*TPU's Gaming Headphone/Headset Thread*

[Fourstaff]

Well, not sure how to compare, never owned a set of mid-range headphones before. First thing I noticed is I don't have to bother with using an eq anymore. I hear mid and high range I didn't know even existed! Even though
the bass reaches really low, its not punchy, so all I used was a bit of bass boost with cutoff at 40hz. Pumping a bunch of flacs through them right now, amazing sounding to me!

You will learn to appreciate less bass and more balanced sound as you go up the headphone chain.

 

[johnspack]

Probably, as I also found I had to slightly eq down several sections. I used to have to crank up so much to try to make it sound good, now the sound is just flooding out! I spent years tweaking low
end headphones, and now all that is out the window! I have to relearn all of it. I have so much more mid and high end, I'm still trying to tweak it so it's not overpowering, and still deal with my
low end for my harder stuff. I've actually already got it pretty close now, these phones are very good, and using a good sound card helps (using them on my server with my x-fi titanium card).
Now I'll have to upgrade my sound card, and get a good headphone amp. The sound addiction continues.....

And yes Fourstaff, I agree, the much fuller sound of better headphones requires less emphasis on the bass. Bass should be natural, but probably isnt in headphones under 800 bucks or so.... I do find I need far less emphasis for my AKGs, and they actually punch very well, but I do have to slightly eq them. Can't wait for my next upgrade!

 

[Delta6326]

I have the Beyerdynamic DT880 250, do you think the http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000017625376&MenuID=105026003 E09K would be a good amp?

 

[Fourstaff]

Can't wait for my next upgrade!

Fully enjoy your current one first, including all the nuances. When you feel that you have nothing more to learn from the headphones (particular quirks, its failings and strengths), only then move on to get another one with a different set of strengths.

 

[johnspack]

Fully enjoy your current one first, including all the nuances. When you feel that you have nothing more to learn from the headphones (particular quirks, its failings and strengths), only then move on to get another one with a different set of strengths.

Agreed!
Edit: I love the way he put it, totally correct, and yes I will want better cans in the future!
Edit2: These things make my onboard sound on my rampage mobo sound like a concert too, dam I'm impressed. Wonder what a 1500 dollar set sounds like.....

 

[johnspack]

These things make my onboard sound on my rampage mobo sound like a concert too, dam I'm impressed. Wonder what a 1500 dollar set sounds like.....
Edit 1: 8 hours with these on my head, still not tired of them, and my ears don't hurt, they pass the usage test!

 

[BumbleBee]

These things make my onboard sound on my rampage mobo sound like a concert too, dam I'm impressed. Wonder what a 1500 dollar set sounds like.....
Edit 1: 8 hours with these on my head, still not tired of them, and my ears don't hurt, they pass the usage test!

pretty good.

investing in a good headphone amplifier and DAC will make the transition a lot easier.

 

[johnspack]

Yes, I know. I have to drive them with a poor little Scott amp right now, and it's close to clipping feeding these. I'm still trying to figure out if I need a new soundcard with a dac, or a better amp, or both.
Probably both. Looking at Soundblaster Z series for a card, but not sure....

 

[johnspack]

Just listening to some uncompressed Rolling Stones flacs... oh my god... I can't believe how much music I've been missing all these years...

 

[BumbleBee]

Yes, I know. I have to drive them with a poor little Scott amp right now, and it's close to clipping feeding these. I'm still trying to figure out if I need a new soundcard with a dac, or a better amp, or both.
Probably both. Looking at Soundblaster Z series for a card, but not sure....

absolutely.

just keep in mind before you buy a sound card that external DAC and Headphone Amplifiers don't have design limitations. consumer sound cards will probably always be limited to SMPS and IC chips.

 

[johnspack]

Arg, still trying to figure this out... so to get my music from my computer to my headphones... I need a soundcard without a dac, like the soundblaster, and feed it directly to a proper
headphone amp? If that's the case, then my x-fi titanium is probably good enough for now, just need an amp?

 

[BumbleBee]

no no

there are basically two kinds of devices -- integrated DA converters and DA converter.

these devices are integrated DA converters with Headphone Amplifiers built in. you connect them to your computer via USB then power via wall wart

these devices are just DA converters and you hook them up the same way except you need to get the analog signal to your Headphone Amplifier so you connect them together with RCA or XLR interconnects.

sound cards are basically like integrated DA converters with Headphone Amplifiers built in except they have design limitations.

 

[johnspack]

So I need to bypass any soundcard, and go straight out through usb? I only have usb2, I don't think it will have enough bandwidth. I've been told for years usb sound sucks, so it goes against everything I learned....

 

[johnspack]

I like my beat fast, and my bass down low, bass down low.... bass down low... I like my beat fast and my bass down low....

 

[BumbleBee]

USB 3.0 doesn't really have any benefits over USB 2.0 so there are only a couple of DA Converters that support it. you don't need a sound card at all.

my Mytek Stereo 192 DSD is a serious DA converter for $1600. I can assure it does not suck.

I believe you're referring to the inline controllers on USB Gaming headsets.

this is one of my Headphone Amplifiers the Burson HA-160

- the chassis is made out of 6mm thick machined aluminum L brackets all screwed together and has large rubber feet on the bottom. the entire unit weighs 10 lbs.
- at the very top you can see the solder lug, this is the grounding scheme and underneath it is the linear power supply.
- on the left hand side there are custom voltage regulars and a custom stepped attenuator.
- at the top there are 2 high pressure headphone jacks and Burson discrete op-amp boards.

this is basically the headphone amplifier on the Asus Essence STX. this tiny little section on the card.

 

[johnspack]

god, wow.... i'm just drooling.... currently listening to cataracts, i like my beats fast, bass down low....

 

[johnspack]

Have all settings slightly under eqed... listening to some black eyed peas, i cant believe the sound. someone throw me a better set so i can stop ranting about these! I'll stop now, I know you guys have been listening to stuff like this for years.... I finally get to join.....

 

[johnspack]

My last word here for all.... if you ever have wondered about audiophile equipment, and whether it's worth it, yes, oh my bloody god yes! spend the money, you will not regret it!

 

[Cja123]

Hello everyone and happy holidays,

I recently have had the urge to pick up a pair of headphones. I have been gaming for quite awhile but my focus has always been the visuals. Now that my fiancee and I live together, I am in dire need for an isolated audio experience while gaming. I'm looking for recommendations of solid headphones I can pick up on holiday sale in the entry level bracket. I borrowed a pair of ASTROs from a buddy a while back and plugged in optical audio through the mix amp to my PC and it sounded amazing. I'm sure there are better solutions out there which is why I am here. I really don't want to spend anything over $200 and if I can get ASTRO quality for less, that'd make my day.

Thanks!

 

[johnspack]

For audiophile quality you must spend 400 plus, there is no other way. If you do, you will get a set of headphones that will walk away from the cheap crap in sound,
and you will get headphones that will last you for years. You will save money, and have much better sound. I used to spend 200 every year, and throw away the broken
headset. Get a separate mic as well, gaming headsets are always lower quality sound. 3d sound is not a selling point!

 

[Fourstaff]

For audiophile quality you must spend 400 plus, there is no other way. If you do, you will get a set of headphones that will walk away from the cheap crap in sound,
and you will get headphones that will last you for years. You will save money, and have much better sound. I used to spend 200 every year, and throw away the broken
headset. Get a separate mic as well, gaming headsets are always lower quality sound. 3d sound is not a selling point!

Not necessary, for $200 I think there are a lot of good options. Good start is the Sennheiser PC series, they isolate pretty well and hold up to years of abuse (my friend's pair has been going for more than 3 years already).

 

[Cja123]

For audiophile quality you must spend 400 plus, there is no other way. If you do, you will get a set of headphones that will walk away from the cheap crap in sound,
and you will get headphones that will last you for years. You will save money, and have much better sound. I used to spend 200 every year, and throw away the broken
headset. Get a separate mic as well, gaming headsets are always lower quality sound. 3d sound is not a selling point!

I like your attitude. Typically handling all my purchases like this doesn't leave me disappointed. However, I feel that $200 could buy me some headphones that will last for a couple of years. I should have specified in my first post, I am not an audiophile so expensive equipment geared towards that demo would be waisted on me. I'm looking for something that will help me drown out my fiancee's noise and concentrate on whatever game I may be playing while providing a decent audio experience. Thanks for the suggestion though, I will certainly keep it in mind while I hunt.

Not necessary, for $200 I think there are a lot of good options. Good start is the Sennheiser PC series, they isolate pretty well and hold up to years of abuse (my friend's pair has been going for more than 3 years already).

This sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I will check out the Sennheiser's today. Thanks Fourstaff!

 

[Fourstaff]

This sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I will check out the Sennheiser's today. Thanks Fourstaff!

If you cant find something you like ... http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad...aming-guide-updated-9-2-2013-sony-ma900-added

 

[Cja123]

If you cant find something you like ... http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad...aming-guide-updated-9-2-2013-sony-ma900-added

I came across this earlier today before I left to fish. It looks like a good read, I will definitely scan it over a couple of times before making my decision.

 

[MT Alex]

I came across this earlier today before I left to fish. It looks like a good read, I will definitely scan it over a couple of times before making my decision.

What did you catch?