Looking for gaming headset recommendation

Calranthe

Calranthe

Calranthe

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5 Oct 2007
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620
I am looking for a gaming headset I would prefer 5.1/7.1 USB with built in sound card.

My current is a Sennheiser PC363D which I have worn into the ground.

Now the most important feature of the headset recommended must be and I repeat must be very good construction, I have ADHD and the creaks from most cheap models as you move your jaw as the plastic rubs against itself or strains drive me crazy, not something I can ignore or get use to especially because the creaks usually centre around the cup hinges and thus translate directly to ears.
 
Why would you want to poison yours ears with atrocious 7.1 headsets?

Buy a real pair of headphones, K612, HD600 or similar, plonk a mic on it can it will get a soundcard or a device that does surround sound and you have something that sounds awesome.
 
They sound like mud, can't resolve very well. It's a waste of money IMO, what did you pay? like £180 or so? You can get the K612 and a mod mic for less than that and also have money left over for a surround sound device and they will resolve the knickers off all of these 7.1 headsets and will actually give you a better response.
 
Stereo gives such a nicer sound than some 7.1 headset. You still get 'surround' sound via dolby headphone and it sounds great but with a much bigger soundstage.

X2s are worth a look.
 
I have the older version of the PC363Ds - for gaming they don't sound bad - but demanding music they really struggle with articulation - they seem to be and perhaps not unsurprisingly focused on providing good results with Dolby ProLogic IIz with low complexity sound - I honestly used to think they and the PC163D were quite good for sound quality but truth is while they handle ingame environments well they fall apart in anything outside of that use.

I wouldn't recommend the HD600 for gaming - they don't do bad there but its not really their forte either. There are a few AKG models that fair fairly well for gaming (EDIT: However the build quality hasn't been the most amazing on the ones I've experience of - nothing bad but cheaper feeling and more prone to creaking, etc. than other brands I've experience of like Sennheiser).

EDIT: Have to disagree to a point with Ryan on the HD600s - while they have a lot of detail which is nice for gaming and can be great for immersive single player, etc. where you are hearing detail that gaming headsets simply don't reproduce - for competitive gaming I really find headphones that produce an artificial sense of separation a bonus even at the expense of overall sound quality. (Though last time I seriously gamed on them was with a somewhat ageing amp so I might revisit the post when I've got time to experiment with some different amp setups and get back into gaming).
 
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The K612 are built to last. Philips X2 have a lot of QC issues I've had to return two sets because of poor driver matching and the metal band around the cups was coming apart. I had a K501 from the late nighties and it was pretty good nick. I fully trust AKG when it comes to their higher end open models.

Reason I recommend the HD600 is because of its abilities to resolve and it's micro detail along with an articulate treble. It can sound a bit closed in though so it's not everyone's cup of tea for gaming I myself prefer a bit more space and air for games like with the K612, K702 etc.
 
Okay I did some reading and this is what I am thinking
An Asus Strix Raid Pro sound card it has a 600ohm amp, from the reviews it looks like a quality card.
For headphones I am looking at the following so please feel free to pipe in with experience or other options (£360 is my max limit)
HIFIMAN HE-400i
Beyerdynamic DT880 PRO Headset - 250 OHM
AKG Pro Audio K712PRO Studio Headphones

I still have a couple of weeks before I buy so any input in appreciated especially as I came into this thread thinking of only 5.1/7.1 and now have much better options thank you.
 
Still pick the K612 over those for gaming.

HE-400i is a good headphone but it isn't as well separated for games. Good bass extensions, a little eneven sounding.

K712 performs like the K712 with more elevated mid bass and a bit of of s U shaped sound in comparison. It's a bit better for music but not almost triple the price better. If you want an all-round headphone this is a good choice.

DT880 isn't that good IMO. Good bass extension but I personally felt the imaging was weird, can't put my finger on it. Driver sounds like it puts out quite q lot of distortion.
 
Okay I just hit the buttons for the Strix + K612. will let people know how they fair against my Sennheiser, especially because the pc363 cost more than both of those together.

thank you
 
......
The Strix and the AKG 612's arrived about an hour ago, you have to understand for the past 10 years I have gone from gimmick headset to gimmick, cheap to expensive and inbetween, 5.1 7.1 and surround sound, the last true sound system I had was 19 years ago before I met my now wife (sold my system to pay for the rent deposit on our first house).

I had pretty much forgotten what good audio sounds like, haven't even tried games yet, spent the last hour getting use to how nice these feel on the head and how good they sound while writing this I am listening to Hotel California, Hell freezes over version, its corny but its like I am hearing it for the first time.

Will reply back after I play a few games.
 
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