[CyberAthlete]

Budget: $200 (can stretch to $250, but that will mean I sacrifice an item for my PC I have my eyes on)
 
 
Debating between:
Beyerdynamic DT880 (32 ohm vs 250 ohm)
Sennheiser HD595
Sennheiser HD600
Sennheiser HD650
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700
Any other recommendations?
 
 
Current config: Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium (using CMSS-3D)
 
 
 
Priority of features (in order, but they all should be present):
Excellent Surround sound simulation
Excellent Soundstage
Bass (for those big explosions and rumblings)
Great for music as well (bonus)
 
 
Games played:
Crysis
Mass Effect
Starcraft II
Unreal Tournament 3
League of Legends
Metro 2033
 
 
Movies Watched:
All in blu ray
 
 
Current HPs I use:
Audio-Technica m50s (for music)
Sennheiser HD555 for games
 
 
IE Portable:
Sennheiser CX380
Triple Force Fi.10 (on order from Amazon)
 
 
 
Previously owned and broken:
V-Moda Vibe
NuForce 7E
 
As always I appreciate the input! Thank you.

 

[CyberAthlete]

Bump

 

[1Time]

You could buy a Pioneer SE-A1000 through Amazon for ~$80 shipped.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I'll make this easy. DT880 or DT990. They both do what you want, with the 990s having more bass. The 880s have less bass than the M50s, but is still impactful and controlled.
 
I owned (still in my home) the M50s, and the 990s are an upgrade in practically every way. Not to say the M50s aren't still awesome.
 
Trust me on this, your needs are alsmot identical to mine. Afdter having spent so much on headphones, I have settled with the 990s, and I'm not looking back. I loved the 880s, but I prefer the bassier 990s.
 
Do you have an amp? The Beyers need amps (even the 32ohms). I had the 880/32 and it definitely improved even with my modest Fiio E7. The Fiio E9 would have been fantastic back when I owned them.

 

[1Time]

Looks like CyberAthlete is using a sound card, X-Fi Titanium. So would you suggest the 32, 250, or 600 Ohm DT990? And, would you suggest the Fiio E9 - or - the Astro mixamp? Of course either solution would go well above a $250 budget.
 
But if instead interested in staying within budget, I suspect the SE-A1000 + additional amplification would work well for:
 
Excellent Surround sound simulation
Excellent Soundstage
Bass (for those big explosions and rumblings)
Great for music as well (bonus)  
 
Quote:

Do you have an amp? 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend this as a starting point, as you might be more than happy with stuff a lot less expensive. I just settled on my setup after a year of good and bad purchases. I love my 990s, but they definitely need an amp.
 
As for ohm ratings, YMMV. As a safe buy, I'd go with the 250ohm... too many mixed opinions on how different they sound compared to one another. Some say it's noticeable, some say it isn't.