Headphones

[Joppsta]

So my girlfriend is wanting to get me a new set of headphones. I currently use a Logitech G35 gaming headset for audio with a gimp 2 speaker solution for when I'm not wearing them.

 

I'm looking for something with decent sound quality, don't need a headset as I have a RODE-NT1A for microphone purposes. I'm not a massive audio snob, which is probably obvious from my current setup, but if you're going to upgrade then you might as well do it right. I'm not particular about closed or open ear although I personally think closed is better.

£100-200 is the budget but stretchable I think.

 

Thanks in advance

 

- Joppsta

[Slottr]

770's, HD569's, K371's

[Tigerleon]

Beyerdynamic Tygrs (open)

HD 599 (Open)

DT 770 pro 80ohm (Closed) These have really good bass.

HD569 (Closed) 

Don't get any headphone over 150ohm. Maybe if you got a decsent interface for your mic.

[HumdrumPenguin]

18 hours ago, Tigerleon said:

Don't get any headphone over 150ohm. Maybe if you got a decsent interface for your mic.

Careful with that recommendation. By itself, it's wrong. He can't get low impedance planars for instance without running out of power. They have low sensitivity normally.

 

18 hours ago, Joppsta said:

So my girlfriend is wanting to get me a new set of headphones. I currently use a Logitech G35 gaming headset for audio with a gimp 2 speaker solution for when I'm not wearing them.

 

I'm looking for something with decent sound quality, don't need a headset as I have a RODE-NT1A for microphone purposes. I'm not a massive audio snob, which is probably obvious from my current setup, but if you're going to upgrade then you might as well do it right. I'm not particular about closed or open ear although I personally think closed is better.

£100-200 is the budget but stretchable I think.

 

Thanks in advance

 

- Joppsta

Consider the new Sennheiser HD560S. Down the line you can put another 200 dollars into an external Amplifier + DAC (100 each) combo and you'll be set.

[Joppsta]

I've got a scarlett solo for my mic if that makes any difference? Cheers for the recommendations guys

[Tigerleon]

2 hours ago, HumdrumPenguin said:

Careful with that recommendation. By itself, it's wrong. He can't get low impedance planars for instance without running out of power. They have low sensitivity normally.

 

Consider the new Sennheiser HD560S. Down the line you can put another 200 dollars into an external Amplifier + DAC (100 each) combo and you'll be set.

It is not wrong. Basically 150ohm and up is probably were you should start looking at amps. Depends on the headphones paired with what mobo/interface really. But I didn't even mention planars.

[HumdrumPenguin]

7 minutes ago, Tigerleon said:

It is not wrong. Basically 150ohm and up is probably were you should start looking at amps. Depends on the headphones paired with what mobo/interface really. But I didn't even mention planars.

Many cans with low impedance need an amp because they are not efficient. So using a "x" ohm number by itself to determine what needs or not an amp is incomplete.

[Tigerleon]

32 minutes ago, HumdrumPenguin said:

Many cans with low impedance need an amp because they are not efficient. So using a "x" ohm number by itself to determine what needs or not an amp is incomplete.

I just said that to be simple. I don't wanna tear down a specific headphone and talk about the physics of just those headphones and do mathematical tests on them to figure out the specific power needed to get them driving properly just because someone wants headphones. Have you heard of ohm's law?

[rice guru]

1 hour ago, Tigerleon said:

I just said that to be simple. I don't wanna tear down a specific headphone and talk about the physics of just those headphones and do mathematical tests on them to figure out the specific power needed to get them driving properly just because someone wants headphones. Have you heard of ohm's law?

 It's much more simple than you make it seem you can justusally lookup what people are experiencing or looks at sensitivity numbers compared to something easy to drive. impedance numbers are just normally good to look at whne you are comparing headphones in the same family or brand in relation to each other. it's a not a great metrick in relative hard to drive for example a 55 ohm akg k240 in my experience was slightly harder to drive than a 150 ohm hd 58x especially when I was trying to squeeze out every single piece of performance I could get out of it. a 80 ohm beyer is sometimes depending on the existing gear you could start looking at amps and like humdrum penguin said when it comes to planars that is another story and is a decent piece of the pie especially when looking at gaming gear.  also OHMs law barely has to do anything to do with this it's just a way to derive voltage, current, or resistance given 2 of the  pieces of information  I=V/R I use it for trouble shooting circuits  has nothing to do with dB/mV or even efficiency dB/mW

[Tigerleon]

27 minutes ago, rice guru said:

has nothing to do with dB/mV or even efficiency dB/mW

That is a good point.

[Joppsta]

So the boss has decided she wants to stretch the budget and she is looking at these:

 

https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/should-i-buy-the-bang-and-olufsen-beoplay-h4-wireless-headphones

Sorry for the necro

 

- Joppsta

[Psittac]

I would either give some more specific desires or just look at reviews for the headphones mentioned so far. I really like Josh Valour and Zeos, another good reviewer is DMS but I don't watch his videos for some reason.

 

For something easy to drive I would look hard at the phillips X2HR, I've heard the X3 which is basically the same thing but a touch better and they're incredible and easy to drive.  I've also heard the dt770 and loved them.  They're polar opposites for sound signature so it comes down to what you prefer.

 

But yeah headphones have a billion different characteristics to choose from, if you don't know then just go off a review you like.

 

I can't comment on the bang and olufsen because I'm not a wireless fan but to each their own, would leave you not needing a dac and amp

[Radioactive Snowman]

On 11/28/2020 at 11:52 PM, Psittac said:

phillips X2HR

This is the recommendation, these things are insane. And on sale for £100 recently, literally cannot go wrong

[rice guru]

On 11/28/2020 at 6:52 PM, Psittac said:

I would either give some more specific desires or just look at reviews for the headphones mentioned so far. I really like Josh Valour and Zeos, another good reviewer is DMS but I don't watch his videos for some reason.

 

For something easy to drive I would look hard at the phillips X2HR, I've heard the X3 which is basically the same thing but a touch better and they're incredible and easy to drive.  I've also heard the dt770 and loved them.  They're polar opposites for sound signature so it comes down to what you prefer.

 

But yeah headphones have a billion different characteristics to choose from, if you don't know then just go off a review you like.

 

I can't comment on the bang and olufsen because I'm not a wireless fan but to each their own, would leave you not needing a dac and amp

The x3 tones down the bass significantly and treble up a good amount. Unfortunately making it a less fun headphone .

[Sorlark]

Honestly I think your best bet is to hop on Amazon and get the Audiotechnica M50X & Antlion Mod Mic Combo. The m50's are legendary and will sound great with your motherboard as long as it's not a bottom barrel sound chip. They hit about 37Ohms. They will always, just like most headphones, sound better through an amp. The Mod Mic, I'm told that I come through crystal clear all the time when playing games. People ask me what Mic I use a lot. 

Also, there is a Bluetooth M50x model now for $20 more. Best of all worlds really.

[rice guru]

2 hours ago, Sorlark said:

Honestly I think your best bet is to hop on Amazon and get the Audiotechnica M50X & Antlion Mod Mic Combo. The m50's are legendary and will sound great with your motherboard as long as it's not a bottom barrel sound chip. They hit about 37Ohms. They will always, just like most headphones, sound better through an amp. The Mod Mic, I'm told that I come through crystal clear all the time when playing games. People ask me what Mic I use a lot. 

Also, there is a Bluetooth M50x model now for $20 more. Best of all worlds really.

Unfortunately awful for this use case which seems to be gaming 

[s_k]

AKG K240 Studio are stupidly good for less than that. In that price range it's kind of hard, probably the K701 or some AT.
I would personally recommend you to spend way more or much less. 

[Joppsta]

I ended up getting the phillips headphones off my own back as she wouldn't agree to get them as she wanted to spend upwards of like £200 apparently. I know my usage case and I also know that I don't want to have that much spent on me when I don't really need that.

 

Really impressed with the X2HR's and they seem to be working pretty great through my scarlett solo so win-win. Only missing on ear audio controls which I did not expect but sacrifices must be made.. I'll just need to get a keyboard with audio controls now

 

Cheers for the pointers guys,

 

- Joppsta

[deathfrankcore]

On 9/25/2020 at 7:59 PM, Joppsta said:

So my girlfriend is wanting to get me a new set of headphones. I currently use a Logitech G35 gaming headset for audio with a gimp 2 speaker solution for when I'm not wearing them.

 

I'm looking for something with decent sound quality, don't need a headset as I have a RODE-NT1A for microphone purposes. I'm not a massive audio snob, which is probably obvious from my current setup, but if you're going to upgrade then you might as well do it right. I'm not particular about closed or open ear although I personally think closed is better.

£100-200 is the budget but stretchable I think.

 

Thanks in advance

 

- Joppsta

I have the Beyerdynamics dt990 edition 32 ohms of impedance and the audio is very good. the only downside is that you prefer more the closed ones and the dt990 are open but they are really great