Driving myself crazy here - is there an all round closed music / gaming headphone?

PapaLazaru · 30 Apr 2018 at 15:14

Closed is much more preferable as I am getting to many complaints whilst late night gaming or listening to music from the missus. She has very selective hearing but one has to live with these things to keep the peace.

I also want a single solution but it must be at least equal to or an improvement on my current setup for both music and gaming.

For gaming I use some Sennheiser 363D with the dongle.
For music I use Sennheiser HD650 into a Marantz HD-DAC1 via USB.

DAC stays, no question. I am bored of supposed 'gaming audio post processing' and I only really play PUBG and nothing really works with it so going back to stereo. Thinking of using a Modmic on some good closed headphones and running the audio through my DAC and the mic through a USB converter (can I even do this?)

I'm going to struggle to do this am I not? Cannot see anything out there to justify a decent outlay. Been looking at:

Meze 99 classics - no improvement
Shure SRH 1540 - probably better for gaming but not for music
Audioquest Nightowl Carbon - mixed reviews but an interesting option for £350
Denon AH-D7200 - looking like the best option (can get for a good price arounf £350) but slapping a modmic on wood?!?!?

Have I missed anything? Shall I just buy her earplugs?

PapaLazaru · 1 May 2018 at 10:02

Man you change your headphones a lot!

Weirdly my other option for an all-rounder, whilst buying her earplugs was the Beyer Amiron Home, not thought about the DT 1990.

Itching to buy something though, had my HD650 for a while now and will get a decent price for them along with the 363D which can go towards the new set.

PapaLazaru · 1 May 2018 at 12:50

Sony's are a bit rich pricewise have also looked at those but forgot to mention.

Not considered the DT 1770 PRO's but am now looking at as Rids mentioned the 990's.

I can get the Denon AH-D7200 for £300 which is seriously tempting me though............

PapaLazaru · 1 May 2018 at 22:59

The Amiron's are my real want. I would like to build a collection again but just cannot justify it. Did have 4 at one point (Grado SR225e, X2, K550 & HD650 but ditched them all and kept the Senns.

Might just have to get the Amiron's and buy her some earplugs. They are the only headphones out there without spending silly money that tick all the boxes.

PapaLazaru · 2 May 2018 at 08:08

Well the D7200 can be had with full 2 year warranty but a manufacturers refurb for £300. Authorised dealer. The refurb part puts me off a little, but the price is really tempting.

PapaLazaru · 2 May 2018 at 19:44

Ah man. Had a change of heart. Its the gaming that annoys her the most. The late night gunfire.

I'm going to keep my 650's, sell the 363D's and buy some of what I have had before and gave to a friend.

AKG K550 MK3 are only £129 in RS. Get those, run them out of my DAC, get a Modmic and then I will have a better gaming experience and on the times I want the music loud late at night, I will just use them. Normally half-cut anyway.

Save my pennies up for something much greater in a few months. These are intriguing me but I dread to think how much they might be - https://avprogear.com/meze-audio-empyrean-isodynamic-hybrid-array-headphone

PapaLazaru · 5 May 2018 at 17:01

Ditched the D7200 idea and picked up some AKG K550 MK3's from RS for £129 for the meantime.

Second time I have owned these, albeit a previous model, but man are good for the price. Removable cable now and they seemed to have tuned a bit more bottom end into them. My new gaming / late night loud music cans.

Got a second hand Samson Go Mic connect on the way to try out for gaming, but if it is no good just going to slap a modmic on them.

Still on the lookout for the ultimate all in one solution though.