Headphones for single player gaming

[Golden Diva]

Hello everyone!
 
I plan on buying headphones for my gaming PC. More specifically, I will use them mostly for single player games, so the priority is a good sound quality and signature favouring immersion. In addition, I will sometimes be wearing them for long periods of time, so comfort is equally important.
Could you please give me some advices for my choice?
 
Here is a summary with some details.
 
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Use: single player games
 
Source: Creative Sound Blaster ZxR
 
Type: open (preferably)
 
Main criteria: sound quality, good amount of bass, comfort
 
Budget: up to 500 $/€
 
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After reading some topics, here are some headphones that caught my attention, as well as the prices I can get them for.
 
- Beyerdynamic DT-990 Edition 250 Ohm (155 €)
- Beyerdynamic T-90 (389 €)
- AKG K-712 Pro (245 €)
 
What would you suggest?
 
Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[heavykevy]

Though I don't have experience with the three you have listed, I do have extensive experience with The Sennheiser HD598, They are an amazing value for as good as they sound. To my ears they seem to provide a better sound stage than even their big brother the HD600. They are a neutral headphone that have a slightly warm sound allowing them to sound very clear and have nice bass. They are certainly not a base headphone however. With your sound card though you can easily EQ some bass in when playing a game that may do well with it, perhaps something with lots of explosions. Though personally I think they sound great the way they are. As for comfort, I think they are on par with the HD700's... ish. I could wear them FAR longer than most other headphones since they don't really clamp at all. Let me know if you have any questions about them! Good Luck!

 

[GREQ]

The Sennheisers mentiond are very comfortable, but don't have enough treble for good immersive gaming, as you lose the sense of crisp detail.
I'm not saying the Senns are not detailed, but lower trebles give the illusion of a lack of detail.
This makes the Sennheisers a good choice if you are sensitive to high pitch frequencies or plan to listen for many hours at a time.
 
The DT990 Edition (as mentioned) will have slightly more emphasized bass and treble compared to the Sennheisers, which is good for gaming.
Also the DT990 build quality is far better than the Sennheisers, although slightly heavier.  Comfort is about equal between them, although the Beyerdynamics do clamp more than the Sennheisers.
 
The AKG won't have the nice sub-bass you need for gaming immersion. 
 
Another one to add to your list of potentials is the Philips Fidelio X2.

 

[Jolltax]

I use a pair of Logitech UE6000 for exactly this duty, in active mode they have a very exciting and powerful sound.  They also sound fine in non-active mode in case you want to calm things down.  They sound very nice on music and are pretty well reviewed especially if you like rock / pop and like some thump behind your beats.  I think for the price you can now buy these at they punch above their weight but I am haven't widely auditioned other competitors - I certainly prefer them to my Bose AE2's and my other mid price ear buds.
 
I find them to be comfortable, a little bulkier than on ear / smaller headphones but with the advantage you can add an aftermarket mike boom and add it to the cable as it has a detachable cable with a standard size adapter.  This is is how I use them as I need to mike for TeamSpeak and other voice comms.
 
J

 

[Golden Diva]

Thank you very much for your answers!
 
I did some research on the suggested models.
 
Unfortunately, the Logitech UE6000 doesn't look that comfortable, and, as GREQ mentioned, the Sennheiser HD598 are not the best for gaming (though they look great for music).
However, i have definitely added the Philips Fidelio X2 to my list, which I can get for 250 €.
 
So currently it is
 
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Philips Fidelio X2 vs Beyerdynamic DT-990
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Does anybody know which one is the most comfortable during long sessions? I have read comments about the Fidelio X2's high clamping force...
 
Any other advice?

 

[smy1]

yeah either the  Fidelio X2 or x1

 

[Sam21]

Sony MA900

 

[Monsterzero]

+1 for Fidelio X1/X2

Both DT990 and the X are comfortable.....either will work real well for single player gaming.

I had both at one point,and sold the 990s

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thank you very much for your answers!
 
I did some research on the suggested models.
 
Unfortunately, the Logitech UE6000 doesn't look that comfortable, and, as GREQ mentioned, the Sennheiser HD598 are not the best for gaming (though they look great for music).
However, i have definitely added the Philips Fidelio X2 to my list, which I can get for 250 €.
 
So currently it is
 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Philips Fidelio X2 vs Beyerdynamic DT-990
---------------------------------------------------------------
 
Does anybody know which one is the most comfortable during long sessions? I have read comments about the Fidelio X2's high clamping force...
 
Any other advice?

 
Beyerdynamic T-90 is my preferred headphone
Really nice sound quality

 

[atjohnson23]

I believe that the X1/X2 would be classified as "funner" than tge dt-990s. Both have great build quality and confort. The pads on the X1 and X2 is what subdues their strong clamping force. Although they are lint freaking magnets.

 

[Golden Diva]

It looks like the Philips Fidelio is the most popular in this topic. Currently, these are the top contenders for me!
 
 
Quote:

  Sony MA900

 
I've done some research on this model. It seems to be unmatched for comfort in its category, but is slightly below sound quality wise. I am more interested in the Fidelio X2, but in the end it will depend if I favour comfort over everything else.
 
 

   
Beyerdynamic T-90 is my preferred headphone
Really nice sound quality

 
They look good, indeed. However, they are much more expensive where I live (around 400 € vs 250 € for the Fidelio X2), so is it worth the price difference for gaming only?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I've done some research on this model. It seems to be unmatched for comfort in its category, but is slightly below sound quality wise. I am more interested in the Fidelio X2, but in the end it will depend if I favour comfort over everything else.
They look good, indeed. However, they are much more expensive where I live (around 400 € vs 250 € for the Fidelio X2), so is it worth the price difference for gaming only?

 
As I've never listened to the Philips X2, can't say how much better the T-90's audio quality is.
 
If you want to save some money, check out the Soundmagic HP200 headphones.

 

[Sam21]

   
I've done some research on this model. It seems to be unmatched for comfort in its category, but is slightly below sound quality wise. I am more interested in the Fidelio X2, but in the end it will depend if I favour comfort over everything else.
 
 
 
They look good, indeed. However, they are much more expensive where I live (around 400 € vs 250 € for the Fidelio X2), so is it worth the price difference for gaming only?

I prefer to use MA900 for longer gaming sessions[3 hours or more] because it is immensely comfortable and the treble is not piercing. 

 

[atjohnson23]

Soundmagic's HP200s treble is known to be very "in your face", a characteristic that is decreased but still persists especially at higher volumes in the Fidelio X2s. X2s have been said to have a perveived artificial sounding treble region. This also comes with a much more refined bass and mids becoming somewhat clearer. I personally have X1s. To me they sound amazing in the low end, slightly darker thsn the X2s but with just a tad less refinement and control. However, I am very slightly treble sensitive, so I've come to enjoy their sound better than the X2s. If you can deal with " nonremovable earpads" that can be changed out it's just a hassle, I would say try to hunt down a pair and give them a listen. I am able to wear them for long fps gaming sessions in CS:GO. But they have the sound I need for Lindsey Sterling, EDM, and Flac files that I listen too. I hope this has been somewhat helpful. All headphones suggested thus far are great choices. Audio is hugely subjective so I would suggest going out and trying a few suggested pairs to see what truly fits YOU. Good luck!

 

[Golden Diva]

Thanks again for your very useful answers and advices!
 
After thinking about it for a few days and reading additional topics, I think I will go for the Fidelio X2.
 
I have got one last question though. There has been a lot of buzz around the quality control of the Fidelio X2 being less than satisfying after WOOX was acquired by Gibson. Could you please tell me what the current status is or if you are aware of ongoing problems with build and/or sound quality issues?