[Amodymous]

Hello:
 
I am currently looking for an upgrade for my trusty, yet aging HD558's. I do like the sound of these cans, the neutral, yet immersive and realistic sound they offer. However, I am also looking for comfort for prolonged sessions in gaming and music, good build quality and versatility in my next pair of cans. I will be using these for gaming and listening to music (all genres/varies) and want a headphone that performs solidly in gaming and in all areas of music (EDM, jazz, rock, classical, etc.) The types of games I play the most are open-world sandbox games such as Gmod, Minecraft, No Man's Sky, etc. but I also do play a fair amount of CS, TF2, COD, and Battlefield. Any recommendations will be appreciated! Also, thoughts on the Ossic X? Should I preorder them and what do you think they would turn out to be?
 
Also, I know this isn't in my budget but what the Audioquest Nighthawk? How would they perform in gaming and such?
 
Thanks,
 
A.

 

[Amodymous]

Also, looking for reliability and good soundstage for music and games of all genres.

 

[buke9]

Hello:

I am currently looking for an upgrade for my trusty, yet aging HD558's. I do like the sound of these cans, the neutral, yet immersive and realistic sound they offer. However, I am also looking for comfort for prolonged sessions in gaming and music, good build quality and versatility in my next pair of cans. I will be using these for gaming and listening to music (all genres/varies) and want a headphone that performs solidly in gaming and in all areas of music (EDM, jazz, rock, classical, etc.) The types of games I play the most are open-world sandbox games such as Gmod, Minecraft, No Man's Sky, etc. but I also do play a fair amount of CS, TF2, COD, and Battlefield. Any recommendations will be appreciated! Also, thoughts on the Ossic X? Should I preorder them and what do you think they would turn out to be?

Also, I know this isn't in my budget but what the Audioquest Nighthawk? How would they perform in gaming and such?

Thanks,

A.

I would look into HE-400S's a very good open backed headphone that is very easy to drive . I didn't like the Nighthawk's I found them too dark for me. They are a fine headphone but not the sound signature I like. The Ossic X the head tracking was a neat effect but it seemed to space stuff very far apart for music but for gamming that might work out well I only heard them with music so can't say for sure.

 

[bharris]

If you are open to spending some of your budget on an amp you could go with the AKG K7XX for $200 and then spend $100 on an affordable amp, like a Fiio e12. I'm not a gamer but the K7XX are meant to be great for gaming and are a generally all-around good headphone.  

 

[tz0531]

You should add the Philips Fidelio X2 to your short list; some people like them for gaming a lot. Another option if you want to stick with Sennheiser is the HD600, but obviously they'll need a good amp to sound their best.

 

[Amodymous]

I already have an amp (forgot to mention that) Fiio E10K which makes driving not a problem.

 

[Amodymous]

Honestly I should stick with Sennheiser but then how would the HD598 or HD600 compare to the DT990 250 ohms (Premium)? Once a lot of people try the Ossic's and they aren't bad, then maybe I would consider them but for the time being.

 

[bharris]

I don't have anything against the 598 and I think you can get a great price on them these days but if soundstage is something you're looking for you will be disappointed. Again, HD600's are great for music (and in a different league from the 598) but still don't offer a jump in soundstage.
 
I'm not familiar with the Ossics and even though I'm personally not much of a Beyer fan I can imagine that they would do well for gaming. For me personally, they would not be the all-arounder that you'd get with a Philips X2,  K7xx or a HE-400s.
 
If you've never heard any of these or any other headphones from these brands then you may just have to jump and buy one. It's pretty amazing how different brands can sound from one other. If you're not afraid to buy used, you can try a couple of them without losing too much money. Another benefit to buying something more popular when you're not sure what you want is that you can sell it more easily and move on the something else. 

 

[Amodymous]

I heard that HE400S build quality isn't too great and that it's heavy.

 

[bharris]

I actually haven't ever tried any Hifiman but that's my impression too. I haven't tried them Philips either but many people love them. My recommendation was for the k7xx which ticks a lot of boxes for what you're looking for and I think it's a pretty good headphone for the money. That pretty much exhausts my knowledge of this category but there are pages and pages that you can read about the models listed above I'm sure that with the amount of information available you'll find something you like. Good luck with the search.

 

[Amodymous]

I did look into AKG but then I heard with proper care, the HE400S would last and that it's more versatile across all genres of music and gaming due to the soundstage.

 

[Badmutha]

The most expensive headphone for Audio-Technica's "AD" line that you can afford.For you that would be ATH-AD1000x's. I have the ad700x's and the high's are killer but lack bass. If you're a bass head skip them but for soundstage, you cant go wrong.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Technica-Audiophile-ATH-AD1000X-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S330O8
 
under $300 on amazon so they fit your budget.

 

[PeteMtl]

I don't want to kill your party, but what's wrong with your Sennheiser HD558? Are the earpads showing their age and are not as comfortable as before or are they showing their age? You do know for a fact that all HD series Sennheisers (and most Sennheisers by the way) are fully modular and spare parts are available for most or any parts. Just order spare earpads from Sennheiser and you are ready to go for a few years! Sennheisers last for a lifetime if you take care of them, and if you do not you may order spare parts to maintain them in A1 condition. In particular if you are using them for gaming, no need to upgrade, no audiophile usage here...If I were in your place I would keep the 558s for gaming purposes and would seek a higher end headphone for musical needs, depending on your usage (living room listening or portable needs...) Keep your money for another usage, i'm sure you will find a better use, even in techno / audio products! Just my 2 cents...

 

[bharris]

Quote:

  I heard that HE400S build quality isn't too great and that it's heavy.

 

I did look into AKG but then I heard with proper care, the HE400S would last and that it's more versatile across all genres of music and gaming due to the soundstage.

 
 
So, are you under the impression that they are built well or that they are not??
 
HE400S's are planar headphones which will present sound in a different way from traditional transducers like the AKG. If you've never tried planars you might want to give them a go.  If you had a chance to try both you might have a definite favorite but you can't know by reading about them.  You'd likely be happy with either. The Hifimans cost 30% more than K7xx's so it depends what you want to spend.

 
Of course, as Pete said, you don't have to upgrade. Either way, I wouldn't consider sinking any more money into the 558's. They are a great value at their current prices but there are many better headphones out there that you don't have to break the bank to try. If you do decide to step up to either the HE400s's or the K7xx's (or others) you will experience certain aspects of their performance that are improvements over the Senns and you will figure out what you like. I like Sennheisers but, in my experience, none of the hd5xx's have the clarity or layering that the other cans you're looking at offer.
 
One other thing is that you seem to be interested in a couple less popular or common cans (I think one of them isn't even out yet?) which is fine and they may be great but if it turns out that you don't like them and want to sell you'll likely lose a lot more money over popular headphones that everyone wants to try. 

 

[koven]

HD6x0 > K712 > X2 > HE400S