Mochan
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
- Posts
- 2,005
- Likes
- 47
- When it comes to gaming headphones, there's basically two schools of though: bass or no bass. Those who prefer no bass for their gaming cans prioritize imaging and spatial capability and claim that excess bass makes it harder to pinpoint sounds like footsteps. I never had this problem to be honest, I guess I'm too much of abasshead, my brain is used to picking out sounds through a thick blanket of bass.
- Give me bass anyday. I need it for those wonderful explosions and chest-rattling impacts. Thin headphones like the AD700 cannot give this kind of visceral impact.
Thus, my favorite cans for gaming are:
K701 - for no bass
XB700 - for bass
Also, I generally believe that closed cans are better for gaming except as the need arises. Closed cans isolate you from noisy environments (like LAN parties) and I find they generally have an advantage in 3D imaging compared to open cans when it comes to gaming. Just my observations, though the K701 seems to be an exception.
But I will discuss the following on your poll that I've heard briefly:
Beyerdynamic DT990 - yeah wanna hear this for gaming
Beyerdynamic DT880 - wouldlike to hear this, probalby a more K701-like DT770
Beyerdynamic DT770 - the Pro version is very bassy and I hear is really good for gaming. I have the premium version which is not as bassy but is an excellent gaming can due to its excellent pinpointing capabilities and wide soundstage. And it's closed, making it easy to use in noisy LAN environments.
Sennheiser HD650 - I thought it would be great due to nice bass but imaging was pretty bad on these
Sennheiser HD595 - another can that images not so well, but actually better than HD650, but overall sound was not to my liking for gaming, not enough body
Sennheiser HD555 - same as HD595
Ultrasone 2500 Pro - not heard
Ultrasone HFI-750 - not heard for gaming but I would venture to guess it would sound too unnatural and trebly and metallic.
Audio Technica ATH-AD900 - not heard, only A900 (which was not good)
Audio-Technica ATH-A500 - not heard
Audio Technica Headphones ATH-AD700 - nice soundstage and precision imaging but inferior to the K701 in all aspects
Audio Technica ATH-M50 - too small soundstage for realistic gaming, great tone and bass for that feel. But too claustrophobic with its teensy soundstage.
K701 I found is the best open can for gaming. Little bass, great imaging and precision, huge soundstage. Very useful for playing co-op like Left 4 Dead in LAN environments where you want to be able to shout at your teammate for help and hear their calls for aid in return.
XB700 is my favored gaming headphone. Comfy, closed, isolating, bassy, huge soundstage, unexpectedly good imaging. Not as resolving as a K701 or even just an AD700 but for gaming you don't need resolution, you just need to be able to hear and pinpoint the sounds, people seem to have this weird notion that the XB700 has no mids and treble, nothing could be further from the truth. Wiht its clear imaging and its very beautiful, luscious bass, I find it's nigh perfect. I find it's basically what the HD650 would be if it were designed for gaming.
You'll also note that I generally find Sennheisers to be bad for gaming, while Beyers seem to be great for gaming. Audio Technica is mediocre with the exception of the AD700 which is the only good gaming can I've heard from the AT stable (have not heard the most high end cans). Sony is also the darkhorse for gaming, I swear the XB700 is awesome and it seems the F1 is also a great option (have not heard). I imagine their other monitors might also be great.
AKG is another brand that seems to do well with gaming.
And finally I would like to check out the Beyer DT150 or the DT48 for gaming. I have heard a DT150 but not tried it for gaming. I suspect it is even better than the DT770 for gaming.
Beyerdynamic DT990
Beyerdynamic DT880
Beyerdynamic DT770
Sennheiser HD650
Sennheiser HD595
Sennheiser HD555
Ultrasone 2500 Pro
Ultrasone HFI-750
Audio Technica ATH-AD900
Audio-Technica ATH-A500
Audio Technica Headphones ATH-AD700
Audio Technica ATH-M50