Drake Mallard

The band is comfortable enough it's the shitty default pads that's the problem. Hence the recommended cosmos pads.

On a modern onboard yes. On a Laptop not so much.

You would need a Dac/Amp to power it since your laptop would not.

Superlux 668B with Cosmos Pads if you want to try open headphones or Superlux 681 EVO with Cosmos Pads if you prefer closed.

If it HAS to be a headset you can get the Sennheiser PC37X or Game Ones. Or get the Hyper X Cloud II or whichever ones that are still Takstar clones. Don't get the Corsair or Razer ones.

HD 569 sounds like crap. Better alternatives if you want closed headphones: Status Audio CB-1 M40x with replacement pads Superlux 681Evo with replacement pads

Micca Origen G2 pretty good alternative.

I too recommend them. They have excellent sound quality and surprisingly wide sound stage for an IEM. They require burn-in though as when you first get them they are very bass heavy. After burn-in the bass will subside and it will have better highs and treble as well as clarity.

Since you mentioned you would like to listen to it with your phone walking around campus it means you are looking for headphones to also listen to music. Then those gaming headphones you mentioned are definitely not for you. Also it means you're looking for closed headphones unless you want to walk around having people hear what you're listening to. I would recommend the Superlux 669 and Status Audio CB-1 as mentioned above and a seperate mic.

Ursine custom cables I'm interested about the Dekoni Pads myself. My 660's pads are starting to degrade so I'm wondering how different they would sound with the Dekoni velour memory foam pads.

Here you go. Headphones that people can't see

Dac/Amps to Consider: FX Audio DAC-X6 - Around $60 plug through usb and powered through wall socket. Really damn good for the price you can't go wrong with these if you're on a budget. Audio Engine D3 - Around $60 on Massdrop similar the SMSL IDEA. (May have a better DAC than the SMSL IDEA I'm not sure) FiiO Q1 Mark II - at the $100 mark. Portable but can be used with desk setup. Alot better than the FiiO E10k and what you currently have. Adds a bit of soundstage and bass. Micca Origen G2 - also at the $100 mark. Comparable to the Schiit Fulla 2 (some prefer this over the Fulla 2) Schiit Fulla 2 - at the $100 mark. Really popular for good reason unless you get QC issues (bad volume knob, treble spikes, harsh highs) Dac/Amps you shouldn't consider: SMSL M3 - around $80 on amazon; around $50 on Massdrop. Has very bad QC issues. Nuforce uDAC 3 - around $50 on Massdrop. For some reason they added their own EQ settings to it which can make your headphones sound weird. FiiO E10k - around $70 on amazon. Aka baby's first Dac/Amp combo not gonna drive higher impedance headphones well with these. Not worth the price.

I had the G633 which is the wired version of the G933. Well had is not the right word; I have it but it's in the house collecting dust somewhere. The g633 is alright for gaming headset standards (they are better than Corsair Void Pros that I had) but it's imaging is pretty lacking which is important for games like CSGO. Basically is made more for the 7.1 surround gimmick than actual good headphones.

What the actual hell are you talking about? Of course Tube Amplifiers are inaccurate they create distortion; but they create specific distortions and sound that people find compliment the sound of their headphones and speakers. As for the "audiophile stuff" dacs and amps which YOU sometimes call "fashion dacs" most do more than just amplifying the sound. Some add clarity, highs, soundstage, and/or lowend. Have you actually own anything besides the Soundblaster AE5 that you keep promoting so much? I don't don't mind you recommending the AE5 but please don't go around spreading misinformation just so people will buy what you own instead.

The k5 is not a dac amp combo it's only an amp. You would need a FiiO portable player to dock with it to act as a dac.