The Nameless Guide To PC Gaming: For PC Gaming Audio advice, I highly recommend you guys read this guide, 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.
Last update: 12/20/2012
Edited first post for easy browsing
11/12/2012
-Sennheiser HD650 added
I found the video to demo Dolby headphone. EVERYONE can hear this, so try it!
NOTE: At 1:08, this is pretty much how Dolby headphone sounds on the Mixamp. The 5.1 DH: On section at 0:54 sounds like a weaker version, which honestly doesn't sound like the Mixamp's DH, but it still showcases positional cues. Now, if you didn't believe in DH before, you probably will now. Remember: At 1:08-2:00 is pretty much how the Mixamp sounds.
Mad Lust Envy aka. Shin CZ's Gaming Headphone/Headset Guide
Intro on how I came to start this guide and why. (Click to show)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.
INDEX, RATINGS, MY TOP CHOICES
Use this for quick searching (highlight/copy what you're looking for, Ctrl+F, then paste)
Lists (Click to show)
HEADPHONES
D: $0-$50
Koss KSC35
Koss KSC75
Koss UR40
Philips SHP2500
Sennheiser HD201
Steelseries Siberia V1 (*headset*)
Turtle Beach Z2 (*headset*)
C: $50-$150
Audio-Technica AD700
Audio-Technica M50
Creative Aurvana Live! (aka "CAL")
HiFiMAN RE0 (IEM)
Sennheiser HD280 Pro
Sony XB700
Tritton AX720 (*headset*)
Turtle Beach PX21 (*headset*)
B: $150-$300
AKG K701 (K702)
AKG Q701
Beyerdynamic DT770 (Premium)
Beyerdynamic DT770 (Pro 80 ohm)
Beyerdynamic DT880 (Premium)
Beyerdynamic DT990 (Premium)
Sennheiser HD598
Sennheiser PC360 (*headset*)
Tritton AX Pro (true 5.1 *headset*)
A: $300+
Denon D7000
HiFiMAN HE-4
HiFiMAN HE-400
Sennheiser HD650
Ultrasone Pro 2900
Ultrasone Pro 900
Virtual Surround Devices
Astro Mixamp Pro
Astro Mixamp 5.8
Beyerdynamic Headzone (Base only)
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D USB
Tritton AX 720
Turtle Beach DSS (old version)
Victor SU-DH1
How to get Dolby Digital signals from DTS only Blu-Rays off your PS3
External Microphones
AntLion ModMic
DX Mini Clip-on Microphone (aka DealExtreme Mini Clip-on mic)
Labtec LVA7330
Final Notes
Ratings
10: Legendary
9: Amazing
8. Great
7: Good
6: Okay
5: Medicore
0-4: Bad to worthless
MY TOP CHOICES (for quick reference)
Competitive:
K701
Q701
HD598
PC360
AD700
Pro 2900
DT990
D7000
HE-400
Fun:
D7000
DT990
Pro 900
HE-400
DT990 Pro 250ohm
HE-4
HD650
Creative Aurvana Live
DT770 Pro 80
DT880
Pro 2900
All-rounders (for both uses):
D7000
HE-400
Q701
DT990
HE-4
Pro 900
Pro 2900
HD650
DT880
PC360
Creative Aurvana Live
KSC35
KSC75
Special notes: 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. The Pro 2900 is a headphone I can recommend for all purposes, though not at the price range. The HE-400 is a fantastic all rounder, but only when you give it sufficient power. Using the Mixamp alone closes in the soundstage depth, and makes it positioning inferior to when it's properly amped.
HEADPHONES
Tier D: $0-50
Koss KSC35 (*clip-on*)
Sells for $45.
Review (Click to show)
How do they perform for gaming? Obviously, this is what you'd guys wanna know, and fortunately, they are pretty good performers, just the way the KSC75 is, but just a tad bit better. I played Black Ops for several hours today, and Dolby Headphone truly worked well together with the KSC35. There were sounds that would make me think were outside of the game. Soundstage with DH isn't huge, just like the KSC75, but it's not small either. It felt natural. Directional cues were quite easy to identify, so no complaints. All in all, it's a solid sounding headphone, that does work very well for gaming. Bass was strong but quick due to the open nature of the headphones, but slower than the KSC75. Based on sound alone, I'd say the KSC35 is a headphone you could use for hours without fatigue. Kind of like a smaller, more bassy PC360. Nice tonal balance that I don't think anyone would dislike.
My biggest complaint is the price. I'd put them at $25 at it's highest point. $20 would be perfect. For $45, I don't think I can recommend them since the KSC75 can be found for $15, are are just slightly inferior. However, if money is no object, and you want a great clip-on, the KSC35 is definitely worth the upgrade from the KSC75, and the difference between them with their respective stock clips is significant enough to warrant purchase.
Comfort-wise: compared to the KSC75, the KSC35 is quite noticeably lacking in comfort. The KSC75 has those very comfortable rubberized clips, that once you get used to, it's as if they weren't there. The KSC35 has some hard, slightly sharp plastic clips, that will never truly disappear off your head. At times, they can get bothersome, but with time, they're fine for several hours use.
Now, if you use the KSC75 clips on the KSC35 for comfort, you will lose a bit of SQ, and it will put them very close to KSC75 sound, with just a very slight hint of warmth (literally 90% alike). I'd say that it's worth the minor discomfort to use the stock plastic clips as it boosts SQ maybe 25% better than the KSC75, IMHO.
Fun: 7.5/10
Competitive: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Koss KSC75 (*clip-on*)
Sells for $13-$20. Review (Click to show)
It belongs here. Most of you already know what a bang for the buck these are, and I'm more than happy to say that they are pretty good gaming headphones. Directionality is accurate, detail is fantastic for their price, and treble is sparkly and energetic. The bass is also no slouch, assuming you are in a decently quiet atmosphere. The KSC75 is very picky about what is around you, so the quieter the place you're in is, the better they perform. If you want to game on a budget, these should be not be taken lightly. I use them when I wanna relax and lay back, since I don't ever have to worry about them sliding off or out of position. They stay in place no matter what. I love them so much. You couldn't get me to give mine up unless it's for another pair. You get a lot of performance for the price, and everyone should pick some up.edit (6/2/2012): Just want to add that the way to present sound is considerably different from full-sized headphones. They are like a bridge between IEM and Full-sized cans, in which they don't have a FULL sound that envelopes you the way full-size cans do, but they project farther out than IEMs.
Fun: 7/10
Competitive: 7/10
Comfort: 9.5/10 (after initially getting used to clips, they are just amazing)
Koss UR40
Sells for $25-30.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise: Personally, I couldn't get them to sit right on my head, as they were too short. The net style headband didn't do anything for me either. This one is for small heads.
Fun: 2/10 (give you an extra point for the obsecene bass... if that's a good thing...)
Competitive: 1/10
Comfort: 3/10
Philips SHP2500
Sold for $20 (discontinued?). Review (Click to show)
Very comfortable, and has a surprising decent sized soundstage for gaming. Not bad AT ALL for gaming with Dolby Headphone. Won't top the KSC75, but if you need isolation when gaming for the least amount of cash, this is a fine choice.Comfort-wise, they are pretty comfortable, the only issue that even with their velour padding, they quite hot due to a very good seal. No air escapes = sweat galore.
Fun: 5/10
Competitive: 6/10
Comfort: 7/10
Sennheiser HD201
Sells for $20.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, it's not very comfortable. The pleather is cheap and plasticky, and the seal causes discomfort quite quickly. Like bad pressure to the head. Not as bad as the HD280 pro though.
Fun: 6/10
Competitive: 6/10
Comfort: 3/10
Steelseries Siberia V1 (*headset*)
Sells for around $35-50 (discontinued).
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise... quite possibly the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. Seriously. The self adjusting headband is just AWESOME. Very light, and very open, so your ears breathe quite a bit. Looks like a budget Sony MDR-F1. The only area they lack in comfort-wise is that the pads are a bit too small to give them a perfect score.
Fun: 5/10
Competitive: 4/10
Comfort: 9.5/10
Turtle Beach Z2 (*headset*)
Sells for around $50.
Review (Click to show)
The sound: Hmm... not good. Really. it's weak. Now I will tell you why I think that is: the pads. It uses neoprene pads that don't isolate, and don't form any sort of seal. I'd think that some pads that seal properly would probably make the Z2 sound a little better. I'm not a fan of the neoprene pads. They lose the isolation of pleather, and the comfort of velour. Really, no reason why I think neoprene should be used.
If you really want me to tell you how it worked with Dolby Headphone, well... not even remotely good. Lack of soundstage and positional accuracy. Actually, I think it's the very worst I have ever used with Dolby Headphone.
Comfort-wise, don't remember, but as with the PX21, the neoprene pads weren't great.
Fun: 1/10
Competitive: 1/10
Comfort: N/A
Tier C: $50-150
Audio-Technica AD700
Sells for around $100 (more or less).
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, the pads are super comfortable, but the cans are way too loose for some people, and your ears may touch the drivers which a shock prone person like me couldn't handle anymore.
Fun: 6/10 (the soundstage is it's own brand of fun, but soundstage and clarity aside, they're not going to wow you.)
Competitive: 10/10
Comfort: 3/10
Audio-Technica M50
Update: I feel that because the M50s are one of my fave headphones, they deserve a bit more in the listing.
Sells for $120 (more or less).
Review (Click to show)
Mids: The mids are ever so slightly recessed due to slightly more prominent bass and treble. However, the mids aren't THAT recessed, and is well in line with the rest of the sound.
Treble: the treble is emphasized, energetic, and sparkly, They can get harsh, but it's nothing too worrisome, compared to other headphones on the list. The M50's treble gives you a crisp sound overall.
Comfort-wise, the M50 is the most comfortable pleather-padded headphone I have ever owned. You have to do the stretch mod, but once that is done, they are just godly in comfort.
edit: HERE is my thread with how to do the stretch mod.
As far as isolation goes, the M50's do extremely well keeping sounds from leaking out, and a great job isolating from the outside.
Gaming: the M50s don't do very well with Dolby headphone. Their issue is their soundstage, which sound congested and doesn't give you a big enough virtual space to let Dolby headphone work it's magic. I feel that even the Hifiman RE0s (the IEMs) do it better. I'd say if you want a good headphone for plain stereo gaming (like say with a Vita, DS, phones, etc), the M50s will be just fine. Just don't take them seriously for console/PC gaming.
Fun: 7/10
Competitive: 4/10
Comfort: 9/10
Isolation: 8
Creative Aurvana Live! (aka "CAL")
Sells for $100 (or less).
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, I love them. For a pleather 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/stickiness 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. They may not be big enough for those with large areas, so it may feel like an on ear, instead of an over ear headphone to some.
Fun: 8/10
Competitive: 7/10
Comfort: 9/10
HiFiMAN RE0 (IEM)
Sells for $79.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, I'm not a huge IEM fan, and these weren't notably superior or inferior to any other IEM in comfort. The stock tips weren't great, and they would constantly fall out of my ears. I much prefer the JVC Marshmallow's tips for comfort, but not sure what they'd do to the sound, as I didn't own them at the same time.
Fun: 4/10
Competitive: 7/10
Comfort: 6.5/10
Sennheiser HD280 Pro
Sells for around $100.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise.... uhh, no. Just...no. Sennheiser loves it's clamp, and the HD280 Pro is a TORTURE device. It's a vice grip on your head, and the really 'perfect' seal adds heat and sweat on top of that painful clamp. Probably the worst I've used in terms of comfort.
Fun: 5/10
Competitive: 1/10
Comfort: 1/10
Sony XB700
Sells for just over $80.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, the XB700 is a hit and a miss. The headphone is luxuriously comfortable...until all that padding makes the surface area it made contact with, incredibly hot and sticky. Then that comfort takes a large step in the wrong direction. Seriously, they get hot and sticky in a hurry. Considering how much surface area the pads take up... it's not a pleasant feeling at all. They'd be perfect for near freezing temperatures though.
Fun: 7/10
Competitive: 1/10
Comfort: 5/10
edit: XB500 info. The XB500 is even muddier and bloated in bass than the XB700. I'd give them similar scores, except the fun score gets a solid 3/10... 
Tritton AX720 (*headset*)
Sells for $129 (Best Buy).
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, I didn't find them bad or great. They do their job, though for a sealed headphone, they are comfortable.
Fun: 6/10
Competitive: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Turtle Beach PX21 (*headset*)
Sells for $80 (or less).
Review (Click to show)
All this tells me is that you should not use headphones that have in line amps, especially with another amp like the Mixamp.
Comfort-wise, don't remember much, but the neoprene pads weren't amazing.
Fun: 4/10
Competitive: 5/10
Comfort: N/A
Tier B: $150-300
AKG K701 (K702)
update: my impressions are for an older K701 (7 bump version). New K701s (8 bumps on headband) MIGHT sound close, or the same as the Q701. Too many conflicting reports to say who is right, and who is wrong. All I know is that my old K701 sounded different enough from the newer Q701s.
Sells for around $250-300.
Review (Click to show)
Now I already know how volume =/= driving force, but for gaming with dolby headphone, you WON'T think about that or notice. Trust me, the Mixamp is enough for the K701 if again, you don't add voice chat. If you do, you WILL need to attach an amp to the Mixamp's headphone out, just to juice the K70x and voice chat audio. Yes, they do scale with good amping, but for the purpose of gaming, I don't deem it necessary, asides from when you're in need of voice chat.
Comfort-wise, quite polarizing. A lot of people have issue with the headband's bumps. I won't lie, they take getting used to. However, once you've beared with it enough, your head will get desensitized by that particular sensation. The bumps no longer affect me in the least. I find them extremely comfortable. My only complaint now is that I wish the headband extended just a little more. I have to fully extend them to fit me properly, and it's quite noticeably felt, though it's not a real discomfort.
Fun: 6/10
Competitve: 10/10
Comfort: 8/10
AKG Q701
Sells for around $250 (more or less).
Review (Click to show)
Competitive: I can't directly compare the two for competitive use, but no one should pass these up for the slight decrease in score. They are essentially just as good, but the K701 lacks a warmth I deem necessary for overall use, so you end up really focusing on details, which is the main strength in the K701. The emphasis on detail retrieval is what makes the K701 just beastly. The Q701 is tuned for more enjoyment FWIH, though they are still detail monsters, just not as glaringly obvious. As far as positional cues and accuracy, they are every bit as good as the K701. Soundstage may be just a smidge smaller, but I attribute that to the fuller sound. Soundstage to me is bigger on headphones that lack a lower end, letting the space breathe more, if that makes sense.
Seriously, get the Q701 over the K701. Its just an overall better can. If you seriously just want detail whoring for gaming, the money is better spent/saved on some AD700s. The K701 is overkill for that specific need, as the Q701 can be just as good, and be enjoyable outside of gaming. I didn't like the K701 for anything other than competitive gaming. I like the Q701 for most purposes. I tend to use them over the D7000 when watching my favorite shows, due to comfort (love me open+velour pads), and voices are clearer, or playing games that aren't reliant on bass. My D7000 is mostly for music, action movies, and intense games.
As far as my second fave balanced can (DT880) compared the Q701, the DT880 slightly edges out the Qs in fun due to having a more appreciable amount of low end which makes them better to me for music and fun gaming, but falls short on competitive for the lack of positional accuracy. Still, for the uses that I need my balanced can for, the Q701 is still a better fit due to richer mids, better comfort (one of the few who doesn't take Beyers well comfort-wise), and just great all-purpose gaming cans.
Comfort-wise, quite polarizing. A lot of people have issue with the headband's bumps. I won't lie, they take getting used to. However, once you've beared with it enough, your head will get desensitized by that particular sensation. The bumps no longer affect me in the least. I find them extremely comfortable. My only complaint now is that I wish the headband extended just a little more. I have to fully extend them to fit me properly, and it's quite noticeably felt, though it's not a real discomfort.
I need to mention that while the Q701 is a better overall can than the K701 to me, the difference is not night and day. They essentially sound VERY similar, with a slight tonal difference. The difference was definitely enough for me to say it's worth choosing the Q701. Need to clear that up, in case people are expecting a big difference. Think of the Q701 as a very slightly EQ-ed K701, with added warmth and very slightly more bass. If anyone has ever used the Fiio E7, you can say the Q701 is somewhat like using the K701 with EQ-1. EQ-1 on the Fiio E7 is really just a slight nudge upwards for bass (slight), and a warmer/fuller sound.
Like the K701, they desire amping when using voice chat. The sound also scales with amping, but isn't really necessary.
Fun: 7.5/10
Competitive: 9.5/10
Comfort: 8/10
Beyerdynamic DT770 (Premium)
Sold for around $200-300 (DISCONTINUED).
Review (Click to show)
I'd like to try the bass light version at some point, assuming I can find one.
Comfort-wise: While the DT770 Pros feel very comfortable for me, the Premiums less secure fit in addition to the harder than 880 and 990 pads, make them considerably less comfortable if directly compared to the 880/990s. Again, same pros and cons.
Like all the Beyers on my guide, they require amping to truly being out their sound quality.
Fun: 7/10
Competitive: 3/10 (can possibly be a 9/10 if the bass is tamed)
Comfort: 7.5/10
Beyerdynamic DT770 (Pro 80 ohm)
Sells for $180-200.
Review (Click to show)
Like the other Beyers on this guide, they require amping to truly bring out their sound quality.
Fun: 9/10
Competitive: 6/10 (positional accuracy is the very best, but the bloated bass makes it hard to pick up details, so it hurts it quite a bit.)
Comfort: 8.5/10
Beyerdynamic DT880 (Premium)
Sells for around $250-300, though prices vary wildly by ohm version and depending on the day.
Review (Click to show)
The DT880s had a problem accurately depicting sounds that come from between 5 o clock to 7 o clock. Pretty much everything behind you. It actually sounds closer to the center, as opposed to sounding like it's actually behind you. With practice you can LEARN the distinct signature a rear sound makes with the 880s, but it will take you a split second to register that it's coming from behind you. That split second is enough to get you killed in an FPS game. Trust me. This is an issue with all models of the Premium DT880s, as I have compared with a few of my AVS friends who have owned different versions. They all came with the same conclusion. Some others don't experience this problem, but they also don't have the experience I have with headphones that DO have a much better sense of rear sound pinpointing (like say the 770 Pro 80s or K701).
If FPS gaming isn't a priority, don't skip these. They are ABSOLUTELY wonderful for gaming.
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.
Like the other Beyers, they require amping to truly bring out their sound quality.
Before anyone asks about the DT880's competitive score going from an 8 to a 6.5, I had to directly compare the score to the HE-4 (again, this is a SPECIAL case... for everything else, scores should NOT be compared), as I felt they were very similar, though the HE-4 is slightly better for competitive use due to better positioning. That, and it just felt odd to give them an 8 for competitive when I've been quite vocal on their issues with rear sound placement.
update: This listing is for the Premiums. I'd like to try the DT880 Pro 250ohm, as the slight difference in fit may give it enough of a difference both positioning and bass. I also want to mention that like all the Beyers on this guide, they require amping. Don't bother if you don't have a decent amp for them.
Fun: 8/10
Competitive: 6.5/10
Comfort: 8.5/10
Beyerdynamic DT990 (Premium and Pro)
Sells for around $180-$200 for the Pros, and $250-379 for the Premiums, though prices vary wildly depending on ohm version, and day by day price changes.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, they can be truly great a hit or a miss for some. One, the padding is pretty much the best I've felt on ANY headphone, ever. I love velour, especially ones as soft as these. The DT990 is very lightweight, and it will feel like pillows caressing the side of your head. The miss part is that the space for your ears to fit in isn't big and your ears may press against the padding protecting the drivers.
update: My original review was for the 600ohm. I have been using the 32ohm, 250ohm, AND 600ohm versions, and I must say, they're too much alike to consider them different headphones. There may be slight differences, but unless you have them side by side, they're very much the same headphone with different amping requirements.
Comparisons of the 32 vs 250 (Premium and Pro) vs 600 ohm:
The 32ohm is a lot easier to drive in terms of volume, though they scale quite a bit with amping, to the point that I thought they were just shy of the 600ohm. The 32ohm I feel is recommended for those who just want an amazing headphone to pair up with something like the Mixamp and possibly a portable amp.
As for differences between the higher ohm DT990, the 32ohm is slightly less refined, and the soundstage is slightly smaller in stereo mode. It also has a dryness to the sound compared to the 250 ohm Premium. One that wouldn't change my thoughts on it. The 600ohm is slightly better overall to the 32ohm, but to make it better than the 32ohm, you need a pretty good amp to bring out that potential. For most of us, the differences don't justify the hassle. Don't overlook the 32ohm, especially if you're not getting an ideal amp for 600ohm headphones. The 32ohm gets you 95% of the way there, with the benefit of being able to sound very good unamped, and better driven than the 600ohm on all but really good gear. You will still want an amp to bring out their sound quality, like the other Beyers on this guide.
The 250ohm Premium is also just like the 320hm and 600ohm, but it has a darker tone, fuller bass, and less mids than the 32ohm and 600ohm. The differences again, are very negligible, especially if you don't have all 3 to compare. The 250ohm is also more refined than the 32ohm, with a bigger soundstage, and the sound as a whole has more body/weight, but again, the mids aren't as forward as the 32ohm or 600ohm. The difference yet again, are slight. The 250ohm is harder to drive than the 32ohm in terms of VOLUME, and only on certain sources will a portable amp be enough. To be safe, you'll want a desktop amp for the 250ohm.
The Pro 250ohm model sounds just like the Premium 250ohm model, but it has a bit more clamp so the bass is raised slightly, and soundstage is slightly lessened, (though still very similar to the Premium 250ohm, and still bigger than the 32ohm DT990). Because the Pro model is the cheapest, if you're looking to save some money and don't mind the retro look and stronger clamp, the DT990 Pro 250ohm gets you 99.9% the same sound as the Premium 250ohm.
The 600ohm is the most refined, and shares more in common with the 32ohm than the 250ohm, but just barely. The bass is tighter with very slightly less impact than the 250ohm. Like the 32ohm, the mids are ever so slightly more forward than the 250ohm. The soundstage is like the 250ohm, which is to say, slightly larger than the 32ohm. The 600ohm deserves some real good amping to make it worthwhile over the 32/250ohm variants. If you don't plan on getting something in the realm of $250+ for a bonafied desktop amp, get the 250ohm instead, though recent comparisons using the E09K have shown me that the 600ohm is still the better can (literally by a micro hair).
Now, when using a Dolby Headphone device (also using an amp to help drive the Beyers), I found them all to sound almost too similar. virtual surround positioning, soundstage, and tone where all incredibly similar. Made the differences even harder to discern than when listening to music, etc, without the Mixamp.
Because they're all so similar, I won't be giving them different scores. They're all within a hair of each other for fun, competitive, and obviously comfort.
Fun: 9/10
Competitive: 8/10
Comfort: 8.5/10 (8/10 for the 990 Pros due to stronger clamp)
Sennheiser HD598
Sells for $200-250 (I was lucky enough to buy them for $170).
Review (Click to show)
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
Sennheiser PC360 (*headset*)
Sells for $180-250.
Review (Click to show)
Clarity? Check. It lags behind headphones like the AD700, K70x, Q701, and HD598, but for gaming, it is NO slouch. I can say that it COULD be clearer as a whole in comparison to headPHONES in their price range, but as far as headsets go, I highly doubt clarity would ever be a complaint. It picks up subtle details with ease.
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. Fantastically large 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 sounds were coming from with the games I love to test.
Easy to discern front and back? Check. Perhaps the main shortcoming of Dolby Headphone (as some games just don't do this well even with the best headphone ever), and the PC360 got it down masterfully for those games that do rear positional cues well.
If you're in the market for a wired headSET, this should be the top priority. If you're looking for clarity, the PC360 does a fantastic job.
Comfort-wise, it's near identical to the HD598. The pads are wonderful and huge enough for your ears, but the clamp can be bothersome. Extend them to fit loosely, and they'll feel pretty good. Your mileage will vary.
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.
Fun: 6.5/10 (well balanced, but not really matching the punch in bass I like from funner cans, though the bass is enjoyable at times).
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
Tritton AX Pro (true 5.1 *headset*)
Sells for $170.
Review (Click to show)
Comfort-wise, I didn't find them bad or great. They do their job, though for a sealed headphone, they are comfortable. Same as AX720.
Fun: 1/10
Competitive: 5/10
Comfort: 7/10
Tier A: $300+
Denon D7000
Sells for $600+ (DISCONTINUED)
Review (Click to show)
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