Headphone Recommendations

[eZGraviity]

So I generally play a lot of FPS games, mostly Warzone. I want headphones that can accurately represent the directional audio so I can hear footsteps and what direction they are coming from. I would assume any headset with 5.1 surround sound and a good sound stage can do this. 

 

I was looking at beyerdynamic DT770 Pro or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, but leaning towards the Beyerdynamics. Any thoughts or other recommendations? My budget is anywhere in the 100-300 dollar range. 

 

Alternatively: How does the Logitech G Pro X2 hold up in this consideration?

 

Also, is there a good way to switch between audio outputs? I only have 1 3.5mm audio output on my motherboard, which hasn't been an issue since I have usb headphones, but if I get these new ones I'll have two devices and only 1 audio jack. Is there any kind of audio interface or switch that I can use to switch between hardware outputs? I'm suspicious of the 10 dollar aux switches on amazon, it's been my experience that cheap devices like that often cause performance/quality loss.

Edited February 1 by eZGraviity

[191x7]

I would recommend checking Fresh Reviews. He specializes in competitive gaming audio (headphones and IEMs).

 

I recommend the Sennheiser HD 560S or the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X.

If IEMs are an option, I would say the Simgot EM6L, the Truthear Crinacle Zero, or the QKZ x HBB if you'd like to try IEMs but don't want to spend more than 25$ on them.

[PowerPCFan]

I have the HyperX Cloud II Wireless headphones. They're way more focused on gaming than sound quality, but they sound amazing, have decent bass, and use a wireless USB dongle so headphone jacks aren't a problem. 

 

You can also download and install HyperX Ngenuity and make custom sound profiles for gaming, music, balanced, etc. 

[Brooksie359]

I have tried quite a few pair of headphones and the best ones I have found for hearing footsteps and where people are coming from is the hyperx cloud II. Does better than my mx50 or HD600 which are great for music but not as good for gaming focused sounds.

[Cocococo]

There's a chance these will be over your budget depending on location but honestly no gaming headset is even in the same ballpark as the Audeze Maxwell, nothing Steelseries, Razer, HyperX or the million other cheap headset makers comes close. As for the whole directional audio you're wanting at best games use HTRF and compensate more for directional sounds, then the "5.1" or "7.1" virtual surround compensates even more, heavily impacting sound and not being all that good for real directional audio. Meanwhile a pair of headphones like the FiiO FT3 have the best soundstage and imaging you can get up to like 500-ish usd you're more likely to pick up the compensations than a natural sound, the Audeze Maxwell sit in a sweet spot where everything just sounds... better. 

 

If you can't get a pair of Maxwells then the Sennheiser HD560S and Truthear Hexa/ Nova are great picks in this kind of budget (and it leaves you with money left over for an interface of some sort) 

[Tigerleon]

1 hour ago, PowerPCFan said:

I have the HyperX Cloud II Wireless headphones. They're way more focused on gaming than sound quality, but they sound amazing, have decent bass, and use a wireless USB dongle so headphone jacks aren't a problem. 

 

You can also download and install HyperX Ngenuity and make custom sound profiles for gaming, music, balanced, etc. 

That makes no sense. There is no such thing as "focused more on gaming than sound quality". There is just good sound quality, period. If a headphone has good sound quality that means you're missing fewer audio cues. If the headphone is well tuned and balanced or slightly bright with good detail it is even better. No "7.1 surround gaming headset" will be better for gaming only because it is more "focused" on gaming rather than sound quality which is the main point of a headphone that is good.

 

Btw I am not saying that the Cloud II wireless are bad because they aren't. The HyperX Cloud lineup is made from a decent studio headphone. Also, it is just the point you made that is wrong or just sounded wrong

[Tigerleon]

35 minutes ago, Cocococo said:

then the "5.1" or "7.1" virtual surround compensates even more, heavily impacting sound and not being all that good for real directional audio.

Yep it is essentially a layer on top of an already good sound engine in the game which makes it unreliable and sounds even worse.

[eZGraviity]

5 minutes ago, Tigerleon said:

Yep it is essentially a layer on top of an already good sound engine in the game which makes it unreliable and sounds even worse.

How would a headset like the Bose QuietComfort be as an option? I mostly play Warzone, so if the audio encoding coming from the game is correct, and I don't need something that specifies 5.1 or 7.1, would something wireless like the Bose headphones be good?

[Psittac]

8 hours ago, Tigerleon said:

That makes no sense. There is no such thing as "focused more on gaming than sound quality". There is just good sound quality, period. If a headphone has good sound quality that means you're missing fewer audio cues. If the headphone is well tuned and balanced or slightly bright with good detail it is even better. No "7.1 surround gaming headset" will be better for gaming only because it is more "focused" on gaming rather than sound quality which is the main point of a headphone that is good.

 

Btw I am not saying that the Cloud II wireless are bad because they aren't. The HyperX Cloud lineup is made from a decent studio headphone. Also, it is just the point you made that is wrong or just sounded wrong

I have found a couple of gaming headsets to be "good for gaming" and nothing else.  I will say that I have shied away from these thing's and only used them as a token experience, but the razer kraken pro V2 and Turtle Beach stealth 700 xbox were both immersive for video games but garbage for everything else.  I don't know how else to describe it but we need to give "gaming" headsets a little more credit and admit that they can be a blast in games.

 

9 hours ago, Brooksie359 said:

I have tried quite a few pair of headphones and the best ones I have found for hearing footsteps and where people are coming from is the hyperx cloud II. Does better than my mx50 or HD600 which are great for music but not as good for gaming focused sounds.

The HD600 Should have excellent imaging but poor sound stage.  At this point I'm almost wondering if soundstage isn't just a physical false layer between you and your ears similar to 5.1 or 7.1 being a false software layer between the game and you.

 

Though I will say that I'm far to old to be playing FPS games and caring about footsteps.

 

11 hours ago, eZGraviity said:

So I generally play a lot of FPS games, mostly Warzone. I want headphones that can accurately represent the directional audio so I can hear footsteps and what direction they are coming from. I would assume any headset with 5.1 surround sound and a good sound stage can do this. 

 

I was looking at beyerdynamic DT770 Pro or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, but leaning towards the Beyerdynamics. Any thoughts or other recommendations? My budget is anywhere in the 100-300 dollar range. 

 

Alternatively: How does the Logitech G Pro X2 hold up in this consideration?

 

Also, is there a good way to switch between audio outputs? I only have 1 3.5mm audio output on my motherboard, which hasn't been an issue since I have usb headphones, but if I get these new ones I'll have two devices and only 1 audio jack. Is there any kind of audio interface or switch that I can use to switch between hardware outputs? I'm suspicious of the 10 dollar aux switches on amazon, it's been my experience that cheap devices like that often cause performance/quality loss.

I'm going to venture to guess that what you want is imaging, or probably more likely stereo separation which gives you clear and defined left and right.  Imaging is kind of a mix of stereo separation but as I eluded to earlier potentially just hardware trickery.  Something with defined left and right channels will convey exactly what the game is telling you and not a software or physical layer.  IEM's, while I have barely dabbled or used them much, appear to give the best stereo separation, though I wasn't looking for any of that while listening.

 

If you want to get IEM's I'd say go for a Fiio dac/amp and many pairs of cheap chinese IEM's from linsoul.com because IEM's vary wildly based on how they fit, or I think so.

 

If you want to get headphones I'd suggest the Rode NTH-100 because in my book it's a champ among false king's.  And while I can't give any gamer advice on them.... Ask any regular here what headphone I will recommend in the sub $200 range and you'll have your answer.  They don't need a dac or amp and are pleasent to listen to.

[Tigerleon]

13 hours ago, eZGraviity said:

How would a headset like the Bose QuietComfort be as an option? I mostly play Warzone, so if the audio encoding coming from the game is correct, and I don't need something that specifies 5.1 or 7.1, would something wireless like the Bose headphones be good?

Yes but as long as you aren't using bluetooth for gaming. Only wireless 2.4ghz

[Brooksie359]

6 hours ago, Psittac said:

I have found a couple of gaming headsets to be "good for gaming" and nothing else.  I will say that I have shied away from these thing's and only used them as a token experience, but the razer kraken pro V2 and Turtle Beach stealth 700 xbox were both immersive for video games but garbage for everything else.  I don't know how else to describe it but we need to give "gaming" headsets a little more credit and admit that they can be a blast in games.

 

The HD600 Should have excellent imaging but poor sound stage.  At this point I'm almost wondering if soundstage isn't just a physical false layer between you and your ears similar to 5.1 or 7.1 being a false software layer between the game and you.

 

Though I will say that I'm far to old to be playing FPS games and caring about footsteps.

 

I'm going to venture to guess that what you want is imaging, or probably more likely stereo separation which gives you clear and defined left and right.  Imaging is kind of a mix of stereo separation but as I eluded to earlier potentially just hardware trickery.  Something with defined left and right channels will convey exactly what the game is telling you and not a software or physical layer.  IEM's, while I have barely dabbled or used them much, appear to give the best stereo separation, though I wasn't looking for any of that while listening.

 

If you want to get IEM's I'd say go for a Fiio dac/amp and many pairs of cheap chinese IEM's from linsoul.com because IEM's vary wildly based on how they fit, or I think so.

 

If you want to get headphones I'd suggest the Rode NTH-100 because in my book it's a champ among false king's.  And while I can't give any gamer advice on them.... Ask any regular here what headphone I will recommend in the sub $200 range and you'll have your answer.  They don't need a dac or amp and are pleasent to listen to.

The hyperx cloud II actually is decent for other things like music and other stuff. Not as good as audiophile headphones but I would hardly say they have bad sound quality like I have had with other gaming headsets. Also I think it was harder to make out stuff in the HD600 due 0 noise isolation and me not having a quiet ambient noise maybe it would have worked better if I was in a completely quite room but unfortunately that isn't going to happen.

[PowerPCFan]

19 hours ago, Tigerleon said:

That makes no sense. There is no such thing as "focused more on gaming than sound quality". There is just good sound quality, period. If a headphone has good sound quality that means you're missing fewer audio cues. If the headphone is well tuned and balanced or slightly bright with good detail it is even better. No "7.1 surround gaming headset" will be better for gaming only because it is more "focused" on gaming rather than sound quality which is the main point of a headphone that is good.

 

Btw I am not saying that the Cloud II wireless are bad because they aren't. The HyperX Cloud lineup is made from a decent studio headphone. Also, it is just the point you made that is wrong or just sounded wrong

What I meant is that the default sound profile is geared towards gaming. Sorry. That's why I mentioned that "You can download HyperX Ngenuity and make custom sound profiles for gaming, music, balanced, etc."