#17 in Audio headphones
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Reddit mentions of Superlux HD 681 Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones
Sentiment score: 72
Reddit mentions: 129
We found 129 Reddit mentions of Superlux HD 681 Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones. Here are the top ones.
or
Dynamic50mm Neodymium Drivers CircumauralSemi-Open DesignSelf-Adjusting HeadbandLightweight and Comfortable Fit
Specs:
| Color | Black |
| Height | 7.874 Inches |
| Length | 4.21259 Inches |
| Weight | 0.60847584312 Pounds |
| Width | 7.36219 Inches |
"Surround sound" is a gimmick when talking about headphones of any kind. The real determining factors in how good the 'surround sound' will be are these:
For reference I have used many gaming headsets over the years (Astro A50, TurtleBeach X1, Logitech G933, HyperX Cloud II) and even more headphones (Beyerdynamic DT1990 and DT990, Sennheiser HD600 and HD598, Etymotic ER-4P, Shure SE215, Audio Technica ATH-AD900x and A900x, and AKG K701). I will always recommend someone buy a decent sent of headphones (even that superlux I linked earlier is nicer sounding than the Cloud II) and a dedicated microphone over a headset. I see a lot of people with over the top gaming rigs that then skimp on peripherals and especially audio. If you are gaming for hours on end, treat your ears to something nicer than a gaming headset.
I'm not sure that comparison works, because the deal with Beats is that you can get something that sounds better for a lot less, while that's not true with Steam. (Though I wouldn't dare go outside wearing my favorite pair of headphones).
I agree with the other comments here, don't worry about spending more to get more. If you haven't heard decent headphones (designed for the sound quality not the looks or marketing) then something cheaper will still be impressive.
Here are some recommendations to get you started:
Open Back
Closed Back
Open back is a headphone that allows sound to leak out and lets noise around you in. Closed back isolates you from surrounding noises and prevents noise from leaking out. If you will only be using these at home I would recommend open back. They generally sound better for the price.
Superlux HD681
https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
Actually maybe it's some red special edition of the AKG k240 mk2
You'd be hard pressed to do better than these at under $32
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373813732&sr=8-1&keywords=superlux+hd+681
I bought a pair of Superlux HD681 headphones for $30 4 years ago and they still work great today. The cord is just a tad bit frayed where it connects to the headphones but the wires are still in great condition and haven't failed for the 2 years they've been like that. My friend's HD668B's have long since failed due to the removable headphone jack failing.
I was only expecting to use it for a year or two.
What's your budget?
General rule of thumb is to avoid headsets. You can get a much better sound and a better mic if you buy them separately. Do a search in /r/headphones or on head-fi.org and I think most people would agree. Not to say that all headsets are terrible but you can just get a much better bang for your buck if you buy them separately.
If you're doing it on my budget, my recommendation would be these headphones (Superlux HD 681) and this mic. If you can spend more money that opens up many, many more options.
If you want to do more reading, check out head-fi.org. Everything you need to know is available there.
These are not worth $40, but definitely worth $25. I have the HD335s which is the mobile version and they sound pretty good. Still the HD201 is only $20, and the Superlux HD681 is only 6 bucks more.
Beginners kits get asked often here. Here is what I wrote up a few weeks ago for beginners kits:
A beginners kit on a tight budget ~$180:
A good beginners kit ~$700:
An advanced hobbyist's kit ~$1975:
Buy headphones made for listening to music, and not for 'gaming'. For instance these https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI got better audio quality than any gaming headsets.
Under $60 is a bit of a struggle for good quality headphones but here is one for about $30. If you wanted a more open design, here is another just over your price range.
Headsets almost always sound like absolute crap and you're better off just buying a good pair of stereo headphones and adding a mic to it, but, if you really want a headset the only two options you should consider as of now are:
The Hyper X Cloud I and II - These weren't made by Kingston. They are rebranded Takstar Pro 80s which are one of the best budget closed headphones you can buy. They are really good.
The Sennheiser's - They are based on non-gaming Sennheiser's and generally sound pretty decent.
All in all if you really want the best sounding experience, a good and cheap solution would be some type of open back headphones (better soundstage, makes it easier to pin point the enemy's location in game).
Superlux makes some criminally inexpensive sets of open cans, but the pads suck, so if you buy one of these make sure you buy good pads, like the Brainwavz HM5 pads from Amazon.
The one I use is the Philips SHP9500, it's a 300$ sounding headphone for 60-100$ depending on where you live.
Just wanted to give you my opinion since I happen to like headphones very much.
Disclaimer:
I don't know A LOT about audio quality and what to consider when buying topnotch headphones, however:
A few months ago I was looking for a gaming headset (headphones+mic) myself and found the following combination on a German web page (their discussion board is very appreciated in Germany):
Superlux HD 681 - £27 on Amazon
Zalman Zm-Mic1 - £10 on Amazon
I never had expensive headphones before but the guys on the board stated that the Superlux HD681 go head to head with some €150 AKG headphones. I, for my part, have no comparison but I really like them and have yet to find their downside. The mic is good too, but it falls of the cord quit frequently cause I move quite a lot.
I also bought the headphones along with velvet ear cushions like those (£10 on Amazon), which make long gaming sessions very comfortable.
You now spent only about £47 so you still have half of your budget for a nice audio card, enhancing your audio-experience even more.
I hope I could support you a little bit for your buying decision and please excuse me for my bad English. =)
Edit: formatting
Superlux HD 681
> Superlux hd668b
This is a terrible recommendation because they are a gateway drug to owning 3 different pairs of cans for no reason along with a Desktop headphone amp.
Also the Superlux HD 681 are $29 and would also work well. ;-)
I love the sound quality on these. I wanted a nice pair of headphones for my PC but couldn't afford a super expensive pair. These fit the bill perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GHIPYI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Your post is going to be removed due to rule #1.
🎧 Headphones
Personal recommendations:
Sound: Has a large soundstage, good imaging, clarity and detail retrieval and decent separation. It doesn't over- or under-emphasize the bass or treble. The bass can sound a little muddy in e.g. blasts and explosions. I've explained the sound characteristics further down.
Build: Is closed-back and over-ear. Durable and very lightweight. The cups tilt and swivel, so they should adjust to the shape of your head nicely. The earpads have decent quality and are soft and removable, but they're shallow.
Sound: Has a medium soundstage, good imaging, separation and detail retrieval and very good clarity. It doesn't over- or under-emphasize the bass or treble.
Build: Is open-back and over-ear. Durable and lightweight. The cups tilt and swivel and the cable detaches. The earpads have good quality and they're soft and removable, but they're shallow.
Sound: Has a large soundstage, I'd say 50% bigger than SHP9500. It has very good imaging, separation, clarity and detail retrieval. It has emphasized treble and a small boost in the mid-bass.
Build: Is semi-open-back and over-ear. Sturdy and lightweight. The cups tilt and swivel. The cable and earpads are detachable. The earpads have bad quality and are shallow, so I recommend replacing them with pads from HiFiMAN.
Sound: Has the same soundstage as HD668B. It has very good clarity and good detail retrieval, but has poor imaging and separation. It's warm sounding with deep bass.
Build: Is semi-open-back and over-ear. Durable and lightweight. The cups tilt and swivel. The cable and earpads are detachable. The earpads have decent quality and are soft and detachable, but they're shallow and the drivers stick out quite a bit, so I recommend taking out the loose felt inside the cups, unless you're sensitive to treble, and replacing the earpads with pads from HiFiMAN or pads from Brainwavz.
I also compare to AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x, Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohms), HiFiMAN HE400i, HyperX Cloud, Monoprice Monolith M1060, Philips Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD700. I strongly advise against HyperX Cloud / Cloud II / CloudX if you don't need closed-back. I recommend K52 over them for closed-back. My evaluations derive mostly if not only from gaming (so take it with a grain of salt for music listening). I can't emphasize enough that perceived performance in headphones is relative.
 
Highly regarded alternatives:
 
Terminology:
Headphones that have cups with solid shells that largely isolate sound from passing in and out.
Headphones that have cups with perforations/grills that allow outside sound to freely pass in and sound from the drivers to freely pass out. How loud you hear outside sound and how loud people around you hear the sound emanating from the headphones depend on your volume, of course. The sonic benefit to open-back is generally a big soundstage.
Perceived space and environment of sound. It can be compared to virtual surround sound; both attempt to produce the same spacious, three-dimensional effect. VSS can sound more ambient and immersive, which depends on the processor (CMSS-3D, Dolby, SBX, etc.), but it degrades the sound quality and diminishes detailing due to compression from digital processing. You might also experience less accurate imaging and separation if the headphone already has good imaging and separation. Note that a deep soundstage is equally important as a wide soundstage.
Determines how accurately sounds/objects are positioned across the soundstage. And I mean where they are positioned and not merely what direction they come from. This distinction is important because being able to tell only what direction objects come from isn't good enough to me when playing against people.
Separating individual sounds from a range of sounds. Good separation makes it easier to filter out or discern overlapping sounds from other sounds and track them.
 
---
 
🔊 Microphones
Attachable to headphones:
Uses a clasp system and is easy to attach and remove. Is compatible with all headphones. Comes with and without a mute switch.
Uses a clasp system and is easy to attach and remove. Is compatible with all headphones. Has a mute switch and is modular. Is only available via drops on Massdrop.com. I recommend requesting it if you want to wait for it.
Connects to the headphone's jack, replacing the headphone cable. Is compatible with Philips SHP9500 and Status Audio CB-1. Has a mute switch and a volume control.
Alternatives:
Well I have a pair of these and they sound very good. Open back so good for gaming. But they also sound very good for movies/shows. I also have a pair of their cheaper pair. I would suggest the hd668bs if your budget is including the mic. (watch MD for them though as I got my 668b's for the same price as the 681's). Also if you decide to go with either of those. Get the AKG 240 comfort pads trust me. Enough of my biased suggestions. These are also decent, I have used a pair of these for gaming and they sound pretty good IMO. They would also be good for media.
There is other good headphones out there within your budget, but i won't recommend anything I haven't personally used. Read through what others suggest as well.
For the price:
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1451663940&sr=1-2&keywords=superlux+hd
Is really solid, pretty much the most recommended cheapo headphone out there.
I second using open or semi-open headphones. Originally I had these for reasons unrelated to Melee / gaming but I use these Superlux HD 668B headphones I got a couple years ago. At $50 they won't break the bank, and I've read that for the sound quality you're getting for the money they're quite nice.
Edit: I dunno anything about them but maybe the $40 semi-open Superlux HD 681 might be even better?
I wouldn't bother with cheap headset, as you said they all break. Go with a pair of headphones and a clip on mic. A Superlux 681 with Zalman ZM-mic1 will cost you just over $30 but will net you much better quality and endurance:
https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_bxgy_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4DMRC8X0KK1DN889W7NW
You wrong though
Forget about that headset completely.
Grab these headphones and a mic like this one
Simlar to what u/Twak83 and u/Markyy88 said.
Budget line up 1
Open back, so you'll be able to hear your self somewhat.
Maybe the Samson Meteorite Mic instead? Sony clip-on condenser mic?
I personally got my pair of used HyperX Cloud for $50. They're based off the Takstar pro80, a great pair of budget, entry level hifi headphones.
Subs to check. r/hardwareswap r/avexchange r/headphones
Definitely look at this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fD-M1F6L4g
I use the same mic and these headphones. The quality is much better than a "gaming headset".
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GHIPYI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Just over a year ago I did a bunch of research in audiophile subreddits and fourms. These were the best 'budget' headphones that kicked ass. If i remember correctly they were like "Just get these until you are willing to spend $200+. and even then these superlux make some $200 headphones sound like crap"
I don't use them anymore because I ended up getting a wireless headset a few months ago. But my g/f uses them everyday and loves them. They are still holding up well even after a year and half of ownership and abuse.
One main issue is that most headphones/earphones have loud spikes along the frequency response. The ear and brain has a curve called the equal-loudness contour that defines how loud sound has to be to be perceived at an equal level. The problem is 99% of headphones don't follow this, and have certain frequencies at which they are upwards of 30db louder than at others.
This causes a big problem where at even a normal volume level, that one area is super loud, and most people don't notice because across the whole spectrum, the average loudness level seems normal. That is why you can ear the snare hits or clicks across the bus, but not the other frequencies. Unfortunately it is also at high frequencies that hearing damage happens more readily.
A pair of affordable headphones that most accurately matches the ear's equal loudness contour is the Superlux HD 681. You can buy them from ebay or amazon for $50 or under:
Superlux HD 681 on Amazon
Make sure you get the HD 681 and not the 681 EVO. This company is little known because they mostly make recording microphones. Coincidentally these cheap headphones are preferred by artists and recording mixers/engineers over thousand dollar headphones because of the clarity/quality due to this reason. Their sound signature matches the ears equal-loudness contour. THEY SOUND AMAZING because superlux actually knows how to design headphones for quality rather than looks. This is not a subjective claim - this is the objective reason behind why they sound good. You might want to also get the ear cushions called HPAEC840 for best comfort.
In theory headphones designed like these sound objectively perfect and will not create holes in your ear's hearing response because they won't damage small areas without you realizing. You can have the volume higher without unnoticeably feeding your ears sounds that are 30db higher.
Still, listen to music quieter and discover that the level you listen to is actually creating distortion. At a level most people deem normal, it is actually loud enough to cause your ears to engage mechanisms to dampen sound to protect themselves. Most people don't feel the mild ear pain and significant distortion that comes when you have sound over 90db, because they're just used to it.
Some people haven't damaged their ears and have also psychologically preserved their sound sensitivity by not raping it with distorted noise, and will continue to be able to hear as well as notice a pin drop until they're 100 years old.
I use a Behringer XM8500 microphone, about $20. You'll also need a mic stand of some sort though, because this is a performance mic. It's really good quality, though. This is what I use on the Gamer's Tavern for podcasting.
I also use Superlux HD 681 headphones, but if you don't want a headset, you probably won't want these. They're a little overkill anyway (I'm plugged into a mixer adjusting levels for recording). But use something like earbuds at least, otherwise there's a chance for echo on the feed.
Edit: I'm assuming you're talking about an online tabletop game via something like Skype or Hangouts. If you're talking about something else like World of Warcraft or something on a console, the push-to-talk is more a feature of whatever program you're using to talk.
I think this might be a good option.
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348755334&sr=8-1&keywords=superlux
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425581800&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=superlux+hd+581
+
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
I disagree completely. Ear buds are probably the worst thing for asmr videos. Open back or semi open over the year headphones are the best. If you're someone who listens to a lot of binaural videos there is no better option. The sound stage you get from a good pair of open back over the ear headphones is rivaled by nothing else. You don't get a sound stage with earbuds.
I would recommend these. You won't find a better pair of headphones at that price point. These are audiophile quality headphones at a bargain.
Try getting a $30 Sennheiser or whatever the fuck headset and it will work just as well. Turtle beach/astro is great if you want to look cool but it's bullshit. This one's great.
Try these:
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422721547&sr=8-2&keywords=headphones+668
This brand was actually recommended to me by /r/headphones I have the $50 dollar version and they are superb.
These are based on recommendations from the head-fi.org community.
You should check out the Superlux HD 681.
They are highly recommended in German speaking forums and they give a lot of bang for the buck. I have the Evolution Version and I'm using it for music (mainly Hip-Hop and Lo-Fi Beats) and also for gaming and I really can recommend those!
Superlux HD681s are the single best cheap headphones I've ever used. They were like $80 at launch but you can get them for around $32 new now (Amazon)
I'm looking at getting a new headset with a mic for gaming and online communication.
I went to the purchase assistant, and looked at the options there. I was thinking of a SHP9500 with the V-Moda boom, but I'm hearing both praise and criticisms at the 9500. Also, I was only able to find them for $130, which is a little more than the ~$60 USD the assistant had. The alternatives I'm looking at are the Superlux 668B ($57), 681 (about the same price), or the 681-EVO ($72). However, I don't know if there's compatibility between the V-Moda and any of these, I've never used a mic that didn't come attached to the headset before. If I look for an all-in-one package, maybe a HyperX Cloud ($104)? I'm just going by the recommendations in the Assistant page here, I've got no idea what I'm doing, I just want the best value for my dollar, and a headset that doesn't creak.
Not the most expensive rig in the world, but I love every part of it and recommend it all:
i7 2600k w/ Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
4x Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 4GB 1600 RAM dual channel
2x GTX460 1GB DDR5 in SLI
Corsair HX 750W power supply
Asus Xonar DG (Dolby Headphone virtual surround) sound card [link]
Logitech G13 gamepad [link]
CM Storm Xornet mouse [link]
Logitech K120 keyboard
Superlux HD681 headphones [link]
Zalman ZM-MIC1 clip-on microphone [link]
that's probably because you have shitty headphones plugged into your 3.5mm port. These will give you a great pair of headphones for really cheap: http://smile.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI?sa-no-redirect=1
Then, just buy a modmic for $20 and you've got a headset that will blow your headset out of the water and is still cheap.
avoid gaming headset, buy a good pair of headphones and a seperate microphone, you'll get much better sound quality for the price, especially in the headphones department.
For $70, I would recommend the Samson SR850 headphones with these Velvet earpads because the stock earpads are pretty bad, but the headphones sound GREAT for the price. Build quality is average.
For a mic, the Zalman ZM Mic1 is a common mic. It sounds great and it easily attaches to your headphones cable (those Samson) have a pretty thick cable so it won't fall off).
ALTERNATIVELY:
Superlux HD 668b Identical sounding to the Samsons, but are designed differently, sometimes are cheaper, those earpads are still recommended)
Superlux HD 681 or 681 EVO They basically sound like the 668b/SR850, but just a little worse overall, but you won't beat them for $30. The earpads are still recommended.
My fiance actually added something to my wishlist the other day, otherwise I would have no idea what he wants me to get him.
He's one of those guys that's just like "I don't want anything for my birthday." or "I don't know, just something cheap."
This and this are what he is currently salivating over.
I'm in love with this goofball.
i use a combination of these headphones and a clip on mic for a headset. the only thing i don't like is that that particular mic is very sensitive and picks up pretty much everything. it's also excessively long, but you can just tie it up.
also, if your PC is like mine and only has one audio jack, you can use a usb sound card to plug in both
I'd avoid headsets, you can get better value with a mic and headphone for $30.
Superlux HD-681 headphones
Zalman lapel microphone
Optional: The headphones are really great and have a comfortable headband, but some people don't like the earpads, here are some cheap fake velour ones link
There's some great shit out there for under $30, like https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI I used those for a year.
> I play with my speakers instead of headphones because I find my headset tends to cut me off too much from my family, isolating me in a little zone where they can't talk to me.
Are you aware of open-back headphones? My wife and I are still working at the child part, but open-back headphones makes hearing/talking to people around you a lot easier.
here are a couple of cheap examples if you'd be interested in trying them out first and second
If sound quality matter to you buy headphones and a mic.
You will get better quality for your money.
If you want to spend the absolute minimum just buying a cheap mic (like /u/noNoParts recommended) is the best idea. Unless you want to produce video- or audiocontent with your voice there is no need to spend more money on a mic.
Concerning headphones I don't have much experience in the very low budget bracket. That said I've heard good things about the Superlux HD-681 for about 30$.
As far as output equipment: Any decent pair of closed / semi-closed headphones with some isolation, your choice. I'm currently wearing some of the cheapest semi-closed cans I've tried - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GHIPYI/ .
For mastering very quiet audio, particularly binaural audio if you ever go that route, my understanding is that even the best speakers in a dedicated anechoic room just don't approach headphones.
the superlux hd681 is amazing for mixing and also just for listening to music. also mad cheap. really underrated piece of gear
While I am no expert on the subject, I would not start out by blowing a fortune on headphones. I use these 30$ ones, and they work just fine. I could spent 20 times that and suck just as much at making music :)
I have the Superlux HD 668B's myself. They're low impedance so you don't need a dedicated amplifier to drive them which is a good thing if you're on a budget, and good for recording purposes. They're a knock off of the AKG k 240s, which is a $150 headphone. The Superlux's sound almost as good. I don't think anything can beat it for the price.
Edit: link to both headphones, 668B's and 681's
Do you have a computer? US or somewhere else? electric or acoustic guitar? Any other instruments?
Interface
Microphone
DAW: Audacity. You can use garageband if you have OSX.
Headphones, if you need them. These are a great budget choice.
$210ish?
$180ish if you have headphones.
Gotcha.
I'll give you three different options.
The first would be the Roland Cube 80. Sweetwater has these on sale right now for $220 (I know, I know) -- but this is a legit amp. You can gig with one of those. In This video Captain Lee has 250 pounds (~$325USD after factoring in tax) and goes with the cube 80 to keep up with Rob's all-tube Fender Bassbreaker 15. his tone is pretty fantastic as well.
Option 2: Yamaha THR5. These are killer amps for the price. not as loud as the roland, but maybe a bit more versatile. It can even run on batteries, so you can just grab it and play anywhere.
Option 3: headphones. Your Zoom has some pretty damn decent models in it. Unless you're going to go play gigs or with others (which I'd recommend doing as soon as you think you might be ready), You'll do best to just plug your guitar into the zoom, run a good set of headphones to it, and jam away.
Couple of options here. if you're not sure you want to commit to this route, These Superlux headphones are a phenomenal buy anyway. They're the same ones that come with most of the $2-300 "home studio" bundles, so you can easily use them for recording down the road if you change your mind and go with an amp. But they're nice, loud, clear, and comfortable. If you want to spend a bit more, You literally can't go wrong with the Grado SR80e
Note that both of these headphones are also great for listening to music through your phone/computer/whatever as well.
Superlux HD 681 for $31 is probably your best bet
Budget - $80-$100 total
Source - PC and Moto X
Isolation - Semi-open at worst, closed preferable.
Type - IEM and over
Balance - Flat or slightly bassy, not V
Past - Meelec A151 and Klipsh S4-II
Music - Variety of techno
When the A151s broke, I ordered the S4s and a new jack. Was pleased when jack worked and hated Klipsh's flat cable. Now the jack is broken again and I'm looking for new buds. I'm reposting from yesterday in an attempt to get more opinions.
I've been looking around this sub, and I've whittled my list down to these, with durability being the advice I'm searching for:
IEMs:
Monoprice 8320- Heard they sounded great for the price, but it's the price and the gimmicky chrome plastic that has me worried.Cans:
Creative Aurvana Live!- Read that they're weak as paper, and a bit pricey for me.Monoprice 8323- Numerous reports of the headband cracking and losing one side of sound.Superlux HD 681Very well sounding for the price range, but also very leaky.Again, I'm looking for price, but durability is currently more important.
Superlux
Monoprice
Koss
Couple choices you need to make. Do you care about isolation? Are you gonna be listening to grindcore on them during class? If so you want closed backs.
If you don't care about isolation, open or semi open backs may be preferable, as they will generally give you a better soundstage. The reasons for that and the exceptions are manifold, but it's a pretty good general statement.
You say you want over-ear? I have these and these and I recommend both. The second link, make sure you select the style (under the price) to be 250 Ohm Pro. Just an older model that didn't get the refresh the others did. nbd. Still awesome cans.
How much money do you WANT to spend on headphones? I mean, you said you could spend up to $250, but wouldn't you rather spend $30 on headphones and $220 on something else like more music or concert tickets? If you spend $250 on cans, you're gonna hold them to a standard that will result in wanting to spend even more to see how much better they are. In /r/headphones there are no survivors, only junkies with good really advice. (Mine: Don't get hard into the headphone hobby. Buy a pair that is really good and love them and use them a ton, but for fucks sake stop there.)
Or don't. Whatever. Your money.
http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide
I used this and got a $30 pair that are pretty amazing - Superlux HD 681
This is normally my go to recommended headphones, but it's like half the price in the States.
My normal suggestion is to get a microphone and headphones and pair theme up since they'll sound better all around than any headset that costs a similar price. I'm honestly having a hard time fitting your budget. If you were in the states, this would be easy.
These headphones are slightly not as good as the other ones, but an easy suggestion to make when you can't pay for the HD688B and I know it's a bit of a hassle, but you could pair it with this lav mic. You wouldn't need to but the lav mic on your shirt, you should be able to place it on the head phone cable and just keep them together.
The only headsets I recommend are the HyperX Cloud headsets from Kingston. This one fits just right in with your budget. They're actually pretty good, but might be marginally worse than the headphone+microphone setup I've suggested, but also a bit more convenient.
Speakers for 20$ are really bad, I recommend headphones for 30, these are surprisingly good for the price, comparable to Shure SRH440 which are three times the price
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410710437&sr=8-1&keywords=superlux+hd681
Are you talking about the Superlux HD 681? As far as I can tell from the comments, that one has an integrated cord?
You probably don't have any experience with these but how would This headphones srack up against the m20x's?
Not the EVOs, these seem to share the same name: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GHIPYI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2LXBKOLL3J3K6
There's actually a whole subreddit dedicated to this.
I swear by these though, Superlux HD 681. They're comfortable and have excellent sound.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GHIPYI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
How would they compare to these headphones. I got them a few months ago because they were cheap but they work surprisingly well, would it be worth it to upgrade to Sennheier HD 598 or would I need a bigger jump to notice the difference?
CPU | Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor | £96.29 @ Novatech
Motherboard | ASRock B75M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard | £52.82 @ Amazon UK
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | £37.08 @ Amazon UK
Storage | Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | £49.57 @ CCL Computers
Video Card | Asus Radeon HD 7770 2GB Video Card | £131.56 @ Amazon UK
Case | NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case | £33.47 @ Scan.co.uk
Power Supply | OCZ 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply | £49.98 @ Ebuyer
Optical Drive | Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer | £12.58 @ CCL Computers
Monitor | AOC E2243FW 21.5" Monitor | £105.88 @ Ebuyer
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) | £72.96 @ CCL Computers
Keyboard | Microsoft Sidewinder X4 (UK Layout) Wired Standard Keyboard | £32.48 @ Amazon UK
| | Total
| Prices include shipping and discounts when available. | £674.67
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-10 19:06 BST+0100 |
Back when I was researching this myself, there were a few threads mentioning that the Beyerdynamic Velour pads negatively affected the sound. Don't remember details, but the AKG velours seem pretty universally accepted as the pads to get. Have them on my Superlux 668b/Samson SR850 and love them. :)
Edit: And wow, the HD681s are only 29.95 on Amazon right now. Have enough headphones but having a hard time passing a pair up...damnit...lol.
Here are some threads on various forums I had bookmarked to look through if you have the time (literally hundreds of pages) which should have all the pad info in them somewhere:
Superlux Express Train
The Superlux Superfans Thread
Superlux Fan Club, For music lovers with tight budget :D
Superlux HD-681 modifications
What advantage?
It's not like only some people get sound. Everyone does. Just turn off whatever music you're blasting in the background and plug in a $30 set of cans
 
As for the camping; I've played a lot of BO3 for the past months. Even w/o Awareness equipped enemy players running sound like dumptrucks. Only snipers stick to one position, and no one sits in a corner surrounded by mines.
WWII on the other hand is one big camp fest, where people barricade themselves behind s-mines, because they have no way of knowing if an enemy is approaching. No footsteps remove a big part of the situational awareness, and up the randomness of deaths
Budget around £90
I've been looking into getting a headset and I was either going to get the SteelSeries Serbia V2 or the Hyperx Cloud but i got recommended [this] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=26U53TNS2CUQM&coliid=I1RJ68F25WDC11 ) and this but are these truly going to be better than just getting a headset?
Superlux 681s. Very cheap, and have fantastic reviews at every audiophile site. I'm not an expert, but it seems the consensus is that these are one of the best sound quality/price values around. Just got mine recently, and having never used an open headset before, the size of the soundstage really shocked me. Going to be hard to go back to any IEMs.
Caveats:
So after poking around in /r/headphones a bit, the Superlux HD 681 has caught my eye. Semi-open seems best for ease of transportation. Good bass, which is definitely something I would want. The isolation seems decent going off reviews, and I'd certainly want that for tournaments. The price seems fairly affordable, though I dunno how much of that is due to Amazon sale and how much of it is because its just cheap lol. Thoughts?
EDIT: Actually, I haven't really looked into good IEM's before. Would it be possible for IEM's to have enough isolation that it would block out outside noise? (One of the main reasons I listen to music is so I can't heard crowd chatter/commentary.)
Yeah. The Superluxx Solution with an external Mic is absolutely awesome and beats any Complete HS far 150 USD.
You can go the "New" Variant what costs a bit more:
HS: HD 681 Evo
Mic: Reloop
With this Combination youve got a real Headset Style, cause the Microfone will sit Right were other Mics are on the regular Headsets.
Now to the "Classic" Combination, cheaper but no loss in Quality:
HS: HD 681
Mic: Zalman Mic1
With both Solutions youre ready to go.
Only thing to Mention. You WILL need Soundcard with Headset Amplifier such as:
for PCI Slot: Xonar DG
for PCI-Ex Slot: Xonar DgX
Both are Equal in Sound Quality, take the one who fits in your computer, and then:
Enjoy awesome Sound :)
I'm using a Superlux HD 681 that I got for my PC with my 3DS. They're bigger than the 3DS itself!
As for something more portable any basic pair of earbuds or on-ear headphones would work.
As far as cheap gaming headphones go
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
cant be beat.
the samson sr850 is also basically the exact same thing
Please do this, I have a ~$30 dollar pair of open-ear studio headphones and they work amazing.
https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
And if you're looking for higher-end ones, I'd recommend checking out /r/headphones as they have an awesome tiered list in the sidebar.
Again, these are going to be worn with glasses, so I'd like something that's A) Comfortable, and B) Durable (the frames won't wear them off).
Some I've been looking at:
Superlux HD-662 Closed Back
Sony MDRV6
Superlux HD 681 (Semi-open, I know, but worth considering given the price)
Sennheiser HD 439
Or anything else you suggest! Thank you!
> I'd say anywhere from $50-80 pretty flexible here. The game he wants to play the most is a shooter that requires very good sound location.
Oof. Sometimes I forget how hard it is to buy headphones in Canadollars. I'll do my best, here, but that's a pretty tall order - the cheapest of the iconic good shooter headphones is a good $60~ above that budget.
>A mic is required but I know I would get annoyed by a clip on mic. Can it just sit on the desk/monitor?
Standalone mics tend to cost a little more and pick up more environmental noise, but it's possible. Kinda pushing the budget even with the ZM-Mic1 though.
>Sound isolation isn't a huge deal, if it could block out regular talking with the volume on that would be fine.
Open headphones can block out speech volume noise when played at safe volumes, so I'll put that down as "not needed".
>He likes rock/blues and some rap too. He didn't really plan on using them for music much, but if we get him a decent pair I'm sure he will change his mind.
Well, here's hoping. Good headphone can change music fer ya. Incidentally, if you ever want to get a taste of audio bliss for yourself, there's a lotta up left to go from those G930s of yours...
Depending on what you can find a suitable mic for, you might be able to fit a [Takstar HI2050] (http://www.amazon.ca/Deep-deal-Takstar-Monitor-Headphone-Computer/dp/B00JNN3ENK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1448998004&sr=1-1&keywords=takstar+hi2050). Honestly, this is probably one of the best sub-$100 headphones (that'd be more like sub-$160 for you Canadians) I've ever heard. The HI2050 has a clear sound without being too bright/shrill, with fairly solid mids and not terribly rolled-off bass, which is atypical of open headphones this cheap. Pretty well-built, too - feels about as good as Sennheiser's HD5x8s to me, which are twice the price.
If more money must be left for mics, however, [Superlux's HD681] (http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/superlux-hd-668b-and-hd-681-headphones) [is a cheaper alternative] (http://www.amazon.ca/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1448997934&sr=8-6&keywords=samson+sr850). To be entirely honest, the HD681 sounds like a cheaper headphone than the HI2050: it's got a shrill character to its treble, and the bass is pretty limited. Ergonomics aren't as good either. Still, for that much less, some sacrifices have to be made, I suppose. The Superluxes are still fairly good at positional audio, at least for their price, and their sound is relatively clear and airy, which is a nice contrast to the muddy sound of many cheaper headphones.
Another option you could aim for - though your odds of hitting it are...iffy - would be Philips' SHP9500. Dubbed the "SuperHypePhone" on /r/headphones for the cult following it attracted, the SHP9500 packs a mean sound for a headphone you can find for $55-70...if you're lucky. Since the hype train got rolling on it, the SHP9500 has been $150+ most places, so you need to monitor /r/headphones for the inevitable "SHP9500 $70 again!!!!" post if you wanna hit it for that money. I, personally, prefer the HI2050, though I will say that the SHP9500 has two features I suspect your friend would like: 1, the pads are huge (albeit not deep), which is a pretty big ergonomic plus for a lotta folks, and 2, it has a detachable cable that makes it compatible with V-Moda's BoomPro cable, which basically turns any headphone with the right kinda detachable cable jack into a headset with a pretty nice mic, no clipping-on and second cable required.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GHIPYI/?tag=pcpapi-20
Unfortunately the SHP9500s are £110 here, so not the best value.
In terms of open, how good are these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samson-SR850-Professional-Reference-Headphones/dp/B002LBSEQS/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-Howard-HD681-Superlux-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/
I've seen graphs that make the 681s look really neutral but loads of people seem to be saying that they have a very strong V shaped curve, which is confusing to me.
SR850s seem to be an update of those, not sure which would be more neutral.
I have found HM5 rebadges for cheaper though - £45 delivered from https://www.studiospares.com/Headphones-and-Speakers/Headphones-Studio/Studiospares-M1000-Studio-Headphones_448760.htm
Are HM5 (M1000 here) a lot better than SR850 / HD668B / HD681 ?
Interestingly, they seem to do an open version called M2000, which i've read are less neutral and don't really sound "open".
Indeed HM5 seem to be a rebrand themselves of these:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/495561/review-fischer-audio-fa-002-and-fa-003-two-to-tango
So, need to decide between those cheap open ones I mentioned or the rebadged HM5 for a tiny bit more. Whichever is better quality really.
Or would Sennheiser HD558 for £60 be better value?
Or can you think of any other open possibilities?
Thanks!
http://smile.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI?sa-no-redirect=1 these ones are supposed to be god tier for the price according to the headphones subreddit. Snag yourself a ten dollar mic and you're good to go
Don't do it.
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
or
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD668B-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B003JOETX8
+
http://www.amazon.com/Speedlink-SL-8691-SBK-01-Spes-Clip-On-Microphone/dp/B004YEWC22/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1453049692&sr=1-1&keywords=spes+speedlink
https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI If you are not made of money these are pretty good too.. :)
I'm looking to buy these headphones:
http://www.amazon.ca/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
I'm on a very strict budget, and cant go more than like 4 bucks CAD over this price is there a better pair (For gaming, CS:GO mostly for the same price.)
Thanks in advance. :)
I have this Superlux and I love it, really good sound quality for the price. If you need the mic, you can buy a relatively cheap one with good quality, I have this one, and it's working just fine.
EDIT: Or you could go for a similar model, this one has a fully closed design, and a detachable cable, so contact error is cheap to fix. The sound quality might be slightly worse, but I don't think it's that noticeable.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_LeyFwbP6K0VA1
And I'm using this to get a mic
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_3gyFwbT3A3SA8
How would these compare to my Superlux HD681s?
This and a external microphone. No headset really beats this.
I'd recommend these [superluxes] (http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI) with a clip on mic. Not the most elegant solution, but you'll get better sound than the v2's, although not hugely, for less money.
I bought these and paired it with one of these and it's pretty good quality for the price. The headset is a touch flimsy but you can't expect a ton from something that inexpensive.
Much better
Or this if you want a tiny one
Budget: $200 or less
Source: movies and video games on desktop & laptop pc
Type: gaming/over ear headset with mic
Sound the Superlux 681 sound fine to me
Past Headphones many, but currently Superlux 681
PROBLEM: I'm not super concerned with sound quality. like I mentioned the superlux sound good enough to me. my real problem is fit. I have a tall head and big ears. I have to max out the extension on the superlux and they still clip my ears and are very uncomfortable after half an hour to an hour. I've tried on some turtle beach headsets at best buy, but the 2-3 test models just didn't have enough reach to keep from pinching the bottom of my ears. I get the feeling this group is more audiophile oriented, but I'm hoping someone has some advice.
thank you.
Is a built-in mic a deal-breaker for you? If not, these are some fantastic headphones for ~$30:
Superlux HD 681
If you're okay with sound leaking into the room/don't need to worry about sound bothering others, either the Superlux HD681 or the Koss KSC75.
If sound leakage is an issue, either the Monoprice 8323 or the JVC HAS400B.
Fair enough. Some Superlux cans aren't a bad option either. It's said that they sound incredible for the price. Some people don't like a ton of treble though.
Well you are not going to get much with that budget, certainly nothing for music production like a proper interface. The Focusrite Carlett 2i2 or Steinberg UR22 are what I would go for if I was on a budget.
If you really have to save all the money you got, return the KNS6400 and get Superlux HD681 instead and invest the rest + your 50 in one of the 2 mentioned interfaces.
No regrets on my Superlux HD681 . I've been using them to watch some movies/tv shows on my computer late at night and even connect to plug guitar amp. Very nice sound stage. Should be good for gaming.
/r/zeos has a headphone guide. I'd say one of these would be good assuming you want open back: (in no particular order)
I don't remember how Zeos said these sound so one of the other 500 series might fit you better but this is the only one under budget.edit: just watched and this will be good for youGet some nice headphones, headsets are generally crappy. I use these and they're amazing. You can also grab one of these if the length is an issue.
I've always enjoyed shooters, as a kid I recall being pretty damn good, but that's likely some selective memory nonsense to preserve what little self-esteem I have. While playing Overwatch, though, I felt like a total scrub around level 50 or so, as I didn't improve at all in the core mechanics of an FPS. Surely the fact that the game has abilities was the only thing that kept me playing with clearly more skilled players at that point. But, I wanted more.
After that I googled stuff, then turned off enhanced pointer precision, set my mouse sensitivity to the 6th or 8th tick from the right and set my mouse to 800DPI. At first it was really fuckin' frustrating having my mouse move soooooo slowly in comparison to the 1600PDI and mouse sensitivity maxed in Windows.
I think I tried to watch gameplay VODs or Twitch streams, but that's never been something that can hold my attention enough for me to take anything away from it. So I just jumped into the Brawls more and more, specifically the Random Heroes Brawl. Now that's a permanent Arcade mode, so I'd say play the shit out of that.
I'm not great at the game, and I don't play competitive at all, but I've gotten pretty good. If you've played Warcraft, League, Heroes, or Smite and were any good, the abilities in Overwatch should at least help you stay alive longer.
Just remember, no matter how good you get... Hanzo can still launch an E 20 yards to your left and somehow get a double crit and kill you with it, and it's totally normal to curse the dishonorable Shimada clan.
Or give up and play Heroes seriously, and Overwatch casually. I really don't play any other FPS these days, except maybe a map or two of Drunken Robot Pornography, but that's a non-traditional single player FPS.
What is your budget: 200 € that should include any potential Amp/Dac needed to run the cans
Source: pretty old Desktop PC. Integrated Realtek HD Onboard sound. Have a soundblaster. I don't know if it works properly though. Maybe I'll hook them to a PS4 too every now and then.
Isolation: Don't need to be totally isolated from exterior world. I'll use these mainly at night. Sadly I think I have to
dismiss open or semiopen cans because my wife will be at a 2-3 meters from me, sleeping. Maybe in the future can look into some open cans
for daytime use.
Used in Public? No, home office, interior only
Preferred type of headphone: Full size, circumaural.
Preferred tonal balance: I don't really know, and I'll explain. These will be my workhorse. I'll use them to play
music while working (work at home as an illustrator), skype with clients, discord with friends (I'll be buying the AntLion Modmic)
edit videos (not music videos though), Films, Youtube, Playing games...
So I guess they have to be a bit allrounder. That means neutral? Can't really tell, this will be my first pair of
"good" headphones, or the first pair I've done research instead of picking the first cans I saw on the shelf.
Past headphones: An assortment of cheap headphones and a couple gaming sets (don't even recall the names).
The ones I have now are a pair of Philips SHP2000. You can tell almost anything will be an improvement.
Preferred Music: I listen to almost everything, from classical to hip hop. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal, Folk. It really depends on my mood.
So not much help here either to go for a defined tonal balance I'm afraid.
Location: Spain, I have access to Amazon.es, Ebay, etc. Don't know much of this world so couldn't tell any place audio specific.
What would you like from your headphones? As I said I want them to be a bit of allrounder. I want to clearly hear the voices when I'm
voice chatting, Clear sound when playing music and Good sound when gaming. And since I'll be wearing them several hours a day, they should be comfortable.
I have an average (towards big because of hair) head and average ears but I do wear glasse so maybe that's a concern if the grip is too tigh.
I know all this "requirements" mean they won't be the best at anything but I'm not an audiophile either....yet, I guess.
I've been researching a lot of reviews, videos, forums and I've seen a lot of recomendations, and situations similar to mine.
So I thought asking here with the template would help me to nitpickc and better tailor the buy for me, since I'm spending that much (for me anyway, I know this hobby can go pretty crazy pretty fast).
In fact in my initial research I wanted to spend max 200€ inclusing the modmic (so that left 130-150 for the headphones) but looking and researching had me raising the dough destined to the cans by a bit everytime
just in case "this new ones they recommend maybe are much better".
I have a list of what I found after a lot of research. I don't even know if any of those will be any good for my situation. There are two "leagues" of cans there as you'll see,
but those really cheap ones I included because I see them recommended a lot as "sound as headphones double or triple their price". Maybe that's BS but... maybe not and I can save me some money
The ones over 200€ I might consider them if they are really, REALLY much, much, much better than any of the other options.
Since going over 200 would have me waiting a bit more to get the cash.
Here's what I have:
Of course this is only a list of what I've found during my research, but feel free to recommend me anything you feel can be better for me even if not on the list.
Thank you very much.
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
These are great budget ended that wouldn't go much over your budget! Just curious, how old are ya? Feel free to answer or not if you're not comfortable with that. Also headphones plus a mic give much better buck for bang than a headset, these headphones plus that mic is gone be the best "headset" you'll find easily for $80
Superlux HD668B
Superlux HD-681
Samson SR850
If you're Canadian, you might be able to snag the UE6000.
https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI without doubt. Superior sound for this price. they can be found lots cheaper
​
all links to amazon.de
Superlux HD681 or HD668B
Zalman ZM-MIC1
External Sound card
Next time click the green link at the top of this subreddit (Daily Headphone Purchase Advice thread) :)
But go for the superlux, you could also consider this https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-Howard-HD681-Superlux-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI (better bass, than the one you have, but the one you posted has better soundstage)
Im also liking the Tascam TH-02 (which i actually own)
I don't think it would be worth it. I have a pair of these Superlux semi-open headphones and have been quite happy with them.
For the $30, it is probably better to go this route.
Superlux HD681 which has a detachable cable.
VModa BoomPro Microphone that replaces the original headphone cable.
Bang now you got proper headphones with a very good microphone. $60 setup
When I was looking for a cheap headset I ended up buying the Superlux HD681, these headphones are really great for the price.
In addition i bought the Zalman clip somebody also recommended in this thread, it's ok for 5€, but not that great.
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1410772412&sr=8-3&keywords=superlux
Superlux HD 681
These earphones are better than any gaming headset you can get (even better than the $200+ ones) according to a lot of opinions. As a mic just buy a Zalman ZM-MIC1 for $8.
I don't own this setup myself yet, but from what I've heard so far this is almost too good to be true.
Superlux HD 681, Audio-Technica ATH-M20x, or Sennheiser HD 419. Budget of $50. Any response is appreciated.
Budget: $40usd hard limit
Source: PC (board specs) and occasionally via my phone.
Requirements for Isolation: At home, don't wanna disturb parents sleeping upstairs though.
Will you be using these Headphones in Public?: Rarely, if ever.
Preferred Type of Headphone: Full-Sized, Circumaural, wired, active.
Past headphones: SteelSeries Siberia V2 - I don't game anymore however, and my interests have shifted more towards higher audio quality (without a need for a mic for example).
Preferred tonal balance: Not sure about this one..I'm guessing neutral/balanced?
Preferred Music: Vocal/progressive trance, alternative rock, hard rock, and occasionally classical.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up: I'd like a taste of the audiophile life, and if possible, detachable cables :)
Thinking about:
Which one should I get (with your experience/reasoning)? Am I missing any other great ones?
It's probably not worth it just for the 7.1. Tho i have heard the 780 is more comfortable. A pair of headphones and a clipon mic would give 3x sound quality tho. Go for it if you want, just seems stupid imo.
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372477796&sr=8-2&keywords=superflux
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1372477826&sr=1-1&keywords=zalman+mic
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JOETX8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p267_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-
http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-108323-Premium-Hi-Fi-Headphone/dp/B007SP2CO2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1372480848&sr=1-2&keywords=monoprice
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD201-Lightweight-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0007XJSQC/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1372478683&sr=8-14&keywords=Headphones
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-202-Professional-Headphones/dp/B003LPTAYI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1372478683&sr=8-11&keywords=Headphones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013OWPV4/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i6?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=18Q5QKCBHMV5Q21JT9WK&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938731&pf_rd_i=507846
You could also look after used headphones. I found a pair of [Sennheiser 518] (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372478808&sr=8-1&keywords=518) for about 50$~
Finding a used pair of 555 or 558and doing the [foam mod] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ8PzBrHXE) is by FAAAR the best value ~~
Are you dead set on that headset? Headsets generally have lower audio/mic quality than a a headphones and mic combo. I would recommend the Superlux HD 681s for $30 with the Zalman ZM-1 mic for under $8.
Budget- $20-40
Source- Desktop
Isolation- None or a little
Used in private
For reference, I was using these before, but they were really causing my ears to hurt due to the size and weight of the headphones. So now I'm looking for something much smaller in size, like this
I have a clip-on microphone so no built in mic is needed.
if you don't mind going a little over your budget this microphone
with this headphone
yeah im only talking about the use for csgo.
First you should decide wether you want an open or closed Headphone.
Open means the sides of the Headphones are, well open. They are usually covered by some kind of mesh. This means you will be hearing whats going on around you (people talking etc), but they will also hear whatever sounds are coming from your headphones.
Closed Cans are the opposite, people wont hear your music/csgo sounds, but you wont hear anybody around you either. I would recommend these if you dont have your own room to play csgo in or plan to use them on the go.
Personally I prefer Open Headphones for CSGO since they generally have a bigger Soundstage which helps alot telling for where Footsteps/Shots etc in CS are coming from. So should you have your own quiet room to play in i would highly recommend getting open type Headphones.
Open Headphones i would recommend:
Closed:
Generally People recommend saving up for the M40X over the M20X
EDIT: i forgot the Q-Pad which is basicly HyperX Cloud but as an Open Back
You could also look into getting a used X1/X2 on Ebay and pairing it up with a boompro or ModMic
I haven't listened to the 579 specifically, but considering the trademark sound signature of Sennheiser vs Grado I would guess they'd be quite different. Check this out (HD558 vs SR80). Basically, lots more bass on Sennheiser, lots more treble on Grado.
So if you like the Grados I'd suggest you stick to them, because they have quite distinctive sound which nothing else can quite match. I think that the Superlux HD 681 is the only one that even comes close.
what mics did you get? and what set of cans do you use?
Edit: found'em: Superlux HD681's
Yes it would be, I just asked because it would sense to invest in what you would use more, no sense pouring money into something you won't use all that much. And not necessarily, but some of the prices of my "go-to" gear has increased a little bit, which did make this just a little bit harder.
Okay so, this is what I came up with. Speakers are usually $40 but they are $50 right now for some reason, so that is why it's about $8 dollars over. also if you had any of these cables lying around it would definitely put you under $100.
Speakers - Dayton Audio B652 Amazon | Easily the best ~$50 book shelf speakers out there. Loud, with great sound quality, good imaging, and just all around outstanding for the price. They are kind of big though, so take into account desk space.
Amplifier - Lepai 2020A+ Amazon| You will need these to power the speakers, connected with speaker wire. It's a great little amp. It's buit out of metal, which is great given it's price tag, and the knobs feel great. Has tone controls that has a button that lets you toggle between using them or bypassing them. Provides ample power for speakers in this listening situation. It isn't really made for "party level" volume so just be careful, as you CAN blow speakers if you crank it too high on the AMP/computer. I personally use this and works great. Price is also a little higher than what I've seen them go for ($15).
Cables/Wires Amazon, cable Amazon, wire- A standard 3.5mm male to male cable that will connect the amp to the computer, and 50FT of 16 gauge speaker wire to connect the speakers to the amp. If you have a 3.5mm cable already you won't need to buy another.
Headphones - Sennheiser HD201 Amazon | Sennheiser makes great headphones, from their $1000 HD800 right down to the $20 HD201. Great headphones for music, and okay for gaming. They are closed back, which means the sound stage will not be as broad, but they will isolate outside noise. $10 dollars more will get you these Superlux HD681s which are open backed, which will result in a bigger sound stage, which is helpful for the directional aspect of audio while gaming. they sound pretty good too! Both headphones will perform well for music, and gaming when you use them. Not the best but they're better than most "gaming headsets".
Mic - Zalman Clip on Mic Amazon | A basic mic that clips on to your headphone's cable. what's great about this is you can use them for any pair of headphones, or when you're not even using them! the clip can also hold it to your shirt.
Total cost is about $108. If you are diligent/patient the speakers may drop back down to $40 sometime.
Overall this is great value for a little over $100, and will offer you much more all around than an $100 speaker set. The great thing about this is that everything is modular. If you want to upgrade your speakers you don't have to buy a new amp, and vice-versa. If you want to add a sub down the line, you don't have to ditch everything and get a new set; you just add it into the "chain". Headphones broke? No need to buy a new mic. Want nicer sounding headphones? No problem! Mic broken or lost? Don't need to buy a whole new headset. As you can see it is very flexible, and very easy to upgrade things as you go, which I feel is completely worth the $8 over your budget you gave me.
Sorry this took a while to get to you, lots of writing, linking, and searching! Hope this helps!
I wouldn't really ever get a headset. You have to spend quite a lot to get a set that's decent. You can get much more for your money if you piecemeal it. If it were me and my audio budget was $60 I'd go with...
Headphones: Superlux HD 681 Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_u1ZrDb6NANZ7T
Mic: Pyle-Pro Professional Moving Coil Dynamic Cardioid Unidirectional Vocal Handheld Microphone Includes 15ft XLR Audio Cable to 1/4'' Audio Connection (PDMIC58) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GEBGA0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_G5ZrDb146PEED
Mic cable: USB Microphone Cable 10Ft, Tanbin 3 Pin USB Male to XLR Female Mic Link Converter Cable Studio Audio Cable Connector Cords Adapter for Microphones or Instruments Recording Karaoke Singing (10ft) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079DQ9ZPT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_n6ZrDb3S5ZZW9
Mic boom arm: InnoGear Microphone Suspension Mic Clip Adjustable Boom Studio Scissor Arm Stand for Blue Yeti Snowball Microphone and Blue Yeti Nano https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L3LL95O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_U6ZrDb6M7CE1V
Even if he doesnt care that much about it, its much better to buy actual headphones instead of a gaming headset.
https://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468051505&sr=8-2&keywords=superlux
> However, if the closed back headphones offer significantly superior sound, I would go with the closed back ones, or at least that's what the logic was. Sound wise, is there anything that a closed back model would improve, such as reducing the treble for example, or would the closed back not affect anything?
I don't think they are superior, just different. They are better for environments where you need isolation, though - recording, airplanes, transit, etc. Imagine closed-back being like ear-buds that seal really well. That's the best explanation I can give.
> Final question I promise. Do Amp's actually help the sound quality, and would they be worth the investment if I'm primarily gaming, watching movies, and listening to movies?
The first thing my dad bought me for college was an amp and two bookshelf speakers. He's always had an amp because he used speakers, but even older headphones had high impedance, so he needed an amp.
Today? You don't need an amp, IMO, for phone use. Those have pretty great DACS in them.
For quality audio from a computer? I'd say most system's built-in DACs I use don't fully drive the headphones to a volume I like most the time, or if they do, they distort. Most desktop speakers nowadays just amplify the sound out of the 1/8" jack.
So, in short, yes, I found having a little USB DAC/AMP to be very useful. Is it worth $100? I don't know, depends on your budget, but you can get a solid state DAC/AMP for as low as $20 nowadays:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCM2706-CS4344-TDA1308-Parallel-Output-Protable-USB-DAC-headphone-Amplifier-/121425659280?hash=item1c45888590
For $80, I love my Schiit Fulla.
> EDIT: ONE MORE THING: I plan to get the 681 EVO's. Could you tell me the difference between the 681 evo's soundwise to the standard 681's? Are there any improvements? I heard that the treble on the 681's were extremely high.
I liked the classic 681s because they are an AKG K240 rip-off. I also have a pair of the AKG K240 600ohm headphones to compare to. As you can see they both have a very simple 'two bar and pad' headband. Their earphone pads are interchangeable, etc.
I like the 681s because they are great for both everyday listening and bass/treble heavy music - jazz, hip-hop, and electronica. I can't attest to the 681EVOs other than that they are $43 vs. $28, have a 'newer' design to them and may have a different sound curve, as you mentioned. I don't have a problem with the 681s (red), but the 681Bs (black) are the ones that were treble heavy. Check me on that though.
Hope that helps!
I highly recommend these headphones. For only $30 they have amazing quality. Might have to do a little equalizer adjustments, but the drivers are great overall.
Superlux HD 681 Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_2efAxbBWX7WD3
EBay link for the 681b's. I personally own these headphones and use them daily. You can also find the normal 681's on eBay too.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331741999825&alt=web
My Sennheiser HD180's broke after 4 years of use and now only outputs from the left side without any tension on the wire. Now I'm looking to upgrade with a budget of $100 CAD, tax-in. I'm trying to find something with similar but more refined characteristics however I'm having trouble finding what I need/want. I'm only going to plug them into my laptop or phone for home use 95% of the time. I watch a lot of movies and listen to a lot of hip-hop, so looking for all-round headphones with good bass.
Basically what I'm looking for is:
I've found these so far:
Not really sure which ones I should get or just go the safe route and buy the HD201's. If you guys have used any of these, let me know :)
Edit: Trying to decide between the Samson SR850's or the Superlux HD681 Evo.
Superlux! They're the best value headphones on the market. They're a bit plasticky, they're blatant copies of premium brand headphones, but they're cheap and they sound good.
I use these superlux headphones. My brother got them for me a couple years ago because he used them. They are "knock offs" of another good brand and they sound GREAT for the price.
EDIT: They are actually pretty light and comfortable, especially if you wear glasses. Build quality isn't bad either. I've dropped them plenty times and have even yanked the cord (stupid chair) and it has help up surprisingly well. If all you care about it sound quality, these are definitely worth it to me.
How are they in games? Do you happen to play ARMA 3? I run some Superlux HD 681's and I find it hard to hear footsteps in ARMA 3. Any other game I hear just fine, ARMA seems to make it more realistic though. But when playing games and being in a house waiting for an enemy, I need those footsteps to be herd, you know? The 681's have been great to me, though!
Looking for a cheap headset for pc gaming at around ~$30 or so. I've already done a bit of research and it looks like my cheapest (yet still decent) option would be Koss SB-45 and the somewhat more expensive (inching toward $40) option would be Superlux HD 681 plus a clip-on mic.
Thoughts?
I'll recommend the Superlux HD 681. The list price is $70.00, but they sell it on Amazon for $31.49!
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-681-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B002GHIPYI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=13770
I got a pair a little over a year ago, and I love them. Great sound for a person adhering to a tight budget.
"Acceptable" isnt good enough if you pay 300$. As /u/Maskguy said: you could also pay 20 for some superlux headphones and get sound quality no wireless headset can recreate.
edit: Destroys every wireless headset in existence.
Not seeing much entry level stuff here. I've got a pair of these superlux headphones and they're rather good, doubly so considering the low price.
I'm not much of an expert but i've heard the sound of these compared to headphones costing several times more. Pretty solid and nothing to cry over if they get lost or broken.