Which headphone setup?

[TheDean]

Morning all,

I've been out of PC gaming for approx 10+ yrs, but I've sold my PS4 and am back (and still rubbish )

I'm after buying some headphones for gaming. I have previously owned K550s, and really liked those for music, but they have sadly passed away - RIP.

I don't have a budget, but I'd like, ideally, to be able to use these headphones for gaming and listening to music. Some surround stuff would be good, but i'll take advice here, as if this is pointless, then I'll not bother.

As ever, bang for buck is the key

 

[EsaT]

Any "surround" or word like that in headphone box basically means content is big pile of trinket garbage.
Good (non-fashion/gaming garbage) stereo headphones is all what's needed.
We hear in 3D because shape of the head causes direction dependant changes/differences to signal received from sound source by both ears.
Brain simply calculates location of sound source from those timing/amplitude/frequency response differences.

In real world those binaural cues can be recorded by having microphones inside dummy head.
Or by putting small microphones into ears of (hopefully) not so dummy head.

In games we can't do that kind of recording, so we have simulate binaural sound/behaviour of sound waves on their way to ears mathematically.
That's the job of Head Related Transfer Function algorithms.
Most sound cards have had those for decade, with Creative having some of the best HRTF algorithms.
(of course HRTFs use average head shape, so if your head shape is farther from average immersion suffers)


Once having binaural signal it's up to headphones.
With good headphones besides directionality there's also actual feel of distances, instead of sounds coming from next to ear.
First minute of this is excellent quick test for headphones, with sounds coming from difference directions and distances:

With bad inaccurate headphones immersion collapses to "head in bucket under water".

If you don't need closed design for isolation sounds of noisy environment, open headphones have easier time in necessary signal reproduction accuracy.
So closed headphone for noise isolation, or quiet environment and open headphones is first choise to do.

Then there's preference of do you want fun above neutral bass punch, or neutral bass and maximal details like foot steps etc?
Though in case of closed headphones bass tends to be very strong or very weak.
Open headphones are easier to balance in that.

For closed design Beyerdynamic DT770 would be good for its price, though closed designs bass could do with equalziing down if you want better details.
For open Headphones Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro does good balance of bass immersion and details.
AKG K702 again is aural "god mode/wallhack" for details with its accurate neutral sound.

 

[lltfdaniel]

I recommend the 1 more triple driver headphone, i would love you to listen and know what they sound like.

They have a Immersive/surround sound, sound.

Please research the 1 more triple driver or go to a place to listen to them because they will be a fun listen yet balanced.

Plus they are easy enough to drive/power the headphones and also sound great without an headphone amp.

Your looking at around about £147 for these headphones and to be honest i have spent a lot of money on headphones and to be honest and serious these take the lead because of the fun sound.

When i say a lot of money i have about over 15 headphones costing £200-300 and they are not special, when i say special in comparison as to what the 1 more triple driver iem sounds like because i am after sound quality and sonic sound.

Okay they are not the best of headphones but the sonic sound and sound quality is impressive for the price and that along with the sub woofer bass and balanced sound makes them a fun listen.

 

[lltfdaniel]

Hate to say this but, if you turn your back on the 1 more triple drivers, i would want to buy you them because of the good fun sound you will be missing but hopefully it does not come to that with me buying you them.

Just make sure they are on a loud volume because they sound better when loud me thinks.

I am hooked for the first time thanks to 1 more headphones and iems even after 15-20 headphones they are that great sounding.

Anyways they are easy to power/drive and does not need an amp to sound great.

 

[lltfdaniel]

Now that i actually have these headphones the sound is very articulate/sound quality and buttery and lush or smooth.

Bass is not lacking but only comes out when the recording asks for it.

Dan.

edit,

At the moment my mind is blown off due to the way this headphone sounds, as i am calling it liquid sound.

This definitely is a decent entry level audiophile headphone

 

[EsaT]

Now that i actually have these headphones the sound is very articulate/sound quality and buttery and lush or smooth.

Bass is not lacking but only comes out when the recording asks for it.

Those 1Mores are far from neutral bass.
Dropping 31, 62 and 125Hz by 6-7 dBs would be needed to make them bass neutral.
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/1MORETripleDriver.pdf
Those towards end rising half wave tops of 300Hz square wave show upper mids and treble being clearly behind strong low end emphasis.
(square wave consists of simultaneous rising frequency sine waves)

Likely not that good for gaming, because binaural cues use upper mids and treble heavily for details.

 

[lltfdaniel]

Those 1Mores are far from neutral bass.
Dropping 31, 62 and 125Hz by 6-7 dBs would be needed to make them bass neutral.
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/1MORETripleDriver.pdf
Those towards end rising half wave tops of 300Hz square wave show upper mids and treble being clearly behind strong low end emphasis.
(square wave consists of simultaneous rising frequency sine waves)

Likely not that good for gaming, because binaural cues use upper mids and treble heavily for details.

Okay so what do you think about the meze 99 classic headphone, it seems to take the cake and is having rave reviews?

Despite me going on about the 1more and yeah they do sound good and want more so i am looking at meze 99 classic headphones.

Either the 1 more or the meze 99 classics for the op.

edit,

So yeah i'd steer the op to look at the classic 99 from meze and if he can listen to the classic 99's then that be great and also the amp made for the meze classic 99 to pair with for that synergy between amp and headphones.

Why well according to the reviews this headphone stands out and has had praise thrown at it.

I just hope it lives up to my own expectations, but yea the 1 more are indeed one of those headphones or iem that actually do sound good and sounding good or awesome according to reviews of the classic 99 is all i care about so i get lost in the music and actually enjoy the sound without sounding boring and i love sub bass with a balanced sound like the way the 1 more triple driver iem sound like but i want more sub bass but i like the way the 1 more triple driver iem presents sound, it is balanced and the bass is never in the way and i like that presentation and i believe it can be improved upon to sound awesome rather then sounding good.

The sub bass with a lovely lush mid range and highs from the 1 more triple driver iem defiantly is one of the best iem you can get for under £100 for sure so if you like subwoofer sound with a clear midrange then get the 1 more triple driver iem.

Also shakes and rumble with vibration which is what makes those iem sound better and always makes my hair stand on end it is that enjoyable but i want more sub bass there is room for improvement on the sub bass which is what i mean.

The sub bass is like the akg k550 but it has more rumble and impact and sounds much more like a subwoofer characteristic wise where we know what a proper sub woofer sounds like then the akg k550 regarding the 1 more triple driver iem.

Regarding what a proper sub woofer sounds like in all the headphones i have tried only the 1 more triple driver iem and well it is the closes thing to even achieve such sub bass but it is not the best or perfect but it is the only one that marginally gets close to what a sub woofer sounds like and nothing else has beat it in my experience with sub bass on well over 15+ headphones i have owned and iems.

Just need a decent seal with the iem/triple driver from 1 more to get the most of the sub bass and yeah makes me breathless it is quite deep regarding sub woofer performance on the 1 more triple driver but does not sound like a proper ultra high end subwoofer but it is better then nothing and 1 more barely scratches it regarding sub woofer sub bass and can be improved upon which is why i want more sub bass and the way it presents sound thanks to the triple driver it makes for a nice good sound it is hard to say but the bloat of the bass is seperated from the mids and highs and sound like a speaker set up where you have 1 subwoofer and 2 speakers instead of all in one driver you see which frees up the driver and i like this sound which is why i love the engaging sound.

I give the iem called 1 more triple driver a 2.5/5 for sub woofer performance beating everything else i have bought which is the 15 headphones costing 200-300 and have failed to deliver such bass as well as a flagship sennheiser ie8 iem which wasn't special better off buying the 1 more triple driver as it sounds better to be honest.

What i am trying to say is that realistically the sub woofer is quite deep sounding on the 1 more iems and on some tracks it has enough bass quantity so to speak but on other tracks it lacks you know which is why i gave it 2.5/5 for sub woofer performance so a fully rounded sub woofer has more bass quantity to operate at it's fullest but none the less when the track calls for it you know without colouring the sound and the 1 more triple driver does that in a good way without coloring the sound which is what i like, not boring mind you with this sub bass and the overall presentation of the sound which is why i recommend these iems.

Anyways back to the topic i don't want to derail the thread.

Dan.