Lauen

yeah, of course, I'm just putting it out, that the 440's are better in pretty much every single way, it's also cheaper.

haven't found anything for spotify and the onboard audio on the laptop at work, but I'm probably not looking hard enough.

I recommend you take a look at these SRH440's: http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SRH440-Professional-Studio-Headphones/dp/B002DP1FTU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394422021&sr=8-1&keywords=srh440 and with the 840 pads: http://www.amazon.com/Shure-HPAEC840-Replacement-Cushions-Headphones/dp/B002Z9JWZS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1394422021&sr=8-4&keywords=srh440 you can read my review, in my signature, or the one by t0wer : http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/105857-shure-srh-440/

Nope. PC360 all the way bro.

pro tip, the ohm isn't the deciding factor about how loud it gets, sensitivity is the most important one.

I'd probably get a few different headphones. Right now I'm looking at Sony MDR-v6 or 7506, Sennheiser 280 or 380, and/or some IEMs, like the RHA 750. bro, I'd get better headphones instead. the M50's are alright first time "quality heaphones", but there are so many better options. I thought the M50's were the best thing ever for a month or three, then I got some Shure SRH440 with 840 pads, better in every way IMO.

I work in IT support, and I just use IEMs, and just have one of them in. sadly, it does sort of ruin some of the music I listen to, which usually has one guitar for left, and one for right.

dunno really. have a look at this:

Yeah, a modmic would be great. the 2.3 should be good.

According to EmoRarity they do live up to their reputation.

Any bookshelf speakers would be just fine, and I found these on a good offer: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES20-High-Performance-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00167340E/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1394371909&sr=8-7&keywords=bookshelf+speaker haven't used the amp myself, but I've heard that is sounds just as good as any other amp, and is an amazing value.

IMO, it's an amazing deal.

They do not have the foam like the 558's

the pads have the part number HPAEC840, if that helps. Usually I find them by searching for Shure 840. EDIT: those ARE the pads. the bass will be better with it, and comfort as well. EDIT again: with the 840 pads, the 440's sound nearly identical to the 840's

PC360's are decent, but a Blue Snowflake or ModMic with a pair of HD518 would do the same job, if not better. Personally, I'd go for those SRH440's with 840 pads, I have both the PC360 and the 440s with 840 pads, and I prefer everything about the 440's.

not much, unless there is static or interference with the Xonar.

PC360 is probably the best sounding gaming headset, and doesn't cost you your soul and your firstborn son. If you were to upgrade, getting headphones and a standalone mic would be the way to go. If you're experiencing hissing, static or something like that, then you can start thinking about upgrading to a new sound setup, like a new DAC/amp or maybe a soundcard.

Pioneer SE-A1000 all the way, I got some earlier this week, sounds VERY good! however, they may be a little loose for you, but that can be easily modded.

oh god rofl

You are not alone.

what do you mean blue plugs? what do you mean splitters? I'm having a hard time understanding the post. Headsets / headphones are supposed to be plugged into the green port on the back of your PC. the blue one is Line in, I think, so that wouldn't work at all.

the frequency response has a bump in the bass and the highs, effectively creating a v-shaped sound signature, more bass and highs.

I just copied this off one of my reviews and added a band or two: The music I listen to is like 96% of the time Metal, varying from Heavy Metal by the likes of Judas Priest, a bit of Manowar, Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy, to heavier stuff, like Lamb of God, to power and progressive metal, like Sonata Arctica, Pagan's Mind, Symphony X, Alestorm, Gloryhammer, more recently Persefone, TesseracT, Ghost (aka Ghost B.C), and some Thrash Metal, mostly just Megadeth (though newer stuff is more heavy metal) and on to a little bit of Extreme Metal like Xerath, Keep of Kalessin. Then there's the amazing band Van Canto. If you haven't heard them, check them out. And then the occasional video on YouTube, George Kollias drumming and Alex Rüdinger drumming to some songs, and some drumming educational videos from Mike Johnston. I might, very rarely, listen to a tiny bit of dubstep / brostep. but that's very rarely.

headphone out to the splitter, to headphone in on monitor if it has that? if not, I have no idea.

Some sort of splitter would work I guess, like this one http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B000067RC4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394059269&sr=8-2&keywords=3%2C5+jack+splitter