Gaming headsets/phones help

[PeeWee]

hi, after reading several hours and more on this website and some others I decided to make a post to ask for some help in choosing a headphone and how to set it up.

Below is a list of the headphones I came across that the pro's on this forum advice on:

Senn HD555 - HD595
AT AD700 - AD900
BT770
EDGE GX400 - ER4P

I'm currently using a Senn PC-160 with a X-FI elite pro.
I was thinking of getting myself the new PC-350 but after reading a lot here bout headsets in general being crap and after talking with a Senn sales rep who told me that the sound from a HD555 - 595 will be better then the 350 for the same price, I decided the PC-350 were a no go.

Since I'm not going to use them at lan's and I haven't got a lot of backroom noise I'm leaning toward open air phones.

As for the GX400 lot of reviews say the microphone takes up every little noise there is in the room so would the ER4P in combination with the Zalman clip-on be a GO?

And my last question would it be a better idea in general to use the connections on the big breakout box from the elite or just the on card connections and can anyone refer me to a good manual on how to tweak your sound decent in windows for gaming purposes?

thanks for advice that will follow.

Cheers

 

[eldwar]

I know you said you lean against an open solution, but myself i use dt 770, and i can wear them for a whole night of gaming without getting tired. I'm also very pleased with it's performance in fps games

 

[captainzoli]

It's hard to beat the HD595 as an open gaming headphone, at least in the price range you are looking at.

 

[crappyjones123]

595 + zalman

for loud lans - ad 700 + zalman

 

[PeeWee]

thanks for the input this far.
anyone has an opinion about what ports(on card/breakout box) to use?

 

[TheDeliveryMan]

...but if you need the mic, the PC350 is where its at. the PC350 is quickly rising the ranks and will no doubt be THE gaming headset to have very shortly, if not already.

we've fielded several soliciations from large software manufacturers about getting their hands on these because they are the best they've seen yet.

if you don't need a mic, you'll love an HD595, if an open-aire headphone is what you desire.

 

[Cry Havoc]

Gaming headsets are typically shied away from here. If you plan on going to LANs, the GX400 are really tough to beat at the price. If you prefer circumaurals, the HFI780s are spectacular for gaming. The first time I heard an AWP, I almost wet myself. Not to mention that the 780s are great all-around cans

 

[crappyjones123]

^ sure they are, but at lans things get stolen. not to say i wouldnt mind if my 595s got stolen (i would hunt down the guy and kill him...3 times!) but 780s are just costlier and more sensitive id imagine. the 595s are amazing headphones. they sound awesome for source, are built extremely well, the cable is smooth but thick enough to where it doesnt snag and over all the phones can take quite a bit of beating. the 700s are a good choice as well but after long hours at a lan it just gets annoying to have them on.

suggestion again - 595 + zalman. cant be beat for lans.

 

[PeeWee]

Ok, it feels like I'm going for the HD595+zalman clip, I do find the red anniversary version nice looking

As for the 6,3 mm jack to 3,5 mm jack convertor, I read there are some problems with it breaking some sound cards or something like that. Anyone had any problems with that or should I just use the 6,3mm jack in combination with the breakout box of the elite pro? Nobody has said anything about that yet

 

[PeeWee]

noone has any recommendations about the last question?

 

[crappyjones123]

the lesser the cables in a system the better. you are just reducing the amount of noise that can be introduced. you may not be able to tell the difference (and neither may i) but its just good practise from what ive heard.

as far as that adaptor goes, it is kinda heavy and the weight of the cable might be a little too much for the sound card. my solution was to tape the cable ABOVE the sound card to the side of the case(elevation wise - dont let the wire dip below the level of the sound card) you can find some other jerry rigging solution as well but that worked for me.

good luck!

 

[Foe-hammer]

The best headphone setup for gaming is:

Dolby Headphone Receiver - Dedicated Headphone Amp - AKG 601s or Ultrasone 780s or Beyerdynamic 880.

Dolby Headphone Technology opens up the sound stage of any headphones tremendously, and the 3D positioning is greatly enhanced with Dolby Headphone, especially when 5.1 source is being fed to it.

 

[BlackJackSkanz]

I know this an old thread but I have to protest.

• The Zalman mic is terrible and cheaply made even for a cheap lapel mic. The cheapest one you can get from Radio Shack is better.
• As unpopular as this is to say around here, lapel mics are a poor solution if you intend to play online with other human beings. Lapel mics are ok at best. Sadly anyone else on your team that has a headset, pretty much any headset in the $30+ range is going to sound better and much more clear to your team mates. But then again, maybe the lapel mic adds some bass to your voice and you digg that.
• The Sennheiser gaming sets are the only ones I have used I liked. I have not used the 350 which look ubber cool but as I game online at not at LANs a closed set of cans are not good. In a quiet enivronment you want an open headset so you are not SHOUTING all the time. At least if you leave with others or in an apartment. Closed headsets are for LANs only.

I would love to know why Zalman's lapel mics keep getting the recommendations. Zalman makes great heatsinks and that's about it.

 

[Solid Snake]

I would put my vote on DT 770 again...

 

[ourfpshero]

try both outputs- the one on the card and the one on the breakout box. i have heard that the breakout box headphone output has more power! i have an audigy with external box and it has more power- but- i also have an x-fi with the drive bay breakout box and it puts out less power than the jack on the card itself.

also ignore the dolby headphone thing

- an x-fi puts out the best gaming 3d sound by far. i have both an x-fi and a razer ac-1 in my pc

for at home use i would go for the open air senns or audio technicas. if voice comm quality is very important u might need a real headset as mentioned above. the only decent headsets i have heard are:

koss sb40- great sound, lousy mic
steelsound 4h- decent sound, great mic
fatal1ty professional (not the cheaper one)- best mic, decent sound- an obvious senn hd580 design copy

keep in mind that none of these are audiophile quality. all of these blow away plantronics, icemat, senn pc 150/160, altec lansing, etc headsets


as for x-fi settings i will find a link or i can email u a pic of my gaming settings