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

[QUOTE=damnatus;43272697]have you tried, like, wearing them reversed? I had this problem once, then I looked at channel markings on my headphones :v:[/QUOTE] Yes I have, I'm wearing them correctly.

So those HD558s I decided on like 3 weeks ago were a "Christmas present surprise", which I picked out, meaning I've just gotten to use them now and omggggg they're fantastic. Thanks errybody!

Okay, not sure if this fits the thread, but I have a question about my headset. My previous headset was a pair of Turtlebeach x12's, which were possibly the best bang for my buck. I tend to use headsets as I use them for gaming mainly (not music) and I travel so desktop mics are a hassle. Anyway, I got a nice shiny pair of Razer Tiamats (7.1) this Christmas and they were pretty cool. The audio quality wasn't much better but they were definitely a step up. The problem is I cant hear myself when I talk. With the Turtlebeaches my voice was super clear and it was easy to hear how loud I was or if I had any background noise. But a $170 headset doesn't have such a feature? I'm pretty ticked off and I'm thinking of getting the receipt from my parents and returning them. However, if it were possible to modify the headset in anyway to make this feature available I'm definitely willing to do so. I'm pretty handy with electronics. Any thoughts? EDIT: I noticed I can "Listen" to the mic in the sound settings in windows, the only thing is that there is a slight delay which can get annoying and it also picks up sounds when typing and such. Any software that does this more efficiently?

[QUOTE=Mbbird;43306589]So those HD558s I decided on like 3 weeks ago were a "Christmas present surprise", which I picked out, meaning I've just gotten to use them now and omggggg they're fantastic. Thanks errybody![/QUOTE] I just got my HD518's and I love them too, haven't had much time with them as all my friends want to listen to FLAC through them lol.. [QUOTE=Dakattack;43310950]Okay, not sure if this fits the thread, but I have a question about my headset. My previous headset was a pair of Turtlebeach x12's, which were possibly the best bang for my buck. I tend to use headsets as I use them for gaming mainly (not music) and I travel so desktop mics are a hassle. Anyway, I got a nice shiny pair of Razer Tiamats (7.1) this Christmas and they were pretty cool. The audio quality wasn't much better but they were definitely a step up. The problem is I cant hear myself when I talk. With the Turtlebeaches my voice was super clear and it was easy to hear how loud I was or if I had any background noise. But a $170 headset doesn't have such a feature? I'm pretty ticked off and I'm thinking of getting the receipt from my parents and returning them. However, if it were possible to modify the headset in anyway to make this feature available I'm definitely willing to do so. I'm pretty handy with electronics. Any thoughts? EDIT: I noticed I can "Listen" to the mic in the sound settings in windows, the only thing is that there is a slight delay which can get annoying and it also picks up sounds when typing and such. Any software that does this more efficiently?[/QUOTE] Return them and get these, AFAIK they are HD558's with a mic attached. My HD518's are beautiful to wear and without sound going through you can't even tell you are wearing them. [url]http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-360-Headset-Pro-Gaming/dp/B003DA4D2U/[/url]

[QUOTE=slayer3032;43311490]I just got my HD518's and I love them too, haven't had much time with them as all my friends want to listen to FLAC through them lol.. Return them and get these, AFAIK they are HD558's with a mic attached. My HD518's are beautiful to wear and without sound going through you can't even tell you are wearing them. [url]http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-360-Headset-Pro-Gaming/dp/B003DA4D2U/[/url][/QUOTE] Those look promising! However I'm thinking of going back to a more high end TurtleBeach Headset as I sometimes play Xbox as well. (Unless of course the ones you linked can play Xbox too) But the reviews on these may make me switch brands, I want to have really good sound quality but with the features of my turtlebeach.

Don't buy turtle beach or Razer please

Budget:50$< eBay: Naw Country: US Isolation: Earbuds Purpose: Listening on the go, etc. used alot aday Music Tastes: Rap/Hip-Hop ALOT, Trance, Classical, various EDM Previous Experiences: Comments: I'd like these to be able to take a beating and be in ear canal, I use my earbuds 7 days a week on usual basis.

You guys agree that best low-mid (ie less than £40) in-ears would be SoundMAGIC E10s?

No, look at RHA stuff. I've used the RHA 450s and 350s and they're both better than the Soundmagics. The soundmagics fell apart for me after no time too

No preference on open or closed designs, what are the most comfortable headphones under 200 dollars?

[QUOTE=Lamar;43330253]No preference on open or closed designs, what are the most comfortable headphones under 200 dollars?[/QUOTE] DT770 / DT880 etc

[QUOTE=SataniX;43330466]DT770 / DT880 etc[/QUOTE] This. I have the DT770 PRO's (80 Ohm version) and they are really comfy and they sound great. I would have gotten the 250 Ohm version but it has a coiled cable which I can't stand at all. I run them through a vintage receiver btw.

I just realized that I have $25 of extra Amazon credit, so I figured I'd get myself some headphones. I've heard that Sennheiser is a good brand, so I found these: [url]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007XJSQC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2UP2Y0F0P15D5&coliid=IB600MWES3OXI[/url] Any good? I'll mostly use them for games, so I don't need the best quality, really, just durability.

[QUOTE=zerosix;43329833]No, look at RHA stuff. I've used the RHA 450s and 350s and they're both better than the Soundmagics. The soundmagics fell apart for me after no time too[/QUOTE] Thanks bud.

I've ordered a pair of the Soundmagic E10's and the RHA350s - I'm going to return whichever I don't like out of the two.

Just got my FiiO E10 today. It's bloody amazing.

[QUOTE=SataniX;43333172]I've ordered a pair of the Soundmagic E10's and the RHA350s - I'm going to return whichever I don't like out of the two.[/QUOTE] The RHA's sound better, look better, are of better build quality and RHA actually provide customer support and a 3 year warranty. I think we all know which ones you'll keep.

[QUOTE=zerosix;43336073]The RHA's sound better, look better, are of better build quality and RHA actually provide customer support and a 3 year warranty. I think we all know which ones you'll keep.[/QUOTE] That's a very objective statement about a very subjective subject.

Big news from AntLion Audio! [quote]News December 28, 2013 Major 4.0 update and stock info Current stock status: both 2.3 and 3.0s purchased now are not going to ship until ~mid January, likely. We're waiting on 3.0s from the factory and clasps from our molder. We have finally chosen a manufacturer and general design for the 4.0. I never thought it would take this long but the wait will be worth it. Our manufacturing partner makes some great products in similar fields and has been great to work with. If things go smoothly (we both know they rarely do) we'll have the tooling done by the end of January and will have mics being made in February, shipping likely in late February/March. Mics will have: mute button (maybe a version without it as well) carrying case noise-canceling capsule (analog/passive NC) 3.5 jack Original 1.0 style of sturdy bendy boom Clasp compatibility to old base clasps (top clasp will be a bit different to fit bigger boom) Durable design We'll have/send more info when we are ready for presale. I'd like to do this when we have the molds finished and really know what it's going to look/be like physically. Maybe this could be done sooner though... I'm hoping to visit the factory soon, will be neat to post that update. The design is not totally finalized, we've still got decisions to make and things to tweak. We listened to all the feedback during this long wait for the "4.0"--we'll likely just call it the ModMic and buck the bloated number system-- and are focusing on making: A quality sounding mic with Simple durable design that Works well Not a lot of bells and whistles on it right now. We fear that more features are more things to break. People are divided on the mute button but I think it shouldn't be too hard to make two versions. Here are some tweaks compared to the older versions: thicker cable (2.5mm OD) bigger mic capsule (9.7mm vs 6mm) no solder or connector at the boom/cable junction- just a pass-through cable like the 1.0 larger windscreen/popfilter/foamtip stiffer boom wire than the 1.0/2.0 but not kinkable/breakable like 2.3/3.0's outer tube design We'll be ordering a large batch to begin with which should (nearly?) eliminate the stuttering availability of the mic for purchase. We'll be able to clean up the website and product pics/videos/samples (finally!) now that we'll have a consistent design/product. International retail should be much easier to do, ending the hassles that are customs and international shipping. Trying to preempt some questions: Where will the mute button be? What type of button? The mute will be around nipple height and will be a vertical slider. Its edges will be rounded and its form will be slim enough to optimize grip-ability and minimize its ability to get caught on things. Why don't you put the mute on the clasp or make it so removing/flipping the mic up also mutes it? This would be awesome but it makes it terribly difficult to adjust the boom's length and it would make it trickier to install. Placing the slider at the end of the boom would also lead to torque/fatigue problems when the mic is flipped about. Will it be compatible with ...? Yes, it should. It'll still be a 5v PC microphone but it won't have the 3.0's demands. Should work on PS4 and the XBone, and pretty much anything that works with a PC microphone. Will the noise-canceling stop people from complaining about my mechanical keyboard/room noise? While everyone's setup is a bit different the capsule we use will be the one that gives us the best noise-canceling vs. quality sweet spot. We're yet to find a noise-canceling mic that sounds as good as an omni-directional mic--to be honest--but our tests have been promising so far. We should be able to satisfy both noise-canceling and omni-directional camps. Using a larger capsule size has been a helpful move. How much will it cost? We won't have final numbers until we finalize the design but it'll likely be between 40-45 USD. Are you getting back on Amazon/retail? We plan to get back on Amazon quickly. Not sure about retail in the US just yet but I think international retail will likely be a first step. Hard to say just when that'll happen, though- Ich bitte Sie um Verzeihung. Big thanks to everyone who has stuck with us through this long 4.0 journey. It's feeling so good to take this big step. Jimmy[/quote] [url=http://www.modmic.com/blogs/news/11157241-major-4-0-update-and-stock-info]ModMic.com[/url] My current ModMic has lasted me two years, and I am considering upgrading to the newer version for the sake of getting some of the newer features.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;43336449]things[/QUOTE] Of course I couldn't wait a while to get my modmic. I have the 2.0 right now.

Finally a mute button

Budget: Under $100, prefer less than $80 eBay: Sure, not preferred Country: USA Isolation: Circumaural, open air Purpose: Gaming, movies/TV, music Music Tastes: A lot of Rock Previous Experiences: Plantronics Gamecom 377 Comments: 377's I had were broken in the same place I've seen many others for quite a while now, time for something better. Anything of decent audio quality I can live with. Don't need the best quality sound. Prefer less expensive over minor improvements. Looking for something that fits comfortably with use over a few hours. Definitely want open air. I won't be traveling with them unless I'm also taking my desktop (rarely). Don't need a mic.

[QUOTE=Spartan8907;43360008]Budget: Under $100, prefer less than $80 eBay: Sure, not preferred Country: USA Isolation: Circumaural, open air Purpose: Gaming, movies/TV, music Music Tastes: A lot of Rock Previous Experiences: Plantronics Gamecom 377 Comments: 377's I had were broken in the same place I've seen many others for quite a while now, time for something better. Anything of decent audio quality I can live with. Don't need the best quality sound. Prefer less expensive over minor improvements. Looking for something that fits comfortably with use over a few hours. Definitely want open air. I won't be traveling with them unless I'm also taking my desktop (rarely). Don't need a mic.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/ref=sr_1_6?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1388443053&sr=1-6&keywords=sennheiser[/url] [editline]30th December 2013[/editline] Can vouch for these, I use them regularly on hifi equipment

Would anyone be able to suggest a amp/dac under $75 to go with the grado 325i

[QUOTE=Katsu;43361469]Would anyone be able to suggest a amp/dac under $75 to go with the grado 325i[/QUOTE] The 325is shouldn't need an amp since they're rated at 32 ohms. if you want a decent dac try [url]http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385886210&sr=8-1&keywords=HifiMeDiy+Sabre+USB+DAC[/url]

[QUOTE=Barbarian887;43360996][url]http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Headphones-Black/dp/B0042A68R8/ref=sr_1_6?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1388443053&sr=1-6&keywords=sennheiser[/url] [editline]30th December 2013[/editline] Can vouch for these, I use them regularly on hifi equipment[/QUOTE] I admit those look very good. This is probably the right choice, but they're right at the edge of how much I'm comfortable spending. I appreciate the quick response, but I'm not usually one to buy without looking at other options. Anything out there for a bit less of acceptable quality? quote for reference. [QUOTE=Spartan8907;43360008]Budget: Under $100, prefer less than $80 eBay: Sure, not preferred Country: USA Isolation: Circumaural, open air Purpose: Gaming, movies/TV, music Music Tastes: A lot of Rock Previous Experiences: Plantronics Gamecom 377 Comments: 377's I had were broken in the same place I've seen many others for quite a while now, time for something better. Anything of decent audio quality I can live with. Don't need the best quality sound. Prefer less expensive over minor improvements. Looking for something that fits comfortably with use over a few hours. Definitely want open air. I won't be traveling with them unless I'm also taking my desktop (rarely). Don't need a mic.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Spartan8907;43371165]I admit those look very good. This is probably the right choice, but they're right at the edge of how much I'm comfortable spending. I appreciate the quick response, but I'm not usually one to buy without looking at other options. Anything out there for a bit less of acceptable quality? quote for reference.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M30-Professional-Closed-back-Headphones/dp/B00007E7C8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1388525719&sr=8-3&keywords=audio+technica[/url] [url]http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DTX-710-Headphones-Portable/dp/B0032BM0NO/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1388525772&sr=8-15&keywords=beyer+dynamic[/url] [url]http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-429-Headphones-Black/dp/B0065VKQ34/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1388525065&sr=8-10&keywords=sennheiser[/url]

What would be the best in-ear headphones for $100 - $200 ? I heard audio-technica are pretty solid for this pricerange. I've currently got a fiio e17 DAC/AMP I can hook up to it too, if need be.

[QUOTE=Tasm;43377376]What would be the best in-ear headphones for $100 - $200 ? I heard audio-technica are pretty solid for this pricerange. I've currently got a fiio e17 DAC/AMP I can hook up to it too, if need be.[/QUOTE] Shure SE215 blue are good at the lower end of that price range. Westone 2 is $209 on US amazon, not sure about in Australia.

I'm in the market for a new pair of headphones after my HTF600s split apart after roughly a year of use. I'd like to keep prices under $100 US, and as such I've been looking at a few models already. The one that's standing out for me are the [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0093PVTPS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3QWSZ44N8P3XH"]NVX XPT100s[/URL]. Is anyone here familiar with them? I've a friend who recommends them but I'd like at least a second opinion before I drop the money on them. If anyone has a comparable set for around the same price, I'd love to hear about them. Note that I'd prefer something with a good low end (nothing skull-rattling but still there if/when it's needed) and a pretty wide soundstage, which the NVXs apparently have according to this friend.