Terrible Sennheiser Quality - Time for Beyerdynamic or X ?

[SillyKitty]

I've had the Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition headset for about 2 months now and will be returning them for a full refund through Amazon. Was really disappointed with the sound quality both in game and listening to music.

I paid around $160 for them and now that I look back on Amazon, it's now discontinued by the manufacturer, for what seems like good reason.

 

I'm now back on the market for something a little more high quality in the $200 range. Hopefully this is a high enough budget to be relatively blown away when listening to music. My plan is to just convert the next high end headphones I get into a gaming compatible setup with a Modmic.

 

I was looking at the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 which comes in at the $229 price point.

 

My question was, is this Beyerdynamic one I chose the best bang for my buck at around $200, or is there another somewhat studio quality headset that performs better?

It doesn't have to have a gaming mic attached to it since I'll be slapping a Modmic onto it.

 

Let me know what you guys think, thanks a bunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motherboard: Asus Z97-AR 

I do not have an amp or aftermarket soundcard 

[LancerBG]

How do you get a full refund after 30 days? 

[LemonSpice]

I've had the Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition headset for about 2 months 

you probably got fakes it happens on amazon

[ShearMe]

What don't you like about the PC 350? If you try to describe what you're looking for instead, we can point you in the right direction as far as your preferred sound characteristics.

[SillyKitty]

How do you get a full refund after 30 days? 

 

I raised hell and talked to the customer support managers and they were willing to do a full refund.

Never take no for an answer!

 

 

 

What don't you like about the PC 350? If you try to describe what you're looking for instead, we can point you in the right direction as far as your preferred sound characteristics.

 

The base sounded super washed out and most of the sound sounded too high pitched and metal link pings. It's hard to describe, but playing games on these was not an enjoyable experience. I tried reinstalling my sound drivers, plugging them into the back of my mobo, the front of the case, etc. Music was doable, but I mean I would want to have an enjoyable listening experience, not a doable experience.

 

I wish I knew more about this niche where I could explain precisely what I need in the correct terms. But I just want to be blown away when listening to high quality music. I have no idea whether or not if this is possible in the $200-$300 range.

My goal is not finding something that will bang out massive bass all day long, but something that sounds very enjoyable across all ranges.

My main focus now is hopefully finding a high end studio headset and throwing a Modmic on it for when I do game.  

[SImoHayha]

Why do you try the gaming rig headset by plantronics it certainly a good headset for only 100 $

[SillyKitty]

Why do you try the gaming rig headset by plantronics it certainly a good headset for only 100 $

 

Looking for something great, not just good, if that makes sense.

[SImoHayha]

Looking for something great, not just good, if that makes sense.

Well it certainly is great headset it does many things you can listen to it on the go with removable mics, you can use it to play games and switch the mic onto the right side or left side of the headset. If you plug your phone to the mixer that is included when you see your phone ringing you can press a button on the mixer and easily swap the audio from your game to your phone then after your done you can swap it back or you can configure the mixer and play some music on your headset while playing the game. You can also change the volume on your headset if you want to hear your teammates a tad bit more or change it so you hear the game more compared to your teammates. I think it does rather great when it comes to a 100 $ mic.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-Stereo-Gaming-Headset-Mixer/dp/B00EUY5AEI/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1416528364&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=gaming+rig+headset

[SillyKitty]

Well it certainly is great headset it does many things you can listen to it on the go with removable mics, you can use it to play games and switch the mic onto the right side or left side of the headset. If you plug your phone to the mixer that is included when you see your phone ringing you can press a button on the mixer and easily swap the audio from your game to your phone then after your done you can swap it back or you can configure the mixer and play some music on your headset while playing the game. You can also change the volume on your headset if you want to hear your teammates a tad bit more or change it so you hear the game more compared to your teammates. I think it does rather great when it comes to a 100 $ mic.

 

How does the sound quality stack up with $200 Beyerdynamics or Sennheisers?

[ShearMe]

Why do you try the gaming rig headset by plantronics it certainly a good headset for only 100 $

 

If he wasn't satisfied with a Sennheiser headset, he's not going to be satisfied with a Plantronics headset.

 

 

The base sounded super washed out and most of the sound sounded too high pitched and metal link pings. It's hard to describe, but playing games on these was not an enjoyable experience. I tried reinstalling my sound drivers, plugging them into the back of my mobo, the front of the case, etc. Music was doable, but I mean I would want to have an enjoyable listening experience, not a doable experience.

 

I wish I knew more about this niche where I could explain precisely what I need in the correct terms. But I just want to be blown away when listening to high quality music. I have no idea whether or not if this is possible in the $200-$300 range.

My goal is not finding something that will bang out massive bass all day long, but something that sounds very enjoyable across all ranges.

My main focus now is hopefully finding a high end studio headset and throwing a Modmic on it for when I do game.  

 

I'd guess your ears would find Beyerdynamics pleasing. DT990 if you don't need isolation, DT770 if you do. There's multiple impedance versions, so get whichever you can find cheaper (32, 80, or 250 + the price of an amp).

[MayflowerElectronics]

I don't like sennheiser either, I know where you are coming from. You'd like something like the DT 990's, but you'll need an amp.

 

X1's are also an option.

[Doopywoopy]

I had the pc 350 for about a month. I really wanted to like them but I just didn't like how games/music sounded with them. I do now have the HD 558s and I absolutely love them. I'd say try those. 

[Paranoid Kami]

I have the PC 350 SE and they're fine. You just need a amp to fully power them otherwise they sound weird like you describe.

 

The reason why it's discontinued is because the new Game headsets replace them. The Game headsets are the exact same thing with a different look.

[Dredgy]

@SillyKitty I seem to bet he only one recommendin then, so they can't be common, but Harman Kardon is a great brand. Their NC headphones offer sublime bass and decent high with well rounded mids.

They're great for club tracks such as earthquake by labrinth, anything with even slightly breathy vocals (break of dawn by Michael Jackson) or anything with a good backing bass.

Gaming is good as well, though I prefer speakers, but driving a track in the rain in Dirt 3 is an amazing experience as is the heavy cutscenes and sneaking around in Hitman Absolution.

[Dylan lol]

I had the pc 350 for about a month. I really wanted to like them but I just didn't like how games/music sounded with them. I do now have the HD 558s and I absolutely love them. I'd say try those. 

why get the one with drivers that try to copy 380 pros then, instead of the one that copies 558 drivers?

[Rainboxed]

How does the sound quality stack up with $200 Beyerdynamics or Sennheisers?

From what I can see, these won't be brilliant. Most sound tech ~$100, from my experience, is horrible. This can is mostly from a lack of build quality, which seems to be a point that's bought up in reviews for the plantronics, or have bad sound quality. 

 

For your price range ~$200-300, I would recommend the Sennhieser HD600. Second hand is fine. 

 

I am currently using a pair of HD600s unamped, and they sound pretty decent. The highs are mids are fantastic, but they have no bass due to there OPEN design. If you crave some bass or kick in your music, don't consider these.They run have an impedance of 300ohm, but I'm powering them fine unamped. To however, make these headphones sound best, THEY WILL NEED AN AMP. I was lucky enough to test these on a ~$3K amplifier (Arcam A19) and they sound FANTASTIC. They are flat and boring I suppose, but you wont realize UNLESS you test them on an amp. My recommendation is DON'T try them on an amplifier unless you can afford to buy the amp. 

One of my gripes of the HD600's is that you will need to find a high quality sound source. I was using YouTube with a set of Logitech speakers for a while, and it was functional, and worked. I now listen to the same music on these, and it sounds bad. YouTube is somewhat unusable now. Honestly though, it depends on your ability to notice the sound quality. 

 

Pros: Great build, comfortable for 6 hours+ solid listening, fine unamped.

Cons: NEED to use high quality sound sources (E.G. not YT), need amplification to sound truly amazing. 

[ShearMe]

From what I can see, these won't be brilliant. Most sound tech ~$100, from my experience, is horrible. This can is mostly from a lack of build quality, which seems to be a point that's bought up in reviews for the plantronics, or have bad sound quality.

For your price range ~$200-300, I would recommend the Sennhieser HD600. Second hand is fine.

I am currently using a pair of HD600s unamped, and they sound pretty decent. The highs are mids are fantastic, but they have no bass due to there OPEN design. If you crave some bass or kick in your music, don't consider these.They run have an impedance of 300ohm, but I'm powering them fine unamped. To however, make these headphones sound best, THEY WILL NEED AN AMP. I was lucky enough to test these on a ~$3K amplifier (Arcam A19) and they sound FANTASTIC. They are flat and boring I suppose, but you wont realize UNLESS you test them on an amp. My recommendation is DON'T try them on an amplifier unless you can afford to buy the amp.

One of my gripes of the HD600's is that you will need to find a high quality sound source. I was using YouTube with a set of Logitech speakers for a while, and it was functional, and worked. I now listen to the same music on these, and it sounds bad. YouTube is somewhat unusable now. Honestly though, it depends on your ability to notice the sound quality.

Pros: Great build, comfortable for 6 hours+ solid listening, fine unamped.

Cons: NEED to use high quality sound sources (E.G. not YT), need amplification to sound truly amazing.

Gg my snakeoil experience

[BoredErica]

^dat.