Headphones for Gaming under $40
Dec 17, 2002 at 12:23 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 22
Whiplash

Whiplash

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I've been looking around for a while for a good pair of headphones for <$40 and found this site. I just want to know what you guys think are the best in that range. I've seen many people raving about the Koss KSC35, but was wondering if there is something in this price range better than that if portability isn't a factor.

I have the Sony MDR-Q33LP(don't use them with my computer though) and I've noticed after several hours they fatigue my ears. I don't want the same problem. I have been looking mostly at headphones similiar to say the Koss UR20.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 12:40 AM Post #3 of 22
<$40?
Not really. KSC35 or portapros. Portability is not what you are paying for in those headphones. It's just a bonus.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 2:45 AM Post #5 of 22
Sorry, the ksc-35s have the 50s and 55s beat.
frown.gif
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 2:57 AM Post #6 of 22
I'm quite comfortable wearing my portapros 4-7+ hours at a stretch. I couldn't say for the ksc35's though.

Edit
Wait, that sounds almost bad.
I mean that I can't speak for the ksc35.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 2:57 AM Post #7 of 22
Quote:

Originally posted by ooheadsoo
I'm quite comfortable wearing my portapros 4-7+ hours at a stretch. I couldn't say for the ksc35's though.


Believe me, the ksc-35s are even more effortless. You really don't feel them after a while, they are that light.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 3:21 AM Post #8 of 22
Quote:

Originally posted by Whiplash
There's nothing that sounds better than the KSC35 for my use under $40 bucks?



Nope. Only the PortaPros (regularly $50, on sale from Koss for $25 right now) come close.

Quote:

How about the the KSC50s or 55s?


KSC-50 are great but not *quite* as good as the KSC-35 in terms of sound, and not as comfortable or stable. The KSC-55 are like sticking your head in a vise unless you have a tiny head
wink.gif


Quote:

And how is ear fatigue with the KSC35s?


No such thing
wink.gif
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 4:44 AM Post #10 of 22
Grados wouldn't be good for gaming due to poor stereo imaging. Although the KSC-35s sound good for music, they suck for sound positioning 3D games because they can only position sound on an X-axis (left and right only).

I suggest you look for closed headphones in your price range. I've tried my friend's old Koss UR-20's, and even though I find them to not be good for music, I think those would do fine for gaming.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 4:56 AM Post #11 of 22
Again, I can't speak for the ksc35, but I must say that the portapros do a decent job in 3d positioning. For me, at least.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 7:00 AM Post #12 of 22
Quote:

Originally posted by GTecX
Grados wouldn't be good for gaming due to poor stereo imaging. Although the KSC-35s sound good for music, they suck for sound positioning 3D games because they can only position sound on an X-axis (left and right only).

I suggest you look for closed headphones in your price range.


Not sure I understand this. Closed headphones are no better, and generally worse, at front-to-back imaging. The only advantage closed headphones have is that they tend to block out much of the noise (fan, drives, etc.) from computers.

The KSC-35 have much better imaging than the MDR-V6/7506, for example.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 9:06 AM Post #13 of 22
Quote:

Originally posted by MacDEF
Not sure I understand this. Closed headphones are no better, and generally worse, at front-to-back imaging. The only advantage closed headphones have is that they tend to block out much of the noise (fan, drives, etc.) from computers.

The KSC-35 have much better imaging than the MDR-V6/7506, for example.


That's probably true for music, but in a fps game, sound positioning is much more accurate with UR20's than KSC-35's.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 9:48 AM Post #14 of 22
Quote:

Originally posted by GTecX
That's probably true for music, but in a fps game, sound positioning is much more accurate with UR20's than KSC-35's.


With all due respect, we'll have to disagree on this. I've played a number of FPS games using the KSC-35 and the V6/7506 (which have much better soundstage and positioning than the UR20), and the KSC-35 is better for directional cues in my experience.
 
Dec 17, 2002 at 5:39 PM Post #15 of 22
Please understand that positioning on the head and personal differences can affect the directional cues (HRTF calculated with soundcards) and their believability a lot.

I suggest the original poster try out two options, if at all possible.

If you will hear a difference esp. with front-to-back imaging and things are otherwise equal, go with the one that you like.

We cannot know your ears nor become them, your hearing matters to you.

regards,
Halcyon

PS I might add that phones that do not come around your ears (supra-aural) are in general worse with HRTF positional cues due to positional differences when worn.
 
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