I recently posted a thread asking about what kind of headphones best fits me, but i have done more research and rather than reposting my new thoughts on that thread, i thought i'd start fresh and list my newer thoughts in a newer thread.
 
 
I am currently looking for a pair of headphones that i can listen to my music with, and if possible use for gaming too. I do own a surround sound amplifier that i can possibly use with the headphones to make it more ideal for me when gaming. My main concern is the music quality, i am not in any way looking for headphones that give balance to both, because from what i've learned almost all headsets geared towards gaming sacrafices music quality. My main objective is to buy headphones for music, because i do have a pair of gaming headphones i would like to buy if necessary. 
 
My budget is about $300. This preferably includes an amplifier and the headphones. The current amp i have is pretty much geared towards gaming, so it would not be my first choice using it for music, although the music quality it provides isn't to terrible. I like listening to rock, like hearing the riffs and drums ect... i also like listening to dubstep and hip hop, but i listen to a lot more rock. Since i am using this mostly for desktop use, i realize it would be cheaper to get a soundcard with an amp rather than getting an actual amp. 
 
 
What would be my best option here? I am looking for the best quality i can buy with about $300.

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starburst1 said:

I recently posted a thread asking about what kind of headphones best fits me, but i have done more research and rather than reposting my new thoughts on that thread, i thought I'd start fresh and list my newer thoughts in a newer thread.
I am currently looking for a pair of headphones that i can listen to my music with, and if possible use for gaming too. I do own a surround sound amplifier that i can possibly use with the headphones to make it more ideal for me when gaming. My main concern is the music quality, i am not in any way looking for headphones that give balance to both, because from what I've learned almost all headsets geared towards gaming sacrafices music quality. My main objective is to buy headphones for music, because i do have a pair of gaming headphones i would like to buy if necessary. 
My budget is about $300. This preferably includes an amplifier and the headphones. The current amp i have is pretty much geared towards gaming, so it would not be my first choice using it for music, although the music quality it provides isn't to terrible. I like listening to rock, like hearing the riffs and drums etc... i also like listening to dubstep and hip hop, but i listen to a lot more rock. Since i am using this mostly for desktop use, i realize it would be cheaper to get a sound card with an amp rather than getting an actual amp. 
What would be my best option here? I am looking for the best quality i can buy with about $300.

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Windows PC gaming?
What surround sound amplifier do you currently have?
What DAC are you using (if you know)?

Yes windows pc gaming, i have the turtle beach earforce dss2 dolby digital. I don't know about the DAC, what would the DAC be? Would it be the type of connection i am using? Or would it be something in the device converting the signals?

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starburst1 said:

Yes windows PC gaming, I have the Turtle Beach Earforce DSS2 Dolby Digital. I don't know about the DAC, what would the DAC be? Would it be the type of connection i am using? Or would it be something in the device converting the signals?

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DAC - Digital to Analog Converter,
Amplification (increases analog wave signal) is separate feature that come into use after the DAC.
 
Your PC motherboard comes with a very low cost DAC chip, which is for analog out on the computer.
 
I'm assuming you've connect USB for power for the TBS DSS2
And also assuming your connecting the motherboard to the TBS DSS2 with an optical cable, which bypasses your motherboards DAC
and the DAC inside the TBS DSS2 is being used.
 
Which means your motherboard comes with DDL (Dolby Digital Live), which is enabled?
 
You might consider getting a Fiio E10, USB-DAC-Headphone amplifier ($70) for use with music, it comes with a DAC (WM8740) that is better then the DSS2 and way better then your motherboard's DAC.
 
Headphone wise, the AKG K550 ($280) or the Audio Technica ATH-A900X ($225), should work for both gaming and music.

Well, i've been doing a lot of research, and i've come across the sennheiser hd 598's. I've read that it has a good music balance, and it is also optimal for gaming. I was looking at some soundcards, and i am currenly trying to find a good one. I am on the asus xonar dx 7.1 right now. I have a feeling the combination of the two is pretty good. what do you guys think?

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starburst1 said:

Well, i've been doing a lot of research, and I've come across the Sennheiser hd 598's. I've read that it has a good music balance, and it is also optimal for gaming. I was looking at some sound cards, and i am currently trying to find a good one. I am on the Asus Xonar DX 7.1 right now. I have a feeling the combination of the two is pretty good. what do you guys think?

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Xonar DX, nice, then all you need is a headphone amplifier for the Xonar DX and you can sell off your TBS DSS2.
 
A Fiio E9 headphone amplifier, $100.
 
Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250-Ohm, $173.
Sennheiser HD598, $234.

oh i thought it did have one since the xonar dg's have one, but wow... ok then i guess i could do that, how about the e11? since they are cheaper. would it really make a big difference?

AD700s, lacks bass, but has the greatest soundstage ever. Dont know a better headset for fps gaming. 
 
just my 2c

Quote:

starburst1 said:

Oh I thought it did have one since the Xonar DG's have one, but wow... ok then i guess i could do that, how about the e11? since they are cheaper. would it really make a big difference?

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The Xonar DX has a line-out that pretends to be a headphone jack, with poor voltage.
The Fiio E11 is a portable headphone amplifier that would be great for plugging into the Xonar DX.
Because the Fiio E11 has a low impedance, it can work with headphones from 16-Ohms to 250-Ohms.
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Accessory/dp/B004QVPGXK/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&m=AFKH6OU9WWNFS&qid=1344804195&s=generic&sr=1-11