[Moop]

Hello. I'm looking for a multipurpose headset. Something to use with games, music, and movies. I don't know where to start with this. I listen to all kinds of music but I guess electronic and rock would be the main kinds.

To go with this I'm also looking for a portable DAC or DAC/AMP. I don't know which headset goes well with which DAC. I've heard that the FiiO e7 and e17 are good. I've also seen the Asus Xonar u3/u7.

I'm looking for a combined total of $200 or less.

Also, what's the difference between a headset and headphones in terms of audio quality?

Thanks.

 

[JustinBieber]

Hey, I'll try to help you out.
 
Headset and Headphones are interchangeable terms, they mean exactly the same thing. My advice would be for you to get a used Sennheiser HD 555 and mod them to a HD 595 (It is very simple) they go for under $120 on Amazon. Get yourself the E7 for $80 and if you're planning on using them with an iPod, buy the line out dock for an extra $10. 
 
As for your amping question, the HD 555 isn't very power hungry and would do fine out of most portable amps. 
 
Modding tutorial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ8PzBrHXE
 
Feel free to ask me any other questions you may have.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Hello. I'm looking for a multipurpose headset. Something to use with games, music, and movies. I don't know where to start with this. I listen to all kinds of music but I guess electronic and rock would be the main kinds.

To go with this I'm also looking for a portable DAC or DAC/AMP. I don't know which headset goes well with which DAC. I've heard that the FiiO e7 and e17 are good. I've also seen the Asus Xonar u3/u7.

I'm looking for a combined total of $200 or less.

Also, what's the difference between a headset and headphones in terms of audio quality?

Thanks.

Is the gaming PC? xBox? PS3? other?
Music on a PC? MAC? mp3 player?
 
For $30, with mail in $10 rebate, you can get an Asus xonar DG sound for your PC?
and get something separate for port amp.

 

[Moop]

Hey, I'll try to help you out.

Headset and Headphones are interchangeable terms, they mean exactly the same thing. My advice would be for you to get a used Sennheiser HD 555 and mod them to a HD 595 (It is very simple) they go for under $120 on Amazon. Get yourself the E7 for $80 and if you're planning on using them with an iPod, buy the line out dock for an extra $10. 

As for your amping question, the HD 555 isn't very power hungry and would do fine out of most portable amps. 

Modding tutorial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ8PzBrHXE


Feel free to ask me any other questions you may have.

Alright thank you, i'll look into this. By headset I mean gaming headset. I see comments sometimes that say something along the lines of: "For a gaming headset, this sure comes close to an equally priced headphone". So, I was just curious about why people say this

Is the gaming PC? xBox? PS3? other?
Music on a PC? MAC? mp3 player?

For $30, with mail in $10 rebate, you can get an Asus xonar DG sound for your PC?
and get something separate for port amp.

Gaming, music, and movies on the PC.

For the sound card, I need something to use with a laptop as well.

 

[davidsh]

Quote:

Alright thank you, i'll look into this. By headset I mean gaming headset. I see comments sometimes that say something along the lines of: "For a gaming headset, this sure comes close to an equally priced headphone". So, I was just curious about why people say this

Headset = headphone with mic (headphones doesn't have mics)
 
Gaming headset are made for gaming, but that doesn't mean they are good. Some headsets are, though, but mostly you can get more for your money by going for headphones. 
 
Gaming headsets aren't vodoo, they aren't tuned specifically for gaming in a way that makes them better than many music headphones. Not at all, actually. I think you should go for the hd555 too.
 
Also, what kind of gaming are we talking about? Have you looked into Mad Lust Envy's guide?

 

[Moop]

Headset = headphone with mic (headphones doesn't have mics)

Gaming headset are made for gaming, but that doesn't mean they are good. Some headsets are, though, but mostly you can get more for your money by going for headphones. 

Gaming headsets aren't vodoo, they aren't tuned specifically for gaming in a way that makes them better than many music headphones. Not at all, actually. I think you should go for the hd555 too.

Also, what kind of gaming are we talking about? Have you looked into Mad Lust Envy's guide?

Yea I do need a headset though. One with a mic. It doesn't have to be a "Gaming" headset. Just something with a mic and good audio quality. The HD555s I looked up dont have one, unless there is a different version. I have looked at that guide but it seems mostly to cover technical details.

 

[davidsh]

Quote:

Yea I do need a headset though. One with a mic. It doesn't have to be a "Gaming" headset. Just something with a mic and good audio quality. The HD555s I looked up dont have one, unless there is a different version. I have looked at that guide but it seems mostly to cover technical details.

Technical details are quite important 

 
What kind of games do you play? Do you have a sound card?

 

[Moop]

Technical details are quite important 

What kind of games do you play? Do you have a sound card?

DotA, DotA 2, FPS games

Im looking for a portable soundcard - something like the Asus Xonar u3, if that's a good one.

 

[JustinBieber]

You could get a attachable microphone and hook it up to the recording input on your PC then to your regular headphones. Should be fine for a laptop too.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373898453&sr=1-1&keywords=zalman+mic

 

[davidsh]

Quote:

DotA, DotA 2, FPS games

Im looking for a portable soundcard - something like the Asus Xonar u3, if that's a good one.

Okay, so if positional audio is important to you (you play fps games), you should definitely get a sound card with dolby headphones or cmss-3d. 
I see 2 options. Get a hd555 or alternatively ad700 and a modmic or go for a headset. 
 
If headset you should look at the offerings from sennheiser, alternatively the Siberia V2 is a decent performer. 

 

[Moop]

Okay, so if positional audio is important to you (you play fps games), you should definitely get a sound card with dolby headphones or cmss-3d. 
I see 2 options. Get a hd555 or alternatively ad700 and a modmic or go for a headset. 

If headset you should look at the offerings from sennheiser, alternatively the Siberia V2 is a decent performer. 

Alright. Yea the DH is something I read in the guide. I've heard that portable sound cards have that, at least some of them. So I guess i'll just have to find one and then go with the headphones. Thanks.

 

[davidsh]

Maybe look into the  creative sound blaster x-fi surround 5.1? I dunno much about it, but it has the features you need. My guess is, that the amp and DAC inside it is quite mediocre, but idk.
 
You should ask in Mad Lust Envy's thread or other thread dedicated to gaming.

 

[Moop]

Maybe look into the  creative sound blaster x-fi surround 5.1? I dunno much about it, but it has the features you need. My guess is, that the amp and DAC inside it is quite mediocre, but idk.

You should ask in Mad Lust Envy's thread or other thread dedicated to gaming.

I think I've chosen the HD555. Do you know anywhere to buy new ones? It looks like they're discontinued and I can only find used ones online.

 

[davidsh]

Quote:

Quote:

Maybe look into the  creative sound blaster x-fi surround 5.1? I dunno much about it, but it has the features you need. My guess is, that the amp and DAC inside it is quite mediocre, but idk.

You should ask in Mad Lust Envy's thread or other thread dedicated to gaming.

I think I've chosen the HD555. Do you know anywhere to buy new ones? It looks like they're discontinued and I can only find used ones online.

The idea is, that you find it used, so it can fit in your price bracket. Else, there is the hd558, which you can have new, but it is more expensive.