Paycer

I've been using the Sennhesier HD 558s for close to a week now. They sound great! Thanks again for the recommendations and help guys. It's much appreciated. I don't know if I've completely, "broken them in," yet, but they still sound really good. I think I probably made the right choice by going with these over the AudioTechnica AD700s. Bass is definitely present in music, movies, and games, but it's not overbearing or drowning anything out. It seems very balanced to me. They seem about as comfortable as my gaming headset, but I suppose they'll get even more comfortable as time goes on and I get used to them. I'm not a huge fan of the velour material, but I'm not entirely opposed to it either. Anyone know anything about swapping out the earpads for different materials? I'd like to look into that. I've been tinkering with my Xonar DG Audio Center to better understand which settings I should use for certain situations. My previous headset was a, "true," 5.1 surround sound headset, so I always just set it to 5.1 speakers and mostly ignored everything else. It's a little different now that I'm using stereo headphones, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I'm about to install these UNi Xonar drivers and see what this is all about now :)

Nothing but the best audio for me :) ... unless I'm being lazy and using free online streaming :P

Yeah, I don't intend to. Another benefit of the 558s that I didn't realize until just now is that I can use them with my phone without much quality loss.

I've decided on getting the Sennheiser HD 558s and an AntLion ModMic. You can get, "used," (like new, with full warranty) 558s for barely over $100USD on Amazon from what is apparently an, "authorized Sennheiser dealer." Seller has a good rating, so I trust it. The ModMic 3.0 might come out sometime this summer. As I said, that's too long to wait for a microphone, so I'll be ordering the current version. They're somewhat cheap, so I may upgrade to the new one once it's out if it has significant improvements. Thank you for the recommendations, advice, explanations, etc. You've all been a great help! I'll definitely be coming straight here next time I have tech questions :D

That actually sounds like a good idea, except I think I'll purchase the ModMic now and the amp next month. I'm reading around and it seems like the Xonar DG will technically be able to power those. I don't expect it to sound perfect, but it will still be an upgrade from what I have right now and it won't be forever. I don't listen to anything at really high levels, and I can wait for better quality, but I can't be without a microphone for that long. My current mic is so old and generic that I had to look up the patent on a government website just to find some information on it :P Thanks again for all of the advice everyone. I really do appreciate it. I have a lot to consider :) EDIT: Those coiled cords annoy the heck out of me, but I'll still consider it.

Whoops lol. I was trying to format everything so that it was easier for everyone to understand what I'm looking for. I guess I accidentally put that in the wrong section and didn't realize it. Thanks for pointing it out. I've edited the OP now. I meant to put up there that I listen to most genres of music. I mostly to electronic music though. I'm not really into rap or hip hop anymore. As I stated above, I'm not looking for wild bass, but I don't want it to be nonexistent either. Something more balanced would probably suit me better. I've decided that something like a $200 pair of headphones might actually be alright. I'm in the process of returning an AVerMedia Live Gamer HD, so I suppose something like the V-Modas, (for example) would be acceptable in terms of price, if necessary. EDIT: In the higher price range I'm currently between the Sennheiser PC360s and the HD558s with a ModMic. In the lower price range, I'm still between the CALs and the AD700s. I can't figure out which is better in their respective price ranges. EDIT2: I suppose the Sennheiser HD518s are also on the table for the lower price range >.>

At this point I'm thinking of getting the Creative Aurvana Live and an AntLion ModMic. The lower price is nice, but it's not really the main reason that I'm leaning toward it. The CAL may not have the absolute best comfort, surround sound, or musical warmth, but I believe it will provide me with higher overall quality. After reading a lot of reviews and watching some videos, I feel that the AD700s might be slightly uncomfortable or potentially, "immersion-breaking." Apparently the AD700s are great with positional awareness for competitive gaming, but I'm not a competitive gamer by any means. I enjoy my surround sound for FPS games like BF3, but it doesn't need to be absolutely perfect. I think I'd rather sacrifice a bit of that for richer sounds in music, shows, and even other games. My current, (and IMHO poor quality) headset has good enough surround sound for me to usually pinpoint enemy locations, so I can't even imagine what I'll be able to accomplish with either of these. It's an upgrade either way. I liked a couple of the ones that you linked t0wer, but I've decided to set them aside for one reason or another. I'm sure they're probably great, but they don't really suit me. Thanks for the suggestions though. I've set aside the Logitech and higher-priced headsets. I would like a pair of the nicer headphones, like the V-Modas, but I've decided that I need something sooner rather than later and I just can't afford to get them right now. Thoughts? I don't need to order anything today, but preferably sometime this week. The sooner the better :)

I've been thinking about the G930s. Have you had any odd problems with them in any way? Do they meet the requirements that I've outlined above? I know they're on sale on Amazon right now for only $109USD, so that alone is a major plus for me. I've always had a good experience with Logitech products, and I really like the overall look (expected feel) of those.

Wow. I didn't expect replies so quickly, especially at this hour. I can't even post my reply before more are posted. This forum really is great! :lol: Thanks for the suggestions. Those Crossfades are certainly up there in terms of price, but it seems like it might be worth it. I'll consider them. I've thought about Astro a little, but I admit I haven't looked into them much. Do you have a particular model in mind? I watched Linus' video on these. They seem alright, but I was a little put off by the look of the actual build quality. The plastic pieces, (made to look like polished metal) and just the overall look made them seem cheap to me. I'm probably being harsh though, so I'll still consider them. Thank you for reminding me of them.

I'm gonna use windspeed's format. Hopefully it helps :) Optimal Budget: $100-150USD soft limit - $200USD hard limit. If going past $200USD, then I'll need to save up for a month or two. I'm looking to purchase this setup ASAP. Aim: Main focus is on gaming, but music quality is certainly important. I do just about everything - games, watching TV and movies, music, video editing, etc. I would prefer 7.1 surround sound, but I can settle for 5.1. I know Linus recommends a stereo headset with virtual surround sound over a headset that actually has multiple, smaller, drivers, but I'm open to whatever. Style: Definitely circumaural, and preferably closed, but I"m open to... open :P Connection Type: 3.5mm or USB. I don't care which (see below). Wireless might be nice, but only if I can use the headset while it's plugged in. I do not want to rely solely on a battery. Audio taste/genres: I mostly listen to electronic music. I'm not really into rap or hip hop anymore. I welcome that bass that makes a headset shake, but it's not mandatory. I just don't want a headset that leaves me wondering if there's any bass at all :D Something more balanced would probably suit me better. Do you plan to use a sound card?: I currently use a Xonar DG. I can continue using this card, upgrade to a different card, or use USB - whichever is recommended for optimal quality/performance. Microphone: I would prefer an attached microphone. However, if there are headphones out there (no microphone attached) that offer better quality at the same price as a gaming headset, then I'm open to purchasing an external desktop microphone. All that I have right now is a cheap old thing from the 90s lol. Please keep my budget in mind though. Extra: I would prefer a headset without an in-line volume controller. Volume controls on the headset itself are perfectly fine. (Not a deal breaker) I've been using the Cooler Master CM Storm Sirus headset since last August, and I'm not really impressed with it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826570018 It's alright, but it's a little subpar in regard to actual sound quality IMHO. The physical switch that mutes/unmutes the microphone also broke recently and rendered the microphone unusable half the time. I think there's some kind of short in it. It's still under warranty, but like I said, I'm not really impressed with it anyway. Thanks in advance for any advice that anyone can give me. Apologies for the wall of text.

I do YouTubez.

I'm having way too much fun with this!

How many can we post? I have a few different ideas :lol: