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(Upgrade from gaming headset) Advice on headphones and mic.

Kimpan

Hello!

I currently have a pair of Steelseries Arctis 7 Wireless. I have been happy with them. However, I am considering going back to wired headphones. 

 

I have found a pair of philips fidelio x3 for 220 USD and Phillips fidelio x2hr for for 170 USD. Black Friday deals. I've been looking at DT 770 as well as closed options. 

Are these any to look at?

I will use them for;

  • gaming
  • Music

I am not totally against open back, but I am used to closed back. If I can find a pair closed back that are on pair / good value - I'd prefer that.

Do you guys have any other recommendations to look out for during Black Friday?

Oh, I live in Sweden.

 

 

 

I am also between the option of buying a Yeti X and Elgato wave:3 microphone. 

The Yeti X costs 175 USD

Elgato wave:3 costs 115 USD. 

 

From my own research they seem very close, but Elgato wave:3 should be a better option due to the price difference (it's 1/3 cheaper for about the same quality!) 

 

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45 minutes ago, Kimpan said:

Hello!

I currently have a pair of Steelseries Arctis 7 Wireless. I have been happy with them. However, I am considering going back to wired headphones. 

 

I have found a pair of philips fidelio x3 for 220 USD and Phillips fidelio x2hr for for 170 USD. Black Friday deals. I've been looking at DT 770 as well as closed options. 

Are these any to look at?

I will use them for;

  • gaming
  • Music

I am not totally against open back, but I am used to closed back. If I can find a pair closed back that are on pair / good value - I'd prefer that.

Do you guys have any other recommendations to look out for during Black Friday?

Oh, I live in Sweden.

 

 

 

I am also between the option of buying a Yeti X and Elgato wave:3 microphone. 

The Yeti X costs 175 USD

Elgato wave:3 costs 115 USD. 

 

From my own research they seem very close, but Elgato wave:3 should be a better option due to the price difference (it's 1/3 cheaper for about the same quality!) 

 

Get the X3 or X2's These are much easier to drive. You will NEED an amp for the DT 770's doesn't matter if it is the 80ohm or 250ohm. For the mic. Whatever. Go for any popular USB mic brand. Open backs are preffered for music and gaming since it gives a more natural soundstage and sound signature. The bass is much punchier on the X2's I believe. Tro mig, vilken studiolur som helst kommer låta bättre än skräpiga gaming headsets ;) 

PM or DM me if you have any questions about audio.

My PC specs & audio gear

CPU > Intel core i7 14700K, GPU > RTX 4070 ProArt, RAM > Corsair Vengeance DDR5 2x16gb 5600mhz, Motherboard > Asus ROG Strix B760-F, Storage > 1TB M.2  & 500GB M.2 Kingston, Cooling > H150i Elite, PSU > MSI A850GL

🎧Current Audio Setup🎧

Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R as daily driver

Soundblaster AE-9 Soundcard

AKG P420 Mic

Other peripherals

Keyboard > SteelSeries Apex Pro

Mouse > Steelseries Aerox 3 wired

Mousepad > Pulsar ParaSpeed XXL

VR > Valve index kit

Read this post if you want a "gaming" headset ;)

 

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5 minutes ago, Tigerleon said:

Get the X3 or X2's These are much easier to drive. You will NEED an amp for the DT 770's doesn't matter if it is the 80ohm or 250ohm. For the mic. Whatever. Go for any popular USB mic brand. Open backs are preffered for music and gaming since it gives a more natural soundstage and sound signature. The bass is much punchier on the X2's I believe. Tro mig, vilken studiolur som helst kommer låta bättre än skräpiga gaming headsets ;) 

Tack :)

 

I am mostly worried about how much open headphones leak / outside sound leak in. I often play while my gf watches TV in the same room. 

 

I went for the Elgato Wave:3, couldn't justify 1/3 increase in price for what looks to be the same. 

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3 minutes ago, Kimpan said:

Tack :)

 

I am mostly worried about how much open headphones leak / outside sound leak in. I often play while my gf watches TV in the same room. 

 

I went for the Elgato Wave:3, couldn't justify 1/3 increase in price for what looks to be the same. 

No worries. The leakage will mostly be sounds that have a high frequency or just if you have a really high volume on. You will hear it as if you would put your phone at the second lowest volume. From the outside of course haha. But yeah. You shouldn't need to worry about others hearing. What you might get annoyed by is sounds leaking in. Although I don't really notice it since the volume drowns it out anyways. All the pros of having open back are not worth leaving behind because of some TV in the background. That is just my opinion tho.

PM or DM me if you have any questions about audio.

My PC specs & audio gear

CPU > Intel core i7 14700K, GPU > RTX 4070 ProArt, RAM > Corsair Vengeance DDR5 2x16gb 5600mhz, Motherboard > Asus ROG Strix B760-F, Storage > 1TB M.2  & 500GB M.2 Kingston, Cooling > H150i Elite, PSU > MSI A850GL

🎧Current Audio Setup🎧

Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R as daily driver

Soundblaster AE-9 Soundcard

AKG P420 Mic

Other peripherals

Keyboard > SteelSeries Apex Pro

Mouse > Steelseries Aerox 3 wired

Mousepad > Pulsar ParaSpeed XXL

VR > Valve index kit

Read this post if you want a "gaming" headset ;)

 

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If you're looking at USB mics in that price range you might as well consider proper studio options too, USB mics tend to be not great and die a lot (compared to studio options) and getting something like a UMC202HD along with a Behringer C2 set is well within your price range. The UMC202HD also handles headphone amplification so as a bonus you get a physical control for headphone volume.

 

If you're looking to learn more or see some other options check the guide in my signature, it's got a tonne of information you might find helpful.

Sloth's the name, audio gear is the game
I'll do my best to lend a hand to anyone with audio questions, studio gear and value for money are my primary focus.

Click here for my Microphone and Interface guide, tips and recommendations
 

For advice I rely on The Brains Trust :
@rice guru
- Headphones, Earphones and personal audio for any budget 
@Derkoli- High end specialist and allround knowledgeable bloke

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6 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

If you're looking at USB mics in that price range you might as well consider proper studio options too, USB mics tend to be not great and die a lot (compared to studio options) and getting something like a UMC202HD along with a Behringer C2 set is well within your price range. The UMC202HD also handles headphone amplification so as a bonus you get a physical control for headphone volume.

 

If you're looking to learn more or see some other options check the guide in my signature, it's got a tonne of information you might find helpful.

Thanks for the advice! I've already bought the Elgato Wave:3, I just want something plug and play for Discord and when I record lessons for my students now during COVID19. I did consider buying a XLR mic but every guide said it could require more effort setting up and so on. 

 

I'm leaning on picking up the Phillips X3 if it's still on sale on Friday. 

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13 minutes ago, Kimpan said:

I did consider buying a XLR mic but every guide said it could require more effort setting up and so on. 

The thing is that you need to use the same effort when setting up a USB mic to get decent sound out of it, the difference is that XLR mics tend to have much better quality and some extra controls that USB mics don't that will aid them in sounding much better if set up properly.

In reality all you have to do to 'set up' an XLR mic is to connect it to your interface, get it as close to your mouth as possible and increase gain until it isn't clipping.

Sloth's the name, audio gear is the game
I'll do my best to lend a hand to anyone with audio questions, studio gear and value for money are my primary focus.

Click here for my Microphone and Interface guide, tips and recommendations
 

For advice I rely on The Brains Trust :
@rice guru
- Headphones, Earphones and personal audio for any budget 
@Derkoli- High end specialist and allround knowledgeable bloke

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6 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

The thing is that you need to use the same effort when setting up a USB mic to get decent sound out of it, the difference is that XLR mics tend to have much better quality and some extra controls that USB mics don't that will aid them in sounding much better if set up properly.

In reality all you have to do to 'set up' an XLR mic is to connect it to your interface, get it as close to your mouth as possible and increase gain until it isn't clipping.

Still much more of an hassel if I need to do it several times a day. 

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2 minutes ago, Kimpan said:

Still much more of an hassel if I need to do it several times a day. 

Why would you? Just leave it set up, you'll need to do the same with your USB mic if you want half-decent sound out of it anyway but I digress, you've made your choice and I hope it works for you.

Sloth's the name, audio gear is the game
I'll do my best to lend a hand to anyone with audio questions, studio gear and value for money are my primary focus.

Click here for my Microphone and Interface guide, tips and recommendations
 

For advice I rely on The Brains Trust :
@rice guru
- Headphones, Earphones and personal audio for any budget 
@Derkoli- High end specialist and allround knowledgeable bloke

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3 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

Why would you? Just leave it set up, you'll need to do the same with your USB mic if you want half-decent sound out of it anyway but I digress, you've made your choice and I hope it works for you.

Because as I said, I'm a teacher and I record lessons in various locations. Meetings at odd hours and so on. 

 

 

EDIT: I wasn't as clear that I move around a lot as a teacher in my previous posts. But yeah, I don't have a fixed classroom, if we have meetings I have to be in my own room so we move around a lot. I am sometimes forced to move rooms for digital meetings / lessons about 5-6 times a day. 

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I went with Philips Fidelio X3 for 200 USD. The X2 costs ~170 USD.

All reviews say that X3 are better, but not worth their normal price, but for 200, I suppose most would agree they are worth it.

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Do you have a dac and or amp?

 

My daily setup is a pair of hifiman he-400i's and a mod mic.  While I have other headphones the he400i works best because it's VERY open and I can hear my own voice.  If I switch to my 6xx while still being an "open" headset I find that my voice is very raised when using them on comms.  I started with the sennheiser gaming one and it's a great headset but can't compare to a pair of headfi can's and a mod mic

Open-Back - Sennheiser 6xx - Focal Elex - Phillips Fidelio X3 - Harmonicdyne Zeus -  Beyerdynamic DT1990 - *HiFi-man HE400i (2017) - *Phillips shp9500 - *SoundMAGIC HP200

Semi-Open - Beyerdynamic DT880-600 - Fostex T50RP - *AKG K240 studio

Closed-Back - Rode NTH-100 - Meze 99 Neo - AKG K361-BT - Blue Microphones Lola - *Beyerdynamic DT770-80 - *Meze 99 Noir - *Blon BL-B60 *Hifiman R7dx

On-Ear - Koss KPH30iCL Grado - Koss KPH30iCL Yaxi - Koss KPH40 Yaxi

IEM - Tin HiFi T2 - MoonDrop Quarks - Tangzu Wan'er S.G - Moondrop Chu - QKZ x HBB - 7HZ Salnotes Zero

Headset Turtle Beach Stealth 700 V2 + xbox adapter - *Sennheiser Game One - *Razer Kraken Pro V2

DAC S.M.S.L SU-9

Class-D dac/amp Topping DX7 - Schiit Fulla E - Fosi Q4 - *Sybasonic SD-DAC63116

Class-D amp Topping A70

Class-A amp Emotiva A-100 - Xduoo MT-602 (hybrid tube)

Pure Tube amp Darkvoice 336SE - Little dot MKII - Nobsound Little Bear P7

Audio Interface Rode AI-1

Portable Amp Xduoo XP2-pro - *Truthear SHIO - *Fiio BTR3K BTR3Kpro 

Mic Rode NT1 - *Antlion Mod Mic - *Neego Boom Mic - *Vmoda Boom Mic

Pads ZMF - Dekoni - Brainwavz - Shure - Yaxi - Grado - Wicked Cushions

Cables Hart Audio Cables - Periapt Audio Cables

Speakers Kef Q950 - Micca RB42 - Jamo S803 - Crown XLi1500 (power amp class A)

 

*given as gift or out of commission

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On 11/28/2020 at 3:55 AM, Psittac said:

Do you have a dac and or amp?

 

My daily setup is a pair of hifiman he-400i's and a mod mic.  While I have other headphones the he400i works best because it's VERY open and I can hear my own voice.  If I switch to my 6xx while still being an "open" headset I find that my voice is very raised when using them on comms.  I started with the sennheiser gaming one and it's a great headset but can't compare to a pair of headfi can's and a mod mic

Hello!

 

No I do not, but I am considering one for the x3. Do you have any suggestions? I've been looking at the FiiO k3. 

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