Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by the Q701 for competitive gaming purposes. While the sound was very diffuse, I didn't find the cues themselves to be exceedingly precise or accurate. While it'd give me a good idea of what quadrant noises would be coming from, I wasn't always sure of their precise location. I'd even go as far as to call it misdirection.
 
I think the W3000ANVs are better in this regard, and perhaps even the W1000Xs. The W1000X felt more accurate to me than the Q701s, and had a benefit of subjectively better immersion thanks to its frequency response.

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3x0 said:

Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by the Q701 for competitive gaming purposes. While the sound was very diffuse, I didn't find the cues themselves to be exceedingly precise or accurate. While it'd give me a good idea of what quadrant noises would be coming from, I wasn't always sure of their precise location. I'd even go as far as to call it misdirection.
 
I think the W3000ANVs are better in this regard, and perhaps even the W1000Xs. The W1000X felt more accurate to me than the Q701s, and had a benefit of subjectively better immersion thanks to its frequency response.

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Well, actually, video games are the third thing on my list of importance. I need headphones that are very neutral and good with composition, since I'm a music producer.  Then I, listen to music way more often then I game, so that's really important. I still want headphones for gaming though, and the Q701s fit every need I have.

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daleb said:

Well, actually, video games are the third thing on my list of importance. I need headphones that are very neutral and good with composition, since I'm a music producer.  Then I, listen to music way more often then I game, so that's really important. I still want headphones for gaming though, and the Q701s fit every need I have.

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Oh, I was just making a general comment. The imaging of the Q701 did seem more precise than my A900X (which was also capacious but was prone to more misdirection), but I was expecting greater. I do not think they live up to their reputation as far as "soundwhoring" is concerned.
 
I think the theory that open headphones are generally better for gaming is quite silly and needs further substantiation. A more diffuse soundfield does not necessarily lend itself to more precise placement within that space, and in my opinion there are many closed headphones that beat similarly-priced open headphones in the latter regard. I'd rather have a decent soundstage and great imaging (e.g. W1000X) than a great soundstage and decent imaging (e.g. Q701).

Of course, you could just jump straight the HD800s and get both.
 

Don't know about you, but we all hear differently. From my days on Avsforum, the K70x and Q701 have been a consistent fave for soundwhoring and competitive gaming. There just isn't much better out there, IMHO.

Perhaps closed headphone may make sounds easier for you to pick out, but their lack of soundstage, especially depth, don't do anything for me for the most part.

There are exceptions, but overall, open, large soundstage headphones are the most ideal to me.

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mad lust envy said:

So laptop #3 came in, and finally the HDMI input works.

Of course, nothing is ever easy, and no windows updates will install, nor will switching to dedicated graphics work on the laptop screen. It works if I use the HDMI output to my TV.

I did what any sane person would do and tried reformatting the drive, but it wont let me, saying there are files missing. Of course, I dont have a Windows installation CD, and I have to wait for my boy to bring it tomorrow. HOPEFULLY installing Windows 7 will bring less problems than 8. Even then, it doesn't guarantee that the laptop screen will accept the dedicated graphics card. Sigh...

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Huh...in any case, you got a Windows 8 COA with license key printed somewhere on that laptop, right? In that case, there are legal ways to obtain Windows 8 installation DVD images, and you'll just have to supply that serial yourself.
 
Still, I'd already go with Windows 7 if at all possible, unless some proprietary aspect of that laptop only works right with Win8. (Laptops are finicky as hell due to all the proprietary bits...)
 
I'm still stumped as to why the HDMI input now works, but several other things don't...it shouldn't be this hard for them to make a decent gaming laptop that just happens to have an HDMI input. What the hell, Dell/Alienware?

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3x0 said:

Oh, I was just making a general comment. The imaging of the Q701 did seem more precise than my A900X (which was also capacious but was prone to more misdirection), but I was expecting greater. I do not think they live up to their reputation as far as "soundwhoring" is concerned.
 
I think the theory that open headphones are generally better for gaming is quite silly and needs further substantiation. A more diffuse soundfield does not necessarily lend itself to more precise placement within that space, and in my opinion there are many closed headphones that beat similarly-priced open headphones in the latter regard. I'd rather have a decent soundstage and great imaging (e.g. W1000X) than a great soundstage and decent imaging (e.g. Q701).

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Does "imaging" mean to know exact location of enemy (foot step, noise)?
While "soundstage" means that W1000X sounds like a small room and Q701 sound like a bigger room?
 
I can't find W1000X for sale, wonder if the A1000X is similar headphone?
 
Many ppl are happy with the PC360 it's also almost half the price of Q701, maybe I order both and compare...

They're half the price because sound isn't only about positioning and soundstage. The Q701 is a much better headphone overall. If your main purpose is competitive gaming, then just get the AD700/HD555/PC360 and save money.

Just because those are aimed strictly for competitive doesn't mean they'll be anywhere near as enjoyable as something like the Q701.

You can buy a cheap brand LCD HDTV which shows the same image as a high end Panasonic V series plasma HDTV. Doesn't mean it shows it at the same level of quality.

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grandpatzer said:

Does "imaging" mean to know exact location of enemy (foot step, noise)?
While "soundstage" means that W1000X sounds like a small room and Q701 sound like a bigger room?

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Pretty much. The W1000X soundstage is noticeably somewhat larger than that of other closed headphones (e.g. A900X, DT 770 LE), though.
 
For example, the Q701 gives me an approximation of a sound that is good for a 40-50 degree radius/arc. The W1000X is closer to 30 degrees. The W3000ANV is something like 15. The HD 800s are 0-3. JH13s are 0-5. These are all very rough estimates.
 
Pinpointing the sound is nice, but what was really bothering me about the Q701 is that the fuzzy diffuse radius/arc between where a sound is projected and its actual source in the 3D world is big enough that it might cause occasional misdirection (e.g. the sound is actually in a different quadrant than I would expect). Its clarity and separation help counterbalance this, but it's still the fuzziness of its imaging that made it a bit of a letdown in this regard for me.
 
It could be my Dolby Headphone settings, but I somehow doubt that would allow the Q701 to pull ahead from the woodies instead of just improving all of them.
 
In its defense, the airiness and separation of the Q701 make it easy to pull apart sounds although it's less immersive as well. And it's awesome for music -- highly underrated in this regard.

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3x0 said:

Pretty much. The W1000X soundstage is noticeably somewhat larger than that of other closed headphones (e.g. A900X, DT 770 LE), though.
 
For example, the Q701 gives me an approximation of a sound that is good for a 40-50 degree radius/arc. The W1000X is closer to 30 degrees. The W3000ANV is something like 15. The HD 800s are 0-3. JH13s are 0-5. These are all very rough estimates.
 
Pinpointing the sound is nice, but what was really bothering me about the Q701 is that the fuzzy diffuse radius/arc between where a sound is projected and its actual source in the 3D world is big enough that it might cause occasional misdirection (e.g. the sound is actually in a different quadrant than I would expect). Its clarity and separation help counterbalance this, but it's still the fuzziness of its imaging that made it a bit of a letdown in this regard for me.
 
It could be my Dolby Headphone settings, but I somehow doubt that would allow the Q701 to pull ahead from the woodies instead of just improving all of them.
 
In its defense, the airiness and separation of the Q701 make it easy to pull apart sounds although it's less immersive as well. And it's awesome for music -- highly underrated in this regard.

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Thanks for really good post!
 
So basicaly the HD 800s are best for competitive gaming then?
Atleast when it comes to pinpoint enemy positions.

I agree with 3XO on the open vs closed headphone thing. Open headsets just didn't do it for me. So i stuck with the mmx300 and have fallen in love. Sold my astro a40 the other day, in fact.

You do realize the A40s are closed, right? Removing the speaker tags doesn't magically give them open properties. It slightly ruins the seal, thats it.

roguegeek said:

It's happened again, people. Razordogaudio.com has the K702 65th Anniversary Edition on sale for $349 through the end of May with coupon code RAZORDOG65TH. Go get.

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You heard the man!

Mad Lust, I see you got the new Kingsound stats? How have you been enjoying those?

Lol, they're on pre-order.

I'm currently without a full sized headphone, though I current have the latest Mad Dogs on loan (amazing closed cans), and the Skullcandy PLYR1.