[dakanao]

I can only speak for the Q701 and Annies, since I owned a very old K701 that sounded a bit different from the Q701, and has gone through an extra bump, pad, and sonic changes, and I haven't heard a standard K702.



As for K612 and X1, i haven't heard the K612, but I'm betting it's a bit more polite, and less bassy than the X1. Going by graphs, both have a very clean/balanced mid to treble range, with the X1 having a peak at 10khz that isn't offensive at all to my ears, certainly no DT990 type peak. The X1 will be easy to drive, and i hear the K612 demands some decent amping. Willing to be the K612 is incredibly comfortable, if going by how the Annie with Q701 pads feels. The X1 is excellent in comfort.


Nokami, AD700x if you really need footstep whoring.

I want to get the best out of the X1 with my laptop, AND TB DSS. So what amp/DAC do you recommend for the X1 for cleaner bass?

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

An amp isn't gonna magically change the X1's bass. A clean SS would make it as tight as it can be. The Fiio E12 actually reigns in bass just a tad, and I felt the X1 sounded the most balanced out of it. As for DAC, I doubt you can go wrong with the ODAC or Modi. Loved both, both sounded great. I liked the X1 just out of the e17 amp/dac well enough.

 

[dakanao]

An amp isn't gonna magically change the X1's bass. A clean SS would make it as tight as it can be. The Fiio E12 actually reigns in bass just a tad, and I felt the X1 sounded the most balanced out of it. As for DAC, I doubt you can go wrong with the ODAC or Modi. Loved both, both sounded great. I liked the X1 just out of the e17 amp/dac well enough.

So for a guy like me who loves clean, thumping bass with great sound quality, the FiiO E17 is the best option for the X1 for me?

 

[chicolom]

E17 would probably be fine. 
 
In my experience, portable amps seem to have trouble matching the soundstage and dynamics of desktop amps.  Even with easy to drive headphones like the X1 this has been the case.  Not to dissuade you or anything.  You can always use the E17 now and add a desktop amp later if you want.  The E17 is pretty versatile, and I like that it has an optical input. 
 
 
FYI if you set the DSS bass boost wheel to the minimum setting it actually acts like a bass REDUCER, and you get less bass than with the stock signal.  So this might be good for the X1, if it ends up having a little too much bass in a game.

 

[TooManyHobbies]

I'd love to see/hear your take on the Samson SR850.   I've been using it for gaming and it's quite good at what it does especially for being a $50 headphone. (we'll see how it compares to the X1's i just ordered).  Nice soundstage, clean highs and good sub bass. 
 
 
Also, this thread is freakin awesome. Thanks Mad Lust for all the info here. I've been using it as a reference for a while now. 

 

[Evshrug]

If you're gaming with a TB DSS though, the dss IS the DAC. You can plug an amp into the DSS headphone jack though.

Chico,
I never realized that about the DSS bass boost, I'll have to play with that tonight!

 

[MrBounce]

Thank you for all the great info in this thread!
Very useful on my quest to get something decent without breaking the bank for my console gameplay.

 

[tivac]

I've got a 30% discount on anything from SteelSeries, and just saw http://steelseries.com/us/products/audio/steelseries-h-wireless
 
Hard to find any decent reviews online, anybody here have strong opinions? I have a weakness for wireless headsets!

 

[AxelCloris]

Put up a little review of the iCan amp. I wrote a bit about gaming with the amp, so if you're interested you can find it here.
 
Thanks so much Chico for letting me borrow it for the holidays. I'll have her back to you post haste.

 

[Change is Good]

  Put up a little review of the iCan amp. I wrote a bit about gaming with the amp, so if you're interested you can find it here.
 
Thanks so much Chico for letting me borrow it for the holidays. I'll have her back to you post haste.

 
Nice review. Great piece of equipment, if you ask me, and I sometimes miss the one I had, dearly...

 

[CGBSpencer]

About the DSS the "Bass Boot" it does make a bit of difference in games and movies, I dont have that many headphones but the one that I had used, once u get all the bass dia up there is bass.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

What do you guys think of this under a Thanks section on the guide? I feel like I'm missing a bit. Let me know.


Gaming Guide Contributors/Regulars

AxelCloris
chicolom
Change is Good - Shure SRH1840, Schiit Asgard 2 (for review of Alpha Dog and 1840)
Evshrug
NamelessPFG - Victor SU-DH1, Creative Recon 3D USB
PurpleAngel

Contributors

calpis - Ultrasone Pro 2900
HeadAmp - Audeze LCD2, Stax SR407
jazzerdave Koss ESP-950
MattTCG Mad Dog
mrspeakers - Mad Dog, Alpha Dog
ruuku - Guide help
tdockweiler - Q701 (for comparison to K702 Anniversary)

Companies (headphones sent in for review)

Astrogaming - A40, A50
Headamp - LCD2 - SR407
MrSpeakers - Mad Dog, Alpha Dog
Nuforce - HP800
Skullcandy - Slyr, PLYR1

 

[Change is Good]

Looks good to me. I like how you even included the companies, as well.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I'm undoubtedly missing some people, but I have a horrible memory, as soon as they post, I'll remember. XD

Ah, I'll have to add MrSpeaker on the company section as well. Headamp too.

 

[Change is Good]

You might want to check the replies section and see who's posted the most for you to remember anyone you might have forgotten.