Headphone Recommendation Needed Please!

[falcon7370]

Well, I am currently looking for a new audio setup for gaming and listening to music. I never realized until just yesterday how much actually exists out there, for this morning I went to pick up a pair of Astro A40s, and then read how they are way overpriced and there is much better out there, so I have been doing research for a lot of the day trying to decide what I want and what is best. 

My Requirements:

• Within my 250$ budget (willing to go to 300$ if need be, but would love to stay around the 250 range)
• Comfort is very important to me, for I have quite a small head, and have realized that not all headsets/headphones work for smaller heads.
• After reading through forums, it seems as if a closed headphone style will be best since I will be gaming primarily, plus have a roommate in college and I am sure he doesn't want to hear everything I am listening to. 
• Cross Platform Capability: This is the primary reason I wanted the A40s was their ability to be completely cross platform. I have a Playstation 4 and want to be able to use my new headset/headphones + mic setup with it as well, even if it requires additional adapters and such.
• As stated, I would like this for music and gaming. I am a big metal/classic metal fan, and is the main music I listen to. Gaming wise, I mainly play strategy and RPG games with some FPS on the side, so immersion is a big thing for me.

Also, it seems as if some headphones require a DAC, which I believe I have in my soundcard, which is another thing to be noted. Yes I know the argument about dedicated sound cards and such and am not here to be criticized for it. I received a Sound Blaster ZxR soundcard for Christmas and I think it has a built-in DAC. Any suggestions are much appreciated, thanks!

 

[Yuval]

Sennheiser PC360?

[falcon7370]

That was one of the ones I was looking at, it seemed to be a pretty nice headset, but I have heard many arguments saying "Oh well this one is better than that" etc. Others included the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro, the DT 700x, and the DT 990 Premium which is currently 38% off on Amazon so its pretty cheap at the moment. 

[Yuval]

That was one of the ones I was looking at, it seemed to be a pretty nice headset, but I have heard many arguments saying "Oh well this one is better than that" etc. Others included the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro, the DT 700x, and the DT 990 Premium which is currently 38% off on Amazon so its pretty cheap at the moment.

The 990s are open back, and leak allot( there is a video about the leakage, what about the dt770? Maybe Shure SRH 840?

[ShearMe]

Real headphoens are better than any gaming headset, but there's no clear consensus as to which is the best headphone. There's plenty of really good ones, though.

[dizmo]

I don't think a gaming headset is going to have near the sound quality of a true pair of headphones. They need to make room for the mic, etc in their cost.

My nod goes towards the DT700's. Also check out the AKG 550's. They're supposed to be quite nice and are around $215 on Amazon down from $349.

 

Honestly though, don't take other peoples opinions on headphones. They're something you really have to try out yourself. Sound is such a personal thing that what sounds awesome to someone else could sound like absolute garbage to you. If your town/city has a decent audio store they'll let you test out the sets.

[falcon7370]

I really like the look of the DT 770s, I'm looking at those and the custom one pros, does anyone have experience with those? And that's just it, I live in a very small town where its impossible for me to go somewhere to try out these headphones, so I have to go off of peoples reccomendations.

[OddballMV]

What about something like these - http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AH-D600-Maniac-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00858I4F2/ref=sr_1_27?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1388590262&sr=1-27, closed back, good price and very good sound quality, a little over budget though.

[ShearMe]

What about something like these - http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AH-D600-Maniac-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00858I4F2/ref=sr_1_27?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1388590262&sr=1-27, closed back, good price and very good sound quality, a little over budget though.

 

Damn dat price.

 

I really like the look of the DT 770s, I'm looking at those and the custom one pros, does anyone have experience with those? And that's just it, I live in a very small town where its impossible for me to go somewhere to try out these headphones, so I have to go off of peoples reccomendations.

 

770's are well regarded. the COPs are meant for portable use, but are still good if you want to pay the premium for portability.

[falcon7370]

That is what I have noticed, the 770s are a favorite among many people. What about Seinheisers? Ive heard a lot of good things about that brand too but there are so many headphones made by them that fall into my price point and i dont know anything about them. Just trying to see all of my options before I dump all this money into a pair

[ShearMe]

I love my Sennheisers. The 558 and 598 are nearly identical, and removing a piece of foam in the 558 makes it even more similar. You can usually find HD 580/600/650's for under $300 used on eBay.

[falcon7370]

I have read about poeple liking those headphones, are there any big differences between those and the DT 770s? or does it mostly come down to preference.

[ShearMe]

I have read about poeple liking those headphones, are there any big differences between those and the DT 770s? or does it mostly come down to preference.

 

It's up to preference.

[falcon7370]

Hmmm, alright. I absolutely love the luxorious look of the HD 598s and theyre on sale on amazon for 190$ right now , and the DT 770s are 165$,I would go for the 600s but thats a huge price jump from the 598s.

[OddballMV]

Hmmm, alright. I absolutely love the luxorious look of the HD 598s and theyre on sale on amazon for 190$ right now , and the DT 770s are 165$,I would go for the 600s but thats a huge price jump from the 598s.

 

Are you sure the open back design wouldn't bother you?

[falcon7370]

Well thats the thing Im trying to decide, I hear that open design is great to have, but with having a room mate thats likes to go to bed early when Im a night person, I feel that its not wise to get an open headphone. Which of those are open? I couldnt find that on their product pages.

[OddballMV]

Well thats the thing Im trying to decide, I hear that open design is great to have, but with having a room mate thats likes to go to bed early when Im a night person, I feel that its not wise to get an open headphone. Which of those are open? I couldnt find that on their product pages.

 

The DT990 are open and all of the Sennehisers mentioned.

[ShearMe]

Well thats the thing Im trying to decide, I hear that open design is great to have, but with having a room mate thats likes to go to bed early when Im a night person, I feel that its not wise to get an open headphone. Which of those are open? I couldnt find that on their product pages.

 

If he's not annoyed by your keyboard, he probably wont be annoyed by your headphones either. Plus, at night, with everything around you quiet, you shouldn't be listening at high volumes.

[falcon7370]

I guess that is true, considering I have a mechanical keyboard, yeah open seems fine . I know open means ventilation, and it allows you to hear your surroundings and such, but what technical advantages does an open have over a closed in terms of the audio you hear and such

[OddballMV]

I guess that is true, considering I have a mechanical keyboard, yeah open seems fine . I know open means ventilation, and it allows you to hear your surroundings and such, but what technical advantages does an open have over a closed in terms of the audio you hear and such

 

Headphone driver emit sound both ways i.e. to wards your ears and out to the outside world. With an closed headphone the sound going away from your ears is essentially reflected back from the closed cup design which will alter the sound. With an open headphone the idea is that with open grills the sound escapes and you get a cleaner sound going into your ears. Not the best explanation but that is the general idea.

[falcon7370]

That makes sense to me, so it seems as if open would be a better choice for me then. Ok, now another question I thought of and I have read so many different arguements about this: virtual surround sound. Now, me being completely new to anything more advanced than a pair of earbuds from walmart audio-wise, is virtual surround sound worth it? i have heard that my sound card I have is excellent at virtual surround sound, but I have heard some people criticize it saying it is not needed and such. WHat is your opinion, cause I am unsure.

[MayflowerElectronics]

That makes sense to me, so it seems as if open would be a better choice for me then. Ok, now another question I thought of and I have read so many different arguements about this: virtual surround sound. Now, me being completely new to anything more advanced than a pair of earbuds from walmart audio-wise, is virtual surround sound worth it? i have heard that my sound card I have is excellent at virtual surround sound, but I have heard some people criticize it saying it is not needed and such. WHat is your opinion, cause I am unsure.

 

No. All it does is add echo and reverberation, making everything sound terrible. Good stereo headphones will be better than any software crap that's on the market.

[RatedBlam]

That makes sense to me, so it seems as if open would be a better choice for me then. Ok, now another question I thought of and I have read so many different arguements about this: virtual surround sound. Now, me being completely new to anything more advanced than a pair of earbuds from walmart audio-wise, is virtual surround sound worth it? i have heard that my sound card I have is excellent at virtual surround sound, but I have heard some people criticize it saying it is not needed and such. WHat is your opinion, cause I am unsure.

Well usually using the "headphone" mode in games with and headphone with a wide soundstage gives you good positional awareness. Logans steelseries 9h review has hum try that, but the 9h is rather closes though.

And personally I've noticed that virtual surround has a reverb/echo effect on it

E: Damn ship that carried pilgrims...

[falcon7370]

Alright, well then it seems that its between the HD 598s, the DT 770s, and the DT 990s then! Thanks everyone !