What's the best combo of microphone and around-hear headphones one can get for around $500?

[CoffeeCupPirate]

I've been looking at a pair of Sennheiser 363Ds to buy in a few months. However, after hearing Linus and other people talk about headphones it dawned upon me, perhaps a headset would not be as good a choice as a pair of headphones w/ a microphone. My primary use for this would be for gaming (All sorts). 

 

EDIT: Wow you guys respond fast.

[M-ursu]

Asus vulcans!

Cheap but very good!

[Volbet]

You could get a pait of Sennheiser HD600 with a modmic or very good USB desk mic. But do you have a dedicated soundcard?

[CoffeeCupPirate]

Asus vulcans!

Cheap but very good!

 

I was thinking about getting Vulcans, as my build is around the Asus ROG series, however that is a headset (And I stated above that I'd like the get headphones w/ a mic).

 

 

You could get a pait of Sennheiser HD600 with a modmic or very good USB desk mic. But do you have a dedicated soundcard?

 

Those Sennheisers do look appealing. The modmic is definitely something I should get. I don't have a dedicated soundcard, the closest to that is the SupremeFX that comes with the Maximus V Formula.

[h264]

I was thinking about getting Vulcans, as my build is around the Asus ROG series, however that is a headset (And I stated above that I'd like the get headphones w/ a mic).

Those Sennheisers do look appealing. The modmic is definitely something I should get. I don't have a dedicated soundcard, the closest to that is the SupremeFX that comes with the Maximus V Formula.

I can't guarantee hd600s will get loud enough on that onboard. You'll have to be my guinea pig and find out.

[Volbet]

Those Sennheisers do look appealing. The modmic is definitely something I should get. I don't have a dedicated soundcard, the closest to that is the SupremeFX that comes with the Maximus V Formula.

The Supreme FX is a very good onboard soolution, but it doesn't touch a dedicated soundcard. You could probably use the HD 600's very well with Supreme FX, but I would recommend you getting a dedicated soundcard as fast as possible. 

[CoffeeCupPirate]

I can't guarantee hd600s will get loud enough on that onboard. You'll have to be my guinea pig and find out.

 

We'll see, if I do get them, I'll come right back to this thread and make an update.

 

 

The Supreme FX is a very good onboard soolution, but it doesn't touch a dedicated soundcard. You could probably use the HD 600's very well with Supreme FX, but I would recommend you getting a dedicated soundcard as fast as possible. 

 

I know I'll be getting a sound card near the end of fall (Probably Xonar Phoebus), so that problem is out of the way. I was looking at the Sennheiser page and found that there was also HD650s. Are those a big difference compared to the HD600s?

[Volbet]

I know I'll be getting a sound card near the end of fall (Probably Xonar Phoebus), so that problem is out of the way. I was looking at the Sennheiser page and found that there was also HD650s. Are those a big difference compared to the HD600s?

They do sound better, but but for use with a PC I recommend sticking to the HD 600's. You will need much better gear than what you can put in a PC to hear the difference between the HD 600's and the HD 650's.

[CoffeeCupPirate]

They do sound better, but but for use with a PC I recommend sticking to the HD 600's. You will need much better gear than what you can put in a PC to hear the difference between the HD 600's and the HD 650's.

 

Will do, thanks for the advice.

[h264]

They do sound better, but but for use with a PC I recommend sticking to the HD 600's. You will need much better gear than what you can put in a PC to hear the difference between the HD 600's and the HD 650's.

Not really a big enough difference for $100 more too. Either would be fine on fancy soundcards, though. Or cheap ones, for that matter, that have headphone amps.

[ShearMe]

NwAvGuy made a review of the HD 650 here, and made numerous comparisons to other high end head phones including the HD 600.

[OddballMV]

Would have though something like a Shure 1440 would be a better option, doesn't need as much of a beefy sound card to drive it but would benefit from one if you choose to get one later down the line.

[h264]

I guess if I had $500 I'd find a cheap AKG K702 (or K601 at >$230) on ebay and get an O2+ODAC.

 

Or perhaps since you'll want plenty of bloom, a Beyerdynamic DT880 or DT990 250Ohm  and a FiiO E10.  You could do that one for under $270 frankly with the 990pro.

[fracking4oil]

Denon D600

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Audio-technica AT2020