Headphone Buying Megathread/Guide V4 - Come here for all your audio needs! (New Threads are not need

[Holt]

Not sure if this is the place to ask but I'm looking at buying a new desktop microphone because mines pretty old, (2005 or something) and its beginning to act up, theres an annoying buzzing noise in the background and it sounds like i'm inside a wind tunnel sometimes.

Is there a decent desktop microphone out there for gaming for less than £20? ($30-ish dollars)

Thanks guys.

[Humor]

So I purchased some Sennheiser 518's as an intro to the higher quality sound setups out there. Is there anything I should know about setting them up? I have to be honest, I moved from Apple Earbuds and I'm not as blown away as the difference as I would've hoped. Should I change my audio settings, or is it a silly thing like using the audio ports in the rear of my PC versus the ones in the front?

[Yeskey]

[QUOTE=DanTehMan;49749467]So I purchased some Sennheiser 518's as an intro to the higher quality sound setups out there. Is there anything I should know about setting them up? I have to be honest, I moved from Apple Earbuds and I'm not as blown away as the difference as I would've hoped. Should I change my audio settings, or is it a silly thing like using the audio ports in the rear of my PC versus the ones in the front?[/QUOTE]

The typical thing to do is to disable all audio enhancements and set your bit / sample rate to 44.1kHz, 24 bits; which is the format you'll most commonly encounter. The reason for 24 bits over 16 bits is because the extra 8 bits provide headroom when digital volumes drop below 100%, preventing loss of bit depth and conserving audio quality. (To my understanding)

I'd also recommend using the most direct connection to your source (The i/o's on your mobo in this case) to reduce any unnecessary interference that can potentially be introduced. And finally, give your Hd518's about a week of head time so that you become attuned to the sound signature, then have a listen to your earbuds, I'm pretty certain you'll notice a difference.

[QUOTE=Merijnwitje;49746272]Right now I've got a pair of Philips SHP2000 headphones, and I'm looking to replace them as they're held together with insulation tape at this point.

My budget would be a absolute maximum of 150, and I generally want to stay at 120 euros.
I always use headphones whenever I'm at my computer, listening to all sorts of genres, playing games and voicechatting with people. A detachable cord would be great so I can replace them with longer if required. I'd be looking for a cord longer than two meters so I can easily watch movies from my bed when a friend stays over. I guess detachable earpads would be a plus too so I can run them through the washing machine every once in a while, as I'm going to wear them a LOT.

Basically to make this story short, what would be a good all-round performer with a detachable cord and perhaps even removable earpads working on a 3.5mm jack?[/QUOTE]

It's a tossup between in the Shp9500 and the Hd558 imo. They both provide great sound at their price points, the Shp9500 having the standard detachable 3.5mm connect and "unremovable earpads" while the Hd558 has a "proprietary detachable 2.5mm connect", but removable earpads. These can both be modded in order to have all the features that you desire.

The Shp9500 pads can technically be removed, albeit [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNytxN7F09M]destroying the ear pads in the process in order to replace them with aftermarket pads[/url] (video not mine). And the proprietary locking cam in the Hd558 can removed and replaced with a 2.5mm > 3.5mm interconnect to allow any standard 3.5mm plug to connect ([url=http://www.head-fi.org/t/601873/sennheiser-hd558-cable]headfi documentation[/url]). slayer3032 has performed the locking cam mod on a pair of Hd558's and Hd518's, so he can provide more insight if you're interested in that. From an ease of use perspective, the Hd558 is easier to mod and it's reversible, while the Shp9500 mod is more difficult and irreversible.

[Brosef Stachin]

Budget: €100
eBay: Sure
Country: Ireland
Isolation: Circumaural and Closed air preferably (gotten too used to them at this stage)
Purpose: Music (on iPod Classic and PC), Videogames, Netflix
Music Tastes: Heavy metal, power metal, melodic death metal, classic rock... etc (you get the gist, but it's also pretty varied outside of that)
Previous Experiences: default Apple iPod earphones, knockoff Chinese Dre Beats, 2 Motorheard Motorizer Headphones
Comments: My second Motorizers have now lost audio in the right side (like the last pair) but only lasted half as long (about a year, compared to two with the previous). I think it's an audio jack issue with these ones but I wouldn't risk doing it myself and it's 20 quid to get it done in a shop. The previous pair had the same issue but eventually the audio just stopped regardless of wire. Plus the damn standard wire is 2 metres long, and the mobile wire is useless (no use for it anyway). They'll be used an awful lot too. Thinking of also picking up some kind of mic for use with Skype voice chat while gaming with my friend.

[helifreak]

I remember when I went from a shitty 15 dollar headset to shitty 20 dollar earphones that the bass was so much better but when I had to go from proper headphones to them again I realised they have basically nothing.

[waylander]

has anyone got a pair of betron in-ear headphones? my sennheisers have started to fall apart and i dont really want to get another pair because i think there portable headphones are overpriced

[waylander]

[b]Budget:[/b]~£20/$30
[b]eBay:[/b]no
[b]Country:[/b]UK
[b]Isolation:[/b]Yes
[b]Purpose:[/b]Holiday travel, if they survive watching youtube on mobile
[b]Music Tastes:[/b]varied
[b]Previous Experiences:[/b]cx475, hd598, hd600
[b]Comments:[/b]i need to place one last amazon order so id rather not buy from ebay, id like something cheap but reasonable quality as theres more risk of them being lost or damaged and i can probably buy some replacements while away at a quarter of the price

[Brosef Stachin]

Okay so this is a bit different to my earlier request for a new pair of headphones.

I took apart my headphones (ie took the pad off the bust ear and unscrewed it) to find that a small white wire had come disconnected inside it. Anyone know a DIY fix for something like this or should I take it to a shop?

[Slayer3032]

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;49751062]The typical thing to do is to disable all audio enhancements and set your bit / sample rate to 44.1kHz, 24 bits; which is the format you'll most commonly encounter. The reason for 24 bits over 16 bits is because the extra 8 bits provide headroom when digital volumes drop below 100%, preventing loss of bit depth and conserving audio quality. (To my understanding)

I'd also recommend using the most direct connection to your source (The i/o's on your mobo in this case) to reduce any unnecessary interference that can potentially be introduced. And finally, give your Hd518's about a week of head time so that you become attuned to the sound signature, then have a listen to your earbuds, I'm pretty certain you'll notice a difference.

It's a tossup between in the Shp9500 and the Hd558 imo. They both provide great sound at their price points, the Shp9500 having the standard detachable 3.5mm connect and "unremovable earpads" while the Hd558 has a "proprietary detachable 2.5mm connect", but removable earpads. These can both be modded in order to have all the features that you desire.

The Shp9500 pads can technically be removed, albeit [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNytxN7F09M]destroying the ear pads in the process in order to replace them with aftermarket pads[/url] (video not mine). And the proprietary locking cam in the Hd558 can removed and replaced with a 2.5mm > 3.5mm interconnect to allow any standard 3.5mm plug to connect ([url=http://www.head-fi.org/t/601873/sennheiser-hd558-cable]headfi documentation[/url]). slayer3032 has performed the locking cam mod on a pair of Hd558's and Hd518's, so he can provide more insight if you're interested in that. From an ease of use perspective, the Hd558 is easier to mod and it's reversible, while the Shp9500 mod is more difficult and irreversible.[/QUOTE]

I have SHP9500's on order to be here Thursday so I'll give my opinion on them to my 518/558's!

The SHP9500's have came down to $76 on Amazon finally too.
[url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ENMK1DW[/url]

I'd suggest a dremel for that locking cam mod. I really only have automotive tools and have always seemed to avoid shelling out for a nice dremel. It was really a hack job just ripping some huge drill bits into a small chunk of plastic while I held it and trying not to destroy it entirely with a drill.

[Schmaaa]

can anyone tell me how to take apart my HD 518's so I can remove the cable lock?

[Slayer3032]

[QUOTE=Schmaaa;49756635]can anyone tell me how to take apart my HD 518's so I can remove the cable lock?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49641509]It takes like 5 minutes to do it and 5 minutes to put it back in. You just need a very fine phillips screwdriver.

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49539653]So I wanted to start out these 558's a little different than the ghetto way most people do this. Instead of just removing the locking cam which also protects the jack/board from damage from jamming the connector into the board. I did the same to my 518's which I only took pictures of. The first time I did it I didn't drill/shave down the tabs as much and it actually puts a little pressure on the adapter which helps hold it snugly.

[t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5601782/Computer/2016-01-15%2015.21.22.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5601782/Computer/2016-01-15%2015.20.49.jpg[/t]

[t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5601782/Computer/2016-01-15%2015.40.32.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5601782/Computer/2016-01-15%2015.50.04.jpg[/t]

The ghetto way of doing it.
[t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5601782/Computer/2016-01-15%2015.55.51.jpg[/t][/QUOTE]

[t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5601782/Computer/2016-01-15%2015.15.42.jpg[/t]
It's very simple, you can just take out the locking cam. All you do is remove the left earpad(pull with wide even pressure across multiple fingers. Unscrew the 3 screws holding the driver in, carefully set it aside and then unscrew the 2 screws that hold down the jack board. Now remove the locking cam and reassemble.

I modified my locking cam instead because it guides the cord into the jack a little and keeps it from stabbing into the board. If you go buy a $8 dremel knockoff at harbor freight or something it would probably be better to grind down the inner tabs with that instead of jamming drill bits into something I held with pliers.

If you don't want to use some screwdrivers, you could always get a modmic.[/QUOTE]

If you need help taking the ear pads off without breaking them, you can watch someone else do it in the following link. This video also goes over disassembly but it's really not complicated other than using a correct screwdriver that won't strip the screw heads. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-kJ7sN16qw[/url]

[Schmaaa]

THat's for the 558s though. Are you sure it's the same process? the pad on my pair doesn't seem to come off as easily as the video makes it seem.

EDIT: Just tried it again, worked just like the video. I thought the pad was glued on and didn't want to rip it, but it's attached to a plastic circular piece that snaps into the frame.

EDIT AGAIN: One problem though, the locking mechanism won't come off after unscrewing both screws. I can get the tiny circuit to come off, but not the lock itself. What gives?

EDIT yet again: Got it! had to use some needlenose pliers to get a good grip on it, and then out it popped. I think they might have used a very light amount of adhesive to stick it in there, or it mightve just been a good grip. Took about ~2 pounds of force to pull it out. After getting a closer look and dealing with the hassle, I would agree it's probably easier and better to get a small file and a good flashlight and just wearing down the little locking nubs. It would definitely save time and hassle.

Wow, okay...While putting them back together I fumbled one of the small screws and it got sucked right in to the speaker hole! Luckily, I got it out with my screwdriver and pliers, but that center bit is VERY magnetic. Be careful if you try this mod!

[Slayer3032]

[QUOTE=Schmaaa;49761960]THat's for the 558s though. Are you sure it's the same process? the pad on my pair doesn't seem to come off as easily as the video makes it seem.

EDIT: Just tried it again, worked just like the video. I thought the pad was glued on and didn't want to rip it, but it's attached to a plastic circular piece that snaps into the frame.

EDIT AGAIN: One problem though, the locking mechanism won't come off after unscrewing both screws. I can get the tiny circuit to come off, but not the lock itself. What gives?

EDIT yet again: Got it! had to use some needlenose pliers to get a good grip on it, and then out it popped. I think they might have used a very light amount of adhesive to stick it in there, or it mightve just been a good grip. Took about ~2 pounds of force to pull it out. After getting a closer look and dealing with the hassle, I would agree it's probably easier and better to get a small file and a good flashlight and just wearing down the little locking nubs. It would definitely save time and hassle.

Wow, okay...While putting them back together I fumbled one of the small screws and it got sucked right in to the speaker hole! Luckily, I got it out with my screwdriver and pliers, but that center bit is VERY magnetic. Be careful if you try this mod![/QUOTE]

I have 558's and 518's, they're basically the same thing. You have to remove the jack board as it retains the locking cam. I'd say on some of the headphones they also add a touch of glue on the outside of the surround where it meets the headphone body. On the 558's I had to pry on it a little but on the 518's it just fell out when I touched it although it felt as if it was slightly adhered in.

I thought about trying to grind it down in place or even just jam a drill in there but I wouldn't want to damage the jack or get shavings inside of it. I'd also think it's just taking away too much material to leave it inside the headphone while you modify it. If you go the route where you just remove the locking cam, I'd suggest using hot glue or another easily removable way to hold the adapter into the jack. I seem to pull the mic out of my headphones often and it's a pain in the ass to fish it into the jack without the locking cam which surrounds the jack.

[Slayer3032]

Got my SHP9500's, first impressions aren't really the best so far. The 558's seem far better in almost every way to me. They're definitely not bad but they don't have the bass or the punch that the 518/558's do. They definitely have far stronger mids and highs than lows, they sound more open and flat to me maybe. I also think I like how the 558's fit better around my ears where as the Philips are huge and my ears touch on the inside instead of being spaced out away from the driver. They're really comfy but I feel like the Sennheisers are comfier in a different way by being better fitting.

I'll have to wear them a few days and see how I like them.

[Yeskey]

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49769658]Got my SHP9500's, first impressions aren't really the best so far. The 558's seem far better in almost every way to me. They're definitely not bad but they don't have the bass or the punch that the 518/558's do. They definitely have far stronger mids and highs than lows, they sound more open and flat to me maybe. I also think I like how the 558's fit better around my ears where as the Philips are huge and my ears touch on the inside instead of being spaced out away from the driver. They're really comfy but I feel like the Sennheisers are comfier in a different way by being better fitting.

I'll have to wear them a few days and see how I like them.[/QUOTE]

I remember the Shp9500 being light-hearted in the bass while I had them, but it was enough to get the point across. And coming from the feathery Ad900x's, SHP9500 bass was already familiar territory.

Trying out a felt mod on my Hd650's, I think it reduced that mid bass hump by a Db or two, which means that I can turn the overall volume up by 1-2 Db. This creates a VERY flat sound, and the warmness has lessened. I'd almost call the change "boring" (no fun rumble) but at the same time.. I really enjoy it. I wish I had a measurement rig right now, but I can only play it by the ear at the moment. I'll need to give it some time before I can make an accurate conclusion.

[editline]when[/editline]
I think these ultra-modded Hd650's have nearly the same bass impact as my Zmf Omni's at this point (like 95% as visceral, but tighter). This is both exciting and terrible at the same time, considering that my Hd650's excel at nearly every aspect compared to my Zmf Omni besides that planar bass (Comfort on zmf onmi also better, but heavier). I would definitely not call the sound signature on the modded Hd650 boring anymore, I can listen to music a touch louder without being buffeted by mid-bass.

[Schmaaa]

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49762481]I have 558's and 518's, they're basically the same thing. You have to remove the jack board as it retains the locking cam. I'd say on some of the headphones they also add a touch of glue on the outside of the surround where it meets the headphone body. On the 558's I had to pry on it a little but on the 518's it just fell out when I touched it although it felt as if it was slightly adhered in.

I thought about trying to grind it down in place or even just jam a drill in there but I wouldn't want to damage the jack or get shavings inside of it. I'd also think it's just taking away too much material to leave it inside the headphone while you modify it. If you go the route where you just remove the locking cam, I'd suggest using hot glue or another easily removable way to hold the adapter into the jack. I seem to pull the mic out of my headphones often and it's a pain in the ass to fish it into the jack without the locking cam which surrounds the jack.[/QUOTE]

what adapter are you using? all of the ones that I can find on Amazon have really poor reviews.

[Slayer3032]

[QUOTE=Schmaaa;49773263]what adapter are you using? all of the ones that I can find on Amazon have really poor reviews.[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R58NPK[/url]

Someone on here recommended it, you just peel off the rubber and it's perfect.

[Schmaaa]

thanks. Just put in the order for them, so sometime next week I will be able to enjoy my 518's without tripping over the gigantic rubbery cable ten thousand times :v:

[Levelog]

The long ass 518 cable is what I miss most about moving to my DT990's.

[Riku2211]

Hey guys, I've been using my [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0TH-000R-00020]Plantronics GameCom 780's[/URL] for at least a few years now, I love the shit out of them but I finally broke one of the earpieces so they don't sit right on my head and are kind of loose, it's extremely uncomfortable. So, I figure I can try out something new, maybe find something even better.

[b]Budget:[/b]~$200
[b]eBay: [/b] Rather not
[b]Country:[/b]US
[b]Isolation: [/b]Closed or semi-open
[b]Purpose:[/b]Gaming, voice-chat with friends, music
[b]Music Tastes: [/b]Rock? Mostly? I listen to a lot of different music but lets go with Rock.
[b]Previous Experiences:[/b] [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0TH-000R-00020]Plantronics GameCom 780's[/URL] - been a long time since I used anything else.
[b]Comments:[/b]I'm looking for something high-end. I've tried searching around NewEgg and even Amazon but find myself not really knowing what to look for. Comfort is definitely a factor, as I'll be wearing them for long periods of time.

I'd like the headset to have controls on the ear like those do, as it's super convenient, but it's not a deal-breaker. Any suggestions?

[editline]b[/editline]

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;49789298]Can you decide on a hard budget? It'll make it a lot easier to narrow down choices.[/QUOTE]

Sure. I feel indecisive as I'm unsure what a good pair of headphones will generally be priced at, but I feel like I probably wouldn't want to go over $200 for the most part.

[Yeskey]

[QUOTE=riku2211;49789083]Hey guys, I've been using my [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0TH-000R-00020]Plantronics GameCom 780's[/URL] for at least a few years now, I love the shit out of them but I finally broke one of the earpieces so they don't sit right on my head and are kind of loose, it's extremely uncomfortable. So, I figure I can try out something new, maybe find something even better.

[b]Budget:[/b]Don't really have one, but I'm not looking spend $500 on a headset - if they are really good then I'll consider spending more. I'm looking for something high-end.
[b]eBay: [/b] Rather not
[b]Country:[/b]US
[b]Isolation: [/b]Closed or semi-open
[b]Purpose:[/b]Gaming, voice-chat with friends, music
[b]Music Tastes: [/b]Rock? Mostly? I listen to a lot of different music but lets go with Rock.
[b]Previous Experiences:[/b] [URL=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0TH-000R-00020]Plantronics GameCom 780's[/URL] - been a long time since I used anything else.
[b]Comments:[/b] As I said I'm looking for something high-end, I figure I'll treat myself. I've tried searching around NewEgg and even Amazon but find myself not really knowing what to look for. Comfort is definitely a factor, as I'll be wearing them for long periods of time.

I'd like the headset to have controls on the ear like those do, as it's super convenient, but it's not a deal-breaker. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Can you decide on a hard budget? It'll make it a lot easier to narrow down choices.

[Yeskey]

[QUOTE=riku2211;49789083]
Sure. I feel indecisive as I'm unsure what a good pair of headphones will generally be priced at, but I feel like I probably wouldn't want to go over $200 for the most part.[/QUOTE]

The traditional "headset" combo I'd recommend would be the [url=http://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-Gaming-Headset-KHX-H3CL/dp/B00JJNQG98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456128195&sr=8-1&keywords=hyper+cloud+x]Kingston Hypercloud X[/url] which is based off the takstar pro 80 (Kingston just slapped a mic onto it) My buddy's had it for a year now and he loves it. If you're looking for a separate mic / headphone environment, The [url=http://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-HM5-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B006MA9XXM]Brainwavz Hm5[/url] / [url=http://www.amazon.com/NVX-Over-Ear-Headphones-ComfortMax-Cushions/dp/B0093PVTPS]NVX XPT100's[/url] (Clones) are monitors, but they're a great choice for gaming because their sound stage is wide even for a closed back. I've also heard some good things about the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRV6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456127365&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+mdr+7506+v6]Sony MdrV6[/url] and the [url=http://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-DT-770-Pro-ohm/dp/B0016MNAAI]beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm[/url] and the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8]Hd518[/url] (Semi-open?), but I haven't tried them personally.

[editline]when[/editline]
A mic can be modded onto the Hd518 using [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R58NPK]this[/url] and [url=http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1456129286&sr=1-1&keywords=boom+pro]this mic[/url]. The details on the mod are found on this page. Just scroll up a tiny bit.

[64fanatic]

Budget:~$500USD or 700CAD
eBay: I'd rather not
Country: Ships to Canada/Can be bought in Canada
Isolation: Don't care, for home use and I live alone.
Purpose: Music.
Music Tastes: Varied, I listen to most genres.
Previous Experiences: AKG k167
Comments: I'd like to hear what a real good pair of headphones can do. Preferably it can shake my skull a bit in the process. I figure if I'm going to spend that kind of money I should maybe get a DAC for my computer? Not sure if I need one. I haven't read much into audio equipment.

Current motherboard, shows the audio specs.: [URL]https://www.asus.com/ca-en/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/MAXIMUS_VI_HERO/specifications/[/URL]

Also have some old Kenwood gear, KD-2055 turntable with a KR-830 stereo receiver circa 1982 along with a Harman/Kardon hk100m. One day I'll get a new receiver :P

[patches]

[QUOTE=64fanatic;49790099]Budget:~$500USD or 700CAD
eBay: I'd rather not
Country: Ships to Canada/Can be bought in Canada
Isolation: Don't care, for home use and I live alone.
Purpose: Music.
Music Tastes: Varied, I listen to most genres.
Previous Experiences: AKG k167
Comments: I'd like to hear what a real good pair of headphones can do. Preferably it can shake my skull a bit in the process. I figure if I'm going to spend that kind of money I should maybe get a DAC for my computer? Not sure if I need one. I haven't read much into audio equipment.

Current motherboard, shows the audio specs.: [URL]https://www.asus.com/ca-en/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/MAXIMUS_VI_HERO/specifications/[/URL]

Also have some old Kenwood gear, KD-2055 turntable with a KR-830 stereo receiver circa 1982 along with a Harman/Kardon hk100m. One day I'll get a new receiver :P[/QUOTE]

Fostex TH-X00

[Yeskey]

[QUOTE=64fanatic;49790099]Budget:~$500USD or 700CAD
eBay: I'd rather not
Country: Ships to Canada/Can be bought in Canada
Isolation: Don't care, for home use and I live alone.
Purpose: Music.
Music Tastes: Varied, I listen to most genres.
Previous Experiences: AKG k167
Comments: I'd like to hear what a real good pair of headphones can do. Preferably it can shake my skull a bit in the process. I figure if I'm going to spend that kind of money I should maybe get a DAC for my computer? Not sure if I need one. I haven't read much into audio equipment.

Current motherboard, shows the audio specs.: [URL]https://www.asus.com/ca-en/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/MAXIMUS_VI_HERO/specifications/[/URL]

Also have some old Kenwood gear, KD-2055 turntable with a KR-830 stereo receiver circa 1982 along with a Harman/Kardon hk100m. One day I'll get a new receiver :P[/QUOTE]

Like Havolis said, Fostex TH-X00 if you can find one. If you're getting any amount of EMI (electromagnetic interference) aka static from your digital source, invest in a schiit Modi 2 DAC, if you want to open yourself to a ton of hard-to-drive high end gear, get a dedicated headphone amp like the Schiit Magni 2.

[Riku2211]

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;49789886]The traditional "headset" combo I'd recommend would be the [url=http://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-Gaming-Headset-KHX-H3CL/dp/B00JJNQG98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456128195&sr=8-1&keywords=hyper+cloud+x]Kingston Hypercloud X[/url] which is based off the takstar pro 80 (Kingston just slapped a mic onto it) My buddy's had it for a year now and he loves it. If you're looking for a separate mic / headphone environment, The [url=http://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-HM5-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B006MA9XXM]Brainwavz Hm5[/url] / [url=http://www.amazon.com/NVX-Over-Ear-Headphones-ComfortMax-Cushions/dp/B0093PVTPS]NVX XPT100's[/url] (Clones) are monitors, but they're a great choice for gaming because their sound stage is wide even for a closed back. I've also heard some good things about the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRV6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456127365&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+mdr+7506+v6]Sony MdrV6[/url] and the [url=http://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-DT-770-Pro-ohm/dp/B0016MNAAI]beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm[/url] and the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8]Hd518[/url] (Semi-open?), but I haven't tried them personally.

[editline]when[/editline]
A mic can be modded onto the Hd518 using [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R58NPK]this[/url] and [url=http://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1456129286&sr=1-1&keywords=boom+pro]this mic[/url]. The details on the mod are found on this page. Just scroll up a tiny bit.[/QUOTE]

I think I'd rather stick with a tradition headset combo, though I was considering the HD518. I don't see the mod you're talking about though, did you forget to link it or is it on one of those pages? Do you think the HD518 will be a far cry better than the Hypercloud X? Only difference I can see off the bat is that the HD518 has a slightly wider frequency response and less impedance, which I'm not really sure how far that goes to up the quality.

My [i]main[/i] use for them will be gaming, so I'm unsure I need monitors (not 100% on the difference though to be honest). I'm strongly considering the Hypercloud X but I'm hoping I can get a couple other suggestions to compare.

[apierce1289]

I need a good all around headset that's portable for use with my gaming laptop. I don't really want to spend $200 but if that's the only kinds worth buying that aren't cheap quality than i guess that's what I'll do.

[Slayer3032]

[QUOTE=riku2211;49792389]I think I'd rather stick with a tradition headset combo, though I was considering the HD518. I don't see the mod you're talking about though, did you forget to link it or is it on one of those pages? Do you think the HD518 will be a far cry better than the Hypercloud X? Only difference I can see off the bat is that the HD518 has a slightly wider frequency response and less impedance, which I'm not really sure how far that goes to up the quality.

My [i]main[/i] use for them will be gaming, so I'm unsure I need monitors (not 100% on the difference though to be honest). I'm strongly considering the Hypercloud X but I'm hoping I can get a couple other suggestions to compare.[/QUOTE]

Go 558's if you can afford the extra $20. They're extremely well rounded like the 518's and work really great for gaming but overall sound better than the 518's. They just feel nicer on your head as well. I've read decent things about the HyperX Clouds so I don't think they would be a bad buy though.

[QUOTE=apierce1289;49801209]I need a good all around headset that's portable for use with my gaming laptop. I don't really want to spend $200 but if that's the only kinds worth buying that aren't cheap quality than i guess that's what I'll do.[/QUOTE]

518's and a vmoda come right in at $100, I thought about getting a Game One and actually ended up getting it shipped to my house but the 558's were on sale for 79.99. I wouldn't bother with the high end headsets, they're probably just entry level enthusiast headphones with a mic nicely put on it but for the price of a proper higher end headphone. Sennheiser doesn't make garbage though, if you want something that works out of the box that's a headset the Game One's are usually around $150-175.

[Riku2211]

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49801537]Go 558's if you can afford the extra $20. They're extremely well rounded like the 518's and work really great for gaming but overall sound better than the 518's. They just feel nicer on your head as well. I've read decent things about the HyperX Clouds so I don't think they would be a bad buy though.

518's and a vmoda come right in at $100, I thought about getting a Game One and actually ended up getting it shipped to my house but the 558's were on sale for 79.99. I wouldn't bother with the high end headsets, they're probably just entry level enthusiast headphones with a mic nicely put on it but for the price of a proper higher end headphone. Sennheiser doesn't make garbage though, if you want something that works out of the box that's a headset the Game One's are usually around $150-175.[/QUOTE]

The 558's are tempting, though I read somewhere that the Game One's are pretty much just the 558's with a mic. Did you get a chance to compare them?

I'm thinking about going with this little number, it's about the same price as the Game Ones on NewEgg anyway:

[url]https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/67563-sennheiser-558-mic-review/[/url]

I'm seeing a lot of praise for the 558's though. The 595's are tempting too just because they're a later model and I'm seeing a lot of good about them as well but I don't know if I should let that sway me.

[Slayer3032]

[QUOTE=riku2211;49802608]The 558's are tempting, though I read somewhere that the Game One's are pretty much just the 558's with a mic. Did you get a chance to compare them?

I'm thinking about going with this little number, it's about the same price as the Game Ones on NewEgg anyway:

[url]https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/67563-sennheiser-558-mic-review/[/url]

I'm seeing a lot of praise for the 558's though. The 595's are tempting too just because they're a later model and I'm seeing a lot of good about them as well but I don't know if I should let that sway me.[/QUOTE]

I sent them back to newegg unopened since I wanted the full price and shipping covered so unfortunately I didn't. I don't imagine them sounding better than the 558's though since they seem to be of the same line but directed at gaming. So I'd imagine they're tuned a little more for isolation and "gaming" than say the fairly open 558's which is really where the HD5x8 line shines. The 558's really do quite nicely and they have some really good punch like you'd expect from a gaming headset.

They also don't have a replaceable cord, while I'm sure you can order a new one from Sennheiser because they don't suck. If your mic/cord breaks like a normal headset, with the 558 setup you just toss it and buy a new one. You also get the upside of having headphones which you could use on a plane or in other situations in public while you'd look like a gigantic tool wearing a headset outside of your house ever.

I'd also go with the BoomPro over the Modmic, I've listened to some videos comparing the two and the Vmoda really seemed to be the better mic on top of being a single cord and cheaper. If you just go up the page you can see the setup I use on my 558's, 518's and SHP9500's with a Boompro.