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

[QUOTE=ifaux;50938183]so after a few weeks of use i'm not too happy w/ the sound of my beyerdynamic 770 pro 250ohms. i have modi/magni schiit stack, any headphone recommendations. budget is ~200-300. my listening range is so large from bass heavy hip hop to prog rock stuff so maybe i'd be better off just getting another pair for when i'm not gonna listen to hip hop stuff?[/QUOTE] If you want something that is the complete opposite to the 770 pro, the AKG K612 pro/ AKG K712 pro if you can get it in your budget would be perfect. The K612/K712 are a lot more neutral compared to the 770's V shape, and they are open back compared to the 770 which is closed back so are better for non bass heavy stuff. I own the AGK K612 pro myself and my brother owns the 770 pro so I know how each sound like so if it's different to the 770 pros you want AKGs definitely offer that.

Looking for a cheap microphone Budget: $0 - $25 eBay: Sure, but prefer Amazon Country: USA Purpose: Gaming, CS:GO and stuff Comments: [URL="https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ"]This is still a solid cheap clip-on microphone, right?[/URL] I have a [URL="https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1472247450&sr=1-1&keywords=cad+u37"]CAD U37[/URL] at home, but it's fairly bulky and would take up a lot of space on this desk. I'm fairly worried about picking up background noise from my dorm, as the U37 really never picked any up from home and that was nice.

[QUOTE=The freeman;50953333]Looking for a cheap microphone Budget: $0 - $25 eBay: Sure, but prefer Amazon Country: USA Purpose: Gaming, CS:GO and stuff Comments: [URL="https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ"]This is still a solid cheap clip-on microphone, right?[/URL] I have a [URL="https://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1472247450&sr=1-1&keywords=cad+u37"]CAD U37[/URL] at home, but it's fairly bulky and would take up a lot of space on this desk. I'm fairly worried about picking up background noise from my dorm, as the U37 really never picked any up from home and that was nice.[/QUOTE] Zalman is ok, but it's a pretty sensitive lav and will pick up a large amount of background noise. Push-to-talk should curb this issue. [editline]26th August 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=krassell;50945437]Budget: 50$, give or take. Country: Russian Federation Isolation: Open-air/Earphones Purpose: Part of EDC, for listening to music when outside. Have to be small enough to wear with/under the hat and in any weather conditions(i.e. no big circumaural headphones). [b]Must have[/b] good resilient cable and jack. Music Tastes: Mostly metal, drum and bass, EDM, but generally, pretty much every other genre there is. Good bass is not really a must for headphones, but a big plus. Previous Experiences: A whole lot of different ones, but latest set I used was Sennheiser MX 375. Had a good experience with circumaural sennheisers for in-home use (TR 170), so I put some belief in brand. Well, turns out I shouldn't have. They didn't handle bass too well and didn't really fit in ear, always on verge of falling out, but god forbid you get the cable caught on doorhandle, they'll cling to ears with such force that your ears will be sore for a week! Comments: I must stress that all headphones I had before (20+ different ones! :hairpull: ) died due to cable issues. It's always one of headphones dying out of blue as soon as warranty ends, leaving me with just one working side. I'm sick and tired of having to walk around pretending that I have only one ear, so I would like to have some kind of permanent solution to that issue. All things considered, it may be a good idea to invest in soldering iron and set of jacks, but I don't know jack 'bout the repair process though... Also, some people recommended me in-ear headphones, but they irritate the hell outta my ears for some reason, and last roughly the same time as any other type, so there's that.[/QUOTE] If you want portable, Koss portapros are lightweight and have great sound, but the cable quality is average and the metal band might be a hair snag if you have really long hair. Some tips of preventing cable snags, don't store them in your pocket if you can help it and don't wind the cables up too tight, Having the cable in your shirt helps prevent snags on random stuff.

i actually lied, im not sure what happened but my dt770s sound fucking ridiculously good. not sure what i was talking about honestly. i'm not sure how typical this is but the difference between apple music streaming audio and flac in foobar is ridiculously apparent which is weird because i know a ton of people say it's hard to tell a difference. however i now need mobile earbuds that arent terrible

Do 7.1 headphones actually allow you to hear if a sound coming from above or below you in a game that does surround sound like BF4? [editline]28th August 2016[/editline] Like I was thinking about buying the [URL="https://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-Performance-Surround-Gaming-Headset/dp/B008O515CK"]Sennheiser PC 363D[/URL] since its on sale on amazon and I'd just like to up my game when it comes to soundwhoring for footsteps and such. I don't know much about how shit like surround sound and such work when it comes to games and headphones, do I need any special hardware to make it function PC-wise?

[QUOTE=StrawberryClock;50961913]Do 7.1 headphones actually allow you to hear if a sound coming from above or below you in a game that does surround sound like BF4? [/QUOTE] Not really. You're better off with stereo sound generally. Try listening to this with standard stereo headphones [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQt1jtDBNK4[/media]

[QUOTE=SataniX;50961937]Not really. You're better off with stereo sound generally. Try listening to this with standard stereo headphones [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQt1jtDBNK4[/media][/QUOTE] I hardly see how I'm better off with stereo when I can't even tell when someone's behind me with my current headset.

[QUOTE=StrawberryClock;50961957]I hardly see how I'm better off with stereo when I can't even tell when someone's behind me with my current headset.[/QUOTE] Surround sound headsets are a gimmick. Surround-sound speaker systems are a bit different because there's actual physical seperation, but headsets aren't typically even physical 7.1 - that one you linked uses only stereo drivers and virtual surround sound. tl;dr that "7.1" headset you linked is still stereo.

[QUOTE=SataniX;50961983]Surround sound headsets are a gimmick. Surround-sound speaker systems are a bit different because there's actual physical seperation, but headsets aren't typically even physical 7.1 - that one you linked uses only stereo drivers and virtual surround sound. tl;dr that "7.1" headset you linked is still stereo.[/QUOTE] Are there any headsets or headphones that are actually 7.1?

[QUOTE=StrawberryClock;50962004]Are there any headsets or headphones that are actually 7.1?[/QUOTE] Yeah, but they're still pretty gimmicky. And ridiculously expensive. You still only have 2 ears, which interprets location based the difference in pressure from your left and right ear, the differences in sound arrival times, etc. In a headset, it's still right next to your ears - having 7.1 or 2.0 doesn't make much difference to how surround things sound. You'll get the best effect out of 2.0 headphones with a clear soundstage (more separation between sounds, leading to your brain interpreting direction better) 7.1, whether virtual or physical. [url=http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-3-18-2016-mrspeakers-ether-c-1-1-added]Here's a pretty extensive thread[/url] reviewing and testing surround sound with a variety of headphones - can probably give you much better suggestions on an actual purchase than I can.

So if the only important thing for me isn't sound quality (music-wise) or anything like that but purely being able to pinpoint with as great accuracy as possible where sounds are coming from, what should I get? I got about 150$ (or 200CAD) to spend and I don't need a mic but I don't mind if it has one.

[QUOTE=StrawberryClock;50962113]So if the only important thing for me isn't sound quality (music-wise) or anything like that but purely being able to pinpoint with as great accuracy as possible where sounds are coming from, what should I get? I got about 150$ (or 200CAD) to spend and I don't need a mic but I don't mind if it has one.[/QUOTE] What Satanix said, a good pair of stereo headphones will accurately represent surround sound environments fine. For a more immersive experience, the open ear hd558/598 will do you some good justice. Plus they are excellent for music. Your can also check the out the Philips shp 9500.

[QUOTE=SataniX;50961937]Not really. You're better off with stereo sound generally. Try listening to this with standard stereo headphones [/QUOTE] My Sennheiser HD 202's are enough for me. I prefer these over any 'Gaming' headset ever. Be good to get another pair of stereo headphones that are open as well, that way I can switch how my audio experience is.

Anyone know if there's are third party replacement parts for the [url=http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/shop/hah/spare-parts/schieber-reparatur-set.html]sliders on a DT-770.[/url] I'll pay the premium for first party parts if I absolutely have to, but they are not worth the premium if I can find a cheap Chinese knockoff.

i have finally bought the hd 598 se's to replace my regular beige & brown 598's that have lasted me like, 6 years now. they're still fine but i just figured it's time for a fresh pair. (leather's a bit fucked though)

Budget: €100 to €150 max eBay: Nope Country: Netherlands Isolation: Not sure what this means but it needs to pretty isolate, like it needs to cancel out people talk on normal level around me, i can conentrate 100% better with headphones that kind of mutes the noise around me. Purpose: Outdoor, school, while on my scooter Music Tastes: Metal, Classical, Techno, RNB, Chillwave (any -wave basically) Previous Experiences: Sennheiser HD 451, very happy with them but i should have bought the 461 because the cable is replaceable on that one... Comments: A replacable cable would be really sweet to have

So uh let's try this [B]Budget:$150 eBay:No Country:Poland Isolation:Over-ear with active noise reduction Purpose:Not being able to hear the radio at work Music Tastes:liquid D&B mostly Previous Experiences:RP-HTF600-s Comments:[/B] Please for the love of god, do any sub-$150 wireless headphones with active noise reduction exist? I just want to tune out the shitty radio at work, I swear any longer around that ad-ridden pile of garbage and I'm gonna hurt people, starting with myself. Not even my phone's in-canal earbuds can block enough of the sound. I also have the RP-HTF600-s and the sound is good enough for me honestly, I just don't want anything worse. [editline]1st September 2016[/editline] And if you're gonna suggest something, please check if it's available on [url]http://allegro.pl/[/url], just use the search bar at the top and see if there are any results. I can't get anything from Amazon because apparently I live in a third world country and don't deserve having things shipped to me.

Does anybody have any experience with these maybe? [url]http://www.sony.com/electronics/headband-headphones/mdr-zx770bn[/url] Also, is the BT lag noticeable in games/videos?

BT 4.0 is pretty solid as long as you've got a clean signal path. I don't have any recommendations for wireless BT noise cancelling stuff though. But sony does a pretty decent job on their standard headphone lineup besides feeling a bit flimsy in-hand. [QUOTE=darth-veger;50982514]Budget: €100 to €150 max eBay: Nope Country: Netherlands Isolation: Not sure what this means but it needs to pretty isolate, like it needs to cancel out people talk on normal level around me, i can conentrate 100% better with headphones that kind of mutes the noise around me. Purpose: Outdoor, school, while on my scooter Music Tastes: Metal, Classical, Techno, RNB, Chillwave (any -wave basically) Previous Experiences: Sennheiser HD 451, very happy with them but i should have bought the 461 because the cable is replaceable on that one... Comments: A replacable cable would be really sweet to have[/QUOTE] Have you considered using in-ear-monitors (IEM's) yet? They look similar to earbuds, but instead of sitting just outside the ear, they insert into the ear canal and isolate (block out) a lot of outside noise. They can take a little while getting used to (was pretty jarring when I started using them for the first time) but now I can wear a pair for hours without feeling bothered and they're great at blocking out sounds in urban places. Check out the Shure se215, RHA750 or the Sennheiser momentum in-ear. The se215's sound neutral and potentially flat (great for soft music like classical), while the momentum and the rha750 are more bassy and fun sounding. I'd also recommend the Radius hp-nhr21's as they're my personal drivers, but they're Japanese imports and hard to get a hold of. [editline]when[/editline] In some semi-related-but-not-really note, Sennheiser just unveiled their new mid-line. [url=http://en-us.sennheiser.com/around-ear-headphones-stereo-hd-559]HD 559[/url], [url=http://en-us.sennheiser.com/around-ear-headphones-stereo-mic-hd-569]HD 569[/url], [url=http://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-headphones-around-ear-stereo-hd-579]HD 579[/url] and the [url=http://en-us.sennheiser.com/headphones-high-end-stereo-hd-599]HD 599[/url].

Is there a cheap microphone that isn't complete shit? This Zalman Zm-mic1 is fucking [I]terrible[/I] and nobody can hear me over the sound of underwater because nothing is hearable unless boost is set to 20 or 30 dB (I'm also monotone which doesn't help) even with noise cancellation on. If it's a desk mic it will have to work with at least half a meter of distance due to desk configuration. Don't really want to spend $70 on a mod mic but if there's a cheaper version of a similar thing that would be grand.

Samson Go Mic? [editline]4th September 2016[/editline] Works fine for me and I'd say I'm about half a meter from it.

It's $70 too and seems less convenient than a mod mic. [editline]4th September 2016[/editline] I'd also have to chain two USB extension cables since the only port on the front of the case is already in use.

Jeez is your desktop really that far away? Ever heard of a hub? Also yeah, you're kinda SOL afaik if that's priced like that over there. The snowball is probably the same price.

I dropped some money on some 558 Sennheiser HDs and boy they sound like the 518s but with less bass and more presence I actually like it because the tone is actually a lot better

[QUOTE=helifreak;50997864]Is there a cheap microphone that isn't complete shit? This Zalman Zm-mic1 is fucking [I]terrible[/I] and nobody can hear me over the sound of underwater because nothing is hearable unless boost is set to 20 or 30 dB (I'm also monotone which doesn't help) even with noise cancellation on. If it's a desk mic it will have to work with at least half a meter of distance due to desk configuration. Don't really want to spend $70 on a mod mic but if there's a cheaper version of a similar thing that would be grand.[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;otT75DI5fQg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otT75DI5fQg[/video] [video=youtube;R6p9a_a-T_4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6p9a_a-T_4[/video] Z Reviews did a review of most of the popular mics, the Sony mic seems to be really good for a clip on mic. There's the VModa too which I like quite a bit but you'll need a headphone which you can use it with. He compares the VModa against the Sony in the VModa video. [url]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058MJX4O/[/url]

[QUOTE=slayer3032;50998231]Z Reviews did a review of most of the popular mics, the Sony mic seems to be really good for a clip on mic. There's the VModa too which I like quite a bit but you'll need a headphone which you can use it with. He compares the VModa against the Sony in the VModa video. [url]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058MJX4O/[/url][/QUOTE] Can't find anyone selling the vmoda in Australia on ebay or otherwise (and I also don't feel good about drilling out the lock on my ATH-M40xs). Can't find the Sony ones for less than $50 without waiting a month for them to come from Korea or Japan and I'm not sure I trust that much money on a clip on mic considering people said this Zalman is fine. Might just get a cheap one on a stand, if it sucks too much I can get a condenser one later and reuse the stand. Or just stick with it because there's no possible way it can be worse. At the same time spending this much on a microphone that gets used so little just feels wrong.

eBay: Yes Country: UK Isolation: Over ear preferred Purpose: To use as headphones....? Music/Gaming/Ignoring family??? Music Tastes: rock/prog rock/classical/anything that isn't edm Previous Experiences: Nothing of note Comments: Something comfortable, I don't know if it's worth going for monitor esque headphones or more 'lively' one's?? [url=https://www.massdrop.com/buy/akg-k7xx-massdrop-first-edition-headphones (I assume these are a more expensive version of the 702's)]AKG-K7[/url] [url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1473106509&sr=1-11]SH HD598[/url] [url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50X-Monitor-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1473106613&sr=1-1&keywords=audio+technica]ATH-M50X[/url] I've heard good things about all of the above, and that's my price range. I don't have a DAC/AMP so open to suggestions there also

You don't really need a DAC/AMP for any of those headphones. My go-to recommendation for that range would be the Senn's though. They're comfy as hell and sound great for the price. Only downside is that they are open, so if by ignoring family you mean they're in the same room as you're using the headphones, they'll be able to hear at decent volumes.

I've noticed that when I listen to music that is generally uncompressed (including most music made before 1980 and my own music) is often not loud enough through my headphones (especially in noisy environments such as on public transportation), even at full volume. For reference, my headphones are Philips SHP6000 and my phone is a Samsung S3. I'm not much of an audiophile, so $60 headphones sounds just fine to me in terms of sound quality, but I'd like to be able to listen to dynamic music without ambient noise drowning out all the quiet parts. So are my headphones shit? Or is it my phone? Would I be fine with just getting a cheap portable amp or should I actually get some better headphones? Budget: $100 max Country: Norway

[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;50993586]Does anybody have any experience with these maybe? [url]http://www.sony.com/electronics/headband-headphones/mdr-zx770bn[/url] Also, is the BT lag noticeable in games/videos?[/QUOTE] Update I guess: Bought these They're alright Battery seems to last forever Compared to everything else I've tried they're very comfortable, even though they squeeze my head so much I can hear my own heartbeat Noise cancelling does precisely fuck all There's always some (very faint, but audible) white noise if listening through BT Audio delay is not noticeable in videos, but I wouldn't use BT mode for gaming Can't be bothered going through all the return paperwork bullshit so I guess I'll keep them