Buying phillips x2hr will my dac help at all?

[EsaT]

@EsaT WOW.

I'll never buy "gaming" headsets again. I'm honestly blown away with how headphones sound compared to my old Astros.

What I will say is I feel like the x2hrs lean heavily in the "fun" department.

When I do hear things such as footsteps it's hard to pinpoint what direction they are coming from and also the distance. But in terms of fun and immersion, they're great.

I do feel that the k712 or dt990s may have been better suited for me as you stated they're balanced between fun and competitiveness.

Between the dt990s and 712 which would you pick? I've read the highs on the 990s can be a bit harsh.

Try to not fall from chair and don't have any drink in hand/nearby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S58tlGZ1zg
Games and movies would be nice with same sound immersion...

Since headphone.com removing their comparison tool there's no easy way to compare frequency responses by having them overlaid.
But X2 certainly has sub-1kHz emphasis...
With 4dB drop from 800Hz to 1,5kHz and then dropping further past 2kHz with major canyon in lower treble.
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/PhilipsFidelioX2.pdf
That would explain feel of lacking clarity.
(famous for music Sennheiser HD650 also dives above 1kHz)
You could try using equalizer to tone down 60/125/250/500Hz bands basing on that for making frequency response more accurate/neutral.
Boosting mids/treble would need parametric equalizer instead of fixed band.

Here's K712's frequency response.
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AKGK712.pdf
There's no DT990 on that site, but headphone.com's comparison showed it having overall rather similar response.
With actually less mid dip around 3kHz, but with bass punching slightly more and there's certainly more treble.
Comfort wise manually adjustable head band is lot surer for different head sizes/shapes.
And Beyer's replacement ear pads cost like ~30€ for pair, vs. 50€ for single K712 pad.

For music DT990's treble is sure easily agressive sounding, but dropping 8kHz band 3-4 dB in equalizer starts controlling it to more usual level.
(who knows if lots of music is even mixed on equipment having lowish treble causing it being boosted)
In gaming and movies with binaural sound that treble really isn't problem.
And used it five years as only headphones.

Besides Sabaton/Stratovarius etc I listen lots of soundtracks containing whole spectrum from lows to high.
Most of pop music is just so crappy and soundtracks beat it by light year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypWmjiBJ4fo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppq0da1Bjc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbMn6qsT3bc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKpINrZau0k&list=PLcVh-WWldt8n782rfHmR5VKyjdZom65yn&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2RK6OGNMCY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUkckT73twY
Similarly game soundtracks trounce majority of pop music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95obkJqXj2c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyvziMZXgeM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W49R_UeQOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyG6YMLEWus

 

[gearsplayer]

@EsaT thanks so much for all the advice.

These x2s are probably the most fun headphones/sets I've ever experienced instead of sending them back I may just keep them and buy a pair of 990s and a g6 for "competitive".


Apart from the cable is there a difference between the pro and edition 250ohm version of the 990s? There's a £50 price difference between the two £99 Vs £150. Btw how does rock music sound on the 990s?


Would you happen to know if you can get optical sound (console) and pc sound (usb) with the g6 at the same time?

 

[EsaT]

@EsaT thanks so much for all the advice.

These x2s are probably the most fun headphones/sets I've ever experienced instead of sending them back I may just keep them and buy a pair of 990s and a g6 for "competitive".


Apart from the cable is there a difference between the pro and edition 250ohm version of the 990s? There's a £50 price difference between the two £99 Vs £150. Btw how does rock music sound on the 990s?


Would you happen to know if you can get optical sound (console) and pc sound (usb) with the g6 at the same time?

Besides coiled cable studio use aimed Pro version has less decorated look and little more head band clamping force. (with slight bass increasing effect)
But head band inside cushion is steel so that mid part can be bend to "customize" comfort.
Also Pro version lacks leather storage box and comes with drawstring bag:
https://europe.beyerdynamic.com/dt-990-edition.html
https://europe.beyerdynamic.com/dt-990-pro.html

DT990's bass would be certainly better for rock, than best for competitive gaming K702's neutral bass.
That treble again can need some tuning down in equalizer.
Now trying it after using mostly K712, DT990 is certainly more open design letting noise through more clearer.

If wanting to try equalizer with Fidelio would drop 500Hz and 250Hz 3-4dB, 125Hz 5dB and 60Hz about same.
That could "open" up details from that stuffy "warm" sound.


SBX G6 doesn't have any physical input/source selection switch and neither have seen reviews showing anything such in control software.
So not sure if it can be connected to two sources simultaneously.
Though it might simply automatically decode optical signal, if there's no signal coming from USB. (which is always needed for power)
At least analog line in can be used to make it like headphone amp for other source.
Also SPDIF is selectable in monitoring under mixer:
https://youtu.be/C-mlGcV7W8o?t=5m22s

Have been myself considering it for having easy access to enabling/disabling processing, but now waiting for that Super X-Fi using card.

 

[gearsplayer]

@EsaT

Thanks. To save some money on an external amp. Do you have any experience with the HD 599s? Would these be great for competitive gaming?


I'll try EQ my x2s at some point. I'm just enjoying single player atm and in single player theyre grand.

 

[EsaT]

Thanks. To save some money on an external amp. Do you have any experience with the HD 599s? Would these be great for competitive gaming?

Don't have expenrience from HD599.
Though it has possibly moved little toward that "warmer" sound than preceding HD598.
Which already had notch more bass than HD595, which I have. (retired)
While very good, HD595 isn't up to AKG K702 in details, while also bass is weak.
(increase in bass certainly doesn't help with details)

As for mechanical design that's been done for fancy look instead of durability.
That HD595 with it's shiny fashion plastic started rotting in 2½ years.
Have seen same also in HD598 and other HD500-family models.
Though HD599 is back to standard and likely lot more durable black plastic, design still isn't that great.

 

[gearsplayer]

@EsaT

I'm thinking about picking up an amp dac.

Do you have any information regarding the creative amp DAC/amps coming out later this year?

The main feature missing from the g6 is the separation of chat and game audio. The sgx 1000 has this option but doesn't support console .

Thanks

 

[EsaT]

Do you have any information regarding the creative amp DAC/amps coming out later this year?

The main feature missing from the g6 is the separation of chat and game audio. The sgx 1000 has this option but doesn't support console .

Project Accent has gotten Sound Blaster X3 name:
https://www.vortez.net/news_story/c..._blaster_x3_and_sxfi_theater_at_ifa_2019.html

But there's no firm data if it has optical input and supports Dolby Digital decoding like SBX G6.
Without that it would be limited to stereo with consoles beating the whole purpose of Super X-Fi tech.


Creative has Super X-Fi profile for Fidelio X2HR, so performance should be good:
https://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=200121&c

 

[gearsplayer]

@EsaT
It says in that article it supports dolby and PS4.

When is IFA taking place? Do you have an idea on how much this will cost?

 

[SofaSniper]

Did you ever get a Dac for the X2’s ? I just bought the X2HR’s driven by my Xbox controller. Wondering if a dac/amp will improve on the sound.

 

[C64]

I use a puny fiio e6 not even connected to my ps4 but connected to the monitors 3.5mm and the x2hr sounds great, clean punchy rich they're not a hard to drive headphone.

Any old cheap little headphone amp/dac will certainly improve the sound of a console.The xG6 seems a no brainer if you do a lot of console gaming and also want a soundcard for pc.

The soundblasterx g6 is the one to be looking at as it has a much better dac and headphone amp than things like the X3 and gsx1000.