Gaming Headphones, >$150-$200

[mindhacks]

Well, I'm looking into buy a new pair of headphones, currently using the KY-500...

. I haven't decided on exactly what my price range is yet. But what I am looking for out of these headphones is to have a great soundstage/positioning for gaming and being able to hear my teammates at LAN.
Are closed headphones going to make it too hard to hear vs open? The A500 or A900 (depending on what I decide for budget), and the Senn HD555 are at the top of my list right now. Let me know your thoughts, I do listen to music too, but i have a seperate room with a water chilled computer (low noise) so I'm not worried about sound leakage (in or out). Thank You

 

[afireinside]

Chilled liquid, nice

I'm not sure how well the A500/900 isolates but it would make it a lot harder to hear people, especially at a LAN.

What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have/plan on buying an amp?

 

[mindhacks]

Nothing is planned

But thats a possibility, all depends on what i feel like spending, haha.
Music could be anything, I do listen to house and trance more often than not,
but of course the rock, hip-hop, classical genres get play time.

 

[penguindude]

The A500 and A900s are closed cans and they do a very good job at isolating sound. So i say go for the HD555, theyre great open cans.

 

[Sladeophile]

I use my A900s for gaming and they seriously rock. I play cstrike with them and I can always hear enemies coming and can jump out in front of them when they least expect it, very nice to have. I'm sure the A500s would be great too. They are both very closed and make it quite difficult to hear anything outside of them, something I love about them so I don't get distraced, but if you want to hear buddies around you at a LAN, you would want something open for sure. I have heard that the HD555 are pretty good for gaming. I have used my HD600 before and they were pretty nice, but I was easily distracted by things around me. If all you want them for is the LAN scenario, go with HD555, if you will use them in a noisy place where you want to isolate yourself, go with the AT's.

Slade

 

[Sladeophile]

I would also pick up a small portable amp like a PA2V2 to plug into your computer, it helps bring out sounds IMO. I have one for my A900s. Not absolutely necessary, but I think it helps. HD555 would probably need one too...

 

[BennyBoy]

If your just looking for gaming only cans? I use the 555's and there ok but not that great. For music there tops! For gaming I'd get something with more top end, maybe even treble heavy. You need this to hear the small sounds of reloading, bush movment and breathing. I heard more stuff with a $30. pair of Plantronics than with my 555's. Maybe some Grados would be nice?
Also if I turn up the volume to hear the small sounds with the 555's, the bass is overwhelming. If I had tone controls this would not matter(but I dont).

 

[creyc]

DT 770?

For a bit less bass route and more balanced sound go A900, further still and open (but arguably more accurate) try the Senn HD555/580.