Hi guys, I want headphones purely for gaming and I can spend up to $100. My problem is that my soundcard is onboard and I don't have enough money to get both a soundcard and a headset. I read that the ATH-AD700 are pretty good, but does that hold true even when the soundcard is onboard? What would be my best option? (Maybe USB headphones?)
Be a part of the community.
It's free, join today!
Tags
Related Forum Threads
- Narrowing down my choices! Last post on 8/18/11 at 6:41am in Headphones (full-size)
- Good soundstage and good bass, plus comfort, without spending a fortune? Last post on 1/11/11 at 10:07am in Headphones (full-size)
- Headphones for classical music and video games? Last post on 8/30/10 at 10:11pm in Headphones (full-size)
- JVC HA-RX700 or RX900 for Metal Last post on 8/10/10 at 1:01pm in Headphones (full-size)
- New headphone suggestions. Last post on 8/26/10 at 9:24pm in Headphones (full-size)
Related Articles
-
Comparing headphones: Sennheiser's HD 800, HD 600, HD 25-1...
Edited on 5/27/12 | Contribute to this Article
-
Grado Modification Overview
Edited on 9/27/11 | Contribute to this Article
-
Headphone Impedance
Edited on 12/9/11 | Contribute to this Article
-
Buying Guide Headphones By Price Range
Edited on 3/24/12 | Contribute to this Article
-
A Hopefully Helpful Headphone Buying Guide For Newbies By Boomana
Edited on 5/7/10 | Contribute to this Article
Related Head Gear
Recent Reviews
-
Sennheiser HD-598s are the most comfortable headphones I've had the opportunity to use. I recommend these wholeheartedly for any first-time hi-fi buyer because of their excellent soundstage and...
-
I just received my SigPros (bought from a fellow head-fi'er), and now have several hours with them. They are great headphones. Agree with most of what everyone's saying about them. These...
-
Beats out the Bose Triport, the HD 202 and HD 435s, the AT M35 and AT M50. Just try it and see. Extremely comfortable (I wear mine while commuting and studying, for about 5+ hours a day). Bought...
-
I never thought it was possible for such rich sound from a headphone. Simply amazing headphones.
-
When I first put them on on I though that the highs will blow my head off. My ears got tired after 10 - 15 minutes. I though I would throw them out of the window. But having read some good...
Head-Fi Sponsors
gaming headphones up to $100?
Gear mentioned in this thread:
- Meyvn
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,992 Posts. Joined 3/2006
- Location: Atlanta(ish), GA
- Select All Posts By This User

Hi guys, I want headphones purely for gaming and I can spend up to $100. My problem is that my soundcard is onboard and I don't have enough money to get both a soundcard and a headset. I read that the ATH-AD700 are pretty good, but does that hold true even when the soundcard is onboard? What would be my best option? (Maybe USB headphones?)
Kind of tough without knowing who makes your soundcard, and what headphones you normally like. There is no "best" in something this subjective, anymore than there's a "best" in sub-$100 wine, or cognac, or clothes, or restaurants.
I will say, in my personal experience, barring extreme circumstances, the vast majority of your money ought to be spend on the 'phones themselves, THEN the amp, then the source last. As long as your onboard soundcard gets the job done in terms of volume without audible distortion, I doubt your money would be better spent dividing it between a soundcard and a separate pair of 'phones (unless the headphones you like best just happen to be very inexpensive).
Anyway, care to give us an idea of headphones you like and don't like? That would probably be helpful in aiding you to make a decision.
Edited by Meyvn - 8/27/10 at 6:41pm
You should be fine with either the ATH AD700's, or ATH M50's. Both are easy to drive, and while you may not have the best of the best sound quality, you should be fine with an onboard soundcard. I know I'm content with mine, which is ~4 years old already.
Would there be a noticeable difference if you had a soundcard? Yes. But that doesn't mean your whole gaming experience is going to suck without one.
- Trysaeder
- Trader Feedback: +12
-
- offline
- 1,137 Posts. Joined 12/2009
- Location: MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
- Select All Posts By This User
It doesn't matter whether your soundcard is onboard or not; the AD700 will beat anything for gaming at this price point and far above it.
Once again it all comes down to what he personally enjoys, great soundstage isn't everything. I mean you should enjoy the sound coming out of the cans as well.
What if he want's a little more bass?
RX700/900
Those would be better choices, what's better for you isn't always better for us.
Edited by SoSpecial - 8/27/10 at 7:28pm
Audio Technica AD700
JVC RX700
JVC RX900
Sony MDR-V6
any of these should suffice
- Trysaeder
- Trader Feedback: +12
-
- offline
- 1,137 Posts. Joined 12/2009
- Location: MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
- Select All Posts By This User
AD "Wallhacks" 700 at your service. Not much bass though. Just kick all the noobtubers and you won't notice the difference.
- stang
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 2,870 Posts. Joined 6/2009
- Location: Melbourne, Australia.
- Select All Posts By This User
ATH-AD700 to the rescue. Best headphones for gaming I have tried to date. Much better than the DT880 imo. Dt880 may sound a bit more fun, but I don't game to have fun. I game because I am either bored or want to own noobs
Can't have fun in multiplayer fps games now anyway. Full of 8 year olds who think swearing their heads off is cool, as well as hacking and noob tubing.
how about the RX900? they're cheaper so I'm considering them also,
how is their sound quality comparing to the AD700's?

ATH-AD700 to the rescue. Best headphones for gaming I have tried to date. Much better than the DT880 imo. Dt880 may sound a bit more fun, but I don't game to have fun. I game because I am either bored or want to own noobs
Can't have fun in multiplayer fps games now anyway. Full of 8 year olds who think swearing their heads off is cool, as well as hacking and noob tubing.
Your doing it wrong, or at least that's how I'd feel. 
- stang
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 2,870 Posts. Joined 6/2009
- Location: Melbourne, Australia.
- Select All Posts By This User
Lol well it is multiplayer FPS. Very competitive in my eyes. I used to game to have fun, but that stopped when I was about 13 and begun playing online FPS games and realised you gotta try and all the abuse thrown around when you lose is not fun at all, so I became very competitive. I don't seem to find anything fun now lol. Just my age I suppose. Being 16 and all.
I haven't taken game serious for years, I'm 21 and I know it's just a game. No I don't like to lose but I don't stress over it either.
- gaming headphones up to $100?
Recent Discussions
- › Building a pimeta with a BUF634 pseudo-ground? 10 seconds ago
- › IEM choices for metal drummers (Price Range - 200 to 500$) 25 seconds ago
- › The Deals Thread 59 seconds ago
- › 「Official」Asian Anime, Manga, and Music Lounge 1 minute ago
- › Alternative to beats by dre 1 minute ago
- › selling dumps 1 minute ago
- › Ultra portable setup with full size Headphones.....? 2 minutes ago
- › selling dumps 3 minutes ago
- › Where to buy IEM cleaning tool? 3 minutes ago
- › Why so much hate on ibuds? 3 minutes ago
Recent Reviews
- › Sennheiser HD-598 by TK277
- › Ultrasone Signature Pro Headphones by baglunch
- › JVC HA-S600 by pootispow
- › Audez'e LCD-2 Planar Magnetic Headphones by Squuiid
- › Superlux HD-668 B by BlackTea
- › Cowon C2-16BS 16 GB Video Player, Black with Silver by burninmind
- › BRAINWAVZ HM5 Studio Monitor Headphones by Night Crawler
- › Shure SE535LTD RED by sue4
- › Aurisonics AS-1b by Kunlun
- › HiFiMAN HE-400 by project86
New Articles
- › iBasso DX100 FAQ by DoctorHeadz
- › DIY Cable Info and Resources by Pingupenguins
- › Asr Head-Fi Threads Compendium by Asr
- › Headphone Buying Guide by keanex
- › Fostex T50RP modification summary LINKS - wiki by jgray91
- › Comparisons of the LCD-3 and the LCD-2 Rev. 2 by MacedonianHero
- › Posting Guidelines by Currawong
- › Comparisons of LCD-2 Rev. 1 and Rev. 2 by MacedonianHero
- › Membership Levels, Badges and Custom Titles by Currawong
- › Sennheiser Hd4 8 Modding For Newbies by koolkat
About Head-Fi.org | Join the Community | Advertise
© 2012 Head-Fi.org is powered by Huddler Tech | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map

















