Open or closed headphones

[WU-TANG]GZA · 13 Mar 2010 at 01:15

Hi Guys,

Sorry I'm sure this has been covered over and over again but.....

I've never used Open headphones before but I was thinking of getting the HD555s primarily for gaming and maybe some movies.

Onboard Realtek SC on Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

I don't think noise would be THAT much of an issue in my house late at night but as I said, I've never used them. Can't say I turn up my current headphones (Sennheiser eH150) to anything like full volume. But don't want to pester the missus with what might sound like tinny speakers coming from my head!

Are there any really good closed headphones equivalent to the HD555s that I've missed? I saw the HD448s? on amazon for similar price they any good? I do like my sound to have good bass but hopefully without losing mid and high (I'm not an audiophile - just a gamer that likes bass)

On a side note - do you think it woud even be worth upgrading headphones with my onboard sound or not worth it and stick with my eH150s which tbh give a lot for £13 !!

thanks in advance,

wu

(budget around £80)

C64 · 13 Mar 2010 at 06:23

Open headphone noise often gets exagerated but I guess it comes down to different tolerances.
Flavour of the month seems to be Goldring ns1000 £50.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 13 Mar 2010 at 13:00

C64 said:
Open headphone noise often gets exagerated but I guess it comes down to different tolerances.
Flavour of the month seems to be Goldring ns1000 £50.

Yeah i've lots of good comments on them. I dont like the look of them, as I might want to use them in public also.

What do you guys think on HD448s Vs HD555s? I've heard that the HD448s need a separate amp for MP3 player for them to sound really good would that NOT be the case if used with my pc??

And do you guys think I wud even notice a performance increase from sennheiser eH150 to HD555/448 whilst using my onboard soundcard or not really worth it?

Cheers peeps

C64 · 13 Mar 2010 at 17:33

audio technica ath esw9 ?

Audio technica ath es7

I'd look at audio technica range in general too if you like headphones to look good.

You are probably best off getting sennheiser hd 555 or goldring dr150 though as they are easier to drive and will sound better off the onboard.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 14 Mar 2010 at 12:29

Shameless bump -

I've narrowed it down to:

Senn HD555

Senn HD448

Logitech G35

Primary use is gaming - onboard sound from my mobo which is posted above.

Would the G35 give better sound positioning than the others due to it being independent of my onboard soundcard (USB)?.

I will NOT be getting a dedicated sound card. Maybe in the future but certainly not now.

Thanks ppl...

Marsman · 14 Mar 2010 at 12:36

If you are concerned about the appearance, should you wish to use the phones in public, why on earth are you looking at the Logitech G35?

[WU-TANG]GZA · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:13

Marsman said:
If you are concerned about the appearance, should you wish to use the phones in public, why on earth are you looking at the Logitech G35?

I thought I would look kinda l33t on the tube wearing those! J/K

Well gaming takes priority as it's what I use the headphones for 98% of the time so if they were much better for gaming purposes then I wud sacrifice using them as portable headphones.

what do you think then, do you own any of those headphones?

Rroff · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:25

TBH I wouldn't spend the earth on headphones to drive from an onboard soundcard - most of them just can't do the headphones justice...

Marsman · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:31

I have Goldring DR150's.

I was just puzzled when you said you didn't like the look of the NS1000's in case you wear them in public, but you were looking at the G35, which can't be used without carrying a laptop/PC around with you.

I am not a fan of so called 5.1 phones, but as you do not intend to get a sound card, then without something like the G35, you will get no positional sound. All other phones mentioned used with your onboard will only be plain stereo.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:32

Rroff said:
TBH I wouldn't spend the earth on headphones to drive from an onboard soundcard - most of them just can't do the headphones justice...

Thanks for your input - so u dont think I wud see much of an improvement from my current Senn eH150s to 555/448/G35 with my onboard souncard - wtf do they say 7.1 if it's not 7.1??? So annoying I wud have chosen the UD5 mobo from OC with my Titan Goliath if I'd have known......

[WU-TANG]GZA · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:33

"I have Goldring DR150's.

I was just puzzled when you said you didn't like the look of the NS1000's in case you wear them in public, but you were looking at the G35, which can't be used without carrying a laptop/PC around with you.

I am not a fan of so called 5.1 phones, but as you do not intend to get a sound card, then without something like the G35, you will get no positional sound. All other phones mentioned used with your onboard will only be plain stereo. "

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Aah right...so with onboard out the list you wud say G35 then as I said 98% of the purpose Is for gaming so I won't cry that I cannot use them as portables.

Marsman · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:34

He means in sound quality, 7.1 has nothing to do with sound quality. Besides G35 doesn't use the onboard. Rroff is speaking of stereo headphones connected to the onboard.

[WU-TANG]GZA · 14 Mar 2010 at 13:39

Marsman said:
He means in sound quality, 7.1 has nothing to do with sound quality. Besides G35 doesn't use the onboard. Rroff is speaking of stereo headphones connected to the onboard.

Yea I know it was a separate point sorry it did seem linked. So following that logic (keeping with onboard) I should go for G35 to see a noticeable improvement bcos they are independent to my onboard sound?