I use Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms) for competitive shooters and Sennheiser HD800 for singleplayer/immersive games.

My go-to recommendation is Sivga SV007 with V-MODA BoomPro. If you need sound isolation, then I suggest Status Audio CB-1.

If you're open to using a mic such as Antlion ModMic or Massdrop Minimic, then I have other headphone recommendations and suggestions.

If you want virtual surround sound, then you can use e.g. Astro Mixamp Pro TR, Creative Sound BlasterX G6, or Turtle Beach Elite Pro TAC. I recommend SBX Pro Studio from Creative as a virtual surround sound processor; it has less compression and better positional audio than Dolby Headphone.

 

Setup

---

You attach the BoomPro mic by inserting it directly into the headphone, which replaces the original headphone cable.

The cable terminates in a single 3.5 mm connector, so you can connect it directly to the controller or any other device with a headset jack. If you connect it to a regular headphone jack, then the mic won't work. No mics will. If the device has separate headphone and mic ports, then you need to use a TRRS Y-splitter, which is included with the BoomPro.

To connect the headset to the USB port on PS4, you can use an audio USB adapter.

My recommendations:

• Antlion: over twice as loud as the controller.
  
  
• Sabrent: a little quieter than the controller.
  
  
• Ugreen: moderately louder than the controller.
  
  At approximately the same volume, I heard no difference between these and the controller. I heard no hiss, hum, crackling, or other noise. The difference in the mic quality was negligible.
  
   
  
  

  Sound
  

  
  ---
  
  

  
  

  
  SV007:
  
  SV007 a well-balanced sound profile. The mid-bass, which is where boom and punch come from, is a little bit boosted. The sub-bass, which is how deep the bass goes and is where rumble comes from, is a little bit reduced. The overall bass is clean. The treble is close to neutral. It's clean, smooth, and crisp. The midrange is clear, not tinny or muffled. The overall clarity is great.
  
  It has a large soundstage, very good imaging and separation, and good to very good detail retrieval for competitive shooters. I assess headphones mainly in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, a multiplayer game I've played for over 3000 hours and I thrive at relying on sound cues.
  
  Soundstage is perceived space and environment of sound. It's width, depth, and height. I mean the type of soundstage that the headphone produces. Many games have a narrow, shallow, and short soundstage. A small soundstage makes the environment around you sound confined or boxed in. With a large soundstage, the environment sounds more spatial and expansive. Imaging is inherent to the audio content. It's how accurately the locations of sounds/objects are reproduced. Soundstage and imaging constitute positional audio, and you could say they are the stereo equivalent of virtual surround sound. Before you make any stances on virtual surround sound, I recommend that you read this post I wrote. Separation is how you discern individual sounds from a range of overlapping sounds. You don't need to be concerned with this if you play competitively.
  
  

  
  

  
  BoomPro:
  
  You can actually judge for yourself by listening to recordings on YouTube.
  
  I prefer to watch Podcastage for mic reviews.
  
   
  
  

  Build, ergonomics, & features
  

  
  ---
  
  

  
  

  
  SV007:
  
  SV007 has an open design (as you can see with the grilles on the earcups), so sound passes freely in and out, unlike closed headphones which attenuate sound from passing through. The benefits of an open design are generally a larger soundstage and better imaging. If your ears tend to heat up, it may help mitigate this as it allows more airflow and heat to dissipate.
  
  The build is sturdy and lightweight, featuring metal yokes, hinges, and headband. It has no flimsy or squeaky parts. The cups are made of wood. They tilt and swivel and can lie flat. I have average sized ears and the earpads fit around them and don't press them against the inside of the cups. The pads are plush and have a smooth and relatively high-quality protein leather. The headband has decent padding, but the headphone has great weight distribution so it doesn't exert pressure on top of my head and doesn't cause hotspots. Adjusting the headband is smooth and easy and it stays firmly in place. The clamping force is mild and isn't too loose or too tight for my average sized head. The build quality is excellent with a near immaculate finish all around.
  
  

  
  

  
  BoomPro:
  
  BoomPro has a flexible aluminum neck and a tangle-free, braided cable that's free of microphonics. The game volume and mic mute controls are easy to adjust and don't accidentally adjust themselves when rubbing against your clothes. Adjusting them is smooth and consistent, not scratchy, sluggish, or sticky. The mic is as non-obtrusive as a boom mic can be and is almost unnoticeable in my peripheral vision.
  
   
  
  ^Formatted ^in ^Reddit ^Enhancement ^Suite.
  

Funny, these look almost identical to a pair of headphones I bought a year ago:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIVGA-Headphones-Definition-Professional-SV007-Rosewood/dp/B0718VWCB9/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1527325475&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=Wooden+headphones&psc=1

Open back:

• Philips SHP9500s
  
  
• Sivga SV007
  
  Semi open:
  
  
• AT-WS1100iS
  
  
• Fidelio L2
  
  Closed back:
  
  
• Status CB-1
  
  
• BD C1Pro
  
  You could take any of these, pair them with a VModa BoomPro if you want a good boom mic, and be off to the races in style and with no hassles.

Never had good headphones before, looking for a pair to use next year in med school for quality music while studying. Pretty set on Sennheisers just cuz I have friends who've recommended them. I like the style of the ivory 598s but wanted some general input before I bite the bullet. My friend specifically recommended the 598s but didn't give a reason as to why that particular sennheiser model

Budget: $500 USD MAX but preferably <$450

Source: MacBook and PC

Isolation: I'll be studying in coffee shops and quiet libraries both so some is preferred but it doesn't have to be like TOTAL ISOLATION

Use in public: Yes, so some with a travel case would be nice

Preferred Type of Headphones: I've mostly been looking at Sennheisers cuz they're the brand I know the most about. I like "woodsy" styles like the Sennheiser 598 ivory the most but styles like this are cool too (I'm all about aesthetics). I'll need to be able to attach a separate mic for when I game tho

ALSO I'm a small female with a small head so something that won't fall off every time I move my head would be nice. And I wear glasses 24/7 so headphones that won't make my head hurt after 4-5 hours of straight studying would be nice too

Preferred tonal balance: No preference

Past headphones: A $25 pair of Sades Spirit Wolfs bc I needed something ASAP and didn't want to drop $$$$ without a fair amount of research

Preferred Music: Electronic, indie/folk, rap/hip-hop

What would you like to improve on from your set-up: Something that's not cheap and doesn't suck and also looks pretty (again, I like the color/style of the Sennheiser 598 in ivory and also styles with wood)

Location: USA