Headphones for gaming please?

Try a Audio Technica ATH-A900.. But if you want to save even more money try a Samson SR850 and save yourself $400 for more games.

Read the first page of this thread:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphones-for-gaming-guide-all-testing-done-with-dolby-headphone

Sennheiser HD-558s, way under your budget.

Hi guys, I've been wondering and researching for ages and it's driving me crazy! For gaming on the PC with a Xonar DG card:

How exactly do the SR850s compare to the HD558s for FPS positional gaming?

And how much better are the A900s?

Also I have Creative Aurvana Live's, are the SR850/HD558/A900 a worthwhile upgrade?

Any info greatly appreciated!

To be precise, what I heard from my fully-burned-in CAL!'s was great sound and good bass (for me), but in games the positional audio wasn't as good as I wanted. I have looked into the AD700s and am very close to buying them simply because they are supposed to have the BEST positioning in FPS games. I don't care about music except in movies/ingame.

Which headphones (preferably under $150 but not that strict) is the best upgrade from CAL!'s in terms of FPS footsteps and gunsounds directional accuracy, while still providing immersion in movies/single player games?

I'm willing to buy two sets of cans if required, one for games one for music, budget is not a problem.

PS: I play competitive MW3 and am looking to start Battlefield.

let me tell you the reasoning why I suggested the Samson SR850.. I play mostly FPS games myself. BF3. Put in well over 2K hours in BC2 and now BF3. You know you need every little sound que to have an advantage for FPS games. My absolute favorite is my Audio Technica A900X.. It don't skip on anything in the games sounds. My close second.. Samson SR850.. Very close second. For gaming. The Samsons are right up there with my A900X.  Because it does positioning perfectly and has a big wide stage much like my A900X. In a blind test you might actually prefer the Samsons. It is that close.

It is a complete sounding can an does detail just awesomely well. So my point is. In stead of spending a whole lot thinking you are gonna get better sounds in game. I say save yourself some money and try a cheaper can first.. I think these might surprise you. If you can get it from a dealer that will let you return them. You should try it. If you don't like them you can return them and try something else. Sure my A900X is better at music but in games.. It will be hard for anyone in a blind test to tell which one is that much better.

AKG q701's offer all the positional audio of the AD700's but are better in every way.  Better driver speed, more bass (ad700's are bass light q701's are perfect IMO), better instrument/sound seperation, and they are by far more detailed.  

They are the AD700's on steroids, and they are in your price range.  My only recommendation would be to have some sort of amp available because they do require some power to sound their best.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsnuts 

let me tell you the reasoning why I suggested the Samson SR850.. I play mostly FPS games myself. BF3. Put in well over 2K hours in BC2 and now BF3. You know you need every little sound que to have an advantage for FPS games. My absolute favorite is my Audio Technica A900X.. It don't skip on anything in the games sounds. My close second.. Samson SR850.. Very close second. For gaming. The Samsons are right up there with my A900X.  Because it does positioning perfectly and has a big wide stage much like my A900X. In a blind test you might actually prefer the Samsons. It is that close.

 

It is a complete sounding can an does detail just awesomely well. So my point is. In stead of spending a whole lot thinking you are gonna get better sounds in game. I say save yourself some money and try a cheaper can first.. I think these might surprise you. If you can get it from a dealer that will let you return them. You should try it. If you don't like them you can return them and try something else. Sure my A900X is better at music but in games.. It will be hard for anyone in a blind test to tell which one is that much better.

How would the Denon D2000 compare to the SR850 and A900x?

I like the Denons for an all rounder. Does music movies and games well enough. But I would actually put the samsons and my A900X over those in detail in games..The Denons are my 2nd fave for music but for games the Samsons have an edge. The directional sound on the samsons are amazing. Tops in any can.

Great, the Samsons it is then!

One more question (sorry :p), how much better are they than the CALs at gaming?

Are they better than the CALs at music/movies?

Cals are decent all rounders,  I would put them in the same boat as the Denons. Like a Denon light. Doesn't do anything better than the D2000s but similar in use. For casual use they are good. But for gaming.. Not better than the Samsons. I would put it like this.  A900X.>Samsons> D2000>Fischer FA-011>Ad700>Cals. For games that is.

Awesome thanks a lot I owe you one :)

Na any time.. One might think you get better gaming performance from higher end cans. That just simply isn't the case..Anyone here can tell me what sounds great for music as that is what headfi is mostly about but I will tell you for gaming the Samsons represent the ideal cans. Semi open, Light, wide sound stage, monitor cans with a complete detailed sound and has bass something the AD700 doesn't. Now if you find the pads a little stiff. I hear you can get some Beyer pads to replace them with and you are golden. It doesn't bother me much as I got used to it.

Or you can even take out the stuffing on the pads and put something softer in them. Many options. Whats is important is. You will be able to hear everything.  I would also suggest, on sound eQ to throw an upside down smile or a frown eQ. More mids and highs. Lower the bass end a bit and you will have the ideal sound for in game. It is the great balance of detail and scary pin point 3D accuracy you need to get a jump on gaming online. I would even say for guys that want to use these for competition I would easily put these Samsons against even a can like a PC360 which cost $240 or so.  There are plenty that does music better but if gaming is what you need a can for.. Try these.