Argyris
Head-Fi's third most long-winded poster.
Hello everyone, I really need your opinion, I've bought HD 600 almost 4 months ago, first it was really dull and felt really vailed and I didn't liked it at all but now they are really better I really love them when I listen to music with them, but I heard really extra ordinary and good things about them only negative thing people has to say about them is that they are vailed which in my opinion after the burn in they are not at all! in fact they are really easy to listen to and your dont feel your ears fatigued, but with my setup I don't feel they are really fantastic, they are good, just really good, better than everything I had (this is my first good quality headphone) I am using Creative Sound Blaster Zx amplified headphone jack, I am really disappointed with their in game performance, its like you are not in game and you are watching the game form the TV, footsteps are really close and not precise, I am well aware of this that they are not a gaming headphones they are not designed for gaming, I am really obsessing over this I researched and some people say you have to change the cable, some people have said to me a sound card is a really bad choice for powering HD600, so now I am wondering what should be my next move, a new amp or cable or entirely new headphones for only gaming cause I love how they sound with music. My friend has HD598 custom and handmade 300 ohms, they are so amazing on gaming I get goose bumps every time I play games with his rig, fir example in Crysis 3 game, its like you have the helmet on when you shoot with your gun you feel sound starting from your gun and spreading in environment, But I tried with my HD600 the same games I was heartbroken, he also uses a sound card for his 598, So I need help on these two topics, 1.Is it from the HD600 or the way I am powering them up and can be improved. 2. if I wanted to buy new headphones for gaming is normal HD598 (not the handmade and custom, but regular 50 ohms one) is good or it has to be custom, Many many thanks in advance for your help and opinions.
It sounds like you're looking for a larger soundstage. As a consequence of the HD 600's upper midrange-forward tuning, it tends to make everything sound close to you, with a really obvious center image but not a whole lot of deflection to either side. Headphones with a bit less upper midrange and a little more treble (the HD 598, at least in stock form, fits here) will project a larger image; something like a DT880 with significantly more treble will go even further in that direction.
It's your choice what direction to go, though I can tell you from my experience that there are no miracles to be had futzing around with components. The HD 600 has its own sonic flavor, just like every other headphone. And just like no matter what bowl you put it in or which spoon you use to eat it, vanilla ice cream will never magically turn into chocolate, the HD 600 will not magically grow a big soundstage. It is what it is.
My advice would be to pick up a second set specifically for gaming if the HD 600 is unsatisfying in this area. I'd say go with the HD 598 if you've heard it and liked it, except I have no idea what your friend did to end up with a 300 ohm variant, apart from somehow transplanting HD 6x0 drivers into it, which I'm sure would sound WAY different from a stock HD 598. It might still be worth taking a shot at it if you can find a good deal, though, especially since the 599 is now out and you might find a good price on the older model as retailers are trying to clear old stock.
Last edited: