#4 in Audio headphones
Reddit mentions of Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones
Sentiment score: 161
Reddit mentions: 314
We found 314 Reddit mentions of Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones. Here are the top ones.
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- Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Audiophile grade over ear, open back headphones
- Twist and lock single sided cable eliminates tangles and simplifies exchanges
- Gold-plated 1/4 inch plug with 1/8 inch adapter
- Highly optimized, field strengthened neodymium ferrous magnet system
- Internal Sound Reflector immerses the listener in rich audio
Features:
Specs:
| Color | Black |
| Height | 8.07 Inches |
| Length | 3.94 Inches |
| Weight | 1.42 Pounds |
| Width | 9.15 Inches |
If it makes you feel better, you can get better-sounding headphones than Bose for less money. The Audio-Technica ATH-M40X should blow anything Bose below $300 out of the water for just under $100, and if your budget is closer to $50 you can often find Sennheiser HD558s for around $50-60. The more you know!
I've never been an advocate of gaming headsets. You pay for something that's way more expensive than what you're actually getting. You buy a $150 headset, you're probably getting $70-80 headphones with a bad microphone.
You're almost always better off to buy a pair of headphones that suits your needs well and then buy a microphone afterwards. You'll get the better use of your money this way. I've got a pair of Sennheiser HD 558s with a Zalman ZM-Mic1. It clips onto my headphone's cord so I don't have to worry about it being all over the place. Sound quality is good and I've gotten no complaints about static or fuzziness from friends. Otherwise, the Modmic is always a good choice.
If you're looking for something that isn't sound isolating, I would recommend buying a pair of open headphones with an external microphone. The 558s are open, by the way. You get a bit of sound leakage, so other people can hear what's going on if it's loud enough, but you can also hear everything around you. Because of this, you get a more realistic sound.
Camel says they hover around $100 on Amazon and last reached $80 around Black Friday
I'd say it's a good deal.
Fear not, for you can still enjoy the wonders of surround sound with Hi-Fi headphones. Most "gaming" headsets use a built-in DAC (and BS marketing magic) to emulate surround sound over stereo. You can do the same thing using Razer Surround or similar software for free.
You'll have to decide between a closed or open earcup design. If you're not already familiar: a closed-back design will give you better noise isolation and more bass response, while an open-back design will give you a wider soundstage and better positional accuracy. 95% of headphones are closed-back, but there are some nice open-back options in your price range.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x ($100) are a decent option. They're durable, portable, closed-back headphones with a lot of bass response.
The Sennheiser HD 558 ($115) are a steal at that price. They're incredibly comfortable, open-back headphones with a very wide soundstage and warm signature. They'll do much better with surround software.
Both of those options have a relatively low impedance, so you shouldn't have to worry about amping (although they'll still benefit from it). If you're looking for a mic, the ModMic 4.0 is on MassDrop right now. It's a bit pricy, but I've heard great things about the sound quality. If you want something a bit cheaper, the Zalman Clip-On is always an easy option.
Edit:
This might be slightly skewed, because a brick sitting on my head would be more comfortable than the headband on my Q701s.
I'd suggest a pair of open-backed headphones since I've found that those headphones tend to have better soundstaging to help me pinpoint where people are.
I found closed headphones tend to have more "immersive" sound with more bass, but if you're looking for something for purely competitive performance I think an open-backed pair would do you well. There's some generalizing going on here, but in general I personally feel open-backed headphones are better for gaming.
Here's a couple suggestions around your price-point - disclaimer that I haven't actually owned any of these (except for the original AD700 which I can vouch for being great for gaming), and it's merely meant to serve as a starting point for cans to check out. Filter the reviews and find the ones where people mention the words "gaming" or "soundstage".
I personally use the Sennheiser HD 600 which are open-backed but these are out of your $100 budget.
>but all of the responses are "get a good pair of headphones and a clip on mic"
Because this is the best option.
I personally use the clip on Zalman but I've heard great things about the ModMic. If you got a great pair of headphones(many use the AD700, HD558/HD598, etc) and attached this it would essentially be the same as a gaming headset but with significantly better sound quality and better build quality.
If you're going to be stubborn and not accept this, I reccommend going for the Sennheiser PC360. It's typically around the same price as the HD598 but not quite as good...
EDIT: Added links to some products, note that I only looked them up on Amazon, you can probably find everything cheaper if you shop around...
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EDIT 2: DarkWingPig mentioned virtual surround sound, which is what draws many people towards gaming headsets. You can add this functionality to any pair of headphones using a sound card such as the Asus Xonar DG, Asus Xonar DS, or the Asus Xonar DX.
I have an Asus Xonar DX and, in my opinion, it can work well in certain games such as Counterstike, where knowing the position of a sound is essential, but I don't use it for the majority of games...
A user over at Head Fi called Mad Lust Envy has created a thread reviewing many different pairs of headphones in relation to how well they work with Dolby Headphone(virtual surround sound).
169.00$ on amazon.ca right now
https://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482182875&sr=8-1&keywords=hd+558
These are the HD 558, not to be confused with the HD 598.
The HD598 was $99 for Black Friday 2014 and didn't drop that low until Black Friday 2015. I don't know anything about the price history of the HD558, but I wouldn't expect it to drop this low again for some time, even though the price has been steadily dropping for some time.
Gaming headset?
In all seriousness, pretty much everyone here would recommend you get a solid pair of headphones and a separate mic. Coming from someone who used to use headsets, I can say that the separate set-up is much better.
However if you're dead-set on a headset, I've used the Siberia V2, Razer Tiamat 7.1, and HyperX Cloud within the past couple years so I can answer questions about those.
A quick set-up, and one that I use and love, is the Sennheiser HD558's and the ModMic. Which, yeah, it's ~$200 for that combo, but in my mind it's worth it and if you want to save money there are plenty of cheaper headphones you can get instead of the 558, and a ton of different mic options other than the ModMic
They look just like the Sennheiser hd558. I have a pair and they are AMAZING. Probably best bang for your buck. You can do a "foam mod" to make them more like hd598's too. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397099148&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd558
non-mobile link: www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004FEEY9A
Surround sound, especially "digital surround sound" like these headphones use, is largely a marketing scheme and does not sound objectively "better" or even generate a better soundstage.
If you're interested in the real "surround sound" experience, try open-backed headphones like the Sennheiser HD 558 (a nice recommendation for your price range).
I'm gonna be that guy, and say something like Sennheiser HD558 or Audio Technica ATH-M50s with a Zalmann clip on mic or standard desktop mic.
Not as elegant but will sound MUCH better than most, if not all, of the mic + headphone combos.
Same price on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_jUgnub0WR5G9W
Just a note; unless you are looking to spending hundreds, it is likely better to invest in a good pair of headphones rather than speakers if you don't pan on paying more than $300. I bought a pair of KRK Rokit 6's for my setup, and despite costing more than my $200 Q701's, they could not nearly replicate the sound quality. There are two benefits for speakers; They are a good way to share music with friends and they have a larger presence than headphones. However, if you need to be in a quiet environment or are just looking for the best sounding equipment for the price, headphones are a much better choice in my opinion.
That isn't to say you should never get good speakers. Speakers have a way of making you feel in the music that is very different from headphones, and are definitely more "fun" to listen to. That said, a setup such as yours runs for roughly $1000, where as headphones plus an amp/dac if needed offer great quality for less than half that. I know I plan on buying a kickass speaker setup when I have the cash, but right not headphones are easily the better choice for me. Unfortunately the $800 I have saved up have to go towards a new GPU and monitor, otherwise I would surely buy me some bitchin speakers :P
On another note, if OP does buy some headphones do not buy gaming headsets. Do not. No they aren't all bad, but I guarantee that for whatever price you pay for your headset, normal headphones and a clip on mic will sound way better. For only around $10 more than the G930, you could grab the Sennheiser 558's, an extremely great pair of headphones for the price. Sure they might not be "7.1" but I guarantee that they will sound just as, if not more, accurate than the G930's while also sounding fantastic for music. Sorry to attack your choice of headphones, but I just hate to see people spend money on gaming headsets when something better can be had.
Camelcamelcamel
Seems like 75$ is a very good price for these. Only been lower than $80 on amazon twice very rarely.
My current setup is A50s and a Modmic plugged into a Y-adapter that plugs into the adapter and so far it works amazing. Let me try to get you links:
-Modmic (incredible quality; built to last and made by a guy who's just starting up):
http://www.modmic.com/
-Y-Adapter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004SP0WAQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1394242076&sr=8-1
-Sennheiser (better for gaming, however the sound leaks so others can hear your music at a low volume (cant be used in public places)) http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1394242127&sr=8-1
-A50s (what I have; perfect for music and great for gaming; very private and doesnt leak sound very much):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000ULAP4U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1394242250&sr=8-2
The modmic is magnetic and will stick
To your headset while having the ability to be taken off with ease to leave the headphones bare. The a50s are awesome for music and pretty good for gaming, but if you do gaming at about a 80-20 ratio to music listening than I would go with Sennheiser 558s or 598s. The y-adapter just allows you to combine both the headphones and the mic into one 3.5 mm AUX jack.
Total cost was about $165 (not including xbone adapter). Fairly good price for better headphones (structurally and sound-quality), ability to use everywhere and not look dumb with an attached mic, listen to music that sounds phenomenal, and speak in crystal clear quality to my buddies (who have already noticed how well it sounded in comparison to the xbone chat headsets).
TLDR: Get audiophile headphones, a modmic, and y adapter for a better and cheaper headset that can be used as normal headphones and as a headset (removable mic).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004FEEY9A/
Buy a used 558. It will sound almost exactly the same and you can foam mod it.
Always buy headphones used because they sound the same as new.
HD 558 + Modmic is what I'm using. HD 558s are on sale for $80 at the moment too.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage/products/modmic-4-0
Won't get any better for the price.
Winamp and the VST bridge plugin for headphone correction. You should consider getting some nice headphones to fully appreciate your tunes. These are wonderful open-back headphones that are insanely cheap right now, I remember dropping $120 on mine. The open back will let sound in, so you'll still hear your fans whirring slightly, but if you have a quiet environment then it's like sitting in front of a good pair of speakers.
Holy shit for real? I was being a dick too man, I apologize. People who've bought into gaming headsets often don't like hearing they aren't the best investment so I guess I'm prone to being salty with them.
If you want my recommendation for VR with the Vive I've been recommending the HD 558s for a number of reasons. They are really decent quality overear open headphones and the material on both the ear cups and the headband should hold on to your head well in use in VR while you're moving all around. These headphones (along with the 598s) have an amazing soundstage for gaming as well. Because they're open you're going to be able to hear the world around you, this might sound immersion breaking but I think you'll find that it's not and it's the trade off with open headphones and having a good soundstage. It also has the added benefit of being able to hear people while in VR though.
Now, coming from gaming headsets the bass might sound a bit lacking or they might not seem to pop as much but that's due to a more realistic and neutral soundstage. I am 99% sure you'll get used to it. As I mentioned about the 598s are also great and maybe even a little better but the headband is made out of a pleather material that tends to slip, so I can't recommend them for VR.
The 558s are about $100 and are easily one of the best pairs of headphone you can buy at that price point. For VR I would recommend picking up this as the included cable is very long (great for couch gaming, not for VR).
For a mic in VR I'd say just use the one in the Vive. For desktop I use either my Blue Snowball or my Blue Yeti.
Depends on the kind of headphones you want (on/over-ear, in-ear, etc).
My first audiophile headphones were Sennheiser HD558s with the foam mod, and I picked them up for about $85 during a huge sale.
Don't bother man, 7.1 is a gimmick, you're much better off with a decent set of headphones and a desk (or mod) mic.
Have a look at this:
https://www.amazon.com/Samson-Mic-Portable-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B001R76D42/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502406777&sr=8-2&keywords=samson+go
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1502406801&sr=8-3&keywords=sennheiser+HD558
That setup will straight up destroy anything a gaming headset can offer, open backed headphones are great for surround sound audio.
If you are dead set on getting a headset, then the Hyperx Cloud 2s are the only one's I'd ever recommend, purely because they're actually a decent set of headphones with a mic attached.
Take a look at this post https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/4nabvv/gaming_audio_and_you_why_995_of_gaming_headsets/
I'd recommend a pair of Sennheiser. Maybe the HD555/HD558 model.
I'm not a Dr. or a therapist or have any kind of experience with this specifically. Being a musician, amateur multi-track recording engineer, and also an avid PC gamer whose tried many manufacturers and many styles I can say that Sennheiser is by far my favorite.
I know you're not looking for favorite recommendations but the reason I make this post is because of the beautiful balance and sensitivity a nice pair of Sennheiser headphones gives you.
Without getting into technical details I'll just say it's the warmth and subtlety of the sound from these headphones that made me recommend them to you for therapeutic reasons. I would imagine soft, gentle, and warm would be more what you're looking for.
The other bonus is that the build quality on the HD555/HD585's is fantastic... I've had mine for years and not had any problem with them. They are still as comfortable as they were the day I bought them.
edit: looks like HD555 is no longer available and have been replaced with HD558 models.
I had a wonderful Redditor recommend the 558's over the CALs when I was searching for advice. My budget is around $100-$140 and I'll be using the headphones with the neewer mic the play LoL and talk on Team speak. I just wanted other opinions to confirm that the 558's are definitely worth the premium price over the CALs and that they would be good for my needs. Thanks!
Upon closer inspection, they might not be the exact same ones.
I have Sennheiser HD 558, which is the same brand and look very similar to the model in the pic
If you wanted something roughly equivalent to this you could get the Sennheiser HD 558s and a mod mic if you need a mic to be on the headphones themselves. In total its around $160 (plus shipping if there is any).
Edit: Thought I should note there's a muteless version of the mod mic that's a few bucks cheaper if it doesn't matter.
To expand a little bit on what ImKrimzen is getting at...
This community is really, really hardcore about headphones. I say this in an affectionate but matter-of-fact way: we are a bunch of elitists who mostly look down our noses at products like the one you're asking about. Most gamers here prefer to use an awesome pair of headphones with a regular 3.5mm audio hookup, and then attach something like this mic to it. This tends to give you better value for your money than buying an overpriced gaming headset. Now, playing on console is a little more complicated...I've never even used a mic when console gaming, but if you can find a way to set that up via a bluetooth mic or something, then you can always just use the PS4 controller's headphone jack to plug in a regular pair of headphones and then go to town. (Or alternatively, your TV's aux out if it has one, or optical digital out through a DAC.) Here are a couple of relatively inexpensive headphones that have an absolutely stellar reputation around here for gaming. (And will also bring your movies and music to another level.)
Less expensive
More expensive
Most expensive (or actually not, because they're on sale)
Edit: Oh, just one important thing to note: this is /r/headphones 101, but since you're new, I'm just going to assume you may not realize that all those options I linked are open-back headphones, which means that they do not isolate sound well and they leak your sound out. In other words, other people around you can hear your stuff and you can probably hear noises in your environment, so if you need sound isolation, get a closed-back pair like this. But the advantage of open-back is that you generally get better-quality sound for your dollar, and the sound stage is always better, meaning the locations of sounds in your 3D headspace are very detailed and precise. This is really awesome for immersive gaming and movie-watching, so people love open-back headphones for those uses.
Good news, amazon price matched: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A?cache=518c03a86e43f4e77c49f98810695768&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412723108&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1
These are what I have. Sennheiser HD 558 and apparently they are half off right now so yeah go with these. I cannot recommend them more. Also half off? there ya go.
never get a gaming headset, just get a nice pair of open back headphones within your budget range (example http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419224847&sr=8-1&keywords=558 ) and get an Antlion modmic 4.0 http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage/products/modmic-4-0 .
Headphones
DSS2
Mod Mic
That headset is better than any turtle beach or astro by far and the mic is also leaps and bounds better than anything that comes with a console gaming headset. Every gaming headset, especially console gaming headsets, are a complete rip off.
If you're leaning towards a headset, go with the Kingston HyperX, otherwise if you want more out of your budget go visit /r/headphones and get suggestions from them.
A modmic/Sennheiser will go a much longer way.
Okay, you're not getting much good here. You're not going to get less bass or any kind of deficiency in sound, first of all. Good headphones don't not have bass or not have good bass, it's just different from the artificial stuff you'll hear on typical gaming headsets or beats. And the advantage with buying real, good, headphones, is that they can be used for anything. Music, movies, gaming, etc, they'll be better at all of it than anything you have right now.
You definitely want something open for fps gaming, but if it'll be a problem for sound leaking in or out, you don't necessarily need those. They'd be better, but they're not absolutely necessary.
I use HD598s. They're perfect for gaming, with a wide soundstage you won't find out of many headphones at all in this price range. Anything more expensive than this, and you're getting into diminishing returns for gaming imho.
If these are too expensive, they have a little brother called the HD 558s. These are nearly identical in sound according to most people, as they use the same drivers and thus the difference in sound is from materials, and a simple mod that removes the foam in the cups supposedly makes them nearly indistinguishable.
Now, for something closed, I would maybe suggest something along the lines of V-moda Crossfadess or the very famous ATH-M50x.
I'm not a huge fan of ATH-M50s, they're pretty overrated nowadays, but lots of people use them for gaming, and since you're starting off, they're likely better than anything you have right now.
If you need a mic, may I recommend a Modmic. They attach to your headphones, they're pretty good value. If they're too expensive along with a pair of headphones, you'd really be fine with any old cheap mic. Even a $10 one would probably be comparable to some expensive "gaming headsets", believe it or not.
Since this has already gotten really long, PM me for any IEM recs. And check out /r/headphones for much more information, probably better than anything I have here.
Good luck!
Are you looking for $50 $75 $100 $150? Whats your price range? The last one is $169 shipped and I just picked it up three weeks ago. Holy balls. Just do this.
Sennheiser 558's
As low as $85.56 from Amazon warehouse deals if you don't mind a damaged box. Check the used section. I got mine that way and the only thing wrong with them was the box had a corner that was dented.
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004FEEY9A/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
You can get these factory refurbished on Amazon for $63. I have purchased three of them and they all came in flawless condition. The packaging left a lot to be desired but the cans themselves looked brand new. All three still working flawlessly 2 months later. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1VIZTAR4QSCZ0&psc=1)
I bought Sennheiser HD558's based on a recomendation in another thread. They were described as good audio quality, good soundstage, good enough not great bass. But extremely comfortable.
And that is what they are. My legs are worn out long before I even notice the headset. I'm not an audiophile, but the quality is great in my opinion. And they are just under $100 USD.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1463520767&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=hd+558&dpPl=1&dpID=41ljcZIdgGL&ref=plSrch
40 dollar headphones are actually... not that bad... if you buy right.
Now, I would put segmentation of headphones like so:
0-20 dollars: The "I'm probably going to break these, so I'm not going to spend much money," segment. If you're not buying them for risky usage scenarios, spend more money.
$30-50: Here's where you'll start seeing your money doing some work. Sony makes some fantastic headphones in this range. Something like the Sony MDR7506, Sony MDR-V55/BRs, JVC HARX700s, HARX 900s, or Audio Technica ATH-M30s.
$100-200: You aren't going to see significant gains over $50 cans until you break the $100 dollar mark. For instance, the ATH-M50s or Sennheiser 558s are (supposedly) fantastic. I personally have a pair of V-Moda Crossfade LP2s that give me fantastic audio quality to my ears.
Above that, I haven't done a whole lot of research. I believe segmentation hits again and you won't see a good gain until you start spending around 250-300 for studio-grade stuff, then another step up to 500+ for high-end studio and audiophile-grade equipment, but that's just kind of what I remember seeing.
HD 558s I think will be the general agreement for this. This is the updated version of the 555s I think.
First you need to decide if you want open or closed headphones. Open often have a better sound stage (for the price) and often sound a bit better, but at the expense of having almost no attenuation of outside sound. They also leak sound. Closed cans (like my #1's, Beyerdynamic DT770s) shut out the outside noise and usually have better bass response. There's plenty of other information out there so I'll let you do your own research on what you would prefer.
I'll just put up my top picks for each category (that I've actually listened to), but you can get way deep at Head-Fi and they will be able to give you better suggestions.
For Open Cans:
For closed cans:
*Beyerdynamic DT 770
Note, on the Beyers, the price is a little higher than you wanted and they're 250 ohm, so you'll need a preamp of some sort to drive them (they might be quiet on a sound card, I don't know I have the more expensive 80 ohm version)
Sennheiser has a good range of stuff. This looks like an awesome deal
As a fellow gamer I was in the same boat about a year ago. I grew tired of using ear buds so I started down the audio road. Luckily, before I spent any money, I came across this video on gaming audio myths, as well as the video /u/kronbison posted . Long story short, I settled on a set of entry level headphones (not headset) paired with an entry level DAC+AMP combo.
And what a difference it made. With the new set up I could easily tell where other players are, and tell which direction the footsteps come from. I highly recommend looking into this setup as a guide. And the quality of audio is excellent for my junior audio ears. But like anything else, read the side bar and judge for yourself. I bet that you wont regret making the switch.
My setup:
Headphones: Sennheiser HD558
DAC: Schiit Modi 2 Uber
Amp: Schiit Magni 2 Uber
My setup goes PC to DAC via SPDIF optical, DAC to AMP via RCA cables.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1452731993&sr=8-6&keywords=sennheiser
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452732024&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+mic
This will make the best headset you will have for about the same price range of a Kraken.
submit this link to amazon product page for "tell us about a lower price?"
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
if enough people submit, theyll pricematch. dont bother chatting up csr cuz they wont do it
Hey Guys, These headphones recently broke, and I have about £150 to spend on a set of headphones and I really want to get my first pair of good quality and really very good pair.
Source - ASUS Xonar DG PCI 5.1 Audio Card
Requirments -Mostly at home, but may walk to university as well or use at university.
Preferred type of headphones - Over-ear.
At the moment I'm looking at the [Sennheiser HD 598] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-598-Circumaural- Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2#Ask) Versus the [HD558] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=556244467&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0042A8CW2&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1N00X3G5CMQ0A4M311GB) My question is, Are these the right headphones for me? and will I be able to tell the difference?
Ps, I game alot, and listen to a lot of liquid drum and bass!
EDIT* I've heard the HD598's are very bad with house and elctro music, (Two genres I'm quite into) Could anyone suggest headphones of similar look and feel that are good with these genres of music? ****
The HD558 are slightly over your price limit ($119 as of right now)
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417711258&sr=1-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd558
There isn't really much I can say about them, they're just plain awesome, and sound a lot like their more expensive brother, the HD598 (although the HD598 is somewhat more durable, they are $199 which is a lot over your budget. If you're willing to spend that much, the HD598 would be a better choice).
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them!
Edit: If you're not willing to shell out that much, the akg k240 is also an excellent headphone.
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-240-Semi-Open-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0001ARCFA
They are an absolute STEAL at their current price. I own them myself and I think it's one of the best headphones ever made at that price.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
I got this one for use with my HD558s. I'm then running a 30 ft long headphone extension (15ft from computer to link box, 15 ft for Vive cable) back to a Behringer headphone amp and then a DAC. I also have other 15 ft extensions (DisplayPort, USB, power) from the link box back to my PC.
The end result? 30 ft of Vive leash, headphone cable is cable-wrapped back to a proper headphone amp and DAC. No plugging/unplugging, and good sound quality to boot.
Granted, take everything I just said above with the understanding that I don't have a Vive yet, and it might work great...or not!
I personally use Beyerdynamic DT990s 250hm along with a FIIO E10k amplifier but if you're looking for something a little cheaper then I would recommend that you look at Sennheisers HD series such as the 518s or the 558s. Check out /r/headphones they will also have some more recommendations over there.
How long ago did you get them? Might be easier and cheaper to return them and get something that doesn't need a separate amp.
Spending $100 to power $40 headphones doesn't make a lot of sense when the alternative is spending that money on headphones that don't need an amp. That's especially true when the headphones you're trying to power are pretty harsh sounding. Something like the Sennheiser HD558 needs literally 20 times less power to get to the same volume and is under 100 bucks.
Sennheiser 558s.
Sennheiser HD558 is just outside of your upper bracket by $2.99 on Amazon right now. I've never heard them, but having heard the HD598 recently, the HD558 should be a great candidate for you. The only downside would be these are open-back headphones, so they will leak a bit of sound and you can hear everything as if you don't have a headphone on at all.
For a closed-back headphone at that price range, lots of people recommends Creative Aurvana Live!, Sony MDR-V6, and Jaycar Pro Monitor Headphones (which is the same as this but less expensive). If you're into modding stuff, Fostex T50RP is considered one of the best headphone for modding and there's plenty of documentation online. Granted it is a tad over your upper bracket as well, thank the modders for that :D
$95 Audio technica: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1467256596&sr=8-5&keywords=audio+technica
$98 Sennheiser: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_5?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1467256628&sr=1-5&keywords=sennheiser
First will feel like the sound is coming from inside your head, second will feel like you're at a concert, both are amazing for their price.
I got really close to your budget, but both companies have alternatives above and below your budget.
Based on the guide it looks like these are the ones for me (I'm looking for other options).
I like the way these look and I own Sennheiser so I know they're good but I'm open to change.
However, I see there is a slight recommendation for an amp. Will this be okay without for an iphone and will they be durable enough for the gym?
Thanks
edit:
I was told by a friend I can take:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393956502&sr=8-1&keywords=Sennheiser+HD+558
and foam mod them to sound the same, thoughts?
Location: Canada, eh.
Grado SR80i
Sennheiser HD558 or HD555
Furthermore, check out the Head-Fi threads linked in the sidebar and see if anything there meets your requirements.
Buying yourself some stand alone headphones and a mic like the Zalman Mic1 would be a good idea. It's the path I have taken.
I am getting myself some HD558s and I have heard some good things about the ATH-M50s if you like the closed back style. A good friend of mine went with the Audio-Technicas and the Zalman Mic, he says he is really happy with the choice
> u/AlphaFemaleNerd: Good headphones.
1000000x yes. And not a gaming headset. Proper audiophile headphones like the DT 990 Pros, Sennheiser 598s, or the less-expensive 558s. Pair those with a modmic and you're good to go.
Also:
HWMonitor/CPU-Z: HWMonitor for quick access to temperatures (usually over/under by a couple degrees), and CPU-Z for frequencies and such.
Surge protector: Useful when you need it, ease of mind when you don't. Covers $300k worth of equipment in case anything is damaged, as well. Gotta love Belkin.
Mechanical keyboard: Much longer lifespan than some typical office keyboard, pretty lights, clickity-clacks, etc.
Good mouse: Same case as the keyboard: Much better than an office mouse, better tracking, button customization, etc.
Your hardware's respective software: Whether it's Ryzen Master, your SSD's storage manager, blah blah blah, it's useful.
UserBenchmark: See how your build stacks up to others, and/or if it's performing as it should be. Fun little thing.
Some greenery: Adds color to your battlestation. Nice little accent piece. Not necessary, but I like it.
Indeed; if you want to focus more on audio quality and less on gaming/you already have a standalone mic, check out the Sennheiser HD 558. It's a tad cheaper than the PC350, and sounds better, but doesn't have a mic.
What a lot of people do is get dedicated heaphones like the Sennheiser HD 558 and an attachable Mod-Mic, or sometimes just a boom mic. This setup will general give better audio quality than most headsets, and you can just get a splitter for the headphones
i would suggest Sennheiser HD558 and Antlion modmic 4.0
Couldn't you just get a nice pair of Sennheiser 558s and a Zalman mic? I'd recommend that over 'gaming' headsets any day of the week.
I love these so much, in line mic for consoles too. On PC I use a better mic.
Woot
I have a big head and stretched ears. So finding a comfortable set of headphones is a challenge. About a year ago I picked up a refurbished pair of Sennheiser HD558s on Amazon for 100 dollars. They are perfect. Open ear, comfortable and great for gaming.
Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004FEEY9A/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished
Sennheiser HD558s are on Amazon for $99.95. These aren't known for being basshead headphones if that's what you're looking for, but for under $100 these are just about as good as you're going to get for sound quality and comfort. They're also open backed, which means that sound will leak out of them and you will be able to hear sounds around you, but with the benefit of a great sound stage and separation between instruments.
The latest version of the HD25 is roughly twice that price, so it seems to be a pretty good price depending on condition. They fit on top of the ear, not around them.
The HD 558 is on sale for the same price at Amazon UK, but you'd have to be a Prime member. Might be a good time to try the Prime service for free, then cancel.
Any combination of these is good, I've also included a deal on amazon USA that has audio technical awesome audiophile headhones 199$ -> 70$;
---------------head phones-----------------
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HVLUQW8/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205349&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=audio+technica&dpPl=1&dpID=41EDeh-wXKL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0001ARCFA/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205717&sr=1-2&refinements=p_36%3A1253505011&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=headphones&dpPl=1&dpID=41iu1l-OAvL&ref=plSrch
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00001WRSJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205768&sr=1-16&refinements=p_36%3A1253505011&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=headphones&dpPl=1&dpID=41ADlzRP9hL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ENMK1DW/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205768&sr=1-15&refinements=p_36%3A1253505011&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=headphones&dpPl=1&dpID=41%2BX-iFa0PL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A/ref=mp_s_a_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205768&sr=1-21&refinements=p_36%3A1253505011&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=headphones&dpPl=1&dpID=41ljcZIdgGL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009S332TQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205768&sr=1-20&refinements=p_36%3A1253505011&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=headphones&dpPl=1&dpID=41kFstqC55L&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HVLUQW8/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205349&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=audio+technica&dpPl=1&dpID=41EDeh-wXKL&ref=plSrch
---------------------mics---------------------
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002HJ9PTO/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205474&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=lav+mic
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0058MJX4O/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205474&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=lav+mic&dpPl=1&dpID=31l%2BOAM-HdL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015R1U5XS/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205429&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=neewer+nw&dpPl=1&dpID=51LxsbISrEL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XOXRTX6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503205393&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=neewer+nw&dpPl=1&dpID=41yPNjD%2BW6L&ref=plSrch
If you don't need them right away, the Sennheiser HD 598's go on sale for $100-115 every so often.
Right now, the older model Sennheiser HD 558 can be had for about $100 new.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004FEEY9A/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all
Posting this in case you see it in time. 558's are selling on amazon.ca for $120 but they're going really fast - http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB
The adapter that you listed is mono and the plastic housing looks to be too wide to fit into the headphones. Also, I don't know if it matters or not, but the 2.5mm plug the HD 558 uses has 3 black bands on it, and not one (mono) or two (stereo).
A customer on Amazon has a picture of a thinner adapter that works. Unfortunately, that adapter looks like it is currently unavailable. It was in stock a few days ago when I was looking at it, so hopefully they will get more in soon.
For the most part, gaming headsets are not worth the money.
If your budget is $200, do this :
HD 598 and a ModMic.
Alternatively, grab a pair of HD558's if you only have $150. this will blow any headset out of the water, and you can drive both of these with your motherboard. Any other questions, head over to /r/headphones.
Sennheiser HD 558 with a Modmic 2.0.
It's super versatile and cheap as chips right now
Sennheiser HD 558
It's an open phone, with a big soundstage which is important for gaming.
Overall it has a laid back sound, with more forward mids.
Headsets lose out to head phones every time, I recommend getting a pair of good headphones and a mic.
I would go with [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1479683905&sr=8-1&keywords=hd+558&condition=new) and
thisthisor [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00ENMK1DW/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1479684063&sr=8-1&keywords=shp9500&condition=new) with this
they sound pretty good and the best bang for your buck. Hope this helps
edit: actual mic
If you're looking for a headphone that you're primarily going to use to game with, I suggest looking into open-back headphones.
Assuming you DO need a mic:
Philips SHP9500 + V-Moda BoomPro
Assuming you DON'T need a mic:
Audio Technica ATH-AD700X
Though these are above your price range, do keep an eye on them. Black Friday is near, so a few are bound to drop around the 100$ range.
Sennheiser HD558
Sennheiser HD598
Keep in mind that if you can always attach a ModMic to virtually any headphone you buy. So if you decide to not go with the SHP9500, this could be your next investment.
I am a sennheiser fanboy, these are pretty good. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1449207190&sr=8-6&keywords=sennheiser
It doesn't come with a mic, you can get a cheap desk mic for 5$-10$ and I am sure you can find those headphones a few bucks less somewhere else. The sound is really open and natural and the surround in them is really nice.
EDIT: could also EBAY them, they hold up pretty good.
Assuming it comes on sale again around Christmas time the Sennheiser HD598 will be the best choice, however since they are open-backed they will leak sound.
Alternatively you can consider the Philips SHP9500 which is a good choice but doesn't sound as natural as the HD598 (in terms of detail).
Or if you're open to modifying your headphones the Sennheiser HD558 sounds much closer to the HD598 by removing some foam damping the sound inside. I haven't tried the HD558 so I can't attest to whether this is accurate but many people claim it's identical ~95%.
e: no idea if your system will be powerful enough for any of the headphones I suggested.
I'm a big fan of the Sennheiser HD558's.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1
I'm finally ready to take the plunge.... I am going to buying a portable DAC/Amp and new headphones.
Budget - $200 total with DAC/Amp and headphones. I will also be selling my gen 1 Dre Beats Studio's (B+ condition) in case anyone is interested.
Source - These will be daily drivers. I will be wearing them at work, plugging the DAC/Amp into my work computer, as well as on transportation to/from work using a DAC/Amp plugged into my android phone.
Requirements for Isolation - Not that necessary. I currently listen to music at work at a decent volume without issues and my walk home won't bother anyone. I don't fly or ride the bus very often, but I'm sure I may regret open headphones when I eventually do haha
Preferred Type of Headphone - Full sized. At this point, I don't care how big they are, I just want them to sound amazing. I'm not a huge fan of "on-ear" headphones, as I've had issues with long term listening because they tend to clamp on my head.
Preferred tonal balance - I love bass, don't get me wrong, but I don't listen to much Hip-hop or EDM. I would say mids but honestly, I'm not 100% sure.
Past headphones - I have only ever had Dre Beats studios (first gen), and a shitty $15 pair of Sennheisers.
Preferred Music - I like to listen to a pretty wide range of music. Anywhere from classic rock, electronic, progressive metal, world fusion, to trance.
Some of my favorite artists:
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - For years now, I've just been rocking my Dre Beats studio's and they've served their purpose. I am now finally getting into downloading and listening to higher quality audio. I want to be able to listen to these high quality songs that Trent Reznor and others put out and hear the little details that I know they spent the time on. I want to listen to Pink Floyd flac files and be blown away. I have also been doing some home recording as of late with a Presonus Audio box and various pedals. It would be an added bonus to have better headphones for that as well.
CONSIDERATIONS:
So far, I've been leaning towards the Fiio Q1 portale DAC/Amp and either Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones or maybe Sennheiser HD 558's. I will also be selling my current gen 1 Dre Beats Studio headphones so if anyone wants those for a quick sale let me know before I post them on ebay then I will have more money for even BETTER headphones. Special reddit discount.
EDIT - Holy crap I just found AudioTechnica's what appears to be ATHM50X's with extra interchangable ear cups on Massdrop for $124! They look like ATHM50's and the description says that it comes with three interchangable cables so wouldn't this be the ATHM50X's? If so, these are my top contender atm.
good headphones. too many people use shitty speakers or shitty headphones or "gaming headsets" that sound like ass. good headphones are game-changing and you can get an excellent set for 100-200 or so. I'm using these: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449272346&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd-558
It's also really stupid to spend $100 on turtle beach.
You can get audiophile quality headphones for the same price.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
I'd get the pair of headphones. if you need an integrated mic the HyperX Cloud IIs are great
IF you don't need the intergrated mic or would rather spend extra for a desktop mic then the AudioTechnica ATH M50x's are amazing.
Also holy shit the HD 558s are dirt cheap right now
Like another commenter had said. I too prefer the Headphone and Microphone separate. Looking into it, I see $200 AUD is roughly $140 USB, so I personally recommend Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones, they cost just under $100 USD on Amazon, are super comfortable and they sound amazing.
As for a microphone, you could either give a Antlion Audio ModMic 4.0 Attachable Boom Microphone - Omni-Directional with Mute Switch a try if you wanted something similar to a gaming headphone setup, with a detachable microphone, OR go for a desk stand microphone, most basic ones will work, especially if you only use it for online gaming (audio quality wouldn't be a HUGE deal as opposed to if you were streaming or something.)
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B009S332TQ/ref=pd_sim_23_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=51ClW9xDmGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR132%2C160_&refRID=10KP62MRZ68HX7EAKPM6
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD900X-Open-Back-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B009S331VU/ref=pd_sim_23_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41VXlU318nL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1GNP0347PEF999BMNJH3
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1453338850&sr=1-2&keywords=sennheiser+hd+598
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1453338871&sr=1-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd+558
just a couple suggestions^
Gaming headphones are a gimmick. You can have better quality headphones for the same price and buy a $10 mic to clip on it.
Probably the best value you can have regarding headphones are the Sennheiser HD598 or the HD558 depending on your budget.
I listed a company that sells some of the best headphones in the OP's price range. A pair of Senn 558s is going to destroy any headset you can buy for under $100.
Why? Because headsets are a niche market. They don't have the volume to provide the same quality at each price point as headphone manufacturers. You "get" far more for your dollar when you buy headphones and microphones separately.
If you read the above post you should post your question on the r/headphones subreddit for information about headphone purchases. They'll provide a much more articulated suggestion.
However if you want some good headphones, I've been using these and they're pretty good for your budget size. Comfortable as.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
wait for a sale, i veen them for 120 on random sales.
http://us.akg.com/akg-product-detail-us/k272-hd.html
bit expensive (200 ish) but you can get them on sale for less if you look hard enough
They are both over the ear head phone
if the 272 are to expensive you can look for the last gen 271 mkII
haha...yeah, you should get two.
you'll eventually want two + good mixing headphones, so you mind as well get some of those while you're waiting to buy your 2nd monitor.
I have these and love them, but a slightly cheaper pair of sennheiser's or akg's or audio technica's would be good too.
Sorry for the crappy 4k quality, shot with a Galaxy S5 and I forgot to resize
Equipment: Cooler Master Rapid (Browns), Sennheiser HD 558, Pilot Metropolitan
Don't get headsets, get headphones. These are $105 right now but they usually drop a bit more. Then get any mic you want. I have a $2 mic that sounds perfectly clear. Check out the zalman clip on mic.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1450166345&sr=1-1&keywords=hd558
I have these: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
They sound fantastic and are incredibly comfortable.
You need something like this
I have the previous model. Super big, soft and comfy. Open sided for great sound and in my case cool ears. Pricey but so worth it.
http://www.amazon.in/Technica-ATH-M50X-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421391232&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+ath-m50x
http://www.amazon.in/Technica-ATH-M40X-Professional-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1421391341&sr=8-14&keywords=audio+technica
http://www.amazon.in/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD500X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S333U4/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421391395&sr=1-3&keywords=audio+technica
These will give you a phenomenal soundstage (instruments will appear to be separated spatially, giving the feeling of listening to a live performance from nearby).
http://www.amazon.in/Audio-Technica-ATH-WS77-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B009FRPN4M/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421391395&sr=1-10&keywords=audio+technica
These should have good bass.
http://www.amazon.in/Sennheiser-HD-558-Over-Ear-Headphone/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421391474&sr=1-19
This Sennheiser will give you god-level sound, but you'll need to use the equalizer if you want very strong bass.
For headsets, I would recommend the Sennheiser PC 350's or PC 360's, depending on your preference. They are one of the few decent performers with little markup and an "affordable" street price.
If you go with headphones, the Audio Technica ATH-AD700's are great for gaming, as it has an excellent sound stage and are very clear (due in part to their minimal bass output). They are opened though, so there is very little isolation. For closed headphones, the beyerdynamic DT-770's are alright, I prefer them over my ATH-M50's, especially for gaming. If you want just a solid well-rounded pair of versatile headphones, give the HD 558's a listen. You can generally find Sennheiser products for much lower than their MSRP.
The decent open back sennheiser models start at £119, if that's over your budget I suggest you go with something like a brainwavz HM5
I would either get these Sennheiser HD 558 or these ATH-M50
I personally have the Sennheiser HD 558, I love them and consider myself an audiophile. Go on /r/headphones for more suggestions, they also have a wiki on the sidebar.
This is heavily dependent on the type of glasses you wear, OP. I purchased my new pair to be as lightweight as possible, and I have very few issues with headsets now. Aside from that, these headphones are the most comfortable I've worn, and I've experimented quite a bit with Sennheisers and Audio Technicas. I also have no issues with the Microsoft stereo headset. Quite comfortable actually. I'll also echo others and say that TBs are generally uncomfortable. My local Walmart had all the TBs on display ready to try if you want to experiment.
I'm looking at headphones for a friend. They listen to a lot of acoustic guitar music, and consider themself an audiophile. Their budget is around 100 bucks, so I picked these out.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009S331VU/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687402&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B009S332TQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0XAPTAXEPQCS0BQ3G49K
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042A8CW2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687582&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004FEEY9A&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19ZFHP4ANG6PN1VTH4TJ
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-240-Stereo-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0016MNBAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418573395&sr=8-2&keywords=akg+k240
Can someone give a quick summary of the pros and cons of each in relation to each other?
Edit: they don't have an amp
The Audio-Technica AD700 are legendary for gaming and they sound pretty good too. On the other hand, you may not want them because they do lack in bass. However, having a lot of bass in games is harmful because it tends to wash out the nuances that gamers want/need. The bass of explosions will wash out the subtle footsteps of an enemy approaching from your rear. This is why these headphones are considered top of the line for gamers.
There is a newer model that retains this sound signature, and sounds absolutely beautiful. It has a very sparkly treble and is great for games.
If you really need the added bass, I would go with the Sennheiser HD 558 which will deliver the bass response that you are looking for. However, the soundstage will be slightly decreased from the AD700 because, in my opinion, these are not a truly open headphone. Inside each ear cup, there is a piece of foam tape stuck to the mesh. If you open up the headphone and remove this foam tape, you can achieve a similar sound stage to the AD700 but with additional bass response. The HD 558 is also great for watching movies, better than the AD700, imo.
None of these headphones require an amp, but they all scale up with an am
This is the one I use : http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005VO7LG6
And these are my favorite headphones : http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
A hundred bucks for that? I'd either get the NVX Xpt100 or HD558s.
http://www.amazon.com/NVX-Over-Ear-Headphones-ComfortMax-Cushions/dp/B0093PVTPS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1458926073&sr=1-1&keywords=nvx+xpt100
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1458926127&sr=1-1&keywords=HD558s
Don't go for the X version of any Audio Technica headphones if you're producing, they've got an altered bass/treble curve. At that price point, I'd grab the Sennheiser HD 558s - They also have the same drivers as the HD 598s, but are $50 cheaper.
102€ on amazon
Open back vs closed back.
Closed back means the back of them is literally closed so no (or minimal) sound leaks out. Closed usually has higher bass response (technical reason being standing waves, I believe, as sound bounces around inside the cans). Sennheiser Momentum 2 are closed.
Open back is just that. Sound waves leak out the back of them. Sennheiser HD 558 are open.
Open back is easier to get better sound out of, technical reason being there are no or minimal standing waves, which can unintentionally boost certain frequencies. Open back also usually has a wider sound stage, things sound like they're coming from farther away from your head, as opposed to inside your head. Not sure the technical reason for that. :) But probably something to do with being able to control bouncing or standing waves easily because they just run out the back.
Closed back is kinder to people around you, or if you don't want to listen to things going on around you. Noise-cancelling headphones are something else entirely and actively try to cancel out outside sound using an opposite sound wave generator, so the sound waves are quite literally cancelled out.
I love my Sennheiser 558s. Super comfy and amazing sound quality. I listen to about the same genres as you too.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413565476&sr=8-2&keywords=sennheiser+598
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
or
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2
Whichever fits your budget. Also, they regularly go on sale.
Sound: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10
Style: 11/10
I loved the idea of ModMic / Antlion but hated the idea of 2 cords coming down from the headset. Luckily I found a good combo with:
Senheiser 558s
This microphone / cord replacement
So those headphones along with many higher end sets have a swappable cord. The mic replaces the cord, and has a boom coming out of it. Also got a shorty cord to use with my phone when I just want to use my head phones and head phones. The sound quality and comfort are waaaaaay better than any gaming headset I've owned.
Sennheiser HD 558
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
Sennheiser HD558s or Audio-Technica
ATH-M50sATH-AD500X / ATH-AD700s then. With the above mics. :)EDIT: ATH-M50 unendorsed by /u/ARE_U_FUCKING_SORRY
I could recommend the Sennheiser HD558:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/
Should fit your needs pretty well, although you may find it slightly bass-lacking.
I might wait for secondary recommendations, though -- I'm an IEM guy and don't have too much experience with full size cans in your price range.
I think that the 558s would do awesome, but you may need another cable if your equipment does not use a 1/4 Jack, or just use the enormous adapter that comes with.
My recommendation is /r/headphones, but while you're here check out the Sony MDR-V6 ($76) with replacement pads ($24.50) for comfort. I don't know how it'll do for sound whoring, but it looks like they've been a staple for decades in studio work.
Closed-back, over ear, fixed coiled 10' cable (this is long, really long), and pretty well recommended from the looks of things. It looks like these headphones are more expensive right now than usual though.
I use the Sennheiser 558 (was $80, seems to be getting replaced), but they're open backed (great for music but with non-existant isolation).
These are the ones I have https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A but of course there not wireless.
Estos Sennheiser son otra buena opcion. Cual de los 2 te conviene? Eso ya depende de vos, buscate un par de reviews describiendo el sonido y elegi en base a eso te diria.
Un solo detalle a tener en cuenta, los 2 modelos que te pase son auriculares "abiertos" y son mejores para audio posicional (o sea, te convienen para juegos) pero tienen la desventaja que vas a escuchar el sonido de lo que pase afuera. Tambien, si los pones muy fuerte desde afuera se escucha lo que vos estes escuchando.
These are normally about USD $100 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
As other people have said, if you want a headset get a hyperX Cloud II.
Orrrr, you could get a much better set of headphones with a clip on mic that's just as good as a headset's.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
--
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_1
shrug IMO a headset is like a prebuilt, medium quality at best for way too much money. (:
When you're looking into headphones, you should at least determine what you personally like audio wise and what are you going to use the headphones for. Do you like a lot of bass or do you prefer clearer audio? Also will you be using them to play only stereo content or would you be utilising a wide soundstage?
If your definition of a "PCMR headset" is something like a comfortable fit with adjustable leds that screams gaming, I'd recommend Steelseries siberia 650 for example.
HOWEVER, the quality of the "gaming" headsets is pretty much shit compared to what you can get with the same money outside of the gaming franchises. Especially the built in mics in gaming headsets have pretty terrible quality in all of the models on the market compared to proper microphones.
Personally I don't care about the leds and stuff and enjoy good quality audio, so I went with quality AKG studio headphones I already owned and bought an Antlion modmic 4.0 to go with them. I've been very pleased with this setup and the best part is, you can choose the quality headphones that suit you best and slap that quality mic onto any model or brand.
If I didn't already have my AKG 272HD's and had to buy the entire setup, I would probably have gone with the modmic + Sennheiser HD 558. That setup has a pretty amazing price to quality ratio and most of all it's comfortable and sounds great. To go even further the Sennheiser HD 598's are basically the same headphones but with a better soundstage and less bass. Just my 2 cents.
TL;DR: Would seriously recommend to make your own quality headset out of a modmic and some good quality studio headphones for the price of a lower quality "gaming" headset.
Well this was an easy one, open full-size and warm around $100 spells Sennheiser HD558. :) It's an excellent entry point to the world of open back and very good overall headphones.
Regarding bass, open cans have bass. It's just different. It will be deep and clear and you will definitely hear it, it's just not "punch you in the ear" like with a closed back.
HD 558, and a zalman mic.
When the headphones go on sale, this is under $100
I suggest the Sennhaeiser 558 HD over the 598. They both have the same drivers and the 558 can be modded to be near identical to the 598.
558 HD for $99
paired with the cheap $8 Zalman mic.
Makes great bang for buck headset.
For the minimum range, you're looking at spending around $70-80 USD. I personally love my Sennheiser PC 363D for gaming and my Sennheiser HD 598 SE for music but those are slightly more expensive (Sennheiser PC 363D on Amazon and Sennheiser HD 598 SE on Amazon).
I found these headphones on Amazon that might interest you:
Sennheiser HD 558 over-ear style - I bought these back in December for $80 on sale, but they're $98 now. Anyway, I am very happy with them. They are open air, however, so the only downside here is if you go above a medium volume people around you will hear them, especially the drums.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros have great bass response, while the Sennheiser HD598's aren't as punchy in the bass. That being said, the DT770's present a bit more in the high-end frequencies, and some might find that unbalanced.
The HD598's are certainly more balanced in their presentation. The HD558's are the cheapest option, but present great value for somebody looking for a bit more bass than the HD598's, but less than the DT770's.
Any of these headphones paired with a proper headphone amplifier will provide a good listening experience, but different. While both Sennheiser's are open-back and will breath more to provide a wider sound stage, the Beyerdynamics are closed back and will provide a more narrow sound stage, but provide more bass response.
Senn 558 has pretty decent bass, it's open though. Do you care if it's open backed, or do you want closed/isolated?
ATH-M50 is close-backed with decent bass as well. Both are around your budget.
Grado sr80i Alternatively these guys are pretty good. Maybe not that great for gaming with small sound-stage. Open headphones have larger soundstages and will generally sound better with emulators for stereo headphones such as Dolby Headphones.
I own the Sony MDR-v6 which are exactly the same aside from different labeling than the MDR7506 (you'll see audiophiles go back and forth constantly about this but seeing the parts list from sony list the same part numbers for both sealed the deal for me). They are extremely durable. I listen to electronic music (ambient, drum and bass, trance, techno, et al) and they are pretty decent. Interestingly if you don't like the sony ear pads the ear pads for a beyrdnamic DT250 will fit them and are much more comfortable for me, although they don't go over my ear like the stock ones do, which is my only gripe about the pad.
All that said, I don't use them. My main headphone is the Sennheiser HD558. As of posting they're $140. Have a very neutral sound which I like. You can increase the bass a little by removing a couple foam pieces the block some of the holes in the grill, which I recommend. Downside is they're not really durable. They're all plastic construction and supposedly the headband can crack easily although I haven't had any issues.
As for the others, I've just heard the ATH-M50 mentioned a lot, no experience with them. But if you were going purely by how often people recommend them I'd say the ATH-M50 and MDR7506 (usually you see MDR-v6 mentioned because they're usually less expensive) are the two top ones.
Looks like they were actually replaced with the HD558.
Some people actually say they prefer them to the 555's.
Perhaps worth mentioning?
Buy a pair of [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A)
Sennheiser makes a few models with an optional USB soundcard (gaming audiophile grade headsets) for around your price range. I'm on mobile atm, so I'll link some later.
EDIT: The Sennheiser PC 363D sounds like everything that you're looking for, but at $300. The Sennheiser PC 333D comes at a price of $180 and is overall a little lower quality. Both of these have a 7.1 USB sound card that you can plug the headset into. Or you could go the audiophile headphones/soundcard/mic route. Something like the Sennheiser HD 558 for $120 with a PCI-E x1 sound card like a ASUS Xonar Essence (if you have the slot, many people don't realize that there are PCI-E x1 solutions) and separate microphone.
Here are some from different brands that are incredible:
Sennheiser:
HD 518 (Cheap and effective)
HD 558
HD 598
Grado:
SR80i (Great bang for buck, but Grado's cup style may be uncomfortable)
SR125i
SR325i (Closed)
Beyerdynamic:
DT770 (Pretty standard audiophile pair here, also they are closed)
There are plenty more, more than I can list, I just focused on affordable and great sounding headphones, there are also plenty more affordable headphones from brands like AudioTechnica, Shure, Koss, and many others.
Here's a quick way to fix broken Monster headphones. As a bonus, it'll improve the sound quality too!
Q701 used HD558 HD598 used
These
Sennheiser's HD558 ($123) would be a much better quality headphone then Audio Technica's M50X. However, they are open-backed, meaning that they would leak sound in and out. I would recommend the Muse/Micca combination as opposed to the Logitech system. However, if volume is a priority over sound quality, go with the Logitech.
The HD 558's might be your best bet. I'd still recommend looking at the headphones listed here and see if you can find any of the ones that interest you that are more in your budget or search for the more expensive ones that people are selling used locally.
Yeah, two things, but they could potentially put you over budget, depending on how you go about this.
One: If you're doing video editing, then you're going to want a monitor with an IPS panel. This basically means that the monitor has very high color accuracy (and that's really useful for video making, so that the video won't look funny to any viewers with IPS panels, of which many people have). This is a really nice one that's very popular. Obviously, if you went with both monitors, it'd put you over budget, so that's up to you. All IPS monitors are 60Hz or less, unfortunately, though some do overclock a little.
Two: I would strongly suggest getting a pair of headphones and a separate mic. Headphones have pretty shit quality for what you pay. I'd suggest this pair and this microphone. Unfortunately, that's really expensive for you because Canada, so you may want to go to /r/headphones to learn about something more affordable if that's an issue. Just don't get the ATH-M50's; they have a terrible soundstage (other than that, they're awesome headphones, but good soundstage is important for gaming).
Other than that, you should be just fine. Might want to switch to this RAM though, just because it's cheaper and there's no sense in overpaying for RAM (unless it's for looks!).
Oh, if you can, I would STRONGLY suggest using ethernet. It's about twice as fast and much more reliable than wifi.
Gaming headphones are a pretty weird market. None of them are actually that good for anything but games, and other headphones can usually do games better. Instead of buying a gaming headset, It's better to buy a less expensive pair of headphones that preform better and add a mic. Gaming headsets may have all sorts of cool features, but you'll find that you don't really need them once you don't have them. The most important thing for gaming headphones isn't preset EQs or bass response, it's all about having a positively massive soundstage. That's how you can get your system sounding something like a surround sound setup (although headphones just can't do the same things that speakers can at any price range). Depening on your price range, you could get the Sennheiser HD558, the Audio Techinca AD700X, the AKG Q701, or the Philips Fildelio X1. As for mics, you can get the Zalman ZM1 clip on mic, or the Antlion Modmic, if you're a fan of boom mics and quality. On top of being able to play games with them, you'll also be able to listen to your music collection rather comfortably, which is the main place where gaming headsets fall short, as they're equalized and tuned specifically for games.
I'm sorry to do a huge info dump on you, but getting a nice sounding pair of headphones doesn't just improve your games and music, it improves your life :) Eventually, you'll be more comfortable wearing them than not.
Whichever way you go, though, I hope you enjoy whatever you buy to the fullest, and most importantly, enjoy Destiny's phenominal sound design with your headphones! And if you need more suggestions, I'd be happy to help!
Most audiophiles recommend getting standalone headphones and then adding a desktop mid or a modmic (those are pretty cool, you just attach it to your headphone) instead of a headset.
something like this will give you much better audio than any "gaming" headset:
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1474746786&sr=1-3&keywords=sennheiser+598
those have the same price as the HyperX Cloud 2
unless you have a good sound-card and or amp (to give the good headphones their quality sound) a 220$ headset is useless anyway. Also you buy Headphones not headsets are headsets are all over-priced.
If i had to suggest a headphone presuming you can find it, sennheiser HD 558, or a decent pair of Grado labs headphones.
http://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A (558s)
http://amzn.com/B004FEEY9A + http://amzn.com/B00R98JVVU
70 bucks is fine for the shp. The price for the hd558 has been going up and down quite a lot on amazon uk lately https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones-Technology-Black/product/B004FEEY9A?context=browse
Edit: that was around Christmas though might stay at this for a while I guess.
I'm using an MSI p67-gd53.
And to me personally, "gaming audio" is mostly about immersion, regardless of audio positioning, but the two usually go hand-in-hand. I haven't tried the AD700s, but I stayed away from them because from what I've read, positioning is all they're good for. No bass for when you need it (pretty much all other uses) and a wide but artificial soundstage.
And the Internet being the echo chamber that it is, it just raises by skepticism a bit further about them, especially after being underwhelmed by the M50s.
So I took a bit of a risk and when with a refurbrished pair of Sennheiser Hd558, which I actually auditionned in store and was happy with. Plus there's the foam mod which supposedly makes them sound almost exactly as the hd598s.
So this is a really noob question, I'm new to headphones. I got the Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones last year for Cyber Monday. Are these a big enough of an upgrade that it'd be worth dropping $100 on them or are they pretty much the same model for a non-audiophile?
Those are pretty nice. I went back and found the pair I got, they were cheaper than I thought http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=s9_dcbhz_bw_g23_i1_sh
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Honestly I'd just get a decent pair of headphones. Something like these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0042A8CW2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1PS0FHAB5P1YRWY4P01P
I don't know a huge amount about headphones but in Amazon's features sections they have these Sennheiser HD 558 for £59.95, reduced all the way from £159.99 exclusively for Prime members apparently.
Is that a good price for these headphones? A £100 reduction seems huge and difficult to pass up
yea its £60 for prime members https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Studio-Headphones/Sennheiser-HD-558-High-Open-Over-Technology/B004FEEY9A
Went on sale last Thursday, but they're still the same price at $119 on Amazon!
Maybe the hd558?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417607659&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417360445&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40
HD558's, if you look around these are probably the best gaming headphones for the money that you can buy for a reasonable price.
Hey guys, really noobish and simple question. Getting slightly nice (for me) headphones. Choosing between the Sennheiser 558 (recommended by the sidebar wiki) and the 280, which someone recommended.
They're both ~70 used on Amazon. I like the look of the velour on the 558s. I've read reviews/comparisons of both but honestly it's not giving me a whole lot, the reviews seem to disagree with each other. I like the closed aspect of the 280s, but I also like the 1/4" jack of the 558s (for plugging into my audio interface).
I assume they're pretty similar, right? Any advice about which I should go for?
Here is the mobile version of your link
$80 for headphones, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042A68R8/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=
and $20 for mic you can stick on any headset, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DLKX7BK/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=
both prime eligible, ready to go.
or these are the next step up for sennheiser for $100. the 558's vs 518's above. not exactly sure what all the differences are. think they are supposed to be a little clearer sounding, bigger range maybe. for me i would definitely spend the extra $20, but i dont know if it is really worth the $20 extra. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=
either of those would be multitudes better than anything from steel series or whatever random mouse company that decided to sell gaming headsets.
The buildapcsales poster boy headphones.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687542&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0042A8CW2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1GQWQ3SQ7FARF8KSXN95
Sennheiser HD 558's : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
+
Zalman Clip on mic : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
This combo has superior audio quality and mic quality while also allowing you to have independent headphones and mics that can combine.
This will be much better than almost any headset you can get, especially for $190.
You can get the virtual surround sound from headsets, headphones, or even ear buds. Its more of a software solution.
If you are looking at just headphones, check out these options
Audio Technica AD700 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000CMS0XU?cache=bcba77e1c5cdba6100b12e3619c0b44b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1404325365&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4
-
Sennheiser HD598 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A?cache=bcba77e1c5cdba6100b12e3619c0b44b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1404325441&sr=8-10#ref=mp_s_a_1_10
Headset
-
Sennheiser PC350 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0012XFDWO?cache=bcba77e1c5cdba6100b12e3619c0b44b&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1404325591&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2
All of these are at or below 150$ I'm fairly sure and are more than you could ever want from audio quality unless you were an Audiophile that only listened to FLAC with an amp to drive you headphones.
The best bang for your buck is probably going to be the Sennheiser HD598. That is my recommendation. Sennheiser makes one hell of a product.
Ehh. It's alright. Amazon.com's warehouse deals has "used" stock for $66
After using the Sennheiser HD555's for about 5 years now, thinking about purchasing the 558's. Would this be a good deal? I'm thinking it is, but maybe someone knows additional info.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEEY9A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d4_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0X2C5CXRCZ6J7JTB5JNY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A?pc_redir=1409366895&robot_redir=1
Those are the ones I use and they are amazing and relatively cheap. I can wear them for a very long time and they do not hurt either.
+1 for the over-ear, open-backed headphone. I use these, Sennheiser HD 558, and I love the quality of sound without the environmental disconnectedness of backed phones or plugs/buds. They stay on well, and the cable management is pretty easy, I just wrap up the majority of the cable with a twist tie, and let it hang over my back. Can't even tell its there. Plus, I can easily disconnect and use the headphones for non-VR stuff too.
I think the main question you need to answer is: Do you want open or closed headphones? If you want bass, closed will most likely be what you want but that's not always the case.
For closed:
$80 Phillips CitiScape Uptown have been getting some good reviews.
~$108 Audio Technica ATH-M50s are always recommended in your price range.
$170 Shure SRH-840
For Open:
$100 Grado SR80i
$100 Audio Technica AD700
$170 Audio Technica AD900
$177 Sennheiser HD 558
These are only a few options. I would check out the InnerFidelity wall of fame and the head-fi recommendations by price range. I used to have the skullcrushers as well and I know for a fact that every one of these headphones will sound unbelievably better.
Trying to decide between two headphones:
DT990 http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ
HD 558 http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=pd_cp_e_1
I'm not really going to be doing much listening to music, I primarily will be using these for watching TV shows and movies. I'm upgrading from the Sony MDRV6. Just wanting to know whether the extra $70 for the DT990 is worth it or if I should go for the 558.
Also, what is the difference between DT990 Pro 250 ohm and DT990 premium 250 ohm?
Thank you!
Looking at these two pair for gaming purposes, anything better? // also looking for amp
***** Willing to pay up to $300; these were just suggested by a friend
518s
558s
Interesting preference swing. I generally consider v-shaped to be the opposite of balance/neutral, but oddly liking it and liking neutrality does seem to correlate.
The first thing that catches my eye browsing through Amazon.co.uk would be a pair of [99 quid Sennheiser HD558s] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones-Technology-Noir/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1425694300&sr=8-17&keywords=dt990). Now, I actually own a pair of these, and they're pretty solid low-mid-fi/entry tier headphones ([review 1] (http://www.head-fi.org/products/sennheiser-hd-558/reviews/7859) and [2] (http://www.head-fi.org/products/sennheiser-hd-558/reviews/8544) if you want additional perspectives). They've got a "warm" neutral sound, meaning the lower mids and bass is a little bit forward, but their soundstage is quite large, and they're generally neutral enough to be very solid for a lot of genres. You're not gonna kill any giants with these things, but they're one of the least-hateable headphones I've ever heard, and a hell of an upgrade from what you have at current.
However, my ramble through your nation's e-store revealed a rather surprising deal: [£105 Beyerdynamic DT990s] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyerdynamic-DT990-PRO-Headset-250/dp/B0011UB9CQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425694280&sr=8-2&keywords=dt990). I happen to own a pair of them as well (though I paid nearly twice as much for them as my HD558s), and they would be quite well-suited if you wanted a v-shaped sound. The Beyers [have a quite significant boost to treble and bass relative to the Senns] (http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=2141&graphID[]=2861&scale=30), and they're probably my absolute favour headphone for heavy metal. The recessed mids hurt them for folk, I feel, because male vocals are at the core of most folk I listen to, and the DT990's signature puts the instruments in front of them, but that's a pretty crazy price for them, and they're definitely excellent headphones, if not as generalist as the HD558s (and, indeed, I'd tend to consider them somewhat "higher-tier" in their performance, if not within the same sound signature and for all songs). [Couple] (http://www.head-fi.org/products/beyerdynamic-dt-990-pro-headphones/reviews/9981) of [reviews] (http://www.head-fi.org/products/beyerdynamic-dt-990-pro-headphones/reviews/5127) if you want some additional perspectives. There is a wrinkle, however: they're the 250Ω version. As a result, they will be quite quiet from most sources unless you either have an amp, or a very audio chip in your computer and/or phone, and you may run into into things like audio clipping and other issues with integrated audio. For more information regarding power requirements and impedance, see [these] (http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/09/more-power.html) [three] (http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/headphone-impedance-explained.html) [articles] (http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/headphone-amp-impedance.html).
I should also note, both of these headphones are pretty much completely open-backed, meaning that their isolation is so low that you can pretty much hear what someone's listening to on these from across the room. The DT990s are a little higher isolation, but it's not a big gap, so portable usage is pretty much off the table for both of them, if that's important to you.
Alternatively to the ATH-AD700x + Zalman, I'd consider:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425505650&sr=8-1&keywords=hd558
and
http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage/products/modmic-4-0
The modmic is going to sound a WHOLE lot better than a Zalman and is all-around a much nicer product. It's a lot more expensive though, as you can tell.
The HD558 is the HD598's little, and way less ugly brother. It's super-comfortable, sounds very good and spacious, and should last you a long, long time.
Sennheiser HD 518s, geared for more electronic music, far better than Beats, Open Ear for beautiful sound
~$70
Sennheiser HD 558s, balanced all around, improvement over the 518s but less geared for electronic music. Open ear
~$100
Sennheiser 598s, practically similar to the 558, just further improved for more accurate sound reproduction
~$150
Sennheiser HD 380 PRO, closed back, extremely good sound reproduction
~$100
Audio-Technica M50x, closed back, one of the most popular Audiophile headphones on the market
~$150
2 Closed Back, 3 Open Back. As you can see, I strongly prefer open for the much cleaner and natural sound, but closed back is still an option.
I mean, if your looking for, "audio tuned to only emphasize the very highs and the very lows", then yeah, maybe beats are for you, however, that doesn't make them of higher quality at all, they are literally doing the opposite of what you would want in a headphone, it's just that you would apparently prefer it. If you had a headphone that was completely flat, then you could hear the exact amount of bass the artist was intending. For example, I have Dual-Subs in the back of my car inside a ported box. If I listen to a deadmau5 song on those with the bass settings tuned way up, I'll get an overpowering bass that basically shakes the car and drowns out the rest of the music. However, when I go home and listen to the song on say my HD518s, I'll get to listen to the song as a whole, and the bass is represented exactly at the level it should be for the song, where you can feel it, you can hear it, but it doesn't drown out the rest of the song.
Budget - $80-130
Source - PC soundcard
Requirements for Isolation - No real requirement but some isolation could be nice.
Preferred Type of Headphone - Over-ear
Preferred tonal balance - I guess neutralish but I also like good bass that isn't overpowering.
Past headphones - Various low-ends, really nothing to mention.
Preferred Music - Mostly electronic(Aphex Twin and such), but all kinds really.
So pretty much I'm between choosing this and this. What's the consensus on those two? I'm also open to other suggestions.
Edit: just saw the price on the HD 558, so now I'm considering that as well.
Edit 2: At this point I don't really know what to get, so I'm just open to any suggestions.
Does anybody have experience with the Sennheiser HD280Pro or Sennheiser HD558? I've had the former for the past 5 years and use it for listening to music, mixing and recording, watching movies, and playing games and it has served me well, but the ear pads seem to be falling apart. I could get earpad replacements, but I could also upgrade to new headphones. I hear the 558's are good for games, but would like an opinion.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_7?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1426866629&sr=1-7&keywords=sennheiser
I don't have these ones personally, but I have heard pretty good things about them especially at the price range. You could then get a Mod Mic from antlion i believe their name is or find a cheap mic to attach.
*Edit - There are articles covering good Affordable headphones for gaming I don't remember where I found it. I would check out the headphones subreddit or audiophile subreddit and doing some quick research there.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426665848&sr=8-2&keywords=SENNHEISER+hd+598
http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage/products/modmic-4-0
$150 and it'll be a shitload better than a shitty console headset.
Reasonably priced could mean different things to me and you but AT AD700s are always recommended from people in the know although I don't find the "winged" headband design to be super comfortable. And I can personally say that HD558s are great.
Well, following what you desire, and on a $300 budget, assuming you are in the US:
Amazon sales, no idea if they've ended or not now though :s They kept going out of stock and then back in for me, at that price.
I did make a thread about the discount, but it didn't gain a huge amount of traction.
Yeah, take a look at these for example:
Sennheiser
Beyerdynamic
M40x with mic, recommended
MSR7, great fucking sound for this price
And for further info, head to /r/headphones ;)
I would recommend neither of those. Instead, if you're looking at the PC360, get the HD 558 and add the ModMic. You can even remove a piece of foam in the HD 558 to make them sound more like the HD 598.
Hopefully you can find that in Norway!
I'd recommend the Sennheiser 558, they are one of the best headphones for gaming due to their spacious sound-stage and wonderful comfort. Additionally, they sound quite nice with almost all genres due to their neutral sound signature.
For Earphones I use these
They are cheap, but they are the best earphones I've used, and I've had pairs that cost £70.
For headphones I use these
They are good, but I don't know if they are worth £120. You could probably find just as good ones for much cheaper.
Beats and skullcandy are pretty bad tbh. This is a really good site for comparing the actually frequency response that different headphones have. If you add your pair of headphones along with the Audio Technica ATH M50x, Sennheiser HD 518, and the Sennheiser HD 558's you can get a clear visual representation of your headphones sound signature compared to others and you can see that the bass on the Shure SRH440's is extremely low compared to the others. Along with the headphones I mentioned you should also look at the Phillips SHP9500 which are very highly reviewed as you can see here. The Takstar HI 2050's are also great and a bit cheaper than the others, here is a review for those. Unfortunately headphone.com doesn't have every pair headphones for their graph so you can't actually see the curve for the Phillips SHP9500's and the Takstar HI 2050's. Those should all be much more comfortable as well.
Wow that's cool, but are you sure with was the 598 and not 558?
Yup. Current price of the 558 on Amazon.ca is $200. It really sucks
http://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1449467041&sr=8-8&keywords=sennheiser+headphones
or
http://www.amazon.ca/Creative-Technology-Aurvana-Headset-Drivers/dp/B00FC2R7ZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449466918&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+aurvana
Hey guys, before I start I just want to thank you for taking the time.
Budget: $200 (whatever cheaper than this for same quality does the trick
Source: Desktop, laptop, phone, ipod
Isolation: None required. Comfort is more important
Type: Anything but IEMs and buds. I have cheap ones.
Tonal Balance: I honestly don't know what I want here as I'm new to this concept. But some booms and bass without losing mid and highs would be nice
Past Experience: Skullcandy {Skullcrushers, Hesh, Lowriders, Smoking Buds, Jackets, cheap buds} Bose { 1 closed over ear active noise isolation} Steelseries {Siberia V3 and some neckband model I can't remember} and I borrowed some gaming headsets.
Music: I listen to everything but I'm going to be mostly focused on EDM, DnB, Trance, Indie/Altern, R&B, Jazz and Hip Hop. So something like the bass on this
I'm going to be listening to stuff like this:
Roosevelt
Arctic Monkeys
Cruz
Miike Snow
Diplo
Subformat
Improvements: The comfort of the Siberia V3 but hopefully with a less mediocre sound and something better than my Skullcandy experiences. Though I must say my cheap $20 dollar Skullcandy IEMs sound better than the V3.
Location: Northern Virginia, US.
I've read the guides (that are 4 month old) and I came with these options:
Sennheiser HD 558
Audio-Technica ATH-M50
Sennheiser HD 598
I'm more inclined to this because of looks
AKG Q 701
Beyerdynamic DT-880 Pro Headphones (250 Ohm)
Grado Prestige Series SR225e
If anybody has any recommendations on which one I should pick out of this or even recommend something else that'd be nice, since the guides are 4 month old and lots of things come out in 4 months. I also noticed nobody mentioned Shure.
In a future I'd love to learn more about DACs and buy stuff to build my setup.
Yeah man, no problem.
I hate myself for getting into things AFTER the sale is over. But think of it this way - the BF bundle had white M50x's. I personally don't like the white M50x's, especially because they get dirty easily. I know there were other deals like giving gift cards and such, but I can't recall exactly.
Nevermind, the best BF deal was the white Blue Yeti + the black M50x's for 159.99.
Now I hate myself a little more.White ones suck anyway.In any case, today, I ended up getting the blackout edition Blue Yeti for little over 100 from Amazon, and the HD 598 from Amazon for little over 150 (I, again, missed the BF deal for 100).
If you only play games in your room and like to watch movies and listen to music on a headset, go for a USB mic like the Blue Yeti and an open headset. The M50x's are closed, so you should be better off with the HD 598's, or even the HD 558 that is on sale right now on Amazon for 80 bucks.
I've been looking at these two for about a week for an inexpensive (about 150) headset upgrade.
Audio Technica ATH-AD500X Not very strong on the bass, but very clear mid and high ranges. Very open sound stage.
Sennheiser HD 558 Decent quality in all ranges. Open sound stage, but not as much as the Audio Technica.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
Here's a list for ya.
Sennheiser HD 558
Astro Mixamp
Modmic 4.0
Cable that routes Mic/Headphone into Mixamp
I have a similarly varied taste in music and Sennheiser is known for maintaining a solid sound across many different genres. I've owned a pair of HD428's for nearly two years now and I can attest to the consistently impressive quality of sound from my headphones. I would buy this pair again just for the sound quality alone but they are also the most comfortable pair of headphones I've worn. I can wear them for multiple hours on end no problem whatsoever. I've tried other pairs of headphones in the same range and while I've found that for some the sound quality has come close but none have been nearly as comfortable to wear.
Since it sounds like you want isolation I think you should look into either the HD429's which fall towards the lower end of your price range or the HD449's which are on the higher side.
If you want really impressive sound at the cost of losing isolation then the HD558's might be an option.
I sound like a fanboy but I'm simply in love with my headphones and have yet to find a pair that compares.
Could always ask for some nice fans? or maybe a nice pair of headphones? something like these fans or these headphones? No clue what you're working with atm so just a few ideas
This is my first time really looking for some serious headphones now that I have some disposable income.
Budget: $100
Source Onboard audio from my motherboard. I am not an audiophile by any means, plus I don't have that much desk space, so I feel as if a DAC/Amp wouldn't be worth it for me.
Usage: Almost entirely for PC gaming.
Isolation Would really only be using these at home, so not necessary.
Will you be using these headphones in public? Nope/
Preferred Type of Headphone: Over the ear
Preferred Tonal Balance: I would say more balanced.
Past Headphones Currently I am using a Logitech G430 headset for mainly Discord chatting, as well as a discontinued AKG K141 that I found in my dad's music stuff. I love the sound of the AKG but I find them extremely uncomfortable after a while.
Preferred Music: Classic rock in all sorts of genres. Mainly heavier sounding bands like AC/DC.
From looking around this sub and from Amazon recommendations, I have found that people tend to recommend the Sennheiser 558 or the HyperX Cloud. I know gaming headsets are frowned upon here, but I have heard that the HyperX Cloud is better than most other ones, and I do like the built in mics of headsets, although I do have a desktop mic as well.
Hey everyone, what's the difference between the HD 558 and the 598? Because on Amazon UK the price difference between them is £10 if I get the cream coloured ones.
hd 558
hd 598
I listen to metal, jazz, classical, podcasts and gaming if that helps anything.
well, that depends on your budget
I own a pair of Sennheiser HD558's, Philips Fidelio x2's, and AKG K7XX's.
I would highly recommend all three of them but it depends on what kind of use you are using them for, the genre of music, your budget, style choices and your personal tastes.
I should also mention that due to some QC issues on the X2's (the earpads are glued in) you can get them for about 160 right now, which is an amazing price for these cans. the pair i bought was that cheap because it was sent back without the cord. so I bought a nice braided cord from amazon
I use the k7xx's and x2's at my computer with a monoprice amp/dac
I use the k7xx's for instrument driven music such as acoustic/rock/classical and competitive games where I need to hear everything they have a fairly flat eq which make them incredibly clear and nothing drowns out anything else so you can hear everything
The x2's have a v-shaped eq that is considered more fun (Increased treble and bass) which makes them better for EDM/electronic/pop/hip hop and action movies/games
open-back headphones have decreased bass over closed back but the bass is much tighter and clean and with the x2's bass increase they are almost like a open-closed hybrid sound
Love the headphone mention. I use a desktop mic and other people use the add on mic as well to their headphones.
These Sennheiser 558's are almost always below 100$ and sound AMAZING. They're also really easy to drive/power
Don't do it. Get these Sennheisers instead. Better build quality and sound and better mic. Probably not worth $300, but I'd get em for $140. Or look at the Hyper X Cloud for $80 or Hyper X Cloud II's for a little more.. Linus Tech Tips gave really good reviews on them.
Edit: If you ask anyone serious about audio they'll tell you to get nice headphones and a separate mic. I got some Sennheiser 558's for about $100 and a Zalman clip-on mic for ~$8. It's a little more of a hassle dealing with 2 cords, but the sound quality and comfort is awesome. Couldn't be happier.
Edit 2: or just get the A40's. I don't know a whole lot about them, but have read that Sennheisers are superior for sound quality.
Sennheiser headphones These blow Bose out of the water. I have a pair right now but they are broken in 2 places. They are amazing sound quality, comfortable, and just the most awesome things ever.
[wireless cooking thermometer] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016AF50ZI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3J8Q4Y4G6UW2Z&coliid=I3OUNNTBDFL4H0&psc=1) This is awesome for grilling or cooking stuff in the oven. You can leave the probe in and wander throughout the house without having to continually monitor the temperature!
decorative world map Perfect for the inner nerd in all of us. It's beautiful, educational, and all around sweeet.
I was lucky and got Sennheiser's 363D for $200 and they're fantastic. That said, at their normal $300 I wouldn't recommend them, especially since the guys over at /r/headphones would say to get a pair of audiophile cans and a modmic.
If I were you, I'd go with these Sennheisers for sound quality, and get an external mic if you really want voice capabilities. You could also look into getting the Hyper X cloud, another great choice if you don't mind that they look a little more "gaming" than a regular old pair of headphones, and apparently they come with a 7.1 surround card (like my 363Ds did). That could be a huge plus if you're into immersion, but keep in mind that you can always buy a surround card by itself later down the road that would work just fine with the audiophile gear.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that if you're using these anywhere other than your computer, you'll look a lot less silly walking around with the Sennheisers (rather than the typical gaming headset) plugged into your phone or laptop or whatever.
Budget: $50-$200 CAD
Location: Ontario, Canada
Source: standard USB port (need more info?)
Isolation: For use at my home desk. Need some cancellation (I live with 3 others); just enough to not annoy them.
Public?: Not at all
Type: Over-ear
Tonal balance: I have very little knowledge about this, but I will be mainly using them for gaming and Skype. I think balanced?
Music: Classic rock, but mainly just games on my PC.
Past headphones: Logitech G430;
Pros: comfortable, mic (not needed), decent sound (not a huge audio expert though), straight wire.
Cons: white noise when silent (I like to wear them whenever I'm at my desk), pretty quiet overall (even at max.), controls on wire in the way.
Improvements: Though I have little knowledge on audio terms or concepts, I want next-to-no white noise (sound & mic) and surround-sound (Virtual? As smooth as possible).
Comfort is a must, since I often game for hours at a time. An attached mic is not necessary (apparently they often suck), but I'd like it to be on the headset (like a separate, attachable one). I'm also used to straight cables; coiled ones just seem too in-the-way (but I may be wrong).
What I've found: (based of Amazon reviews alone) Too lazy to find Amazon.ca ones ATM, hopefully I can ship here.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
Shure SRH840
Shure SRH440
Sennheiser HD 558
Audio-Technica ATH-M50S
found these on amazon.co.uk for a pretty good price:
headphone: Sennheiser HD558
microphone: AudioTechnica at2020 usb
other mic options :
Blue Yeti
Samson Meteor
I don't know any other UK webstores, but be sure to check the ones you know so you get the best price!
All new controllers have a 3.5 jack for those. If you're willing to spend 75 for turtles, I'd also suggest going for an actual solid set of audiophile headphones. I used to own the turtle x12s when I was on the 360, but made the switch to these Sennheiser HD 558s when they were on sale for $70 new, and they honestly make the x12s sound like complete garbage in comparison (basically turtle beaches are like the Alienwares of gaming headsets).
If you have amazon prime or if you can sign-up for a free trail then you can get a pair pf Sennheiser 558's for 60 and a mod mic for 40
These are really good and it's a great price:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1450021269&sr=8-6&keywords=sennheiser+headphones
No mic (you will get significantly better sound without heaphones with a mic for the price): these, or these
With mic: These or these
Sorry links a bit broken for me
Are these the right ones
I notices a couple of variations special edition etc
Thanks for all the help Btw!
Do you need a mic included? If not these are pretty great.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450897755&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1450897755&sr=8-5&keywords=sennheiser+hd
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-439-Headphones-Black/dp/B005N8W1TM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1450897755&sr=8-9&keywords=sennheiser+hd
Thank you very much for the info.
So would this setup work? - Sennheiser HD558 + V-MODA BoomPro and then adding a Astro Gaming MixAmp in the future if I want to.
Idk if you'd be willing too, but many people say it is better to get a good pair of headphones, and then a good microphone. A lot of the companies that of the gaming headsets are nowhere near the quality you would have gotten if you would have bought each independently.
For your budget, I would suggest the CAD U37 for the microphone. It's a USB microphone, so you won't need a Phantom Power connection, and it comes with a stand. For headphones, Sennheiser HD series are noted for the comfortability, as well as their isolation, so I believe that the HD 558 would be a good recommendation.
And if you're not a fan of having a separate placement of a microphone on your desk, you can always get one of those clip-on microphones. Good luck!
What are you even saying
If you could stretch your budget by another $30 or so, you could get the Sennheiser HD 558 (which imo is better than the AD 700) and a Zalman clip on mic.
You could also take a look at the Creative Aurvana Live for a cheaper solution (with the same Zalman mic or something different).
earbuds - $99 (usually) - shure se215
earphones - approx. $150 - Sennheiser HD 558
or
$150 Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones
sorry for the quick answer but id say these are a great staring point.
You'll have better luck at /r/headphones.
I'd advise against getting a headset. Buy something like the HD 558, or the HD 518, then clip a cheap mic onto the cable.
Whatever you do, don't buy a gaming headset. You'll end up overpaying for a crappy set of headphones with a build in mic.
If you're super cheap, a set of headphones plugged into your mic input will work, in a pinch. They'll sound terrible, adn you'll have to boost your mic output under recording devices, but it'll work.
If you wanna buy a set of good headphones, I can help you with that. I just finished a bunch of reseach that ended up with me getting a pair of HD 558s for ~$80 refurbished.
I've heard good things about the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, 250 ohms in terms of fit with glasses. Any thing to add on this one?
Also, I've been looking at the Sennheiser 598 and Sennheiser 558. Any thoughts on these?
Thanks!
could be an allergic reaction to the leather? looking at a picture of the hd280 (never had em) they seem to have pads that are slightly plasticky. the type found on lower end headphones that end up flaking easily (seem to be the same material as the pads on my old hd201).
as i mentioned in my original reply, there are some lines of headphones you might want to look at that have velour pads (cloth. look at bottom pad in image http://cdn.head-fi.org/c/c0/c0e779be_KNlpF.png ).
beyerdynamics premium line has that and doesnt clamp hard, so its very comfortable. thing is, their low impedance versions (dont need an amp) are expensive. sennheiser has a few that might work for you unless you also have a reaction to cloth pads.
Sennheiser HD518
Sennheiser HD558
Sennheiser HD598
another alternative you have (if you still have the other headphones you bought) is to try out different pads on them if theyre detachable
Well, a pair of headphones can be expensive for two reasons:
The biggest offenders in the #3 category are Beats, Skullcandy and Bose. Some companies that make good headphones at reasonable prices are Sennheiser, AKG and Beyerdynamic (sometimes known as "the big three"), Grado, Shure, Audio-Technica and Sony—though there's a number of others.
It's difficult to explain how better headphones sound better than cheaper ones. (There's an old saying that writing about music is like dancing about architecture...) You may try reading Amazon reviews for $100+ headphones from some of these brands, written by folks who never before had expensive headphones. A typical comment is that they are able to hear details in their favorite music that they had never noticed before.
Navigating descriptions about headphones' sound is generally very confusing. It also doesn't help that different people listen to different music and have different preferences about how headphones should sound. For example, some people like very strong bass; others complain that with most headphones that have very strong bass, the bass is too "slow" (bass notes that start and end suddenly don't have enough impact). So unless you can listen to various headphones in person before you purchase, you're perhaps shooting in the dark.
Some recommendations:
Maybe this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fD9JDbH8J6590
These are what you want. Removable cable, open-air design so your ears won’t sweat, etc. I’ve had the much older hd 255s for over 6 years.
Están los muy aclamados Philips SHP9500 por 2,500 MXN; no hay necesidad de amplificador ni nada. O también la versión anterior a los HD598, los HD558 (https://www.amazon.com.mx/Sennheiser-HD-558-Aud%C3%ADfonos-diadema/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=pd_sbs_23_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZMV726R3523B71J5K8HA) que, como verás, están a 2,800 MXN.
La opción de los Sennheiser HD598cs creo que no es mala para nada, es un auricular más a tener en cuenta a la hora de elegir.
EDIT: Translate:
There are the highly acclaimed Philips SHP9500 for $ 2,500; No need for amplifier or anything. Or also the previous version to the HD598, the HD558 ((https://www.amazon.com.mx/Sennheiser-HD-558-Aud%C3%ADfonos-diadema/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=pd_sbs_23_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZMV726R3523B71J5K8HA) which, as you will see, they are 2,800 MXN.
The option of the Sennheiser HD598cs I think is not bad at all, it is a headphone more to keep in mind when choosing.
Are these headphones a steal right now?
Budget - $120
Source - PC, Iphone 5,
Isolation - doesn't matter
Preferred type - over ear
Preferred tonal balance - balanced (bit bassy is okay)
Past Headphones - Corsair 2100 gaming headset
Music - House, trance, some r&b
Location - US OF A
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A#customerReviews
How are these?
I recommend the Sennheiser HD 5xx (518 and 558 looks like your price range) series for non-microphone setups. Their Sennheiser PC series has a mic, is fairly good, but pricey. I'd just double up with a cheap mic around the neck.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/
I own a pair of Sennheiser HD 558s. They're very similar to the HD 598 (sound-wise), but they are cheaper and less flashy. They come standard with a 1/4" jack which I plug directly into my amp, which is connected to my turntable. You really can't feel them on your head, they're that comfortable. I'd totally recommend them for listening around the house.
I need some help
I have narrowed down my desired headphones to Sennheiser Hd558 and the Audio-Technica M40
Which would be better for gaming and listening basically anything music.
US Link.
Probably not, the Superlux(and the rebrands) probably can hold with almost anything in terms of gaming. I don't think the 700x even warrant the price increase from the 500x. For music, I personally would save the money and get the Sennheiser HD518, or 558 if you can score a good deal.
Current Amazon.com deals:
Bit jealous as a Canadian, I'm considering some of these even though I would have taxes and duty(?) to pay. Though I know Amazon.ca has the HD558 at $139.99CAD as well.
Thanks for the reply! I tried what you suggested and requested these (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011UB9CQ/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) but unfortunately the best they could do were these (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=psdc_172541_t3_B001UE6I0G) which of course I rejected. They said the only option was to wait till they restock their product in about 3-5 weeks. I did however receive a month extension of prime as well as $5 credit.
please include a budget when asking something like this
$0-$50
Philips SHP2500
Sennheiser HD201
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Lightweight-Over-Ear-Binaural-Headphones/dp/B0007XJSQC
Superlux HD668B
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD668B-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B003JOETX8
50-100
Nuforce HP-800
https://www.nuforce.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=311:nh-800&Itemid=194
Superlux HD668B(with beyerdynamic velour pads)
http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD668B-Dynamic-Semi-Open-Headphones/dp/B003JOETX8
Sennheiser HD 518
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417694957&sr=1-13&keywords=sennheiser
100-150
ATH-AD700/x (get these if you can, legendary soundstage)
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S332TQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1385979471&sr=1-2&keywords=ad700
sennheiser hd558
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417694957&sr=1-5&keywords=sennheiser
150-300
k701/k702/q701/k7xx (similar but not the same, check around. similar soundstage to ad700s)
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-Signature-Reference-Class-Headphones-White/dp/B004444OFK/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346743142&sr=1-3&keywords=q701
Beyerdynamic DT880
http://www.amazon.com/Beyer-Dynamic-Premium-32-Headphones/dp/B0024NK358/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346743451&sr=1-4&keywords=dt+880
Sennheiser HD598
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Headphones-Accents/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346744483&sr=1-1&keywords=hd+598
and dont get an internal soundcard, get an external dac/amp combo.
something cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417695224&sr=8-1&keywords=dac+amp
more expensive - schiit stack(modi/magni)
http://schiit.com/products
CHECK MASSDROP FOR A DAC/AMP TO DROP SOON, VERY GOOD PRICES ON AUDIO EQUIPMENT THE DT880s ARE ON THERE RIGHT NOW (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/beyerdynamic-dt880-premium).
Only headphones? Look at (if you're in the US) Superlux or Sennheiser
Do you need them to be on the headset itself? If you do, I'd suggest you look at the Astro a40.
If having the headphones and mic separate don't bother you, get sennheiser 558's and a proper DAC like this one with a separate mic.
Those are two very different headsets. The pc 363d is a open back with a usb soundcard with dolby headphone support. What this means is that you will have sound leakage when using this headset but the upside is that you will get a more open soundstage and it will sound more like you're in a room with speakers around you. Add Dolby headphone and you'll have 7.1 surround sound.
The G4me Zero on the other hand, is a closed back headset. Compared to an open back, close back isolates sounds a lot better and as a result you won't get any sound leak. The downside is that you won't get a wide sound stage. The G4me Zerop also serves as an update to the pc350 with flashier design and better comfort in the ear pads.
If you want a Sennheiser headphone, I would suggest you purchase both the headphone and mic separately. Get the Sennheiser HD 558 (119.95), which uses the same driver as the pc 363d/360. pair it with the antlion modmic ($49.99) and you'll end up spending less than getting their gaming headset.
I'm no audiophile, but my work is paying for some decent headsets, and is giving me the choice of these 5:
Senheiser
aftershokz
Creative Labs
Turtle Beach
V-moda
I'm leaning to the Senheisers, as I had a cheap pair a while ago that were the best $30 headphones I ever had, but I don't have strong opinions about any of them.
Some people need a microphone, but thankfully my position doesn't require talking to people, so i would just use them to listen to music and drown out the noise of co-workers while I work.
I was also feeling the same, so I went ahead and bought some Sennheiser HD 558s and just attached a ModMic onto the side for whenever I talk to people. I heard they're good open-back headphones with a great soundstage and got them for around $90. If your room is loud though, you'll hear more background noise while wearing them compared to closed-back.
Also worth noting that there's less bass with these when compared to most other gaming headsets, so it'll be more neutral sounding, so if you're really in love with bass there should be better options to suit that taste.
I use sennheisser
HD558
And for a mic i use a detachable boom mic, goes directly into the headset socket like a gaming headset.
boom mic
Cant recomend it enough, sounds fantastic and no extra cords
Sennheiser HD558
Go to Amazon. There's a product search box on the middle of the page. Type in gaming and check what the people there say. I saw good reports for "gaming". Also search for movies and other stuff you're looking for. It has a detachable cable and replaceable cushions. It's generally comfortable. You might get it for less then $90 if you shop around.
Hi,
I'm just wondering if this is a good price for these Sennheiser HD 558 or if I should wait a little bit.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8
Sennheiser HD 558, Schiit Fulla 2 is optional, and modmic.
Sennheiser HD 558
I'd recommend checking these subs before buying a pair for yourself:
Hi! I recently saw that the Sennheiser HD518, HD558, and the HD 598 are all on sale on amazon at a pretty good price. I've been wanting a pair of open headphones for a while and I'd like to know if it's worth getting the 598 over the 558 or even the 518. I've been leaning towards the 558 as a nice middle ground, but I'm not sure I should choose the cheaper ones to save money if they are still great, or get something that's worth the extra cash. Thanks in advance!
I've been slowly getting more and more interested in the world of "proper audio", after several cheapish headset solutions for gaming in the past.
Budget: Flexible to be honest, but I'd have to be really committed to my choice to spend more than about £120 ($154 USD).
Source: My desktop computer. I do not believe it has a fancy soundcard.
Requirements for Isolation: Low. I might want to take these for a long car ride from time to time but it'll mostly be used for gaming and music at my desk (osu, Overwatch, etc).
In public?: Unlikely.
Preferred Type: I haven't had many circumaural headphones, but I love them. Proper comfort is my preference!
Preferred Tonal Balance: I understand the underlying theory here, but I'm not really knowledgeable enough to say I have a preference. I believe that a wide sound-stage is important for gaming because of the positional audio.
Past Headphones: Some Sennheiser gaming headset I won in a competition - I don't really remember the sound other than "good!" but the bracket and hinge on the left earpiece eventually disintegrated. Currently I'm using a Jabra BIZ 2400 after several other office-style headsets broke.
Preferred Music: Again, I'm not really an expert on genres, but most of my music comes from anime and / or osu maps. Examples/favourites are Highscore, Scarlet Rose, Talent Shredder and Mythologia's End.
Improvements: This is my first foray into the world of actually caring about audio rather than some £10 office headset, so I'm improving from "not caring" to "proper audio".
The things I've been looking at so far are the Superlux HD668Bs, the Sennheiser HD 558s (which one commenter described as "wallhacks" quality) and possibly the Hyperx Cloud II (which has the advantage of coming with an okay microphone - possibly also considering the Stinger!)
Please help and educate this filthy casual!
Footnote edit: There's also the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
Sennheiser HD558 headphones pretty high quality. If you need a microphone, you can add on a modmic for 55$
Ok this is weird. Bose QC35 costs around $365 and Sennheiser HD558 costs around $470, in India. Even US pricing is around $250(for HD558).
Is this the HD558 you're talking about?
https://www.amazon.in/Sennheiser-HD-558-Over-Ear-Headphone/dp/B004FEEY9A
Drop down to a 1000W power supply. You don't need all the excess power.
Buy a pair of headphones, not headsets. Headphones come without a mic though but usually sound better, I recommend sennheiser HD558. Then buy a separate mic. For the mic I recommend Blue yeti (Great sound quality but pick up EVERYTHING and is 100$) Antlion modmic 4.0 (Not as good as blue yeti but better than headset mics and is 60$) or a Zalman Zm-Mic1 (Better than MOST headset mics and costs around 20$)
I wouldn't buy anything Raze because a lot of people (including me) have had problems with them, my biggest issue is the driver. It always freezes up. Anything that's razer that I bought has lasted for about half a year. Logitech is probably the longest lasting brand of anything that I've bought. I have a Logitech mouse from around 3-4 years ago that still works but I switched to an mmo mouse (Logitech g600) For FPS I recommend the G402 Hyperion Fury, for MMO I recommend the G60, and for a little bit of both I recommend the G602
LINKS
POWER SUPPLY- http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-SuperNOVA-Platinum-Certified-220-P2-1000-XR/dp/B00EKJQM5E/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1414247504&sr=1-2&keywords=evga+power+supply
HEADPHONES- http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414247564&sr=1-5&keywords=sennheiser
MICS
BLUE YETI-http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414247631&sr=1-1&keywords=Blue+yeti
MODMIC ANTLION 4.0-http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage/products/modmic-4-0
ZALMAN ZM MIC1-http://www.amazon.ca/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414248011&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman
MOUSE
G600-http://www.amazon.ca/Logitech-Gaming-Mouse-Black-910-002864/dp/B0086UK7IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414248053&sr=8-1&keywords=G600
G602-http://www.amazon.ca/Logitech-G602-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00E4MQODC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414248072&sr=8-1&keywords=g602
G402-http://www.amazon.ca/Logitech-Hyperion-Gaming-Fusion-910-004069/dp/B00LZVNWIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414248096&sr=8-1&keywords=g402
This may not be exactly what you're looking for, but what I use is Sennheiser HD555 headphones and a cheap clip-on mic. I also have glasses and can wear those headphones for hours and hours and often forget they're even on.
It's at the top of your budget and not exactly a "headset" but they're great headphones and definitely deliver on the comfort factor.
EDIT: Keep in mind they're "open" headphones which means they don't block out much outside noise, and can be heard pretty well by others at normal volumes. This hasn't caused any echo problems for me though.
I have four very long flights coming up (two 13 hours and two 9 hours), and I am interested in some comfortable active noise cancelling headphones. To be honest I've never tried noise cancelling on an airplane, but I hear it helps. I'm also willing to try anything to make those flights more comfortable, so I figure that's a way to go.
Over ear would be best I think. Budget is $100-200.
I've looked into Bo$e, but that seems like overkill. Audio Technica has these, but I'm not sure how comfortable they are. I've always read here than Sennis are great, and I'm interested in these, but they don't have noise cancelling.
Am I on the right track? Any help is appreciated.
For those having issues ordering these headphones on BestBuy's website (page kept insisting I pick them up at a BB in another state and wouldn't give me the option to ship), a vendor at Amazon has them for $105.99
Hi, I currently own the Hyper X Cloud II but have started to hear something vibrating/shaking inside the headset. Consequently, I'm in the market for some new headphones. After following the buyers guide I'm currently interested in the Sennheiser HD 598 Over-Ear Headphones, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Studio Monitor Professional Headphones or the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Headphones - 250 Ohm. Nevertheless, what's the difference in sound quality between those headphones and these headsets: Sennheiser GSP 350 Closed Back Gaming Headset, Sennheiser PC 360 Special Edition Gaming Headset, HyperX Cloud Revolver Pro Gaming Stereo Headset.
Budget: No more than £150
Source: Directly into my computer
Isolation: some (block out computer fans)
The headphones will be used exclusively at my desk.
Most of the music I hear will be from games, which varies heavily, so I want something which is okay for everything.
Overall I'm looking for something which is clear/detailed (so I can hear opponents in multiplayer games) while simultaneously sounding good for music/cinematic/single-player.
Thanking you.
EDIT: What's the difference between these: Sennheiser HD 598 Cs Closed Back and Sennheiser HD 558 High End Open Over-Ear
Hi, I've been looking for a good pair of headphones to play video games and listen to music. I've had my eyes on the Sennheiser HD 558 ( http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1391029286&sr=8-7&keywords=sennheiser ) for some time. But I would like some other options and opinions.
edit: willing to spend up to $150
Sennheiser 558s are incredible headphones and for a good price. If you can't spend the twenty more pounds you could get the Sennheiser 518s, which are also really good.
Do you want closed or open? Is outside noise a concern? Closed will keep the outside sounds out and avoid sound bleeding to anyone else in the room. Open can give a more natural sound, but you'll most likely hear anyone else watching tv or talking.
V-Modas are quite popular as well, in the open headphone category, the HD558's are quite nice, their earlier version HD555 were my very first pair and they blew me away with their sound/price performance. The 558's would be a nice choice. Cant go wrong with Sennheiser, AKG or Audio Technica...there are plenty of options, really comes down to if you prefer sound isolation or not.
open ear... the Beyerdynamic DT990 pro 32ohm (if you can find it) or the Sennheiser HD558 perhaps?
Grab a pair of quality headphones + an external mic = something better than the vast majority of "gaming headsets".
I recommend also checking in with /r/headphones, but this is my usual recommendation for someone looking for a new "headset"
Any of these headphones:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD500X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S333U4/
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-240-Stereo-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0016MNBAM
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige-Series-SR80e-Headphones/dp/B00L1LXOWS/
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-240-Semi-Open-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0001ARCFA/
http://www.amazon.com/Samson-SR850-Professional-Reference-Headphones/dp/B002LBSEQS/
With any of these mics:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/
http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/
http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U1-Dynamic-Recording-Microphone/dp/B000ULQTE0/
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-Microphone-Gloss/dp/B002OO18NS/
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-iCE-Microphone
Budget: £100 ($170)
Source: ipod Classic
Requirements for isolation: N/A
Preferred type of headphone: Over ear - portable on a day to day basis
Preferred music: Post-rock (from the purely instrumental to 65DoS type electronic)
So far I've been recommended the ATH-M-50s and basically anything by Sennheiser (looking at both the HD 429 and HD 558 - athough it's a little out of my price range and they don't look too portable)
From my own (limited) research, I've got my eye on Sennheiser's HD 598 and HD 558, but I would have to buy an aftermarket 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter. I don't mind the price of an adapter, but I don't want it to be cumbersome. And are the HD598's better by $40? They seem to nearly be the same exact headphone.
> You don't like gaming headsets? Why not? Aren't they like, really good quality for quite cheap?
Because they look good, but the sound quality is actually pretty horrible. A $50 set of quality headphones would beat out any and almost all gaming headsets, but that's not the worse part. The microphone, in every single one of them. Is on par with a $10 microphone. Even the cheap $30 standing ones are of higher quality than the most expensive Corsair, Steelseries, Razer etc headsets out there. I'm personally using the Corsair VOID RGB because I got them cheap, and the sound isn't bad, but the microphone is horrible, the only reason I keep them is because they're RGB and wireless. Wireless studio headphones cost a lot. But if you're going for wired headphones, look at the current https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A for $79
Also, don't go for 7.1 unless you're looking at $200+ headphones. Its usually just horrible.
Can confirm HD 558's are $100 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475198038&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser%2Bhd-558&th=1
CPU | Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor | $227.99 @ SuperBiiz
CPU Cooler | Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler | $49.99 @ Newegg
Motherboard | Asus Z170-E ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $92.98 @ Newegg
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory | $74.89 @ OutletPC
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $93.88 @ OutletPC
Storage | Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $129.88 @ OutletPC
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card | $649.00 @ B&H
Case | Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case | $74.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $82.88 @ OutletPC
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit | $84.88 @ OutletPC
Monitor | Acer XG270HU 27.0" 144Hz Monitor | $380.00
Keyboard | Corsair K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE Wired Gaming Keyboard | $167.99 @ B&H
Mouse | ROCCAT KONE XTD Wired Optical Mouse | $79.99 @ Best Buy
Headphones | Corsair VOID 7.1 Channel Headset | $108.99 @ Amazon
Other | Cable Matters Gold Plated DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 6 Feet - 4K Resolution Ready | $18.20 @ Amazon
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $2356.53
| Mail-in rebates | -$40.00
| Total | $2316.53
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-09-29 14:25 EDT-0400 |
cheaper cooler
cheaper mobo
more/faster ram
cheaper ssd for not much difference
gtx 1080
cheaper case
better psu
1440p 144hz monitor. You could alslo get the Dell Gaming S2716DG for $200 more if you really want GSYNC
I left the gaming headset the same but i'd recommend openback headphones. Better sound quality and comfort
Seem's so, you could also get an Antlion ModMic for them and then it would be a headset. Little pricey but you can basically put the mic anywhere if you buy a couple more magnets.
Super low money option:
Monoprice cheap and amazing earbuds and zalman clip mic.
Medium Money:
Koss portapro and zalman clip mic
More money option:
Sennheiser 558 and Zalman clip mic
HD 558s vs HD 518s. Should I spend the extra $40ish to upgrade from the 518s to 558s? Keep in mind, I'm using a gaming headset so anythings an upgrade at this point, haha.
I think the Sennheiser 558's would be a better purchase for gaming. They have great positional audio due to the open back, as long as you don't care if people around you hearing your game, then they're definitely one of the best purchases in that price range. Antlion mod mics and zalman clip ons are great for the convenience and little space they use, but they don't sound too great (very tinny), a blue snowball will give way clearer voice but I'm not sure if the ps4 supports it.
I'd take the SHP9500 over all those.
In that price range I might also consider the Sennheiser HD518, or if you're willing to spend say another $20, the HD558.
>I don't buy higher end Sennheisers out of principle that they require an amp to drive moderately well.
This is true of all high end headphones though, not just Sennheisers. My current pair of Sennheisers are the 558s, which I guess are a mid range model, and I can use them just fine without an amp and they sound great. To really push them hard I'd need an amp, but I rarely listen to music at that kind of volume anyway.
I've been eyeing this pair of 598s for awhile. Now that Amazon is selling them for less than $200 I might finally take the plunge.
I've also been lusting after a pair of 650s for a very long time, but I just can't justify it to myself. $400) (even at a deep discount) is too much for me, and my ears aren't good enough to be able to really tell the difference between something like the 598s and the 650s--or at least not good enough to justify the difference in cost between the two.
Of course if you really want to splurge you could get a pair of HD800s. They're only $1500 after all.
For an all-around set of cans? Sennheiser HD558. They're cheaper than the M50's by around $40, much bigger soundstage, better mids. Lows aren't as strong as the M50's, but I prefer it that way personally - I found the M50's low end to be loose and too boomy. They don't need amping to sound great. Only caveat is they're open-backed, so sound will leak out, and the included cable is mighty long (3m) so you'd need a proprietary replacement from Sennheiser if you want to use it as a portable set. Those run around $20.
And yes, you will be able to notice the difference between 128kbps mp3s and higher-quality files. In some of my music, I can actually hear the click track in the background of the recording.
OK, I came up with a few suggestions:
$100-150 sennheiser hd558, ath ad700x, akg k612
$150-200 sennheiser hd598,
ath ad900x, akg q701, beyerdynamic dt990
(both akg k612 and beyer requiers an amp, makes the price go up with about $200 if you dont already have an amp), you dont necessarily need an amp for the akg q701, but be ready to crank volumes up to maximum to get a comfortable volume level without an amp, and some people think that the volume is just too low without it.
Should be noted that if you have the cash to go with the beyer, it should perform almost as amazing as the ad900x and q701 with positional sound, but also has among the best bass in the market at sub $500
Sennheiser HD 558
definitely been looking at some of the sennheiser headphones, particularly these ones, other than that, was looking at some v-moda's (which I just recently heard of, so I'm not so sure about the quality of their brand)
Uhhhh I honestly don't know the model, got them from a friend. I think they are these Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IPFtxb6WZG1FS
And my mic is this in a shock mount Audio-Technica ATR2500-USB Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QJREXM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qQFtxbX3Z21XS
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK
If you want a more closed headphone then these are what I use and I love them, or for more open ones here
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
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 ~~
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/
Sennheiser HD 558s are a good option. Open headphones means less isolation and more sound bleeding out, however. I'm a Sennheiser fan, so my opinion'll be biased, but they're still a fantastic pair of headphones.
Most people looking for a gaming headset are looking for the mic but you said you don't need it. (also the best thing is to buy a good pair and buy a mic)
As for "hearing footsteps and grenades", in relation to the post on M50's you linked, what you're looking for is soundstage. Soundstage is the ability of the headphones to create seemingly different location for the sound. IE. most cheap in ears will sound like the sound is directly inside your skull whereas good soundstage will separate instruments in a song so that they feel at different distances. M50's would have a quite "cramped" soundstage, given that they are closed etc.
Open headphones generally carry the best soundstage, though they leak their sound completely to those around you (and let outside noises in), something like HD558 I feel would work well for you if outside noises aren't a problem.
USB has a 7.1 soundcard, which is bad for CS.
If you must get one of those, get the normal one. 7.1 is glitched in the game and gimmicky everywhere else (You only have two ears!)
Otherwise, get Sennheiser HD558s or something similar. Head over to /r/headphones too, and pick a cheap clip-on mic to go with them.
Reason to do this is because:
If you're thinking of using Siberias because the pros use them, they actually wear IEMs (noise blocking earbuds) under them.
In software synergy razer is not alone roccat does this too.
And what if i were to tell you my sennheiser 558: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A is way better then any razer headphones
Oh no mic? well i use these : http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1398707512&sr=1-1&keywords=zalman+mic (im not saying razer their products are bad quality i simply hate the arrogance of them being ''the best'' my pal has a lower budget and uses trust wich is really decent and cheap and they just hate on them and brag ''being better'' thats why i hate razer and thats what this post is about :P)
I have these headphones at home and these earbuds when I'm not home.
I've narrowed my search for cans in my price range down to the Audio-Technica ATHM50 and the Sennheiser HD 558. They're both pretty much the same price at the moment, so it's really all about the sound quality for me. I'll be using them mainly for music and gaming. Any advice towards which pair of headphones will be better for me is appreciated.
Side note: has any one here ordered from the retailer that's selling the Audio-Technica ATHM50's? Are they a trusted retailer?
Thanks!
Gaming headsets, Astro A40s and other 'high end' sets specifically. I understand why they're popular, they're a convenient way of getting clear game audio with a built in microphone, but for the money they're so incredibly ineffectual.
Why would you buy one expensive thing that sits at your desk and produces inferior quality audio when you can buy a pair of headphones at less or equal cost that destroy it (and are portable/useful outside the PC gaming world) and any number of microphones (like this or this or this or this) that offer greater quality and the ability to use your headphones as headphones?
The 558's are cheaper than the headset you posted.
This may be a stupid question but before I spend $200 on Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, will they sound better than my current LifeChat LX-3000 for classical and rock music? Would Sennheiser 558's sound even better? Source is my iMac.
My budget is 200/250 dollars I am currently using these https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A and this https://antlionaudio.com/products/modmic-5would I would prefer noise canceling and obviously good audio there is no need for outside use only gaming and music I was thinking about the turtle beach elite pro headset but I'm up for all suggestions.
Sexytime is always great. But if that is not in the cards I like to sit back and listed to some music with a pair of HD558 headphones. So nice...
But then I wake up at 3:00 AM on the couch and have to stumble into bead. So it's not a perfect plan...
Go open back, these particularly are incredible.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1395508581&sr=8-4
When I wear them, I always do the "take them off to see if the music is really coming from the headphones or if it's around me" thing. Open-backed cans create a sound stage that feels like you're there - perfect for VR imo. Not to mention these are the most comfortable headphones I own. I've worn these for 8+ hour work days and forget they're on - I wish I could say that about my M-100s
> HD 558
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones-Technology/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468596343&sr=8-1&keywords=Sennheiser+HD+558
These guys?
And a Blue Yeti i've heard is quite a good mic?
Going to need a budget haha.
These are good and there is a free mod that upgrades them to the next model (HD 598) called the foam mod. I'd suggest trying open back headphones because of the better soundstage which is great for games
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468695436&sr=8-2&keywords=sennheiser+hd518
Personally I would go for these over the 598s, the frequency response is almost identical as far as I know and they're a fair bit cheaper.
[senn hd558] (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A)
Sennheiser HD 558s come recommended from some previous "good $100 headphones" threads I've read. IIRC there's some lining or glue or something on the inside of the headphones that can be removed to improve sound quality, too. There's also this thread on Head-Fi that could help you pick out some alternatives if the HD 558s aren't quite what you had in mind. If you're still not sure, go ahead and put the question to Head-Fi or r/Headphones. Those guys know their audio.
If you use cheap $10 earbuds, then yeah, they won't be very good with surround sound.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0126HISOO
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FEEY9A
Both of those use the same "driver" as the Game One to deliver the audio to your ears.
I linked you to the wrong subreddit though. I was thinking of their sister subreddit /r/headphones which is geared specifically at headphones
Dude, just buy a Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones and attach a ModMic 4.0 to it.
Hey man, thanks for the info. I decided i will buy the 558 off of amazon for 120, and then the DGX and it will be essentially the same price as the Siberia Elite. One question though, on amazon they are 60 dollars cheaoer, are these an older model or is it just a good deal? Here is the link. Also, is there any kind of burn-in time?
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
I know you said you want a headset but you should seriously take a look at getting [Sennheiser HD558] (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407356712&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd) or HD598 and a [ModMic] (http://www.modmic.com/collections/frontpage/products/modmic-4-0)
Aren't the platinum like 160?
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
with this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZOVW0Q/ref=twister_B00HZOVVXE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
is a very good option for around that price range.
Trust me, any decent headphones by Sennheiser, Audio Technica, AKG, or brands like that will stomp out these "gaming headphones" which are really just 30 dollar headphones with some marketing gimmicks.
if your limit is $3000 you should probably get a better graphics card.
Windows 8 is horrible imo, but if you've had experience with it and like it, then that's fine. That headset is also overpriced, much better to just get a clip mic and normal headphones.
http://www.modmic.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504631-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/
With a max budget of 120 USD, the Sennheiser HD 558 headphones are your best bet. It has a very wide soundstage due to its open-backed design which gives it very, very good directional audio. They're audiophile-grade headphones that don't require any amp to sound great.
For mic choices, I think the best value is this Zalman Clip-on Mic.
Sorry a bit late with this response. I wouldn't recommend the m50's. As others have said theyre a bit bass heavy, which although sounds great, they can get quite strenuous after a while. Also the pleather pads can be uncomfortable during a long gaming session (especially in the summer).
I'm assuming your budget is ~$100, for that I would recommend the Sennheiser HD 588. It's an intro to HiFi headphone, so it'll sound really good with out the hefty price tag to go with it. Also has velvet pads so they'll be comfortable for a long time. They've got a good amount of bass too but nothing that will cause strain after a while.
Since you're taking /u/klepperx's suggestions and saving some money, you could get a much better microphone and still stay under budget. Since you're getting a desk microphone, there's no need to get a headset (although the Cloud / Cloud II would definitely be the ones to get). What kind of fit and sound signature do you like? Do you need the headphone to be portable? What are your requirements for isolation? Here's my reccommendations at ~$100:
If you don't like any of the headphone recommendations, try the /r/headphones purchase advice assistant.
I had the same problem. The best solution I found was open backed headphones. I've been using the Sennheiser HD 558 headphones from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
Here's MKBHD talking about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RskGkGYtgg
How about these Sennheiser HD 558s or these Audio Technica ATH-AD700X, they're a bit over your budget but they're both great headphones.
Sennheiser 558
or
You could watch Massdrop for a Hifiman HE-350 drop again, although I would absolutely jump for the 558's above first.
If you don't want to spend that much money consider buying these headphones instead. They are (supposedly) almost identical with a few minor differences. HD558's can be also be easily modded to sound even more like 598's.
I would purchase Windows 10. It's not much more expensive and it easier to take with you if you ever upgrade your motherboard. If you get 7/8.1 and upgrade, it stays on your motherboard.
As for peripherals, these matter a lot in my opinion. They're what you use to physically interact with your sweet PC. I recommend a mechanical keyboard. Depending on your budget, there are many many different kinds you can get. I recommend looking at what Corsair has to offer. They have very nice mechs.
I also really recommend the Logitech G502. It's not my first mouse, but it's the first mouse I love. It's comfortable, looks good, has buttons that are fully remapable, and is Logitech so you know it's gonna be good.
Headphones are also important (at least for me). If you aren't gonna be using speakers most of the time, don't sell yourself short with crappy earbuds. A great entry level hi-fi pair of headphones are the Sennheiser HD 558. I cannot recommend these enough. They're only $100 right now which is a steal also.
Sennheiser HD558 or HD598 with Vmoda BoomPro Mic .
With this combination you basically have a headset.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412734265&sr=8-1&keywords=558
Same price on amazon as of 7pm PST 10/7/14
Don't buy a 'gaming' headset. Unless you go with a Sennheiser (which, on it's own is an excellent audio company) PC 350/360, it's not going to be as good as a solid set of Headphones & a separate mic. You're paying extra for the convenience of a built-in microphone, which will also be sub-par quality.
My personal setup is a Sennheiser HD 555 & a Modmic
How about these: Sennheiser HD 558
Better soundstage, better quality, better frequency sprectrum
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1469305259&sr=8-4&keywords=sennheiser+hd
Couple of dollars more than a VOID headset and miles ahead. Lets not even take into consideration the fact that the ATH-M50s go on sale for 99 all the time, and the Sennheiser HD598s are usually on sale too.
Oh if you want your questions answered you got it, haha. I am all too eager to get this fixed.
Sennheiser HD558s
ATH-M50s
Soul by Ludacris
Street 50s
(I am a MAJOR headphone nut. Always looking for better sound). I don't have any monitors though :(
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A
how about this theyre the same price and it stated that has noise cancelling
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419832087&sr=8-1&keywords=hd+558
how is this a good price? look here
Meanwhile HD558's are $122.99 and are objectively the same sound quality. Only difference is aesthetics.
>more than double this price
This is 49.99. On Amazon they are 92.99. That's not more than double this price.
On Bestbuy it's even cheaper at 69.99 which is 20% more than the cost the hyperx headset.