Gaming Headphones

Typhoon

Typhoon

Typhoon

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I am looking to purchase a surround sound/3D/5.1/7.1 set of headphones for gaming (mic not important). I doubt that headphones will give the same surround effect as discrete speakers but I am looking for something better than basic stereo. I do have a 3 yr old Logitech 5.1 speaker setup with a headphone jack in the volme control port. Would a surround headphone set plug in here or into the 3 inputs on the sound card that the 5.1 speaker setup uses? I'd rather not have to go to the back of the PC to swap cables around to switch between the 2. Got a budget of up to £80 or so but could stretch. it will be my first headset so dont know much about them

Cheers
 
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A good pair of stereo headphnes will be as good if not better than 5.1 headsets for use in gaming. Myself and plenty of others on here wil testify to that, and that 5.1 ehadsets are an overpriced gimmick.

It would be best to plug a set of stereo headphones into the soundcard directly, but you could just plug them into the headphone jack on your speakers if it would be to much effort to keep switching around.

Bottom line, go with some nice headphones like the sennheiser HD595 !
 
Someone should really make a sticky for people who are looking for gaming headphones :rolleyes:

If you definitely don't need a microphone, go for the HD555s. If you can stretch slightly further than £80 you could get the HD595s, but if you'll only be playing games you may not notice the difference between the two.
 
Thanks, yes only for games at night time. So the 3d/5.1 phones dont add anything for games over good stero phones?
 
If you want surround sound over headphones, I would highly recommend the Xonar line of soundcards. With a good set of headphones they create an illusion of listening to speakers with Dolby Headphone. It's remarkably effective - so much so that I once reached to turn my speakers down, and realised I was wearing headphones.

X-Fi cards do something similar but I don't find the effect to be as convincing (I've owned 3 X-Fi variants).

I could probably do without surround speakers now for personal use, but it's still handy to have a full setup for watching films with the missus. Couldn't have said that before owning the Xonar.
 
I have gone from the siatek cyborg 5.1 USB headphones to xonar D1 and the creative phones in my sig. And the sound is so much better than the 5.1s.

So if your budget can go that far thats the way I recommend. (or a set of open phones if you dont mind the noise disturbing everyone else.)
 
I just picked up some Goldring NS1000 closed noise cancelling cans for £50, I'll let you know how well they compare to my HD555 when they arrive.
 
Raikiri said:
I just picked up some Goldring NS1000 closed noise cancelling cans for £50, I'll let you know how well they compare to my HD555 when they arrive.
Click to expand...

Absolutely stunning set - and I'd be intereste to hear what you think, compared to the HD555s. I have both these and the Creative Aurvana Live! IMO they're a clear step above the CALs, DR50s, DR100s. On par with some of the higher end Sennheisers I've heard. Some of the best cans I've heard for representing the human voice and acoustic instruments. The bass is deep and well controlled but not at all overpowering. Overall great - apart from noise cancelling causing hiss and they maybe squeeze my head a bit too tight.

That's with noise reduction on. With it off I find the bass to be overpowering and uncontrolled. The mids and trebles both sound veiled. I do wonder if a reasonable amp might bing out some of the character that they show with noise reduction on (the active noise reduction needs a built in amp, which only works in active mode). I'd love to get the same sound signature and quality without the hiss. I'd like to try a set of DR150s, which have the same drivers.

In both acive and passive cases the NS1000s lack the soundstage of an open headphone, which is where pairing them with a Xonar comes in. Add Dolby Headphone and they take on a new lease of life - incredible - like listening to a very good set of speakers. Of all the headphones I've tried with the Xonar, only these and a borrowed set of HD600s sounded really natural with Dolby Heaphone (especially mode 3, which is spacious on these but sounds slightly metallic on most other headphones I've tried).
 
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Good to hear your impressions of them, I bought them on a whim after finding a £100 off voucher (RRP is £149, cheapest anywhere else was £82). From the looks of things I could do with a portable amp for use on the go.

I'll probably pick up a CMOY or FIIO at some point, I did have an iBasso T2 but it broke :/
 
Funny you should say that. I ordered a CMOY from a US seller but it's taking so long that I reckon customs have got it and will be sending me a letter shortly. Was getting impatient so I ordered a FIIO E5 from a UK seller. It should arrive tomorrow hopefully.
 
How come we don't see proper gamers using stereo headphones? (proper gamers as in gamers who win big money in gaming tournaments)
They always use dedicated gaming headphones.

Surely if stereo headphones were superior, they would use them to gain an advantage.

(I have a pair of HD595 and find them average for gaming)
 
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tchan_4 said:
How come we don't see proper gamers using stereo headphones? (proper gamers as in gamers who win big money in gaming tournaments)
They always use dedicated gaming headphones.

Surely if stereo headphones were superior, they would use them to gain an advantage.

(I have a pair of HD595 and find them average for gaming)
Click to expand...

If this is the case (and I pay no attention whatsoever to large gaming tournaments) Most likely bacause Sennheiser, Goldring, Grado and even Creative etc aren't likely to sponsor 'pro' gamers to wear their audiophile headsets, as it's not their target market. People will use allsorts when it's discounted or free.

Also there's a difference between being competative and listening enjoyment. Using soundcards as an example - If I want to be immersed in a game I would prefer to use a Xonar with Dolby Headphone. If I was playing competitively I would use an X-Fi. In my Audigy 2 days, I would have used a surround headset like the Medusas, as the CMSS headphone implementation was rubbish.
 
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The only reason I bought the HD595 over dedicated gaming headphones was because I was going to use them for games/movies/music.

However it turns out I prefer to use my speakers for movies and music and only use my headphones for gaming.
In my opinion they are not great for gaming, even with Dolby Headphone and DS3D GX on my Xonar D2.

Some people say getting a headphone-amp will make them better but I think I'll be better off selling/trading them for a pair of gaming headset.
 
Well I'd advise try before you buy. The HD595s aren't to everybody's taste. I prefer a closed headphone for gaming because it shuts out the fan noise from my PC. Others like the added soundstage that many open phones have. Each to their own.
 
Received earlier but only just got in from work so I haven't had time to run them in or really try them.

First impressions (noise canceling on) - They sound good, bass is well controlled and punchy. Mids are clear and detailed, highs are a little harsh but that's easily solved with some EQ adjustment on your mp3/amp/PC.

Sound isolation is good, completely blocks out the noise of a running 360, disc drive and all (:eek:).

Noise cancelling off - They don't sound half as good, they still block out plenty of outside noise but the sound is completely different. Nowhere near as detailed, lacking bass.

I'll run them in and give you some feedback with films/games etc. later.
 
Well my Fiio e5 has arrived. Not had chance to test it with the NS1000s yet. Very pleased for portable use, as it completely kills the hiss from my walkman phone and IEM setup.

I found the NS1000 treble (noise cancelling on) got less harsh after a few weeks use. Never really did a standard 'burn in' with them.
 
tchan_4 said:
How come we don't see proper gamers using stereo headphones? (proper gamers as in gamers who win big money in gaming tournaments)
They always use dedicated gaming headphones.
Click to expand...

They don't get paid.

In my opinion they are not great for gaming, even with Dolby Headphone and DS3D GX on my Xonar D2.
Click to expand...

Stereo is still better than any of the 'gamer' headsets/phones out there though.

595's + Dolby Headphone + Games set to 5.1 is fantastic, I don't see how you can say otherwise.
 
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