[Mezren]

I'm for a headphone that will fill my needs properly with making as as few compromises as possible.
 
These will be used for mostly gaming and listening to music.
 
Budget - Under $150. If there is a pair that's leaps and bounds better for not much more I will stretch for it.
 
Source - PC (Front panel plug or motherboard I/O, willing to buy a sound card or cheap amp).
 
Requirements for Isolation - Flexible. But will be used for gaming. Too much bleed to the mic is bad. Also may try and use them in a home studio for vocal recording. This is a maybe.
 
Preferred Type of Headphone - Over-ear, comfort is a huge plus for long gaming sessions.
 
Preferred tonal balance - I like a punchy bass but dont like when it muffles the rest of the range. Id like to have good mids and highs as well. Soundstage is important due to gaming. I just got a pair of AKG K240s from amazon and they just dont do it in the bass department for me. If this is fixable, I'd like suggestions.
 
Preferred Music - While I do listen to wide variety, I tend to listen to metalcore and post hardcore the most. I do enjoy my jazz though.
 
I have been looking at Audio Technica ATH-M50s, Sennheiser HD558s, and Beyerdynamic Dt770s.
 
Thanks for your time!

 

[cel4145]

Open headphones like the HD558 will give you a bigger soundstage, which is a plus for gaming and music.

The DT990 Pro 250 are a really good price on Amazon at the moment and are open headphones. These would give you more bass than the HD558. These would require a headphone amp or soundcard.

Another thing about souncards is that many have virtual surround for use with gaming and movies, which improves the experience.

 

[kidster18]

Agree with HD558/DT990s, but in my opinion DT990s' mids are a bit recessed and not ideal for jazz vocals/electric guitar
 
If you get the HD558s, try the popular foam mod to make them sound like HD598s. Otherwise, you can try getting a pair of used HD598s as well. Both shouldn't need a dac/amp but would sound great with one (e.g. Aune T1, or Fiio E07K are the most value for money)
 
Also, you can consider the Creative Aurvana Live.

 

[kidster18]

I would also recommend you pass on the ATH-M50s/DT770, their mids leave very much to be desired, in my opinion.
 
I listen to similar stuff that you do, bought the DT770s and returned them after a day.
 
If you can try them out locally before purchase, that would be the best option for you.

 

[Mezren]

Would getting a soundcard fill in for getting a DAC/amp? Or would I still benefit from getting both?
 
Soundcard would be something like this: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-XONAR-Headphone-Audio-Card/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398320126&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+xonar
 
And it sounds like you guys are unanimously agreeing on the 558s. Thats most likely what I will try next. But for the sake of more information, how are the Creative Aurvana Lives? Better than the 558s?

 

[Mezren]

I went ahead and got the 558s. They're much better that the K240s. Thanks for your help guys!

 

[cel4145]

Glad you like them