Need a new Headphone/SoundCard combo (some options inside).

Hey,

Priority is to improve my gameplay in multiplayer FPS, meaning I want to hear very clear footsteps, how close or far are from me, etc. However I have been told that AD700 is king for that BUT it's bas anemic, which I'm not sure if I should get this for FPS only and whenever I watch a movie or hear music switch to Creative HS-1000 USB Fatal1ty headset,  or get an all around headphone...anyway, here are my options:

Money limit: $200

1) Refurb Audio Technica AD700 ($69) +  Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium HD ($125): $194

2) Ultrasone PRO 550 ($140) + Refurb X-FI Titanium sound card ($49): $189

3) Superlux HD668B ($49) + Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium HD ($125): $174

4) Superlux HD681 ($35) +  Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium HD ($125): $160

5) Your advice.

Right now I'm using the Creative HS-1000 USB Fatal1ty headset and well... for being USB it sounds great...movies, music, games everything feels great BUT I really want something to improve multiplayer in FPS games. 

The Refurb items are being sold by creative itself and an EBAY seller(with own site) has 99.7% positive feedback and over 60k items sold.

note about Titanium HD taken from other site: "The Titanium HD has begun to have a reputation of being unrecognized by computers. This renders the card useless and effectively dead. Time is usually a year after initial usage."

cheers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

Samson SR850 (make by Superlux) $50, Velvet ear pads $15, Titanium HD, Total $190.

Thanks for the input.

I searched for those and came up with this:

- Superlux 668b are "identical" to Samson SR850 in terms of sound, as in, doing a blind test, it's hard to know which one is which. 

- Superlux 668b has 56ohms, while Samson SR850 has 32 ohms.

- Either sound better than the HD555, which is for $220...is this even true, being the sam/sup so cheap?

cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

SuperLux HD668B 56-Ohm, detachable cable

Samson SR850 32-Ohm fixed cable

I just like the SR850 a little better, but really can not give a justifiable reason.

 

I believe the value of used Sennheiser HD555 is somewhere about $65.

Sennheiser stopped making the HD555s I think over a year ago, some new ones might still be floating around waiting to be purchased.

New Senn HD 555 are worth maybe $100?

I was checking more differences between those 2 and  like you people like SR850 a little better with a replacement pad as a must, stock ones get hot pretty quick. What's the size of the pads?

What's the advantage of having more ohms in a headphone?

I was thinking and what do you think about this...put in extra $20-40, buy a higher grade headphone like:

1.- AKG Q701 ($240)

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-Signature-Reference-Class-Premium-Headphones/dp/B004444O3W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341889195&sr=8-4&keywords=AKG+K+701

2.- Ultrasone Pro 750 ($230)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRASONE-PRO-750-PRO750-PROFESSIONAL-STUDIO-HEADPHONES-/271011250283?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item3f1987806b

3.- Beyer DT990 PREMIUM ($225)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Premium-32-ohm-Headphones-DT990-PROAUDIOSTAR-/110908499840?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item19d2a96780#ht_5398wt_1396

All of this range between $225 and $240

and use it with my Sound Blaster Audigy SE (I know crappy sound card YET better than onboard and has CMSS3D) and then in december buy the Titanium HD when I get more money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundfreak33 

I had the AKG Q701 and i thought they were good on music and movies, didnt try gaming, but you need a soundcard upgrade for sure.

Yeah, that's for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

I'm sure the exact size of the pad, AKG K240/241/271 Velour ear pads and Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Headset Cushions and Beyerdynamic 990V ear pads seem to fit on to the SR850/HD668B headphones.

As your using an old sound card, I would not buy any new headphones for it, myself.

The Q701 would be underpowered, Beyer DT990 Premium 32-Ohm are more power hungary then you think.

Ultra Pro 750 are low Ohm, so might work decently, but I know zero about them.

 

My two cents, get a used X-Fi Titanium (non-HD) and the SR850 for now (maybe the S.B. W.O.W. cushions for the SR850).

If prices are going to drop on the nicer ($$$) headphones, it will be during Sept. Oct. Nov.

Also a few new sound cards might pop up by then.

Well, that's a good idea BUT after I go to USA in december, I won't be going there until next december...so that's why I thought of getting akg q701 and in december buy a proper sound card for it. Sorry for not saying this before. 

I still think that the akg q701 with the old sound card will sound better than my usb creative hs-1000 headset. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by olegausany 

Just be aware that DT990 have very bright sometimes harsh high also i'm not sure if Titanium HD headphones amp has enough power to drive Q701 properly

Thx for the advice.

I see your point, like the sound card will amp it so bad, that even my current headset will sound better.

So maybe I buy the SR850 like you said, and buy the Titanium HD sound card for the time being... then when the prices go down I buy the AKG Q701.

The TitaniUM HD specs and quotes I found: 

"The Titanium HD should be good for headphones up to 300ohms"

"It does have RCA outputs for line-level driving. It has a dedicated jack for headphones"

"There's no dedicated amp in it, but it will definately drive up to 330ohms well"

According to this image:  I will need a headphone amp between the sound card and the headphones?

Taken from "zoidbergslo"

Also what about creatives external X-FI HD amp?

Audiophile-grade components deliver unsurpassed USB audio quality with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 114d

High quality headphone amp supports studio-quality headphones (e.g. <=330Ohms).

Gold-plated connectivity for maximum signal quality, easily accessible front-mounted headphone and microphone jacks with convenient volume control.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundfreak33 

I own the X-FI Titanium HD, its a pretty darn good sounding soundcard, you can pick one up on ebay for $85 like i did.  I had the Q701s and there power hungry, infact the X-FI barely drove them, i was looking for a amp on top of my Xfi.

Nice, used for $85 right? Since new ones go for $125. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

From what I've heard (Rumor?), AKG might stop making the Q701 (have no idea why), so the price might go up if new ones get rare.

The Titanium HD is rated up to 330-ohm, but I see it as a decent card for driving headphone, but not as good a true headphone amplifier.

External X-Fi anything is not going be great for driving headphones like the Q701 (my opinion).

But the Titanium HD with the SR850 should get you by, for now, I guess you would then have time to look over all opinions.

Ok

I was thinking about the Q701 because they are the next step from AD700 in terms of sound stage, to hear footsteps and everything involving multiplayer fps, however, they are all good rounders too. 

If I didn't do gaming, then indeed I will be choosing a true headphone amplifier...however I really need that CMSS3D from creative.

Ok, disregard exteran xfi.

Yeah Samson SR850 and Titanium HD for now...

So  during the time being, any recommendation for an amp to be connected between the soundcard and the headphone?