budget gaming headphones

[jthunderloc]

Like the title says, looking for a nice, but low priced, set of headphones to be used for first person shooter gaming. Surround sound would be nice but not required. I've never been much of an audiophile so aslong as it sounds as good as a factory pair of ipod/iphone headphones I'll be good to go. Budget of ~$50 preferably less.

-Wes

 

[ecom]

At $60-70, the Sennheiser HD-280 Pro will be good. If you are a bass junkie, these are not for you though.

 

[Ika]

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Hi.../dp/B0013OWPV4

They sound awesome for the price. I've heard a lot of higher-end headphones (DT880, K501, HD580, SR60, PROline 650, etc etc) and I haven't found anything that beat the value of these things. I love em to death... except they give me the WORST headphone hair. Whatever, totally worth it.

 

[jthunderloc]

My head is as smooth as a babys butt, so no worries on headphone hair. Guess thats one benefit of going bald lol.

I've heard good things about the JVCs, also the Sennheiser HD201s. I dont really need anything too spectacular.

-Wes

 

[Ika]

I used to have the HD201s, and while they're decent, they sound kind of tinny and lower quality in general. The JVCs have a more full-bodied sound, and more bass to boot. I also find that the JVCs have a much better soundstage - in other words, are much better at sonic placement, so you can hear footsteps, guns, etc much better than with the HD201s.

 

[Yuriman]

I've not checked the headphone market in the past year or so, but when I was in the market, everyone was recommending the Grado SR-60's for around $70, if you can swing that. The Sennheiser's would do you well too.

 

[Chapbass]

If you're looking for some isolation, the HD280's are solid. They do GLUE to your head though. Be prepared to stretch the headband out a little, the first couple days gave me a headache. Some people leave them on some books for a night or two to make them less tight.

 

[Ika]

I've not checked the headphone market in the past year or so, but when I was in the market, everyone was recommending the Grado SR-60's for around $70, if you can swing that. The Sennheiser's would do you well too.

SR60s are awesome, but better for music than gaming. they're open-air, so they leak a lot of sound (both in and out). Their soundstage isn't all that great, either.

HD280 Pros are a peculiar beast - they're pretty accurate and detailed, but sound very cold and dead. They have no life to them, as well as no bass. If you plan on listening to music with these headphones as well, I'd recommend getting something else. They're great at isolating sound, but if you have a big head, have a death grip. I've never liked the sound of the HD280s but a lot of people recommend them, so either they're bandwagoning or they actually like them.

 

[Tristicus]

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-...7678993&sr=1-1

I'm wearing them as we speak, and it is a great set of headphones. Clear, loud if you want it to be, good mic, not that expensive.

 

[0roo0roo]

creative arena gaming has been on rebate at 50 at frys on and off...and from another store at slickdeals, i forget what..maybe costco.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-...7678993&sr=1-1

I'm wearing them as we speak, and it is a great set of headphones. Clear, loud if you want it to be, good mic, not that expensive.

i have those and the mk2 as well.
have to say, those things are only worth about 25 dollars, the build quality is pretty sh*t. luckily i got them for 10 bucks after rebate. else i'd be wtf.

 

[Tristicus]

i have those and the mk2 as well.
have to say, those things are only worth about 25 dollars, the build quality is pretty sh*t. luckily i got them for 10 bucks after rebate. else i'd be wtf.

I didn't pay for mine (in reality), but I didn't go over $30 either. I don't know what you mean by build quality, but mine are solid, and I've had them for about 6 months. They feel fine on my head, and the only niggle is that the mic has to plugin just right to fit that hole which is annoying when I don't want to take it off my head.

 

[murphyslabrat]

About the Fatal1ty (Version Tristicus linked, I haven't heard the new ones), I think that the JVC headphones are a much better deal. The Fatal1ty makes it feel like you have cotton stuffed in your ears. The RX700 would also have a better sense of space and placement, and sound worlds better when it comes to music.

About the Grados, one of their biggest shortcomings is the lack of a decent soundstage. Meaning that, while crystal clear with excellent sound, they don't give the impression of space that's necessary to locate sounds around you.

Seriously, though. If you can, assuming you don't already have a soundcard, I'd get this:
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Hi...7720311&sr=1-1
+ this: http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-.../dp/B000IZ96LQ
= $65 (free shipping) without a microphone, but worth every penny, and then some.

The headphones are probably the best buy in the pricerange, and I have had a wonderful experience XMod's CMSS-3D effect. It was actually pretty eerie the first time I tried it. Those headphones themselves are better than my Creative Aurvana Live headphones at positioning, but I haven't tried the RX700 with my XMod.

Here's some info on the effect, if you're curious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMSS#CMSS-3D

 

[jthunderloc]

hmm, that Xmod USB sound card is something to look at. My current setup doesnt have any spare slots for a sound card. soon I should be upgrading to a Asus Maximus III with its sound card or maybe an EVGA P55 FTW with an aftermarket sound card. Hopefully I'll get something figured out and ordered monday for my birthday

-Wes

 

[trek]

No lies about the comfort, Steelseries Sibera.

 

[Fayd]

No lies about the comfort, Steelseries Sibera.

yeah, i loved my siberias for the time i had them.

about 2 years after purchase, the foam in the earcups had worn down so much, that the interior pressed on the earlobes. mildly annoying.

and my habit of smashing headphones had more than once broken the earcup from its retainers... as well as causing the sound output to go screwy.

i repaired it several times with soldering. and duct tape. and Popsicle sticks to hold its form.

http://www.manwhoring.com/lineage/fayd/pics/headset2.jpg

here they are before final retirement.


then i bought a set of plantronics. they died a year later.

i just bought a set of razer cacharias. hopefully their price will make me think a little more before bashing them into the desk.

 

[0roo0roo]

I didn't pay for mine (in reality), but I didn't go over $30 either. I don't know what you mean by build quality, but mine are solid, and I've had them for about 6 months. They feel fine on my head, and the only niggle is that the mic has to plugin just right to fit that hole which is annoying when I don't want to take it off my head.

Cheap crude plastic, generally really cheap looking design, it just looks and feels like creative handed off design and build to some 3rd party chinese company.
The mic not being able to fold up is also pretty lame. even the volume control bit looks slightly cheaper on that version. I haven't broken them, i'm not saying they'll snap right in half because they won't, but the general impression from the build quality is just not there. i'm saying this based on their original asking/sale price of course. for under 30 you can't complain too hard. but for the 60+ they were originally asking, its pretty lame.

 

[borisvodofsky]

Get ear buds for gaming. Lighter + the noise isolation means you can lower the volumn, lessening the damage to ur ears.

Cx300 FIRST VERSION only 20-30 dollars on amazon. STAY AWAY FROM EBAY. These are sooo popular and awesome that people made counterfiets.

 

[0roo0roo]

29 AR mk2 creative fatal1ty at frys b&m
ear buds are ok for portable music, but i find their sound is inferior in gaming/surround audio cues.

 

[konakona]

29 AR mk2 creative fatal1ty at frys b&m
ear buds are ok for portable music, but i find their sound is inferior in gaming/surround audio cues.

yeah the whole 'in-your-head' feeling of IEMs can be hit or miss depending on what you like. unless it's some uber IEM like JH-13, I think a fullsized headphone is going to give you better soundstage and more comfort.

Some people just don't like sticking the foam into their earholes, that might be an issue as well. Isolation is nice for commuting and such, but if you are gaming at home it becomes a moot point.

CX300s are quite nice for what they cost though, good enough for general use.

I never got to try those JVCs but heard very good things about them. My personal pick (among those that I have tried) would be PX-100. Very fun and non-fatiguing sound, quite comfy, foldable and does not require amping.

Haven't kept up with the similarly designed newer phones like PX-100 II or HD238... are those any good?

 

[jthunderloc]

I saw the Fatal1tys in the fry's add, I'm pretty tempted by them. I like being able to give them a try and return them if I don't like them.

If someone would buy my Sony wireless headphones I'd pick them up. If I didnt like them Id return them for the JVCs

-Wes

 

[0roo0roo]

jesus stop returning sh*t used headphones..gross. for 30 bucks its not much of a gamble. trust me, for 30-50 dollars that creative headset on special at frys is the best you are going to get.

those things are worth atleast 60 imho. retail price is more. wireless is pointless on your budget. unless you pay massive amounts you won't get lossless transmission anywhere near your budget and so it will be gimped from the get go, either using rf or recompressed bluetooth, the small amount of budget left for drivers and the rest of the headphone after accounting for the wireless battery/circuitry/dongle means you get even less headphone for the money.

 

[0roo0roo]

yeah the whole 'in-your-head' feeling of IEMs can be hit or miss depending on what you like. unless it's some uber IEM like JH-13, I think a fullsized headphone is going to give you better soundstage and more comfort.

Some people just don't like sticking the foam into their earholes, that might be an issue as well. Isolation is nice for commuting and such, but if you are gaming at home it becomes a moot point.

CX300s are quite nice for what they cost though, good enough for general use.

I never got to try those JVCs but heard very good things about them. My personal pick (among those that I have tried) would be PX-100. Very fun and non-fatiguing sound, quite comfy, foldable and does not require amping.

Haven't kept up with the similarly designed newer phones like PX-100 II or HD238... are those any good?

i have both the cx300 i and II , the first version was inferior. so even if its cheaper i wouldn't buy it. for gaming unless you have special requirements a full size set of cans is always best. the on the ear types like px 100 always give up a bit of sound quality for size. those are sacrifices for portability, which doesn't apply so much for desktop gaming use.

 

[jthunderloc]

jesus stop returning sh*t used headphones..gross. for 30 bucks its not much of a gamble. trust me, for 30-50 dollars that creative headset on special at frys is the best you are going to get.

those things are worth atleast 60 imho. retail price is more. wireless is pointless on your budget. unless you pay massive amounts you won't get lossless transmission anywhere near your budget and so it will be gimped from the get go, either using rf or recompressed bluetooth, the small amount of budget left for drivers and the rest of the headphone after accounting for the wireless battery/circuitry/dongle means you get even less headphone for the money.

??? I didn't returned anything, didn't buy anything!

I dont know what you do with your headphones or ears but I cant say I see any issue with used over the ear phones. ear buds, otoh, are a no go used.

I picked up the Sony's a year ago, sound pretty good but no sense of where the sounds are coming from as far as in front or behind.

Sound quality isn't that big of a deal for me, I'm by no means an audiophile and the $6 pair of ear buds I use when I'm at the gym sound just fine and the $13 JVC Marshmallows Ive got sound spectacular to me, they just irritate me as I can hear my breath sounds, and when the cord rustles against my shirt when I look side to side. I'll probably pick up the Fatal1tes and see if I like them, if I don't then they're going back.

-Wes

 

[konakona]

i have both the cx300 i and II , the first version was inferior. so even if its cheaper i wouldn't buy it. for gaming unless you have special requirements a full size set of cans is always best. the on the ear types like px 100 always give up a bit of sound quality for size. those are sacrifices for portability, which doesn't apply so much for desktop gaming use.

I agree, but for the price they could be had (got my px100s under $20 shipped), there aren't too many full sized phones to begin with. Many (certainly not all) full sized cans require decent amping to sound good, which further drives up the price. In the end, I just liked the warm and forgiving sonic signature of px100. Portability is not a must have of course, but wont hurt when price is right and sound is good for the price bracket.

Just remembered amazon had pretty decent deal on AD700s (~$86 shipped); these do sound great without amping, could be another option to consider.