[Hobsten]

Hi, this is my first post. I recently found this website which basically is a goldmine for headphone lovers. I've been checking out various guides like Envy's and they've been really helpful! I know very little about audio in general so any help is appreciated.
 
To the point:
I've decided to get a pair of headphones for music and a headset for gaming. It's gonna be primarly used for Counter-Strike;GO and therefore need a wide soundstage(?) with not too much bass. I prefer closed-back over ear, as I sometimes attend noisy LANs, but it will mostly be used at home where there isn't much noise at all. However IF you were to recommend me open-back headphones/headset I'm gonna be needing earphones/IEMs(?) for LANs with good soundstage, isolation and fits with those hearing protection sets that isolates sound very well. Mic is really important aswell, doesn't really matter if it is clip-on mic or it comes with a headset, but it needs to be good and not pick up much backround noise.
 
To put it all in perspective of what I'm looking for: I've been using Logitech G930 and I've been really satisfied with the sound in-game, for music and the mic is really good! I don't really have a budget, but I want sound + mic for a good price.
 
Soundcard: Asus XONAR Essence STX or Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium HD(?) (NOTE: Must work good for gaming and music)
 
Headphones/-set i've considered so far:
Audio Technica ATH-A900 Fullsize closed-back
Audio Technica ATH-A700X closed-back
Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition closed-back (considering strongly)
AKG K701/702
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32/250 Ohm
 
Thanks, 
- Hobsten

 

[PurpleAngel]

Titanium HD sound card, $?
Audio Technica ATH-A900X closed headphones, $200
Schiit Magni headphone amplifier, $99

 

[Hobsten]

The Titanium HD`sound card will work well with music aswell? I've considered ATH-A900 strongly. I live in Norway and I don't think any norwegian store has the X versions. Atm I'm considering PC 350 SE and ATH-A900. Why would u've picked ATH-900 over PC 350?
 
About the amplifier. I've seen a lot of posts where people say that an amplifier is more for console instead of PC, and that a sound card can do the same job as an amplifier for a cheaper price(?)

 

[Hesthrim]

The Corsair headsets are a phenomenal choice for gaming, and pretty decent for audio/video as well.  I've still got a pair of their original HS1 cans and they're still trucking two and a half years in.
 
Currently I think the Vengeance 1500s are the USB version with a built-in digital processor (does Dolby Surround, 7.1, etc. without needing a discrete soundcard) and the 1300s are the same set but with analog 1/8" plugs.  their big 50mm drivers give a surprisingly roomy soundstage, and there's next to no listening fatigue.
 
I'm not sure if or how they're rated on here, but I can tell you that I consider them easily the best headset under $100 available.
 
As background, I'm a gamer of many years and play a wide variety of stuff. Right now I'm mostly playing BF3, Skyrim and Borderlands 2, with some Diablo 3 in there. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

The Titanium HD`sound card will work well with music aswell? I've considered ATH-A900 strongly. I live in Norway and I don't think any norwegian store has the X versions. Atm I'm considering PC 350 SE and ATH-A900. Why would u've picked ATH-900 over PC 350?
 
About the amplifier. I've seen a lot of posts where people say that an amplifier is more for console instead of PC, and that a sound card can do the same job as an amplifier for a cheaper price(?)

Then get the Essence STX, it's what I use.

 

[Hobsten]

Essence STX for gaming and music? And I won't need an amplifier?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Essence STX for gaming and music? And I won't need an amplifier?

Fine for gaming, music and movies, comes with it's own built in amplifier, even drives my 600-Ohm headphones.
Best price I could find for new in $179 at B&H.

 

[Hobsten]

Thanks for your replies. I might be going for the STX and A900 combo. But do you think this will perform better than a Logitech G930/G35? They are USB and doesn't require a soundcard

 

[Hobsten]

If anyone has some other advice I'm open for it!
 
Anybody know if the Essence STX and ATH-A900 combo will outperform a Logitech G930/35 (in terms of mic and soundstage, sound etc.)

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,
 
If you want isolation, large sound stage, low amounts of bass, just detail basically, then look at:
 
Shure SRH940
Beyer T70
 
Very best,

 

[Chrontius]

My gaming headset of choice is the Logitech G35 and the wireless version, the G930. The G930 has recently stolen the show; it has a control pod on the left ear, with a digital volume control - it talks natively to OSX, sending the same keypresses as the keyboard's volume up/down, rewind, fast-forward, and play/pause keys. The G35 has the same control layout. The software is windows-only, but basic and intermediate functions are natively supported on a mac (and honestly work a little better than on Windows). The drivers are fantastically powerful, with macros and hotkeys and in-game bindings for your earcups.

Bluntly, these things steal the show because I can walk around most of the house and maintain a connection to the computer. The battery life is... there may be a limit, but I've never run into it. Put it on charge every time you put it away, and you're not likely to run them dry.

Seriously, I could write songs of praise for these things. You know what you want, and the G930s are delivering it. Do you have a real reason to switch away, or are the 930s you're using not yours?

The only way to improve them I can think of is adding Bluetooth 4.0 and a USB / phone switch to them next to the surroundsound switch. An analog override would be nice (4-pin TRRS jack), and a microUSB-to-Lightning (I use iOS) connector to bypass an iPhone's internal DAC would be nifty too. Okay, that's not all as far-out as I'd thought at first, but none of it's trivial. Sonically, they're adequate - and being a head-fi-er, that's a high bar.

 

[DrSheep]

I don't like to bust people, but in this case I will make an exception: do not EVER get the G930.  It is a decent 7.1 set of cans but that's it.  Awful 2.1 sound and VoIP plus ****ty drivers that will drive you nuts.  If you must stick with "gaming" headset, then the Razer Megalodon is a better choice, but it still in no way comparible to true headphones mentioned above.  The best of both worlds will be the V-MODA M-100 with their BoomPro Mic, which is great for games and VoIP with sounds miles ahead of any 5.1 or 7.1 gaming headset you can find.

 

[colaturka]

No budget? The denon d7000 then.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thanks for your replies. I might be going for the STX and A900 combo. But do you think this will perform better than a Logitech G930/G35? They are USB and doesn't require a sound card

I would guess the STX/A900 would provide better audio quality (detail) over the Logitech G930, which might make it easier (for the STX/A900) to indentify sounds in the game.
The Logitech G930 technically has a "sound card" built in, it's that Logitech USB stick that plugs into the base, is the "sound card".
So it's the $175 STX sound card verses a ($40?) USB sound card.
But I've never been a FPS gamer and have gamed very little in the past several years, so my opinions on this might not be something to depend on too much.