What headset to buy

[Techno Tortoise]

Looking to get a headset for gaming and music im looking at the
SteelSeries 7H,Siberia v2 but i will consider slapping a mic on some non gaming headphones if they were better sounding over all. im also intrested in getting a Essence STX to go with them budget is about £150 for the headphones.

 

[Spoon_E11]

most if not all wireless headsets use an USB interface, which would render useless a sound card. I have heard good things about basically all Steel Series products. But do not have any experience with any wireless headsets.

Just realised you never mentioned wireless, that makes me look dumb. (also both of those are wired headsets)

I personally use the razer carcharias, they are really comfortable. I am looking to be putting a Xonar D2x in my rig shortly. I have multiple Razer products and I have not had reliability issues with them. However I have heard of many who have.

The one 1/2 decent point I mentioned above. I rarely hear negative things about steel series.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

i have heard a few people say that gaming headphones are a gimmick and i would personally rather have some non gaming headphones that have a bigger soundstage etc (if they do?), and have a separate mic attached for in-game chat. but im relatively new to audio and don't have a clue what to look out for thanks for the reply.

 

[hackalive]

My $0.02 would be the Astro A50

 

[Spoon_E11]

Good headphones are good headphones. And some have gaming printed on the box. However some headphones may be marketed as gaming headsets and be charging extra money for it.

But a set of good headphones will be good for gaming and music ect.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

yea i gathered i was just wondering what to go for. like, are these better than the siberia v2? http://www.overstock.com/Electronic...mic-Headphone/3203455/product.html?cid=133635

 

[jamesriley94]

yea i gathered i was just wondering what to go for. like, are these better than the siberia v2? http://www.overstock.com/Electronic...mic-Headphone/3203455/product.html?cid=133635

Better than pretty much every gaming headset out there...

...but you need a soundcard really to properly appreciate the difference

 

[Techno Tortoise]

Better than pretty much every gaming headset out there...

...but you need a soundcard really to properly appreciate the difference

Iv just seen a review on that headset and a guy gave them a badish review would you be able to recommend me some similar and i would be willing to get a sound card.

 

[jamesriley94]

What's the budget?
I use beyerdynamic dt770 pro (80ohm version) with the essence STX.

That's about the best combo you can get without going into proper desktop amps and DACs, along with very expensive headphones.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

What's the budget?
I use beyerdynamic dt770 pro (80ohm version) with the essence STX.

That's about the best combo you can get without going into proper desktop amps and DACs, along with very expensive headphones.

about £120 for headphones id get the essence STX at a later date as that was the 1 i was looking at getting.

 

[jamesriley94]

I'd just go for the DT770s 80ohm version then. They're awesome headphones, if you can spend a little more.

Otherwise, AKG and audiotechnica do decent headphones for a little cheaper.

 

[Lystfiskern]

+1 on that.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

I'd just go for the DT770s 80ohm version then. They're awesome headphones, if you can spend a little more.

Otherwise, AKG and audiotechnica do decent headphones for a little cheaper.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 any better than the 1 you said? or are the DT770s better.

 

[jamesriley94]

I'd say the DT770s are better. They're pretty much the best headphones you can get for sub £150...maybe even pushing to sub £200(?)

Plus, they're made out of metal so they'll last longer. The audiotechnicas you linked look to be a little plasticy. And they're incredibly comfortable.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

I'd say the DT770s are better. They're pretty much the best headphones you can get for sub £150...maybe even pushing to sub £200(?)

Plus, they're made out of metal so they'll last longer. The audiotechnicas you linked look to be a little plasticy. And they're incredibly comfortable.

Sorry about the 9000 questions but why the DT770s 80ohm version what are the differences.

 

[jamesriley94]

Sorry about the 9000 questions but why the DT770s 80ohm version what are the differences.

The higher the impedance (ohms) the more power you need to drive them.
Meaning if you got the 600 Ohm version you'd need a proper amp to power them properly (despite the STX saying it can drive them up to 600ohms)

The 80 or the 250 will work fine on the STX, but most say the bass on the 80s is a little better.

The difference is the amount of background noise/static you can hear. The DAC in the STX converts the digital signals to analogue and so creates static in the background. On headphones with for example 5Ohm impedance, you'd hear most of it. Then the higher you go up, the less background noise can make it through to the headphones...so in theory, the 250s should give cleaner sound than the 80s, although, I use the 80s and it eliminates pretty much everything tbh.

The disadvantage to getting higher ones is the fact you need more power to power them. For example, if I put my 80s straight into my iPod, they do still work to reasonable noise levels. I'd hate to hear what happened to 250s though, as they'd just be too quiet to really use.

If you aren't getting the STX straight away and so you were running without a headphone amp, then you need to get the 80s really. Although, I don't really see that as a con because according to reviews online as I've said, most people rate the 80s more highly anyway.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

The higher the impedance (ohms) the more power you need to drive them.
Meaning if you got the 600 Ohm version you'd need a proper amp to power them properly (despite the STX saying it can drive them up to 600ohms)

The 80 or the 250 will work fine on the STX, but most say the bass on the 80s is a little better.

The difference is the amount of background noise/static you can hear. The DAC in the STX converts the digital signals to analogue and so creates static in the background. On headphones with for example 5Ohm impedance, you'd hear most of it. Then the higher you go up, the less background noise can make it through to the headphones...so in theory, the 250s should give cleaner sound than the 80s, although, I use the 80s and it eliminates pretty much everything tbh.

The disadvantage to getting higher ones is the fact you need more power to power them. For example, if I put my 80s straight into my iPod, they do still work to reasonable noise levels. I'd hate to hear what happened to 250s though, as they'd just be too quiet to really use.

If you aren't getting the STX straight away and so you were running without a headphone amp, then you need to get the 80s really. Although, I don't really see that as a con because according to reviews online as I've said, most people rate the 80s more highly anyway.

cheers for the info nice little read there lol ill get the 80s then.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

ok so i didnt get them i got the Sennheiser HD 558 how do they stand up to the dt 770s have i made a mistake, im not sure about this purchase i might of been going in with my head in the clouds. i was expecting some change in songs games etc and i got it but not allot, i head people say they get blown away and its night and day but i dont think its that easy, do you think its because i dont have a sound card should i start there? Im considering sending them back and putting it towards a gtx 780 as i would see the gains from that but im not sure. ps im not deaf

 

[jamesriley94]

They're still decent headphones (personally would have still gone for the Beyerdynamic, but there won't be a massive difference).

You need a soundcard really to properly appreciate the difference, that will be the same for whichever you buy. Without, you certainly wouldn't be blown away.

Get an STX if you can afford it. Once you do, you'll agree it'll have been worth the £250 you'll have spent on it.

If you can't afford the STX, you could make do with a Fiio E7 - basically acts as an external soundcard. It definitely enhances the sound, and amplifies it, and you can get one for about half the cost of an STX, but, an STX still would be preferable.

 

[Techno Tortoise]

ok ill get a stx i like them i really do but i was just feeling a bit guilty about spending the cash but yea well see when i get a stx cheers for the info