cancellation
In terms of headphones, you have the Bose QuietComforts if you can find any pair at $200 (unlikely). Otherwise, you have the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 at about $150.
The ANC7 has better sound quality than Bose, but the Bose has better comfort and noise cancellation. All noise cancelling headphones have subpar sound quality compared to regular ones at the same price point.
For passive isolation, you're really looking at any closed full-sized headphones. + comfort + okay isolation + sound quality per dollar - not the greatest ever isolation - not that good for first person shooters (still better than IEM)
If you can get a pair of Denon D2000 which hovers at about $180 street, it'll be pretty much as good as you can get. They're semi-open/closed, so the isolation is pretty bad, but it crushes everything at the price point in terms of sound.
If you want more isolation, you can go fully closed. So that means Audio-Technica ATH-M50 ($150), Audio-Technica ATH-A700/900 (if you can find them in your budget), Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO ($180), or AKG K 271 MK II ($140).
For headsets, the only thing I'd recommend is the Sennheiser PC350. I'm not that experienced in that area.
You haven't listed any other preferences, such as where/when/how you're using the headphones, what your headphone background is, and your music preferences are very wide, so this advice is pretty generic. All of them should be fine for your needs though. You will want headphones will less bass for CSGO, but all closed headphones have a higher amount of bass than usually. The best would definitely still be the Denon D2000, but the isolation might not be up to par.
On December 31 2012 04:31 9-BiT wrote: I remember getting a recommendation earlier about a pair of sony (i think) headphones. The whole cup is pretty much cushion IIRC. Does anyone know what headphones I'm thinking of? I have been searching a bit and I can't seem to find which I'm thinking of :/
You're probably thinking about the Sony XB-500, or any of the other full-sized XB series.
Thanks a lot for the help. Isolation/cancellation isn't too important as my roomates tend to be secluded in their rooms as well. No real background with headphones but I have played with quite a few high end systems. Gonna be my first mid range headphones. It seems as though the Denon D2000's are quite difficult to find.
As for when I'll be listening to them and such it'll only be connected to my computer. All my music is FLAC formatted. No sound card as of yet but will probably be upgrading to get one. Heavier bass is probably preferred to clearer highs as well if I had to give one up for the other.
AH-D2000 seems to be discontinued, but even harder to find than some other discontinued products. I don't think I've seen any around $200 for a while.
Increased bass should actually be something of a con for "serious" fps play, but if a good bass response (as well as relatively but not obnoxiously loud) is desired, maybe you can look at the DT 770. The other options listed are okay too, for different tastes. In any case, it has a bit more isolation than the others, especially the D2000.
On January 02 2013 02:26 mahnini wrote: i'm thinking about picking up a pair of hd 598 for $211 on amazon right now and am looking at get an accompanying dac/amp. any suggestions on some good ones? portability is a non-issue and i'd like to keep it under $100 (though i wouldn't mind paying more if there is a significant improvement at some other price point).
FiiO E10. (IMHO, use some spare money to get a pigtail 1/4" to 1/8" adapter rather than the straight-barrel adapter that comes with Senn HD 5xx series, maybe $5 or so)
If you want something with a 1/4" jack natively, that's hard to find at that price range. Or at least, in some device with low output impedance, which is what you want with HD 5x5 and 5x8 series headphones.
On December 30 2012 14:45 Infernal_dream wrote: Looking for a headset between 150 - 200 dollars. Have three roomates so noise cancellation/isolation would be good. Need something that fits good on the ears without too much pressure (I wear glasses 24/7). Mic not really required, I can always just buy a clip on or something. Mostly play sc2, CS:GO, PS2 and stuff like that. Listen to a lot of different kinds of music from rock to electronic so good sound at all levels would be nice as well. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but I can definitely hear a lot of things in sound systems that others cant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Crossing IEMs out of your list because they're pretty bad for CSGO.
For active noise cancellation, you have + good to great noise cancellation + comfort depending on brand (Bose QuietComfort++) - sound quality - you may hear a humming from the noise cancellation
In terms of headphones, you have the Bose QuietComforts if you can find any pair at $200 (unlikely). Otherwise, you have the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 at about $150.
The ANC7 has better sound quality than Bose, but the Bose has better comfort and noise cancellation. All noise cancelling headphones have subpar sound quality compared to regular ones at the same price point.
For passive isolation, you're really looking at any closed full-sized headphones. + comfort + okay isolation + sound quality per dollar - not the greatest ever isolation - not that good for first person shooters (still better than IEM)
If you can get a pair of Denon D2000 which hovers at about $180 street, it'll be pretty much as good as you can get. They're semi-open/closed, so the isolation is pretty bad, but it crushes everything at the price point in terms of sound.
If you want more isolation, you can go fully closed. So that means Audio-Technica ATH-M50 ($150), Audio-Technica ATH-A700/900 (if you can find them in your budget), Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO ($180), or AKG K 271 MK II ($140).
For headsets, the only thing I'd recommend is the Sennheiser PC350. I'm not that experienced in that area.
You haven't listed any other preferences, such as where/when/how you're using the headphones, what your headphone background is, and your music preferences are very wide, so this advice is pretty generic. All of them should be fine for your needs though. You will want headphones will less bass for CSGO, but all closed headphones have a higher amount of bass than usually. The best would definitely still be the Denon D2000, but the isolation might not be up to par.
On December 31 2012 04:31 9-BiT wrote: I remember getting a recommendation earlier about a pair of sony (i think) headphones. The whole cup is pretty much cushion IIRC. Does anyone know what headphones I'm thinking of? I have been searching a bit and I can't seem to find which I'm thinking of :/
You're probably thinking about the Sony XB-500, or any of the other full-sized XB series.
Thanks a lot for the help. Isolation/cancellation isn't too important as my roomates tend to be secluded in their rooms as well. No real background with headphones but I have played with quite a few high end systems. Gonna be my first mid range headphones. It seems as though the Denon D2000's are quite difficult to find.
As for when I'll be listening to them and such it'll only be connected to my computer. All my music is FLAC formatted. No sound card as of yet but will probably be upgrading to get one. Heavier bass is probably preferred to clearer highs as well if I had to give one up for the other.
AH-D2000 seems to be discontinued, but even harder to find than some other discontinued products. I don't think I've seen any around $200 for a while.
Increased bass should actually be something of a con for "serious" fps play, but if a good bass response (as well as relatively but not obnoxiously loud) is desired, maybe you can look at the DT 770. The other options listed are okay too, for different tastes. In any case, it has a bit more isolation than the others, especially the D2000.
On January 02 2013 02:26 mahnini wrote: i'm thinking about picking up a pair of hd 598 for $211 on amazon right now and am looking at get an accompanying dac/amp. any suggestions on some good ones? portability is a non-issue and i'd like to keep it under $100 (though i wouldn't mind paying more if there is a significant improvement at some other price point).
FiiO E10. (IMHO, use some spare money to get a pigtail 1/4" to 1/8" adapter rather than the straight-barrel adapter that comes with Senn HD 5xx series, maybe $5 or so)
If you want something with a 1/4" jack natively, that's hard to find at that price range. Or at least, in some device with low output impedance, which is what you want with HD 5x5 and 5x8 series headphones.
Which would you say has the most equalized sound? Looking probably between the M50 and DT770
On December 30 2012 14:45 Infernal_dream wrote: Looking for a headset between 150 - 200 dollars. Have three roomates so noise cancellation/isolation would be good. Need something that fits good on the ears without too much pressure (I wear glasses 24/7). Mic not really required, I can always just buy a clip on or something. Mostly play sc2, CS:GO, PS2 and stuff like that. Listen to a lot of different kinds of music from rock to electronic so good sound at all levels would be nice as well. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile but I can definitely hear a lot of things in sound systems that others cant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Crossing IEMs out of your list because they're pretty bad for CSGO.
For active noise cancellation, you have + good to great noise cancellation + comfort depending on brand (Bose QuietComfort++) - sound quality - you may hear a humming from the noise cancellation
In terms of headphones, you have the Bose QuietComforts if you can find any pair at $200 (unlikely). Otherwise, you have the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 at about $150.
The ANC7 has better sound quality than Bose, but the Bose has better comfort and noise cancellation. All noise cancelling headphones have subpar sound quality compared to regular ones at the same price point.
For passive isolation, you're really looking at any closed full-sized headphones. + comfort + okay isolation + sound quality per dollar - not the greatest ever isolation - not that good for first person shooters (still better than IEM)
If you can get a pair of Denon D2000 which hovers at about $180 street, it'll be pretty much as good as you can get. They're semi-open/closed, so the isolation is pretty bad, but it crushes everything at the price point in terms of sound.
If you want more isolation, you can go fully closed. So that means Audio-Technica ATH-M50 ($150), Audio-Technica ATH-A700/900 (if you can find them in your budget), Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO ($180), or AKG K 271 MK II ($140).
For headsets, the only thing I'd recommend is the Sennheiser PC350. I'm not that experienced in that area.
You haven't listed any other preferences, such as where/when/how you're using the headphones, what your headphone background is, and your music preferences are very wide, so this advice is pretty generic. All of them should be fine for your needs though. You will want headphones will less bass for CSGO, but all closed headphones have a higher amount of bass than usually. The best would definitely still be the Denon D2000, but the isolation might not be up to par.
On December 31 2012 04:31 9-BiT wrote: I remember getting a recommendation earlier about a pair of sony (i think) headphones. The whole cup is pretty much cushion IIRC. Does anyone know what headphones I'm thinking of? I have been searching a bit and I can't seem to find which I'm thinking of :/
You're probably thinking about the Sony XB-500, or any of the other full-sized XB series.
Thanks a lot for the help. Isolation/cancellation isn't too important as my roomates tend to be secluded in their rooms as well. No real background with headphones but I have played with quite a few high end systems. Gonna be my first mid range headphones. It seems as though the Denon D2000's are quite difficult to find.
As for when I'll be listening to them and such it'll only be connected to my computer. All my music is FLAC formatted. No sound card as of yet but will probably be upgrading to get one. Heavier bass is probably preferred to clearer highs as well if I had to give one up for the other.
Yup, the Denon D2000 have been discontinued for about 1 or 2 years. $200 is the reference street and used price I've last seen them at. If you could find them in stock at that price, they're very good. I mention them over the others because being semi-open and higher end than the others, they don't have excessively boom-y bass, so they work very well for shooters compared to the others I listed.
It all depends on what you're willing to spend. Of the ones I listed, the DT770 are the best overall. If you want to spend a bit less, then the ATH-M50 are your other option. Spending more treads onto the D2000, which I can't find anywhere online unfortunately. The A700 and K241 are a bit better with positional audio, but everything closed in this price bracket is basically the same, and they're not as good with bass as the other three, so go with those.
Go for the DT770 Pro 80 Ohm. They aren't too harsh on badly encoded music, but they don't gloss over many details on well encoded music either, so you don't have to worry about FLAC as much.
Now I have to find a suitable replacement in this tier since the D2000 are out of stock everywhere.
On January 02 2013 07:14 Infernal_dream wrote: Which would you say has the most equalized sound? Looking probably between the M50 and DT770
The DT770 is truer to the source than the M50. If you're talking about equalized sound as per most level frequency response graph, then both have exaggerated bass and swap places with each other along the curve.
Myrmidon's talk about treble spikes got me thinking: why are they there, even on high-end headphones, and why do the headphone makers not eliminate them?
Also, I have the Sony MH1C on order, what should I expect out of them? Are they peaky as well? How correct is the FR graph from this thread?
On January 02 2013 08:11 Roadog wrote: Myrmidon's talk about treble spikes got me thinking: why are they there, even on high-end headphones, and why do the headphone makers not eliminate them?
Also, I have the Sony MH1C on order, what should I expect out of them? Are they peaky as well? How correct is the FR graph from this thread?
At $30, they kill, but you get what you pay for, and I haven't found any comparisons to nicer stuff, so they look like fine budget headphones with poor fit, lots of bass and linear treble. Enjoy.
They don't eliminate them for the same reason people like the exaggerated bass on a lot of headphones, or they same reason that people like Grado. It makes it sound good, and some people may like the sound.
If not that, then it's because they don't have the technology and research to make it perfectly flat. And what's flat is really subjective.
I'm not in audio engineering so you'll have to wait for Myrm if you want something more technical.
Is this a good place to ask for running headphone advice? Ipod headphones fall out of my ears just by walking, and I had a cheap pair of wrap arounds that also fell out as soon as I started sweating. Basically, I want something that won't fall off my ears even after a nuclear shock wave. I'm not too worried about amazing sound quality, as long as the headphones can get loud without sounding crappy. Any advice is appreciated. : )
On January 02 2013 10:38 Blisse wrote: They don't eliminate them for the same reason people like the exaggerated bass on a lot of headphones, or they same reason that people like Grado. It makes it sound good, and some people may like the sound.
If not that, then it's because they don't have the technology and research to make it perfectly flat. And what's flat is really subjective.
I'm not in audio engineering so you'll have to wait for Myrm if you want something more technical.
This is all dependent on headphone / IEM positioning (insertion depth, seal), the way it's acoustically coupling to your anatomy, etc. That means that what happens on the dummy head may not exactly happen with you. ~9 kHz spike has to do with some kind of boost based on the ear canal length. Even for top-end fullsize headphones you can see that small changes in positioning influence sound a lot, especially in the treble. Some people claim that everybody's doing it wrong in terms of headphones measurements—mostly regarding the treble. On a related note, others claim that the human auditory system learns to filter out some of these oddities or averages them out. Keep in mind that 4 kHz+ is way above the fundamental frequencies of pretty much any musical instrument, above general piccolo range.
Most sites publish compensated (i.e. a correction curve is applied) frequency response data, but the compensation curves used are not consistent between sites, nor are the test setups. They do averaging across test runs, sometimes across positions, and usually they smooth the results across frequency as well.
Tyll's comment in the article at IF:
First, the reader should know thatl the peaks and valleys in the high frequency region arrise from resonances: between the driver and ear; within the concha ridge of the ear; and in the ear canal itself. While the driver might be putting out a completely flat frequency response in the treble, all the resonances will make it appear that it's not. Basically, the ear's not hearing the driver as much as it's hearing all the resonances the driver is exciting in the coupler (the combined headphone/ear acoustic system).
Because these resonant cavities are very small, very small positional changes of the headphones on the head significantly shift the resonant frequencies of the acoustic coupling between the headphone and ear. So the changes in amplitude that are being measured for this study are primarily occurring from the shifting in frequency of the resonant peaks and nulls.
A particularly peaky headphone that may be derided, may have more unwanted resonances between driver and ear. I think. A lot of times, the issue is exacerbated by an overall higher treble response. If the treble is next to inaudible to begin with, then a peak here and there may not be so apparent.
So don't take data too seriously in the high treble range. But if a headphone has the entire treble elevated or lowered, then that's probably legitimate.
On January 02 2013 10:43 Gentso wrote: Is this a good place to ask for running headphone advice? Ipod headphones fall out of my ears just by walking, and I had a cheap pair of wrap arounds that also fell out as soon as I started sweating. Basically, I want something that won't fall off my ears even after a nuclear shock wave. I'm not too worried about amazing sound quality, as long as the headphones can get loud without sounding crappy. Any advice is appreciated. : )
This should depend a lot on the person, both in terms of the ears and the sweat. A kind that fits around the ear probably works better. A kind that seals into the ear canal should be harder to fall out. The kinds with a very deep seal should stay in even better.
The more it sticks in, the more isolation you get, and that could be a bad idea if you're running anywhere potentially dangerous, like around traffic.
Try an IEM that comes with multiple tips and hope that one of them fits you well (e.g. one of the cheap Meelectronics models). There are aftermarket tips you can try as well.
On January 02 2013 10:43 Gentso wrote: Is this a good place to ask for running headphone advice? Ipod headphones fall out of my ears just by walking, and I had a cheap pair of wrap arounds that also fell out as soon as I started sweating. Basically, I want something that won't fall off my ears even after a nuclear shock wave. I'm not too worried about amazing sound quality, as long as the headphones can get loud without sounding crappy. Any advice is appreciated. : )
This should depend a lot on the person, both in terms of the ears and the sweat. A kind that fits around the ear probably works better. A kind that seals into the ear canal should be harder to fall out. The kinds with a very deep seal should stay in even better.
The more it sticks in, the more isolation you get, and that could be a bad idea if you're running anywhere potentially dangerous, like around traffic.
Try an IEM that comes with multiple tips and hope that one of them fits you well (e.g. one of the cheap Meelectronics models). There are aftermarket tips you can try as well.
To add to this, make sure it has a clip on it (for your shirt, or skin if you're shirtless and don't mind the sting, like me), and they won't fall out if they have a remotely decent seal.
I'm looking for headphones between 50-70 €... I've set my eyes on the Sony MDR-V6, since i heard a lot about how good they are supposed to be. Are they any good, or are there better headphones in this pricerange? I mainly want to listen to music, gaming is secondary.
Reason for asking is that I got them as a christmas present from my job. I like them a lot and they seem rather durable. I Only use them for music on the go and sometime at home when wacthing stuff the girlfriend don't want to hear...
On January 05 2013 00:31 AxiR wrote: I'm looking for headphones between 50-70 €... I've set my eyes on the Sony MDR-V6, since i heard a lot about how good they are supposed to be. Are they any good, or are there better headphones in this pricerange? I mainly want to listen to music, gaming is secondary.
Well depends on the music you listen too. I'm a big fan of the Sony ZX700s. Sound kind of like the B&W P5 only without the price tag.
The V6 is probably never going to die though because its designed well and sounds pretty good. The only problem with it is that it has a pretty nasty treble hump, which bothers a few people because treble can sound a bit sharp.
Hiya, I'm looking for a decent, but cheap pair of earphones-- at most I'd be willing to shell out about 25 or 30 bucks- I don't need spectacular quality or anything, just some comfort and utility. I'm in the US, and previously I had these: Sony Clip Style earbuds and liked them quite a bit, but they won't fit under a headset (which I already have). Any advice appreciated, and thanks in advance!
I figure this is probably the best place to ask even though it isn't headphone related. I'm looking for some reasonably decent speakers for my computer so I can listen to music and watch films without trailing a headphone cable across my room. I only have £40ish to spend on them so I'm not expecting anything amazing. Any suggestions?
On January 05 2013 00:31 AxiR wrote: I'm looking for headphones between 50-70 €... I've set my eyes on the Sony MDR-V6, since i heard a lot about how good they are supposed to be. Are they any good, or are there better headphones in this pricerange? I mainly want to listen to music, gaming is secondary.
Well depends on the music you listen too. I'm a big fan of the Sony ZX700s. Sound kind of like the B&W P5 only without the price tag.
The V6 is probably never going to die though because its designed well and sounds pretty good. The only problem with it is that it has a pretty nasty treble hump, which bothers a few people because treble can sound a bit sharp.
I mostly listen to rock music, so the treble thing might be an issue...
Right now I'm deciding between the Sennheiser HD439 and the Sony MDR-ZX700 (thanks for the suggestion), does anyone have experience with the Sennheiser? I read alot about the HD5xx models, but those are really above my budget...
Anyone who is interested in the AKG K167, I would not recommend them. Bass gets too harsh after a while and will negatively affect your hearing sensitivity, you lose on the midrange, the fit is pretty bad for larger heads, and the build quality is very poor. I got banned from the thread on Head-Fi so I can't write there, but yeah. Beware.
On January 05 2013 04:40 DG.Zeya wrote: Hiya, I'm looking for a decent, but cheap pair of earphones-- at most I'd be willing to shell out about 25 or 30 bucks- I don't need spectacular quality or anything, just some comfort and utility. I'm in the US, and previously I had these: Sony Clip Style earbuds and liked them quite a bit, but they won't fit under a headset (which I already have). Any advice appreciated, and thanks in advance!
You can try the MEElectronics M9, which is good in value at $20.
On January 05 2013 00:31 AxiR wrote: I'm looking for headphones between 50-70 €... I've set my eyes on the Sony MDR-V6, since i heard a lot about how good they are supposed to be. Are they any good, or are there better headphones in this pricerange? I mainly want to listen to music, gaming is secondary.
Well depends on the music you listen too. I'm a big fan of the Sony ZX700s. Sound kind of like the B&W P5 only without the price tag.
The V6 is probably never going to die though because its designed well and sounds pretty good. The only problem with it is that it has a pretty nasty treble hump, which bothers a few people because treble can sound a bit sharp.
I mostly listen to rock music, so the treble thing might be an issue...
Right now I'm deciding between the Sennheiser HD439 and the Sony MDR-ZX700 (thanks for the suggestion), does anyone have experience with the Sennheiser? I read alot about the HD5xx models, but those are really above my budget...
In terms of sound, the ZX700 is better than the HD439 in a lot of fronts. I wouldn't really put them in comparison, because the HD439 are a good buy at maybe 60-75. However, there are some issues around the ZX700, notably the treble and for some bassheads, the lack of bass, and the shallow cups, which might be discouraging if you have big ears. This shouldn't be too much of a concern for a only rock music listener though. I'm not exactly sure, but lots of treble (coughGradocough) seems to be better for Rock, but I can't 100% confirm that for you.
Hey guys, I need a new headset, I've looked through some threads but no one seems to have specifically my unique problem...
I had to stop using my siberia v2 headset because it gave me headaches because the width was not large enough and it wasn't really flexible.
To keep it short and sweet: I have a large head, but small ears, and need help finding a headset that can compensate for that.
Microphone would be nice but doesn't matter. Preferably one that is good for music and gaming both. I like the look of older headsets compared to newer ones but whatever you know of helps.
I've lost to my temptation in and ordered HD650, ODAC, and Magni amp. (I will be broke for the rest of the semester lol)
I'm wondering what is the most ideal way to set the volume control. I've read that it's best to keep the system volume at 100% to avoid sound quality lost. But does the quality lost noticeable ? I am not that motivated to change my habbit of adjusting the volume digitally. I guess the best way to figure this out is to test it myself, but I would love to hear you guys' input on this matter.
When reducing the volume digitally (in this context), the digital audio data is divided by some amount. Thus, the range of possible signal values fed into the DAC is reduced and the maximum signal amplitude possible is lower. If the DAC's own noise does not scale with volume (generally it doesn't, at least not perfectly), then what has effectively happened is that the signal-to-noise ratio has been reduced. The signal is lowered but the noise floor has not, or at least not by much or as much.
If the output audio word depth is 16 bits and you are using digital volume control to reduce the words down, then that is decreasing the effective bit depth to 15, 14, 13, etc. bits depending on how much you're lowering the volume. That's a separate issue than the above. This increases the quantization error. With a 24-bit DAC operating in 24-bit mode (even if the source sound like a file is 16 bit), that's not an issue because the DAC inherent noise is well above the quantization error and other factors, even if you're reducing the volume by a lot.
In addition, DAC nonlinearities are higher near the bottom of its operating range, at very quiet levels. If you operate the DAC at lower levels, you're operating closer to conditions where it may be worse. ODAC is has very low linearity error at low volumes though.
In practice, ambient acoustic noise in your room, noise in any recording (even in recording studios with megabucks gear and soundproof rooms pick up noise on instruments / vocals feeds, often greater than from any electronics on your end), and the music itself will mask most small issues. e.g. it's hard to hear that loss of quality down at 10 dB when your room ambient is more like 25 dB and you're paying attention to the music at 80 dB. Unless you're really cranking the volume down in software and boosting it back up with amplifiers and sensitive enough headphones to hear any resulting issues, it really shouldn't be a problem.
Just set the amp's volume control to a position where it's slightly louder than you'd ever use, with software volume at max. Then leave the amp setting and use digital volume control from then on.
maybe you can help me out and give some advice for buying new headphones. So here is my description for what I'm searching about:
Since I will move into an apartment-sharing community I need some headphones. I listen to a wide variety of music: classic, techno, ambient, trance some hip hop and other stuff. So I would like to have good sound quality and not just dominating bass. Another thing is, that I got quite a bunch of headphones (logitech, sennheiser, creative) and they all broke within 2 years (start to crackle, 1 side completely broke, high infrequence noise (just by casual usage)). So I will not buy ANY gaming gear headphones EVER again.
I'm searching for something like in this order: high consistency / quality > comfortable > good sound for music purpose only
I would spend around 100++ € if I don't have to buy over and over again. I really hate buying 3 times crap I wont make this mistake another time. I want quality and will pay for quality.
On February 01 2013 06:46 EuSpex wrote: Hey guys...
maybe you can help me out and give some advice for buying new headphones. So here is my description for what I'm searching about:
Since I will move into an apartment-sharing community I need some headphones. I listen to a wide variety of music: classic, techno, ambient, trance some hip hop and other stuff. So I would like to have good sound quality and not just dominating bass. Another thing is, that I got quite a bunch of headphones (logitech, sennheiser, creative) and they all broke within 2 years (start to crackle, 1 side completely broke, high infrequence noise (just by casual usage)). So I will not buy ANY gaming gear headphones EVER again.
I'm searching for something like in this order: high consistency / quality > comfortable > good sound for music purpose only
I would spend around 100++ € if I don't have to buy over and over again. I really hate buying 3 times crap I wont make this mistake another time. I want quality and will pay for quality.
I have Philips SHP 2700 headphones, is there anything new/better on the market similar to this product? Are there any headphones that project bass very well ? I tend to listen to music with EQ set to rock, which boosts the bass a bit. I also have some Sennheiser earbuds with Dynamic Bass Boost, really good earbuds by the way.
Hey im thinking of getting Sennheiser HD 598s and im wondering if they are suitable for my current configuration.
Firstly, I enjoy listening to dubstep/electronic as well as play a lot of video games (MOBA, RTS, FPS) - does this headphone fit the job?
Secondly, I plan on using it with my laptop (MSi GE60) which has a "amplified" headphone jack, does it work fine or do I NEED an dedicated amplifier because im not sure if I can get an amplifier.
Lastly, would this headphone work with ipod or phones?
On February 08 2013 10:19 Strafe578 wrote: Hey im thinking of getting Sennheiser HD 598s and im wondering if they are suitable for my current configuration.
Firstly, I enjoy listening to dubstep/electronic as well as play a lot of video games (MOBA, RTS, FPS) - does this headphone fit the job?
Secondly, I plan on using it with my laptop (MSi GE60) which has a "amplified" headphone jack, does it work fine or do I NEED an dedicated amplifier because im not sure if I can get an amplifier.
Lastly, would this headphone work with ipod or phones?
Thanks for any help! :D
IMO HD598's can't produce the oomph and the lows that dubstep and electronic music typically contains. HD598's produce sweet mids and highs, which would suit classical, jazz, rock, and pop better.
For roughly the price of the HD 598, if you want something open and (what some consider to) have good imaging for fps and other games, a Beyerdynamic DT 990 may be more suitable, for most electronic and dubstep. The common cheaper Pro 250 ohms edition would be less suited for some phones to drive, just by volume. But most masters for those genres tend to not have a whole lot of dynamic range (low peak-to-average volume), so it's probably okay unless you like the sound really cranked up.
By the way, isn't GE60 kind of noisy under a heavier load? Do you really want open headphones? Are you really intending to use open headphones with iPod / phone, which many people use in places outside their homes?
Im currently using Razer Megalodons (I know =p) and I like the open design better than the closed, and I find that the noise shouldn't be a problem as long as the volume goes decently high.
As for the Beyerdynamics, I can't find them on newegg or bestbuy, and they require a lot more ohms than the sennheiser.
I got a pair of HD555 w/removed foam inside + Audio Technica M50 with spiral cable. I am really satisfied with these. They are open and closed - respectively. I also got a pair of 1964-V3 custom IEM on their way. I will make a review here on TL about them. (w/clear color + clear cable)
I am looking at beyerdynamic headphones. Do anyone have any good opinion about them? Are they overpriced? I really thought my ATHm50 were really good for the price. They are ranked very high on headfi.org website.
There is a headset called something like MX300 from Beyerdynamic. But I think it is a little expensive for what you get. Perhaps I could get the microphone separate (which I am also looking for) and the headphones that correspond to the ones they have in the mx300?
Supposedly MMX300 are like DT770 32 ohms, according to people, including (I think) those that have heard both. They look similar, at least... other editions of DT770, like the Pro rather than Premium models, may be cheaper. Premium models clamp a little lighter, are aesthetically different, but are mostly the same—they charge more for these because these are aimed at the audiophile market, which is happy enough to shell out the extra money.
I haven't heard the MMX300 or seen measurements of it that would more or less confirm it. Anyway, it's probably expensive for what you get, no argument there.
Beyer's one of the old (been around like 90 years?) German professional audio companies, been making respected headphones and all kinds of aviation / broadcasting / pro headsets for a long time, among other things. Value depends on the product and street price, like for everybody else.
Realistically, especially past a certain level like ATH-M50, you should pretty much ignore price for headphones as a means of judging or estimating quality. Some people would like DT770 better; others would like ATH-M50 more. People with larger ears are more likely to appreciate the DT770 more, because they and the other fullsize Beyers have large and deep earcups.
On February 10 2013 02:23 Myrmidon wrote: Supposedly MMX300 are like DT770 32 ohms, according to people, including (I think) those that have heard both. They look similar, at least... other editions of DT770, like the Pro rather than Premium models, may be cheaper. Premium models clamp a little lighter, are aesthetically different, but are mostly the same—they charge more for these because these are aimed at the audiophile market, which is happy enough to shell out the extra money.
I haven't heard the MMX300 or seen measurements of it that would more or less confirm it. Anyway, it's probably expensive for what you get, no argument there.
Beyer's one of the old (been around like 90 years?) German professional audio companies, been making respected headphones and all kinds of aviation / broadcasting / pro headsets for a long time, among other things. Value depends on the product and street price, like for everybody else.
Realistically, especially past a certain level like ATH-M50, you should pretty much ignore price for headphones as a means of judging or estimating quality. Some people would like DT770 better; others would like ATH-M50 more. People with larger ears are more likely to appreciate the DT770 more, because they and the other fullsize Beyers have large and deep earcups.
Thanks a lot. Do you have any idea about the microphone on the MMX300?
I have a pair of Sennheiser HD-598. So freaking good. Don't believe the lies of "gaming headsets" but rather get a good quality headset and if you need to, a microphone (I have a blue snowball myself). In the past I bought a Siberia V2 and a SteelSeries 5H v2 and they were two of the worst purchases I've ever made
On February 10 2013 02:23 Myrmidon wrote: Supposedly MMX300 are like DT770 32 ohms, according to people, including (I think) those that have heard both. They look similar, at least... other editions of DT770, like the Pro rather than Premium models, may be cheaper. Premium models clamp a little lighter, are aesthetically different, but are mostly the same—they charge more for these because these are aimed at the audiophile market, which is happy enough to shell out the extra money.
I haven't heard the MMX300 or seen measurements of it that would more or less confirm it. Anyway, it's probably expensive for what you get, no argument there.
Beyer's one of the old (been around like 90 years?) German professional audio companies, been making respected headphones and all kinds of aviation / broadcasting / pro headsets for a long time, among other things. Value depends on the product and street price, like for everybody else.
Realistically, especially past a certain level like ATH-M50, you should pretty much ignore price for headphones as a means of judging or estimating quality. Some people would like DT770 better; others would like ATH-M50 more. People with larger ears are more likely to appreciate the DT770 more, because they and the other fullsize Beyers have large and deep earcups.
Thanks a lot. Do you have any idea about the microphone on the MMX300?
A standing microphone will certainly be better quality, it depends on your use, if you absolutely need a microphone connected to the headphones and if you're in a situation where you can justify the costs of getting a more premium audiophile product with the extra price of the microphone, then go for it. In most cases, a studio microphone or even the cheap attachable Zalman microphone should do absolutely fine, heck, I can even use my webcam's microphone if I'm really lazy.
In terms of sound quality for the price points, the DT770 is still better than the ATH-M50 in basically every area, although what areas the DT770 excel in really depends on the version you're considering. In general, they represent an incremental step up, and that's what the pricing has represented. When the M50 were $90-100 two years ago while the DT770 were still hovering around the $200 pricepoint alongside the AH-D2000, you can see how amazing the M50 offer at $100 looked at that time. The state of this pricepoint of headphones has changed a bit, with a lot more competition in the price range.
Most of Beyerdynamic's older lines of headphones are priced very well nowadays. I talk in the sense away from MSRP and of street pricing, since that is what is the "depreciated value" of the headphones, which usually reflects the headphone tier they're regarded as. This is the reason people hate the new Sennheiser HD700, and mainly the reason audiophiles dislike the huge rip-off the Beats do, at almost 150% markup (street $150, MSRP $350) and Bose do, at a fixed markup (street $150, MSRP $350), not including the arguments about the price of Active Noise Cancelling.
The newer lines of Beyerdynamic headphones still need some time to "depreciate", but that's expected and the hype and stock of them in the audiophile community doesn't seem to be too large, so it'll take some time to reach a consensual opinion. Stay away from the portable headphones in the meantime too.
Sorry I haven't been responding to posts more. I've been too tired when I get home to think about things too deeply. I'll try and help out where I can, if I can.
On February 10 2013 02:23 Myrmidon wrote: Supposedly MMX300 are like DT770 32 ohms, according to people, including (I think) those that have heard both. They look similar, at least... other editions of DT770, like the Pro rather than Premium models, may be cheaper. Premium models clamp a little lighter, are aesthetically different, but are mostly the same—they charge more for these because these are aimed at the audiophile market, which is happy enough to shell out the extra money.
I haven't heard the MMX300 or seen measurements of it that would more or less confirm it. Anyway, it's probably expensive for what you get, no argument there.
Beyer's one of the old (been around like 90 years?) German professional audio companies, been making respected headphones and all kinds of aviation / broadcasting / pro headsets for a long time, among other things. Value depends on the product and street price, like for everybody else.
Realistically, especially past a certain level like ATH-M50, you should pretty much ignore price for headphones as a means of judging or estimating quality. Some people would like DT770 better; others would like ATH-M50 more. People with larger ears are more likely to appreciate the DT770 more, because they and the other fullsize Beyers have large and deep earcups.
Thanks a lot. Do you have any idea about the microphone on the MMX300?
A standing microphone will certainly be better quality, it depends on your use, if you absolutely need a microphone connected to the headphones and if you're in a situation where you can justify the costs of getting a more premium audiophile product with the extra price of the microphone, then go for it. In most cases, a studio microphone or even the cheap attachable Zalman microphone should do absolutely fine, heck, I can even use my webcam's microphone if I'm really lazy.
In terms of sound quality for the price points, the DT770 is still better than the ATH-M50 in basically every area, although what areas the DT770 excel in really depends on the version you're considering. In general, they represent an incremental step up, and that's what the pricing has represented. When the M50 were $90-100 two years ago while the DT770 were still hovering around the $200 pricepoint alongside the AH-D2000, you can see how amazing the M50 offer at $100 looked at that time. The state of this pricepoint of headphones has changed a bit, with a lot more competition in the price range.
Most of Beyerdynamic's older lines of headphones are priced very well nowadays. I talk in the sense away from MSRP and of street pricing, since that is what is the "depreciated value" of the headphones, which usually reflects the headphone tier they're regarded as. This is the reason people hate the new Sennheiser HD700, and mainly the reason audiophiles dislike the huge rip-off the Beats do, at almost 150% markup (street $150, MSRP $350) and Bose do, at a fixed markup (street $150, MSRP $350), not including the arguments about the price of Active Noise Cancelling.
The newer lines of Beyerdynamic headphones still need some time to "depreciate", but that's expected and the hype and stock of them in the audiophile community doesn't seem to be too large, so it'll take some time to reach a consensual opinion. Stay away from the portable headphones in the meantime too.
Sorry I haven't been responding to posts more. I've been too tired when I get home to think about things too deeply. I'll try and help out where I can, if I can.
Wow. This reply was really interesting. Thank you. You answered several questions that I did not even ask, but was going to ask! :D
I remember the day I bought dr. dre beats studio. Never been so angry about a purchase. They totally suck in quality. Made out of pure loose plastic too. And I realized I bought a hipster pair of headphones - and I am not a hipster at all. :D
I still have them. And I am kind of embarrassed that I have them. Ironic that they cost so much.
Back to the mirophone. Do you know any good microphones specifically? I don't want a snowball. I just think it looks too fancy and takes too much space. Beyerdynamic perhaps?
And by the way. I am going to take another look at the DT770. What you wrote really got me interested again. Even though I got enough headphones. I got the audiophile addiction.
I'm looking to buy a pair of headphones, and my primary use is at the library (I'm usually at the library). I have some questions.
How does the DT 770 feel for the people who wear glasses?
I mainly listen to music via a laptop, so I guess the 250 Ohm version is out of the question. That leaves 80 and 32 Ohm versions. Any advice on which to choose? If need be, I'm also willing to spend ~80 bucks on an amplifier.
How well do the headphones minimize noise to the people nearby?
I'm also considering the M50's. Seems like both have "good enough" sound quality, so my priority is comfort over everything else.
I personally don't really like the sound of the DT 770 (a bit too much bass for my tastes, slightly bright on a high treble spike, a dip in the lower midrange), but I feel like the popularity is warranted. First of all, some people will like the balance more than I do.
It's just that it's very comfortable / works decently with glasses / large ears okay too / isolates a lot of noise coming in / leaks next to nothing out / built like a tank.
Earcups are larger and deeper, with better materials, than on ATH-M50. 80 ohms version should be okay with most laptops, unless you like listening way too loud or are listening to music with a very wide dynamic range and thus very low average volume (read: these days, only classical, some jazz... which I think the DT 770 sound signature is not suited to anyway). That's usually the cheapest version.
Hmm..I personally don't enjoy much bass either. From what I read, it seems like that's the case for the M50 as well. Do you recommend any neutral/balanced/emphasis on midrange headphones?
A song I want to reference is this. I've had experiences with some bass heavy headphones and they just can't balance the lows and the highs @ 1:35 - 2:00. My $50-80 "neutral" senneheiser's sounds much better than the more expensive bass heavy headphones.
And I also listen to jazzy hip hop stuff, and bassy headphones just ruin the mood for me.
On February 12 2013 15:51 billy5000 wrote: Hmm..I personally don't enjoy much bass either. From what I read, it seems like that's the case for the M50 as well. Do you recommend any neutral/balanced/emphasis on midrange headphones?
A song I want to reference is this. I've had experiences with some bass heavy headphones and they just can't balance the lows and the highs @ 1:35 - 2:00. My $50-80 "neutral" senneheiser's sounds much better than the more expensive bass heavy headphones.
And I also listen to jazzy hip hop stuff, and bassy headphones just ruin the mood for me.
I have tried both the ATHm50(which I own) and the DT770. And I can say by 100% that the DT770 are more comfortable. The ATHm50 are tighter and probably have better seal. But they are almost a little too tight for most people. I like the feeling. But a lot of my friends say they can' t wear them for long periods of time - considering you said you spent time in a library perhaps DT770 is the way to go. I would chose 32 version because it is simpler to drive.
However. I have another idea: Why not buy 1964-Ears Custom IEM? They seal even better than Circumaural headphones and are less bulky and you do not look like a DJ when you wear them. 1964-Ears are way cheaper than Ultimate Ears too. I just ordered a Triple driver version. And I study all the time - especially in libraries and also sometimes in lectures when the lecturer is too slow for my speed.
EDIT: I wear glasses too. ATHm50 nor DT770 was a problem.
I need some headphones for bassy music as well as the odd bit of pop, rock and kpop. Got a big head, ears and wear glasses haha. Had a pair of M-Audio Q40s and they clamped far too hard on my jaw, even after stretching. I tried the DT770 Pros but they sounded a bit 'distant to me', earcups were the best I've tried by far. Anyone recommend something in the £75-£130 range?
I am really liking the Koss Prodj-100's. Good mids and highs (specially female voices) at a great price ($55 on amazon- $80MSRP- so might be too low for your budget). I don't like too much bass either but haven't heard much hip-hop stuff on it yet (haven't heard the phones too long in general) so can't say definitively on that. I suggest trying them out. They might be somewhat clampy (probably fixable for most, though I am recovering from dislocated jaw so can't speak unbiasedly). Some people recommend trying out the m50 pads on them for better comfort/sound but still have to try that out in the next few weeks. Seemingly good for K-pop people. I can't compare to other headphones though so take my word for what it is. edit: I took them back. Too clampy and not using them as much as I thought due to other reasons.
Audio-Technica - ATH-PRO700MK2 or Sennheiser PC 360 for directional sound in CS:GO and also clear bass for music? I like the overall package of the PC 360 but they are hard to find in stock and much more expensive, just need to know if I'm going to be disappointed with the AT's performance in games but if they will sex my ears anyways and have directional sound then having a separate mic doesn't bother me.
I'm looking for new headphones. I want to use them while on the train or at work, so they should be suited for a lot transportation.
Music: Well I pretty much like any kind of music. I also listen to a lot of podcast. As such I'm looking for a good allround solution. I tried the Sennheiser HD 558 (or was it 555?) at the local electronics store and really liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I'd have to use an adapter to connect it to my phone and for mobil use that's just an invitation to break it eventually. So my question would be if anyone can recommend similar headphones that can be connected to phone / mp3 player without needing an adapter.
On February 13 2013 17:19 llIH wrote: Will they ever re-produce the premium version of DT770?
Unlikely, since the DT770, DT880 and DT990 series is being replaced by the DT70, DT80 and DT90.
On February 13 2013 10:24 Efekkt wrote: Audio-Technica - ATH-PRO700MK2 or Sennheiser PC 360 for directional sound in CS:GO and also clear bass for music? I like the overall package of the PC 360 but they are hard to find in stock and much more expensive, just need to know if I'm going to be disappointed with the AT's performance in games but if they will sex my ears anyways and have directional sound then having a separate mic doesn't bother me.
The PC 360 should be better (in the context of FPS sound) by the virtue of being from Sennheiser, being gaming headphones, and being open-back. Never heard of the ATH-PRO700MK2 so I can't comment on them. You might like the bass on the ATH-PRO700MK2 more, but again, no evidence in either direction because they're pretty niche products. Closed headphones often have nicer bass, at least for the general public.
On February 19 2013 00:23 Rossbacher wrote: Hey guys,
I'm looking for new headphones. I want to use them while on the train or at work, so they should be suited for a lot transportation.
Music: Well I pretty much like any kind of music. I also listen to a lot of podcast. As such I'm looking for a good allround solution. I tried the Sennheiser HD 558 (or was it 555?) at the local electronics store and really liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I'd have to use an adapter to connect it to my phone and for mobil use that's just an invitation to break it eventually. So my question would be if anyone can recommend similar headphones that can be connected to phone / mp3 player without needing an adapter.
Cheers!
You forgot a price range. Also depends on how much isolation you want or need for your workplace.
Could easily go for a V-Moda, maybe the ATH-M50, or even better, try looking at IEMs. Or look for headphones that have a 3.5mm plug, which excludes a lot of the upper headphones which aren't suited to travelling anyways. AKG K167 might also warrant a look.
On February 12 2013 14:28 billy5000 wrote: I'm looking to buy a pair of headphones, and my primary use is at the library (I'm usually at the library). I have some questions.
How does the DT 770 feel for the people who wear glasses?
I mainly listen to music via a laptop, so I guess the 250 Ohm version is out of the question. That leaves 80 and 32 Ohm versions. Any advice on which to choose? If need be, I'm also willing to spend ~80 bucks on an amplifier.
How well do the headphones minimize noise to the people nearby?
I'm also considering the M50's. Seems like both have "good enough" sound quality, so my priority is comfort over everything else.
Thanks
I have DT770 Pros (the 32 Ohm 88th Anniversary Edition set) and they are very comfortable with glasses. They block out noise like crazy (I couldn't hear my old blue switch mechanical keyboard when wearing them) and they don't leak a lot of sound at all. They're the perfect headphone for me but that is because I listen to a fairly large amount of bass music (especially when I play Starcraft. One of my HOTS accounts is named after an late 80s/early 90s Miami bass DJ), but they are perfectly serviceable for anything, and if I find the bass to be too much for something I just EQ it down a bit and the issue is solved.
I tried the M50s and I prefer the DT770 in terms of comfort, but I have dumbo ears.
On February 12 2013 14:28 billy5000 wrote: I'm looking to buy a pair of headphones, and my primary use is at the library (I'm usually at the library). I have some questions.
How does the DT 770 feel for the people who wear glasses?
I mainly listen to music via a laptop, so I guess the 250 Ohm version is out of the question. That leaves 80 and 32 Ohm versions. Any advice on which to choose? If need be, I'm also willing to spend ~80 bucks on an amplifier.
How well do the headphones minimize noise to the people nearby?
I'm also considering the M50's. Seems like both have "good enough" sound quality, so my priority is comfort over everything else.
Thanks
I have DT770 Pros (the 32 Ohm 88th Anniversary Edition set) and they are very comfortable with glasses. They block out noise like crazy (I couldn't hear my old blue switch mechanical keyboard when wearing them) and they don't leak a lot of sound at all. They're the perfect headphone for me but that is because I listen to a fairly large amount of bass music (especially when I play Starcraft. One of my HOTS accounts is named after an late 80s/early 90s Miami bass DJ), but they are perfectly serviceable for anything, and if I find the bass to be too much for something I just EQ it down a bit and the issue is solved.
I tried the M50s and I prefer the DT770 in terms of comfort, but I have dumbo ears.
A moderately priced DAC/AMP can run the 250 ohm from a laptop pretty well from personal experience. Personally I prefer Denon's or ATH's when i'm wearing glasses and Beyers when I'm on contacts.
On February 19 2013 10:19 llIH wrote: I like the white cushion on the DT770.
Do any of T70 T80 T90 have white cushions?
Do you mean the silvery velour cushions? I don't believe so since my T1 is black, but they're all black velour as well, so don't be discouraged. Same material, different colour.
Hey Teamliquid! I'm in need of a new listening device for the purpose of listening to music while jogging or otherwise working out. I'm cheap so I don't want to spend over 30 USD on this since it'll only be for exercise, not home listening. Do you guys have any recommendations for an earbud or IEM or some other listening solution in that price point?
On February 12 2013 14:28 billy5000 wrote: I'm looking to buy a pair of headphones, and my primary use is at the library (I'm usually at the library). I have some questions.
How does the DT 770 feel for the people who wear glasses?
I mainly listen to music via a laptop, so I guess the 250 Ohm version is out of the question. That leaves 80 and 32 Ohm versions. Any advice on which to choose? If need be, I'm also willing to spend ~80 bucks on an amplifier.
How well do the headphones minimize noise to the people nearby?
I'm also considering the M50's. Seems like both have "good enough" sound quality, so my priority is comfort over everything else.
Thanks
I have DT770 Pros (the 32 Ohm 88th Anniversary Edition set) and they are very comfortable with glasses. They block out noise like crazy (I couldn't hear my old blue switch mechanical keyboard when wearing them) and they don't leak a lot of sound at all. They're the perfect headphone for me but that is because I listen to a fairly large amount of bass music (especially when I play Starcraft. One of my HOTS accounts is named after an late 80s/early 90s Miami bass DJ), but they are perfectly serviceable for anything, and if I find the bass to be too much for something I just EQ it down a bit and the issue is solved.
I tried the M50s and I prefer the DT770 in terms of comfort, but I have dumbo ears.
A moderately priced DAC/AMP can run the 250 ohm from a laptop pretty well from personal experience. Personally I prefer Denon's or ATH's when i'm wearing glasses and Beyers when I'm on contacts.
Did some more research and ended up getting the a900x since I just wanted an easy listening pair of headphones at the library as opposed to the bass heavy m50 or dt770. Best decision ever. Super comfy, and the mids are just amazing..I just tested it with sarah mclachlan's angel and wow..
I never realized how sophisticated hi-hats can sound.
On February 12 2013 14:28 billy5000 wrote: I'm looking to buy a pair of headphones, and my primary use is at the library (I'm usually at the library). I have some questions.
How does the DT 770 feel for the people who wear glasses?
I mainly listen to music via a laptop, so I guess the 250 Ohm version is out of the question. That leaves 80 and 32 Ohm versions. Any advice on which to choose? If need be, I'm also willing to spend ~80 bucks on an amplifier.
How well do the headphones minimize noise to the people nearby?
I'm also considering the M50's. Seems like both have "good enough" sound quality, so my priority is comfort over everything else.
Thanks
I have DT770 Pros (the 32 Ohm 88th Anniversary Edition set) and they are very comfortable with glasses. They block out noise like crazy (I couldn't hear my old blue switch mechanical keyboard when wearing them) and they don't leak a lot of sound at all. They're the perfect headphone for me but that is because I listen to a fairly large amount of bass music (especially when I play Starcraft. One of my HOTS accounts is named after an late 80s/early 90s Miami bass DJ), but they are perfectly serviceable for anything, and if I find the bass to be too much for something I just EQ it down a bit and the issue is solved.
I tried the M50s and I prefer the DT770 in terms of comfort, but I have dumbo ears.
I have DT770 Pro 80 Ohms, and my bro has M50s. I definitely like my DT770s more, but they aren't as portable as the M50s. How do you drive your DT770s, if you do at all? I don't think the 32s need an amp if I remember correctly, but I use a Fiio E11 for my cans. But yeah, the main problem I find with them is they're so bulky But very very comfortable
On February 20 2013 23:59 llIH wrote: Can anyone explain how the different models of Beyerdynamic headphones sound in relation to their electrical resistance?
250 80 32
Many claim that the 80 is bassiest.
It could be because it's a Pro version (Premium is available typically in 32, 250, 600; Pro in 80 and 250; with exceptions), which clamp a little harder and thus could have a better seal and more bass. Compared to Pro 250, it has lower impedance, so a source with higher output impedance would effectively shift the FR towards midbass slightly (and more so for the 80 ohms version than for a higher-impedance version).
I haven't heard more than one of the models personally, so I can't say from experience. That said, there may be some sample-to-sample variance at play; age of the pads is another factor, etc. So even somebody who has experienced multiple versions side-by-side in the wild may not really have good data points, so to speak.
On February 22 2013 03:19 billy5000 wrote: Did some more research and ended up getting the a900x since I just wanted an easy listening pair of headphones at the library as opposed to the bass heavy m50 or dt770. Best decision ever. Super comfy, and the mids are just amazing..I just tested it with sarah mclachlan's angel and wow..
I never realized how sophisticated hi-hats can sound.
I dunno, I rarely realize things about instruments except by playing them or hearing them live. Sorry, just a snide elitist put-down for the day for the quota.
On February 19 2013 14:43 EchOne wrote: Hey Teamliquid! I'm in need of a new listening device for the purpose of listening to music while jogging or otherwise working out. I'm cheap so I don't want to spend over 30 USD on this since it'll only be for exercise, not home listening. Do you guys have any recommendations for an earbud or IEM or some other listening solution in that price point?
Any headphones work really, depending on how much isolation. Hard to recommend because it depends on how abusive you will be with them, and that there's very few differences at this extreme low end, and you will probably not hear the differences when you're working out anyways, just try a pair of $15-20 headphones at a local store and if they work, good, and if they don't, use the rest to try another pair. :/ random, but basically only thing I could recommend.
On February 22 2013 03:19 billy5000 wrote: Did some more research and ended up getting the a900x since I just wanted an easy listening pair of headphones at the library as opposed to the bass heavy m50 or dt770. Best decision ever. Super comfy, and the mids are just amazing..I just tested it with sarah mclachlan's angel and wow..
I never realized how sophisticated hi-hats can sound.
I dunno, I rarely realize things about instruments except by playing them or hearing them live. Sorry, just a snide elitist put-down for the day for the quota.
:3 Bad closed versus good open headphones usually blows people's minds. At least those who don't need the bass.
Im looking specifically for a cheap headset to be ordered online in UK
From reading OP, looking for something like closed, Supra-aural.. wired also good
I previously used one of these [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-LifeChat-LX-3000-New-Packaging/dp/B000JSDOMO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361897515&sr=8-1]
but the mic wire broke eventually.. It lasted about a year
Need something good quality that wont break easily, to take to thousands of hours of usage pretty fast. I dont throw things around, but it might get bumped a bit. My old ones in particular had a mic/audio control attached to the headset wire - but it floated on the wire when i was sitting and was pretty big, enough to tug on the wire quite a bit if it got dropped a little and thats probably what broke it
Looking for low budget but solid, something like £20. Maaaybe £50 if its worth it (convince me). It needs to have decent microphone for skype etc - I use headset mic all the time. It terms of bleeding noise, maybe open would be acceptable? But my MX-browns (keyboard) wake people up, and i have audio loud.
On February 27 2013 01:58 Cyro wrote: Im looking specifically for a cheap headset to be ordered online in UK
From reading OP, looking for something like closed, Supra-aural.. wired also good
I previously used one of these [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-LifeChat-LX-3000-New-Packaging/dp/B000JSDOMO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361897515&sr=8-1]
but the mic wire broke eventually.. It lasted about a year
Need something good quality that wont break easily, to take to thousands of hours of usage pretty fast. I dont throw things around, but it might get bumped a bit. My old ones in particular had a mic/audio control attached to the headset wire - but it floated on the wire when i was sitting and was pretty big, enough to tug on the wire quite a bit if it got dropped a little and thats probably what broke it
Looking for low budget but solid, something like £20. Maaaybe £50 if its worth it (convince me). It needs to have decent microphone for skype etc - I use headset mic all the time. It terms of bleeding noise, maybe open would be acceptable? But my MX-browns (keyboard) wake people up, and i have audio loud.
Thanks for any recommendations or ideas
Can't convince you to buy headphones and a separate mic? Headsets virtually universally suck, buying a $20 disposable one each year is the only way to buy headsets.
Open vs closed at at computer comes down to the amount of noise around you. MX browns are going to be louder than any open noise bleed unless you are somewhat deaf. But if your area is loud then opens suck.
If open is ok, Superlux HD681 and a zalman zm-1 mic would be my choice.
Can't convince you to buy headphones and a separate mic?
Does that work out well though? Ive heard it more than a few times before, but i kept my mic like an inch or less from my mouth before, i dont want to have to speak particularly loudly for clear voice, or have a wide range of volume, or have it pick up sounds from toddlers running around screaming
Can't convince you to buy headphones and a separate mic?
Does that work out well though? Ive heard it more than a few times before, but i kept my mic like an inch or less from my mouth before, i dont want to have to speak particularly loudly for clear voice, or have a wide range of volume, or have it pick up sounds from toddlers running around screaming
Not sure on the picking up outside noise, I don't know enough about microphones.
But I have mine at belly height on my headphone cable and a friend has his on his keyboard and its more than clear enough and picks up muttering well.
I need a standalone/desktop mic that isn't going to take up a load of space i.e. can't have one that just stands completely upright as I have two monitors and it would get in the way or it might end up being too far away to pick up my voice and what not. Any recommendations?
Mic is like 5 inches from my mouth and i cant hear myself talk while playing sc2 because keyboard to voice noise ratio is far far too high and the sound quality is pretty awful too, even compared to my old £20 headset
Im not sure what to do with it, or if it's even returnable
On February 27 2013 02:58 Mackem wrote: I need a standalone/desktop mic that isn't going to take up a load of space i.e. can't have one that just stands completely upright as I have two monitors and it would get in the way or it might end up being too far away to pick up my voice and what not. Any recommendations?
If you want a mic that not take up loads of space on your desk you should take a look at Samson Go Mic. It's a really nice microphone, I have mine just infront of my screen and it picks up my voice just fine.
After trying to communicate with ProxyWolf and the other GSL casters, I have given up as they dont respond.
So I am trying here instead. Does anyone here have any experience with the GSL (Think its Zowie) headphones they use in the booth? Is it closed? Over the ear? How is the sound quality?
And how about the Sennheiser HD558? Any experience with that?
Hey guys, sorry if this was posted before but seeing I was in the same position of some of you, I thought I'd give my thoughts on the headphones I purchased 4 months ago. Because in my city, shops that sell computers do not offer large variety, I did a search on good audio companies (that specialize in making audio products like headphones) and found out the Plantronics 7.1 surround 780. Previously I was using a simple microsoft life chat headphone that wasnt anything special.
After trying out the 780, everytime I am about to play a FPS game, like dayZ, counterstrike, I have to wear these badboys. The headphones truly offer 7.1 surround sound, they have incredible sound quality and for example I can tell where my opponent will come from. The only bad thing is they are hard to get used to, the first days i couldnt wear them for more than 20-30minutes.
By the way I did have great speaker setup tho 5.1 and audio card but the headphones give another sound since its like in your head. I would recommend the plantronics to anyone interested in playing FPS games, watch surround movies with etc.
Oh and the microphone is really good as well. and the build quality in general are very nice and comfy. I think I paid 100e for them. Not too cheap/not too expensive.
Hey All, I'm looking to pick up a new headset for gaming on my PC. Ideally I'd like to spend only up to the $100 range, but could go as far as $150-$200 if need be. Prefer it to be a circumaural headset. No microphone needed, I have a Blue Snowball which I am very happy with so I only need a new headset. Was looking at the Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones as a possibility. If anyone has some information about that headset or would like to suggest some others in my price range it would be very appreciated.
Looking to buy a new headset/pair of IEMs whenever I have the money to. I am looking for quality, so I am willing to cash out 150-200$ if you can convince me it'll be worth it. I am pretty much a total newbie to audio so I am probably gonna use answers here to research a little on my own before deciding. If it is of any relevance, I use the integrated soundcard on my motherboard(ROG V Formula).
It's gonna be used mostly for music, and also a little bit of gaming. It's not really that important that it's good for games as I play mostly SC2. As for the music, I listen to a lot of vocal dubstep, piano with vocals, and some rock(think Paramore and Mumford&Sons etc.)
Please, if you need any more information or I've said something retarded, let me know
On March 14 2013 23:36 CornMuscles wrote: Hey All, I'm looking to pick up a new headset for gaming on my PC. Ideally I'd like to spend only up to the $100 range, but could go as far as $150-$200 if need be. Prefer it to be a circumaural headset. No microphone needed, I have a Blue Snowball which I am very happy with so I only need a new headset. Was looking at the Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones as a possibility. If anyone has some information about that headset or would like to suggest some others in my price range it would be very appreciated.
I had the 280Pro for a few days ( took back b/c I got a price match on the ATH-m50s) but have to say that the 280 has great all-around sound. I almost like it more than than the m50 so far, though "burn-in" makes the m50's better according to people. But so far the m50 has a lot of bass, almost too much for me. The 280pro sounds nice all around and might be better for gaming from my limited time with both so far.
edit: m50 beats 280 in comfort though for sure.
edit2: after some more hearing, I like the m50s more every day. Also want to point out I hear this out of an old-school stereo amp I have hooked up.
hi everyone i had a sennheiser HD 202 but he died after 1 year and a half, so now i'm looking for a ~50€ headphone which i could buy in europe(particulary in France) i already have a "gamer" headphone to talk on skype, but here i'm looking for a good quality while listening to music or playing SC2, i listen to blues/rock/hard rock.
I also would like a good built quality for this headphone, i may transport it quite often...
do you guy have something in the mind which can matchs this ?
On March 24 2013 08:10 RoranRock wrote: hi everyone i had a sennheiser HD 202 but he died after 1 year and a half, so now i'm looking for a ~50€ headphone which i could buy in europe(particulary in France) i already have a "gamer" headphone to talk on skype, but here i'm looking for a good quality while listening to music or playing SC2, i listen to blues/rock/hard rock.
I also would like a good built quality for this headphone, i may transport it quite often...
do you guy have something in the mind which can matchs this ?
Superlux headphones from thomann. Especially the HD-681, HD-669, HD-662. All about 30€ or less, great sound and build quality. Shipping won't take that long since they come from Germany.
Hello I am looking for headset/headphones + mic for mostly fps gaming + some music.
I would like to spend about 100$, but can go up to 150$ if its worth it.
I heard plenty times that headseats are bad so in case of buying headphones I would like to ask about mic as well. I have seen people recommend zalman zm-mic1, is it really that good?
Also, I have read in the resource OP links to that AKG GHS-1 is the headseat to go for if you really want a headset. I can get it for 90$. Is it worth it?
Thanks for help
EDIT
After some more reading I think I will go with AKG K 240 MK II or Senn HD 558. Anyone would like to help/comment?
can anyone recommend me a good gaming AND non gaming headset with a good amount of bass? I'm using the sennheiser hd 598 right now (destiny's headset) and since it's open ear there's basically no bass.
I got an etymotic mc5, I got it since December 2011, it's still working but I can the inside of the cable on some part (I don't know how to explain this).
Also I got a bose earphone (2008/2009), never really use this & when I clean it, the cable is also rip apart?
How to maintain the earphone properly? I always put it on the case for etymotic. Any suggestion? Thank you.
I am looking for some good in-ears. They should have a microphone and decent sound would like to use them for playing since my neck is getting tired sometimes by wearing a big heavy headset.
I tested some sennheise in-ears, but after roughly 3 hours of playing my ears started to hurt (not because the sound was too loud, they did not seem to fit for my ears). So are there some super in-ears that fit every ear or do I have to test them all ?
Still rocking my AKG 271s (modded) with travagans whites (modded)....hoping to buy a FiiO E17 if possible...AFTER getting a decent music player (any suggestions ? Im using my samsung phone for traveling atm because of the 32gig SD card slot...the quality is acceptable but the hiss is damn loud...and it kills my batteries)
Just went to my local audio shop and finally got myself a pair of HD600's after listening to different headphones for about 2 hours. This has to be one of the best purchases I've ever done. The bass has enough power to give you that oomph, but never overpowering the mids and highs, which are absolutely perfect. The highs are in my opinion the strong point, details gets more pronounced even on songs you've listened to a thousand times.
Now it's time to get myself a dedicated headphone amp and perhaps a little DAC for that extra audio boner.
Hey guys. Looking for some headphones for no more than £150 GBP. I mainly listen to EDM (Electronic dance music) but throw in the odd pop/rock songs. Comfort is a must for me; I have pretty big ears/head and I wear glasses. They must be able to be worn without crushing my head/jaw/ears (Unlike the M-Audio Q40s I had that were like a vice grip on my jaw even after stretching them). I also tried the DT770 Pro 80s but the mids were too recessed for me.
These should definitely have less recessed mids than DT 770 Pro 80. Or if you've still got those, try EQing down the bass and maybe the treble spike, maybe a slight boost around 200 Hz.
So, I actually bought Sennheiser PC 360, because I found way too many negative reviews on the zalman mic. So far I don't have any complaint, sound is amazing and they are super comfortable.
On April 07 2013 00:16 Aleteh wrote: Just went to my local audio shop and finally got myself a pair of HD600's after listening to different headphones for about 2 hours. This has to be one of the best purchases I've ever done. The bass has enough power to give you that oomph, but never overpowering the mids and highs, which are absolutely perfect. The highs are in my opinion the strong point, details gets more pronounced even on songs you've listened to a thousand times.
Now it's time to get myself a dedicated headphone amp and perhaps a little DAC for that extra audio boner.
tl:dr, HD600 is the best 400$ I've ever spent.
Gratz man those are pretty good, Iw had those for 2 years as main headphones and then upgraded to audeze lcd-2:s 1,5years ago as main phones and trust me going from hd600 to audeze is atleast the same step as going from generic phone iems or porta pros to HD600
Ahhh, after lurking this thread for a while, and being on a budget, I went for a pair of Grado SR60i (On sale for $40). They didn't thrilled me at the beginning, but the longer I use them the more I notice the difference between them and a pair of old generic Sony's MDR-ZX100. After less than a year both the monitors came loose from the metal parts of the headband, but nothing that a little glue couldn't solve.
If anyone has experienced both the SR60i and 80i? Is the improvement something dramatic?
so i started taking a couple coding classes online this quarter that are a challenge for me, and im running into the problem where i simply cant work at home (dont have my own room) without being distracted and annoyed by other household noises. anyone have good recommendations on the best sound cancelling headphones? i just want to be able to block out everything while i work. no need for mic or anything fancy, just want to hear no outside noises at all if possible.. thanks very much
i have a lot of siblings so lots of talking and yelling. we also have tons of pets so theres always some kind of animal noise going on in the background (chinchillas have been running the custom hamster wheel for the last 2 hours and the metal rattling is sooo loud haha) IEMs did not even come to my mind at all, but whatever works best would be great...i think i wold be willing to spend up to 300-350 for a really good pair
Hey guys, i hope you can help me buy a nice pair of headphones, My budget is € 200, I want them to be Circumaural and i rather have them not make that static noise because it's kinda ruining the ingame sound, also it needs to be shipped to The Netherlands and i can't use a credit card but i can use Paypal.
On April 09 2013 19:05 Breoul wrote: Hey guys, i hope you can help me buy a nice pair of headphones, My budget is € 200, I want them to be Circumaural and i rather have them not make that static noise because it's kinda ruining the ingame sound, also it needs to be shipped to The Netherlands and i can't use a credit card but i can use Paypal.
Headphones do not make 'static noise', your source does, so you might want an insensitive pair or cheap soundcard.
On April 09 2013 19:05 Breoul wrote: Hey guys, i hope you can help me buy a nice pair of headphones, My budget is € 200, I want them to be Circumaural and i rather have them not make that static noise because it's kinda ruining the ingame sound, also it needs to be shipped to The Netherlands and i can't use a credit card but i can use Paypal.
Headphones do not make 'static noise', your source does, so you might want an insensitive pair or cheap soundcard.
oh okay because im testing my friends dre beats studio version but it gives me a constant roboting kind of noise so does that mean my soundcard is too good?
On April 07 2013 00:16 Aleteh wrote:tl:dr, HD600 is the best 400$ I've ever spent.
You playin’ SC 2 with the HD 600 or just listening to music?
Yes, I'm using them as my PC headphones, but as i said. I need to get an amp as my asus xonar dx just can't drive a pair of 300 ohm cans. But even then, they sound absolutely amazing without
On April 07 2013 00:16 Aleteh wrote: Just went to my local audio shop and finally got myself a pair of HD600's after listening to different headphones for about 2 hours. This has to be one of the best purchases I've ever done. The bass has enough power to give you that oomph, but never overpowering the mids and highs, which are absolutely perfect. The highs are in my opinion the strong point, details gets more pronounced even on songs you've listened to a thousand times.
Now it's time to get myself a dedicated headphone amp and perhaps a little DAC for that extra audio boner.
tl:dr, HD600 is the best 400$ I've ever spent.
Gratz man those are pretty good, Iw had those for 2 years as main headphones and then upgraded to audeze lcd-2:s 1,5years ago as main phones and trust me going from hd600 to audeze is atleast the same step as going from generic phone iems or porta pros to HD600
Audeze makes some amazing looking cans, but the price tag follows aswell. Those LCD-2 is a thousand dollars and my HD600 cans are less than half of that :D I did try the Denon AH-D7100 aswell, and honestly i liked the sound of the HD600 more and those are are a thousand dollar plus as well. Wish i could've listened to those LCD-2s, but they didn't have them sadly.
On April 04 2013 00:06 Cmon wrote: How often do I need to replace my earphone?
I got an etymotic mc5, I got it since December 2011, it's still working but I can the inside of the cable on some part (I don't know how to explain this).
Also I got a bose earphone (2008/2009), never really use this & when I clean it, the cable is also rip apart?
How to maintain the earphone properly? I always put it on the case for etymotic. Any suggestion? Thank you.
Don't bend the cables too much, replace them when they stop working. Common sense helps.
Hey, I just wondered if the audio technica m50 was still considered one of the best buys in that price range? I'm gonna be using it for music mostly, as the only games I ever play are games where soundstage(I'm using that term correctly right?) isn't very important, with a few exceptions.
As for the music, I like piano+vocals, rock and dubstep. Kinda hard to satisfy all those needs I guess, but judging by a few hours of research, people seem to think that the m50 is a great allrounder.
Also, how come it costs god damn 200$ in every norwegian online store, but costs like 130$ on Amazon? and then like 180$ on amazon.uk
These should definitely have less recessed mids than DT 770 Pro 80. Or if you've still got those, try EQing down the bass and maybe the treble spike, maybe a slight boost around 200 Hz.
Don't have the Beyers anymore. It seems hard to find a pair of headphones that have light clamping force, nice large/deep circumaural earcups and good for EDM.
Is there a list of recommended peripherals like there is for the monitor thread? What's the best sub-$100 IEMs out today? I'm using a cheap pair of Sennheiser CX 475, which sound nicer than generic ipod earbuds, but am interested in investing in something better.
On April 07 2013 00:16 Aleteh wrote:tl:dr, HD600 is the best 400$ I've ever spent.
You playin’ SC 2 with the HD 600 or just listening to music?
Yes, I'm using them as my PC headphones, but as i said. I need to get an amp as my asus xonar dx just can't drive a pair of 300 ohm cans. But even then, they sound absolutely amazing without
I use Beyerdynamic DT 990 with a Fiio E7. Sounds great! Amazing bass response and the highs sit just right. Sounds great playing Dota and some single player games also. Worth every penny.
I just bought the Beyerdynamic MMX 300, and did some research beforehand. Is this a okey headset ? Main use is ofcourse playing the awsome game of Starcraft, watching some movies
Budget - £150 GBP ($230 USD) Source - Computer with Asus Xonar DG sound card Isolation- Prefer sound not to leak much if possible Type - Full-size circumaural headphones Genres - Dance, trance, dubstep, rock, pop, kpop ^_^ Uses - 80% music, 20% games (FPS, RTS) Priorities (Highest to lowest) - Sound/comfort (I have a big head, big ears and wear glasses T_T), isolation, portability Previously tried - Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 (Slightly clampy and sounded distant but earcups are most comfortable I've ever tried) & M-Audio Q40 (Less distant sounding than DT770s but clamp was awful for me even after stretching)
Hi I am looking for a new pair of headphones. Budget about 100$ possible up to 120$ if a good deal but i would prefer not to spend more Use I play starcraft 2 only but dono't use in game sound so these are mostly for listening to music. I don;t care how they look I Just want them to be comfortable and sound good. I listen to a lot of electronic music and techno but I don't want overwhelming bass. Kind Looking for over the ear headphones and don't need noise cancelling or anything like that.
On April 26 2013 13:27 rolando wrote: Hi I am looking for a new pair of headphones. Budget about 100$ possible up to 120$ if a good deal but i would prefer not to spend more Use I play starcraft 2 only but dono't use in game sound so these are mostly for listening to music. I don;t care how they look I Just want them to be comfortable and sound good. I listen to a lot of electronic music and techno but I don't want overwhelming bass. Kind Looking for over the ear headphones and don't need noise cancelling or anything like that.
On April 28 2013 05:09 rolando wrote: ATH-M50 look good. I saw that the M30s were only 30$ so i was considering those too. Does anyone have any experience with these headphones?
They were flavor of the month a few months ago. Got myself a pair. Very good. Pretty light overall, very comfortable (I wear glasses and the pressure of my ear on them doesn't hurt like most headsets), good at keeping sound out and very balanced for the price.
On April 28 2013 05:09 rolando wrote: ATH-M50 look good. I saw that the M30s were only 30$ so i was considering those too. Does anyone have any experience with these headphones?
They're pretty good.
More DJ style headphones - if that's what you're looking for.
The ear cups are leatherish and after hours of playing became uncomfortable to me.
hey, my astro a40s stopped working and dislike them so i wanted to take this chance to buy a different headset tomorrow (or order, i guess)
i really only use my headset at night so the sound doesnt disturb anyone and its usually around my neck when im on skype, otherwise theyre not used at all.
might buy steelseries siberia v2s or order qpad qh-90s
opinions on those two? other suggestions?
budget ~150
not really looking for a headphone/seperate mic but would probably buy Audio-Technica ATH-M50's if i was to
I'm looking for someone with some know how about amplifiers/pc sound cards/headphones/speakers that i can add on skype for a little chat
I've been contemplating which i should buy from the following options
1) Buy a dedicated headphone amp and DAC to connect to my already owned asus xonar dx. 2) Buy a asus xonar dx/creative x-fi titanium hd soundcard as they have a built in amp and dac 3) Scrap my old boring sounding logitech z5500 set and buy a good amplifier and 2 good quality speakers (something like this). This should give me overall better sound in my apartment, but i can also connect my headphones to it and have enough amplification.
So I just bought a pair of SL150s from best buy. They were on clearance ($90), sounded great, and felt comfortable; But what do you guys think about the price vs. value?
I haven't tried them, and I definitely don't like supraaurals so I woulnd't want one anyway, but they're supposed to be okay. They were on InnerFidelity a while back, so there's some data on the thing. Seems surprisingly decent.
Isolation - Prefer sound not to leak much if possible
Type - Full-size circumaural headphones
Genres - Dance, trance, dubstep, rock, pop, kpop as well
Uses - 80% music, 20% games (FPS, RTS)
Priorities (Highest to lowest) - Sound/comfort (Must be comfortable for hours of use on my big head and ears as well as glasses), isolation, portability
Previously tried - Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 (Slightly clampy and sounded distant but earcups are most comfortable I've ever tried) & M-Audio Q40 (Less distant sounding than DT770s but clamp was awful for me on my jaw even after stretching)
On May 22 2013 23:57 Mackem wrote: Budget - £150 GBP ($230 USD)
Source - Computer with Asus Xonar DG sound card
Isolation - Prefer sound not to leak much if possible
Type - Full-size circumaural headphones
Genres - Dance, trance, dubstep, rock, pop, kpop as well
Uses - 80% music, 20% games (FPS, RTS)
Priorities (Highest to lowest) - Sound/comfort (Must be comfortable for hours of use on my big head and ears as well as glasses), isolation, portability
Previously tried - Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 (Slightly clampy and sounded distant but earcups are most comfortable I've ever tried) & M-Audio Q40 (Less distant sounding than DT770s but clamp was awful for me on my jaw even after stretching)
Thank you.
If you could find a premium version of the DT770, that would be excellent for you I think.
Otherwise, the premium DT990 are also really comfy and a bit more controlled, but might be too sparkly. I certainly enjoyed them for EDM though when I had them.
Make sure you allow time for your ears to adjust to the headphone's sounds before saying they're too recessed though. ^^
On April 20 2013 10:38 djcube wrote: Is there a list of recommended peripherals like there is for the monitor thread? What's the best sub-$100 IEMs out today? I'm using a cheap pair of Sennheiser CX 475, which sound nicer than generic ipod earbuds, but am interested in investing in something better.
I bought the re400's about a month ago, and I love them. Sound clarity of my brother's re-0's, with added bass. Still a bit on the low side with regards to bass though, although that's subjective. Right on the $100 mark in terms of pricing.
On April 20 2013 10:38 djcube wrote: Is there a list of recommended peripherals like there is for the monitor thread? What's the best sub-$100 IEMs out today? I'm using a cheap pair of Sennheiser CX 475, which sound nicer than generic ipod earbuds, but am interested in investing in something better.
It takes a while to load, but these two links are basically the guide to IEMs for people. And they're both pretty accurate I will say.
On May 02 2013 05:50 Aleteh wrote: I'm looking for someone with some know how about amplifiers/pc sound cards/headphones/speakers that i can add on skype for a little chat
I've been contemplating which i should buy from the following options
1) Buy a dedicated headphone amp and DAC to connect to my already owned asus xonar dx. 2) Buy a asus xonar dx/creative x-fi titanium hd soundcard as they have a built in amp and dac 3) Scrap my old boring sounding logitech z5500 set and buy a good amplifier and 2 good quality speakers (something like this). This should give me overall better sound in my apartment, but i can also connect my headphones to it and have enough amplification.
If you're still here, it depends on what headphones you have. Not really much point to upgrade from a xonar dx to a dedicated dac unless you really need to with the headphones. I really like bookshelf speakers so I would go that route though :p
On May 22 2013 23:57 Mackem wrote: Budget - £150 GBP ($230 USD)
Source - Computer with Asus Xonar DG sound card
Isolation - Prefer sound not to leak much if possible
Type - Full-size circumaural headphones
Genres - Dance, trance, dubstep, rock, pop, kpop as well
Uses - 80% music, 20% games (FPS, RTS)
Priorities (Highest to lowest) - Sound/comfort (Must be comfortable for hours of use on my big head and ears as well as glasses), isolation, portability
Previously tried - Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 (Slightly clampy and sounded distant but earcups are most comfortable I've ever tried) & M-Audio Q40 (Less distant sounding than DT770s but clamp was awful for me on my jaw even after stretching)
Thank you.
If you could find a premium version of the DT770, that would be excellent for you I think.
Otherwise, the premium DT990 are also really comfy and a bit more controlled, but might be too sparkly. I certainly enjoyed them for EDM though when I had them.
Make sure you allow time for your ears to adjust to the headphone's sounds before saying they're too recessed though. ^^
Hmm, what's the difference between the Premium and the Pros that I had? I like the look of the DT990s.
Premiums have different aesthetics and clamp a little less hard. The latter difference results in a little bit less bass. That said, the headbands on these models can be stretched out a bit.
The premiums have the same sound as the pros but they are a bit more comfortable. If you get a 250ohm (preferably 600ohm) version, they should be a bit less bassy and recessed, but the difference isn't going to be night and day if you really hate the midrange on the 770s. The 990s are even less recessed, but also keep a good bass presence.
If you want other options, you can try looking at the newer Sony MDR-1. Not really sure what else is closed and comfortable.
I don't have isolation problems due to using IEMs and I don't listen to headphones loud enough for being open to be an issue.
1R sounds good but build quality is laughable, also no 1/4" adapter. Pretty much for iDevice use only.
Sony seems to have stopped trying to compete in the headphone war after the SA5000. Seeing them suck Apple's wiener to that level is kinda sad but at least they're finally having profit.
DT770 is a great closed can, you can only get the Pro version though since the Premium version was discontinued. They will be coming out with a 32 ohm model very soon which may be less amp-dependent.
The things I would like to do with it or what I would like it to do are:
-PC games, such as sc2, lol, dota, fifa 2013, maybe a few shooter games in the future. - Watch movies and videos, listen to music (normal use) - Be wireless (nothing with crazy range, I will use it in the same room as the pc, but I really want a wireless one.) - A mic is preferred. But if it isn't possible, then It wont be a deal breaker - Comfortable, since I spend a lot of time with them on, and thats the reason why I want new ones, since I have some cheapo ones.
-My budget is 100 USD give or take, I can spend up to 130 USD perhaps. But 100 would be best.
I dont need wireless , I just wanted the ability to watch stuff from the couch and such Since I watch a lot of shows and I don't like to disturb the rest of the people around me.
If I were to buy a wired headset with that budget what would you recommend? (this one would have to be for gaming, meaning with a mic) . But I would still like to see if someone has any comments on the wireless ones, if there are any good ones for that price ish .
On May 26 2013 17:47 xasuma wrote: I dont need wireless , I just wanted the ability to watch stuff from the couch and such Since I watch a lot of shows and I don't like to disturb the rest of the people around me.
If I were to buy a wired headset with that budget what would you recommend? (this one would have to be for gaming, meaning with a mic) . But I would still like to see if someone has any comments on the wireless ones, if there are any good ones for that price ish .
Thats a decent reason, I don't know much about wireless headsets, just look for reviews on the logitech ones and I think there are some sennheiser one? They might be expensive though.
On May 26 2013 17:47 xasuma wrote: I dont need wireless , I just wanted the ability to watch stuff from the couch and such Since I watch a lot of shows and I don't like to disturb the rest of the people around me.
If I were to buy a wired headset with that budget what would you recommend? (this one would have to be for gaming, meaning with a mic) . But I would still like to see if someone has any comments on the wireless ones, if there are any good ones for that price ish .
Thats a decent reason, I don't know much about wireless headsets, just look for reviews on the logitech ones and I think there are some sennheiser one? They might be expensive though.
If you go wired, get AD700 and a clip on mic.
I am also considering the Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset . between that one and the Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 . Which one would you guys choose?
i've read reviews that the logitech has some software problems and such, and that the corsair is built cheap and breaks easy. :/
On May 26 2013 17:47 xasuma wrote: I dont need wireless , I just wanted the ability to watch stuff from the couch and such Since I watch a lot of shows and I don't like to disturb the rest of the people around me.
If I were to buy a wired headset with that budget what would you recommend? (this one would have to be for gaming, meaning with a mic) . But I would still like to see if someone has any comments on the wireless ones, if there are any good ones for that price ish .
Thats a decent reason, I don't know much about wireless headsets, just look for reviews on the logitech ones and I think there are some sennheiser one? They might be expensive though.
If you go wired, get AD700 and a clip on mic.
I am also considering the Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset . between that one and the Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 . Which one would you guys choose?
i've read reviews that the logitech has some software problems and such, and that the corsair is built cheap and breaks easy. :/
Personally, Logitech is always the better choice in terms of peripherals, even though Corsair has decent offerings. Also, software is much easier to find solutions for than hardware. My vote of the two goes to Logitech, but I remember some guy in this or the other thread loving the Razer Chimaera 5.1 Wireless, but those might be too expensive and I wouldn't trust that either.
Honestly, wireless headsets are still very gimmicky and you're probably going to run into problems with them in the near future. I would look at Sennheiser RS series, but they don't have microphones and they're significantly over your budget.
Good luck with your choice regardless! Tell us if you're willing to reconsider wireless.
I am also considering the Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset . between that one and the Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 . Which one would you guys choose?
i've read reviews that the logitech has some software problems and such, and that the corsair is built cheap and breaks easy. :/
For this kind of headset it's just a matter of which turd is more polished, sorry. Gimmick-ridden products tend to fall apart fast.
I'd say go with Logitech, they're known to stand behind their products with excellent customer service.
At $10 you can't really go wrong since I have trouble finding headphones under $20 in Canada personally anyways XD
Last I heard they're really good for $10 but you get what you pay for obviously in terms of cable and isolation. I also wouldn't say they're mid-price range contenders.
Anyone know a good USB headset for my gf, under $100
Problem with her new laptop is that it doesn't have a microphone jack so I need a USB headset now. Else I might go with a steelseries or something random. (I'm a audiophile myself but not quite sure on whats good for USB)
How large is the difference with a soundcard? I never notice any scratchy noises on a realtek onboard 'card' I have (2010 motherboard). on a HD700 for example, how big is the difference if any?
Hi! I am looking into buying a headset or headphones and a mic, and am hoping to get some advice on what to get.
Uses: While I play a lot of Starcraft, I'm more concerned with it being able to play music really well. I'd sacrifice some sound quality in starcraft for nice sounding music any day, since I listen to a ton of music. Also, I'd prefer that they be pretty sound-isolating since I live with 4 other guys in a dorm and when I'm studying and such it'd be nice to be able to isolate myself. With all of this being said, I know this might be a challenge, but I would also love it if they were not TOO large/bulky so that I could bring them with me if I needed to go study elsewhere, although this isn't a deal breaker.
My preferred budget would be to stay in the $100-150 range, although if there's absolutely nothing that would suit my goals in that range, I could move up to around $200, but that would probably be the highest I could go!
On June 13 2013 02:30 PrOsperity wrote: Hi! I am looking into buying a headset or headphones and a mic, and am hoping to get some advice on what to get.
Uses: While I play a lot of Starcraft, I'm more concerned with it being able to play music really well. I'd sacrifice some sound quality in starcraft for nice sounding music any day, since I listen to a ton of music. Also, I'd prefer that they be pretty sound-isolating since I live with 4 other guys in a dorm and when I'm studying and such it'd be nice to be able to isolate myself. With all of this being said, I know this might be a challenge, but I would also love it if they were not TOO large/bulky so that I could bring them with me if I needed to go study elsewhere, although this isn't a deal breaker.
My preferred budget would be to stay in the $100-150 range, although if there's absolutely nothing that would suit my goals in that range, I could move up to around $200, but that would probably be the highest I could go!
I really appreciate it!
What kind of music are ou listening to?
In general, good, really closed headphones around $150 are the Audio-Technica M50, V-moda M80 / LP2, and Shure SRH840. There are a lot more recommendations, but those are generally good and can be found in a lot of places. Would be better if you specified exactly what kinds of music you like.
I don't think any headsets are actually portable but I guess those Steelseries ones are decent if you 100% want a headphone with a microphone attached, but I find that using my webcam or a clip-on microphone is fine.
On June 13 2013 02:30 PrOsperity wrote: Hi! I am looking into buying a headset or headphones and a mic, and am hoping to get some advice on what to get.
Uses: While I play a lot of Starcraft, I'm more concerned with it being able to play music really well. I'd sacrifice some sound quality in starcraft for nice sounding music any day, since I listen to a ton of music. Also, I'd prefer that they be pretty sound-isolating since I live with 4 other guys in a dorm and when I'm studying and such it'd be nice to be able to isolate myself. With all of this being said, I know this might be a challenge, but I would also love it if they were not TOO large/bulky so that I could bring them with me if I needed to go study elsewhere, although this isn't a deal breaker.
My preferred budget would be to stay in the $100-150 range, although if there's absolutely nothing that would suit my goals in that range, I could move up to around $200, but that would probably be the highest I could go!
I really appreciate it!
Audio Technica M50 or A900X depending on your preference. If you like bass go for the M50, if you like more balance and details A900X. Other than that the Ultrasones and Beyerdynamic in that price range are pretty good too. Get a USB desktop mic for 10-20 bucks or so, cheap and works just fine.
Thanks for the quick responses! I listen to quite a variety of music, everything from classical to rock to dubstep so I figured that wouldn't be very helpful! Thanks for the advice anyways though. I am totally cool with a clip on mic or a cheap USB mic. Any suggestions?
I'm looking for a headset to replace my A40's. Something with the same sound quality is fine with me. I'm still going to be using the mixamp. And I don't want to spend more than $100.
On June 15 2013 00:47 PrOsperity wrote: Thanks for the quick responses! I listen to quite a variety of music, everything from classical to rock to dubstep so I figured that wouldn't be very helpful! Thanks for the advice anyways though. I am totally cool with a clip on mic or a cheap USB mic. Any suggestions?
If you listen to classical then the A900X is a better choice, they don't do too bad with bassy music either. For a mic you can get something from Logitech or Audio Technica, I believe they have some cheap USB mics, I was looking for them at one point then decided to go for a really good mic.
I really need some headphones with a mic, my laptop fan means that I can't use it's inbuilt mic.
The Steelseries Siberia V2s are going half price at the moment on some version of them but I never trust online reviews, a search on TL just came up with lots of threads with people not knowing what was wrong with them (I'm not concerned with problems like that), so does anyone know if I should just get them?
These aren't for listening to music solely for gaming/skype purposes, I just went from ATH-ES7's to a pair of Grado SR-80i's and I know that the Siberia's won't compare audio wise.
On June 19 2013 01:42 JDI1 wrote: The Siberia is not bad, other than that the Kraken Pro is also on sale right now.
Razer Kraken Pro is going at 79 euros for me, which is a lot more than the 38 quid I can pick the Siberia's up for, plus I'm not sure if I want to go back to bright green headphones.
I'm looking to buy new headphones in the near future for pc gaming/music purposes. I narrowed my choice down to ATH-M50 and ATH-T300. The obvious difference is price (35€ for T300 vs 150€ for M50). I'd like advice if the quality is really worth the additional money? Cause I'd much rather buy the cheaper one, since I'm not after mind blowing audio quality, but at the same time I want good product that can get the job done very well.
On June 13 2013 02:30 PrOsperity wrote: Hi! I am looking into buying a headset or headphones and a mic, and am hoping to get some advice on what to get.
Uses: While I play a lot of Starcraft, I'm more concerned with it being able to play music really well. I'd sacrifice some sound quality in starcraft for nice sounding music any day, since I listen to a ton of music. Also, I'd prefer that they be pretty sound-isolating since I live with 4 other guys in a dorm and when I'm studying and such it'd be nice to be able to isolate myself. With all of this being said, I know this might be a challenge, but I would also love it if they were not TOO large/bulky so that I could bring them with me if I needed to go study elsewhere, although this isn't a deal breaker.
My preferred budget would be to stay in the $100-150 range, although if there's absolutely nothing that would suit my goals in that range, I could move up to around $200, but that would probably be the highest I could go!
I really appreciate it!
Bose AE2's sound precisely like what you want. right in your price range, noise cancelling, comfortable, and portable. Day9 has been rocking a pair for years
On June 20 2013 03:57 ViperPL wrote: I'm looking to buy new headphones in the near future for pc gaming/music purposes. I narrowed my choice down to ATH-M50 and ATH-T300. The obvious difference is price (35€ for T300 vs 150€ for M50). I'd like advice if the quality is really worth the additional money? Cause I'd much rather buy the cheaper one, since I'm not after mind blowing audio quality, but at the same time I want good product that can get the job done very well.
I found a used pair of ATH-AD700's for your price range, and have been using 'em for a couple years now. Absolutely perfect headphones for me. IIRC JP mcdaniel uses them as well
As for IEM's, I'm going to be using klipsch image s4's until they stop making 'em. along with a cheap fiip amp and tx-100 ear pads, nothing beats the sound for the price.
As for "headset" focused people, just don't. I'll never let someone buy another headset for personal use. Logitech makes a fantastic voice recognition microphone for the desktop (which is also good because it works for rosetta stone) and many small clip style mics can be had for cheap that work great. When you buy a headset, you are not getting your money's worth, it's as simple as that. If you want a set of siberia's, you'd do much better with a pair of cheaper sennheisers that have a mic clipped to the cord.
On June 13 2013 02:30 PrOsperity wrote: Hi! I am looking into buying a headset or headphones and a mic, and am hoping to get some advice on what to get.
Uses: While I play a lot of Starcraft, I'm more concerned with it being able to play music really well. I'd sacrifice some sound quality in starcraft for nice sounding music any day, since I listen to a ton of music. Also, I'd prefer that they be pretty sound-isolating since I live with 4 other guys in a dorm and when I'm studying and such it'd be nice to be able to isolate myself. With all of this being said, I know this might be a challenge, but I would also love it if they were not TOO large/bulky so that I could bring them with me if I needed to go study elsewhere, although this isn't a deal breaker.
My preferred budget would be to stay in the $100-150 range, although if there's absolutely nothing that would suit my goals in that range, I could move up to around $200, but that would probably be the highest I could go!
I really appreciate it!
Bose AE2's sound precisely like what you want. right in your price range, noise cancelling, comfortable, and portable. Day9 has been rocking a pair for years
The Bose AE2's aren't noise cancelling, but everything else is okay. They're decent sounding if you can get them for around $150.
They're great sounding, and I'm not even a bose fan. But if you're after noise CANCELLING, you're really limited for options in that price range. Until you're in the 250+ range, you can have noise cancelling or good audio quality, and I can vouch that the AE2 is plenty good at noise isolation (wore a pair for about 20 minutes in a very busy, loud electronics store and was impressed at almost no noise bleed) so considering it fits all his criteria, what's not to like? Bose is one of those companies that markets itself like crazy but actually puts out a good product as well. I'll personally never buy a product they sell, but that's just because I never see myself in a situation where I'd need what they offer at the price they ask.
I use ATH-AD700's with a pyle audio amp and am plenty happy- though I only occasionally wear my headphones, because I have a very nice surround sound system.
For each price range there are different headphones id recommned, but most of the time, anyone can do it themsleves by cross-referenceing the following articles:
Thats in Headphones. Personally i went for the HE-400, an external DAC (Fiio E17) and a desktop amplifier (Schiit Asgard), and its been the best money spend on my home equipment since my 32 inch tv as monitor. Its like going from a 19 inch monitor to a 32 inch tv, another world.
My budget is up to £150 GBP (Great British Pounds), but I may stretch slightly more if it matters that much. I will be using them on my PC with a Xonar DG sound card but I would be willing to get a small amp depending on price. They will be used exclusively at home and don't want the sound to leak to the point that people can hear what I am listening to when they're sleeping. I'd prefer full-sized circumaural headphones due to the size of my head and ears. I'd say I prefer an emphasis on bass for EDM but not to the point that it completely destroys the other frequencies.
My past headphones include the M-Audio Q40 and Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80s. I liked the sound of the Q40s but I had to sell them because the clamp on my jaw was too much, even after I stretched them out over a subwoofer for like 5 nights, leading to quite uncomfortable jaw fatigue. The DT770 Pro 80s sounded like the mids were a bit recessed and felt like they clamped a bit but this may have been down to the fact I did not have them for very long or amped them good enough?
My main music preferences are definitely EDM (Electronic Dance Music) but I do listen to some pop and rock as well. I am located in the United Kingdom if this matters with suggestions.
Comfort is also huge for me. I wear glasses and have quite a large head and as previously mentioned, the likes of the Q40s and DT770 Pro gave me jaw fatigue after 30 minutes or so as it seemed as though they sat too low on my head but then if I adjusted them a size down, they'd feel a bit tight around the top of the head. It seems impossible for me to find a pair that will suit which is why I am asking here.
I am essentially looking at getting a pair of headphones that can be worn for hours on end without being fatiguing / hurting (I'll obviously take them off for breaks and to go to the toilet and whatnot but you get the idea)
My ears are more long than anything (Ear lobes ever so slightly stuck out of the bottom of the DT770 Pros). Hard for me to find comfortable closed cans that sound good.
I'm really surprised you didn't like the 770s. I just got recently and I love them, and they are very comfortable (used the 880s for a while and the bass is a bit more present due to the closed construction). Have you looked into AKG (like the 270 mkii) or something like the ATH-M50?
Hello, thread! I'm currently using the Cooler Master Sirus S here, and the problem with it is the weight. It hurts my neck after about an hour of use. I have considered getting a clip on mic and just wearing earbuds, but I already have trouble with my mic picking up my mechanical keyboard, and that's very annoying on Teamspeak3. My budget is about $60, so I'm hoping you all can help me find a solution.
I own some monoprice earbuds here, and they sound fantastic. Monoprice released some gaming headsets recently, and I wouldn't mind buying from Monoprice again. However, if you know better headsets for the price, please let me know! (Here are their gaming headsets Monoprice)
On June 28 2013 21:01 wo1fwood wrote: I'm really surprised you didn't like the 770s. I just got recently and I love them, and they are very comfortable (used the 880s for a while and the bass is a bit more present due to the closed construction). Have you looked into AKG (like the 270 mkii) or something like the ATH-M50?
I didn't have them for very long so not sure if it's a case of breaking them in so to speak.
I have a pair of AD700s that I quite like. I've gotten into DOTA though. Anyone have a suggestion for a mic I can clip on to my headphone (or shirt) to use for skype and stuff while gaming?
Budget - My Budget is 250 dollars Canadian Source - My computer the sound card is just one attached to my motherboard Requirements for Isolation - I need some I will be using my headphones in the library and at home with a roommate in the same room. Preferred Type of Headphone - Full sized (comfortable for long periods of time) Preferred tonal balance - I would like overall balanced headphones Past headphones - Apple ear buds and Sony MDR-XD200 (very uncomfortable after long periods time to the top of your head) Preferred Music - Drum and bass as well as classical music and jazz.
^^ modmic.com or just a Zalman clip-on mic is fine.
^ Beyerdynamic DT770. A bit bass heavy but you'll appreciate it eventually. Or an Audio Technica A900X, but this one doesn't isolate as well as the Beyer.
Hey! I am looking for new pair of headphones as my old ones are rather worn out I DJ in medium-sized to big clubs and I need headphones that will cancel the surrounding music as much as possible I have a budget of around 300 usd. any suggestions?
On July 01 2013 15:24 OceanLab wrote: Hey! I am looking for new pair of headphones as my old ones are rather worn out I DJ in medium-sized to big clubs and I need headphones that will cancel the surrounding music as much as possible I have a budget of around 300 usd. any suggestions?
Shure SRH750DJ are the only recommended DJ headphones really. Could also try the newer AKG K619DJ but that'll be a gamble. I do not recommend the AKG K167/267 btw, even though the isolation on those is amazing. The Shure SRH is a lot more durable than AKG.
On July 01 2013 15:24 OceanLab wrote: Hey! I am looking for new pair of headphones as my old ones are rather worn out I DJ in medium-sized to big clubs and I need headphones that will cancel the surrounding music as much as possible I have a budget of around 300 usd. any suggestions?
SRH750DJ are the only recommended DJ headphones.
Are you actually OceanLab or just a fan? haha
If I was part of OceanLab I wouldn't need to ask haha! Just a big fan thanks by the way i'll look them up
On July 01 2013 15:24 OceanLab wrote: Hey! I am looking for new pair of headphones as my old ones are rather worn out I DJ in medium-sized to big clubs and I need headphones that will cancel the surrounding music as much as possible I have a budget of around 300 usd. any suggestions?
While its nowhere near 300, I know the v-moda crossfades get really good reviews and are pretty cheap (for your budget) at around ~130.
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I just got a bonus and so I have a bunch of headphone splurge money! :D I was thinking about going into customs, what are some good entry-levels?
I was looking at the 1964's both triple and double, any thoughts?
Hello guys I am looking for some mid range headphones about 50 euro. I just want them for average use (skyping,gaming,music etc ) and I need them to be comfy because I wear glasses and the previous ones weren't so comfortable. If you could suggest me a good pair I would be thankful, I have no idea about headphones
So my headset broke. Steelseries diablo 3 headset, the screwholes internally just broke, i opened it and removed the little bits of clear plastic rattling inside. The little wires that hold the headset on your head are also not aligned anymore, so i would be vary if recommending it to anyong.
So I'm in the mood for a new headset, and looking at the g35 and g930 $5 more for wireless, any feedback on them? I've contacted steelseries support, but from what ive heard they dont do much and im out of warranty as its only 3 months, and i ordered them in march.
I prefer USB personally, and my max price is 100
Anyone have any other suggestions?
edit bought them. wireless interference in this apartment complex is horrible. i get crackling and my audio just drops at times. at least once per hour.
any other headphones for around 110 that i can buy on amazon US? not a fan of the logitech as they cut.
I know the Sennheiser HD518 and HD558 are open, but how much sound do they leak? My main question is how high can you have the volume before someone ~6 feet away from you can clearly hear (i.e. be able to identify the song from hearing the lyrics etc.)
The HD558s look ridiculously comfortable and I find that a lot of closed headphones are uncomfortable on my jaw.
On July 25 2013 12:16 Myrmidon wrote: If there isn't much ambient noise, at normal listening volumes, people would be able to hear like that from farther than 6 feet.
I want to add that I used to be (still am?) a very quiet listener and this idea that open headphones leaked sound wasn't really real for me. If one of my open headphones were on my head you couldn't hear it from >1.5ft away.
If you're having problems on your jaw it's less the closed headphone and more the type of closed headphones. They probably just clamped too hard, weren't fitted well or were just bad. There are nice comfortable closed headphones out there if you really want to keep down that road.
Open headphones leak enought sound that they seem to be mini-speakers. Most of them time, if there is ambient noise, you will have to crank up the volume up anyway so as a rule of thumb: Open headphones are NOT for mobile use or if you listent o things that will anoy people.
If you use them in a room with your door closed however, people will be able to to tell what you are listening to but it Should not bother them unless you are half deaf and listen at insane volumes.
Now, I do use open headphones on the move (travel from work-Home) but I listen at lower levels than normally (i hear everything that happens on the bus) and I always try to find a spot away from other passnagers to not bother them.
Currently im looking for a closed headphone or some IEMs for that, but I still want another model (Senns HD 600) before buying a mobile can/IEM.
On July 25 2013 15:51 iloveav wrote: Open headphones leak enought sound that they seem to be mini-speakers. Most of them time, if there is ambient noise, you will have to crank up the volume up anyway so as a rule of thumb: Open headphones are NOT for mobile use or if you listent o things that will anoy people.
If you use them in a room with your door closed however, people will be able to to tell what you are listening to but it Should not bother them unless you are half deaf and listen at insane volumes.
Now, I do use open headphones on the move (travel from work-Home) but I listen at lower levels than normally (i hear everything that happens on the bus) and I always try to find a spot away from other passnagers to not bother them.
Currently im looking for a closed headphone or some IEMs for that, but I still want another model (Senns HD 600) before buying a mobile can/IEM.
see, that line seems completely bullshit to me lol
On July 25 2013 15:51 iloveav wrote: Open headphones leak enought sound that they seem to be mini-speakers. Most of them time, if there is ambient noise, you will have to crank up the volume up anyway so as a rule of thumb: Open headphones are NOT for mobile use or if you listent o things that will anoy people.
If you use them in a room with your door closed however, people will be able to to tell what you are listening to but it Should not bother them unless you are half deaf and listen at insane volumes.
Now, I do use open headphones on the move (travel from work-Home) but I listen at lower levels than normally (i hear everything that happens on the bus) and I always try to find a spot away from other passnagers to not bother them.
Currently im looking for a closed headphone or some IEMs for that, but I still want another model (Senns HD 600) before buying a mobile can/IEM.
see, that line seems completely bullshit to me lol
Yeah, Its not the best sentence gramaticly speaking, but its true that you can hear them from another side of a closed door.
On July 25 2013 12:16 Myrmidon wrote: If there isn't much ambient noise, at normal listening volumes, people would be able to hear like that from farther than 6 feet.
I want to add that I used to be (still am?) a very quiet listener and this idea that open headphones leaked sound wasn't really real for me. If one of my open headphones were on my head you couldn't hear it from >1.5ft away.
If you're having problems on your jaw it's less the closed headphone and more the type of closed headphones. They probably just clamped too hard, weren't fitted well or were just bad. There are nice comfortable closed headphones out there if you really want to keep down that road.
I've tried a few headphones out, such as the M-Audio Q40 and DT770 Pro. Q40s clamped my jaw like mad and the DT770 Pro 80s sounded distant, the mids were virtually non-existant.
On July 25 2013 15:51 iloveav wrote: Open headphones leak enought sound that they seem to be mini-speakers. Most of them time, if there is ambient noise, you will have to crank up the volume up anyway so as a rule of thumb: Open headphones are NOT for mobile use or if you listent o things that will anoy people.
If you use them in a room with your door closed however, people will be able to to tell what you are listening to but it Should not bother them unless you are half deaf and listen at insane volumes.
Now, I do use open headphones on the move (travel from work-Home) but I listen at lower levels than normally (i hear everything that happens on the bus) and I always try to find a spot away from other passnagers to not bother them.
Currently im looking for a closed headphone or some IEMs for that, but I still want another model (Senns HD 600) before buying a mobile can/IEM.
see, that line seems completely bullshit to me lol
Yeah, Its not the best sentence gramaticly speaking, but its true that you can hear them from another side of a closed door.
Now you're just pulling shit out of your ass. No, that's not true. The volumes you listen to are way too high if that's the case.
6ft, probably so. Through a door, no way unless you're blasting it already.
On July 25 2013 12:16 Myrmidon wrote: If there isn't much ambient noise, at normal listening volumes, people would be able to hear like that from farther than 6 feet.
I want to add that I used to be (still am?) a very quiet listener and this idea that open headphones leaked sound wasn't really real for me. If one of my open headphones were on my head you couldn't hear it from >1.5ft away.
If you're having problems on your jaw it's less the closed headphone and more the type of closed headphones. They probably just clamped too hard, weren't fitted well or were just bad. There are nice comfortable closed headphones out there if you really want to keep down that road.
I've tried a few headphones out, such as the M-Audio Q40 and DT770 Pro. Q40s clamped my jaw like mad and the DT770 Pro 80s sounded distant, the mids were virtually non-existant.
The Q40s are pretty shitty headphones in terms of comfort. The DT770 should be a lot better, but if you feel that the mids sound distant, that's a symptom of a lot of closed headphones. You'd need a larger sample to really pinpoint if it was just the phones or if you prefer more mid/forward sounding headphones, or if it's a music mismatch.
On July 25 2013 15:51 iloveav wrote: Open headphones leak enought sound that they seem to be mini-speakers. Most of them time, if there is ambient noise, you will have to crank up the volume up anyway so as a rule of thumb: Open headphones are NOT for mobile use or if you listent o things that will anoy people.
If you use them in a room with your door closed however, people will be able to to tell what you are listening to but it Should not bother them unless you are half deaf and listen at insane volumes.
Now, I do use open headphones on the move (travel from work-Home) but I listen at lower levels than normally (i hear everything that happens on the bus) and I always try to find a spot away from other passnagers to not bother them.
Currently im looking for a closed headphone or some IEMs for that, but I still want another model (Senns HD 600) before buying a mobile can/IEM.
see, that line seems completely bullshit to me lol
Yeah, Its not the best sentence gramaticly speaking, but its true that you can hear them from another side of a closed door.
Now you're just pulling shit out of your ass. No, that's not true. The volumes you listen to are way too high if that's the case.
6ft, probably so. Through a door, no way unless you're blasting it already.
On July 25 2013 12:16 Myrmidon wrote: If there isn't much ambient noise, at normal listening volumes, people would be able to hear like that from farther than 6 feet.
I want to add that I used to be (still am?) a very quiet listener and this idea that open headphones leaked sound wasn't really real for me. If one of my open headphones were on my head you couldn't hear it from >1.5ft away.
If you're having problems on your jaw it's less the closed headphone and more the type of closed headphones. They probably just clamped too hard, weren't fitted well or were just bad. There are nice comfortable closed headphones out there if you really want to keep down that road.
I've tried a few headphones out, such as the M-Audio Q40 and DT770 Pro. Q40s clamped my jaw like mad and the DT770 Pro 80s sounded distant, the mids were virtually non-existant.
The Q40s are pretty shitty headphones in terms of comfort. The DT770 should be a lot better, but if you feel that the mids sound distant, that's a symptom of a lot of closed headphones. You'd need a larger sample to really pinpoint if it was just the phones or if you prefer more mid/forward sounding headphones, or if it's a music mismatch.
Yeah I didn't use the DT770 Pro 80s for long, that was just my initial impression listening to some trance.
So I'm not sure if this quite counts in this thread, but does anyone have a good resource for microphones that would supplement a decent pair of headphones I already own?
I would prefer something that does not stand on the table (in the way) and as long as the audio quality is good enough for gaming. Are the lavalier/lapel mounted style mics any good or are the main choices either gaming headset or mounted mic (a la TB, DJ Wheat, JP style)?
They're doing a test run of the 3.0 mic which is unidirectional (I have one -- used to hear my keyboard clickclacking and tons of noise when a train went by on my old Logitech stand mic. All of that is practically silent now). Otherwise you can get the 2.0 which is omnidirectional and will pick up more background noise but supposedly sounds slightly better overall. My 3.0 sounds amazing though.
Im looking for a good headset for dota2/csgo and just overall good. My tvs right beside my computer and I would like it so that the headset wouldnt get any sounds from the tv. Look to buy one aroun 50-100$.
I use to have razer headset but it broke so im never going back tothem
Currently using a gaming headset which was not really comfortable from day 1. Now left hand side sound cuts out from time to time, so I am more than happy to replace it. I could get an AKG K 550 relatively cheap, but am unable to wear/test it before purchase.
Top criteria for me are comfort - I have a big head, no glasses - and speech quality. Gaming sound quality comes a distant third but does play a role, music however is mostly an afterthought as I have excellent speakers and live in an environment where I can fully use them at least at non-wacky times.
Would the AKG be a reasonable purchase for me or should I look for one of those lighter, optimised for speech thingies? Cheers!
tried going though alot of the thread to find what im lookin for with no success. trying to find headphones (with a mic) that also have good quality noise reduction. something so i can play games while blocking out screaming children in the back ground (for example) any suggestions? prefer under 100$ but can go up to about 150, thanks in advance
On July 27 2013 20:38 Aiobhill wrote: Currently using a gaming headset which was not really comfortable from day 1. Now left hand side sound cuts out from time to time, so I am more than happy to replace it. I could get an AKG K 550 relatively cheap, but am unable to wear/test it before purchase.
Top criteria for me are comfort - I have a big head, no glasses - and speech quality. Gaming sound quality comes a distant third but does play a role, music however is mostly an afterthought as I have excellent speakers and live in an environment where I can fully use them at least at non-wacky times.
Would the AKG be a reasonable purchase for me or should I look for one of those lighter, optimised for speech thingies? Cheers!
The AKG K550 has no microphone so your speech quality point is moot. Similarly, some people with big heads find that the K550 don't seal enough at the bottom, so the sound isn't that great, but the comfort is excellent. You need to try them out before purchasing, as with all headphone purchases, to ensure the fit is good.
On July 28 2013 04:38 forevern00b.jpeg wrote: ]has anybody got or used the razer kraken headphones im looking at buying them and wanted to know if they were any good?? the reviews seem to be good.
Kraken's are gaming headphones. As such, the only people who review them as good are people who haven't used audiophile headphones. If you were to look for a replacement from headphone manufacturers that are reputable, you can easily find one that's a fair bit better. However, if that's too difficult and the Razer headphones are convenient, the Krakens are OK I guess.
I just want to note guys, a lot of us here don't really have opinions on HEADSETS. HEADSETS have microphones built into them, HEADPHONES don't. We dismiss HEADSETS entirely because that means we have to 1. weed through a lot of non-audiophile reviews to find legitimate ones, and 2. it's been proven now you're going to spend more than $100 more on a headset than on a pair of headphones with the same sound quality. So asking for HEADSET recommendations is really useless, at least here.
On July 25 2013 12:05 Mackem wrote: I know the Sennheiser HD518 and HD558 are open, but how much sound do they leak? My main question is how high can you have the volume before someone ~6 feet away from you can clearly hear (i.e. be able to identify the song from hearing the lyrics etc.)
The HD558s look ridiculously comfortable and I find that a lot of closed headphones are uncomfortable on my jaw.
Sort of depends on how loud you crank the volume. I personally don't listen to stuff that loud, so people can't hear what I'm doing. My brother on the other hand (with 555s, he's had them for awhile)... not so much Though that said, from my experience it's not really enough to tell exactly what's playing on his headphones, just generally that there's sound coming from his ears.
The other thing is that they have basically 0 isolation. So not only will people be able to hear that you're listening to something, but you can hear outside stuff pretty clearly. So it depends on your environment.
They are incredibly comfortable. Holy shit they're so comfortable.
Looking for a headphone recommendation. I have a budget of about 80-100 USD and I'm looking for a set of closed, comfortable headphones. I'll be using them a lot for gaming but I also want to use them as guitar headphones so I can practice with my amp again without disturbing the neighbors. Mic is not an issue because if one doesn't come with I'll head over to modmic, though the cost of the mic might have to come out of the budget as well.
I recently purchased headphones from Audio-technica, the T400 model. I can recommend it very much for people with limited budget (they cost around €50). Really high quality materials, very comfortable on the head and around the ear. I'm not entirely sure on the whole open-close thing but I think they are the closed ones, since they are all around the ear. Sound quality is excellent. So far I've been using the generic €10 from a Mediamarkt or similar place, so it's a big upgrade for me and I notice significant difference. Sure there are better and more expensive models, but if you don't have unlimited budget but still want product of highest quality I recommend the ATH T400.
Hi teamliquid, I've been looking to replace my razor morays which broke quite a while ago. Thing is I'm almost clueless when it comes to head phones. Only good advice I can recall is get Sennheiser and avoid any gaming brands. including beats, AJAYS.
I do know what I'm looking for though so I hope you guys can help.
Sound quality is a must. Portability is secondary. Would like a mic to go along with it but not sure this is the appropriate thread for it. Of course, feel free to recommend me something else if you think it's a better option Thanks and regards, kaykaykay
Looking for a headphone recommendation. I have a budget of about 80-100 USD and I'm looking for a set of closed, comfortable headphones. I'll be using them a lot for gaming but I also want to use them as guitar headphones so I can practice with my amp again without disturbing the neighbors. Mic is not an issue because if one doesn't come with I'll head over to modmic, though the cost of the mic might have to come out of the budget as well.
Hey guys, I'm after a pair of relatively cheap (sub $60) items, I live in Western Australia so choices are relatively limited, and I would more than likely buy them online (http://www.headphones.com.au)
They're probably a bit weird because they kinda clip onto your ears, but everyone says they're comfortable and they apparently sound good for the price. I've never tried them myself, so look for some reviews if you're curious. I've seen a LOT of recommendations for them though so I thought I'd mention them.
Hey, I'm looking to buy a pair of Headphones for under 200 euros. I'd be using them both to play games (mainly quake live and dota 2), as well as to listen to music (post punk, reggae, acid jazz, punk, etc...). I've been considering Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros, Audio Technica ATH-M50s, or Sennheiser HD449s. I already have a separate mic so I don't need one attached to the headphones. Any thoughts? I'm also open to any other suggestions you might have.
Edit: AKG K550 also seem to be within my price range, are they any good?
Hi, I am looking for some nice in ear headphones. I will only be using them to listen to music mostly from my MP3 while travelling, My budget is 100 euros any help would be appreciated.
On August 02 2013 03:23 hoot00 wrote: Can someone tell me about the brand Klipsch? I was in best buy and their headphones were the ones I liked the most.
Edit: I just got the Klipsch Image One. They're really... I'd say tonal, if you know what I mean. And pretty bassy. But I'm pretty satisfied.
Longtime speaker brand. They jumped into IEMs with some mid-centric IEMs with rolled-off bass (and other problems like tangling cords, apparently learned the error of their ways with respect to sales, and now makes a bunch of decently popular headphones and IEMs with dat bass boost...
On August 03 2013 16:10 Thryd wrote: Hey guys, I'm after a pair of relatively cheap (sub $60) items, I live in Western Australia so choices are relatively limited, and I would more than likely buy them online (http://www.headphones.com.au)
any suggestions welcome
Come on. Don't you have selection criteria like in-ear or on-ear or over-ear, open vs. closed, etc.? Well, as usual, headphones.com.au always seems to have, uh, Australian prices. Sorry. In any case, I'd avoid Sennheiser HD 201 and HD 202 for $40 and $60 respectively.
On August 03 2013 21:03 GOmnipotentD wrote: Hey, I'm looking to buy a pair of Headphones for under 200 euros. I'd be using them both to play games (mainly quake live and dota 2), as well as to listen to music (post punk, reggae, acid jazz, punk, etc...). I've been considering Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros, Audio Technica ATH-M50s, or Sennheiser HD449s. I already have a separate mic so I don't need one attached to the headphones. Any thoughts? I'm also open to any other suggestions you might have.
Edit: AKG K550 also seem to be within my price range, are they any good?
Edit2: No one wants to help a headphone noob? D:
I guess you're looking at larger circumaural, closed headphones? K550 seems to be pretty good but highly dependent on seal, which can be somewhat tricky for some. HD 449 is probably a bit treble recessed unless you're looking for that for whatever reason. Actually, the Custom One Pro should be in a similar situation (there's always the older and often more respected DT 770 model for a more v-shaped signature). Seems like Japanese brands like Audio-Technica are often overpriced in Europe.
On August 05 2013 00:18 drockzzz wrote: Hi, I am looking for some nice in ear headphones. I will only be using them to listen to music mostly from my MP3 while travelling, My budget is 100 euros any help would be appreciated.
How much isolation do you want? What's the player? What kind of sound do you want?
On August 05 2013 00:18 drockzzz wrote: Hi, I am looking for some nice in ear headphones. I will only be using them to listen to music mostly from my MP3 while travelling, My budget is 100 euros any help would be appreciated.
How much isolation do you want? What's the player? What kind of sound do you want?
Ehm the isolation is not that important but it would be nice if other people won't be able to hear that I am listening to music but sounds from the outside won't bother me. Right now I got a Philips GoGear Vibe 4gb which I will probably be using most of the time untill it breaks. Ehm what kind of sound... Not sure I guess high quality with a good bass but not sure what you mean with that.
I'd go with a dynamic driver IEM because I have no idea what the output impedance of the player could be, and using an external amp is a hassle.
It's under budget, but maybe the Vsonic VSD1? It's more of a general-market somewhat bass-boosted (but with existent treble and not-completely-sucked-out mids), decent all-rounder type IEM that is fairly well regarded these days. I guess it's roughly like Shure SE215 and Phillips Fidelio S1, which are both around the 100 euros point and are also options.
If you're looking for sellers, lendmeurears and mp4nation are okay. There are probably others.
On August 03 2013 21:03 GOmnipotentD wrote: Hey, I'm looking to buy a pair of Headphones for under 200 euros. I'd be using them both to play games (mainly quake live and dota 2), as well as to listen to music (post punk, reggae, acid jazz, punk, etc...). I've been considering Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros, Audio Technica ATH-M50s, or Sennheiser HD449s. I already have a separate mic so I don't need one attached to the headphones. Any thoughts? I'm also open to any other suggestions you might have.
Edit: AKG K550 also seem to be within my price range, are they any good?
Edit2: No one wants to help a headphone noob? D:
I guess you're looking at larger circumaural, closed headphones? K550 seems to be pretty good but highly dependent on seal, which can be somewhat tricky for some. HD 449 is probably a bit treble recessed unless you're looking for that for whatever reason. Actually, the Custom One Pro should be in a similar situation (there's always the older and often more respected DT 770 model for a more v-shaped signature). Seems like Japanese brands like Audio-Technica are often overpriced in Europe.
Since I travel a lot, I can buy them wherever they are the cheapest. I only listed my range in euros because it was easier for me. Also, in what way is seal tricky? It depends on head shape/size?
Fighting urge to purchase DT-880 250 Ohms... Must resist... Urrrggghhh
I'm getting my yearly(or so) headphone acquisition itch and am trying valiantly to fight it off. Must resist. Last year I bought the limited edition DT-770 32 Ohms and absolutely adore them so it is making this even tougher. I've wanted DT-880s for so long and this year I have a lot of money saved up, making it even tougher to resist treating myself to a new set of headphones. And I know that if I get them I will be getting into amps/DACs too.
On May 31 2013 00:28 Xahhk wrote: How large is the difference with a soundcard? I never notice any scratchy noises on a realtek onboard 'card' I have (2010 motherboard). on a HD700 for example, how big is the difference if any?
A lot for HD700. Noise is just one part of it. You will get deep & tight bass, clear mid, bright treble.
I just bought a pair of DT-880s, should get them within a day or two (Yay Purolator Express). My resolve was shattered when I found out I was making way more money than I thought at work today (I was making double time and a half since it is a stat holiday and I regularly work Mondays). I picked up extra shifts at work to compensate also because I feel kinda bad about spending so much money on headphones.
I am so excited.
I am already looking at amps. What have I got myself into...
I'm in the search of buying new IEM's. I've been using the siberia v2 for over a year now, my ears are too big for the way it's designed, so i'm just looking to buy some IEM's. In the price range of 50-60$, any suggestions? Used mainly for SC2, listening to music (hip-hop and such), and using them to listen to music for my phone too.
On August 01 2013 23:13 kaykaykay wrote: Hi teamliquid, I've been looking to replace my razor morays which broke quite a while ago. Thing is I'm almost clueless when it comes to head phones. Only good advice I can recall is get Sennheiser and avoid any gaming brands. including beats, AJAYS.
I do know what I'm looking for though so I hope you guys can help.
Sound quality is a must. Portability is secondary. Would like a mic to go along with it but not sure this is the appropriate thread for it. Of course, feel free to recommend me something else if you think it's a better option Thanks and regards, kaykaykay
On August 01 2013 23:13 kaykaykay wrote: Hi teamliquid, I've been looking to replace my razor morays which broke quite a while ago. Thing is I'm almost clueless when it comes to head phones. Only good advice I can recall is get Sennheiser and avoid any gaming brands. including beats, AJAYS.
I do know what I'm looking for though so I hope you guys can help.
Sound quality is a must. Portability is secondary. Would like a mic to go along with it but not sure this is the appropriate thread for it. Of course, feel free to recommend me something else if you think it's a better option Thanks and regards, kaykaykay
Anyone?
What's your budget? What kind of music do you like? Those kinds of things will help people make recommendations.
Just jumping in to recommend the Samson SR850 (aka Superlux 668B) if you're after a good pair of budget, semi-open headphones. Versatile and comfy, if only a little clampy at first.
I got my DT-880s. They sent me the 600 Ohm version instead of the 250 Ohm. I'm still deciding if I should swap them for the correct ones or not. The thing is I only intend to use them at my desk so having them always amped is fine. Luckily my soundcard can power them enough that they sound amazing still and not muffled at all (which is apparently how high impedance . That should tide me over until I get an amp of some type. I know I am going to need something a little more powerful. So far the most common recommendation I have seen for a cheaper amp to power headphones with this high of impedance is the Schiit Magni, which also isn't to expensive so I am researching those right now. I may go for something more portable though like the Fiio E12 so I can use them with my laptop, though I usually just use it at my desk hooked to a monitor when I am getting work done.
In terms of sound quality, they are absolutely mindblowing so far. Not nearly as much bass as my DT-770s but that is to be expected (an amp will also help with bass a bit I imagine) but on every other front they dominate any other pair of headphones I have heard. They are meant to be a neutral headphone and that is definitely the case from what I have heard to far. They so far shine the most with classical and acoustic music but they can hold their own with any genre except for bass music like DJ Magic Mike. I got major chills listening to the FLAC version of Wintersun's "Sons of Winter and Stars" (that entire album is amazing for testing headphones with because it is nearly flawlessly produced and mixed). I'm going to have to start expanding my FLAC library more because these things bring out every little issue in a file.
Comfort-wise, they are almost as comfy as my HD 555s, which is an achievement because I have yet to find a pair of headphones more comfortable than the 555s. They don't have nearly as much clamping force as my DT-770 Pros, but that is to be expected since these are the Premium version with velour and a less tight headband (my DT-770s are special edition so they have leather earpads, not velour).
Overall, well worth picking a few extra shifts at work for, easily.
Ben, welcome to hi-fi and sorry about your wallet. Yes the DT-880 are considered the previous generation of beyerdynamic (before the Tesla drivers) Flagship by audiophiles.
Personally i got the DT-660 for classical music and the HE-400 (hifiman) for everything else. And an Amp, and a Fiio E17 for portable use and im saving up for the DAC and either the sennheiser HD600 or the Hifiman HE-500 .... so yeah, this gets your poor... fast.
You should keep the 600 Ohm version. Its by far the best of the three (assuming you can power them properly).
On August 08 2013 16:00 iloveav wrote: Ben, welcome to hi-fi and sorry about your wallet. Yes the DT-880 are considered the previous generation of beyerdynamic (before the Tesla drivers) Flagship by audiophiles.
Personally i got the DT-660 for classical music and the HE-400 (hifiman) for everything else. And an Amp, and a Fiio E17 for portable use and im saving up for the DAC and either the sennheiser HD600 or the Hifiman HE-500 .... so yeah, this gets your poor... fast.
You should keep the 600 Ohm version. Its by far the best of the three (assuming you can power them properly).
Thanks! Yes I do think I am going to keep the 600 Ohms. Even just off of my PC's soundcard they sound absolutely stunning (I thought they would be too quiet and muffled just through the soundcard but that definitely isn't the case so far). I am planning on getting an amp for certain but I have a ton of research to do on that front. So far the top two contenders are the JDS Labs O2 and the Schiit Magni. Both aren't all that expensive and both seem very well regarded by the audiophile community from what I have seen. But before making any more purchases I have a lot to read about and understand.
On August 03 2013 21:03 GOmnipotentD wrote: Hey, I'm looking to buy a pair of Headphones for under 200 euros. I'd be using them both to play games (mainly quake live and dota 2), as well as to listen to music (post punk, reggae, acid jazz, punk, etc...). I've been considering Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros, Audio Technica ATH-M50s, or Sennheiser HD449s. I already have a separate mic so I don't need one attached to the headphones. Any thoughts? I'm also open to any other suggestions you might have.
Edit: AKG K550 also seem to be within my price range, are they any good?
Edit2: No one wants to help a headphone noob? D:
I guess you're looking at larger circumaural, closed headphones? K550 seems to be pretty good but highly dependent on seal, which can be somewhat tricky for some. HD 449 is probably a bit treble recessed unless you're looking for that for whatever reason. Actually, the Custom One Pro should be in a similar situation (there's always the older and often more respected DT 770 model for a more v-shaped signature). Seems like Japanese brands like Audio-Technica are often overpriced in Europe.
Since I travel a lot, I can buy them wherever they are the cheapest. I only listed my range in euros because it was easier for me. Also, in what way is seal tricky? It depends on head shape/size?
Any other insight? The only reply I've gotten says that what I've been looking at isn't ideal but offers no other suggestions
On August 08 2013 16:56 Blisse wrote: DT880s 600Ohm have the cleanest output of their whole series. Keep them.
You should aim for a bit nicer amplifier than the Magni or O2 though, but I would recommend the Magni if you absolutely want one.
Do you have any recommendations for other amps to look into? My plan with getting the Magni would be to get the Magni now, and then get the Modi after I have school paid off in a month or two. I've also been looking at Firestone Audio amps (The Beyond and The Fubar IV Plus. The Fubar seems like a decent deal for the features) and the Fiio E12 (which I have read positive things about when paired with DT-880 600 Ohms on Head-fi). I'm trying to keep this whole venture under $200 or just barely over if possible(well other than the headphones obviously, but that part is already done and paid off). Once I get a proper job when I am done school I imagine I will start spending a lot more.
Thanks for the help so far.
Day 2 with these headphones and they still completely blow me away with how clear they are. I can hear every little thing. Before using these I thought my old headphones were clear but these are on a completely different level (though that seems to be the case all around. These trounce any other pair of headphones I've owned by a large margin)They're the only headphones I've owned where I have not had to mess with the EQ to get the music sounding satisfactory. I've tried messing with EQ but keeping it flat across the board seems to give me the best results so I'm not going to bother anymore. I'm going to have to re-rip all of my CDs though, all the 128 or 256 bit MP3s are definitely not going to cut it anymore. FLACs for everything!
Hi guys, anyone has tips on how to secure earphones to my ears? The exact model is Sennheiser MX270. I tried to google for this but most instructions are for IEMs.
Hey TL I'm here looking for a recommendation of good wireless headphones for around 200 dollars. It is for listening to music while at work where a cord will get in the way. I bought JayBirds BlueBuds X, but I wasn't very satisfied with them.
I ended up going with the Fiio E12 Mont Blanc after seeing a fair number of people on Head-fi saying it pairs amazingly with 600 Ohm Beyers (not to mention when I looked through reviews of it, there were basically no negative reviews for it anywhere). Holy murphy does it improve the sound of my 880s. The thing I noticed was missing in the last few or so days of using my DT-880s unamped was that it felt like a bit of the low end was missing (Unless i had volume practically maxed, but at that point it was almost too loud to listen to), but with the E12 it is all there and now it is all perfect (and I can have it at a reasonable volume!). The gain boost built into the unit is insanely useful for me. Now I can keep my sources at practically the same volume levels as I use with my ear buds and will be able to hear just fine (rather than having to nearly max them out). The bass boost toggle seems quite situational. It's great for electronic dance music, but I usually have it switched off for everything else so far. With it on though, it makes the DT880 sound absolutely monstrous for trance or electronica, even beefier than the DT770 (It has the bass of the DT770 without the recessed mids). I haven't tried my DT770s with the amp yet though. I imagine the bass boost toggle will be too much with those headphones though. It would be basically all bass.
I can practically use my DT880s as speakers now they can get so loud. It's pretty funny. I can hear them clearly across the room at like half volume on my Mac.
Overall, very happy with my purchases so far. Will definitely need to get a longer 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable though. The one supplied is like 5 inches long. I do appreciate that the charge connector is just generic mUSB, I have a ton of those cables and chargers so I can just use that to charge it (you can also charge over USB but it is way slower).
Not sure if this is the right thread but can anyone here suggest me a new headset?
I currently own a Sennheiser PC 151 but it's breaking down. Right now it acts like a radio; I need to tweak the volume to get audio in both ears.
So while I was looking for a headset I can across the following: - Razer Carcharias *67€ - Corsair Vengeance 1500 *76€ - Steelseries Sibera v2 *100€ (non-usb version = 60€) - CM Storm Sirus 5.1 *90€ - Sennheiser PC 130 *100€
As you can see they are mostly gamingheadsets. Now I thought that was fine until I red this thread and the OCN thread, telling me all my choices are shit.
Now I still want a headset, not a headphone + clip-on/stand alone mic, but I also don't want to buy something terrible. I'm primarily going to use my headset for gaming, youtube, movies and music, roughly in that order. My budget is around 50-80€, 100€ being my absolute max probably.
Can anyone suggest me something that isn't terrible and is available in The Netherlands? (unlike most of the suggestions on OCN)
For people interested there is a slew of great components on discount at massdrop including:
Denon ahd2000, one I personally own and is an amazing set of cans. Hifiman HE400 Hifimant HE500 o2+odac stack for dirt cheap, almost the same as a schiit stack.
On September 02 2013 18:48 ZionsWrath wrote: What is the best bang for buck headset? Preferably less than 100$ but not necessarily ... but definitely less than 300$
I am no audiophile so I won't be able to tell the minute differences
I'd assume the cheapest, I don't think the quality improves drastically in gaming headsets with perhaps the exception of pc350
Out of curiosity, would you buy "used" headphones? I'm checking kijiji (similar to craiglist) and I've found the sennheiser hd 558 for 140$ (which looks like a decent price compared to amazon)
On September 05 2013 11:04 XenOmega wrote: Out of curiosity, would you buy "used" headphones? I'm checking kijiji (similar to craiglist) and I've found the sennheiser hd 558 for 140$ (which looks like a decent price compared to amazon)
You sure you would rather not pay $6 more and have them brand new? (from amazon), I would go the used route but only on the really higher end stuff.
It's kinda gross, but it can be a great money saver. The first "good" headphones I ever got was a used pair of DT-770s (80 ohm) for ~$80USD on Craigslist (they go for around ~$200USD new I think). If you can go test them out and see how clean they look in person, go check them out and see what you think.
I have the Sennheiser CX 985 (inner canal type). I had pretty much the same impressions as this guys's : relevant review
I bought them about ￥12000, that is about 90€ / $120
Pros + Very very high level of finishing, extremely reliable metal jack with hinge !! + 7 pairs of tips : a pair of foam tips, normal bass tips (in 3 sizes), power bass tips (3 sizes). + As always with Senn, bass are awesome, even with the normal bass tips (and as I am bassist I need to hear it).
Cons - Not manufactured anymore ? - Power bass tips are a bit uncomfortable (the seal is too tight) - Quite heavy, and the shirt clip thing not being convenient doesn't help - The trebles and mediums are really good, but some other models may do a bit better for the same price (thing is none has this great bass and above all, none has this level of finishing)
Actually I had the CX400 II before. I love Senn because there are not a lot of inner earphones that satisfies me in terms of bass, including more expensive models, and this is essential to me. In CX985, the bass are of course great, the 3D feeling is impressive and trebles/medium are also much better than in CX400, that is really decent.
The bass are more precise than with CX400, very punchy too, you won't get any feeling of low quality overdone bass curve (maybe a bit if you choose the power bass tips). The jack / Y splitter are just insanly premium, even the cable itself is very good and doesn't tangle. I used the CX400 II everyday pretty much everywhere and they quite quiclky ended up being broken, with faulty connections on the jack and then Y splitter. Especially most of the inner earphones in the market are with an angled jack, which is very inconvenient when you plug it on your phone and try to put your phone in a narrow pocket. I just cannot understand why makers do that ! With an angle, the jack always ends up catching on the edge of the pocket and either unplugs itself or ends up being damaged. I guess some people prefers angled jack but I just wonder why.
With the hinged jack (!) of the CX985 you can have it straight or angled so everyone's satisfied. And I cannot imagine it being broken anytime soon. The only thing that was better with the CX400 II is the weight. While the CX400 was very light, the CX985 is pretty heavy and you may even need to maintain it with your hand while running, unless you have attached it well enough with the clip. Well pretty much every part of the CX985 that looks metallic IS actually metallic, hence this overweight.
On August 15 2013 05:51 Ben... wrote: I ended up going with the Fiio E12 Mont Blanc after seeing a fair number of people on Head-fi saying it pairs amazingly with 600 Ohm Beyers (not to mention when I looked through reviews of it, there were basically no negative reviews for it anywhere). Holy murphy does it improve the sound of my 880s. The thing I noticed was missing in the last few or so days of using my DT-880s unamped was that it felt like a bit of the low end was missing (Unless i had volume practically maxed, but at that point it was almost too loud to listen to), but with the E12 it is all there and now it is all perfect (and I can have it at a reasonable volume!). The gain boost built into the unit is insanely useful for me. Now I can keep my sources at practically the same volume levels as I use with my ear buds and will be able to hear just fine (rather than having to nearly max them out). The bass boost toggle seems quite situational. It's great for electronic dance music, but I usually have it switched off for everything else so far. With it on though, it makes the DT880 sound absolutely monstrous for trance or electronica, even beefier than the DT770 (It has the bass of the DT770 without the recessed mids). I haven't tried my DT770s with the amp yet though. I imagine the bass boost toggle will be too much with those headphones though. It would be basically all bass.
I can practically use my DT880s as speakers now they can get so loud. It's pretty funny. I can hear them clearly across the room at like half volume on my Mac.
Overall, very happy with my purchases so far. Will definitely need to get a longer 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable though. The one supplied is like 5 inches long. I do appreciate that the charge connector is just generic mUSB, I have a ton of those cables and chargers so I can just use that to charge it (you can also charge over USB but it is way slower).
How long did you have the DT 770's for? I have had mine for about 3 years and absolutely love them. They have the best ear pads and feel and the sounds is pretty damn good. I was looking at picking up a new pair of headphones and was looking at 3 options, the 880s, sennheiser momentum and the v-moda M-100's. Do you think that these headphones are an amazing upgrade and that the pairing with the fiio e12 just makes them amazing? Is it worth the $400 to have an ear-orgasm or am I fine sticking with the dt-770s getting an amp and a new pair of headphones for more portable purposes. There is no way really that the 880's are portable really even with that amp correct?
Anyways any input on these three pairs of headphones would be great. :D
Any decent and durable headsets around 50$ USD or less? I would pay a bit higher if it is worth it but generally I tend to utilize the mic more than the headphone itself.
edit: My Plantronics headset has endured a lot and is in its final days.
So since im too lazy atm to actually read through the thread at the moment i'm hopeful someone knowledgeable will bother to help me anyway, so lets start:
I'm thinking of buying new Headphones (No shit) and I have a budget of around 400-450USD, the only thing I know atm is that they should be of the "Open" type and circumaural, I listen to most genres but the ones I tend to lean more towards are RnB/Hip-Hop/Rap and EDM overall I guess. I guess i'll need some kind of DAC or Soundcard that will be enough to power those aswell so suggestions for that would also be nice really.
They are only going to be used for music really, comfort is a big plus of course but it's not the most important.
I've been looking at Beyerdynamics DT880 250 Ohm and the 600 Ohm version, what's the difference really? And what is recommended to use those really in terms of other equipment
On September 17 2013 11:00 Thinasy wrote: So since im too lazy atm to actually read through the thread at the moment i'm hopeful someone knowledgeable will bother to help me anyway, so lets start:
I'm thinking of buying new Headphones (No shit) and I have a budget of around 400-450USD, the only thing I know atm is that they should be of the "Open" type and circumaural, I listen to most genres but the ones I tend to lean more towards are RnB/Hip-Hop/Rap and EDM overall I guess. I guess i'll need some kind of DAC or Soundcard that will be enough to power those aswell so suggestions for that would also be nice really.
They are only going to be used for music really, comfort is a big plus of course but it's not the most important.
I've been looking at Beyerdynamics DT880 250 Ohm and the 600 Ohm version, what's the difference really? And what is recommended to use those really in terms of other equipment
Thank you for bothering to read^^
Try Hifiman HE 400's. Rather suitable for bassy music, and not particularly amp picky. Add on a magni+modi and you have a great setup, albeit overbudget.
On September 16 2013 16:39 Demoninja wrote: Random question, has Schiit Magni/Modi ever gone on sale?
Not in my memory. But the o2+odac has gone on sale before on massdrop.
Yeah I can't remember it ever going on sale either. I have no problems picking it up at retail price was just wondering. I'm probably going to pick up the HD 600s via massdrop.
On September 17 2013 11:00 Thinasy wrote: So since im too lazy atm to actually read through the thread at the moment i'm hopeful someone knowledgeable will bother to help me anyway, so lets start:
I'm thinking of buying new Headphones (No shit) and I have a budget of around 400-450USD, the only thing I know atm is that they should be of the "Open" type and circumaural, I listen to most genres but the ones I tend to lean more towards are RnB/Hip-Hop/Rap and EDM overall I guess. I guess i'll need some kind of DAC or Soundcard that will be enough to power those aswell so suggestions for that would also be nice really.
They are only going to be used for music really, comfort is a big plus of course but it's not the most important.
I've been looking at Beyerdynamics DT880 250 Ohm and the 600 Ohm version, what's the difference really? And what is recommended to use those really in terms of other equipment
Thank you for bothering to read^^
Try Hifiman HE 400's. Rather suitable for bassy music, and not particularly amp picky. Add on a magni+modi and you have a great setup, albeit overbudget.
Thanks for the tip! I've checked around frequently and i'll definitely have to try these out
I have a home theater system that had been sitting around idle in my basement for months (my mom hated the cords running all around the room) that I finally remembered about and decided to hook up to my computer. So all's well, I use the theater system as my speakers and use the headphone jack on my computer when I want to use headphones.
One day I noticed that the theater system had a headphone output on it, so I decide what the hell, I'll try plugging my cans into that instead of the computer itself thinking I would be getting the same sound, just from a different jack. Lo and behold, it sounds way fucking better plugged into the theater system. What gives? This is the system I'm using, and the headphone jack is a 6.3mm jack and not the usual 3.5mm. What's the difference? Is it acting as an amplifier?
On September 17 2013 11:00 Thinasy wrote: So since im too lazy atm to actually read through the thread at the moment i'm hopeful someone knowledgeable will bother to help me anyway, so lets start:
I'm thinking of buying new Headphones (No shit) and I have a budget of around 400-450USD, the only thing I know atm is that they should be of the "Open" type and circumaural, I listen to most genres but the ones I tend to lean more towards are RnB/Hip-Hop/Rap and EDM overall I guess. I guess i'll need some kind of DAC or Soundcard that will be enough to power those aswell so suggestions for that would also be nice really.
They are only going to be used for music really, comfort is a big plus of course but it's not the most important.
I've been looking at Beyerdynamics DT880 250 Ohm and the 600 Ohm version, what's the difference really? And what is recommended to use those really in terms of other equipment
Thank you for bothering to read^^
i have similar style of music taste to yourself, any reason you are opting for open style headphones ? for maximum bass response a closed can is going to give you more of a 'punch'
Check the Yamaha Pro 500's - i recently purchased a pair after demo'ing many sets of Audio Technica / Beyer Dynamics / Sennheisers in similar price range, and the yamaha's were the clear winner to me.
i cant offer too much in terms of soundcard / DAC as im using mine with a portable amp for out and about and use my $10k home theatre system for my gaming.
On October 02 2013 04:35 TooL wrote: Looking to get some closed headphones. $200-400. Currently have DT880, but they are too loud to use when my girlfriend is sleeping.
I like all genres of music, but have been listening to trance lately.
Any recommendations?
Try A900X's, little bass light (compared to the DT880) but you can equalise to make up for it with a small bump to the mid bass. I do own the denon D2000's and they are pretty good at the price for trance too.
On October 02 2013 03:41 Kazragore wrote: I have a home theater system that had been sitting around idle in my basement for months (my mom hated the cords running all around the room) that I finally remembered about and decided to hook up to my computer. So all's well, I use the theater system as my speakers and use the headphone jack on my computer when I want to use headphones.
One day I noticed that the theater system had a headphone output on it, so I decide what the hell, I'll try plugging my cans into that instead of the computer itself thinking I would be getting the same sound, just from a different jack. Lo and behold, it sounds way fucking better plugged into the theater system. What gives? This is the system I'm using, and the headphone jack is a 6.3mm jack and not the usual 3.5mm. What's the difference? Is it acting as an amplifier?
Pretty much. It most likely has a much lower output impedance compared to your probably cheap ass budget sound card which is embeded on your motherboard.
There is no real difference between a 1/4" jack and a 3.5mm mini jack. They both have same connections. (TRS)
Just going to point out, it's not about whether the output impedance is high or low, but it's how well the impedance matching maximizes the power in the circuit. Read a bit on Impedance Matching. It's a solid reason why the Asus Xonar Essence (STX?) sounds so good with the Sennheiser HD800.
Hey guys, I've been using a v-moda m80 for about 10 months now. Just today the right ear stopped working. It works sometimes if I replug in the cables into the headphones. But mostly still doesn't work. Does anyone know if this is possible to be fixed by myself or do I have to send it back for repair?
Please answer me by PM as it would be a lot easier for me to see. Thanks!
On October 02 2013 03:41 Kazragore wrote: I have a home theater system that had been sitting around idle in my basement for months (my mom hated the cords running all around the room) that I finally remembered about and decided to hook up to my computer. So all's well, I use the theater system as my speakers and use the headphone jack on my computer when I want to use headphones.
One day I noticed that the theater system had a headphone output on it, so I decide what the hell, I'll try plugging my cans into that instead of the computer itself thinking I would be getting the same sound, just from a different jack. Lo and behold, it sounds way fucking better plugged into the theater system. What gives? This is the system I'm using, and the headphone jack is a 6.3mm jack and not the usual 3.5mm. What's the difference? Is it acting as an amplifier?
Pretty much. It most likely has a much lower output impedance compared to your probably cheap ass budget sound card which is embeded on your motherboard.
There is no real difference between a 1/4" jack and a 3.5mm mini jack. They both have same connections. (TRS)
Nah, it could well be the other way around. A lot of receivers just tap the speaker amplifier for the headphone output. To keep volume levels in a sane range for most headphones, often resistors of a few hundred ohms are put between the speaker amp output and the headphone jack, so you're dealing with more output impedance than pretty much any other kind of source including vacuum tube amps with no output transformer.
On October 07 2013 10:46 Blisse wrote: Just going to point out, it's not about whether the output impedance is high or low, but it's how well the impedance matching maximizes the power in the circuit. Read a bit on Impedance Matching. It's a solid reason why the Asus Xonar Essence (STX?) sounds so good with the Sennheiser HD800.
First of all, that article is mostly about max power transfer for a different scenario than the one we're talking about. The main question there is how to pick (select, design) a load to maximize power transfer given a source with a certain output impedance. The other stuff later about transmission lines is not relevant here at audio frequencies and the distances we're talking about, and it's not like anything is close to matched anyway. What we're looking at with headphones is a fixed load with a source of our choosing. The way to maximize power transfer for a given output level is to pick a source with the smallest possible output impedance.
Second of all, the ~300 ohms (varying, goes up above 600 ohms) of the HD 800 doesn't correspond to any kind of ratio or anything on the Essence STX's ~10 ohms output impedance. Also, if something were "matched" at one frequency, wouldn't it no longer be matched at another frequency where the impedance is different?
Finally, we're not exactly interested in max power transfer for headphones anyway because most are too loud out of most sources anyway.
Of I've been looking for a thread such as this one for a bit.
I'm looking to get a sound card for a PC. I want to be able to hook up the PC to an amplifier (the amp has RCA input) and that amplifier is connected the big speakers.
I've been thinking of getting a good sound card and using something like this to convert the sound card's digital signal into an analogical signal that can be used by the amplifier. The idea is to get nice sound.
I already have the speakers and the amp, they work great. I'm just looking for a good sound card to use for this role, that way I can have all the music on the hard drive so that it's easier to access.
Any suggestions? Been looking into the ASUS Xonar DS 7.1.
Yes, I've heard of USB DAC stuff but that seems a bit too expensive. I'm looking for something that has better sound than onboard motherboard sound but without going over 100€.
On October 07 2013 10:46 Blisse wrote: Just going to point out, it's not about whether the output impedance is high or low, but it's how well the impedance matching maximizes the power in the circuit. Read a bit on Impedance Matching. It's a solid reason why the Asus Xonar Essence (STX?) sounds so good with the Sennheiser HD800.
First of all, that article is mostly about max power transfer for a different scenario than the one we're talking about. The main question there is how to pick (select, design) a load to maximize power transfer given a source with a certain output impedance. The other stuff later about transmission lines is not relevant here at audio frequencies and the distances we're talking about, and it's not like anything is close to matched anyway. What we're looking at with headphones is a fixed load with a source of our choosing. The way to maximize power transfer for a given output level is to pick a source with the smallest possible output impedance.
Second of all, the ~300 ohms (varying, goes up above 600 ohms) of the HD 800 doesn't correspond to any kind of ratio or anything on the Essence STX's ~10 ohms output impedance. Also, if something were "matched" at one frequency, wouldn't it no longer be matched at another frequency where the impedance is different?
Finally, we're not exactly interested in max power transfer for headphones anyway because most are too loud out of most sources anyway.
Fair enough, I'm not well versed enough in circuits to debate, and I can't seem to find the giant thread that was on about it 2+ years ago, so I can't trust if my memory is 100% accurate if you say it isn't. I simply remember that was a good area of discussion (unless I got the wrong wiki article).
Hi, im planning on getting a pair of Sennheiser IE80's for Christmas and I was wondering if anyone has tried these. I tried searching for other reviews but the only good one i found was on LinusTechTips.
I will be mainly using these outdoors (on my phone) hence why I prefer IEMS rather than bulky on-ear/over-ears. My current audio equipment is a (I know =/) Razer Megalodons / Samsung in-ears. The main concern I have is the durability of the earphones, i'm generally a very careful person and take care of my equipment but the Samsung IEMS just broke really quickly.
Any feedback/advice would be greatly appreciated, Thank!
i'm looking for nice long session (3 hours+) headphones for flights. obviously, sound isolation is #1 with comfort a close second.
the bose qc15 is at the top of my list right now but i'm wondering if the sennheiser amperiors isolation can rival anc? might be a terrible question as most people don't cross shop these but, hey, it's worth a shot.
Most decently expensive sets from established manufacturers should have decent durability, but I don't know about the IE80s in particular. No IEMs are really that great at handling really heavy abuse though.
There are some models with replaceable cables, if it's the jack or cables that are going bad on you. That said, the connection for the cables to the IEM housings, by necessity, are fairly small on these so that's another potential weak point. These should be fairly robust though.
Note that low-frequency isolation (well, in effect) is pretty much impossible without IEMs (canalphones) and/or ANC. That's what you want for plane droning sounds. There are plenty of other sets with ANC these days, but supposedly with respect to the ANC the QC15s are still the ones to beat.
i was hoping someone would tell me otherwise. dropping that much money on mediocre sound doesn't sit well with me, but i can't stand iems for that long.
ah well, worth it to save my hearing, i guess. thanks!
i'm looking for some cheap, 20-30€ alternative for my sennheiser hd 202's which, unfortunately, are starting to show their age. as i'm wearing glasses, comfort is of utmost importance, as my ears may start hurting with some other headphones. sound quality is also important, but i don't think i can really ask for much in my price range (or are there magic headphones with soundcards in my price range?).
I really don't know what is good in the sound world, but i tried looking up some reviews and these caught my eye
hey guys, i recently purchased the sennheiser hd 558s. i was just wondering if there's any software or (cheap) hardware i could get to help improve/boost the sound i get out of them? My motherboard is an asus z871 deluxe. Thanks in advance.
edit: oh im planning to listen to music and game on them. i dont listen to any specific genre of music.
On December 22 2013 11:19 da_head wrote: hey guys, i recently purchased the sennheiser hd 558s. i was just wondering if there's any software or (cheap) hardware i could get to help improve/boost the sound i get out of them? My motherboard is an asus z871 deluxe. Thanks in advance.
edit: oh im planning to listen to music and game on them. i dont listen to any specific genre of music.
i don't know what price point's cheap to you, but you could look toward 'creative x-fi' series, those are a pretty safe choice. a more expensive choice would perhaps be NI Traktor Audio 2, but that's probably aimed towards music producers and such
but i'm not an expert, so wait for some other people to reply (tho this thread seems pretty dead)
I'm looking for some headphones around the £70 - £100 range to use for music when i'm out and about.
i listen to literally everything from kpop to classical to dubstep to vocal so a well balanced pair would be nice
i'm currently looking at the audio technica ATH-ES55 or the audio technica ATH-WS55i (I think they're correct)
firstly i guess is audio technica a decent brand? secondly should i be looking at better alternatives or are they good value? and lastly will they be able to do my varied taste justice in sound quality?
the reviews seem pretty good aside from a couple saying no padding or the cable breaks or whatever, but it's the 1 or 2, 1 star reviews that go "bass is awful, treble is awful, everything is awful" that make me hesitant to commit.
Just broke my sennheisers HD 518 by sitting on them (I know stupid) and I am looking to replace them. I'm looking for some circumaural headphones, probably closed but I'm open to open. I'm looking at a US$250 cap, but targeting more like ~150.
Since I just broke them I have not really started on my research, so I was looking for recommendations to look into more.
Ok, I searched all of TL and no one has mentioned the TteSports Bahamut external USB sound card. I hope I'm posting this in the right place.
So recently my laptop sound card died and I've had to use my horrible horrible laptop speakers for gaming. Ugh, I cringed a little just saying that. Whenever I plugged in a headset or headphones, the speakers and headphones would both have sound. However, with my headphones, only the left ear would emit sound. Super weird.
Anyways, I kept looking for solutions to fix it, but I think it just came down to a hardware issue, so I gave up. Since laptops are mostly if not all on-board sound cards, I started looking for an external sound card option and landed with the TteSports Bahamut.
Does anyone on TL use these? How are they? Do you guys think it will fix my problem? I asked a friend who works for TteSports, but he may have a bias opinion since he works for Tt haha. I've had a lot of Tt products before and they have never failed me, so I'm not reluctant to buy anything Tt, just wanted some feedback from the community.
I was given some Sony MDR V600 headphones (a long time ago) and I've enjoyed them a lot I was just wondering (idle curiosity) on how they stack up to most headphones out there since I'm not knowledgeable on headphones.
I'm looking to get an IEM that costs between 30-70 (weird ears so wearing headphones hurt)
I'll mostly be using it for playing games or listening to music while reading.
I don't need noise canceling or isolating capabilities. Being able to jog with it is a bonus.
I asked one of my friends and he said to get Klipsch S4i (40 on amazon). However, I'm not sure if i should get it since apparently it breaks really easily.
I'm looking for some headphones around the £70 - £100 range to use for music when i'm out and about.
i listen to literally everything from kpop to classical to dubstep to vocal so a well balanced pair would be nice
i'm currently looking at the audio technica ATH-ES55 or the audio technica ATH-WS55i (I think they're correct)
firstly i guess is audio technica a decent brand? secondly should i be looking at better alternatives or are they good value? and lastly will they be able to do my varied taste justice in sound quality?
the reviews seem pretty good aside from a couple saying no padding or the cable breaks or whatever, but it's the 1 or 2, 1 star reviews that go "bass is awful, treble is awful, everything is awful" that make me hesitant to commit.
Audio Technica's a major player that makes all kinds of audio gear including some well-regarded headphones. However, they tend to be overpriced in the UK and Europe in general. Those models mentioned are somewhat popular. In the price range, they should be fine. I don't know much about them.
Portable on-ear headphones are probably the most difficult category to engineer to sound decent and consistent (also probably the least comfortable except for on people who can't take IEMs).
Just broke my sennheisers HD 518 by sitting on them (I know stupid) and I am looking to replace them. I'm looking for some circumaural headphones, probably closed but I'm open to open. I'm looking at a US$250 cap, but targeting more like ~150.
Since I just broke them I have not really started on my research, so I was looking for recommendations to look into more.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50 should be okay so long as your ears are mid-to-smaller size. Otherwise, they're not particularly circumaural, like many so-called circumaural headphones. Beyerdynamic DT 770 is popular but would sound drastically different than the HD 518. Maybe Shure SRH840?
There are plenty of other options these days though.
Ok, I searched all of TL and no one has mentioned the TteSports Bahamut external USB sound card. I hope I'm posting this in the right place.
So recently my laptop sound card died and I've had to use my horrible horrible laptop speakers for gaming. Ugh, I cringed a little just saying that. Whenever I plugged in a headset or headphones, the speakers and headphones would both have sound. However, with my headphones, only the left ear would emit sound. Super weird.
Anyways, I kept looking for solutions to fix it, but I think it just came down to a hardware issue, so I gave up. Since laptops are mostly if not all on-board sound cards, I started looking for an external sound card option and landed with the TteSports Bahamut.
Does anyone on TL use these? How are they? Do you guys think it will fix my problem? I asked a friend who works for TteSports, but he may have a bias opinion since he works for Tt haha. I've had a lot of Tt products before and they have never failed me, so I'm not reluctant to buy anything Tt, just wanted some feedback from the community.
There are plenty of alternatives from Creative, Asus, and then audio-only companies these days. So the Bahamut is really not that popular, though that could just be from lack of awareness and the market being crowded.
If you're using headphones, some of these are worse than others. Not sure how the Bahamut would stack up. With speakers, most should be closer to the same. Just look at features and whatever functionality supported that you'd like to have.
I was given some Sony MDR V600 headphones (a long time ago) and I've enjoyed them a lot I was just wondering (idle curiosity) on how they stack up to most headphones out there since I'm not knowledgeable on headphones.
Treble may be a little weird (not as present and with some unevenness) and like many headphones including many that are much more expensive it is missing some of the highest highs and lowest lows. Supposedly it compared unfavorably with the classic MDR V6 (or MDR 7506 now).
However, it should easily fall in the not-messed-up-and-bad category, like most cheap headphones do. You can readily do better, even in a closed headphone, under $100 these days though.
I'm looking to get an IEM that costs between 30-70 (weird ears so wearing headphones hurt)
I'll mostly be using it for playing games or listening to music while reading.
I don't need noise canceling or isolating capabilities. Being able to jog with it is a bonus.
I asked one of my friends and he said to get Klipsch S4i (40 on amazon). However, I'm not sure if i should get it since apparently it breaks really easily.
Does anyone have any other recommendations?
Most IEMs if abused will die in short order.
Klipsch S4i has very exaggerated bass and all the way into the lower mids. They're widely maligned in some circles, mostly because of that, but if that's what you want, it should be a reasonable option.
Just to name something else, the VSonic VSD1S.
Note: all suggestions somewhat generic based on lack of info (both from me and from the questions).
Oh, people usually get that through lendmeurears (or similar and more popular VSD1 model with a few dB less mids; it's really just an alternate tuning of the same thing same thing), which has decent customer service and usually ships free out of a warehouse in the US to US customers. They're Singaporean though, but that means they obviously know English.
The best values tend to be from the Chinese companies, especially Chinese OEMs that make products for others to brand and sell, yeah. Some are decent and others aren't so much.
There's some "burn in" time for pretty much any dynamic transducer where the mechanical parts that fit together and provide support wear in with use (think shoes maybe). However, the overall effect is pretty marginal at best according to lab measurements, though many users swear they hear otherwise. It's kind of a controversy in the nutty audio world, and some companies and marketing departments play along or believe so too. For a listener, there's a significant difference psychologically from getting used to a certain sound, which is probably the vast majority of the effect.
It's hard to say what has the best durability. Most likely there are just a lot of S4i users out there and thus a lot of failed products, but that doesn't give you a percentage or control. If you just want things to look at, Brainwavz M5, Beyerdynamic DTX 101, Etymotic MC2/3/5. These are kind of wildly different. Brainwavz is a rebrand of something ViSang I think (another Chinese OEM), Beyerdynamic has done audio for ages (also check Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, etc.), and Etymotic was the pioneer of in-ear monitors.
Im getting a Qpad qh-90 headset. Its an analog closed one with 1 x 3.5 mm jack.
Question #1: is it a good one? Has someone gotten one already/had experience with it? Question #2: should I get a sound card (like Creative Sound Blaster Z) for it or the onboard sound card (MoBo: Asus M5A97 R2.0 AMD 970) is more than enough?
You can wait and see, but the answer to "does anyone have this?" is usually "no."
Most of the gaming peripherals brands are ripping people off on the more expensive headsets, but it really depends. It's a crowded market these days. Even companies like Corsair have headset lineups.
Most audiophiles emphasizing output audio quality (to your ears) rather than input audio quality (meaning the mic) would suggest normal headphones plus some clip-on or desk mic instead, but there are various compromises going that way. However, having two devices does help if the microphone breaks; you can replace only the thing that broke rather than an entire headset when its mic has issues, for example.
Unless you want to turn on and use whatever DSP processing is on Creative's cards these days (some people do), you're better off spending more money in a better headset than diverting funds to both a sound card and a headset. e.g. Sennheiser PC 350, which is maybe overpriced but better known and probably better
I really appreciate your answer, Myrmidon. I will test this headset thoroughly. If there will be something I wont like, I have 2 weeks time to send it back. The Sennheiser you mentioned is really good. I might give it a try, if the qpad is weak.
Just stopping by to say that I bought a Sennheiser HD 558 (currently sold 120€ on amazon.fr), which is apparently considered midrange, and I'm very happy with it. It's very comfortable and light, with an open and circumaural design. It doesn't require a dedicated sound card, has quite a long cord, and has great sound quality (for me at least :D). I would recommend if you don't want to invest more than 200$ on your headphones.
On December 30 2013 20:55 S3ph wrote: I really appreciate your answer, Myrmidon. I will test this headset thoroughly. If there will be something I wont like, I have 2 weeks time to send it back. The Sennheiser you mentioned is really good. I might give it a try, if the qpad is weak.
I have the PC350 and let me make light of something:
The bass is weak. Not because of the speakers or the quality, its because of the design (the actual build) of the headset if that make sense.
In other words, if you feel like you want to increase the bass of the headset, there is something you can do to bump it up: Pop the ear pads off, unscrew the pad off and drill 1 or two holes.
I was incredibly happy with the results. I don't know where I drilled my holes but I can always find out for you.
Currently own a pair of Sennheiser Momentum (Not the on-ear.) that I bought at a highly discounted price through my job. Paid 100$ when their retail price was 350$. Wondering if these are good headphones?
Also interested in purchasing a headset with a microphone, but I don't want something bad. Any suggestions on that? Astros/plantronics commandos look decent, but I'd like to be educated on the matter. The reason I want this is because I would prefer to use headphones with a microphone instead of headphones + stand a lone microphone for ease of use.
On January 04 2014 09:11 smOOthMayDie wrote: Currently own a pair of Sennheiser Momentum (Not the on-ear.) that I bought at a highly discounted price through my job. Paid 100$ when their retail price was 350$. Wondering if these are good headphones?
Also interested in purchasing a headset with a microphone, but I don't want something bad. Any suggestions on that? Astros/plantronics commandos look decent, but I'd like to be educated on the matter. The reason I want this is because I would prefer to use headphones with a microphone instead of headphones + stand a lone microphone for ease of use.
I own the Sennheiser PC 360 and they are amazing. Really comfortable, even for many hours of use. I think they have pretty good sound but its my only open headset so I can't really compare it to anything. The mic quality is decent as well, no one ever complained on it. Also, Khaldor uses them so you can watch his stream sometime and see for yourself how the mic sounds.
So I'm a complete headphone noob and I thought maybe you guys can help me with a little problem. I have been using 30€ headphones (Koss Porta Pro) for quite a while and was quite happy with the sound, but since I recently had some money to spare I chose to invest in some new, more premium headphones in a higher price range, I went with the Sennheiser 558 because I read a lot of positive reviews and posts about it.
They arrived today and to my dismay they sound terrible for some reason, the sound is really flat and, well, really crappy. I have to crank the volume all the way up to get the same volume as I had on my old headphones at a third of max volume. I don't have a sound card, but regular modern onboard sound with realtek drivers.
Am I doing something wrong? Am I forgetting something? Do you need some kind of device or software for these kind of headphones to work properly? Thanks in advance for any tips.
Yes, some people use more dedicated audio hardware for those headphones, and it could measurably improve the sound for sure (perceptually: not so much other than difference in volume and placebo, but it could be there), but I'm not convinced that's what you're hearing.
It's normal for different headphones to require vastly different volume settings for equivalent sound pressure levels so volume at your ear because of significantly different impedance and sensitivity. Some pretty much won't get loud enough without a more dedicated high-output headphone amplifier. There's also some variation from unit to unit of the same model and/or revisions over time. However, Porta Pros should only be a few dB louder than HD 558s. OS scaling on volume is somewhat of a mystery: at "a third" it's probably not at a third of the power level, a third of the signal level, or a third of the perceived volume. To be more specific, you could check levels with a multimeter or just go by ear and cite approximate dB (use a software player like foobar2000 that has a volume control listed in dB and use that). However, something seems off if the volume setting needs to be that different.
It's common for people to be used to the sound of an old headphone and initially reject a new purchase as sounding odd. Over time it might sound better. However, HD 558 doesn't have all that much of a drastically different sound than the Porta Pros at all, so this seems odd. And the difference is in having more treble (closer to what you're supposed to have, so "flat" as in flat response maybe), which may or may not correspond to what you might call "flat."
The symptoms sound most like what happens if the jack is half-broken or not inserted all the way, to be honest...
I would try both sets on another device or two, such as another computer, phone, MP3 player, etc. See if you get similar sound and a similar difference in volume across these sources.
A third was a bit of an exaggeration perhaps, but it does sound A LOT quieter. I think the 3,5 inch adapter may be the problem, it feels loose in the port, so it might not be properly plugged in or something.
The sound is okay I think, but it's just way too quiet for my taste, I'd like to have the loudness of my old headphones but the increased quality of the sennheisers.
Also, should I maybe buy a soundcard and see if that helps? Kind of salty about having spent 130€ on an essentially worse experience, so I'd like to salvage the purchase somehow if possible.
I'll be honest, I don't know how much other factors affect output volume/velocity, but the HD 558s actually have lower impedance than PortaPros (50 Ohm vs 60 Ohm, respectively) and they're both open headphones. Shouldn't the 558s actually be slightly louder at the same volume? They should at least be pretty similar in volume, I'd imagine.
On January 10 2014 07:24 z0rz wrote: I'll be honest, I don't know how much other factors affect output volume/velocity, but the HD 558s actually have lower impedance than PortaPros (50 Ohm vs 60 Ohm, respectively) and they're both open headphones. Shouldn't the 558s actually be slightly louder at the same volume? They should at least be pretty similar in volume, I'd imagine.
Nah, two headphones with same impedance can have very different volumes.
Mainly you look at the sensitivity and impedance. The former is usually listed in terms of dB SPL (decibels of sound pressure level referenced to a pressure level of 20 micropascals, the threshold of human hearing) per 1 mW input power. Sometimes the figure with 1 V input signal level is given (and sometimes 0.1 V for some IEMs), but you can convert between these knowing the impedance. Impedance is usually given at 1 kHz; it actually varies over frequency and non-trivially in some sets.
However, there is some unit-to-unit variance and difference between measuring methods between manufacturers, so even if you expected the same volume out of two sets based on specs, I wouldn't be totally shocked if they measured say even as much as 5-10 dB apart.
Koss PortaPro: 60 ohms, 101 dB SPL / 1 mW nominal Sennhesier HD 558: 50 ohms, 112 dB SPL / 1 V nominal
Note that with 1 V input, roughly (headphones aren't completely resistive and we're talking power, etc.) that would be a power level of 20 mW (P = V^2/R; power is voltage squared divided by resistance). And 10log10(20) = 13, so we're looking at 112 - 13 = 99 dB SPL / 1 mW for the Sennheisers.
Or with the PortaPro, 1 V input would give 16.67 mW of power so 113.2 dB SPL.
In other words, they should be within a couple of dB, supposedly.
Thanks a lot for your time Myrmidon and the detailed replies, very informative. I went ahead and bought an inexpensive sound card, the Asus Xonar DGX, which has an built-in headphone amp that helped me push the volume of the 558s to a satisfying level.
So I have more headphones than I know what to do with at this point. I have some IEMs, a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50s, and a Logitech G403 headset(which is what I'm currently using cause it's got some comfy earpads). Are there headphones that I should look into that are the next level above the ATH-M50s? I listen to a wide range of music depending on my mood. I go from Instrumental stuff like Jazz/Ska, to string music (not quite classical. Zoe Keating specifically), to electronica and dubstep, etc. Just a wide range. Thanks for the help!
Hi. I am using a 25$ pair of sony earbuds right now. They are good but I want to get something a little bit better. I am looking for a more expensive (50-200$) range of either better earbuds or earphones. It should be silent to others (closed) and somewhat durable/ long lasting. I am using it to listen to music on my S3 only. Any input is good.
For my Razer Electra's it comes with 2 audio plugs, one with a mic and one without. After ~1.5years of purchase I've used the wire with a mic maybe twice and it is faulty, if i plug it in too deeply, the audio glitches out, so it can't be put all the way in.
Very disappointing, but apart from that the headphones work great, still disappointed in the faulty nature of the second wire.
Just another example of why you should never buy "gaming" headsets. You can get better products for less money from companies that actually specialize in audio and aren't scamming an immature market.
Yeah I probably wont buy another razer headset. But I did do my research before buyong it. Also it would be a generalisation yo say that all razer products are faulty. In its defense, my computer is on the old side and the audio jack has sometimes failed.me while using other products.
I was wondering if you guys know a good way of turning any pair of 3.5mm IEMs wireless.
I'm not an audiophile, I use a pair of Koss The Plug for everything (I'm going to upgrade because I don't think they're good enough anymore, but that's irrelevant), but I'd love it if they could be wireless. One solution I've been planning to try is to buy a Bluetooth headset like the Sony SBH52, they have a 3.5 mm jack for the headphones so you can use any. I'd hook these up to the computer with Bluetooth and attach the thing to myself and that's wireless enough for me.
On January 18 2014 04:03 smOOthMayDie wrote: Just bought a pair of these babies.
Save my review for later, but these sound pretty good.
Welcome to the club. Bust investment in a pair of headphones ever. I love these headphones so much. They are some of the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn and have great sound quality. The build quality is top notch as well. The band has the perfect amount of resistance so it doesn't give you any kind of squeeze, and it just sits perfect.
Got around $300 I wanna spend on a new dac/amp setup if its worth it at all. My current setup is HD598 with a fiio e7/e9. I've never used any other dac/amp setup but I am pretty damn happy with it. I looked up the e17 back when it was first released but its been a while so I don't know if its still good bang for buck.
Looking for best bang for buck or maybe even upgrading the headphones if that's the better path, but the headphones are really new whereas I'd like to actually replace the e7. I realize the headphones aren't that hard to drive but as brand loyal as I am, I'd like to venture to other brands if they offer good alternatives for dac/amp at least.
I'm not really here to prosthelytize, but I'm not much in the "amps/DACs making much of a difference" camp. Most (not all) of the differences most people hear can be attributed to differences in sound processing features like EQ / bass boost / crossfeed / other deliberate adjustments or just differences in volume. Most people casually doing comparisons aren't doing them blind, and many aren't even level matching. Check out the majority of the results you have level matching and it's like this: http://matrixhifi.com/contenedor_ppec_eng.htm
In other words, past a certain point there are some kind of vastly diminishing returns. I'd be more inclined to get new headphones or save the money.
Sometimes it can be useful to have multiple headphones: an open and a closed one, maybe.
Fair enough. As I mentioned it was only a purchase I'd make if it was really worth it. I'm kinda in that camp too after listening to my same headphones on a supposedly ' better ' amp/dac setup but still figured mine were on the lower end. I'm pretty set on my 598s, I really like em and just wanted to see if there was anything I could do for them. Also figured I might be able to future proof myself a bit by getting a JDS O2+ODAC combo or something. Thanks.
Edit: Hell I was just considering going for a e17+e09K to ' update ' my current setup but even that feels like throwing money around for no good reason.
I need some help deciding whether to buy either the Sennheiser PC360 or the HD 558. These will be for a variety of uses such as music, movies, and gaming. I also want something that has good bass. If you guys have other recommendations, then please provide any insight. My budget is under $150
On February 24 2014 18:49 CorsairHero wrote: if you want good bass at that price point, you need to go with closed headphones like the audio technica ath-m50 and use a clip on mic.
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you know the difference between these 2?
On February 12 2014 11:43 Myrmidon wrote: I'm not really here to prosthelytize, but I'm not much in the "amps/DACs making much of a difference" camp. Most (not all) of the differences most people hear can be attributed to differences in sound processing features like EQ / bass boost / crossfeed / other deliberate adjustments or just differences in volume. Most people casually doing comparisons aren't doing them blind, and many aren't even level matching. Check out the majority of the results you have level matching and it's like this: http://matrixhifi.com/contenedor_ppec_eng.htm
In other words, past a certain point there are some kind of vastly diminishing returns. I'd be more inclined to get new headphones or save the money.
Sometimes it can be useful to have multiple headphones: an open and a closed one, maybe.
I think its more up to the cans themselves.
I got 4 sets of headphones and from them, 2 Benefit noticibly from My amp, while the other two, if they do, I dont notice it.
The main problem with not having an amp is bass. Bass is the most demanding part of the spectrum power-wise, and if there is not enought power, bass sounds "wong" (Congestet, boomy, with lack of control... basicly, unnatural).
About the blind test you link, the speakers are quite good in terms of quality/price, but im sure id rather test floorstanders :D.
I personaly bought some decent floorstanders, and when i was hunting for an AMP, i found out to my surprise that Expensive Tube amps were better by almost an unnoticible amount than a cheap standard Denon AMP.
I have tested only Dacs in PC/mp3 and Fiio E17, and I did notice differences, but untill i test a better DAC, I cant be sure about that.
On February 12 2014 11:00 Ack1027 wrote: Got around $300 I wanna spend on a new dac/amp setup if its worth it at all. My current setup is HD598 with a fiio e7/e9. I've never used any other dac/amp setup but I am pretty damn happy with it. I looked up the e17 back when it was first released but its been a while so I don't know if its still good bang for buck.
Looking for best bang for buck or maybe even upgrading the headphones if that's the better path, but the headphones are really new whereas I'd like to actually replace the e7. I realize the headphones aren't that hard to drive but as brand loyal as I am, I'd like to venture to other brands if they offer good alternatives for dac/amp at least.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Well, Fiio does make decent bang for buck gear. At that price point, i think there wont be a better improvment than another headphone.
I personally own a E17 and a Schiit Asgard Amp, and the asgard amp is far supirior than the Fiio E17 when it comes to powering my Hifiman HE-400.
That beeing said, the HE-400 is a lot more Demanding than the HD598, so Im not sure that in your case that would necesarly be an upgrade.
If you plan to get another headphone thou, it might be a nice idea to look for headphones that have different sound signatures. This way you can have Different HP for different music/entertainment...
I did hear that the HD600 by sennheiser is far better than the 598, but personally i did not have the chance to hear the HD600 (while i did hear the 598), and bare in mind there are actually people who prefer the 598 to the 600.
Thats why a 300 dollar investment wont be your best chance to get a significant upgrade (rather a side-grade) in your system.
For example my upgrade went from Sennheiser HD 380 Pro and fiio E17 as DAC/AMP to Hifiman HE-400 with Fiio E17 as DAC and Asgard as amp.
Thats a 650 dollar investment. The difference was worth it for me, but even if all people who know me think it sounds better, none would spend their money on it :D.
I'm looking at getting the DT 990 Pro (250 ohms) for $145. I'll use it to listen to trance, dubstep, rock, pop, and classical music on my desktop.
I don't currently have a DAC or amp. What sort of amp would I need to power the headphones which would be a good match for their price? Also, would it be at all helpful to buy an aftermarket DAC? This article makes them seem useless: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733.html My computer just has "Realtek High Definition Audio."
Not useless but often generally not worth the cost if on a budget and focused on sound quality rather than features... unless you're on a motherboard where the onboard makes funny sounds whenever there's GPU or disk activity or something like that, or any number of other issues, or too high noise level for some sensitive sets, etc. Quality of onboard varies quite a bit. That said, if you're throwing around this kind of money anyway, something like a Xonar DG / DGX isn't really much extra.
Depending on the onboard implementation and your listening habits (read: loudness, music/recordings you're listening to), you may not really need a dedicated amp—maybe not worth the extra cost.
At the high end of the spectrum of what you should buy, say $100 on Schiit Magni, which is not a great pick if you also use IEMs or very sensitive headphones, but it is powerful enough for most headphones. It should be functional enough.
I would suggest buying the headphones, if those are really the ones you want, seeing the sound and how you're using it, and then determining if you need something more for it.
I'm on the "get an amp/DAC if you have decent headphones" team, but I won't say you need super expensive stuff to feel good about your purchase. And I say "feel good" because, in all honesty, I'm not ruling out the possibility of the placebo effect making me enjoy my amp/DAC purchase more.
I feel that if you buy $150 headphones, you have to care at least a LITTLE bit about audio. And if you care a little bit, you probably care enough to either notice an improvement over onboard audio.. or to fall for the placebo effect. Either way, you're feeling good :D
If you only plan on getting DT990s and will only use them at your PC at home (you won't use them through other sources like phone/MP3 player, TV, different PC at work, etc), a sound card is probably your best bet. Some sound cards have really good DSP features which improve 3D audio cues in games, which is something most external DACs can't do. And, depending on the sound card, it could give you options in the future for adding speakers.
If you plan on getting more mobile headphones/IEMs for outside the home (not that you can't rock DT990s on the bus, but most people probably wouldn't do that), you'll REALLY benefit from a mobile amp/DAC. Like Myrmidon said, PC onboard audio varies and can actually be pretty decent nowadays, but phone/MP3 player audio is generally atrocious. And, while a mobile amp/DAC will probably be slightly worse than a dedicated setup, it can still be used at home with your DT990s and improve things quite a bit over most onboard PC audio. It's a flexible, all-in-one kind of solution.
What you buy really depends on what you plan on doing, and how much you really care about audio haha
On March 04 2014 09:41 airtown wrote: I'm looking at getting the DT 990 Pro (250 ohms) for $145. I'll use it to listen to trance, dubstep, rock, pop, and classical music on my desktop.
I don't currently have a DAC or amp. What sort of amp would I need to power the headphones which would be a good match for their price? Also, would it be at all helpful to buy an aftermarket DAC? This article makes them seem useless: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733.html My computer just has "Realtek High Definition Audio."
Thanks for all suggestions.
If your source is coming from a laptop, then bring your laptop to the store and compare it to using a usb dac/amp (like fiio e17/e9 or schitt modi/magni) and without it. I would recommend an external amp if you're getting the 250 ohm version. Your ears can do a better job at convincing yourself of what you need instead of TL
Could somebody tell me if the Sennheiser PC320/330 are better than a standard Siberia? Are there any in that price range (50-80€) that are noticeably better?
Siberias, or any ''gaming headset'' at that price point specifically isn't actually worth it in terms of sound quality. Any headphone from a respectable manufacturer is better. Personally I'm a big fan of Sennheiser's sound. Go for it!
Could somebody tell me if the Sennheiser PC320/330 are better than a standard Siberia? Are there any in that price range (50-80€) that are noticeably better?
Thanks!
On March 05 2014 09:06 Thalandros wrote: Siberias, or any ''gaming headset'' at that price point specifically isn't actually worth it in terms of sound quality. Any headphone from a respectable manufacturer is better. Personally I'm a big fan of Sennheiser's sound. Go for it!
Thanks for answering. Are the two I posted good for that price range, or would you recommend another model? I read some reviews who complained about white noise and the like with them, something I didnt see regarding the Siberia.
Could somebody tell me if the Sennheiser PC320/330 are better than a standard Siberia? Are there any in that price range (50-80€) that are noticeably better?
On March 05 2014 09:06 Thalandros wrote: Siberias, or any ''gaming headset'' at that price point specifically isn't actually worth it in terms of sound quality. Any headphone from a respectable manufacturer is better. Personally I'm a big fan of Sennheiser's sound. Go for it!
Thanks for answering. Are the two I posted good for that price range, or would you recommend another model? I read some reviews who complained about white noise and the like with them, something I didnt see regarding the Siberia.
I've personally not used any of the Sennheiser PC headsets, I've been using the HD 598's for half a year now and they sound great. I'm not familiar with the Sennheiser Headsets, but if I were you i'd go for the 330 if any of them. It looks more sturdy and better built, as well as it's circumaural which definitely has my personal preference. Since I've had this pair of cans I've been recommending the follow to everyone: Buy a headset and microphone APART. I obviously recommend the Sennheiser 500 series (518 is the cheapest I believe) which have similar drivers and obviously sound. To go with that get a ZALMAN ZM-MIC1 - they are amazing for the price. 10$ max and they're better than any headset mic I've used. You can clip them on cords but I like it keep it on my desk. I've heard Audio Technica is also very good (particularly the ATH-M50's) but you'd again be looking at more than 100 dollars/euros.
That said, if you're looking for a low price headset/headphones + mic from what I've seen the PC330 is probably the best you're going to get for that price.
Got the DT 990s today and they sound great. They're definitely quieter than my Panasonic RP-HTF600-S headphones. I may get an amp later, but for now I think they're still loud enough (I play most songs at 25%-40% volume on my computer.)
Apart from a slightly more pronounced bass with the 990s, I honestly can't tell a whole lot of difference between how these and the Panasonics sound (not an audiophile by any means.) However, the DT 990s are MUCH more comfortable, probably because they're roomier and have velour earpads. The build quality is also better. Overall I'm satisfied with my purchase.
So i've got a question. I'm buying an Asus DGX sound card in a few days, its primary use will be for some 32ohm headphones (Pioneer SE-M390). Now I know that the sound card has a built in headphone amp but I only recently realized that I have a $2000 stereo receiver lying around that hasn't been used in ages (its 15 years old). Now because it only has analog inputs, is it worth hooking the receiver up with the sound card with analog cables and then plugging my headphones into the 6,3mm jack in the receiver? That is, how much of a difference will it make and does it do anything?
I know because of the analog connection the sound card will be doing all of the DAC work. I'm just wondering is there even a slight difference for the better if I plug my headphones into the stereo receiver. I'm also looking to plug in the large stereo speakers that are lying around with the receiver so event a slight improvement with the headphones is excellent, would hate to have to keep plugging and unplugging things
I'm new to this forum, and wondering if i could have some advice. I'm after a set of music headphones that i can take out on the street (so some form of noise isolation or cancellation and a bit robust) but also listen to at home.
I'm really into jazz at the moment, I'm a bass player myself and enjoy hearing the full range of the instrument come through, the brightness of the strings and the contrasting low end.
My budget is probably up to $400NZD maximum but would be happier the spend around $300NZD
I'm currently looking for a good audio bluetooth headset. My main and only purpose is to listen to music from my android phone, i don't care about shiny call button or "read my sms" stuff.
I've searched some and i'm currently wondering if such thing exists. I've stumbled across some headsets like the sony sbh20 with a "bluetooth module" http://www.fp-outlet.com/images/SNY-SBH20_5_FP.jpg but i don't want to have headphones -> bluetooth "fake ipod nano" -> actual bluetooth device.
Bonus if IEM of course.
Help me, does a good product exist for this kind of usage?
On March 24 2014 21:30 zeo wrote: So i've got a question. I'm buying an Asus DGX sound card in a few days, its primary use will be for some 32ohm headphones (Pioneer SE-M390). Now I know that the sound card has a built in headphone amp but I only recently realized that I have a $2000 stereo receiver lying around that hasn't been used in ages (its 15 years old). Now because it only has analog inputs, is it worth hooking the receiver up with the sound card with analog cables and then plugging my headphones into the 6,3mm jack in the receiver? That is, how much of a difference will it make and does it do anything?
I know because of the analog connection the sound card will be doing all of the DAC work. I'm just wondering is there even a slight difference for the better if I plug my headphones into the stereo receiver. I'm also looking to plug in the large stereo speakers that are lying around with the receiver so event a slight improvement with the headphones is excellent, would hate to have to keep plugging and unplugging things
Receivers that aren't relatively new often just tap the speaker output for headphones, just with a resistor in series so the output levels aren't too high. So it could easily sound different in a way that's worse. I wouldn't rush to try it, but it's worth a shot I guess.
On March 28 2014 14:17 Jcrawley wrote: Hi guys
I'm new to this forum, and wondering if i could have some advice. I'm after a set of music headphones that i can take out on the street (so some form of noise isolation or cancellation and a bit robust) but also listen to at home.
I'm really into jazz at the moment, I'm a bass player myself and enjoy hearing the full range of the instrument come through, the brightness of the strings and the contrasting low end.
My budget is probably up to $400NZD maximum but would be happier the spend around $300NZD
Not really into gaming.
Any advice would be much appreciated
I don't recall where people buy these things in NZ, but I remember seeing some very bad prices. So with me being mostly ignorant of what relative pricing is like, I'm just going to list things sub-200 USD in the States and that should likely fit the price range. In increasing price roughly, there's Creative Aurvana Live! (original, not 2; should be well under budget), Audio Technica ATH-M50, Beyerdynamic DT 250. Many alternatives may have not enough low bass or not enough treble in general. A bit over the price range, quite possibly, is AKG K550 and K551.
On March 29 2014 00:24 Furlisht wrote: Hello guys,
I'm currently looking for a good audio bluetooth headset. My main and only purpose is to listen to music from my android phone, i don't care about shiny call button or "read my sms" stuff.
I've searched some and i'm currently wondering if such thing exists. I've stumbled across some headsets like the sony sbh20 with a "bluetooth module" http://www.fp-outlet.com/images/SNY-SBH20_5_FP.jpg but i don't want to have headphones -> bluetooth "fake ipod nano" -> actual bluetooth device.
Bonus if IEM of course.
Help me, does a good product exist for this kind of usage?
Many Thx!
If you saw the Sony SBH-20, did you see the Sony SBH-80?
You know, such a device needs a wireless transceiver, some processor, DAC, amplifier, and a decent battery to power everything for hours. Headphones are large enough to pack all of that into an earcup usually. You're not going to be able to fit all that inside some IEM's housing, so by necessity there's going to be some other piece holding the electronics. I don't know if you consider the neckband on the SBH-80 akin to a fake iPod Nano, but that's probably in the range of the least intrusive option. I certainly haven't looked around at wireless IEMs before though, so I don't know of what's good or even what's available.
Does Audio Technica sell cables for their headphones separately, or do I need to buy the headphones themselves to get another cable? I got a really nice set of ATH-M50X headphones last week that I really love, but I dropped my MP3 player in such a way that the audio jack took the brunt of the fall and bent. The headset is totally fine, so since the cord is a removable variant, I wanted to find out if I can simply purchase a new cord... but ATH's website doesn't exactly make it clear if I can or not. Can anyone here tell me if they sell the cords separately?
On March 29 2014 06:23 Archas wrote: Does Audio Technica sell cables for their headphones separately, or do I need to buy the headphones themselves to get another cable? I got a really nice set of ATH-M50X headphones last week that I really love, but I dropped my MP3 player in such a way that the audio jack took the brunt of the fall and bent. The headset is totally fine, so since the cord is a removable variant, I wanted to find out if I can simply purchase a new cord... but ATH's website doesn't exactly make it clear if I can or not. Can anyone here tell me if they sell the cords separately?
I don't know anything about the new model, the ATH-M50X, but that looks like a standard 2.5mm jack on the headphone side to me. Or I guess there's some twist locking mechanism or similar that isn't easy to see in photos? Most manufacturers can be contacted for spare parts (even if they're not listed on a store; look around for contact info for a sales / service representative). As long as the jack on the headphones is fine, a replacement cable should work.
Though a quick search of results says the box should come with three cables already.
On March 29 2014 06:52 SC2Toastie wrote: Looking for a good headphone (+Mic) for under 50$ that can handle travel, any tips?
Most everything in this price range is plasticky and tends to break readily and/or not sound that good, at least for full-size sets.
Some in-ears in this price range with inline mic would be easier to carry and more durable, if that works. Is that an option?
On March 29 2014 06:23 Archas wrote: Does Audio Technica sell cables for their headphones separately, or do I need to buy the headphones themselves to get another cable? I got a really nice set of ATH-M50X headphones last week that I really love, but I dropped my MP3 player in such a way that the audio jack took the brunt of the fall and bent. The headset is totally fine, so since the cord is a removable variant, I wanted to find out if I can simply purchase a new cord... but ATH's website doesn't exactly make it clear if I can or not. Can anyone here tell me if they sell the cords separately?
I don't know anything about the new model, the ATH-M50X, but that looks like a standard 2.5mm jack on the headphone side to me. Or I guess there's some twist locking mechanism or similar that isn't easy to see in photos? Most manufacturers can be contacted for spare parts (even if they're not listed on a store; look around for contact info for a sales / service representative). As long as the jack on the headphones is fine, a replacement cable should work.
Though a quick search of results says the box should come with three cables already.
Yeah, all three cables have twist-locks on them. The problem is that of the three cables, the one I broke is the one I like most; the other two are too long and too short, respectively. I like the spiral cord design for the cable, so I would rather have that one instead.
I'll contact a sales rep and see how it goes from there. Thanks for the advice.
On March 05 2014 09:06 Thalandros wrote: Siberias, or any ''gaming headset'' at that price point specifically isn't actually worth it in terms of sound quality. Any headphone from a respectable manufacturer is better. Personally I'm a big fan of Sennheiser's sound. Go for it!
Does any of those headphones also comes with a good mic? I would like to avoid headphones + mic separately if possible I'm gonna buy a new headset later on in order to get a new headset, not another pair of headphones. (I can't stand in-ear headphones).
So, want to spoil myself with some new over ear headphones (30 to around 100$), I'm mostly listening to Rap, sometimes Techno (stereotypically german I guess ) and gaming but that shouldnt be the focus, I would rather care about a detachable cable because I break headphones cables very often and I need something very reliable and don't wanna buy any 6 Months a new one everytime..... My current location is Vancouver, Canada if that is subject to price changes. And I'm not a audio enthusiast, so don't want to spend 30$ more for same features but slightly more bass. Last Headphone was Aurvana Live! was good but broke after only 3 Months.... Was looking into the Superlux HD668B
The 668Bs seem to be a really popular choice, especially for its price. They probably won't sound as good as Aurvana Live!s, but there's a good chance you'll never even notice the difference.
I hate to put you on the spot, but I have to ask: how in the hell do people break headphone cables? I can't even imagine how many times I must have run over my headphone cables with my computer chair over the last 5+ years and I've never had a single problem.
On March 05 2014 09:06 Thalandros wrote: Siberias, or any ''gaming headset'' at that price point specifically isn't actually worth it in terms of sound quality. Any headphone from a respectable manufacturer is better. Personally I'm a big fan of Sennheiser's sound. Go for it!
Does any of those headphones also comes with a good mic? I would like to avoid headphones + mic separately if possible I'm gonna buy a new headset later on in order to get a new headset, not another pair of headphones. (I can't stand in-ear headphones).
There are plenty that do, yes. I don't think you'll experience the best sound quality if you chose to go for two in one, but it's certainly a possibility. Take a look at Sennheiser's website, most of their headphones are your money's worth, whatever you look at. I've personally also looked at the Razer Electra's purely because they seem very mobile, aren't very pricy and have an attached microphone. They're for bassheads though, and I bought some €30,- in-ears for travel instead a month back. Could be worth looking into.
OK, so I'm hoping one of you audio gurus can help me figure out the cheapest way to figure this setup out.
I have a chromecast and a computer, and I want to be able to switch between the two on the the same monitor (The monitor only has one HDMI input). The monitor does not have speakers, so I'm thinking I'll have to split the chromecast audio off from the HDMI somehow before it gets to the monitor. I have a 5.1 speaker system with only analog inputs (the three RCA ones; I think it's L/R, surround, Center/Sub).
Is there any way to do this from under $100? Because looking at prices on Amazon, it looks like I need an HDMI splitter and then an audio extractor and then some type of SPDIF to RCA deal. I really have no clue what I'm doing though.
On March 05 2014 09:06 Thalandros wrote: Siberias, or any ''gaming headset'' at that price point specifically isn't actually worth it in terms of sound quality. Any headphone from a respectable manufacturer is better. Personally I'm a big fan of Sennheiser's sound. Go for it!
Does any of those headphones also comes with a good mic? I would like to avoid headphones + mic separately if possible I'm gonna buy a new headset later on in order to get a new headset, not another pair of headphones. (I can't stand in-ear headphones).
There are plenty that do, yes. I don't think you'll experience the best sound quality if you chose to go for two in one, but it's certainly a possibility. Take a look at Sennheiser's website, most of their headphones are your money's worth, whatever you look at. I've personally also looked at the Razer Electra's purely because they seem very mobile, aren't very pricy and have an attached microphone. They're for bassheads though, and I bought some €30,- in-ears for travel instead a month back. Could be worth looking into.
Got a SteelSeries headset as a birthday-present, so I don't need to buy another for a while. Thanks for the tip though
Having to replace my Sennheiser HD598's I'm looking at the Fidelio X1, how do they compare to the 598's when it comes to electronic music and how comfortable are they?
Apparently they are really good with dance/pop music and overall better than HD598 (higher pricepoint)? I don't have any personal experience, I'm getting this off of Head-fi.org.
A friend of mine's headset has died, and I'm trying to find some decent headphones for an okay price. Any tips for around or below €100,-? He'll use it for gaming and some music listening, but mostly for gaming/skype.
On April 30 2014 19:14 Thalandros wrote: Budget €100,-
A friend of mine's headset has died, and I'm trying to find some decent headphones for an okay price. Any tips for around or below €100,-? He'll use it for gaming and some music listening, but mostly for gaming/skype.
[/img NEW USER]http://cdn.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/pdp_a40_wired_astro_black_1.jpg[/ img]
I tried em out for a week. Sound quality seemed a bit too boomy for nongame stuff and the mic was a wreck for me. Returned them and got a HD 598 + Zalman ZM-1 mic. Kind of disappointing :/
There's just absolutely no reason to pay for a gaming headset with the amount of high quality headphones/microphones/DACs available at every price point. Just like buying a pre-built PC vs. building your own, sourcing your own parts will generally give you better performance, longer lifespan, better warranties, while costing the same (or less, in most cases).
Been looking for new headphones lately for gaming/listening to music, and Sennheiser HD 598/600 have caught my attention. Is there a huge difference between these two, and do i need a sound card/amp to drive them to their full potential? If you know any other good headphones from this price range, please tell me.
For the Sennheiser HD 598, you don't. It might benefit them but I don't use any and I think they're completely fine without them (they are rated so by many). The 600 is a grade up and I imagine you'd need an amp/good sound card for their optimal performance. The HD 598 is so awesome because its so good but still a ''standard'' pair of headphones.
I've been using a pair of Sennheiser HD 429 for a long time now (as in a couple of years) and now they are stasrting to brake down. Does Sennheiser have a similar pair of headphones now in the price range of 600-700 SEK
On May 06 2014 19:18 Tobiaano wrote: Been looking for new headphones lately for gaming/listening to music, and Sennheiser HD 598/600 have caught my attention. Is there a huge difference between these two, and do i need a sound card/amp to drive them to their full potential? If you know any other good headphones from this price range, please tell me.
The whole dedicated amp/DAC thing is largely overrated. It matters but less than most think and not particularly in the situations that are focused on. You could say you're not getting the most out of anything without the best gear, really, but the headphones are the much bigger deal.
That said, for listening at (very) loud volumes, you may need a dedicated amp for the HD 600 because the impedance is so high. It's not actually that the headphones require so much power at all but that the power delivered is voltage squared divided by the resistance, so you need more voltage.
On May 06 2014 20:03 WindWolf wrote: I've been using a pair of Sennheiser HD 429 for a long time now (as in a couple of years) and now they are stasrting to brake down. Does Sennheiser have a similar pair of headphones now in the price range of 600-700 SEK
A couple years isn't a long time in terms of headphones. I don't think these are EOL or anything, so you could get another. There used to be HD 4x8 models some years back, and they were phased out for these HD 4x9 models.
I'm not aware of new Sennheiser headphones in that price range either.
On May 06 2014 19:18 Tobiaano wrote: Been looking for new headphones lately for gaming/listening to music, and Sennheiser HD 598/600 have caught my attention. Is there a huge difference between these two, and do i need a sound card/amp to drive them to their full potential? If you know any other good headphones from this price range, please tell me.
The whole dedicated amp/DAC thing is largely overrated. It matters but less than most think and not particularly in the situations that are focused on. You could say you're not getting the most out of anything without the best gear, really, but the headphones are the much bigger deal.
That said, for listening at (very) loud volumes, you may need a dedicated amp for the HD 600 because the impedance is so high. It's not actually that the headphones require so much power at all but that the power delivered is voltage squared divided by the resistance, so you need more voltage.
I'm not aware of new Sennheiser headphones in that price range either.
So could i run the HD 600 decently with my Asus Xonar DG ?
I'm looking to get new in ear headphones, but I don't know anything about them. the majority of the music I listen to is metal. What are some good headphones that are less than $150?
On May 06 2014 20:03 WindWolf wrote: I've been using a pair of Sennheiser HD 429 for a long time now (as in a couple of years) and now they are stasrting to brake down. Does Sennheiser have a similar pair of headphones now in the price range of 600-700 SEK
A couple years isn't a long time in terms of headphones. I don't think these are EOL or anything, so you could get another. There used to be HD 4x8 models some years back, and they were phased out for these HD 4x9 models.
I'm not aware of new Sennheiser headphones in that price range either.
Considering everything it has been through, particular the cable, I'm impressed that they are still working decently.
---
Breaking down was maybe a bad choice of words. What I meant to say was that I've noticed the the Audio quality has gone down over time, especially when comparing them to my new SteelSeries Seberia (which was a gift). And now the cable is starting to show tendencies of not producing good sound when the connector is in certain angles.
Oh, maybe I didn't word that correctly. I meant "a long time" with respect to manufacturers releasing new models.
With reasonably heavy use, you maybe can't expect more than a couple or few years out of fairly cheap headphones.
Headphones can be readily recabled and reterminated to fix issues with those, but perhaps it's not worth it unless you already have the tools to do so, for a model like that.
I was hoping for some suggestions other than a website that is way too intimidating for someone who just wants a nice set of in ear headphones. I should clarify, I don't anything technical about audio things. I just have been burnt so many times on shitty $30 or less headphones.
I'm just gonna gently nudge you to take another look at the thread I linked. Being upset with poor purchases in the past means you need to start doing research before you make your next purchase. And even though the thread I linked is rating subjective qualities, I find it pretty accurate and reasonable. It's a gold mine of information.
What do you value? Comfort? Durability? Aesthetics? Booming bass vs super flat, accurate sound? I don't know you, and I don't know what you want. It's always good to do your own research since nobody knows what you want more than you do, and that thread does the thankless job of narrowing literally thousands of options down to a select few IEMs (In-Ear Monitors, which is what you're asking for) at different price points.
You can set your price range, mouse-over the columns to see a better explanation of what each category really means, etc. Find a couple that seem like a great value, click to read the review, go from there.
Example: I got a pair of HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2s a few months ago for $65 (they're listed at $99 in the link, which is the basis for the value score, of course). It got an 8/10 for both value and sound, which I find pretty fair. Would I suggest them to you? No clue. They have a bright red cord which might be a turn off, and they're extremely bass-heavy which is a problem for some people.
But you didn't need me to tell you any of that because it's all in the review in the link
On May 08 2014 08:51 z0rz wrote: I'm just gonna gently nudge you to take another look at the thread I linked. Being upset with poor purchases in the past means you need to start doing research before you make your next purchase. And even though the thread I linked is rating subjective qualities, I find it pretty accurate and reasonable. It's a gold mine of information.
What do you value? Comfort? Durability? Aesthetics? Booming bass vs super flat, accurate sound? I don't know you, and I don't know what you want. It's always good to do your own research since nobody knows what you want more than you do, and that thread does the thankless job of narrowing literally thousands of options down to a select few IEMs (In-Ear Monitors, which is what you're asking for) at different price points.
You can set your price range, mouse-over the columns to see a better explanation of what each category really means, etc. Find a couple that seem like a great value, click to read the review, go from there.
Example: I got a pair of HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2s a few months ago for $65 (they're listed at $99 in the link, which is the basis for the value score, of course). It got an 8/10 for both value and sound, which I find pretty fair. Would I suggest them to you? No clue. They have a bright red cord which might be a turn off, and they're extremely bass-heavy which is a problem for some people.
But you didn't need me to tell you any of that because it's all in the review in the link
My main problem with the link was that it was extremely intimidating. I'm pretty stupid when it comes to sound and the quality of sound, so reading things like its really balanced, or it has a smooth treble, or whatever else they put has no meaning to me. And reviews constantly have things like "the bass is way to bumpy for me" or "they're uncomfortable for me" and then put no context into those statements so I have no idea what any of it means nor can I find someplace to define them for me.
Also, I'm using Astro A40's, which the majority of what I've read, are awful. I don't see the problem with them, but I also don't know what I'm looking for. They're pretty comfortable, I can listen to my music and its sounds fine, the mic works well and sounds fine on the other end.
So you can kinda see why I'd rather look at suggestions from people here, rather than going off on my own even with what you've provided.
I think people rather have a little more information about your tastes rather than give generic suggestions that may be suboptimal. A very basic piece of information would be whether you have any emphasis on a particular band of sound (do you really enjoy loud, thumping bass, and energetic/"exciting" treble with the cymbals/guitars etc? Or do you prefer a focus on vocals? Or perhaps you like a balance?). I agree the audio terms can be frustrating, but if you can even briefly describe what you look for in your music then people can give you much, much better suggestions.
On May 08 2014 12:09 uriel- wrote: I think people rather have a little more information about your tastes rather than give generic suggestions that may be suboptimal. A very basic piece of information would be whether you have any emphasis on a particular band of sound (do you really enjoy loud, thumping bass, and energetic/"exciting" treble with the cymbals/guitars etc? Or do you prefer a focus on vocals? Or perhaps you like a balance?). I agree the audio terms can be frustrating, but if you can even briefly describe what you look for in your music then people can give you much, much better suggestions.
I've said metal before, but if you want specific bands: Metallica Atreyu Avenged Sevenfold Breaking Benjamin A Day to Remember Iron Maiden Power metal (too much to name)
I like hearing the vocals and I don't like heavy bass. And if it helps, I don't like them going over my ears; I prefer straight down or whatever it's normally called.
On May 08 2014 08:51 z0rz wrote: I'm just gonna gently nudge you to take another look at the thread I linked. Being upset with poor purchases in the past means you need to start doing research before you make your next purchase. And even though the thread I linked is rating subjective qualities, I find it pretty accurate and reasonable. It's a gold mine of information.
What do you value? Comfort? Durability? Aesthetics? Booming bass vs super flat, accurate sound? I don't know you, and I don't know what you want. It's always good to do your own research since nobody knows what you want more than you do, and that thread does the thankless job of narrowing literally thousands of options down to a select few IEMs (In-Ear Monitors, which is what you're asking for) at different price points.
You can set your price range, mouse-over the columns to see a better explanation of what each category really means, etc. Find a couple that seem like a great value, click to read the review, go from there.
Example: I got a pair of HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2s a few months ago for $65 (they're listed at $99 in the link, which is the basis for the value score, of course). It got an 8/10 for both value and sound, which I find pretty fair. Would I suggest them to you? No clue. They have a bright red cord which might be a turn off, and they're extremely bass-heavy which is a problem for some people.
But you didn't need me to tell you any of that because it's all in the review in the link
My main problem with the link was that it was extremely intimidating. I'm pretty stupid when it comes to sound and the quality of sound, so reading things like its really balanced, or it has a smooth treble, or whatever else they put has no meaning to me. And reviews constantly have things like "the bass is way to bumpy for me" or "they're uncomfortable for me" and then put no context into those statements so I have no idea what any of it means nor can I find someplace to define them for me.
Also, I'm using Astro A40's, which the majority of what I've read, are awful. I don't see the problem with them, but I also don't know what I'm looking for. They're pretty comfortable, I can listen to my music and its sounds fine, the mic works well and sounds fine on the other end.
So you can kinda see why I'd rather look at suggestions from people here, rather than going off on my own even with what you've provided.
Astro's are ''okay'' sound. I've had them for about two weeks and they work. But NOT for that price. The customizability and the mobility is what you're paying for, as well as the brand. Not the sound quality.
I think I've got two headphones I can think of right now that would fit your style.
1. Sennheiser HD 5** series. I personally have the 598, and I love it because it looks amazing as well as the sound is pretty much the best you can get without having to buy an AMP for some headphones to drive it to full potential. There's cheaper models though, 558 I've heard is pretty much the same thing except it looks slightly different and sound is a little bit worse. Look into these models. They're amazing for computer usage. Not so great when travelling around, but I'd rather have IEMs for that anyway
2. ATH-M50. I was deciding between this and my HD 598 when I bought my headphones, and I bought the Senn's because they seemed more comfortable and were very big circumaurals. I like that, personally. The ATH-M50 has way more tight sound on the other hand, and has a more powerful bass. The Sennheiser's open, so your ears get less hot during hot days etc, bedause the air flow is better. That does go at the cost of less ''tight'' sound, but more natural sound. I don't know anything about the ATH's comfort though, you'd have to check head-fi for that.
Overall the ATH-M50 have better bass than the HD 598, but the strength of the 598 is warm mids, personally. I love listening to all kinds of music on these cans, I personally listen to Metallica, Sum 41, some OC-remix tracks, Pink Floyd, etc, and these things are amazing for all of that.
For the price range that I'm guessing around, $150-$200, you can get yourself one of these and you won't be disappointed no matter what. If you like base more, (which you should at least a little considering you listen to metal mostly), then try the ATH-M50's. If you like very balanced, warm sounds, try the Sennheiser's HD 598. I have a lot of experience with the latter and the main plus point is the overall sound quality as well as the comfort ability. I'd take these to sleep with if I wouldn't crush them accidentally.
If you REALLY want an IEM after that, then I recommend Sennheiser CX300II's. They're very low price though, $35, but they are quite awesome for the price I feel. If you want higher than that, I can't really help you much as I have no personal experience. All I can say is stay away from super branded stuff, like Dr. Dre or Bose.(unless you want sound isolation, Bose is pretty good at that.)
On May 08 2014 08:51 z0rz wrote: I'm just gonna gently nudge you to take another look at the thread I linked. Being upset with poor purchases in the past means you need to start doing research before you make your next purchase. And even though the thread I linked is rating subjective qualities, I find it pretty accurate and reasonable. It's a gold mine of information.
What do you value? Comfort? Durability? Aesthetics? Booming bass vs super flat, accurate sound? I don't know you, and I don't know what you want. It's always good to do your own research since nobody knows what you want more than you do, and that thread does the thankless job of narrowing literally thousands of options down to a select few IEMs (In-Ear Monitors, which is what you're asking for) at different price points.
You can set your price range, mouse-over the columns to see a better explanation of what each category really means, etc. Find a couple that seem like a great value, click to read the review, go from there.
Example: I got a pair of HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2s a few months ago for $65 (they're listed at $99 in the link, which is the basis for the value score, of course). It got an 8/10 for both value and sound, which I find pretty fair. Would I suggest them to you? No clue. They have a bright red cord which might be a turn off, and they're extremely bass-heavy which is a problem for some people.
But you didn't need me to tell you any of that because it's all in the review in the link
My main problem with the link was that it was extremely intimidating. I'm pretty stupid when it comes to sound and the quality of sound, so reading things like its really balanced, or it has a smooth treble, or whatever else they put has no meaning to me. And reviews constantly have things like "the bass is way to bumpy for me" or "they're uncomfortable for me" and then put no context into those statements so I have no idea what any of it means nor can I find someplace to define them for me.
Also, I'm using Astro A40's, which the majority of what I've read, are awful. I don't see the problem with them, but I also don't know what I'm looking for. They're pretty comfortable, I can listen to my music and its sounds fine, the mic works well and sounds fine on the other end.
So you can kinda see why I'd rather look at suggestions from people here, rather than going off on my own even with what you've provided.
Astro's are ''okay'' sound. I've had them for about two weeks and they work. But NOT for that price. The customizability and the mobility is what you're paying for, as well as the brand. Not the sound quality.
I think I've got two headphones I can think of right now that would fit your style.
1. Sennheiser HD 5** series. I personally have the 598, and I love it because it looks amazing as well as the sound is pretty much the best you can get without having to buy an AMP for some headphones to drive it to full potential. There's cheaper models though, 558 I've heard is pretty much the same thing except it looks slightly different and sound is a little bit worse. Look into these models. They're amazing for computer usage. Not so great when travelling around, but I'd rather have IEMs for that anyway
2. ATH-M50. I was deciding between this and my HD 598 when I bought my headphones, and I bought the Senn's because they seemed more comfortable and were very big circumaurals. I like that, personally. The ATH-M50 has way more tight sound on the other hand, and has a more powerful bass. The Sennheiser's open, so your ears get less hot during hot days etc, bedause the air flow is better. That does go at the cost of less ''tight'' sound, but more natural sound. I don't know anything about the ATH's comfort though, you'd have to check head-fi for that.
Overall the ATH-M50 have better bass than the HD 598, but the strength of the 598 is warm mids, personally. I love listening to all kinds of music on these cans, I personally listen to Metallica, Sum 41, some OC-remix tracks, Pink Floyd, etc, and these things are amazing for all of that.
For the price range that I'm guessing around, $150-$200, you can get yourself one of these and you won't be disappointed no matter what. If you like base more, (which you should at least a little considering you listen to metal mostly), then try the ATH-M50's. If you like very balanced, warm sounds, try the Sennheiser's HD 598. I have a lot of experience with the latter and the main plus point is the overall sound quality as well as the comfort ability. I'd take these to sleep with if I wouldn't crush them accidentally.
If you REALLY want an IEM after that, then I recommend Sennheiser CX300II's. They're very low price though, $35, but they are quite awesome for the price I feel. If you want higher than that, I can't really help you much as I have no personal experience. All I can say is stay away from super branded stuff, like Dr. Dre or Bose.(unless you want sound isolation, Bose is pretty good at that.)
Thank you so much! I'm really looking for IEM's , though. I use "regular" headphones at home and IEM's outside of my house, and my old IEM broke, and I want a nice pair after years of shitty ones.
What you're doing isn't much different than asking "What car should I buy? Keep it under $15,000." I don't know how to help you. Do you have a family? Do you commute? Do you want to go fast? Can you drive a stick? Do you like the color blue?
We need information, man. I asked before (and uriel- asked too, but he made the mistake of using the phrase "band of sound" which sounds more like "what musicians do you listen to?" rather than "is there a certain frequency range you'd like to emphasize?" To be fair, though, he explained immediately after that and it seems to have gone unnoticed):
What do you value? Comfort? Durability? Aesthetics? Booming bass vs super flat, accurate sound?
Have you ever sat in a car with an awesome sound system and a good subwoofer? Ever been to a concert? You know when the bass kicks in and you can FEEL it? That feeling is very difficult to achieve in headphones, especially IEMs, but some are actually surprisingly good at producing a sub-bass rumble. Is that something that interests you? Or is that too over-the-top? Some people love it, some people hate it.
Would you like to keep it more accurate and analytic so you can hear the tone of the guitar and vocals and pinpoint exactly where those sounds are coming from? Again, some people love this, some people would rather having booming bass and a more "colored" sound.
Frankly, I can probably answer the 'sound quality' part for you since you're happy with A40s: you'd be happy with the sound quality of any decent $50 IEMs. But still, maybe you want to experience high quality audio for the first time. I don't know!
You're tired of wasting $30, but you seem quite ready to waste $150. I don't get it arhgjfgfhhh helppppppp
On May 09 2014 05:29 z0rz wrote: Haha, this is so much harder than it needs to be.
What you're doing isn't much different than asking "What car should I buy? Keep it under $15,000." I don't know how to help you. Do you have a family? Do you commute? Do you want to go fast? Can you drive a stick? Do you like the color blue?
We need information, man. I asked before (and uriel- asked too, but he made the mistake of using the phrase "band of sound" which sounds more like "what musicians do you listen to?" rather than "is there a certain frequency range you'd like to emphasize?" To be fair, though, he explained immediately after that and it seems to have gone unnoticed):
What do you value? Comfort? Durability? Aesthetics? Booming bass vs super flat, accurate sound?
Have you ever sat in a car with an awesome sound system and a good subwoofer? Ever been to a concert? You know when the bass kicks in and you can FEEL it? That feeling is very difficult to achieve in headphones, especially IEMs, but some are actually surprisingly good at producing a sub-bass rumble. Is that something that interests you? Or is that too over-the-top? Some people love it, some people hate it.
Would you like to keep it more accurate and analytic so you can hear the tone of the guitar and vocals and pinpoint exactly where those sounds are coming from? Again, some people love this, some people would rather having booming bass and a more "colored" sound.
Frankly, I can probably answer the 'sound quality' part for you since you're happy with A40s: you'd be happy with the sound quality of any decent $50 IEMs. But still, maybe you want to experience high quality audio for the first time. I don't know!
You're tired of wasting $30, but you seem quite ready to waste $150. I don't get it arhgjfgfhhh helppppppp
I'm not wasting $150. I haven't spent any money, and I wasn't just going to blindly spend money based on the recommendation. While I do trust the opinions of those who post in these types of forums on TL, I'm not so ignorant to not do a little side research to see what others have thought about them and to see what others have recommended instead. And your car analogy isn't as complicated as you think it is. With the information given, cars can be recommended. The people taking the recommendation go look at the cars based on the recommendation. If they like it, they buy it. If they don't, then they can start from the drawing board or take what you recommended and look for things similar. It's still assuming that they know little but because they know what was recommended to them, they have some idea of what to look for. Also, car salesmen do this regularly, at least the car salesmen I've been around have. You tell them what you need (even if its incredibly vague), and they show you cars that fit those needs.
Is it hard to just recommend a handful of different ones with different sounds? Or do you have to know all of the specifics in order to make any form of a recommendation? I don't think I've been that unreasonable when it comes to taking suggestions, which is what originally what I asked for. And while I never originally specified that I wasn't an audiophile, I thought I made it pretty clear I wasn't in later ones.
But if you can't help me than that's fine, I appreciate the effort you put in
The people taking the recommendation go look at the cars based on the recommendation. If they like it, they buy it. If they don't, then they can start from the drawing board or take what you recommended and look for things similar.
Exactly. The link I gave you already narrows down countless viable options to a solid handful in each price range. Like I said, it's a great starting point. Say you want to stick to the $100-150 price range. Boom, you just got 26 recommendations. Weed out a few that don't have stellar ratings and you'll probably be down to 5-10. Sweet. Go do some research now.
I understand the jargon in the linked reviews might be a bit excessive, but you still get numerical ratings (1-10) and a model number to Google for other pricing information and review. And, like you said, you're ready to do research anyway. That's where my initial confusion comes from. You're willing to do research, unless someone provides you with a list to research??? :O
Is it hard to just recommend a handful of different ones with different sounds?
Guess where you could find that information? Third line of the link I gave you:
An abridged buyer's guide containing my some of my favorite earphones by sound signature, can be found here (updated 03/01/14).
Sorry for harping on it. I'm not mad and I'm not trying to attack you or anything. I'd leave it alone if you weren't giving me clues that everything you're asking for is actually contained in a single link haha.
The people taking the recommendation go look at the cars based on the recommendation. If they like it, they buy it. If they don't, then they can start from the drawing board or take what you recommended and look for things similar.
Exactly. The link I gave you already narrows down countless viable options to a solid handful in each price range. Like I said, it's a great starting point. Say you want to stick to the $100-150 price range. Boom, you just got 26 recommendations. Weed out a few that don't have stellar ratings and you'll probably be down to 5-10. Sweet. Go do some research now.
I understand the jargon in the linked reviews might be a bit excessive, but you still get numerical ratings (1-10) and a model number to Google for other pricing information and review. And, like you said, you're ready to do research anyway. That's where my initial confusion comes from. You're willing to do research, unless someone provides you with a list to research??? :O
An abridged buyer's guide containing my some of my favorite earphones by sound signature, can be found here (updated 03/01/14).
Sorry for harping on it. I'm not mad and I'm not trying to attack you or anything. I'd leave it alone if you weren't giving me clues that everything you're asking for is actually contained in a single link haha.
I completely missed that, so I apologize. My main issue with everything is I don't understand the jargon or the reviewers put absolutely no context into their reviews. For example, "The bass is a little too bumpy for me." What am I supposed to do with that? I don't know what they're using to test the bass on them.
So i'll be going out into town tomorrow to look for a pair of headphones. I currently own the Steelseries Siberia v2, but im definitely looking to upgrade, as i think the sound just isnt good.
I play games and music pretty much whenever i have the time, my games range from dota2, starcraft2, to counter-strike1.6/go ect. I could say the same for my music tastes, i listen to alot of different genres, so its important for me to get a pair of headphones that can run everything decently, though if i had to choose i would prefer the bass to stand out. Love me some bass. Might be worth noting that im currently running my siberia's on a Xonar DX 7.1 sound card.
I would watch out for the Sennheiser HD 518 and HD 558, as well as the AKG K551. Those Sennheisers are open back. The HD 518 should have more of a midbass / lower midrange emphasis. Both HD 518 and HD 558 are going to have a bit of trouble with the lowest subbass, like many open headphones, but they're not really among the worst offenders there. AKG K551 is closed-back and should have more bass extension down to the lowest frequencies, but that is heavily dependent on the seal you get. I think some people have sealing issues with K550 / K551 based on their head and ear shapes. That's the case for many headphones, but some headphones more so than others, especially closed-back headphones. If you don't need any sound isolation, many people swear by open-back headphones being generally preferred over closed-back headphones for gaming and aural localization.
All three are not way far off from relatively neutral and should be okay for most music.
Thanks for the quick reply, and to your question: i dont need a mic, ill be buying a mic seperately. I dont mind isolation, i sit in my room when im at my comp with nobody around so that isnt much of an issue, personally im mosly leaned towards the HD 558 because they look more comfortable, your thoughts?
Is it a store where you can try them out? If not, you're just going to have to guess. What works for some people doesn't work for others. None of these models are particularly famous for being uncomfortable or particularly comfortable though.
By the way, I don't know if it's been changed over time or if possibly the front panel audio connection headphone output is different, but Xonar DX / D1 is known for having 100 ohms output impedance on the front channel stereo output, which would make some headphones sound a bit funny or bloated (midbass bump, slightly more distortion, to be more specific), with Senn HD 5x8 models being some of the most affected out of any fullsize headphones.
You can always get a cheap external amp (30 euros range) to bypass that issue though.
I dont know, ill have to ask them if its possible to try some out, i guess ill go for what i feel is most comfortable if im allowed to try them out. I dont know about the Xonar DX that i owe, i just know that on anything but 44100 Hz audio my sound is abit fuzzy when watching youtube ect, but like you said i dont mind getting a cheap AMP with it, any suggestions on that by the way?
Ended up testing the headphones in the shop and decided to go with the HD 598, they sound better in almost everyway compared to the 518/558, and they are very comfortable.
No issues with my sound card occures of what you discribed as far as i can tell, but i do wonder if its worth getting a cheap AMP to boost the sound abit?
On May 31 2014 22:13 issh wrote: Ended up testing the headphones in the shop and decided to go with the HD 598, they sound better in almost everyway compared to the 518/558, and they are very comfortable.
No issues with my sound card occures of what you discribed as far as i can tell, but i do wonder if its worth getting a cheap AMP to boost the sound abit?
It might be. I think the 598's are so amazing because you don't need anything external for basically the best sound possible for a standard soundcard integrated in your mobo. I'm thinking of getting one, but it's really not necessary.
I wonder about the output impedance on the DX. If it's really 100 ohms, it should be giving you a (unintentional) 6 dB boost in FR kind of narrowly around 90 Hz, which could make the bass a bit too boomy in a strange way on certain notes in that region.
If you have a multimeter or maybe just some audio splitters, you could test this for yourself.
Or if you're curious, you could just buy a cheap FiiO E6, hook that up, and see if it sounds different. You probably don't need the signal actually "boosted" unless you need a higher volume, right?
Thats true, im pretty satisfied with my setup as it is, might just buy that FiiO E6 if i can find a good deal for it, just to see what it does out of pure curiosity.
I dont have any audio splitters or anything, so i cant test =/.
For what it's worth, AKG Q701 showed up for $150 on Massdrop (6 days left until end of orders of the group buy). Some might be interested in that.
It's more like $190 on Amazon, which is much lower than it used to be and certainly much lower than what the similar and related K701 model was years ago. I guess the price delta isn't huge, but the gradual lowering of the price and now this make it a pretty good deal.
Hi guys I'm looking for some IEMs. I'm currently on Audeo-Phonak PFE 112s. I'm pretty satisfied with the 112s and have no real problem with going for them again but I'm just curious if they're any IEMs anyone would strongly recommend over the PFEs. I listen to mostly pop/pop rock/electronic music (I know, I know...), if that makes any difference. From what I understand the PFEs are the best for this type of music but they're so comfortable and fit so well, and I've never had a problem with the sound.
hey im looking for a new pair of headphones, around the ~$100 range. I've been using gaming headsets or random earbuds for my whole life, but i'd like to get some good quality headphones now. Any suggestions? I'm willing to go like ~$30 more/less than my budget.
edit: i guess ill put some more information. I play a lot of games, mostly fps games like BF4 and Counter Strike:GO. I also listen to a lot of metal music, specifically deathcore-ish bands, so a lot of double bass drums and fast, rhythmic guitar playing. I like some bass, but not like ridiculously bass heavy headphones like beats (my friend let me try his and the bass was just too strong). I would prefer close-eared headphones too.
On June 23 2014 03:44 IMoperator wrote: hey im looking for a new pair of headphones, around the ~$100 range. I've been using gaming headsets or random earbuds for my whole life, but i'd like to get some good quality headphones now. Any suggestions? I'm willing to go like ~$30 more/less than my budget.
edit: i guess ill put some more information. I play a lot of games, mostly fps games like BF4 and Counter Strike:GO. I also listen to a lot of metal music, specifically deathcore-ish bands, so a lot of double bass drums and fast, rhythmic guitar playing. I like some bass, but not like ridiculously bass heavy headphones like beats (my friend let me try his and the bass was just too strong). I would prefer close-eared headphones too.
The thing about beats is they drown out everything that's not bass. So some dubstep will seem like it's good, but the headphones are actually complete shite if you listen to anything but a select few tracks.
Anyhow, these are three good brands you should always keep an eye out for. The Sennheiser's are without a doubt the best for open-headphones, ATH-M50's are a good closed competitor (with I assume more bass than the HD 5XX series) and slightly lower-end are the Denon's I linked which I've tried myself and are actually quite good, but clamp more to my head and aren't open which is why I love my Sennheiser's so much.
Edit: Another thing to note: The Sennheiser's do have ''E.A.R. technology'', which is something a lot of high end headphones have to boost your experience:
''Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R.) for High Performance These high-end open circumaural headphones use E.A.R. technology for outstanding sonic accuracy and clarity. Sennheiser's innovative "Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement" (E.A.R.) design channels audio signals directly into your ears. State-of-the-art, advanced Duofol diaphragms deliver transparency and minimal distortion, while highly optimized, field-strengthened neodymium ferrous magnet systems yield an excellent dynamic response. A surround reflector creates an extended spatial sound field for the lightweight aluminum voice coils chosen for high efficiency and excellent dynamics. The special diaphragm geometry reduces intermodulation distortion, while highly constant, compressed cellulose fleece reduces total harmonic distortion.''
Hope I helped you out! I can give more in depth info about the Sennheiser pair if you want, just ask!
On June 23 2014 03:44 IMoperator wrote: hey im looking for a new pair of headphones, around the ~$100 range. I've been using gaming headsets or random earbuds for my whole life, but i'd like to get some good quality headphones now. Any suggestions? I'm willing to go like ~$30 more/less than my budget.
edit: i guess ill put some more information. I play a lot of games, mostly fps games like BF4 and Counter Strike:GO. I also listen to a lot of metal music, specifically deathcore-ish bands, so a lot of double bass drums and fast, rhythmic guitar playing. I like some bass, but not like ridiculously bass heavy headphones like beats (my friend let me try his and the bass was just too strong). I would prefer close-eared headphones too.
I used Sennheiser HD598 for a long time, they're similar just slightly higher end than the Sennheiser HD558 previous poster recommended and they're absolutely amazing for Metal the sound signature really fits the genre well, in my case being a lot of Melodic Death Metal. They're open but they're worth it if this is what you listen to.
So out of the 3 he recommended I would probably go for the 558, the light bass, forward mids and bright treeble is tailored for what you want.
On June 23 2014 03:44 IMoperator wrote: hey im looking for a new pair of headphones, around the ~$100 range. I've been using gaming headsets or random earbuds for my whole life, but i'd like to get some good quality headphones now. Any suggestions? I'm willing to go like ~$30 more/less than my budget.
edit: i guess ill put some more information. I play a lot of games, mostly fps games like BF4 and Counter Strike:GO. I also listen to a lot of metal music, specifically deathcore-ish bands, so a lot of double bass drums and fast, rhythmic guitar playing. I like some bass, but not like ridiculously bass heavy headphones like beats (my friend let me try his and the bass was just too strong). I would prefer close-eared headphones too.
I used Sennheiser HD598 for a long time, they're similar just slightly higher end than the Sennheiser HD558 previous poster recommended and they're absolutely amazing for Metal the sound signature really fits the genre well, in my case being a lot of Melodic Death Metal. They're open but they're worth it if this is what you listen to.
So out of the 3 he recommended I would probably go for the 558, the light bass, forward mids and bright treeble is tailored for what you want.
I'm using the 598, but considering you can mod the 558 if really wanted to ''upgrade'' it to the 598, it's close to the same. I listen to a bit of metal as well and I find the bass a bit weak at times, a bit blurry, which is why I don't recommend this for pure heavy music but more for soundtrack, general usage, or otherwise calm or classic music. One thing I actually LOVE listening to with these cans is the Game of Thrones soundtrack. It just sounds SO WONDERFUL. (Listen to Dracarys specifically.)
On June 23 2014 09:58 IMoperator wrote: thanks for the help guys, i decided to buy the ath-m50's cause i got a pretty good deal on amazon for them.
Nice, be sure to post your experience, I wanna read more about em from people!
I need some help choosing new Headphones primarily for music listening since my other pair broke a while back. Some requirements and such
1) Max 1000 SEK (~150 USD) Budget 2) Closed, Cirumaural Headphones good for a wide range of different music genres 3) Has enough room for a bit bigger head (my head is a bit bigger than average) Big bonus if the cable/connectors/whatever is a bit better, as these will be used when I'm taking walks or are otherwise on the go
On June 28 2014 04:21 WindWolf wrote: I need some help choosing new Headphones primarily for music listening since my other pair broke a while back. Some requirements and such
1) Max 1000 SEK (~150 USD) Budget 2) Closed, Cirumaural Headphones good for a wide range of different music genres 3) Has enough room for a bit bigger head (my head is a bit bigger than average) Big bonus if the cable/connectors/whatever is a bit better, as these will be used when I'm taking walks or are otherwise on the go
On June 28 2014 04:21 WindWolf wrote: I need some help choosing new Headphones primarily for music listening since my other pair broke a while back. Some requirements and such
1) Max 1000 SEK (~150 USD) Budget 2) Closed, Cirumaural Headphones good for a wide range of different music genres 3) Has enough room for a bit bigger head (my head is a bit bigger than average) Big bonus if the cable/connectors/whatever is a bit better, as these will be used when I'm taking walks or are otherwise on the go
On June 28 2014 04:21 WindWolf wrote: I need some help choosing new Headphones primarily for music listening since my other pair broke a while back. Some requirements and such
1) Max 1000 SEK (~150 USD) Budget 2) Closed, Cirumaural Headphones good for a wide range of different music genres 3) Has enough room for a bit bigger head (my head is a bit bigger than average) Big bonus if the cable/connectors/whatever is a bit better, as these will be used when I'm taking walks or are otherwise on the go
On June 28 2014 04:21 WindWolf wrote: I need some help choosing new Headphones primarily for music listening since my other pair broke a while back. Some requirements and such
1) Max 1000 SEK (~150 USD) Budget 2) Closed, Cirumaural Headphones good for a wide range of different music genres 3) Has enough room for a bit bigger head (my head is a bit bigger than average) Big bonus if the cable/connectors/whatever is a bit better, as these will be used when I'm taking walks or are otherwise on the go
You won't find better value if it has to be closed, these headphones usually go for quite a bit over 1000kr.
Why suggest monitoring headphones for music listening? I'm legitimately asking.
Monitoring headphones are (usually) extremely "accurate" which means they reproduce the frequencies and imaging of the digital signal without "color" or any other kind of artistry. To put that another way, they sound very "dead" or dull. The second good trait they have is noise blocking or cancellation. It's very important when trying to get an accurate reading to remove the color that the room adds to the sound. These traits are highly desirable when mixing. After getting everything sounding right over speakers, you can plug in the phones to remove the room bias and get highly accurate imaging.
But they sound pretty awful (imo) when listening to music. If you're getting phones for listening, I'd get something with some color and "feel" behind it. There is a raw soul-sucking sterility that good monitoring phones have that makes them great for mixing but poor for listening.
In this price range, the absolute best monitoring headphones are (imo) the KRK KNS8400. They'll make your lively, bumping mix sound like cheap shit (which is exactly what you want but only when mixing or mastering).
I understand this is a very subjective topic, but I thought I'd ask to get your insight.
1. KNS8400 is out of his price range, you're not accounting for the Swedish taxes. The M50 was way discounted to go under 1k. 2. As far as closed headphones go I see the M50 recommended all the time for music listening, and you'll be hard pressed to find a better one sub-1k here.
On June 28 2014 17:57 Firkraag8 wrote: 1. KNS8400 is out of his price range, you're not accounting for the Swedish taxes. The M50 was way discounted to go under 1k. 2. As far as closed headphones go I see the M50 recommended all the time for music listening, and you'll be hard pressed to find a better one sub-1k here.
For 1, you're right that I don't have a good grasp on international prices (I just looked up the phones on local Amazon and saw they were similarly priced).
Just to be clear, I would definitely not recommend getting KNS8400 ever for music listening because they are some of the deadest phones that I've ever tried - it was an example of what not to get. They are incredible if you're mixing or if you're using them to monitor playback for tracking. If it sounds energetic and bright in those phones, it will sound incredible on other sound systems - that's the idea.
As for 2, the word "better" here is misplaced, I feel - or at least not very clear. Monitoring headphones are often described as "professional quality" and "high-end" etc. because they serve a very specific function (sounding as dead and flat as possible) very well. Their technical specs are very impressive, but the truth of the matter is that they don't sound very good compared to other headphones. In my view, a headphone manufacturer has to choose between a) being good at monitoring and b) sounding good. The two concepts are fundamentally at odds.
If you color the sound to make it sound good, a mix engineer will be fooled into thinking their mix sounds better than it really would on a multitude of sound systems, for example. Similarly, if you're a music listener, you want as rich a sound as possible. Really good-sounding headphones might output a bit more bass (humans perceive bass frequencies as quieter than other frequencies at the same dB) and might have a slight color on middle frequencies to make them stand out more (humans perceive these frequencies as the loudest of all the frequencies at the same dB). There are, of course, many many other and more fancy things a good set of listening phones could do to enhance the digital signal, but those are some basic examples.
Having a totally flat frequency response (i.e. frequency dB in = frequency dB out) is kind of intriguing as a listener because you get to hear whatever the mix engineer and the mastering engineer were hearing, but it's not the best listening experience. Given two sets of sound systems, a monitoring system and a more highly colored system, people will describe the monitoring system as "flat" or "dull" and the other system as "energetic" or "bright" or "lively".
From this perspective, advising listeners to get monitoring headphones could be likened to telling people to get an i7 instead of an i5 even if they only play games. The i7 might be a "better" processor, but unless you are encoding video or doing some other highly technical work, the technology put into an i7 is a waste. It's not a great analogy, but I hope that clarifies what I'm trying to get across. a Quadro instead of a Geforce. A Quadro is a great high-quality graphics card, but most people are served better by a Geforce.
You know what you're talking about but sometimes on a budget you have to go with the lesser evil, and unless you have any suggestions as to what he should get instead it doesn't really matter in the end.
Fact is that this exact thread but in Swedish I see plenty of people both suggesting and enjoying the ATH-M50 for music listening as a entry-level audiophile headphone, especially over the other crap you would get for 900kr in this instance. For reference the M50 usually costs 1300 (~$200), that would give you a good idea of how much we have to overpay for shit.
DefMatrixUltra: Do you (or anyone else) have a better suggestion for another pair of headphones?
On June 28 2014 18:48 DefMatrixUltra wrote: an i7 instead of an i5 even if they only play games. The i7 might be a "better" processor, but unless you are encoding video or doing some other highly technical work, the technology put into an i7 is a waste. It's not a great analogy, but I hope that clarifies what I'm trying to get across.
As someone who's on his way to building a PC, I have to say this. Yes an i5 would be enough for games (and I play lots of PC games), but my reason for going with an i7 is because some of the software I'm using for game development (Like Visual Studio) takes use of the extra threads, meaning that the hyper-threading technology in the i7 is certainly not waste. And even then, I'm sure that there is some niche game out there that uses more than 4 threads.
On June 28 2014 18:48 DefMatrixUltra wrote: an i7 instead of an i5 even if they only play games. The i7 might be a "better" processor, but unless you are encoding video or doing some other highly technical work, the technology put into an i7 is a waste. It's not a great analogy, but I hope that clarifies what I'm trying to get across.
As someone who's on his way to building a PC, I have to say this. Yes an i5 would be enough for games (and I play lots of PC games), but my reason for going with an i7 is because some of the software I'm using for game development (Like Visual Studio) takes use of the extra threads, meaning that the hyper-threading technology in the i7 is certainly not waste. And even then, I'm sure that there is some niche game out there that uses more than 4 threads.
The i7/i5 analogy was very bad anyway, the Quadro/Geforce analogy is much better.
In your price range, I don't think I have a suggestion. I'm not that familiar with cheaper high-end phones, and I don't want to endorse anything that I haven't listened to myself. You're going to be buying phones with kr so I'd advise to listen to those who know the local prices better than I do because that's ultimately going to be the deciding factor.
Those headphones will sound better than a lot of things (e.g. any headset on the planet), I was just being a bit pedantic and pointing out the (imo) strangeness that I see all the time with people recommending monitoring phones for listening (or much worse, listening phones for monitoring). If you're new to high quality audio (i.e. not earbuds and gaming headsets), then these will be a comfortable introduction which you'll probably be quite pleased with. Just keep in mind the difference in the future between monitoring vs. listening. There is a huge array of phones available, but most of the big differences between them are a) ergonomics and b) monitoring vs. listening. Everything else is really just subjective/based on taste.
The M50s aren't exactly the most sterile monitoring headphones. I haven't personally tried them, but everything I've read suggests that they do, in fact, add some color to the sound. Lots of notes about it being a little heavy on bass. They are VERY popular headphones amongst the consumer/audiophile community, not just producers/engineers. It's probably pretty hard to beat them in the price range, which I'm sure is why they've been so wildly popular.
It's funny that you mention KNS-8400s though. I managed to snag the last pair at the local Guitar Center, on clearance (brand new) for $100. :D
On June 29 2014 10:48 z0rz wrote: The M50s aren't exactly the most sterile monitoring headphones. I haven't personally tried them, but everything I've read suggests that they do, in fact, add some color to the sound. Lots of notes about it being a little heavy on bass. They are VERY popular headphones amongst the consumer/audiophile community, not just producers/engineers. It's probably pretty hard to beat them in the price range, which I'm sure is why they've been so wildly popular.
It's funny that you mention KNS-8400s though. I managed to snag the last pair at the local Guitar Center, on clearance (brand new) for $100. :D
If the M50s color the sound, why are they sold as monitoring phones? That's the thing I don't get. It's like trying to paint with sunglasses on.
Honestly, it's hard to beat the KNS8400 for monitoring, even if you have a huge budget. The only thing they could do better is noise attenuation as the frequency response and the imaging are about as dead on as you can get. Very good deal you got there.
On June 29 2014 13:59 DefMatrixUltra wrote: If the M50s color the sound, why are they sold as monitoring phones? That's the thing I don't get. It's like trying to paint with sunglasses on.
...
Probably for the same reason simple headsets are marketed as being "F0R G4M3RZ!" Seems like typical marketing hype, although the M50s are probably much less "deceitful" than most gaming products. Like I said, I haven't personally heard the M50s myself so I can't attest to how much they really color the sound (which would be subjective anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter ), but people seem to agree that they hype the lows/mids, if only a little bit. There are mixed reviews out there from knowledgeable people; some think they're great for monitoring at this price range, some think they're horrible. Par for the course, right?
Still, as far as monitoring is concerned, it's arguably more important to understand your headphones than anything else, right? Not that it's a bad thing to have flat, accurate headphones, but it's certainly not impossible to mix on colored headphones if you're comfortable and familiar with them.
They just seem to hit the right price/performance mark for a lot of people. Flat enough for most bedroom producers, enough clarity for entry-level audiophiles, and anything will sound amazing to the uninitiated Apple earbud/Beats by Dre generation.
There's a picture of Dr. Dre wearing M50s out there, for whatever that's worth haha
I bought a fidelio L2 and my experience with it has been pretty damn good. I came from a earphone that costed around 250usd and this headphone blows it away.
The music is a lot more 3D, a lot of depth and I am hearing a lot more sounds that I did not hear or experience in its "true" form before.
I think it's one of the best bang for bucks headphones out there imo.
I owned a bose quite comfort and this headphone is even better in some departments. Only thing I dislike is the noise canceling is not great since it is a hybrid headphone
Hey guys I already posted in the Headphone enthusiast thread but got only very few responses, maybe more people read this thread so here goes: roughly 3 years ago i bought some allesandro ms-1 (after getting a recommendation on TL) and i really liked them. Sadly the cable broke in a rather annoying place where its not easy to fix myself and the local music stores wont fix them either. Sending them in also isnt an option because i ordererd them from the US (no retailers in germany).
So now i need a new pair of Headphones and would like to get some recommendations again. (I wont buy the Alessandros again because dealing with customs is a pain and getting them fixed as i said above aswell) I mainly listen to Rock, Metal and some Blues (Led Zeppelin, Guns n Roses, Black Sabbath, In Flames, Muse, Pearl Jam are some of my favourite bands). I also use them to play Games (but thats low priority, I care about the sound of the music) and used my old Headphones to plug them into my Guitar Amp from time to time (you can get some nice volume for yourself without annoying the neighbours). For listening to music a use them on my PC with a Asus Xonar Essence STX
Im looking at a price range of ~100-150€ (if its a bit above I won't mind).
So if anyone has any recommendations they would be very much appreciated, thanks!
On June 30 2014 21:17 eLyx wrote: Hey guys I already posted in the Headphone enthusiast thread but got only very few responses, maybe more people read this thread so here goes: roughly 3 years ago i bought some allesandro ms-1 (after getting a recommendation on TL) and i really liked them. Sadly the cable broke in a rather annoying place where its not easy to fix myself and the local music stores wont fix them either. Sending them in also isnt an option because i ordererd them from the US (no retailers in germany).
So now i need a new pair of Headphones and would like to get some recommendations again. (I wont buy the Alessandros again because dealing with customs is a pain and getting them fixed as i said above aswell) I mainly listen to Rock, Metal and some Blues (Led Zeppelin, Guns n Roses, Black Sabbath, In Flames, Muse, Pearl Jam are some of my favourite bands). I also use them to play Games (but thats low priority, I care about the sound of the music) and used my old Headphones to plug them into my Guitar Amp from time to time (you can get some nice volume for yourself without annoying the neighbours). For listening to music a use them on my PC with a Asus Xonar Essence STX
Im looking at a price range of ~100-150€ (if its a bit above I won't mind).
So if anyone has any recommendations they would be very much appreciated, thanks!
I used these for many many years(595 before them), and for your budget I really recommend them. Sennheiser HD598
I also had it paired with the Xonar Essence ST soundcard, especially for Metal which I think the sound signature suits very well. They are light, and very comfortable and you will use them for hours on end and not even notice any discomfort.
Edit: Also has a detatchable cable so if yours break for whatever reason can just get another one.
Not sure if many people read/post here but i'l give it a shot anyway:
I wasn't really much of an audio person (never saw fit to invest in it over things like monitor or CPU) but recently i have talked a bit about it and become more curious. After a generous gift from a friend, i now have a pair of Sony MDR-V6's (he wanted me to try those specifically) and they're pretty awesome. I understand that they are supposed to be studio headphones, and more neutral/uncolored approach to sound rather than crazy bass heavy etc which is ok for me. I'd love to own like three pairs of super expensive headphones which sound quite different, but in the end without living in a magical world with free hardware raining everywhere, these are great :D
Anyway my question - i am using onboard audio on a z87x-ud3h. Is there an affordable sound card/product (think ~£20-30) that would make a significant difference to sound? Is there anything in a price range higher than that which would be completely mind blowing night and day difference? Just in general, now that i have something more than randomly bought cheap headphones, i'm wondering how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Thanks if any replies!
edit: My uses are just listening to various styles of music, gaming etc. Oh and osu! of course! :D
On June 28 2014 04:21 WindWolf wrote: I need some help choosing new Headphones primarily for music listening since my other pair broke a while back. Some requirements and such
1) Max 1000 SEK (~150 USD) Budget 2) Closed, Cirumaural Headphones good for a wide range of different music genres 3) Has enough room for a bit bigger head (my head is a bit bigger than average) Big bonus if the cable/connectors/whatever is a bit better, as these will be used when I'm taking walks or are otherwise on the go
Changed my mind, they don't have to be closed ones. Otherwise everything else still applies
Anyway my question - i am using onboard audio on a z87x-ud3h. Is there an affordable sound card/product (think ~£20-30) that would make a significant difference to sound? Is there anything in a price range higher than that which would be completely mind blowing night and day difference? Just in general, now that i have something more than randomly bought cheap headphones, i'm wondering how deep the rabbit hole goes.
That price range is quite tight. On the other hand, you have an onboard card, which is generally going to be limited at best even with poor quality speakers/headphones. It's hard to say exactly what your price range will be (taxes and imports and all that), but the Xonar line of cards looks reasonable (can't recommend it personally as I've never owned or worked with one). They each come with a basic headphone amplifier and will undoubtedly sound better in a very noticeable and gripping way than your onboard system.
Once again I'll stress that I can't personally recommend it, but it seems like a reasonable option given your position. The sky's the limit with spending with sound gear so never go at it without a budget. It's quite difficult to find audiocentric reviews for such products since those guys tend to go all out with DACs and amplifiers etc. pretty much bypassing this whole "lower" section of the market.
Anyway my question - i am using onboard audio on a z87x-ud3h. Is there an affordable sound card/product (think ~£20-30) that would make a significant difference to sound? Is there anything in a price range higher than that which would be completely mind blowing night and day difference? Just in general, now that i have something more than randomly bought cheap headphones, i'm wondering how deep the rabbit hole goes.
That price range is quite tight. On the other hand, you have an onboard card, which is generally going to be limited at best even with poor quality speakers/headphones. It's hard to say exactly what your price range will be (taxes and imports and all that), but the Xonar line of cards looks reasonable (can't recommend it personally as I've never owned or worked with one). They each come with a basic headphone amplifier and will undoubtedly sound better in a very noticeable and gripping way than your onboard system.
Once again I'll stress that I can't personally recommend it, but it seems like a reasonable option given your position. The sky's the limit with spending with sound gear so never go at it without a budget. It's quite difficult to find audiocentric reviews for such products since those guys tend to go all out with DACs and amplifiers etc. pretty much bypassing this whole "lower" section of the market.
Thanks
You can't really compare with prices outside of other regions, i guess you're just looking at whatever we have here on sites like www.overclockers.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk . US vs UK prices are quite amusing sometimes, such as the same monitor costing $260 in US, while costing $450 here with exchange rates
I could spend some, i'm just trying to maintain a pretty high end system with limited income so any real amount of money and i'd be cutting from something that could be more important to me, for years i had only terrible audio hardware so i can't really make a judgement for what the improvement would be, or what it would be worth to me, which is why i'm a little budget-cautious
I could spend more than £20-30, but that's my "easy buy" price that i can grab without much thought, if it's completely outside of that budget range then it would have to be "worth" ;p
I just returned turtle beach z11 headset, which when playing (counter strike 1.6 etc) I couldn't hear footsteps very well. The bass was too much, so I couldn't hear where the footsteps/sound were coming from. I tried adjusting equalizer, but could not get rid of the bass. I am looking for a budget head set that allows me to hear footsteps and where they are etc. I found that my ipod ear buds are better hearing foot steps than the z11...FYI, I am on a laptop, with a cheap sound card. After searching and searching, here are my 3 options that I found: (Thanks!)
Anyway my question - i am using onboard audio on a z87x-ud3h. Is there an affordable sound card/product (think ~£20-30) that would make a significant difference to sound? Is there anything in a price range higher than that which would be completely mind blowing night and day difference? Just in general, now that i have something more than randomly bought cheap headphones, i'm wondering how deep the rabbit hole goes.
That price range is quite tight. On the other hand, you have an onboard card, which is generally going to be limited at best even with poor quality speakers/headphones. It's hard to say exactly what your price range will be (taxes and imports and all that), but the Xonar line of cards looks reasonable (can't recommend it personally as I've never owned or worked with one). They each come with a basic headphone amplifier and will undoubtedly sound better in a very noticeable and gripping way than your onboard system.
Once again I'll stress that I can't personally recommend it, but it seems like a reasonable option given your position. The sky's the limit with spending with sound gear so never go at it without a budget. It's quite difficult to find audiocentric reviews for such products since those guys tend to go all out with DACs and amplifiers etc. pretty much bypassing this whole "lower" section of the market.
Thanks
You can't really compare with prices outside of other regions, i guess you're just looking at whatever we have here on sites like www.overclockers.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk . US vs UK prices are quite amusing sometimes, such as the same monitor costing $260 in US, while costing $450 here with exchange rates
I could spend some, i'm just trying to maintain a pretty high end system with limited income so any real amount of money and i'd be cutting from something that could be more important to me, for years i had only terrible audio hardware so i can't really make a judgement for what the improvement would be, or what it would be worth to me, which is why i'm a little budget-cautious
I could spend more than £20-30, but that's my "easy buy" price that i can grab without much thought, if it's completely outside of that budget range then it would have to be "worth" ;p
£30 is like 55 canadian dollars
A friend of mine uses the Sony MDR-V6 with the Xonar DG, and although they sound better than the onboard, the difference is not really night and day, but its there. He has a worse onboard soundcard than you though, so its hard to say how much of an improvement it would be. i would not suggest looking at higher end soundcards though, not for the Sony MDR-V6, as far as i know those cans will not really be worth it, unless you plan on getting better cans in the future.
Anyway my question - i am using onboard audio on a z87x-ud3h. Is there an affordable sound card/product (think ~£20-30) that would make a significant difference to sound? Is there anything in a price range higher than that which would be completely mind blowing night and day difference? Just in general, now that i have something more than randomly bought cheap headphones, i'm wondering how deep the rabbit hole goes.
That price range is quite tight. On the other hand, you have an onboard card, which is generally going to be limited at best even with poor quality speakers/headphones. It's hard to say exactly what your price range will be (taxes and imports and all that), but the Xonar line of cards looks reasonable (can't recommend it personally as I've never owned or worked with one). They each come with a basic headphone amplifier and will undoubtedly sound better in a very noticeable and gripping way than your onboard system.
Once again I'll stress that I can't personally recommend it, but it seems like a reasonable option given your position. The sky's the limit with spending with sound gear so never go at it without a budget. It's quite difficult to find audiocentric reviews for such products since those guys tend to go all out with DACs and amplifiers etc. pretty much bypassing this whole "lower" section of the market.
Thanks
You can't really compare with prices outside of other regions, i guess you're just looking at whatever we have here on sites like www.overclockers.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk . US vs UK prices are quite amusing sometimes, such as the same monitor costing $260 in US, while costing $450 here with exchange rates
I could spend some, i'm just trying to maintain a pretty high end system with limited income so any real amount of money and i'd be cutting from something that could be more important to me, for years i had only terrible audio hardware so i can't really make a judgement for what the improvement would be, or what it would be worth to me, which is why i'm a little budget-cautious
I could spend more than £20-30, but that's my "easy buy" price that i can grab without much thought, if it's completely outside of that budget range then it would have to be "worth" ;p
£30 is like 55 canadian dollars
A friend of mine uses the Sony MDR-V6 with the Xonar DG, and although they sound better than the onboard, the difference is not really night and day, but its there. He has a worse onboard soundcard than you though, so its hard to say how much of an improvement it would be. i would not suggest looking at higher end soundcards though, not for the Sony MDR-V6, as far as i know those cans will not really be worth it, unless you plan on getting better cans in the future.
They're miles better than what i used to have (or actually anything that i've heard before, as everyone i know just uses like free ipod earphones..) and i heard that i should get a sound card even with bad headphones etc, because it was "more important" than going up to decent headphones
No, the headphones are much more important unless whatever gear you have spits out gargling noises, hisses, or other very obvious problems.
As for how much better or different a Xonar DG / DGX might be, it depends on the onboard and that's next to impossible to know because audio is analog and thus performance depends on electronics implementations and interactions that you'd never really be able to know without sophisticated testing (or very careful comparisons).
Would i have to give up SLI capability on z87 (or any of the similar x16 or x8/x8 chipsets) to use one of those, or do they work in the other pci slots?
I don't really know how to read audio reviews, i'm kinda on the fence because i want one but my main concerns are pricing, having an important pci-e slot taken, if i will actually notice a blind testable difference, the higher audio latency etc. It seems like these sound cards add latency instead of lowering it(?) or are there some that notably lower latency as well? Quality is main concern, but i'd feel bad if latency was massively affected
Should work fine in any pci slot, ive tested my HD 598 for a week with and without my soundcard, the difference isnt very big for me (using xonar dx) the only issue i have is that my soundcard is very close to my GPU, which makes it that whenever i have both my headphones and microphone plugged into the soundcard i can hear interference from what i think is my GPU (?). But when i only use my headphones it works fine, so i just use my mic through the mobo.
As for latency i dont really know, i dont notice a difference at all. Then again i use different headphones and a different soundcard, i hope somebody that knows more will answer your questions though.
That said i seriously doubt cheap soundcards like the xonar dx/dg will do much for latency, whenever it'd be lowering/higher.
Would i have to give up SLI capability on z87 (or any of the similar x16 or x8/x8 chipsets) to use one of those, or do they work in the other pci slots?
I don't really know how to read audio reviews, i'm kinda on the fence because i want one but my main concerns are pricing, having an important pci-e slot taken, if i will actually notice a blind testable difference, the higher audio latency etc. It seems like these sound cards add latency instead of lowering it(?) or are there some that notably lower latency as well? Quality is main concern, but i'd feel bad if latency was massively affected
Ok, you'll have to forgive me. Here is a better-researched answer.
I have a baked-in bias against onboard sound because in the early days they were crap. They were slow, they had dropouts, they had terrible specifications and poor implementation of chipsets. There was no redeeming quality they had. But these days, it's different. These days you can put your hands on a decent onboard sound system without necessarily looking for it.
I looked into the specs for your motherboard and found your onboard sound. It's actually pretty good, and there is a minimal difference between using that and getting a Xonar. One thing I'll note is be sure to plug your headphones directly into the onboard card rather than using the extension wire into the front of your case. Those extensions are unshielded and will add tons of noise.
What are the differences between the two? Well it's hard to say exactly as the exact implementation specs for the onboard sound are difficult to find, but probably the Xonar has a better amp. That essentially just means it will be louder at the same system level, not much of an advantage. The other thing the Xonar will have is lots of options (included in its software) to EQ or otherwise process the incoming signal, which it will do using its onboard computational power (i.e. not using your CPU). But that is neither here nor there as that's just coloring the sound the way you like it - in terms of accurate representation of signal, the Xonar will have no real advantage over your onboard chip.
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On the topic of latency:
Every device that does computation (and even some that don't) adds latency to a signal chain. Thankfully, these days this latency is measured in microseconds. The principle behind the Haas effect says that humans basically know no difference between 0 ms and ~20 ms when it comes to listening. So unless you've got over 20,000 microseconds of latency, you probably won't even notice it unless you are doing something like recording + monitoring an instrument or you're trained to find the difference. What happens quite often is people are using tools to measure the latency of their signals and finding "ohdear I've got over a thousand units of latency!!!11" when really it's not that big a deal.
However, I will say that Windowsland is audio hell. This could be a huge-ass post, but to put it briefly, the infrastructure in Windows is terrible for audio (anyone remember the bug in Vista that caused sound playback to slow network speed?). This is exacerbated when companies don't put a lot of QA on their drivers. They can get tripped up by the confusing interactions with Windows when coding their drivers and bugs can go unfixed for ages. So it wouldn't surprise if me e.g. Asus has shit drivers for a sound card they release that cause >20ms latency in some systems. In terms of hardware, sound cards (as hardware) should theoretically never increase latency (unless you are doing some intensive post-processing on them). But hardware is often only as good as its drivers, unfortunately.
The principle behind the Haas effect says that humans basically know no difference between 0 ms and ~20 ms when it comes to listening.
But i probably play osu! more than any other game, where at the very least you have to manually correct for that kind of offset. If you're hitting beats on average 5ms early to 5ms late.. having that shifted to 15-25ms late is kinda a big deal.
I'd imagine reaction times would be later too, i mean on audio reaction time test i get ~130ms or so. If audio was 20ms later.. wouldn't it show 150? It's the same when reacting to stuff in games, i use audio cue's because it's easier and faster than visual
I don't actually know the raw audio latencies, i only saw data for increased microphone in to sound out latency, so i'm not sure how big it is for just audio played on system, to hearing it
Can anyone recommend a quality headset with mic monitoring/sidetone (whatever the cool kids call it?)
A long time ago I had a pair of turtlebeach x11's and one thing that I miss on any other headset I try is being able to hear my own voice. The x11's are discontinued so I can't just buy a new pair (((
On July 10 2014 08:51 Thaniri wrote: Can anyone recommend a quality headset with mic monitoring/sidetone (whatever the cool kids call it?)
A long time ago I had a pair of turtlebeach x11's and one thing that I miss on any other headset I try is being able to hear my own voice. The x11's are discontinued so I can't just buy a new pair (((
Windows has that feature.. "listen to" that you can enable on any mic, but it sometimes has latency to it which can be disturbing or mess with your brain. I always use it
The principle behind the Haas effect says that humans basically know no difference between 0 ms and ~20 ms when it comes to listening.
But i probably play osu! more than any other game, where at the very least you have to manually correct for that kind of offset. If you're hitting beats on average 5ms early to 5ms late.. having that shifted to 15-25ms late is kinda a big deal.
I'd imagine reaction times would be later too, i mean on audio reaction time test i get ~130ms or so. If audio was 20ms later.. wouldn't it show 150? It's the same when reacting to stuff in games, i use audio cue's because it's easier and faster than visual
I don't actually know the raw audio latencies, i only saw data for increased microphone in to sound out latency, so i'm not sure how big it is for just audio played on system, to hearing it
What I was talking about was aimed at listening. Other things are complicated.
For example, that osu game you're talking about. When you say hitting the beat 5ms early or late, you're making some assumptions. The fact is that the game can teach you to be "on time" even if there is a large delay in the audio chain (and that's assuming you have 0 latency in the visual chain, which you don't) because you will get punished for being late until you don't do it anymore. Once you've trained yourself to do it properly, you will think that everything is synced even though your brain is making up for various kinds of latency. That has a lot less to do with latency (audio or visual) than other factors.
For many applications programs calculate the latency in your chain and try to sync visual cues up with the same delay. Pretty much any DAW will do this, for example. I don't think games or similar do this, but there's not much stopping them if they wanted to.
While we're talking about MoBo audio, is the audio on Asus latest Z97 ROG Mobos(more specifically the Hero) good for anyone who isn't an audio-nerd, but still want a good listening experience.
On July 10 2014 19:12 WindWolf wrote: While we're talking about MoBo audio, is the audio on Asus latest Z97 ROG Mobos(more specifically the Hero) good for anyone who isn't an audio-nerd, but still want a good listening experience.
My first impression looking those up is they should be just fine.
They list a lot of (imo) misleading hype on the spec sheet. For example, they talk about shielding. But the shielding won't really matter unless 100% of the signal path (including the chip itself etc.) are shielded which I'm not convinced they have actually done. But that kind of stuff is a bit irrelevant w.r.t. your question. The spec they are using is perfectly fine, and there's no obvious flaw with the implementation. Every indication that it's a reasonable audio "card".
Hello, I am looking for some advice buying a new headset. Currently I have a Sennheiser PC 151 and I am fairly content with it, I've had it for some years now and sound and microphone are quite good for me. However, some of the cushion I had to replace and it's not all too comfortable wearing it for a few hours. Therefore I am looking to get a new one. I had this one in mind: http://geizhals.at/de/sennheiser-pc-360-504122-a540263.html But it seems to have been replaced by this one: http://de-de.sennheiser.com/gaming-headset-g4me-one I personally prefer the design of the "old" one (because there is no red), but I also dont want to buy an outdated product. Does anyone know the differences between them? Or have a completely different suggestion for a headset? Would be for gaming and music. Though I am not sure if buying a headset this expensive is worth it for me because I only have the onboard sound of my Gigaybte Z77X D3H. Appreciate any advice or help, I am not too familiar in the whole audio business
On July 10 2014 19:12 WindWolf wrote: While we're talking about MoBo audio, is the audio on Asus latest Z97 ROG Mobos(more specifically the Hero) good for anyone who isn't an audio-nerd, but still want a good listening experience.
My first impression looking those up is they should be just fine.
They list a lot of (imo) misleading hype on the spec sheet. For example, they talk about shielding. But the shielding won't really matter unless 100% of the signal path (including the chip itself etc.) are shielded which I'm not convinced they have actually done. But that kind of stuff is a bit irrelevant w.r.t. your question. The spec they are using is perfectly fine, and there's no obvious flaw with the implementation. Every indication that it's a reasonable audio "card".
Isn't this always the case with marketing stuff in general, take everything with a grain of salt.
Got my ATH-M50 from Netonnet (They were a bit cheaper than Dustin after shipping and such) a few says ago. So far I'm really happy with them. Very comfortable to wear and they also have good all-around sound for both music and games.
On July 26 2014 00:20 WindWolf wrote: Got my ATH-M50 from Netonnet (They were a bit cheaper than Dustin after shipping and such) a few says ago. So far I'm really happy with them. Very comfortable to wear and they also have good all-around sound for both music and games.
Okay, so I just got here and dont have time to read if this has been said but since Sennheiser is a well known company would it be good if I bought the G4me Zeros from Sennheiser. Like you said that gaming headphones are garbage but since it is Sennheiser would it be a good buy. I am pretty new to the headphone scene.
On September 05 2014 21:08 SAlechko wrote: Question - If I want a pair of HiFi headphones for my PC. Do I need a DAC or AMP?
Depends on the headphones, some will work more than fine off a non-amplified sound card and some won't. What are the headphones you've been looking at?
The sennheisers are based off the 353 designs so yeah they're great. In fact given that the majority of stuff recommended on this thread require standalone mics, the sennheisers are probably the best since you're not sacrificing audio quality but it has way better functionality. At least for someone in my boat who likes to use voice activated mumble chat, having a mic by your mouth is infinitely better and more reliable than any clip on or standalone mic could ever be.
I've been looking for a solid USB headset lately. My mic port is broken(I'm not really sure why, I just know that it doesn't work anymore) so normal headsets won't do and I can't afford to replace my motherboard at the time(and guarantee won't cover it, already checked) so sadly it HAS to be a USB one.
Pricelimit is somewhere around 70€ I'd say and I really only need two things: 1) No microphone I have to put on my shirt, I cannot handle those and I always mess it up 2) Somewhat good sound/bass but comfort is more important since I will use it a lot
Any advice on what to watch out for/where to look is appreciated, thanks guys!
Hey guys, I was looking for recommendations for headphones.
3-5 years ago I purchased Sennheisers PC350's:
And they are slowly wearing out, I was wondering what is currently a good headset to get at the $150-$300 range.
My biggest concerns are comfortably, and reliability, while sound and mic quality come second. A detachable mic would be nice, but not a requirement, and I do not want cloth headphones, if that makes sense. I really like ones that cover my whole ears. I prefer wired, unless wireless has a wired option so battery replacement isn't necessary, not too significant though.
I intend to use them for: -Skype calls with family + significant others + friends -Communicating in video games -Podcasts, video creation -Very minor casual gaming -Listening to music, I'm not an audiophile, I just want an alright quality that can match good $50-100 earphones.
I hope you guys can offer recommendations, it'll be dearly appreciated, thank you!
And they are slowly wearing out, I was wondering what is currently a good headset to get at the $150-$300 range.
My biggest concerns are comfortably, and reliability, while sound and mic quality come second. A detachable mic would be nice, but not a requirement, and I do not want cloth headphones, if that makes sense. I really like ones that cover my whole ears. I prefer wired, unless wireless has a wired option so battery replacement isn't necessary, not too significant though.
I intend to use them for: -Skype calls with family + significant others + friends -Communicating in video games -Podcasts, video creation -Very minor casual gaming -Listening to music, I'm not an audiophile, I just want an alright quality that can match good $50-100 earphones.
I hope you guys can offer recommendations, it'll be dearly appreciated, thank you!
And they are slowly wearing out, I was wondering what is currently a good headset to get at the $150-$300 range.
My biggest concerns are comfortably, and reliability, while sound and mic quality come second. A detachable mic would be nice, but not a requirement, and I do not want cloth headphones, if that makes sense. I really like ones that cover my whole ears. I prefer wired, unless wireless has a wired option so battery replacement isn't necessary, not too significant though.
I intend to use them for: -Skype calls with family + significant others + friends -Communicating in video games -Podcasts, video creation -Very minor casual gaming -Listening to music, I'm not an audiophile, I just want an alright quality that can match good $50-100 earphones.
I hope you guys can offer recommendations, it'll be dearly appreciated, thank you!
Hmm, I dunno, I simply enjoy the foam padding covered with that thin paper layer thingy like in the PC350's. Just need to take care of them better next time so that papery exterior doesn't rip and tear.
Are there any other brands I should be looking at, or are the sennheisers at this price range simply the best?
I'm looking for a set of headphones similar to the ones FiWiFaKi wants, but they need a replaceable cord because I tend to ruin cords very quickly. Any suggestions?
I decided that I'd like to jump in the audiophile word with buying my first quality headphones. I've been buying better and better earbuds, but now ultimately decided to return to the "cheap but still good" earbuds, since I use them everywhere, so I don't want to spend too much money on earbuds which I can't enjoy on trains and tangled in my pockets all the time prone to be damaged eventually, not to mention the constant fear while cleaning them.
So I want a good headphone for listening to music at home, because I love all kinds of music and often spend a lot of time just listening through whole albums and it feels like a missed opportunity to not do it in higher quality. That being said, I'm not sure what should I expect or even if I'm blessed with being able to hear those miniscule things which could get a song to a whole new level via headphones. I don't want a "this is not that bad" or a "this is quite good for its cost" budget headphone, I still want one where people will freak out saying "you spent THAT much on a headphone??" (without spending it on the brand itself, of course), I just don't want a very high end one in case I'd be like "well, it's not that different..." because I would bang my head into something repeatedly.
I don't need microphone, I just want to enjoy music in high quality. I fear an obvious question would be "but what kind of music?" which won't make my case any easier since I listen to almost anything. I prefer heavier music, but my favourite band is an industrial one with lots layers, guitars, distortions, electronics, basically everything plus some hidden stuff. I also like general pop songs pure electronic music as well. I could put the poppy and electronic things behind (though I imagine they would make the biggest difference with a quality heaphone), but it would be really hard if I had to choose between the many heavier, guitar and drum oriented music or my favourite band. Do I have to?
It's quite hard to give you a budget in dollars or euros, but if I had to give you a number I'd say 100 euros top. Obviously, quality >>>>>> being a kool kid, but if the suggested headphones could come in ridiculous colours like neon green (like razer's), or orange or really, anything not white, grey or black, I'd appreciate it. Don't ask me why.. . Edit: I was just reading the post linked in the op. Shall I not even consider buying good headphones until I did not bought an external (I have a laptop) soundcard?
You don't have to start off with a soundcard, as entry level headphones you should probably raise your budget a bit. If you can shell out 130€ you could go with either ATH-M50 which comes in red, black and white or the Sennheisers HD558.
There's a lot of naysayers about the ATH-M50 since it's advertised as monitoring headphones but it's a really popular set that many start off with for music/gaming too.
On September 11 2014 07:07 Zyrnak wrote: I'm looking for a set of headphones similar to the ones FiWiFaKi wants, but they need a replaceable cord because I tend to ruin cords very quickly. Any suggestions?
On September 10 2014 05:47 FiWiFaKi wrote: Hey guys, I was looking for recommendations for headphones.
3-5 years ago I purchased Sennheisers PC350's:
And they are slowly wearing out, I was wondering what is currently a good headset to get at the $150-$300 range.
My biggest concerns are comfortably, and reliability, while sound and mic quality come second. A detachable mic would be nice, but not a requirement, and I do not want cloth headphones, if that makes sense. I really like ones that cover my whole ears. I prefer wired, unless wireless has a wired option so battery replacement isn't necessary, not too significant though.
I intend to use them for: -Skype calls with family + significant others + friends -Communicating in video games -Podcasts, video creation -Very minor casual gaming -Listening to music, I'm not an audiophile, I just want an alright quality that can match good $50-100 earphones.
I hope you guys can offer recommendations, it'll be dearly appreciated, thank you!
Sennheiser HD 598s have detachable cords and you can order them separately so that's pretty great. They're also a bit thicker than standard cords and is 3M long. Also, one of the best sub €/$200 Headphones on the market
If you want a mic, go for Antlion Modmics (WAY better than most headset mics and are attachable to the actual cans.) if you want to go cheap though, the Zalman Zm-mic 1's are $10 and you can attach them to your cable.
Headsets are simply NOT worth it with decent headphones around.
On September 19 2014 18:44 Kavas wrote: Hi guys, I've been directed here and need a headphone/ear piece recommendation, mostly just for listening for music.
I'd like one that is durable since I like to dance around while listening to music.
All of the ones I've bought (all wired) always have the same problem and lose the sound on one side after a while.
The latest I've tried (and suffered the above problem) is BOSE QC15.
On September 19 2014 18:44 Kavas wrote: Hi guys, I've been directed here and need a headphone/ear piece recommendation, mostly just for listening for music.
I'd like one that is durable since I like to dance around while listening to music.
All of the ones I've bought (all wired) always have the same problem and lose the sound on one side after a while.
The latest I've tried (and suffered the above problem) is BOSE QC15.
The sound dying on a side depends on the construction as well as the usage. Sometimes it's the length of the cable, and sometimes it's the wires on the inside of the earcup.
But maybe it's worth trying a kind of more pro-facing set (kind of... at least on the surface) with detachable cables, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X. Maybe the a coiled cable is what you need. It comes with coiled and straight options.
Hmm, still debating what to buy. I know I want a closed one, definetly. The ATH M-50 sounds nice, but I had second thoughts about the price range I want to start out with.
On September 20 2014 03:29 Myrmidon wrote: The sound dying on a side depends on the construction as well as the usage. Sometimes it's the length of the cable, and sometimes it's the wires on the inside of the earcup.
But maybe it's worth trying a kind of more pro-facing set (kind of... at least on the surface) with detachable cables, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X. Maybe the a coiled cable is what you need. It comes with coiled and straight options.
It's probably the wiring. The sound is back to normal when I fiddle with it and hold the wire at certain angles. But now it's completely gone.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll give it a look.
I'm looking for a headset with mic for general computer use and ipad air,iphone use. Any recommendations to get me started on research for under $100? Sound quality for music/movies is also a factor.
i do gaming, arkham, sc2, dota2, lol, d3 and also skype/mumble
tl;dr, I got a razer megalodon in dec of 2013 off amazon for around $70 just today, the left side audio stopped working. Yay.
No warranty because it was a gift, and i can't get the info of where he purchased it from or which credit card it was purchased from because he passed away 2 months ago.
I bought a set of headphones, little JVC Marshmallow Earbuds HA-FX35-B when i was travelling for $10, and they are really nice, I might just use these. However, i'm stuck using the megalodon mic as my laptop one causes a ton of echo.
I'm in a room with not much noise, but sometimes the window is open and people honk the horns. but it's not like a party dorm or anything.
So, just wondering, any recommendations for a clip on mic? my sound card is the one that comes with the lenovo y570 laptop
i dont want to spend more than $30 on a mic, and and $70 for another headset. i dont mind a clip on mic honestly.
i can order from amazon/ebay/bestbuy, dont really trust ali express and such. im in the US.
EDIT UPDATE so i bit the bucket and got a sennheiser HD 518 now i just need a mic, but really prefer a usb mic. if i could get a decent one for under 30 this is because i have my xbox on the audio in on my laptop, and that way i can use the headset with my xbox
I just bought a brand new computer thanks to the Computer Build Thread, and they did recommend me to buy a H81M-HDS motherboard. It is a very good cheap MoBo but it seems the soundcard is lacking. Since I switched from my Dell M4600 to my new stationary H81M-HDS, my teamspeak mates had to add boost on me and my twitch viewers can't stop complain about the sound balance (my voice being way under my mates volume voice, even w/ x6 boost in OBS, +10db in Windows and OBS volume settings : mic 100% desktop 50%) which is quite surprising to me. I didn't change my headset (Steelseries v2 siberia NO USB) Hard to believe there could be such a huge difference between a 7 years old laptop being 20 times better than a brand new MoBo. But facts are facts.
I guess I have to buy a soundcard, any pros/cons for USB / Internal ? Any recommendations on internal/usb card model please ? Since the MoBo is ~60€ would be nice to get a sound card under that price, I guess 10-30€.
On October 27 2014 19:36 SAlechko wrote: Quick question, does the HE-500 need an amplifier or DAC?
no, you can listen to it out of your iphone. But it would sound like shit.
Would it sound better with an upgraded amp? Yes, at least something like a Schitt Asgard 2 (Not USB powered). Upgrade your DAC depending on your source files.
On October 23 2014 04:48 ThomasjServo wrote: Any recommendations for commuting headphones/desk work? Over ear preferred, hoping to keep things on the cheaper end (sub 40$)
I just bought a brand new computer thanks to the Computer Build Thread, and they did recommend me to buy a H81M-HDS motherboard. It is a very good cheap MoBo but it seems the soundcard is lacking. Since I switched from my Dell M4600 to my new stationary H81M-HDS, my teamspeak mates had to add boost on me and my twitch viewers can't stop complain about the sound balance (my voice being way under my mates volume voice, even w/ x6 boost in OBS, +10db in Windows and OBS volume settings : mic 100% desktop 50%) which is quite surprising to me. I didn't change my headset (Steelseries v2 siberia NO USB) Hard to believe there could be such a huge difference between a 7 years old laptop being 20 times better than a brand new MoBo. But facts are facts.
I guess I have to buy a soundcard, any pros/cons for USB / Internal ? Any recommendations on internal/usb card model please ? Since the MoBo is ~60€ would be nice to get a sound card under that price, I guess 10-30€.
Thanks for your help. Regards, DaRa
fiio e10k, a bit out of price range but worth it imo
On October 29 2014 17:24 2x2actionFOX wrote: I am pretty sure there is something between 10€ and 75$, and I am also pretty sure 75$ > 63$, but thanks.
you said your mobo was 60 euro which is more than 75 usd. If you want the cheapest thing possible, just go on newegg or any computer parts site, go to sound card, sort by lowest price and read reviews.
On October 29 2014 17:24 2x2actionFOX wrote: I am pretty sure there is something between 10€ and 75$, and I am also pretty sure 75$ > 63$, but thanks.
you said your mobo was 60 euro which is more than 75 usd. If you want the cheapest thing possible, just go on newegg or any computer parts site, go to sound card, sort by lowest price and read reviews.
eu vs us hardware prices, that mobo is $57 on first site i checked (newegg)
surely you can get better onboard audio than a $57 mobo without spending $75
On October 27 2014 19:36 SAlechko wrote: Quick question, does the HE-500 need an amplifier or DAC?
no, you can listen to it out of your iphone. But it would sound like shit.
Would it sound better with an upgraded amp? Yes, at least something like a Schitt Asgard 2 (Not USB powered). Upgrade your DAC depending on your source files.
I haven't heard them myself, but they've been widely talked about with positive reviews
Thanks for replying, I've been considering getting an O2. Would that be acceptable? What do you look for when choosing an amp or DAC, aside from price tag? I also assume there are pretty big diminishing returns as the price goes higher?
As far as price/quality goes, I lose it to Sony MDEA's. I mean just look at em! they are dead sexy things. I think Target Greatland has them for about $20 or so.
On October 23 2014 04:48 ThomasjServo wrote: Any recommendations for commuting headphones/desk work? Over ear preferred, hoping to keep things on the cheaper end (sub 40$)
ATH-AZ1iS got the Audio Techinca bit, and it is pretty great for the price range/purpose.
On October 27 2014 19:36 SAlechko wrote: Quick question, does the HE-500 need an amplifier or DAC?
no, you can listen to it out of your iphone. But it would sound like shit.
Would it sound better with an upgraded amp? Yes, at least something like a Schitt Asgard 2 (Not USB powered). Upgrade your DAC depending on your source files.
I haven't heard them myself, but they've been widely talked about with positive reviews
Thanks for replying, I've been considering getting an O2. Would that be acceptable? What do you look for when choosing an amp or DAC, aside from price tag? I also assume there are pretty big diminishing returns as the price goes higher?
eeek maybe. Apparently the HE500 needs 1W per channel. I don' t think the O2 can provide that, but that doesn't mean it will sound terrible. Some people have said the pairing is fine. Google is your friend here if you don't have access to both at the same time.
As for what to look for...either you go by what you read online or you go into a store to try it out. Go to a store that has an HE-500 and try it with a bunch of dac/amp combos. How it sounds to you is all you really need as an indicator aside from the technical details in a DAC like DSD support or w/e.
If i was going to get the HE-500, I would get a Schitt Asgard and a Bifrost. Schitt Magni/Modi might be enough as well.
A friend of mine has an Sennheiser HD600 and Matrix mini-i. That's probably the point of diminishing returns for me personally. Then again, something an ATH-M50 and Fiio E10 might be all you need depending on your needs. That combo is only $200.
On October 27 2014 19:36 SAlechko wrote: Quick question, does the HE-500 need an amplifier or DAC?
no, you can listen to it out of your iphone. But it would sound like shit.
Would it sound better with an upgraded amp? Yes, at least something like a Schitt Asgard 2 (Not USB powered). Upgrade your DAC depending on your source files.
I haven't heard them myself, but they've been widely talked about with positive reviews
Thanks for replying, I've been considering getting an O2. Would that be acceptable? What do you look for when choosing an amp or DAC, aside from price tag? I also assume there are pretty big diminishing returns as the price goes higher?
eeek maybe. Apparently the HE500 needs 1W per channel. I don' t think the O2 can provide that, but that doesn't mean it will sound terrible. Some people have said the pairing is fine. Google is your friend here if you don't have access to both at the same time.
As for what to look for...either you go by what you read online or you go into a store to try it out. Go to a store that has an HE-500 and try it with a bunch of dac/amp combos. How it sounds to you is all you really need as an indicator aside from the technical details in a DAC like DSD support or w/e.
If i was going to get the HE-500, I would get a Schitt Asgard and a Bifrost. Schitt Magni/Modi might be enough as well.
A friend of mine has an Sennheiser HD600 and Matrix mini-i. That's probably the point of diminishing returns for me personally. Then again, something an ATH-M50 and Fiio E10 might be all you need depending on your needs. That combo is only $200.
HE500 is an amazing can, but discontinued. The HE560 should be better based on the reviews I've read.
I do have the HE500 and I find it to be a great all around headphones, sounds good with all genres. The HE500 even gets more head time than my Beyer T1. The HE500 may be low in impedance, but not very efficient. It requires more power than most headphones. I would go with an OTL amp for the HE500. Something like the Darkvoice 336se. This combo has been talked a lot on headfi. However, I would assume the Magni/Modi would enough.
I also have the ATH-M50, pretty good for the price. Don't really need an amp or dac for the M50 though.
I don't have the HD600, but I do have the HD650. Both are amazing cans.
HE560 sounded uninspiring out of SS amps, preferred T1 hehe. HE560 has the same problem as LCDs, weight, sound is unnatural, pads consume vibrate weirdly contribute to weird sound. Bass is amazing though.
Weight has always been an issue with planar magnetic headphones. However, I don't have an issue with the HE500, and I'm a fairly small Asian. I could listen to the HE500 for hours without any weight concerns. The HE560 is 377g. The HE500 is 502g. I would go for the HE560 if I don't already have the HE500.
I'm powering my HE500 out of an SS amp, and it sounds better than the T1 out of the same amp. I'm actually considering buying the Woo Audio WA2 for the T1 at the end of this year. Or I could wait till next year and see what amp Audeze is building for their new LCD-Z. If that amp sucks, I would most likely get the Apex Teton. Bottom line, I want an OTL amp.
I'm looking for a really good set of "gaming" headphones. I own several headphones that I've used for music and music production, but they aren't surround and they don't have the directional sound accuracy that a specialized pair would offer.
The few "gaming" headphones I've tried have been pretty garbage. In my experience they tend to completely kill low frequencies and offer a very shallow (albeit directionally accurate) soundscape, which really ruins my enjoyment of an otherwise immersive game or film. This time, to avoid all that garbage, I'm doing a lot of research and I'm willing to spend a good bit of money to get a good experience.
I'll be using them primarily for gaming and the occasional film.
Good microphone preferred, but optional; if I have to I'll keep using my mounted production microphone, so if some otherwise godlike headphones don't have a microphone you can suggest them anyway.
Willing to spend a not insignificant amount -- up to $450 if you can explain why they're worth the price.
Thus, if anyone can recommend either some good (preferably circumaural) open or semi-open headphones that fit the bill, or even just give me a good starting point so that I can explore my options a bit, I would really appreciate it.
Ones I've looked at so far:
Sennheiser PC 360 / 363D Supposedly really good surround sound with a decent microphone. The ones I would probably buy right now if I had to just pick one. What's the difference between the 360 and the 363?
Sennheiser G4ME ONE Came recommended from a couple of people I asked (I'm sensing a trend of "expensive Sennheiser headphones being pretty acceptable overall"), but supposedly from an audiophile standpoint the sound is pretty weak for the price.
Turtle Beach i30/i60 Generally well reviewed but boy they're ugly and don't look very comfortable.
Edit 1:
Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Recommended by Dismay below. These are hard to find now, and apparently they suffer from weak bass so the sound is the kind of tinny flat sound that I hate from gaming headsets.
I'm looking for a really good set of "gaming" headphones. I own several headphones that I've used for music and music production, but they aren't surround and they don't have the directional sound accuracy that a specialized pair would offer.
The few "gaming" headphones I've tried have been pretty garbage. In my experience they tend to completely kill low frequencies and offer a very shallow (albeit directionally accurate) soundscape, which really ruins my enjoyment of an otherwise immersive game or film. This time, to avoid all that garbage, I'm doing a lot of research and I'm willing to spend a good bit of money to get a good experience.
I'll be using them primarily for gaming and the occasional film.
Good microphone preferred, but optional; if I have to I'll keep using my mounted production microphone, so if some otherwise godlike headphones don't have a microphone you can suggest them anyway.
Willing to spend a not insignificant amount -- up to $450 if you can explain why they're worth the price.
Thus, if anyone can recommend either some good (preferably circumaural) open or semi-open headphones that fit the bill, or even just give me a good starting point so that I can explore my options a bit, I would really appreciate it.
Ones I've looked at so far:
Sennheiser PC 360 / 363D Supposedly really good surround sound with a decent microphone. The ones I would probably buy right now if I had to just pick one. What's the difference between the 360 and the 363?
Sennheiser G4ME ONE Came recommended from a couple of people I asked (I'm sensing a trend of "expensive Sennheiser headphones being pretty acceptable overall"), but supposedly from an audiophile standpoint the sound is pretty weak for the price.
Turtle Beach i30/i60 Generally well reviewed but boy they're ugly and don't look very comfortable.
Cheers.
The ATH AD700s are pretty much universally approved and are pretty cheap. They may be discontinued now, but their successor, the AD700x, is basically the same thing I've heard. I use the AD700s for gaming myself and they're fantastic. No microphone, though.
I'm looking to replace my A40's, but I want to keep the mixamp just for being able to switch audio between my PC and consoles. Does anyone know of any good replacements that will work with the mixamp, or a cheap mixer that will do what the Astro mixamp does? The headset that I've been recommended by a friend was the Sennheiser G4ME ONE, but they didn't know if it would work with the mixamp.
Hey guys, any idea what headphones would go well with Fiio e10k? I'm currently using Superlux 681Evo and modded Sennheiser HD 555, which I both like quite a lot. I'm looking to invest up to $300 usd (keep in mind, however, that depending on the brand headphones in Poland are $50-150 more expensive than in the US). I want the headphones to be open / semi-open, since I'll be using them only at home. Comfort of use is really important as well and a removable cable would be an added bonus.
I'm new to the audio game and I'm not certain what kind of sound I like the best (I liked the previous headphones, even though they are not really similiar to each other in terms of sound). The new headphones will be used for both listening to music (pretty much all genres equally - electronic, chillout, trance, dnb, lots of instrumentals, classical, rock, jazz, some pop) and gaming.
On November 03 2014 11:59 Aylear wrote: Dismay: Hard to find, plus they apparently have that really weak bass that drives me nuts. Thanks, but no thanks.
On November 05 2014 06:14 Ercster wrote: I'm looking to replace my A40's, but I want to keep the mixamp just for being able to switch audio between my PC and consoles. Does anyone know of any good replacements that will work with the mixamp, or a cheap mixer that will do what the Astro mixamp does? The headset that I've been recommended by a friend was the Sennheiser G4ME ONE, but they didn't know if it would work with the mixamp.
On November 05 2014 14:58 True_Spike wrote: Hey guys, any idea what headphones would go well with Fiio e10k? I'm currently using Superlux 681Evo and modded Sennheiser HD 555, which I both like quite a lot. I'm looking to invest up to $300 usd (keep in mind, however, that depending on the brand headphones in Poland are $50-150 more expensive than in the US). I want the headphones to be open / semi-open, since I'll be using them only at home. Comfort of use is really important as well and a removable cable would be an added bonus.
I'm new to the audio game and I'm not certain what kind of sound I like the best (I liked the previous headphones, even though they are not really similiar to each other in terms of sound). The new headphones will be used for both listening to music (pretty much all genres equally - electronic, chillout, trance, dnb, lots of instrumentals, classical, rock, jazz, some pop) and gaming.
Any worthy suggestions for a beginner?
If you are only spending $300, you should just stick with what you have for now. Here is a link to mid-level headphones though: http://www.head-fi.org/a/head-fi-buying-guide-over-ear-headphones For around $300, the only headphone that I'm interested in is the Phillips Fidelio X2, but you could also check out the Beyerdynamic DT880, Sennheiser HD600, and AKG K701 for starters.
This is the place to talk of sound cards, right? I only see talks of headphones, correct me if i'm wrong xD
I'm seeking advice over which soundcard to buy, my headphones (which i use 99% of the time) are+ Show Spoiler +
the SHC2000 (which are probably suckish, but they were gifted to me and they work fine for what i do)
I used to own a Xonar DG sound card which was a perfect fit for me....... until it made my PC unstable with frequent bluescreens each time i decided to use the jacks or just at random times (tried changing PCI slots on the mobo, screwing it in place even if i have a screwless case, and what not, lately it got much worse and it's probably broken outright now)
So i'm looking for a replacement of that card, and i really don't want to buy another Xonar DG, it feels pointless but apparently it has no real competitors in that price range except the Soundblaster Audigy FX i think? would that card be an upgrade, downgrade or pretty much the same compared to what i'm used to?
Thanks in advance
TL;DR; looking for a soundcard that costs <35€ that is on par or better than the Xonar DG, if there's any <.<
I'm looking for a really good set of "gaming" headphones. I own several headphones that I've used for music and music production, but they aren't surround and they don't have the directional sound accuracy that a specialized pair would offer.
The few "gaming" headphones I've tried have been pretty garbage. In my experience they tend to completely kill low frequencies and offer a very shallow (albeit directionally accurate) soundscape, which really ruins my enjoyment of an otherwise immersive game or film. This time, to avoid all that garbage, I'm doing a lot of research and I'm willing to spend a good bit of money to get a good experience.
I'll be using them primarily for gaming and the occasional film.
Good microphone preferred, but optional; if I have to I'll keep using my mounted production microphone, so if some otherwise godlike headphones don't have a microphone you can suggest them anyway.
Willing to spend a not insignificant amount -- up to $450 if you can explain why they're worth the price.
Thus, if anyone can recommend either some good (preferably circumaural) open or semi-open headphones that fit the bill, or even just give me a good starting point so that I can explore my options a bit, I would really appreciate it.
Ones I've looked at so far:
Sennheiser PC 360 / 363D Supposedly really good surround sound with a decent microphone. The ones I would probably buy right now if I had to just pick one. What's the difference between the 360 and the 363?
Sennheiser G4ME ONE Came recommended from a couple of people I asked (I'm sensing a trend of "expensive Sennheiser headphones being pretty acceptable overall"), but supposedly from an audiophile standpoint the sound is pretty weak for the price.
Turtle Beach i30/i60 Generally well reviewed but boy they're ugly and don't look very comfortable.
Edit 1:
Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Recommended by Dismay below. These are hard to find now, and apparently they suffer from weak bass so the sound is the kind of tinny flat sound that I hate from gaming headsets.
Cheers.
have you taken a look at the HyperX headsets? I know they're originally made by another manufacturor, but can't remember the name. Hearing very good things about overall sound and build quality, and of course, they sponsor liquid. No microphone, but it would probably be my buy if I wasn't so amazed by my Sennheiser HD 598's which do just fine for gaming i.m.o. Even has ''E.A.R. technology''. Sound isn't super important to me in games in terms of competitivity, so I prefer having an awesome soundrange as well as very comfortable, mid-range headphones with it. Will never trade 'em for a headset ever again! You've got to keep in mind to make them ''gaming grade'', a lot of the budget normally made for the cans is now spent on marketing and advertising, so that overall quality always goes bad. I think anything that has the name ''gamer'' behind it already makes me shudder in terms of headphones, anyway.
But if you do want to go the gaming route, I'd advise the HyperX headset from what I've seen.
On November 03 2014 11:59 Aylear wrote: Dismay: Hard to find, plus they apparently have that really weak bass that drives me nuts. Thanks, but no thanks.
On November 05 2014 06:14 Ercster wrote: I'm looking to replace my A40's, but I want to keep the mixamp just for being able to switch audio between my PC and consoles. Does anyone know of any good replacements that will work with the mixamp, or a cheap mixer that will do what the Astro mixamp does? The headset that I've been recommended by a friend was the Sennheiser G4ME ONE, but they didn't know if it would work with the mixamp.
On November 05 2014 14:58 True_Spike wrote: Hey guys, any idea what headphones would go well with Fiio e10k? I'm currently using Superlux 681Evo and modded Sennheiser HD 555, which I both like quite a lot. I'm looking to invest up to $300 usd (keep in mind, however, that depending on the brand headphones in Poland are $50-150 more expensive than in the US). I want the headphones to be open / semi-open, since I'll be using them only at home. Comfort of use is really important as well and a removable cable would be an added bonus.
I'm new to the audio game and I'm not certain what kind of sound I like the best (I liked the previous headphones, even though they are not really similiar to each other in terms of sound). The new headphones will be used for both listening to music (pretty much all genres equally - electronic, chillout, trance, dnb, lots of instrumentals, classical, rock, jazz, some pop) and gaming.
Any worthy suggestions for a beginner?
If you are only spending $300, you should just stick with what you have for now. Here is a link to mid-level headphones though: http://www.head-fi.org/a/head-fi-buying-guide-over-ear-headphones For around $300, the only headphone that I'm interested in is the Phillips Fidelio X2, but you could also check out the Beyerdynamic DT880, Sennheiser HD600, and AKG K701 for starters.
good list. As much as I want to like the K701 (i think the white one looks amazing), the HD600 wins hands down for me. BTW, the Q701 replaced the K701 and has replaceable cables.
Hey Guys. Rather than creating a new thread I figured I would ask this here, although it is a speakers and TV question.
So I have a 5.1 speaker system for my computer. The usual stuff. Two back speakers, to front speakers, one actual front speaker, and a sub. The speakers plug into the sub, then the sub plugs into my PC with 3 audio jacks.
I recently purchased a Samsung HD smart TV. I was wondering how I plug my speakers into the TV to get surround sound while watching films and TV? There is not 3 audio jack slots on the TV like there is on the computer. There are only two (left and right).
I've been having a bit of an issue with my current HD 598. I love it to bits, it's brilliant. However, I've recently started witnessing some tears from the headphones' headband...
(Sorry, Nexus 4 camera is shite and can't really focus..)
I have the same problem (albeit very much smaller) on the other side of the headband, but that part is laying on the desk so you can't see. Should I be worried?
While I don't personally own it, I have like 5-6 friends who own the Siberia V2's, and regardless of how many people on the internet mock gaming headphones, all I can say is that they sound fine through Mumble, their keyboard doesn't activate their microphone for no reason, and the sound (when I'm over) is more than serviceable if you use them for primarily gaming.
Hi I am looking for advicse to buy new IEMs and Headphones here is what I am interested in : IEMs: - Used to listen to music outside - Low cable noise transmission - Precision and details in sound, no big exagerations, neutral - Budget 150€
Headphones : - Used for music composition and mixage - neutrality, precision and comfort are a must - Budget 200- 250€
On December 17 2013 14:03 mahnini wrote: i'm looking for nice long session (3 hours+) headphones for flights. obviously, sound isolation is #1 with comfort a close second.
the bose qc15 is at the top of my list right now but i'm wondering if the sennheiser amperiors isolation can rival anc? might be a terrible question as most people don't cross shop these but, hey, it's worth a shot.
went with the qc25. price is steep but it's well worth it.
bonus: it does a pretty decent job at stifling some server room sounds for a short amount of time, but fan noise still cuts right through it. always bring earplugs!
On March 16 2015 22:10 MisterKatosS wrote: Hi I am looking for advicse to buy new IEMs and Headphones here is what I am interested in : IEMs: - Used to listen to music outside - Low cable noise transmission - Precision and details in sound, no big exagerations, neutral - Budget 150€
Headphones : - Used for music composition and mixage - neutrality, precision and comfort are a must - Budget 200- 250€
Thx for any help !
doesnt get much more neutral than an AKG K701/Q701
I just destroyed my Plantronics Gamecom 780's. Got them for £33, looking for a circa £60-£80 replacement. Mainly gaming with microphone, after 'enthusiast' level sound. Not basic but not audiophile.
yeah sennheieser headsets are all based off their normal headphones so you're paying a slight premium for the convenience of having a decent microphone attached to them
I know its been a while but I'm starting to look at this seriously, how do they compare sound quality wise to the audiotechnica 50x's? are they better sound or should I just grab the 50x's and like a modmic for the microphone part?
DIY BLUETOOTH SPEAKER I would like to take one of my 2-way car speakers rated @ 4OHMs and put it inside a small enclosure and turn it into a bluetooth speaker.
Case : 11.5 inches wide X 8 inches tall X 3 inches depth Speaker: Rockford Fosgate
I'm a little worried about power consumption since it is a car speaker. I don't know how much battery life I could be expecting or what kind of battery I would need to have for such a small enclosure
A few of questions... Would I need a crossover for a single two-way speaker? or do they have them built in? or do amplifiers have crossovers built in? Can I bridge a two-channel amp rated @ 4 ohms to a single 4 ohm speaker? or would that damage something? Has anyone done something similar, like made their own boombox or something?
On March 16 2015 22:10 MisterKatosS wrote: Hi I am looking for advicse to buy new IEMs and Headphones here is what I am interested in : IEMs: - Used to listen to music outside - Low cable noise transmission - Precision and details in sound, no big exagerations, neutral - Budget 150€
Headphones : - Used for music composition and mixage - neutrality, precision and comfort are a must - Budget 200- 250€
Thx for any help !
In terms of headphones, the HD 598 are the most comfortable you're going to find. Not super portable, but reeeeally comfortable and well-fitting. Good balance overall.
I'd need help from specialists here. A couple of days ago, the right headphone from my SRH440 stopped working completely (left one works flawlessly). Since I'm no techie, I have no reason why and how to fix the problem (if possible)
I unscrewed the lid and took a pic of the wiring :
No wire seems to be unplugged (I pulled them a bit to doublecheck, they seemed tight).... My setup is pretty simple (and has been the same one for years), I got a kenwood external amp linked to my pc. The headphone jack goes in the amp through the front panel "phones" input.
came to ask for opinions on what i should buy. my options are creative fatal1ty hs-800, cm storm ceres 300 and sennheiser pc-310, from lowest price to highest. ive read a bunch of reviews on newegg, amazon and a couple other sites and most people seem pleased with the fatality and ceres. surprisingly enough the pc-310 gets a bunch of flame for breaking down in a few months or being way too low volume wise. i'm still considering them tho just cuz they're sennheiser and i'm super happy with their in-ear products. i'll be using them mainly for games, dota2, sc2 and a bit of csgo. if anyone knows about them i'd appreciate the input. suggestions for other models in the around $40 - 60 price range are also welcome (i don't care about super high quality of sound and voice, i just need them to sound decent, be comfy enough and don't break in a couple months). thanks!
So I own a Steelseries 5Hv2, and my mic has always been incredibly quiet (had it about 9 months). Even with levels up to max and mic boost on, I can still only just be heard by other people. This was manageable though. Nothing wrong with being a bit quiet. However me and a friend are now recording things/thinking about steaming, so obviously I need to be a bit louder and more clear.
So either, what can I do to improve my current microphone? Or can anyone recommend a good microphone or headset with microphone that would be decent for recording and streaming that isn't stupidly expensive? Thinking something between £20-£50.
Hey TL, I'm shopping around for a new pair of earbuds for travel and am having difficulty finding what I want.
Basically, I want something that is high quality, but offers absolutely no noise cancellation/noise isolation. This is because I'm currently living in Thailand, and use my headphones while I'm driving my motorcycle for navigation. I need to be able to hear the cars around me, but at the same time I want something nice and not the cheap crap I'm using now.
I'm having difficulty finding something like that on the internet. When I do searches for good earbuds (with heads like this), I find lots of results for reviews for stuff with heads like this, which is absolutely not what I want.
Needs to be compatible with android and have a built in mic and volume buttons.
On July 13 2015 12:50 Ketara wrote: Hey TL, I'm shopping around for a new pair of earbuds for travel and am having difficulty finding what I want.
Basically, I want something that is high quality, but offers absolutely no noise cancellation/noise isolation. This is because I'm currently living in Thailand, and use my headphones while I'm driving my motorcycle for navigation. I need to be able to hear the cars around me, but at the same time I want something nice and not the cheap crap I'm using now.
I'm having difficulty finding something like that on the internet. When I do searches for good earbuds (with heads like this), I find lots of results for reviews for stuff with heads like this, which is absolutely not what I want.
Needs to be compatible with android and have a built in mic and volume buttons.
Any suggestions?
All nice earbuds are going to focus on noise isolation in order to offer better bass and quality of treble thrpugh a good seal and isolation.
If its just for navigation use the cheap stuff. If you need them for music when you arrive at your destination pack a good pair in your bag.
Is it true that all mid tier(around 100USD) wireless headsets will have noticeable delay compared to wired ones? I'm thinking about getting one even though that I'm quite happy with my Logitech G230(got it pretty cheap last black friday), it's just that I really don't like getting surrounded by wires.
On September 29 2015 07:26 writer22816 wrote: I have a Sennheiser HD555. What mic should I buy/How much do I need to spend to get a mic that doesn't make me sound like shit on Mumble/Skype?
Recently bought a pair of Audio Technica cans and have the same question.
Specifically, I don't want to spend more than ~$50 but I also don't want a mic that will pick up my mechanical with red switches.
I've heard mics with stands can be bad for this reason but also that clip-ons can be bad. Dunno what to do here lol.
I love my ModMic, that thing is great. Sticks perfectly fine on the "mesh" type material of the ear cups of my Sennheisers HD650s!
Also I'm getting some Sennheiser Momentum Wireless' for christmas . Pretty stoked about that, rather useful not to have the wire in the way when running around the house doing stuff.
What are some cheaper, good quality headphones that are really soundproof and don't leak noise to the outside? Main use is for noise cancellation (sleeping while listening to music, just to not hear noise, so noiseproofing is important. Quality of sound helps too.)
hey guys, im looking for a nice setup for my ps4 to gain that competitive edge, after reading around a bit im considering buying the sennheiser 598 SE's for just $150 on amazon, coupled with astros mixamp, and a clip on mic. im just asking is this a good setup for the amount of money, is there more value somewhere else?
my budget is definitely flexible, but would be my first pair of good headphones so i wouldnt throw the word audiophile around, i don't know how much i want to spend, this seems like a good introduction headphone setup. i could use them with my pc too but they will be mostly used with the ps4.
Thought I'd just drop by hear and recommend the Etymotic ER-4 microPro.
Etymotic are specialized in the hearing aid industry, but they've also been making various products for musicians etc.. and I bought my ER-4's for about 300$, I know, it's a lot (though obviously for true audiophiles that's a bargain), but damn, blows any headset I've tried so far wayyyy out the water. Not the first in-ears I'm using, but the difference in quality is immense. The plugs go wayyyy deeper into your ear than most other in-ears so you're basically completely isolated from the outside world. Can't even put my volume at half, and with most headsets and in-ears, my volume's always been at max.
Was tired of using sennheiser in-ears, wasn't really impressed by the quality either, bought myself some Sennheiser Momentum's but that was a letdown as well (mainly because those things seem to be made for people with really small ears),.. Then I came across Etymotic and I thought to myself like.. if they're actually really specialized in hearing aid technology, then their products must be of a good quality. 300$ seemed like a lot, but I haven't regret it one single bit.
So anyone looking for in-ears and you got money to throw out the window, go for the Etymotic's in-ears.
On November 02 2015 12:04 Djzapz wrote: I love my ModMic, that thing is great. Sticks perfectly fine on the "mesh" type material of the ear cups of my Sennheisers HD650s!
Also I'm getting some Sennheiser Momentum Wireless' for christmas . Pretty stoked about that, rather useful not to have the wire in the way when running around the house doing stuff.
If you don't have really small ears, don't go for the Momentums, I had a pair, gave em away for free, I don't have large ears and it felt like the cans were just toooooo small, really annoying and uncomfortable. Unless they have different sizes for those cans, but I didn't see it being mentioned anywhere.
Hey guys I just got some Xmas money and I decided to spend a portion of it on a good pair of headphones. Now I did some research myself for 2 days days and came up with 2 possible candidates. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X or Sennheiser HD598. They are both pretty top notch for less than 200 USD or other equivalents in Europe. Audio's are closed while Senn's are open and I have no idea how they sound IRL because the stores I've been to, don't have them on sale (so I'll be ordering online). My life style consists of traveling back and forth a lot by train bus or subway listening to music on the way or just reading a book. I'd also like some kind of a case to store these in my bag I guess, preferably hardened.
This will be the 1st pair of "real" headphones for me, not some cheap gaming headset or in-ear set.
If some of you could help me make my mind up or suggest a 3rd alternative, that'd be great. Although I will be using them for music and on the move, I totally plan to plug them into my PC for skype, gaming and just music not to disturb my surroundings.
Both are great, well-regarded headphones, so I don't think you'll be disappointed with the sound of either. You mentioned traveling and not wanting to disturb your surroundings so closed headphones seem ideal for you.
I've never owned either pair, but from what I can gather:
M50x: -more bass -closed back so they are better for sound isolation (the world can't hear you, you can't hear the world) -rotating earcups seem better for travel purposes (easier to store)
598: -more balanced sound -open back so they leak sound but most likely have better soundstage (this is great for gaming) -unique, "premium" look (maybe a conversation-starter?)
Do any of you have any experience with V-moda Crossfade M100s or Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros? I've watched a lot on youtube and these 2 seem to be held in high regard as well, along side the 2 pairs I mentioned previously. Maybe Beyer's DT series 770 or Bose QuietComfort 25 with the low Ohm rating (25-80s)? I don't really want to attach an amp...
Anyway I guess what I'm most looking for in headphones is in order: 1) sound quality. They need to sound good when playing both metal, rock, classical and electro swing. 2) Comfort - I commute by train, at least 1 hour to and from a day. When I visit relative the train rides can take up to 3-4h I guess. Maybe not of continuous music for the whole train ride, but definitely at least an hour at a time. Or a plane flight. 3) Transportability - I'd love them to be compact or at the very least have a case in which I can put them in to travel with me. 4) Privacy - sound leakage. Now I don't really mind if I hear the world around me a bit or it hears my music because I definitely won't be blasting my tablet/laptop/MP3 player on max sound, far from it. I usually have it on low or below medium even.
I'd really love the Sennheisers but again, they seem to be made for home use, not very portable, I have absolutely no idea how sturdy they are built, and just how much they leak. I mean, can people hear everything like I'd be using a stereo attached to my head, or if I use the volume sparingly, there won't be a noticeable leak at all.
anyone know anything about these? their on sale pretty substantially V-MODA Crossfade LP2 Vocal Limited Edition Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Matte Black)
I have two full-size headphones. They're kinda messy on the table and I wanted to get some sorta headphone holder that clip onto my computer desk where I can place them when I'm not using them.
Anyone have ideas on where to get something like this?
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X or Sennheiser HD598. My life style consists of traveling back and forth a lot by train bus or subway listening to music on the way or just reading a book. I'd also like some kind of a case to store these in my bag I guess, preferably hardened.
This will be the 1st pair of "real" headphones for me, not some cheap gaming headset or in-ear set.
Phew OP is back after 3 years! Good to see the thread is still alive and kicking.
Good choices, but for your specific needs you're better off with the M50X.
The combination of travelling + isolation means closed is by far the better way the go. The ATH's are pretty balanced in their sound signature, with a little extra bass for added oomph. It's also easy to drive, which means plug and play into any device will work great too.
Thanks for the suggestion, but over the past few days I did a lot of research myself and watched a shitton of youtube reviews and decided to drop the open air cans idea entirely for traveling =). Watching reviews from people like Lachlan, UrAvgConsumer, Head-Fi, InnerFidelity and Z Reviews, I actually found Z reviews to be the most helpful. His reviews seem genuine and of course biased, but what he is unique for is recording sound demos which I found helpful beyond measure. Lachlan and Innerfidelity use so many words to describe the sounds that I completely do not know what it acutally means or sounds like. Words like "warm, bright, V-shaped curve" etc. I had to all look up and then figure out how each sounds like. Z's reviews aren't good for figuring out how 1 pair of headphones sounds, but rather comparing multiple headphones to one another to see the difference between the clarity, bass/treble and soundstage.
For now I decided to buy a closed, easy to drive, over-ear pair of cans and my top contenders are AT-MSR7s or SH Momentum M2s which I can both get for around 220USD. I want portable cans I can use without an amp/dac. I do plan however to get an amp/dac (FiiO? Oppo H2?) at a later date, and some proper open-air over-ear headphones that might need to be driven. Alternatively I could settle on V-modas m100's or Beyer Custom One Pros, but I need to hear them. After my research a lot of things on my Galaxy s3 like PowerAmp settings made a lot more sense. I actually now know that I like my basses and sopranos a bit boosted to form a ever-so-slight V shape. Flat just doesn't do it for me.
I also noticed a discrete lack of talk about Grado headphones, why is that? None of the typical reviewers test them from what I've seen. I heard they're great for classical and metal, but they're on-ear and leak like a sieve, but that shouldn't be a surprise.
edit: just so you know, I bought Sennheiser Momentum M2 and am very satisfied with my purchase =).
My dear 6-year-old Sony XB500's broke today and I'll be replacing them as soon as possible. Seeing as the XB's were some of the bass-heaviest sets around, I'm looking to stay with some bass-centric heaphones but go a little bit more balanced this time. I see lots of lists ranking V-Moda Crossfades, Sennheiser Momentum, and JVC ha-sz 1000, 2000 highly.
I don't really have a specific usage situation, besides everywhere and all the time. Not sure how to pick! :O
looking for a new headphone, i want to replace my inears at home for health reasons.
there is the HD598 and the HD650 that are on sale.
I need them for games and electronic music, i would also prefer to be able to use them directly on the PC. I do have an amplifier, but its making a slight noise when connected to power, so i kind of dont want to use it -.- Also, i have to wear glasses, ive had bad experiences with non inear in the past.
is the HD 598 good enough? any other recommendations?
the Philips Fidelio X2 look good, seems like in the middle between the other 2 but they look they they hate glasses wearers
does anyone here have any experience with AKG K92 or 52? I'm thinking about buying K92, but a lot of reviews say that K52 are surprisingly good so i'm not sure if it's worth to invest into K92.
Speaking of K92, does anyone also have experience with using them with mobile phones (currently i have samsung s4 mini, but i plan on upgrading to oneplus 3T or oneplus 4 - depending on the money situation).
Another thing i'm interested in is how much the sound bleed? To be more precise, i do not live alone and there's always somebody in the same room with me so i'm wondering how much loud are they/ the person in the same room will be able to hear what i'm listening to. I plan on using them for music/games in my room, but also for travelling somewhere/to work (despite ugly gold colour).
And on a completely unrelated note, does anyone have experience with Speed Link SPES clip-on microphone? How much of background noise does it pick up (interested for the aformentioned reasons).
On March 07 2016 20:34 LaNague wrote: looking for a new headphone, i want to replace my inears at home for health reasons.
there is the HD598 and the HD650 that are on sale.
I need them for games and electronic music, i would also prefer to be able to use them directly on the PC. I do have an amplifier, but its making a slight noise when connected to power, so i kind of dont want to use it -.- Also, i have to wear glasses, ive had bad experiences with non inear in the past.
is the HD 598 good enough? any other recommendations?
the Philips Fidelio X2 look good, seems like in the middle between the other 2 but they look they they hate glasses wearers
got a 598 for now
Personally I'm using an Audio-Technica ATH-R70x, most amazing pair of headphones I've ever used (especially in its price category). I wear glasses btw and they never get in the way.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a portable DAC/AMP that can power cans with 300 Ohm impedance? Zeos on reddit has a thread for recommended DAC/AMPs and he lists: Chord Mojo Oppo HA-2SE Ifi iDSD Micro as portable. Which of these would be best suited for such a task? I'm likely going to buy Aune X1s for use with my PC but I still spend a lot of my time commuting between places via train, so something portable would be nice to go with BeyerDynamic DT 1770 PROs.
I need to replace my Bose qc20, as it doesn't work anymore.
I have to use IEM, as having something above my head makes me have massive neckproblems (dunno why). Any recommendations for a budget for around 5-700$? I wanna just go with bose again, but it seems they got some good competition now. Wireless is also an option, I like the wireless necklace. Sony wf 1000X is something I'm considering.
Usages: Gaming (cs mostly), but a decent mic is important (bose qc20 was more then good enough) Telephone A little bit of music. I do not want a flat bass like I feel some sennheiser headsets have given me.
On March 07 2016 20:34 LaNague wrote: the Philips Fidelio X2 look good, seems like in the middle between the other 2 but they look they they hate glasses wearers
For future reference the Philips Fidelio X2's have really good earpads/cushions (by default) which don't stress your glasses too much and fit quite well.
I'm a complete novice when it comes to headphone/audio gear. I just bought a HD650 from massdrop, any advice on an amplifier? Budget is around $200, to be used with a desktop PC only.
Im looking to buy a wireless headset but I have 0 experience buying any at all. Does anyone have any recommendations at the $150-$200 (USD) price point and at the $200-$300? I'll likely wait until Black Friday but I have no idea on which ones to keep an eye on. From what I was able to look around places that seemed reliable it sounds like the Steelseries Siberia 800s are good but idk for sure.
I am currently looking for one. Need to use them both on pc and iPhone. The price is really important, I don't have that much money to spend on them. :D
3 age old threats about headphones, which one to necro - the struggle is real
To my question: I want to know if there are open/closed headphonesthat can be converted to a closed/open one for traveling / commute / work. I am currently use a Sennheiser PC360 when I am on my PC, which is an open headset with great sound and very comfortable and would like something similar.
When traveling / commute I currently use some Inears which are ok, but the cable starts to die. I also dont like to be fully sealed off when walking through the city because of safety reasons so I only wear one Inear at a time. An open headset would allow me to enjoy stereo while still being able to hear my surroundigns well enough. Problem with open headphones is they are not suiteable for the train because people that listen to loud music on the train, especially on the morning commute have forfeit the social contract and should be strangled with their headphones they dont use.I dont want to carry around 2 pairs of headphones though. Pretty much the same goes for being at work. Since my Inears are starting to die it would be a good opportunity to replace them and I already looked around a bit but without any success. Does anyone know about some open headphones that maybe come with some sort of noise canceling backplates that you could use to close of the outer part of the speakers? In terms of price range anything goes up to 200€ if nececary, though I am propably more eyeballing aroud the 90-150€ range since it seems more reasonable.
On October 29 2018 10:03 Doodsmack wrote: Anyone have a recommendation for compact powered monitors? This is what I'm looking at right now, but I'm guessing there's better quality out there:
Go to spinorama.org. Select 'high' reliability reviews. PS: I just wanted to comment on in-ear earphones. I have Soundmagic E11C. I always thought my ear tip setting was correct and it was just normal for my ear tips to fall out of my ear and for them to unseal, losing bass transduction. It just dawned on me to try the smallest tips. Perfect fit! Now I have full range at 20% volume. It was 60% before and I still fiddled with them continuously to keep it conducting bass. Never settle for the setting out of the factory.
EPT![[image loading]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VElvkB24lqs/S7gtAnL22UI/AAAAAAAAAA8/ltJ8NYuzVGo/s1600/IEM.jpg)
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