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

[QUOTE=Revenge282;51655567][url]https://antlionaudio.com/collections/modmic[/url][/QUOTE] Thank you, this looks perfect. Much love, brother

[B]Budget:[/B] $100-$120 [B]eBay:[/B] No, Amazon gift card will contribute to this so Amazon only. [B]Country:[/B] USA [B]Isolation:[/B] Some isolation would be nice to drown out the box fan and maybe air conditioner in my room, but if I need to sacrifice sound quality for isolation I'll take the sound quality. [B]Purpose:[/B] Desktop gaming in long sessions [B]Music Tastes:[/B] Roughly in order: Classical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rock, Trance, DnB, but I'm gonna be one of those assholes who says he listens to just about everything, including some metal, country, etc. [B]Previous Experiences:[/B] ATH-AD700 (Broke; right driver has died) [B]Comments:[/B] Comfort is very important. This is primarily for gaming use, so soundstage will be important, music comes second. Also want durability; I beat the shit out of my AD700. ALTERNATIVELY: Any guides to fix the ATH-AD700? If I can squeeze a feel more years out of that that would be ideal. Also looking for a nicer microphone, maybe ~$20. My Zalman mic is honestly shit.

If you're willing to bump your mic budget up a bit get the Samson go mic. It's really fantastic for the money.

so i gotta admit the 1more e1001s are pretty sweet the upper ranges are so much more tolerable for me than the fidelios, (which, while i love my x2/27s, the piercing tinniness of the higher frequencies makes pop music harsh) even if they lack the phat bass, the bass is crisp and clean hozier sounds better on the x2/27s but i feel the e1001s are a definitive sub-$100 all-rounder that i actually enjoy more when listening to music that's heavy on treble (like Poppy's "Money", which is almost intolerable on my x2/27s out of the box) considering they're 1/3rd the cost, definitely a nice purchase, though they're definitely harder to drive and the build quality isn't obviously as high, they don't feel cheap, just "budget" and that's fine

I know this is probably the wrong place but what's a good balance for say, when i'm playing a game or watching a youtube video but in discord, as if I start to watch/play a game I have to turn the game/video sound down loads otherwise everyone else hears it?

Does there exist any quality yet affordable over-ear headphones, not wireless, that comes with noise cancellation? Went to try some different ones. There was an affordable one from Marshall, around 200€ here but the quality was shit. My 65€ in-ears have way better sound quality. Also I was told that bluetooth has better sound-quality if you're using a phone-jack because the digital-analog conversion is terrible on most phone soundcards. Is this true or is it bullshit?

Finally figured out what kept making my G930s disconnect. Changed the wireless channel on my modem to 1 from auto, immediately stops disconnecting. Also figured out a couple of ways to make the thing louder than it was prior. After using 7.1 for gaming, I must say, I'm pretty impressed. It's a nice feature now that I stopped being a cynical prick about it. Just wanted to give thanks for the people that attempted to help me and offered suggestions for new headsets. <3

[QUOTE=war_man333;51659569]Does there exist any quality yet affordable over-ear headphones, not wireless, that comes with noise cancellation? Went to try some different ones. There was an affordable one from Marshall, around 200€ here but the quality was shit. My 65€ in-ears have way better sound quality. Also I was told that bluetooth has better sound-quality if you're using a phone-jack because the digital-analog conversion is terrible on most phone soundcards. Is this true or is it bullshit?[/QUOTE] i got a really nice set of noise cancelling headphones for when i fly long haul, the quality is great and they were only ~£30 my only complaint is they are a bit vicelike but there designed to be compact [url]https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AXVURFY/[/url] i ordered them but got the more expensive version [url]https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Headphones-Earphones/7dayshop-Freedom-Cancelling-Bluetooth-Wireless-Headset-Handsfree/B00R7KDSZ0/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?_encoding=UTF8&m=A3TLXN00XR34MU[/url]

[QUOTE=war_man333;51659569]Does there exist any quality yet affordable over-ear headphones, not wireless, that comes with noise cancellation? Went to try some different ones. There was an affordable one from Marshall, around 200€ here but the quality was shit. My 65€ in-ears have way better sound quality. Also I was told that bluetooth has better sound-quality if you're using a phone-jack because the digital-analog conversion is terrible on most phone soundcards. Is this true or is it bullshit?[/QUOTE] The current stage of Bluetooth (5.0 is latest gen) is still lossy and inherently worse than using wired. Plus many modern phones actually have decent amp/DAC stages included. With the iPhone 6s and lgv20 having some of the best on the market. Also, on the stretch of noise cancelling, I've heard the bose qc35 and while they sounded very nice with anc off (clear, small mid bass hump), they turned into a mixed bag when I flipped anc on (bloated and hazey). Apparently sennheiser's new pxc 550 is the direct competitor and is touted to sound great, but I've yet to listen to them, due to their price and "newness" in the market. In general anc cans are very expensive and don't sound as good as decent cheaper headphones because you're paying for the anc tech first, then the rest of the headphone second.

Yeah I thought so. I was in a store and the salesman stated this. It's a fucking salesman so he could just spout bullshit. I'm trying to help my sister find a decent pair of over-ears. Naturally she wants to try them out before buying, so I'm not very keen on just ordering some random thing online. I think I would never switch to bluetooth. You can't use it on planes, you have to recharge your headphones or use batteries, sound quality seems worse and also I've tried where it seemed to disconnect for milliseconds but it's noticeable.

[QUOTE=SoUl_ReApEr2;51659261]I know this is probably the wrong place but what's a good balance for say, when i'm playing a game or watching a youtube video but in discord, as if I start to watch/play a game I have to turn the game/video sound down loads otherwise everyone else hears it?[/QUOTE] Can you please clarify? When you say "everyone", do you mean the people in the discord channel or the people in your house who hear it? Are you using speakers or headphones?

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;51660381]Can you please clarify? When you say "everyone", do you mean the people in the discord channel or the people in your house who hear it? Are you using speakers or headphones?[/QUOTE] Headphones and i mean the people in the discord, i think I may have sorted it, just had to tinker around with my games volume and discords input sensitivity, i'd just like a nice balance where i can hear things in the game and the people in the chat can't hear it lol but i think i've got an ok balance so far

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;51656705][B]Budget:[/B] $100-$120 [B]eBay:[/B] No, Amazon gift card will contribute to this so Amazon only. [B]Country:[/B] USA [B]Isolation:[/B] Some isolation would be nice to drown out the box fan and maybe air conditioner in my room, but if I need to sacrifice sound quality for isolation I'll take the sound quality. [B]Purpose:[/B] Desktop gaming in long sessions [B]Music Tastes:[/B] Roughly in order: Classical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rock, Trance, DnB, but I'm gonna be one of those assholes who says he listens to just about everything, including some metal, country, etc. [B]Previous Experiences:[/B] ATH-AD700 (Broke; right driver has died) [B]Comments:[/B] Comfort is very important. This is primarily for gaming use, so soundstage will be important, music comes second. Also want durability; I beat the shit out of my AD700. ALTERNATIVELY: Any guides to fix the ATH-AD700? If I can squeeze a feel more years out of that that would be ideal. Also looking for a nicer microphone, maybe ~$20. My Zalman mic is honestly shit.[/QUOTE] As someone who owns the ad900x, it's hard to pick another brand that replicates the audio Technica house sound. But you didn't like them in the first place and want a warmer sound with a slight mid treble roll-off, you can look at the hd598cs or the Beyer DT series for a slightly even-more-treble and cleaner, faster bass, otherwise it's slim pickings for closed-backs in that price range. (Many upper end closed backs require a dedicated amp because they're all difficult to power because a lot of them use planar magnetic drivers rather than the standard dynamic)

[QUOTE=war_man333;51660331]Yeah I thought so. I was in a store and the salesman stated this. It's a fucking salesman so he could just spout bullshit. I'm trying to help my sister find a decent pair of over-ears. Naturally she wants to try them out before buying, so I'm not very keen on just ordering some random thing online. I think I would never switch to bluetooth. You can't use it on planes, you have to recharge your headphones or use batteries, sound quality seems worse and also I've tried where it seemed to disconnect for milliseconds but it's noticeable.[/QUOTE] Pretty sure you can use them on planes. I mean they have in-flight wifi nowadays, you don't have to have all your radios off anymore.

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;51660413]As someone who owns the ad900x, it's hard to pick another brand that replicates the audio Technica house sound. But you didn't like them in the first place and want a warmer sound with a slight mid treble roll-off, you can look at the hd598cs or the Beyer DT series for a slightly even-more-treble and cleaner, faster bass, otherwise it's slim pickings for closed-backs in that price range. (Many upper end closed backs require a dedicated amp because they're all difficult to power because a lot of them use planar magnetic drivers rather than the standard dynamic)[/QUOTE] I loved mine, actually, they just don't work anymore. I was constantly accused of cheating because it's so easy to hear people through walls and such

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;51661533]I loved mine, actually, they just don't work anymore. I was constantly accused of cheating because it's so easy to hear people through walls and such[/QUOTE] You can step up to the newer Audio Technica Z series (a990z, a1000z), but there isn't too many reviews about them because they're so new.

Sorry, these are all at least 2x my budget.

Looking for a set of [B]wireless[/B] headphones. Want to be able to move around the room while wearing them. Budget: 250 euros max I'd say, preferably less eBay: Dutch webshops preferably Country: Netherlands Isolation: Over-ear Purpose: Mainly gaming Music Tastes: Electronic Previous Experiences: Bought gaming headsets up till now (current is a Logitech F540 that's falling apart). Planning to buy a separate mic setup (Blue Yeti or something), want an audio upgrade to go along with it.

Hmm, Agree for Project U-Turn Orbit w/ all the bells and whistles, Disagree for Sony ZX2, or Zing for Schiit Gungnir Multibit first?

[QUOTE=Lolkork;51681573]I get hissing on my low impedance headphones when using them on certain devices, would an adapter like this actually solves it: [URL]http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Impedance-Adapter-20ohm-75ohm-100ohm-175ohm-for-HiFi-Audio-Player-Earphone-/272428465695?var=&hash=item3f6e007e1f:m:msl3vGtZnwXprEITP58EDow[/URL][/QUOTE] If it does as advertised, it should make your headphones less sensitive (as intended) but will also have the unintended side effect of slightly altering your headphone's tonality because it changes the overall input impedance slightly. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your tastes. I personally use an Ultimate Ears Buffer Jack on my Campfire Audio Orion to make them less sensitive, which also makes them sound sweet and warm, rather than the typical lean sound out of my phone. Of course your results may vary. As for the link, don't go above 100ohms, past that your mobile device might have a hard time pushing replicating proper bass response, sound thin, and clip on drops.

Jesus fucking christ these new earpads, I forgot what comfort felt like. Didn't even know earpads could improve the sound this much holy shit.

[QUOTE=helifreak;51682413]Jesus fucking christ these new earpads, I forgot what comfort felt like. Didn't even know earpads could improve the sound this much holy shit.[/QUOTE] Yeah, the brainwavz pads are pretty nice.

my hyperx cloud 2 finally died on me. it was one durable fucker. the headphones still work but the 3.5mm jack into the inline soundboard is busted so it cuts out if its moved

If anyone has the sennhesier Hd580/h6xx, Senn direct is selling replacement earpads (pair of) for $42.90, about $12 off the normal price if you pick (free) ground shipping. I think this only applies to the US though. [url]https://en-us.sennheiser.com/050635-earpads-pair[/url]

[QUOTE=Lolkork;51683554]aren't those external soundcards kinda mediocre anyway? they will work just as well if you plug them in to your pc[/QUOTE] yeah, but the chord for the headset itself is tiny, probably under a metre. and can't turn the 7.1 on and off without it. but yeah, they still sound great plugged directly into my pc. i need a mic though, looking at getting a blue snowball because they are like $90. mostly going to use it for skype and in game voip, but would it also be good for recording? i know it's probably fine for voice recording but i'd also like a mic i can set up on my amp and record guitar.

I know a few online friends who use the snowball for minor VA roles, but I'm not sure how well it'd work for guitar. After a quick youtube search, I found this: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_746234&feature=iv&src_vid=24JQKOhBDRI&v=1_tKhXUsrjI[/media]

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;51687657]I know a few online friends who use the snowball for minor VA roles, but I'm not sure how well it'd work for guitar. After a quick youtube search, I found this: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_746234&feature=iv&src_vid=24JQKOhBDRI&v=1_tKhXUsrjI[/media][/QUOTE] For casual stuff it's really good but if you're trying to do serious recording work it's not gonna cut it anywhere close.

Approaching audio nervosa, but I picked up an Ifi idsd nano as a usb-to-coaxial s/pdif transport for my Schiit bimby. This is on a completely different level of sound and immersion. Music just comes out of a void of blackness with haunting accuracy and layering. And bass is so tight and impactful that I can feel my face vibrate. The small amount of treble harshness that I had with the Jotunheim is also gone. Still hunting for that used Schiit gumby though, the shipping/tax if purchased direct from Schiit is astronomically expensive even if they're only a few hours drive away. But I'm still hopeful. My other option would be shooting for a Kitsune Holo Spring Lv1 which I'll be able to demo this april during Headfi's SoCal Canjam. Fingers crossed! [editline]when[/editline] Anyone else west coast going to Socal canjam this year? had a blast last year trying tons of gear and even won an Oppo pm-2 in a raffle. Still use them as my full-sized "portable" drivers.

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;51687657]I know a few online friends who use the snowball for minor VA roles, but I'm not sure how well it'd work for guitar. After a quick youtube search, I found this: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_746234&feature=iv&src_vid=24JQKOhBDRI&v=1_tKhXUsrjI[/media][/QUOTE] god damn, the yeti sounds incredible. its a bit out of my price range though.

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;51707742]Approaching audio nervosa, but I picked up an Ifi idsd nano as a usb-to-coaxial s/pdif transport for my Schiit bimby. This is on a completely different level of sound and immersion. Music just comes out of a void of blackness with haunting accuracy and layering. And bass is so tight and impactful that I can feel my face vibrate. The small amount of treble harshness that I had with the Jotunheim is also gone. Still hunting for that used Schiit gumby though, the shipping/tax if purchased direct from Schiit is astronomically expensive even if they're only a few hours drive away. But I'm still hopeful. My other option would be shooting for a Kitsune Holo Spring Lv1 which I'll be able to demo this april during Headfi's SoCal Canjam. Fingers crossed! [editline]when[/editline] Anyone else west coast going to Socal canjam this year? had a blast last year trying tons of gear and even won an Oppo pm-2 in a raffle. Still use them as my full-sized "portable" drivers.[/QUOTE] I'm like stuck. I've got my beyer 990 pro's and my fiio setup and a Samson go mic and I don't know if I should go further.