View Full Version : Gaming headset?
Ensamvarg
11-08-2008, 04:33 PM
Anyone got any nice recommendations for a headset? My friend swears by his Sennheisers and I've only read good reviews about those. What about Razer baracudas? I don't think a mic is a must but would probably be liked. The only headsets I've had are cheap crappy ones. I'd like the ear pads to be velvetty, and to cover my ears. I've got the Asus Xonar DX 7.1 in the mail to me as well if that helps.
Thanks!
*edit* budget around.. £70-£90 I'd say.
Stumbo
11-08-2008, 05:08 PM
Sennheisers are really nice cans, however they are a bit higher prices for what you get, IMHO. I have owned several pairs, and i did love them, but I'm not sure they are a good fit for you.
In my opinion, the absolute best cans you can buy for gaming is the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700s. They are a perfect match for you. The sound quality is outstanding, and they are the most 3d headphones I have ever used, without a question. They are also the most comfortable, and they can easily be powered by your new sound card (good choice, btw).
Baracudas are worthless POSs.
Ive owned a ton of headphones, from cheapies to gimmicky bose to a pair of senn 650s, but it seems like I always pick up my ad700s.
I'm listening to Jose Gonzalez Crosses with my 700s right now through my modded x-fi, beautiful.
Ensamvarg
11-10-2008, 03:14 AM
I've just been reading some reviews on those and they are 95%+ or 5 stars wherever I look. The only concern I've got is them being open backed instead of closed. Doesn't that mean that there is a fair amount of sound leakage? Do you think I'd be better off getting the closed versions of the AD700s? Also I read that there is a bit of loss of bass with open cans so that is swaying my decision a bit more. I love my bass :rolleyes:
Stumbo
11-10-2008, 10:54 PM
I've just been reading some reviews on those and they are 95%+ or 5 stars wherever I look. The only concern I've got is them being open backed instead of closed. Doesn't that mean that there is a fair amount of sound leakage? Do you think I'd be better off getting the closed versions of the AD700s? Also I read that there is a bit of loss of bass with open cans so that is swaying my decision a bit more. I love my bass :rolleyes:
Those were the same concerns I had before i purchased them.
There is sound leakage for sure, however I personally don't have any issues with them being disturbing to others, during regular listening.
I am also a bass head, and to be honest these phones were a nice refreshing change. They don't have a lot of bass, however they have good bass extension and they bass quality is superior (imo) to the A700s. Im most open air headphones you are going to lose some bass, but infinite baffle setups tend to have faster, tighter bass. I had no issues EQing more bass from these cans.
Stealth42o
11-10-2008, 11:10 PM
I too have owned a TON of headsets and am using a Barracuda and love it. You can crank the bass up so high the headset will bounce off your head with 0 distortion. Very clean sound, and the 5.1 is really nice.
Only problem I had was the screws where the ear pads are attached coming out (Most likely the bass shaking them lose) No big deal, a drop of lock thread an no problems since.
Total POS. Not In my opinion, then again, you know what they say about opinions.
Stumbo
11-11-2008, 12:38 AM
Stealth, if you think the barracudas sound good, you should go down to a local Guitar Center and check out some professional headsets bro, you will be in for a pleasant surprise!
BTW for real headphone overload check out http://www.head-fi.org/forums/
Barracuda is based on the Speed-Link Medusa 5.1 ProGamer Edition.
http://www.speed-link.com/?p=2&cat=183&pid=2691&paus=1
There is a little rumor that's been going around for a number of years that the Medusa 5.1 headphones were banned from use by the Cyberathlete Professional League, but it is untrue =)
Do not expect a perfect audio quality from 5.1 headphones, the speakers inside them are too small. So if you want to use your headphones for music too, buy Sennheiser (HD515 or 555 maybe)
Ensamvarg
11-11-2008, 01:47 AM
Yeah for now these will be mainly for music use til I sort out whatever is causing the amount of lag I get on FPSs.
What makes the Sennheisers better than Audio Technica? Or the other way round? I'll probably go for the AD700s unless there is a good reason for otherwise.
SoulsCollective
11-11-2008, 01:54 AM
Definitely recommend the AD700s. Having used these, and their bigger brothers the AD900s and now the 1000s, I can assure you that leakage is not a problem unless you're really cranking them. As for bass response, it's better on the AD's than on the A's (closed model). Really, the soundstage and response on open phones is always going to be better than closed - the bass may be "punchier" on the closed, as more of the sound energy is bounced off the inside and straight into your ear, but it's muddy and confused due to the echoing. I much prefer accurate, clean bass that is maybe a little less punchy than a garbled mess delivered straight down my ear canals at full volume.
The Sennheisers 555s (about the same price, so I presume you're talking about this model - never generalise based on brand, every brand makes some great phones and some absolute dogs) are very, very nice phones. I do like them, and I do like the sound, but I'd go with the AD700s given the choice. Firstly, the AD700s are much more comfortable. The 3D-Wind design is just awesome, I've never come across a better system. Secondly, in my opinion the ATHs have a more accurate soundstage, and a slightly improved treble. The response is also tighter, although on the whole the 555s have a warmer sound, for which you sacrifice some accuracy.
Yeah for now these will be mainly for music use til I sort out whatever is causing the amount of lag I get on FPSs.Do you really need to ask this question with that 8400GS in your sig?
thebanik
11-11-2008, 01:56 AM
I own a Senn HD550 hence wud be inclined towards them a bit, but AD700 is a good competitor to the HD550 and mostly you will not be disappointed by owning either of them. Both have their share of pros and cons, check some online reviews and see what sort of sound you like, based on which make ur decision.
YukonTrooper
11-11-2008, 02:02 AM
Always go with a pair of quality stereo headphones. The AD700's are a good choice, but it all depends on your music tastes. The Sennheiser signature is fairly laid back, and the soundstage is often compared to sitting in the back row at a performance. The AT cans are definitely more engaging, and the soundstage is compared to sitting about in the middle row at a performance, which I find technically more accurate. I have a pair of AD900's that I like for certain music, and I have a pair of HD650's that I like for other types of music. The AD900's are definitely better gaming cans, and are pretty much identical to the AD700's. I'd say they're a tad more refined than the AD700's, but only worth the price difference if you have a full headphone setup, which would include dedicated DAC and amp.
Ensamvarg
11-11-2008, 09:57 AM
Do you really need to ask this question with that 8400GS in your sig?
Nah it's not my card that's making me lag, the network I'm on sucks so bad so I've got permanent lag, I keep all my settings low as I know the card won't be able to handle it. Anyone know how to sort that? ;P
Yeah I think you all love the AD700s so that's what I'm going for, thanks so much for all your input :up: I'll be picking them up with my next pay cheque :D
Stumbo
11-11-2008, 09:57 PM
You are going to be very disappointed. Disappointed in the sound quality of your mp3s, and disappointed in the quality of on board sound (hope you got a card) :P. You will become a sound quality snob.
Ensamvarg
11-12-2008, 02:29 AM
Got the Xonar DX 7.1 through my door this morning before college :D Now I'm going to have to invest in some CDs as I only have about 3 albums that are lossless :(
YukonTrooper
11-12-2008, 11:57 AM
High quality rips will still sound good. Doesn't have to be lossless.
SoulsCollective
11-12-2008, 02:06 PM
Heh...after I got my first Turtle Beach card many years ago I became a lossless freak. Started out on WAV and moved right on to FLAC, haven't gone back since.
Stumbo
11-12-2008, 09:50 PM
Heh...after I got my first Turtle Beach card many years ago I became a lossless freak. Started out on WAV and moved right on to FLAC, haven't gone back since.
Thats the only way to do it!
Ensamvarg
11-13-2008, 03:28 AM
Heh...after I got my first Turtle Beach card many years ago I became a lossless freak. Started out on WAV and moved right on to FLAC, haven't gone back since.
Yeah my albums are ripped in WAV, if they're both lossless, what's the difference between the two? Is FLAC any better?
SoulsCollective
11-13-2008, 06:51 AM
Size. Both WAV and FLAC are lossless, archival formats (the definition of this being it is possible to perfectly reconstruct the original audio CD, without having lost any data), it's just that FLAC has much better compression than WAV, and so WAV files are correspondingly larger.
Ensamvarg
11-13-2008, 08:53 AM
Size. Both WAV and FLAC are lossless, archival formats (the definition of this being it is possible to perfectly reconstruct the original audio CD, without having lost any data), it's just that FLAC has much better compression than WAV, and so WAV files are correspondingly larger.
Ahh that makes sense then, thanks a bunch for all the advice and teachings :D
You might have a look at the Sennheiser PC350( headset), but for the same price or even a lil bit cheaper, at least where I live, a Sennheiser HD 595( headphone) can be had, but then again u need to use a seperate mic as it is a Headphone. Both would form a nice pair with your soundcard :up:
You might have a look at the Sennheiser PC350( headset), but for the same price or even a lil bit cheaper, at least where I live, a Sennheiser HD 595( headphone) can be had, but then again u need to use a seperate mic as it is a Headphone. Both would form a nice pair with your soundcard :up:
I can confirm the Sennheiser PC350 is an excellent gaming headset and should be in the OP's budget if he shops around in the UK, I was about £93 delivered a few weeks ago ... it really is the best gaming headset I've ever used.
I'd still like a pair of closed hi quality headphones for dedicated music listening to late at night though, but for gaming ... The PC350 is the mutts nutz, decent bass for a gaming headset and very very comfortable to wear.
Stealth42o
11-26-2008, 05:20 AM
Stealth, if you think the barracudas sound good, you should go down to a local Guitar Center and check out some professional headsets bro, you will be in for a pleasant surprise!
BTW for real headphone overload check out http://www.head-fi.org/forums/
Next time I am there I will try some out. Thanks for the heads up.
Kumakichi
11-26-2008, 06:53 AM
Was gonna suggest Icemat Siberias but I see ya cant get em no more.
zerotol
11-27-2008, 09:17 AM
buy yourself decent headphones + the seperate zalman mic. Headsets are utter crap. Except maybe those from beyer-dynamic but they cost like > 300 euro's:rolleyes:
Levish
12-01-2008, 08:55 AM
In my opinion, the absolute best cans you can buy for gaming is the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700s. They are a perfect match for you. The sound quality is outstanding, and they are the most 3d headphones I have ever used, without a question. They are also the most comfortable, and they can easily be powered by your new sound card (good choice, btw).
I've got those running off the onboard sound card and they are awesome.
For giggles I wanted to give 5.1 headphones a try and ended up with Tritton AX360s long story short compared to the AD700's they are nearly unbearably poor quality at any sort of audio reproduction.