Gaming Headset - G533 vs AKG K702 + AE-5 (or alternative)

[Ali3ta1r]

New to the forum, but this seems like a good place to ask this question. So firstly, appreciate anyone who takes the time to assist on my question.

So I am seeking a new gaming headset/audio set-up for purely FPS gaming (PUBG, CS:GO etc.) in a quiet room, I will not be looking to take any of this equipment outside or listen to an extensive amount of music through it. At this moment in time, I seem to have narrowed it down to 2 options through website/forum trawling:

1. Logitech G533 Headset
2. AKG K702 + a Sound BlasterX AE-5 + some surround sound software

Much of my decision has been based on the tests shown on the Rtings website, where the G533 scores favourably on the sound tests, better than the K702 but I believe it wasn't tested in companion with a solid sound-card/DAC (which I understand it requires to drive it).

Can anyone please provide any input on whether they think I am making the right choice on either of the above options, or if there is a better alternative out there? One of the key requirements for me is good positional audio (footsteps, gun-fire etc.) and as I understand good stereo sound with game settings can rival a 7.1 headset whilst providing a better audio quality.

 

[Ali3ta1r]

I am currently using K702's with with an AE-5. It's a great setup. When playing Dying Light using the DSP 7.1 Headphone setting, positional audio is brilliant. I can hear easily hear the footsteps of zombies coming up on me when i'm lock picking

Overall its a solid choice. The K702's in my opinion are sharp and good for those positional audio cues. Although they sometimes sound a tad bit harsh.

Do you use Discord and a mic set-up with this? Any issues with it being an open headphone and sound-leak received by the mic when talking to people in-game?

 

[Ali3ta1r]

I have little doubt that K702 would beat those Logitechs in actual gaming capability "with hands tied behind back".
Even if they don't drown details with closed design's strong bass, that design is serious challenge even for audio makers to get reproduction accurate enough for binaural sound.
While K701/702 designed for that true "detail whoring" of neutral analytical sound is at absolute top level for binaural sound.

Mad Lust Envy's guide puts it spot on:
"The meaning of God-mode is strong with this one. If you want a headphone to pick apart details from everything around you, this one is pretty hard to pass up."
Next level up would basically need on screen map showing locations of sound sources.
(of course neutral bass from open headphone isn't high on "fun factor")

Most "reviews" of any kind gaming headphones/sets just aren't any reviews, but either straight away marketing or completely lacking neutral testing/"playing field".
Accurate headphones simply don't help any with stereo sound source.
Without binaural cues brain can position sounds only to left or right ear or inside head.
While without actually good reference even mediocre headphones would be better with binaural sound.


Though of course if your head shape differs more from average, then your personal HRTF and binaural cues are different eating immersion.
For head and ear shape customizable HRTF we have to wait for Creative to finish and release products with their "Super X-Fi" tech.
Current Creative sound cards use HRTF algorithm based on average human head shape.

Now if we could only get hardware sound processing back with sound card calculating output from game's actual audio data with true 3D sound source positions.

You'll be going deaf far before any sound leak from open headphone becomes too much for microphone.
Keyboard is magnitude bigger background noise source than headphones at hearing safe volume.
Mechanical keyboard double so.

Thanks EsaT for contributing to my question, very helpful. So it seems apparent I should opt for the K702's, but what additional equipment do I need to support these for gaming (i.e. soundcard, DAC, amp...).

My initial instinct is the Sound BlasterX AE-5 as it's a purposely built for PC/gaming. However, I simply don't have the knowledge or understanding to know if that's true or makes a difference. I've seen people talking up the Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO, Filio E10K and the Schiit Stack amongst others.

I have a pretty strong budget if the audio would be noticeably better, and again this is mainly for FPS gaming (footsteps, gunfire etc. being priority).

Do you have any thoughts on what direction I should be looking?

 

[Ali3ta1r]

For the benefit of any advice, my motherboard is an Z370 AORUS Gaming 7. Onboard audio is listed as:

Audio

1. Realtek® ALC1220 codec
2. ESS9018Q2C chip
3. Support for Sound BlasterX 720°
4. High Definition Audio
5. 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
6. Support for S/PDIF Out

Maybe this doesn't need upgrading as it's quite a recent motherboard.

 

[Ali3ta1r]

Excellent, again really appreciate the level of detailed advice provided EsaT.

Could I ask your opinion on the testing done by Rtings, who according to their empirical/non-subjective tests (scores out of 10) the G533 compares more favourably to the K702s:

G533
Bass = 9.2
Mid = 8.1
Treble: 8.7
Soundstage: 7.3

AKG K702
Bass = 7.8
Mid = 8.8
Treble = 7.9
Soundstage = 7.4

The reason I ask, is whether a non-audiophile such as myself will notice the difference?

Very interested to see why the AKG K702 didn't score as well if the better headphone, which according to many it is.

Also, does this dispel the notion that wireless sound is a poorer quality than wired? Like how once time they said wireless mouses would lag...

 

[Ali3ta1r]

Sound BlasterX AE-5 would be basically everything needed.
Creative has very good binaural simulation/HRTF algorithm and AE-5 has top level DAC and headphone output good for pretty much any headphone.

Sennheiser GSX is genuine overpriced gaming hype product, just like gaming brand headsets.
Its HRTF algorithm is sure among best with Creative, but for its hardware more proper price would be £50.
Its using cheap Conexant chip meant for phones/tablets with worser DAC than budget level Audigy Fx/Xonar DGX and basic level headphone output!
It essentially lacks both good DAC and that headphone amp...
Creative's just released Sound BlasterX G6 would be many times better with top level DAC and headphone output apparently 1:1 identical to AE-5.

Fiios or Schiits are "dumb" single pupose devices, because that's only thing what DAC can do.
(they don't even have normal mic/line in connectivity of any sound card)
And by themselves give only stereo sound with its "sound inside left or right ear, or inside head" immersion.
Which is as good for gaming immersion as that description sounds once you've listened to binaural sound with good headphones.

Unless implementation suffers from some interference there's likely zero sense for separate sound card at least now.
That Realtek itself would have very competent DAC very likely fully accurate enough for human hearing.
Anyway D/A conversion has been given for that ESS Sabre chip.
Again while K702 isn't the easiest load neither it's hardest.

And that Sound BlasterX 720 comes with same algorithms Creative uses for their sound cards.
Once installed/set properly it should produce identical signal to Creative's sound cards.
(occasionally motherboard makers bundle something actually good/useful with motherboards)

I certainly would wait for Creative's "Super X-Fi" based products.
Challenge of all HRTF's is that if listener's head and ear shape is different from average model used by algorithm, accuracy of binaural cues suffers lowering immersion.
So should be easy to understand what ability to customize HRTF means.

Just further my post above, here's the link to the Rtings page:

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/t...-vs-akg-k702/505/332#usage*5003!threshold*0.1

 

[Ali3ta1r]

So I've narrowed it down to two headphones that are totally different to ones I started this forum with.

Either the:
Sennheiser Game One (G4ME One) - https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sennheiser/game-one-g4me-one-gaming-headset
Or:
Beyerdynamic DT990 - https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/beyerdynamic/dt-990-pro

From the audio profiles on Rtings or from any first-hand experience with either headset, does anyone have any advice where my money would be best spent?

Whichever one it ends up being, is more than likely going to be paired with a Creative AE-5 Soundcard (should that factor into any considerations...)

Looking forward to your thoughts.