Looking to purchase a pair of headphones today, which of the following would you recommend?

[Abdelfattah Radwan]

I purchased the Sades Xpower Plus in early 2020 and it has been serving me well since then, but now, the cable is worn out, it sometimes starts buzzing and playing sound distortedly. So, I was looking to purchase a new pair of headphones today.

 

I mostly play games like 7 Days to Die, Battlefield, Mortal Kombat 1, Empyrion, etc.

 

Most of the time, I am programming and listening to music.

 

I currently have a budget of EGP 7,500 (≈ USD 155) and see two potential options:

• Razer Kraken V3
• HyperX Cloud II

I am not an audiophile, nor do I have the expertise to understand audio-related mumbo jumbo, so I would appreciate it if someone could recommend one, or the other.

 

Thanks.

Edited July 23 by Abdelfattah Radwan
Clarify that I am looking for headphones, not a headset.

[191x7]

Do you need a microphone?

 

If you do, Fiio JT1. If you don't, the Sennheiser HD 560S.

If IEM-s are an option, the Simgot Supermix 4.

[Abdelfattah Radwan]

3 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

Do you need a microphone?

 

If you do, Fiio JT1. If you don't, the Sennheiser HD 560S.

If IEM-s are an option, the Simgot Supermix 4.

Nope, I don't need a mic. The Sennheiser HD 560S is EGP 1,500 above my budget so if no other options arise I will squeeze my wallet and get it. Thanks for the recommendations.

[OddOod]

If you're just looking for cans, I'd get used AT M50X's and some aftermarket thicc ear cups

[Abdelfattah Radwan]

4 hours ago, OddOod said:

If you're just looking for cans, I'd get used AT M50X's and some aftermarket thicc ear cups

What?

 

I am looking for a decent pair of headphones. I don't know if "cans" means bad or good, but I suspect the former

Edited July 23 by Abdelfattah Radwan
Clarify that I want headphones, not headsets.

[OddOod]

7 minutes ago, Abdelfattah Radwan said:

What?

 

I am looking for a decent headset. I don't know if "cans" means bad or good, but I suspect the former

Cans is shorthand for over ear headphones....

[Tigerleon]

3 hours ago, Abdelfattah Radwan said:

I am looking for a decent headset

There is the main problem. You won't get a good pair of headphones with a gaming headset for the price unless you get good ones made from studio/music headphones, for example, the MH752 or MH751, or the HyperX Cloud 2. Those are the only "gaming" headsets that are actually good for the price. Other than that. If you wouldn't need a mic why get a headset? Makes zero sense.

[Abdelfattah Radwan]

1 hour ago, Tigerleon said:

There is the main problem. You won't get a good pair of headphones with a gaming headset for the price unless you get good ones made from studio/music headphones, for example, the MH752 or MH751, or the HyperX Cloud 2. Those are the only "gaming" headsets that are actually good for the price. Other than that. If you wouldn't need a mic why get a headset? Makes zero sense.

Sorry, I usually mistake headphones and headsets. I already have an external microphone and want a pair of headphones that are good for playing games and listening to music.

[Cocococo]

The Shure 440A and possibly 840A are some of my favourite headphones around the budget you're looking at, open backs like the AKG K702, K612 and Sennheiser HD560S (big IF on 560S, Sennheiser are terrible at regional pricing) are going to be better for long term use because they aren't closed backs. Personally i like the Shure's most in this rough price bracket (the Rode NTH-100 and AKG K361/ K371 are great alternatives to Shure but idk how available they are/ priced)

[Blue4130]

4 hours ago, Cocococo said:

 going to be better for long term use because they aren't closed backs.

How does long term use change the effectiveness of the headphones in regards to being open or closed back? Closed back will perform just as well today as they will ten years from now. Same with open back.

[Cocococo]

4 hours ago, Blue4130 said:

How does long term use change the effectiveness of the headphones in regards to being open or closed back? Closed back will perform just as well today as they will ten years from now. Same with open back.

OP is in Egypt, a very warm and potentially humid country where closed backs get super hot and sweaty, they could have kids and need to hear the world around them, or just want to chat on the mic without that awful feedback that you get when talking with closed backs.

 

If OP is isn't in a super hot/ humid part of egypt, and has constant traffic noises by their gaming setup, or just prefers the bass of closed back headphones then 100% closed backs are the way to go.

[Blue4130]

19 minutes ago, Cocococo said:

OP is in Egypt, a very warm and potentially humid country where closed backs get super hot and sweaty, they could have kids and need to hear the world around them, or just want to chat on the mic without that awful feedback that you get when talking with closed backs.

 

If OP is isn't in a super hot/ humid part of egypt, and has constant traffic noises by their gaming setup, or just prefers the bass of closed back headphones then 100% closed backs are the way to go.

All of that is relevant short term also though. That was the only part that made me question your comment. The "long term" part.

[sopris]

i've had the hd560S' a long while back, they were decent. I'd recommend them for someone that wants cheaper or entry level set of cans.

You can also maybe aim for cheaper but higher end set if you buy them second hand - if your okay with that -

for headphones, it doesn't really matter if you buy them second hand. good headphones generally stay good if they are taken care of (not physically damaged, etc)

[Abdelfattah Radwan]

23 days later, here's what happened.

 

Since almost everyone said that the Sennheiser HD 560 S is better than the two headphones I mentioned in my original post, I went to Amazon the next day to purchase them, only to find that the price was raised from EGP 8,900 (USD ~182.01) to EGP 17,200 (USD ~351.75). I was shocked because that was WAY above my budget, so I said screw it and just got the Razer Kraken V3.

 

Oh boy, was I so, so wrong!

 

The audio quality was awful.

 

I tried everything! Enabling THX, disabling it, using Dolby Atmos (via Dolby Access app), using DTS Headphone: X (via DTS Unbound app), tweaking using equalizers, searching online, updating drivers, etc.

 

But, the audio was STILL awful! Not to mention the constant "clicking" and "clipping" when playing games also, there was this constant click that occurred every 10 or 20 seconds, and it drove me MAD!

 

I returned the Razer Kraken V3 the next day and ordered the Sennheiser HD 560 S.

 

GOSH DARN, WHAT A DIFFERENCE! WHAT A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE!

 

Without ANY tweaks or changes, the audio was AMAZING, just AMAZING! Using the spatial audio software (or whatever they are called) I purchased (Dolby and DTS) improves the experience even more! Though I don't know if this is a placebo or real, it doesn't matter, the audio is good either way.

 

The lesson is that when you seek advice from the community use it

 

Thanks, everyone!