Let me make this clear as day. This quick guide is for Headphone gaming WITH Dolby Headphone virtual surround (google it). NOT stereo, so those looking at this guide as a headphone guide for stereo gaming will be wasting their time looking here. I ONLY play with Dolby Headphone virtual surround, so I CAN'T and WON'T make suggestions to those who wanna play in plain stereo. That is all.
For PC Gaming Audio advice, I highly recommend you guys read The Nameless Guide To PC Gaming, which is written by NamelessPFG, and specializes in the PC related side of gaming audio, which I am 100% not knowledgeable of. I'd consider it a great extension to my own guide for those who aren't console gamers.
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Mad Lust Envy aka. Shin CZ's Gaming Headphone/Headset Guide
Before I start, let me get a few things out of the way. Everything I say is PURELY personal opinion. If you don't like it, well... tough. I'm not a professional. I have clearly stated that is is all my opinion, so don't get butthurt about anything I write. Okay, now moving on.
Hello everyone. I wanna make an introduction on my journey into headphone gaming, and pretty much headphones in general. I myself actually got into this audiophile hobby BECAUSE I fell in love with the sound of the AD700 when I paired it up with my Mixamp. I first started this journey when I looked for a discrete solution for gaming during the night time, where my home theater at the time (Pioneer HTS-G1) was just too much for my roomates and neighbors. Being someone who reads up on the things he buys before making purchases, I read up about how good the A40+Mixamp combo was, and that it would be all I would ever need. It was $250, which was extremely expensive for me at the time (at least I thought such a thing was too expensive back then). I caved in and went for it, as long as it delivered as promised.
Once I got it, I have to say that I was somewhat underwhelmed. I was expecting something that mimicked my surround sound. I wasn't feeling dolby headphone in the least. I was so underwhelmed that I barely used it, and decided to just play my games really quietly, which to me hurt, as I like to be immersed, and concentrate quite a bit when I game online. Fast forward to a few months later, where I decided to give it another try. Much to my dismay, my practically brand new A40s (very rarely touched back when I did use it) had lost the right side audio. I was so peeved that I didn't bother contacting Astro. I tossed them... just like that.
So there I was back again, with a seemingly useless Mixamp, and no headset. I went back online and read up on ACTUAL headphones that worked very well with gaming and the Mixamp in general. I, like many of you, heard how grand the AD700s were especially for games like Call of Duty 4, which was my favorite game back in the days I got into this hobby. So what the hell, I went for it. When I got it, I was somewhat turned off by the color, and they didn't exactly sit well on my head. It was slippery as hell, and it just sorta pissed me off. I then did the rubberband mod and then felt it was good enough to try.
I then hooked them up to the Mixamp, and fired up Call of Duty 4... let's just say... my mind was BLOWN. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was hearing EVERYTHING. Sounds were coming from all around me. I could hear exactly where people were around me. A pin drop was easily distinguishable for me. I did notice the distinct lack of bass, but for this game, I couldn't care less. I felt like I had an unfair advantage against those who DIDN'T wear a headset. Bass was the last thing on my mind. My speakers sounded like pure crap next to this ridiculous soundfield I was suddenly enveloped in. Dolby Headphone and Headphones in general showed me what a miraculous combo they could be, and I told myself I would never seriously game without either of them ever again. I had converted. This was just but the first step into this disease called upgraditis.
Since then, I have somewhat gone through literally COUNTLESS of headphones, both for gaming, and for music/movies. I knew I'd have to own at least two pairs: One for direct hardcore gaming, where bass was on the lighter side so I could focus on the more important sounds like a grenade pin being released, footsteps, or claymores being placed. The other would be for more, non-competitive gaming where I could enjoy what audio as a whole has to offer. I wanted a nice boost in bass, to feel the explosions. Something to directly contrast the sound of the AD700 but still work well with the Mixamp. I was also a budget headphone hunter. I loved what cheap headphones had to offer: bang for the buck. So I have bought my share of garbage, and gems.
Enough of that, I'm now going to attempt to remember ALL the headphones I have bought and used since the beginning of my journey. One criteria HAD to be met at first: The headphones would have to work well with Dolby Headphone, or they were gonna be returned or sold. It was that simple to me.
Okay, I'm gonna list my share of WORTHY headphones, especially for gaming. By worthy, I mean worthy of being discussed (some may be added to let you know they are NO GOOD for gaming with DH). This list doesn't include headphones I bought/used that were never intended to be used for gaming (for example, my HAS700, ES7, ESW9, though I did try them with meh results, obviously). I couldn't begin to remember them all anyway. Also rating them based on how good they are for 'fun' gaming (anything not taken too seriously, where sound accuracy isn't a huge concern), and competitive gaming (where sound is incredibly important, specifically positional accuracy and ability to pick up the finer details). The scores aren't scientific. It's just MY opinion on how they score from a scale of 1-10 by their own merits, and not how they compare to other scores whether higher or lower, so don't whine about scores, lol.
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HEADPHONES
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MY VERY TOP CHOICES (for quick reference)
Competitive:
K701
Q701
HD598
PC360
AD700
Pro 2900
DT990 Premium model
D7000
HE-4
Fun:
D7000
DT990 Premium model
DT990 Pro Model
HE-4
Creative Aurvana Live
DT770 Pro 80
DT880
Pro 2900
Q701
All-rounders (for both uses):
D7000
Q701
DT990 Premium model
HE-4
Pro 2900
DT880
PC360
KSC35
KSC75
Special note: All-rounders are based on how worthwhile they are in that they perform well enough for all uses. So this list is somewhat separated from the individual fun/competitive lists. If the headphones are on there, it's because I feel they are great choices for ALL uses, even if they may not necessarily excel in either category alone. The Q701 I would still say is the best headphone for both competitive and fun, so if you were only getting one headphone, the Q701 would be pretty damn hard to beat. As for the DT880, they didn't make the list for competitive because of how they just don't do rear positioning well as mentioned time and time again. If you can get over that glaring issue, they would be damn good for competitive. Also, although the DT770 Pro 80 has an amazing sense of virtual sound placement, the bass is just too much to take them seriously for competitive gaming.
edit: The Pro 2900 is a headphone I can recommend for all purposes, though not at the price range.
Okay, now for individual scores and personal thoughts on the headphones.
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Beyerdynamic
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DT990 (Premium)
These are GREAT for gaming. Probably easier on the ears than they are for music, as the treble's edge isn't as pronounced in Dolby Headphone mode. There is a greater soundstage, more fantastic bass impact than the 880s (super quick and tight, and unobtrusive still, but more lively), and the detail retrieval is on par, if not better than the 880s due to the more emphasized treble, and just as detailed mids (though the mids aren't as forward as the bass and treble). If you want a more fun oriented sound than the 880s have for gaming, the 990s are it, and they do it RIGHT. The bass isn't boomy, but more theater-like, which adds to the immersion. They also work very well for the hardcore gamers out there who wanna nitpick the finer details in games like Call of Duty. Imaging is excellent, and overall positioning is better than the 880s. The hole between 5 and 7 is no longer there, though it's still not as good at judging front and rear sounds as my other faves. However it does it well enough for me that I happily sold the killer K701s as I saw no need to own anything for gaming after the 990s at the time. The treble will be too much for some people, though I believe that is more of an issue with it's use in regular stereo. For gaming, I didn't ever feel it got up there...
Comfort-wise, they can be a hit or miss. One, the padding is pretty much the best I've felt on ANY headphone, ever. I love velour. The miss part is that the space for your ears to fit in isn't big and your ears will press against the padding protecting the drivers. It can be quite uncomfortable for some people. It didn't bother me, but I had another issue. The design has it where the pads will rest on my jaw, causing some pretty significant discomfort after a period of time. Hit or miss, really.
Fun: 9/10
Competitive: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10
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DT990 (Pro)
These are just different enough from the Premiums that I felt needed their own rating. Most of what I've said about the Premium DT990 holds true about the DT990 Pro. However, there is a big difference, and that's in it's mid bass. The kind of bass that attacks your senses directly. The Premium DT990 isn't particularly strong in that department, instead doing the lower bowels of bass some great justice for an open can. The DT990 Pro however has some pretty strong emphasis in all areas of bass. The mid bass hits DAMN hard. It was actually a bit too much for me, as I'm quite sensitive to strong mid bass, as I felt like a jack hammer was hitting me directly in the ears. If bassheads were disappointed in the Premium DT990's bass, they need not look further than the DT990 pro, which is a different beast in that category. But that's the biggest difference. The Premium DT990 and DT990 Pro sound very much the identical to one another otherwise, though the stronger midbass actually helped smooth out the treble a bit, so I felt the treble to be considerably easier on the ears. In this case, it trades off treble discomfort for bass discomfort. Still, I'm a special case, so I'm sure most bassheads would welcome the DT990 Pro with open ears. As for virtual surround placement, these are almost as good as the DT770 Pro 80. They do an amazing job, even more so than the Premium DT990's in this regard. That's why I have to rate them very high on the fun list. They are incredibly immersive. If you can handle aggressive mid bass (not bloated or smothering, but just...very strong), the DT990 Pro is one of the best values in headphones. I just wish I wasn't so sensitive to the particular range of bass that it's so good in.
Comfort-wise, it's different from the Premium models. They clamp a bit more, and to me, it's actually more comfortable due to the clamp making them more secure. All in all, they share the same pros and cons as the premium Beyers.
Fun: 9/10
Competitive: 7/10 (the bass while not exactly obtrusive like closed headphones with such a strong emphasis, it is still quite emphasized, so it may distract you)
Comfort: 7.5/10
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Creative
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Creative Aurvana Live! (aka "CAL")
Ah, the little Fostex driver that could. For $70 or so, this is one seriously good headphone, that works very well with Dolby Headphone. For a closed headphone, the soundstage is decent. Positioning is good, bass is excellent but not overwhelming, and the treble is relaxed enough to bring out the mids a bit more than the M50s, IMHO. I would directly compare them to the M50s. The M50s are more aggressive, with smaller soundstage, while the CAL is more laidback with a better sense of depth and width. If you're looking for a closed headphone under $100 for gaming, seriously consider the Creative AUrvana Live. I had absolutely no problem using them during my more competitive gaming sessions in CoD4 and MW2, though in the end, they are warmer in signature than I prefer.
Comfort-wise, I love them. For a plather padded headphone, they are AMAZINGLY comfortable. those pads are very soft and feel wonderful. The discomfort comes from my personal distaste for non-velour pads, which is just personal gripes, due to the heat/stickyness it causes. I'll keep that out of the scores though, as that would bog down all pleather headphone scores. The pads however, aren't that deep and may cause an issue for those who don't like to feel your ears pressing against the driver padding.
Fun: 8/10
Competitive: 7/10
Comfort: 9/10
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Denon
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D7000
Normally, I wouldn't be recommending you spend anywhere near the price of the D7000 for gaming needs, but since I happen to own them, I'll go ahead and critique them. This may or may not be a surprise, but they are absolute gaming monsters. Despite them being closed, there is a ridiculously great soundstage, with plenty of depth and width. Pinpointing directional sounds around you is a BREEZE. Detail is in everything you can focus on. If you happen to own the D7000 and something with Dolby Headphone, you need not look further for your pleasureable gaming needs. The bass is so magnificently present without it smearing over the rest of the frequencies. The mids are rich though obviously taking a slight step back because of the bass and pronounced treble. The treble is sparkly but nowhere near the emphasis of the DT990s. They are also GREAT for hardcore gaming, but in all honesty, the bass is so good, you'll find yourself paying attention to it when you should be picking up the finer details, which is why I'd still choose something with quicker, and less present bass like the AD700, K701, HD598, and even DT990 for hardcore gaming. Still, yes, they can do it all.
Comfort-wise, the D7000 is very comfortable. The pads are soft, luxurious, and the headphone feels good on the head. Personal distate for pleather aside, the D7000 is damn comfortable.
Fun: 10/10
Competitive: 8/10
Comfort: 8.5/10
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Sennheiser
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HD598
You all know it as an improved HD595, which is a consistent fave among gamers, especially those who use virtual surround amps like the Mixamp. My opinion? The hype is well justified, at least when it comes to the HD598. They are incredibly well balanced. Somewhat bass neutral, mid rich, and energetic treble (never harsh) translates to a very promising headphone for gaming on paper. And I'm happy to report that they are ABSOLUTELY phenomenal for gaming. They belong right up there with the AD700 and K701 when it comes to my very faves hardcore gaming headphones. Soundstage? Check. Positional accuracy? Double check. Detail retrieval? Triple check. The trifecta. It's missing nothing for those needs. The bass may be a bit too laid back for those wanting some immersion in their non-competitive gaming however.
I have to note, these are not a typical Sennheiser. It is not warm or smooth. It's bright and energetic. All for the better, IMHO.
Comfort-wise: It's a hit or miss. The pads are huge and give your ears plenty of space to breathe. My issue is mostly with the clamp. Sennheiser just seems to design some pretty clampy headphones. Like the PC360, the only way I can find them comfy is to over extend them, and give them a loose fit.
Fun: 6/10
Competitive: 9.5/10
Comfort: 7/10
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Sennheiser PC360 (*headset*)
Seriously, if you want a headset, don't even think twice. Get it. NAO. Easily the best headset I have heard. THE BEST.
Clarity? Check. It lags behind headphones like the AD700, K70x, Q701, and HD598, but for gaming, it is NO slouch. Trust me, you won't need it any more clear than it is. I won every single match in CoD4 when I tested the PC360. I can say that it COULD be clearer as a whole, but no other head
SET comes close.
Balance? Check. There is no part of the audio spectrum that I felt was truly emphasized over the rest. Well balanced. That's all I can say. Treble is neither too smooth, nor too sparkly. It sounded neutral. Fantastic.
Soundstage? Lagging behind the monsters that are the K70x and AD700, but is indeed no slouch. I'd say it has a bigger soundstage than the DT990. Fantastic sense of space and airiness.
Directional Cues? Check. What can I say? This may actually be as good as the best when it comes to overall directionality. Trust me when I say that I could EASILY tell where everyone was around me.
Easy to discern front and back? Check. Perhaps the most important aspect of Dolby Headphone, and the PC360 got it down masterfully.
If you're in the market for a head
SET, this should be the top priority. If you're looking for clarity, I'd say that others mentioned have it beat, but the PC360 does a fine job.
Comfort-wise, it's near identical to the HD598. The pads are wonderful and huge enough for your ears, but the clamp is bothersome. Extend them to fit loosely, and they'll feel pretty good.
Fun: 7/10 (well balanced, but not really matching the punch in bass I like from funner cans, though the bass is enjoyable).
Competitive: 9.5/10 (I highly doubt you'll be complaining about anything as you're precisely locating anything and everything around you).
Comfort: 7/10
If these indeed sound exactly the same as the 595 (or modded 555s), then unless you really need a mic and volume control all in one package, you'll be saving money by going with the 555's and modding them for the 595 sound and attach a mic. However, the PC360 can be had for around $180, and brings everything in one very attractive package. I can't say anything about the 555 and 595, but the PC360 is definitely a gaming beast.
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Final Notes
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Now here's a general idea of which headphones will more than likely perform very well with Dolby Headphone that are not on this list:
1. Large soundstage: Yes, the soundstage itself isn't a deal breaker, but it truly helps as it adds distance between you and the directional sounds. This is extremely helpful as it adds rear depth, making it a lot easier to diferentiating between front and rear sounds, which many closed headphones just can't do properly due to small soundstage.
2. Balanced sound: You wanna be able to hear all sounds right?
3. Relatively bass light, and slightly energetic treble. This is the makings of a truly great headphone for competitive gaming. Really brings out the more subtle but doubly important details.
Like I mentioned before, to anyone wanting to try any pair of headphones for gaming, a good place to start is with headphones that have a good sized soundstage, and a more balanced sound. If the headphones are too colored, it just won't work well with online gaming. This is why I suggest having two pairs of headphones, one for online gaming, one for when you're enjoying a campaign, or just messing about. That is, unless you get something like the DT990 which pulls off both very well (however, remember the sizzling treble that may bother you). Closed headphones CAN work well. Just read up on those that have a large soundstage for closed headphones. Also have to note, that warm/smooth headphones are usually claustrophobic is DH mode, so they don't work well. The brighter it is, the bigger the soundstage seems to be able to project further. Just my impressions.
