Best headphones for sound staging and imaging?

[fraps]

I’ve been using wireless headphones for the past few years or so and before that, it was whatever cheap headset I could get my hands on.
Looking to upgrade my audio game. I have read the recommendation thread but it seemed a touch outdated.
The top of my list is a PC38X with an apple USB-C dongle, can I do any better in terms of sound staging for FPS games without breaking the bank or are they the best I can get?

 

[Raymond Lin]

For that kind of money, it is hard to beat the PC38X, especially as it come with a mic too.

I have it, and I also have Sennheiser HD600, Hifiman Edition XS, Sony XM4, IEMs and for comfort with microphone, I pick the PC38x.

The only downside is the short cord so you need to be close to your source.

 

[fraps]

For that kind of money, it is hard to beat the PC38X, especially as it come with a mic too.

I have it, and I also have Sennheiser HD600, Hifiman Edition XS, Sony XM4, IEMs and for comfort with microphone, I pick the PC38x.

The only downside is the short cord so you need to be close to your source.

Thank you, do you have a dac or do you drive it from your motherboard?

 

[Raymond Lin]

Thank you, do you have a dac or do you drive it from your motherboard?

I have tried it on my Xbox controller straight into 3.5mm but if I am at my desk, if I need the Mic then I use the audio port in my Caldigit dock. I guess the dock has a dac but no idea how good it is but it is loud enough.

But I also have a DAC, several in fact, one cost £1k....but I don't need to use them. It's perfectly fine even out of the headphone out on the Mac Mini M4.

 

[Timber]

PC38X is very good for gaming. Technically better headphones/sets out there, but the tuning on these is very good. Reasonably priced, super easy-to-drive and therefore consistent no matter what you plug them into. You do get the 1.2m & 3m cable in box, along with two different ear pads. The shorter cable is a combo TRRS jack and the longer cable has split mic and headphone connections you typically see more on PC.

I use mine mostly with the Fosi Audio K7 but have used it with PC on-board audio, the Dualsense and a few different USB DAC dongles. Only negative for me is the clamping force out of the box is noticeable. You do need to break them in, or rest over a yoga block/box for a few days. The clamp reduces the more you use them.

 

[HighlandeR]

If you ever consider wireless, the audeze maxwell wireless hps are awesome for staging and imaging. The planars really do take it a notch up imo and there designed for games/movies.

 

[fraps]

If you ever consider wireless, the audeze maxwell wireless hps are awesome for staging and imaging. The planars really do take it a notch up imo and there designed for games/movies.

There’s two things keeping me away from the maxwells, the weight and the price. Ive also read about issues with spotty QC. They’re definitely something I want to try though, maybe if they do a V2 or significant Black Friday discount.

 

[sgavan]

I too can recommend the Maxwell's, had mine fire over a year and my other headsets don't get used very much now. Dt990,akg 702. Weight and long use not been an issue for me. They sometimes go on sale at store retail catalogue shop.

 

[HighlandeR]

There’s two things keeping me away from the maxwells, the weight and the price. Ive also read about issues with spotty QC. They’re definitely something I want to try though, maybe if they do a V2 or significant Black Friday discount.

Yeah they are heavy, I needed regular breaks from them and they are just massive on the head. I think you maybe able to get use to them though I ended up selling them off since there too big for bed users.

I didn't notice any QC, but perhaps only since I had them for a month or so. There are concerns of QC as with any product.

The instrument placement, vocals and positioning though was amazing even better then my 2nd gen plannars on the Stax S5s. Audeze did a fantastic job of getting the details out perhaps due to those giant drivers which feel like speakers on the side of your ears.

 

[Jenz]

If you're thinking of the Apple USB-C Dongle I would suggest you avoid as the UK/EU model is power restricted. I would highly recommend a JCally JM6 Pro from Aliexpress instead. They'll be about £10'ish delivered and has more power and nice clean dac.

 

[qbazdz]

Small hijack on the thread as Im looking for something similar - however wireless with connectivity both to a PC and TV or TV via soundbar. The Maxwells price is just silly if you ask me..

 

[fraps]

If you're thinking of the Apple USB-C Dongle I would suggest you avoid as the UK/EU model is power restricted. I would highly recommend a JCally JM6 Pro from Aliexpress instead. They'll be about £10'ish delivered and has more power and nice clean dac.

Thanks for that. I was contemplating driving it off my motherboard (ASUS X570 Crosshair hero). But I’ll most likely pick up that DAC and the headphones and then compare with and without.

 

[JollyJamma]

I have tried it on my Xbox controller straight into 3.5mm but if I am at my desk, if I need the Mic then I use the audio port in my Caldigit dock. I guess the dock has a dac but no idea how good it is but it is loud enough.

But I also have a DAC, several in fact, one cost £1k....but I don't need to use them. It's perfectly fine even out of the headphone out on the Mac Mini M4.

*Snip Image*

Really nice setup you've got there.

 

[RussZS]

PC38x 100%

 

[fraps]

Hmm, just checked the prices and it’s $205 shipped from Drop and that’s the only way I can see to get it here in the UK. At that price I think there’s VAT and import duty as well. Might have to wait it out till they have a sale. I can’t believe it’s $200, RRP was 169.

 

[Gray2233]

Small hijack on the thread as Im looking for something similar - however wireless with connectivity both to a PC and TV or TV via soundbar. The Maxwells price is just silly if you ask me..

For a decent headphone, especially wireless, £250 really isn't all that bad.

You can currently get the Hifiman Deva Pro and the wireless adapter for £150 which isn't bad for what you get, solid planars and the "adapter" functions as a amp/DAC that performs extremely well.

Battery life is a bit so-so, I'd do some reading on them.

"Wireless" is going to spike the budget for headphones a fair bit, getting a decent pair on a budget with those requirements isn't going to be easy.

 

[GregI]

I was in your boat years ago and spent more time than most. The PC38x was a consideration but absolute ridiculous price as you said. Forced me to look elsewhere.

I play Overwatch which is probably one of the most demanding games for staging and imaging. I settled on the Philips SHP9500. Currently can be gotten for around £30 imported into UK. No extra charges. I added a vmoda boom pro mic and it's a ~£55 setup that beats basically anything quadruple the price.

The only thing I think that might be better is the Sennheiser 560S but you're talking more than 2.5x the price of the SHP9500 for not much improvement, plus it means no easy mic addon. Not once have I ever not known where someone was with the SHP9500. It's also super nice for music. I've had the combo for 5 years now, I'd never switch. I've actually thought of buying 3 or 4 just to store away because I'll never get anything better.

Some examples if you need:

(the original review that cemented them in the public eye)

Basically to me the SHP9500 is so good you would need some very precise requirements to not have these.

 

[Rroff]

Basically to me the SHP9500 is so good you would need some very precise requirements to not have these

I've not tried the SHP9500 but I've tried the SHP9600 and have the Fidelio X2HR and I suspect the same applies to the 9500 - good soundstage and crisp detailed sound BUT positional accuracy really isn't there compared to other headphones in movies and games which have good surround - maybe they seem good compared to cheaper headphones but when compared to my more expensive Sony and Sennheiser it is really lacking, to be fair as I said haven't tried the 9500s.

Though a bit pricey the new Sennheiser HD505 are supposed to be very good for sound stage and imaging short of spending a lot more money, though people have mixed opinion if they are better or worse than the Sennheiser 560S for positional audio in games.

 

[Timber]

Hmm, just checked the prices and it’s $205 shipped from Drop and that’s the only way I can see to get it here in the UK. At that price I think there’s VAT and import duty as well. Might have to wait it out till they have a sale. I can’t believe it’s $200, RRP was 169.

This is the annoyance with Drop stuff from the UK. When I bought the PC38X in March 2023 they were being sold officially in the UK for £149.99, however they don't seem to have them any more. They do pop-up mint/unused sometimes in second-hand auctions.

Though a bit pricey the new Sennheiser HD505 are supposed to be very good for sound stage and imaging short of spending a lot more money, though people have mixed opinion if they are better or worse than the Sennheiser 560S for positional audio in games.

560S is a bargain for what you get (£99). Very detailed and superb for gaming. For music I didn't like it as much and I did have some minor gripes with the HD 5xx series for comfort, but I think these are great recommendations. The HD 550 is generally preferred in reviews vs. the 505 and only £20 more if going that route. Any of these will need a mic although there are boompro mic options that easily plug into the HD 5xx series. So you could build a 560S + Boompro headset for £120.

If needing another option that is an all-in-one headset, although not as neutral, there is the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro (£259). Recently released, open-back and will have great imaging and staging that all Beyer's have. That's readily more available in the UK although unfortunately more expensive.

 

[GregI]

when compared to my more expensive Sony and Sennheiser it is really lacking, to be fair as I said haven't tried the 9500s.

The Z review states they are pretty different:

I'm not saying the SHP9500 is perfect but for £30 it's worth trying before you spend triple (if not quadruple) the price. Maybe something like the 560S has better accuracy by a small margin but is that worth triple price? I would never say that I died because of these headphones lacking flawless accuracy so I'd rather put that saved money into making sure I got a top tier shape mouse and mouse pad which will make a bigger difference.

Ofcourse at the end of the day it's all subjective so in those times I tend to go cheaper when I feel like it's not holding me back. If the 9500 was like £70 I wouldn't and just pick up the 560S.