High Quality Headset Help Needed.

[DangeR!]

Hi,
I have an XF-I Music sound card and am looking for a realy good pair of cans for gaming. I don't want a USB connection, I want to plug them directly into my sound card. I need them to pick up everything in games expecially foot steps, so I can here the enermy comming a mile off (well close to it lol). I don't mind how much they cost as long as there going to last. And would love 5.1 surround sound.

Please, I am a complete noob when it comes to sound and h/s, so I will be going off your sugestions. Obviously I will be readng alot about the sugestions to determin my buy.

I'm from the UK.

 

[jagorev]

Budget? Do you need a mic?

Standard suggestion around here is the Audio Technica A500 or A900, or the Sennheiser HD 555 or 595, coupled with a clip-on mic like this one:

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/...x=113&code=023

 

[DangeR!]

hi,
I do need a mic I forgot to say.

Price would be less that £100 and a good solid build. I want them to last a long time, thats why I am willing to spend £100.

 

[manchau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangeR! hi, I do need a mic I forgot to say. Price would be less that £100 and a good solid build. I want them to last a long time, thats why I am willing to spend £100.

Go for A900...

Strong,
comfy,
well built
alumunium cups
Made in Japan

Handles surround sound.
Head shaking bass
Maintaining clear sound while thumping bass like surround speaker setup with subwoofers.

Big and looks ugly.
350 grams
Will cover a CD size aria on your face.

 

[LeonvB]

I would suggest the Sennheiser PC-series. 5.1 headphones usually don't work all that well.

http://www.sennheisercommunications....roductId=PC160

 

[padi89]

I would definitely recommend something in the Audio Technia range they are excellent for gaming.I got my A500 especially for gaming and i cant fault ithem,playing BF2 ,Graw lately they have performed excellent.If you got the cash the A900 is the bigger brother but just be wary of customs if you are ordering them.The Sennheiser HD555/HD595 are excellent too but IMO dont give you that extra base you need for the likes of explosions but are still a great choice.I know you are looking for a headset but i personally think you dont get anywhere near the same sound quality as from a nice set of cans.I just use a logitech desktop mike and it works fine,no probs.If you do want a headset i know Sennheiser do pretty good ones.There is a company on Ebay UK that sell HD555 for £60 inc shipping and i think they have a few headsets too.

 

[darkninja67]

Specifically for gaming I would choose the A900s. They seem made for this purpose but do well with music as well. Just great cans for the money IMO.

 

[DangeR!]

Hi,
thnx for all your input, keep it comming. I think by the end of my time reserching headsets I'll be an expert lol.

I forund this review about the sugested AT headsets and the Sennheiser HD600 sound was better and even more so witht the use af a Cardas Cable (pls, What is a Cardas Cable, lol)
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=22964

I think it is between the Audio Technia and the Sennheiser range, unless there are better/cheeper types.

hehe, the serch goes on.

 

[DangeR!]

ohh yehh, one more thing. I read a few reviews and they sugested getting an amp for the headsets. Will I be ok with the XF-I card powering the h/s or should I build/buy one. I love soldering and messing about like that (v-modded 7800GTX anyone ^^) ,so I may make one. Just got to figure out how

.

EDIT:

love the smily

<-- hehe nice cans.

 

[sgrossklass]

Maybe something like HD555s (pricing and availability in the UK should be quite good, being close to production facilities) plus some kind of clip-on mic?

 

[DangeR!]

hmmm I have now found the 595's lol, will this never end. I'm never going to get a pair of cans as I will be changing my mind all the time.

I listern to alot of music aswell, heavy metal, hiphop, easy listerning anything realy. manly heavy metal/rock. hopfully this will narrow down the search.

will they produce good 5.1 surround via the function in the XF-I function. (cant remember the name of it cssm somthing)

 

[DangeR!]

any one from the uk know a good online retailer thats cheep, where I can get the mentiond above headsets?

 

[binkgle]

with your music preferences i wouldn't recommend the sennheisers; their sound signature is too laid baid for metal/rock in many/most (which word to choose is under great debate

) cases. the audio-technicas would be more suited to our needs.

to find out about amps, check out the diy forum here.

the a900s have a relatively low impedence, i believe (40 ohms?). they therefore would not require an amp to be driven by the x-fi, though it definitely wouldn't hurt (and would probably make them even better).

you're doing research here, and because no one else has said it yet:

welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet.

yes, you will be sorry

 

[padi89]

Audio Technia Range
www.audiocubes.com

Sennheiser range(These guys are excellent and the price is unbeatable)
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZe...monsterQQhtZ-1

I think the HD595 is sold out at the moment but you can email them to see if they are getting them in again,the reply nearly instantly.

 

[Headphony]

Just a point of information, "headset" is generally understood to mean a combined headphone/mic thingy.

You're best off with a good "headphone" and separate mic.
You can't go wrong with the ATH-A900. If you want to save a bit, get the ATH-A500 or Senn HD555. The HD595 probably isn't going to give you a great improvement over the HD555 for gaming and computer use.