Headsets/Audiophiles/Headphones

[Zennousha]

As much as I like my 5.1 surround set, I don't get that much use of it currently as I don't want to fight with room-mates over volumes.

So in the next while I'd like to get myself a smashing pair of... something or others to snap snugly onto my melon for my PC. Mostly just video games and music. I've heard many arguments about "headsets quality" this or "headphones cannot into directional sound" that, so from personal experiences what would you guys suggest?

I have an onboard high definition Soundblaster with my Rampage II Gene, so if possible I'd like to make good use of that. I'm also very limited in what I can get through online retailers (I only have Paypal at the moment). Bicker away!

 

[Shadrach]

I have Sennheiser HD 555s, really nice headphones, expensive, but not insanely so.

From experience, that they fit comfortably and you can wear them for a long time is most important. Get proper ones that fits your whole ear inside. Plastic "g4m3r-leet" sets just starts to hurt after a while.

 

[Zennousha]

Yeah, I was looking at the PC 333D/330 and all I've heard is it hurts most people's heads (though I do have a fairly small head, who wants to waste time returning it?). I'll check out the 555 though (oddly it's not on their website).

 

[kablooie!]

hah my headphones broke 2 days ago. need some new ones, too.

is this it?

http://www.sennheiser.ca/live/senn/produit/en/104/160

Long life due to easily replaceable parts

How easily? :X

 

[NoxNoctum]

I'm very happy with my Sennheiser HD 595s. They're very comfortable and have great sound. They cost me $250 originally but dropped down to $150 or so IIRC.

Down side is they bleed sound like crazy (other people can hear quite a bit if they're nearby).

 

[Zennousha]

I'm very happy with my Sennheiser HD 595s. They're very comfortable and have great sound. They cost me $250 originally but dropped down to $150 or so IIRC.

Down side is they bleed sound like crazy (other people can hear quite a bit if they're nearby).

I don't think bleeding out would be as bad, I'd be more worried of picking up too much background noise (for immersion based games). Though at the same time, closed headphones tend to get quite uncomfortable after awhile.

 

[Capt.Marion]

As an audiophile that listens to everything from Country to Techno to LOTS of Classical, and who also plays FPSs, I like my Grado SR80s. They are a tad uncomfortable after a while, but they are very crisp and incredibly precise.

 

[Colt .45 killer]

best headphones for the $$ now are Siberia steeleseries on ebay. Get the V1's they have felt ear pieces, EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE. The original MSRP was ~100 Usd, they can now be had for 40$ with free shipping worldwide. The sound quality is also audiophile level.


( im not an audiophile, a mate is he has tried em and said the sound quality was good, that coming from a guy ususally using 300$ seinheisers )

 

[Zennousha]

Well, I think it has come down to the Siberia V2 and the 7H from Steelseries. As much as the Sennheisers sound great, all the ones that I was interested in were open headphones. Unfortunately I need something that can close out sound, and preferably not leak sound either.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions from everyone. All your opinions were taken into consideration and went into this final decision!

 

[Colt .45 killer]

Well, I think it has come down to the Siberia V2 and the 7H from Steelseries. As much as the Sennheisers sound great, all the ones that I was interested in were open headphones. Unfortunately I need something that can close out sound, and preferably not leak sound either.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions from everyone. All your opinions were taken into consideration and went into this final decision!

the V2's? Why why why!

Unless the built in mic is the selling point. The V2 has leather ear pieces and runs ~70 usd, the v1 has felt ( much more comfortable for wearing for up to 12 hours straight ) and can be bought for 40$ with free shipping.


I can attest that the V1 is open sided so if you turn the volume down you can hear everything else, but its not so obnoxiously designed that everyone else hears it when it is nicely loud. I also have no doubt you could make it so loud that people standing around you would complain of the volume being too loud.

( sound leakage = low, sound blockage = medium although not noise cancelling )

 

[Zennousha]

I definitely needed a mic for all intents and purposes. The V2s feel incredibly comfortable since I have small ears that don't get much if any contact from the cups, and even them as brand new feel incredibly comfortable.

The Siberia V2 so far has done its purposes. As much as velour material feels great, I do have a small head/ears and the closed headphones/noise cancellation is very important.

EDIT: After a few hours with these things, I have concluded they're far superior in every way to what I had prior, and I definitely have no need to upgrade to the USB version. My sound card handles everything very well, in both music, movies, and video games. Plus, the directional audio is plenty good on the stereo, and I can still determine where things are occurring and roughly how far away. I'm quite impressed with the buggers. Again, the material of choice could be better but it causes me no discomfort in any way. The only issue I have noticed is I need to be careful retracting the microphone if I'm putting it away while it's still on my head, as it can get tangled in my long hair on the way back.

 

[Colt .45 killer]

the v1 came with a seperte mic that could sit on your desk. It sits 2 feet away from me and pics me up just fine.


To each their own I guess...