Headset for ~130$

[ORLY]

Hello, so my HyperX Cloud Stinger is old enough for me to look for a replacement.
What I use it for is listening to music (very different genres, like sometimes Divine Heresy, but mainly something milder like Linkin Park, and from time to time - some pop stuff), I also need a microphone for audio/video chatting.
Music quality for me is more important than my voice sounding super-clearly through the microphone.

And it doesn't really matter for me if it's wired or wireless, but if it's wired - I need the wire to be at least as long as it is with my current Stinger headset.
So folks, what should I buy?

 

[Waldorf]

i prefer SQ as well, not just for music but other stuff i would listen with HP (movies at night), and the options for HS is pretty low,
unless you spend a lot more than going with HP and a seperate mic.

or maybe check out those BT ones? cant talk about SQ for most, as im happy using my sennheisers (wired) and sony (BT) for years,
and anything making a noticeable difference, would require better "sources" (hw/files)..

edifier BT

sennheiser

 

[unwind-protect]

Budget?

How long is the existing cable?

 

[Toothless]

Budget?

How long is the existing cable?

It's in the thread title..

 

[unwind-protect]

It's in the thread title..

Ah. Now I see it.

 

[ORLY]

Although I love music, I listen to it through the "ALC4080 audio codec" built into my motherboard, and I somehow doubt that some really good headphones can make a noticeable difference compared to a headset that I have the money for. I can add like 10$ more, but let's say 150$ will already be too much. And we should also take into account that if it's 130$ on Amazon - it will be more expensive in our local electronic stores.

How long is the existing cable?

320 cm.

 

[Waldorf]

@ORLY
something will always be on the better side in your "audio chain", but i rather have good HP, where you can hear there is a difference in sound quality.
ignoring that recent onboard isnt onboard sound from 20y ago, or that any BT will not use the onboard..

didnt see location until now, so why i looked at US prices, not europe.

something cheaper
BT

 

[unwind-protect]

Yeah, the onboard sound is almost certainly good enough to tell good headphones from great ones. I wouldn't worry about it unless you lack power to make it loud enough with low efficiency headphones (which generally aren't available under $150).

 

[GamerGuy]

So, it has to be a closed back headset like the Stinger, or can it be open back? I've not been in the audio loop for a few years now, as I've already gotten a good number of cans and DAC combo to satisfy my audio fix. Back in my days, one possible solution to getting good audio with a mic is to buy a regular decent quality headphone (as opposed to headset) and affix a mic to it (like a modmic).

I recall Philips SHP9500 or a Superlux headphone being recommended as decent lower priced cans to replace headsets (emphasis on headsets is more about looks with less emphasis on audio quality, well, except for higher priced headsets from Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and perhaps Audio Technica). The only lower priced closed back cans that I'd recommend is either the Beyerdynamic DT-770 or a Fostex T50RP Mk3 (Mk4 is a little pricier) with a modmic, these, as well as the even lower priced open back cans can function as good headphones with the added functionality of a headset for gaming, best of both worlds (on a budget).

An argument can be made in favor of, say, an Audio Technica ATH-M40X (some have argued that it beats the much hyped ATH-M50X with a more balanced sound, I can't comment on this, but having auditioned the M50X years ago, I do recall not being impressed with it, as bass tends to muddy mids, the M40X was said to be better at this). The issue is, while some headphones are quite easy to drive, some are a tad harder to drive due to lower sensitivity, so one must bear that in mind when shopping for headphones. For headsets, this isn't an issue....

 

[ORLY]

Ended up buying a Soundcore Life Q30.
Sucks that its mic can't be used via a wire, and Windows 10 only has the sucky SBC codec working (to install Windows 11 just for the AAC? No, thank you), but I don't care anymore.