Good Headphones?

Culinia

Culinia

Culinia

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10 Jan 2010
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Hi. I am looking for good headphones in terms of audio quality and positioning in-game and for listening to music.

After doing some research I have come up with these headphones:

Audio Technica ATH-AD700
Sennheiser HD-555 / 595
Beyerdynamic DT770pro


<--Goldring DR150/NS1000

Anyone have any opinions or can add? Much appreciated thanks...

Also, would I need a soundcard to compliment the headphones or would onboard sound be good? Thanks again.
 
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What's your onboard first of all? Some aren't too bad.

All the headphones you listed are reputably decent for gaming. DT770pro would do well with a Xonar (not DS) and Dolby Headphone. The rest would suit an X-Fi (not Xtreme Audio) well.

HD595 are generally overpriced compared to HD555. The two are very similar.

I'd add Goldring DR150 and NS1000 into the mix in terms of headphones. I'd say they go better with a Xonar but others seem to be enjoying them with X-Fis.
 
Beyer's you mentioned need to be amplified. So, either an external headphone amplifier, or a sound card that has a built in amp. Xonar Essence or Auzentech Forte for eg.

Other phones you mention are also very good, but will not require amplification, so you could use those with onboard sound. Depends on how much you have to spend, a sound card will be far better than onboard when using decent headphones. Onboard sound is quite good on more modern motherboards, as Uriel mentioned, but the difference between that and a decent sound card using decent phones is more noticeable.
 
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Uriel said:
What's your onboard first of all? Some aren't too bad.

All the headphones you listed are reputably decent for gaming. DT770pro would do well with a Xonar (not DS) and Dolby Headphone. The rest would suit an X-Fi (not Xtreme Audio) well.

HD595 are generally overpriced compared to HD555. The two are very similar.

I'd add Goldring DR150 and NS1000 into the mix in terms of headphones. I'd say they go better with a Xonar but others seem to be enjoying them with X-Fis.
Click to expand...

Thanks for suggestions and advice w/soundcards. Will look into them as well.

I have Realtek HD Audio - off of an X58


Marsman said:
Beyer's you mentioned need to be amplified. So, either an external headphone amplifier, or a sound card that has a built in amp. Xonar Essence or Auzentech Forte for eg.

Other phones you mention are also very good, but will not require amplification, so you could use those with onboard sound. Depends on how much you have to spend, a sound card will be far better than onboard when using decent headphones. Onboard sound is quite good on more modern motherboards, as Uriel mentioned, but the difference between that and a decent sound card using decent phones is more noticeable.
Click to expand...

Thanks for suggestions and heads up for the need for the beyer to be amped.
OK thanks I think I shall get headphones before going for a soundcard just to check it out then see.

Thanks again guys!
 
I've got the DR150's and my housemate has the HD555's, both are nice, the 555's are a bit softer than my DR150s, but I like a bit of pressure. Its all personal preference though.
 
iNPUt said:
I've got the DR150's and my housemate has the HD555's, both are nice, the 555's are a bit softer than my DR150s, but I like a bit of pressure. Its all personal preference though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this - I actually wear glasses, would this present a problem?
 
Hi
I have been using AD700s through a xonar essence stx which has a dedicated headphone amp, I chose these after listening to many sets in the price range and some twice the price, Sounstage is awesome as is voice, The 700s are better for music but are still great for gaming.
You wont be disappointed
 
Culinia said:
Thanks for this - I actually wear glasses, would this present a problem?
Click to expand...

Neither me or my housemate wear glasses, brought some fancy dress glasses ages ago but think I threw them away a few weeks back, could see the 555's better for glasses but I don't have much experience in that department.

The DR150 seem to have a deeper rim (not sure on the technical term) whilst the 555's seem to be more flat but wider. Either way im sure you will be happy with either of them.
 
Uriel said:
If you're wearing glasses I'll lob in a vote for AD700s. They're large with little clamping force.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks!

What do you think about the onboard sound? (Realtek ALC 889 (i think)
EVGA X58 Classifield ) Thanks...

Thanks for your view phaedra, seems the 700 looks more prosperous so far.
 
I wear glasses when at the PC. I have no issues wearing DR150's with glasses on whilst gaming. I cannot wear them for extended periods, say more than 2 hours, nothing to do my glasses, as it applies whether I have glasses on or not. I wouldn't say it's solely down to the clamping force, although that does play a part. It's also that I feel the need to take them off. Same applies if I wear any kind of hat for a too long a period, I just have to take it off. Fidgety I guess lol. :p

Not sure what they would be like for gaming, but for music Sennheiser HD25's are superb phones. If you like bass, they seem to have an unlimited supply of it. :)
 
Hi again, thanks for comments and the link.

Would the following sound cards be good for primarily gaming (and suggested above) and good listening to music experience?

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer

Is there much difference between the Titanium and the Gamer?
Tried to find drivers on their website, but when clicking on download to the beta link it refers you to a different place for some reason.

These cards work well with Windows 7?

Thanks for help.
 
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Creative cards working since Vista is like roulette, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Some people like Daniel K, have modified the drivers, that works for a lot of people, but not always. They are decent cards if you get no issues.

The Xtreme Gamer is PCI, whereas the Titanium is PCIE. The Titanium has onboard optical ports, and comes with Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect, ideal for someone with a digital surround system. If you are going to use analogue speakers and headphones, then maybe the Xtreme Gamer would be the better bet. Best check if you have both PCI and PCIE slots available, if you have only one or the other, get the card for the slot type you have free.
 
The Xtreme Gamer also has a mini-optical port but it's shared with the mic jack. Not good if you want digital out and microphone at the same time.

Some OEM X-Fis are available on PCI that are the same layout as the Titanium. Plus they have the added bonus of being much cheaper. Look for SB0770 or SB0772. OCUK used to sell them but haven't stocked them for a while now.
 
Marsman said:
Creative cards working since Vista is like roulette, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Some people like Daniel K, have modified the drivers, that works for a lot of people, but not always. They are decent cards if you get no issues.

The Xtreme Gamer is PCI, whereas the Titanium is PCIE. The Titanium has onboard optical ports, and comes with Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect, ideal for someone with a digital surround system. If you are going to use analogue speakers and headphones, then maybe the Xtreme Gamer would be the better bet. Best check if you have both PCI and PCIE slots available, if you have only one or the other, get the card for the slot type you have free.
Click to expand...


Oh dear...I don't like that...seems a bit dodgey. Have both available slots but I will probably only use analogue so might go with the Xtreme Gamer...although you have put me off by that statement above!

Thanks for tip Uriel!

Not sure whether to go Xonar if there are no problems with these cards???
 
Xonar's get problems too. It's unavoidable, you can't have a product that works 100% of the time for everyone. Taking into consideration the amount of problems people encounter with both brands, you would have to say Creative cards are the more troublesome. However, you would have to be unfortunate to buy an X-Fi and have a problem, as there are many who own X-Fi's and have no issues. I have owned 2 Xonar's and an X-Fi and have had no issues. One of Creative's biggest failings, is with their older cards, which they have released half arsed drivers for, and not bothered to fix, leaving people to seek out modified drivers.

I think the Xtreme gamer is probably the safest bet of all current X-Fi's. Some people do get issues with it, but there are many who own it and have no issues at all.
 
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