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Gaming Headphones: Need more info on what is commonly reccommended here

post #1 of 21
8/1/06 at 9:55pm
Thread Starter 
Audio Technica A900
Beyerdynamic DT770-80
Beyerdynamic D250

I've scoured the forums for gaming headphone advice and these seem to come up the most. I have some questions I wasn't able to get consistent answers on, though.

Which one actually gives the BEST positioning. Ultimately I think this is most important for my headphones since when I'm using them for gaming, it'll mostly be in FPSs. Generally speaking headphones annoy me and sound isn't that important in some RTS (also my g/f can't sneak up on me when I'm using speakers).

Which ones actually REQUIRE (not sound better, require) amps.

What's the cheapest amp that would be appropriately paired w/ the cans. I don't want to go too cheap, thus wasting money on the headphones.

More info on why some people think the 250's are better? Heard a few say they prefer them but no particular reason why.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 21
8/1/06 at 10:03pm
I'm adding the excellent Sennheiser HD555. I own it as my music, movie and gaming headphone. Awesome spatial sound. Only owned it for 6 months, and those HD555 introduced me to audio Nirvana. Are you an audiophile gamer? Get those!

You can get them for around 125$
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post #3 of 21
8/2/06 at 4:36pm
Thread Starter 
bump
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post #4 of 21
8/2/06 at 5:04pm
AT-A500 is what I have seen most recommended for gaming. The A900's are a bit of an overkill for gaming.
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post #5 of 21
8/2/06 at 5:08pm
The cold hard fact of the matter is that you're going to need to hear these headphones. People will go back and fourth tellin you which one is the best, but nobody has your ears. Buying a headphone is easy, but the real hidden costs of discovering the right headphone can add up.
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post #6 of 21
8/2/06 at 5:17pm
The HD595 is a great gaming headphone. Super comfy for those really long gaming sessions, dont require an amp, and are also great for listening to music of all types. They dont have a lot of bass (you can always add more with eq before you're gonna game) but they give guns a nice crack, make explosions sound good still, and have good positioning for listening for footsteps and whatnot.
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post #7 of 21
8/2/06 at 5:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mercuttio
The cold hard fact of the matter is that you're going to need to hear these headphones. People will go back and fourth tellin you which one is the best, but nobody has your ears. Buying a headphone is easy, but the real hidden costs of discovering the right headphone can add up.
He speaks truth. That's what it all boils down to. It took me around 3 months to find the right headphone for my 50/50 gaming music needs.

But as a general rule, if you game more than you listen to your music, closed heaphones are going to be better for 1. Isolation and 2. OMG TEHHHH EXPLOSSIOnSSS1!!!!1!
That's not to say that some of the open ones wouldn't give you bass, the HD650 is known to have lots of bass, but from my reading here, it would seem that you would need ample quality amplification to get that (read: $$$$)

Of the ones I've tried that I found are good for gaming:
DT770 (best for FPS) : probably needs amp for the 'oomph'
HD590 (open) is surprisingly good; bright end, oodles of bass, forward presentation. : doesn't really need an amp IMO, ran mine out of a laptop out
A900LTD is what I use right now, I'd gather the A900 is close as far as gaming goes. : works perfectly fine without an amp

Edit: To answer your q on positioning. I haven't heard the DT250, but of the other two, the DT770-80 had better by far.
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post #8 of 21
8/2/06 at 5:36pm
The HD650 doesn't have a good soundstage for games. Yes, it is more pleasing to listen to than the DT770 or A900, but they seem to position things much more accurately.
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post #9 of 21
8/2/06 at 6:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cousin Patty
The HD595 is a great gaming headphone. Super comfy for those really long gaming sessions, dont require an amp, and are also great for listening to music of all types. They dont have a lot of bass (you can always add more with eq before you're gonna game) but they give guns a nice crack, make explosions sound good still, and have good positioning for listening for footsteps and whatnot.
agreed. I use hd595's for gaming and they are amazing. if you add an amp they get even better.

my setup looks like this:

x-fi xtreme music > cardas 2M HPI > Little Dot Micro + amp > hd595's

the amp really brought out the bass response of the 595's (it make the mids and highs sound better too, but the lows are what really benefited from the amp) for about $60 you can get either the LDM+ or a PA2v2. the LDM+ has a more natural sound, but the PA2v2 is also a great amp and will add a bit more bass than the LDM+ so that might be for you.
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post #10 of 21
8/3/06 at 4:21am
Thread Starter 
Leaning toward the DT770's at this point. Also the price is more agreeable. I'm looking to blow $650 on a widescreen 20" NEC monitor so playing the headphone swap game isn't going to be for me. =p

So now I gather... amp suggested but for sure not required? I will get one eventually, but monitor first.
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post #11 of 21
8/3/06 at 10:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoodRevrnd
Leaning toward the DT770's at this point. Also the price is more agreeable. I'm looking to blow $650 on a widescreen 20" NEC monitor so playing the headphone swap game isn't going to be for me. =p

So now I gather... amp suggested but for sure not required? I will get one eventually, but monitor first.
I think you've got your priorities right for gaming. Amp suggested yes, but not required. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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post #12 of 21
8/5/06 at 2:31am
Thread Starter 
Uh oh...

What's the dif between the 770-80 and the 770-250, and should I be concerned?

edit: i don't even see the "-80"s for sale anywhere...

edit2: these? anyone aware of someplace cheaper?
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post #13 of 21
8/5/06 at 9:02am
yes be concerned...or not
The difference is the resistance (ohm) of the cans, 250 ohm is basically to much for a normal sound card. This does not mean that there won´t come any sound out of the cans, but they won´t sound optimal and you will not be able to play as loud as with the 80 ohm model. So if you don´t have an amp, buy the 80 ohm version.

I also recommend the sennheiser 595 or the philips hp-1000

The hp1000 is soundwize very similar to the 595, but a tad better and cheaper... but not as nice looking, and off course philips is not as well regarded. But take a search on the hp1000 if you need enlightenment
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post #14 of 21
8/5/06 at 10:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by technetium
yes be concerned...or not
The difference is the resistance (ohm) of the cans, 250 ohm is basically to much for a normal sound card. This does not mean that there won´t come any sound out of the cans, but they won´t sound optimal and you will not be able to play as loud as with the 80 ohm model. So if you don´t have an amp, buy the 80 ohm version.

I also recommend the sennheiser 595 or the philips hp-1000

The hp1000 is soundwize very similar to the 595, but a tad better and cheaper... but not as nice looking, and off course philips is not as well regarded. But take a search on the hp1000 if you need enlightenment
The HP1000 is very nice.
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post #15 of 21
8/5/06 at 12:11pm
Not a headphone, but I would go with the Shure E3g.
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