Best headphones?

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GoodRevrnd

GoodRevrnd

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2001
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I'm looking for the best possible headphones, mostly for gaming but some music. Since it is for gaming, a set that convey positional sound very well is important. And of course, I'll need a mic for ventrilo, which, I realize, limits my options a bit. I'm hoping to get some responses better than "I have Sen PC 150/190's and they're awesome!!"

EDIT: Actually, if anyone is aware of some sort of external mic I can clip onto the headphones or something, that would be awesome. I'm sure I could find a shirt clip one or something, but I worry about how much background noise that would pick up and the relative sound quality.

EDIT2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826235001
Gimick??
 
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imported_Silverturtle

Member
Jul 29, 2006
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Don't know about the headphones you listed from Newegg. Never heard of them, which probably means they aren't very good. I'm in the market for good gaming headphones for around $200 as well, though I don't need a mic.

Could anyone else help him (and me) out here?
 
GoodRevrnd

GoodRevrnd

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2001
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Searching head-fi for gaming seems to somewhat consistently pull up Audio Technica A900 or Beyerdynamic DT770-80. These are in my price range, but that doesn't solve my mic problem. Also the 770's may require an amp but I couldn't find any confirmation on that over there for whatever reason. Still looking for other opinions, though.

About the ones I linked in the first post, that's my impression too. Anything that advertises itself as the ultimate gaming headphone, that I've never heard of, and only seems to be reviewed by gaming sites is highly suspect.
 
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Shyatic

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2004
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I have in the past 2 years, bought 5 pairs of headphones with a microphone at the end. The best sounding ones were the Medusa 5.1s, which were really crisp and clear and produced GREAT sound quality. There was an inherent problem with them though -- every time my cell phone was near it, the headphones were totally unusable. It was not shielded well at ALL. Additionally, it lacked an inline microphone mute which was HORRENDOUS!

Three headphones (and some $200+) later, I got the Steelsound 5H headphones. While the sound quality is not as good as the Medusas, i can use them with my cell phone nearby, there is an inline volume and microphone mute, and the microphone quality is superb. I have the best time in the world playing CS:Source.

I would recommend those, as they don't break the bank and are really a gamer's set of cans. Trust me, I've been through a LOT of headphones and I even tried the combination of a separate microphone and headset. This is really your best bet.
 
S

Shyatic

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2004
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By the way those Triton headsets... it's the exact same thing as the Medusa. Do a search, you will see :)
 
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lamere

Senior member
Jul 22, 2006
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I have the Icemat siberia headphones.
http://www.extrememhz.com/siberia-p2.shtml

I like them, and they do what they were designed to do, be gaming hp's
The review says the mic setup is poor for gaming, but I dont understand what they are trying to say, I just clip the mic to my shirt and all is right with the world. :)
 
GoodRevrnd

GoodRevrnd

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2001
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by best i meant $150-$200 range =p

also, while i was looking around for mics... what does condenser mic mean
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Condenser is powered (versus Dynamic) for higher quality.

Zoinks, audiolines must have made a mistake pricing the HSC 271 for only $200 when elsewhere it is $350-400. Too bad you prolly cannot use it but heck if it is a mistake they would prolly not honour it. If it was the HSD I would give it a shot myself (I have the K271 already but would love the integrated mic).

The thing with headsets is that good quality ones have even higher margins than the equivalent headphones which themselves may be priced high for professional use. There's a huge gap betwixt those and PC junk.

You will have more options and save some moolah (or afford better headphones) with a seperate mic, especially if something cheap like the Zalman will do just for games/VOIP. I replaced a generic PC mic with the Zalman and it is a bit better but just ended up sticking it to my display. The clumsiness of clip-ons are definitely a trade-off.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
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Audio-Technica A900. Great music+gaming headphones, and don't necessarily need an amp to work well. You'll be satisfied. Just pick up the Zalman clip-on mic.
 
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Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
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71
The thing I didn't like aboot the Audio-Technica's when I last researched was the el-cheapo cushions made of "vinyl coated foam" or whatever that quickly degrades.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: Auric
The thing I didn't like aboot the Audio-Technica's when I last researched was the el-cheapo cushions made of "vinyl coated foam" or whatever that quickly degrades.
Click to expand...

Huh? Last I checked, AT cushions are velour/velvet-styled. Very comfy, rather durable. Or do you mean the cushions for the head-fins at the top?
 
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Okasa

Member
Jan 22, 2005
168
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i agree with the guy that mentioned the clip-on mic, that way you can get good headphones, because most good headphones do not come with one built in (some do dont get me wrong). but i would get a mic seperate and get some sennheisers, they are by far some of the nicest sounding headphones i have ever used, so comfortable you could wear them all day without any problem (valure fabric on the earpieces) and have an amazing freq range, something incredibly low (cant remember) to like 25khz which is beyond human hearing anyway so it dosent really matter. and you can get them in all price ranges, like the hd555s are in the mid hundreds i think.
 
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NanoStuff

Banned
Mar 23, 2006
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Originally posted by: Okasa
nd have an amazing freq range, something incredibly low (cant remember) to like 25khz which is beyond human hearing anyway so it dosent really matter.
Click to expand...
Uh no, it does matter. I'd rather have a headphone with a limited frequency range that is superior in other aspects of sound reproduction over the alternative. Judging sound quality on the extremities of reproduction alone is moronic.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: NanoStuff
Originally posted by: Okasa
nd have an amazing freq range, something incredibly low (cant remember) to like 25khz which is beyond human hearing anyway so it dosent really matter.
Click to expand...
Uh no, it does matter. I'd rather have a headphone with a limited frequency range that is superior in other aspects of sound reproduction over the alternative. Judging sound quality on the extremities of reproduction alone is moronic.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

Numbers hardly do headphones justice. The only number that's mildly important is impedance. it's the way the drivers reproduce sound that's important.
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Originally posted by: Aflac
Originally posted by: Auric
The thing I didn't like aboot the Audio-Technica's when I last researched was the el-cheapo cushions made of "vinyl coated foam" or whatever that quickly degrades.
Click to expand...

Huh? Last I checked, AT cushions are velour/velvet-styled. Very comfy, rather durable. Or do you mean the cushions for the head-fins at the top?
Click to expand...

Looksie here and here.

 
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