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The NEW Gaming Headset/Headphone Topic! (REQUEST STICKY PLZ)

497K views 6K replies 472 participants last post by  kevin g. 
#1 ·
UPDATE 2/12/2011: Added my FULL 1st post from my Gaming Headphone/Headset guide found on Head-fi. PLEASE check the 4th post on this page. It is massive, so bear with me.


Considering how huge the "What Gaming Headphones To Buy?" thread has become (over 10,000 post and still going), we've decided to make a new thread where the first post gives you all of the necessary information for getting anyone started on gaming with headphones or headset. We'd also like to request for it to be stickied as the same questions pop up almost every week with the same answers. That, and it's a highly active topic.





edit: Posted information on real surround sound headsets vs stereo headsets/headphones with virtual surround.


If you're looking for effective and well known solutions into gaming with virtual surround, you have a few options: (I will post the most well known combinations and setups. There are plenty of headsets and headphones that do well with gaming, but these are regarded as the most accessible or just plain out best for the price)


Note: Open means that they have an open ear design, which allows air to pass through the back of the cups, allowing your ears to 'breathe', as well as keeping the sound from bouncing back to your ears which may or may not sound inferior to a closed ear design.


Closed means that it's a closed-ear design that will isolate you as well as prevent sound from leaking out. Closed headphones usually have more bass, but less width and depth to the soundstage. Closed designs will also heat your ears up a lot faster, which some may find uncomfortable.

Note: REAL surround sound headsets are almost always inferior to a good headset/headphone with virtual surround. Those true surround headsets pack in multiple drivers of lower quality, usually sacrificing sound for the gimmick of them being REAL surround. Many of the posters here and other forums will agree with me in saying that a very good stereo headphone that uses virtual surround (like the Mixamp and AX720's Dolby Headphone), will trump real surround headsets in both audio quality and a surround sound-like effect as well!





HEADSETS



1. Tritton AX720. ($130)



http://www.amazon.com/Tritton-AX720-.../dp/B002ZS6Y64


Closed: This all in one solution brings a headset/w built in mic, virtual surround (Dolby Headphone amp) and all hookups necessary to get you gaming on consoles and PC). At $130, it is an affordable yet effective solution to your headset gaming needs. Most of us agree that this is the most logical first step. Also, while the AX720 comes with two proprietary headphone jacks made specificaly for the AX720 headset, the AX720 comes with a connector that allows use of typical headphones with a 3.5mm plug as well as 3.5mm mic input.


Thanks to Formulanerd for the image of said connector.









2. Astro A30/A40 Audio System ($200 for A30 w/Mixamp, $250 for A40 w/Mixamp, $130 for Mixamp alone to use with other headphones/headsets)



http://www.astrogaming.com/products/


Open OR Closed: This is what I personally started with and it was an effective way into gaming with a headset. It also uses Dolby Headphone virtual surround via the Mixamp. The Mixamp has more versatility than the AX720 amp, as it has the optical digital input, as well as RCA, and digital coaxial inputs. This was regarded as the best headSET combo for gaming, but many don't believe it's worth the extra $100+ over the Tritton AX720 setup. YMMV).

Update: January 2011 There is a new 2011 edition of the A40's with a better mic and new pads that seal better, adding bass. If you own the A40s already, you can buy the upgrade 'kit' for $50, which gives you the new mic and pads, which you can then attach on your own to your old A40s.


Mixamp Wireless 5.8 - ($99.95-$139.95)

http://www.astrogaming.com/products/.../111/wireless/




This is a virtual surround amp like the wired Mixamp, AX720, and Ear Force DSS. However it uses a 5.8ghz signal between the transmitter until and the receiver (which you keep near you to plug any headphone in). The people who have used it has compared the sound quality to the wired mixamp and the difference is indistinguishable. This is the forum member's preference when it comes to wireless. If you absolutely need wireless, this is the way to go, as it won't have the interference or hiss like typical RF units, though if you have 5.8ghz devices, you MIGHT get interference.




3. Turtle Beach HPX or HPA2 ($65-80) with Mixamp ($130)




(HPX)
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/...force-hpx.aspx


or


(HPA2)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...PHF8C6PWHMEHYE


Open: The HPX or HPA2 is Turtle Beach's headset that is considered by many to be better than both the A40s and AX720, and for a cheaper price. It/they have multiple drivers in each cup, but they perform better in stereo mode (utilizing only 2 cups per ear instead of 4 in each) when paired up with the Mixamp. Keep in mind that you may need to buy a specific Mixamp cable from Turtle Beach's website in order to get it to work with the Mixamp.

Quote:
Originally Posted by obazavil /forum/post/0


The HPA2/HPX can be used as follows:

HPX (Dolby Headphone 5.1)

HPX + MixAmp

HPX + AX720 decoder

HPA2 (Real 5.1)

HPA2 + Extigy

HPA2 + HD Audio Rush 5.1 Decoder

HPA2 + GWC Technologies AA1570 External USB 7.1



Sennheiser PC350/PC360


PC350 ($180 or so)



http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-...8125192&sr=8-1


Closed: The PC350 seems to be based off the Sennheiser 555 in a closed design with a mic atached. You judge if it's worth the premium for a closed version with a mic.


PC360 ($250)



http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Gam...8125254&sr=1-1


Open: Here are my impressions of the PC360 now having owned them: AWESOME. They are by far the BEST headSET I have had the pleasure of using. Balanced sound, clear, comfortable, works extremely well with Dolby Headphone. If you want ONE headset that does it all, look no further. These are the ones to get. Just look for deals, as $250 MSRP is a hard price to swallow.


Here's akaTRENT's review on youtube, which pretty much mirrors my own impressions of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuebS...&feature=feedf



HEADPHONES



The next few setups are all with headphones that do NOT come with an attached mic, so you'll have to find a way to do so. However, headphones generally are a lot better in sound quality than headsets in the same price range.


These are all known to perform great with the Mixamp, so make it a mission to buy the Mixamp with any of these. The AX720's amp will work as well if you desire to go that route.






4. Audio Technica AD700 ($80-100)


(credit goes to Fragtality for the boom mic mod and his picture)




(AD700 w/Labtec LVA-7330 microphone modded on)

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-A.../dp/B000CMS0XU


Open: The AD700 is famous over the internet as a headphone that performs incredibly well for gaming, especially when paired up with a virtual surround amp like the Astro Mixamp. It focus most on subtle details in the mids and highs, but lack a good amount of bass. They're great for competitions, but for single player on non-competitive gaming, you may find it a bit lacking. It's extremely comfortable for many, but may fit very loose to some. Again, YMMV. I personally recommend them IF you can get past the lack of bass and extremely loose fit. They do sound great, IMHO.






5. Sennheiser 555/595 ($80-100 or so for the 555, $180+ for the 595)



^Sennheiser 555

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD5...8040197&sr=1-1



^Sennheiser 595

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD5...8040261&sr=1-1


Open: Popular as gaming headphones as well. The 555 and 595 are VERY similar. So much that people have opened up the 555s and found that they use the same exact drivers as the 595, but with a piece of sticky foam that blocks off some holes that make it sound inferior to the 595. So what do they do? Remove the sticky foam! Yup. Doing this will make the 555 indistinguishable from the 595 when it comes to sound. For less than half the price! Here's a video showing us how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ8P...ext=1&index=46






These are the most commonly known gaming headsets/headphones. There are many others, but they are either inferior, comparable in sound but much more expensive, or just not worth looking into.







MICROPHONES


Here is a few microphones people have used to mod onto their headphones or use them without permanently attaching them...

Labtec LVA-7330 ($6-$10 ebay)



http://www.amazon.com/Labtec-LVA7330.../dp/B00000JBRV


I have personally used this with my Creative Aurvana Live, and the mic works very well. What people do is saw off the headband and only use the part with the mic attached (look at the AD700 pic on this post as a reference)

Califone neck mic
http://www.amazon.com/Califone-CM-31...8041332&sr=1-1


Dealextreme clip on mic
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7080




I have personally used the Zalman, and found it to be just downright terrible. THIS clip on is cheap and VERY effective. I personally own it and it rocks for the $2.50 I spent, though you have to wait like a month to get it...


(many thanks to forum member obazavil for recommending these)









HIGHER END AVS MEMBER TOP CHOICES (with Mixamp or AX720 amp)


AKG K701 (white) or K702 (dark blue) ($250 or waaay more)



http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K-701-WHIT...8041978&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K702-Open-...8042037&sr=8-1


We here on AVS tend to go a little to the extreme, and generally have found that the K701 or K702 make AMAZING gaming headphones. Quite possibly the best gaming headphones under $300. The only problem is that they are very hard to drive, especially if you plan on attaching a mic for voice chatting. The Mixamp is actually very capable of powering the K701/2, but only if you set the Game/Voice knob all the way towards game, meaning no voice chat. Once you mix in voice chat, you will find the K701/2 to be severely underpowered. So in order to get past that issue, you need to add a dedicated desktop amp (like the Fiio E9) for the sole purpose of powering hard to drive headphones.


With this method your setup would look like this:


Console/PC --- Mixamp/AX720 amp --- Power amp --- K701/2 (or other hard to drive headphones)


I'm a gaming headphone enthusiast and will say that the K701 is in my opinion the very best gaming headphone I have used and owned, and I have tried quite a number...






Sennheiser HD598 ($160-300 or so)



http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-...5876535&sr=8-1


One word. FANTASTIC. Even better than the PC360 sans built in mic. Consider these the truest upgrade to the AD700 without extra amping. Crystal clear, fantastic soundstage, amazing positioning, and incredibly comfortable. Also has detachable cable. If you don't need a mic and can find these for around the $170 mark, these are a MUST buy for those who don't wanna spend extra on an amp. I'd say the K701/K702 is better, but they are also more expensive and NEED an extra amp if you plan on using a mic. The HD598 is a more logical choice for gamers. They will NOT let you down, I personally guarantee it.










Headphone Stands

Rubbermaid Fast Hose Hook ($10-$15)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product






Works like a charm, is very solid, and the edges are rounded off so it won't damage your headband. If you have huge headphones, you might wanna add something on the top (where the headband rests) to get some clearance for your cables.
 
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#4,555 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by ImG2theB  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4530#post_22202326


Get it through Best Buy and get the protection plan. Then anywhere during the 2 years you can say the battery isn't holding up and get a whole new headset or change to a different band. I'm on my fourth headset in 3 years and have saved hundreds.
What goes wrong with them beyond the battery? I haven't worn a headset in years for music but I never broke one. Do they make gaming headsets so that they NEED to be replaced or does it just seem that way?...
 
#4,556 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikepaul  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4530#post_22202473


What goes wrong with them beyond the battery? I haven't worn a headset in years for music but I never broke one. Do they make gaming headsets so that they NEED to be replaced or does it just seem that way?...


Some companies like Turtle Beach and Tritton are known for issues because they are cheaply made. I had two chat cables stop working and also the main headset cable become frayed on the Tritton's which I used the service plan on. I haven't had an issue with the Astro A40 or the Sennheiser PC360 yet. I do have a loose connection where the optical cable plugs into the mix amp which isn't a huge deal but is enough for me to use the plan if something better ever comes along. Gaming headsets have more components to them such as mics, buttons, cables and mix amps. I also think they are probably used more.
 
#4,557 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by ImG2theB  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4530#post_22205415


Some companies like Turtle Beach and Tritton are known for issues because they are cheaply made.
Gotcha. Insurance at Circuit City salvaged a bad Sharp HDTV so I think I'll follow the advice...
 
#4,559 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by GrenZeiram  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4530#post_22206735


Daekwan, were you able to get the XP400s? If so how have they worked out for you?

I preordered the A50's man. I've been using the A40's for almost 4 years with no issues now.. and Im definitely satisfied with the sound/features they provide. Figured that one wire wasnt that big of deal.. to keep the signature Astro sound/features.


I'll give a review when they show up. Should be shipping sometime in the next 2 weeks.
 
#4,561 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by khenag  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4530#post_22215157


Tritton Warhead shipping 6th August (Mad Catz official shop):
http://store.gameshark.net/Warhead_7.1_Wireless_Surround_Headset_for_Xbox_360/5330/265

The US store doesn't say that though, at least not yet!
http://store.gameshark.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=5519&idCategory=317


My A50s shipped and will arrive on Wednesday. Can't wait to test those out.
 
#4,562 ·
#4,563 ·
Hi. For the past two years I've been very pleased with the Audio Technica AD700s for its comfort and excellent soundstage for gaming. My question is whether any newer headphones can match the AD700s in these important areas or is my current setup pretty much optimized. I was interested in the AKG K701\K702 but people complain the band on your head isn't comfortable. The Sennheiser HD598 looks promising though It's hard to imagine anything coming close to being as comfortable as the one I have now. After all, it has self-adjusting 3D wing support housing.
 
#4,565 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarmelRob  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4560#post_22221208


Hi. For the past two years I've been very pleased with the Audio Technica AD700s for its comfort and excellent soundstage for gaming. My question is whether any newer headphones can match the AD700s in these important areas or is my current setup pretty much optimized. I was interested in the AKG K701\K702 but people complain the band on your head isn't comfortable. The Sennheiser HD598 looks promising though It's hard to imagine anything coming close to being as comfortable as the one I have now. After all, it has self-adjusting 3D wing support housing.
From your post I gather you don't need a headset (with a mic), just headphones.

 

The K702/701s sound tremendous and would be a nice move from the AD700s. The AKGs will maintain a nice wide soundstage of the AD700s and I think sound better overall.  I have not heard the Senn 598, but I have used Senn 595 and PC360.  The AKGs are more comfortable to me and sound better for my gaming needs.  I play mostly FPS (Halo/CoD) and the added soundstage provides the absolute best directional cues for me, better than any headphone I have tried or owned.  The Sennheisers sound good too, but the soundstage/directional cues aren't quite as good as the AKGs.  

 

As for comfort, like the AD700s the AKGs are self-adjusting.  I like that I don't need to fiddle around with the headphones at all; they just fit when I put them on my head. And the headband bumps - the first week or so I noticed the bumps when I wore the headphones for several (4-6) hours at a time.  I found I could work the leather a bit and that make the headband more pliable (like you would a new baseball glove), which made the headphones more comfortable.  I don't notice the bumps anymore.
 
#4,566 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by ATB  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4560#post_22223224


From your post I gather you don't need a headset (with a mic), just headphones.


The K702/701s sound tremendous and would be a nice move from the AD700s. The AKGs will maintain a nice wide soundstage of the AD700s and I think sound better overall.  I have not heard the Senn 598, but I have used Senn 595 and PC360.  The AKGs are more comfortable to me and sound better for my gaming needs.  I play mostly FPS (Halo/CoD) and the added soundstage provides the absolute best directional cues for me, better than any headphone I have tried or owned.  The Sennheisers sound good too, but the soundstage/directional cues aren't quite as good as the AKGs.  


As for comfort, like the AD700s the AKGs are self-adjusting.  I like that I don't need to fiddle around with the headphones at all; they just fit when I put them on my head. And the headband bumps - the first week or so I noticed the bumps when I wore the headphones for several (4-6) hours at a time.  I found I could work the leather a bit and that make the headband more pliable (like you would a new baseball glove), which made the headphones more comfortable.  I don't notice the bumps anymore.

Thank you for your reply! As far as headphones and headsets, I've been using the Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Clip-on Headphone Microphone which is pretty decent so I guess I would buy another one for a new pair of headphones.


You really make the AKGs sound great. I wear glasses and I like how the AD700s are a little loose so that there is very little pressure on my head. Can I expect the same loose fit with the AKGs where you forget that you're even wearing them.


Last question is: Which is better? The K701 or the K702? What do most people get and why? Comfort is my biggest concern. Thanks!
 
#4,568 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankT3  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4560#post_22224117


Looks nice, seems to be well built but....has too many wires. Not even just the headset one, which is already a deal breaker, but it should be able to charge just by docking it (like the warhead IIRC).
 
#4,569 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by CarmelRob  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4560#post_22223656



Thank you for your reply! As far as headphones and headsets, I've been using the Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Clip-on Headphone Microphone which is pretty decent so I guess I would buy another one for a new pair of headphones.

You really make the AKGs sound great. I wear glasses and I like how the AD700s are a little loose so that there is very little pressure on my head. Can I expect the same loose fit with the AKGs where you forget that you're even wearing them.

Last question is: Which is better? The K701 or the K702? What do most people get and why? Comfort is my biggest concern. Thanks!
Another option for the mic is the ModMic .  I usually wear contacts so can't comment on the glasses comfort, but the clamping force is nice and light on the AKGs.  As far as which one to get, I have had both the K701 and K702 and to my ears they sound much the same (same drivers I believe and the frequency response chart on them is very close).  The primary differences are color (K701 white, K702 dark blue) and cabling (K702 has a detachable cable).  I have the K702 as I have a homemade mic mod cable that takes advantage of the detachable cable.
 
#4,572 ·
Hey all. I've been following this thread for well over a year and I'm finally ready to take the plunge with a high quality gaming headset. I have plans to purchase an Astro A50 in the next few weeks. My current XBox setup is part of a home theater with surround sound speakers. I have my Xbox hooked up to my home theater receiver via HDMI for video and sound.


My question revolves around adding the A50 headset into the equation. I plan to use the headset for all of my FPS gaming, but probably not for other games, and my son will probably not be using the headset when he plays Xbox either. How easy will it be to switch back and forth between sending audio to the headset and sending it to my home theater speakers? Is there anything I should change in my configuration to make switching back and forth easier?
 
#4,573 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by indyfranks  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4560#post_22231481


Hey all. I've been following this thread for well over a year and I'm finally ready to take the plunge with a high quality gaming headset. I have plans to purchase an Astro A50 in the next few weeks. My current XBox setup is part of a home theater with surround sound speakers. I have my Xbox hooked up to my home theater receiver via HDMI for video and sound.

My question revolves around adding the A50 headset into the equation. I plan to use the headset for all of my FPS gaming, but probably not for other games, and my son will probably not be using the headset when he plays Xbox either. How easy will it be to switch back and forth between sending audio to the headset and sending it to my home theater speakers? Is there anything I should change in my configuration to make switching back and forth easier?

You shouldn't need to switch anything. Your HT will get audio via HDMI like it does now, and you'll use optical to connect the 360 directly to the A50 mixamp. All you'll have to do is mute the receiver and turn on the headset.
 
#4,574 ·
UGH! So I was excited to get my A50s today! Hooked them up to my 360 and played a little Dead Island. I found I liked setting 3 the best, not too much bass and highs were nice.

I decided to play some multiplayer and found a group that was chatting. When I was chatting with them, no one was responding. My mic was down so I wasn't muted, and my icon in the game showed I had a mic. When I talked, I noticed the mic icon wouldn't move. I jumped out of the game and tried to send a voice message to a friend, but it would say no audio device found.


I tried all of the audio settings I could think of, but none of it would work, no mic detected.


So, maybe my 360 thought it was smarter than me, so I turned it off and hooked the A50s up to my PS3. When I plugged in the optical cable and USB power cable, I was only getting the power button light to come on, if I pushed the Dolby button on the tx, it wouldn't come on. I made sure the power was on for the headset, and had the volume all of the way up, but I had no sound at all. In the PS3 accessory settings, I turned on the astro wireless setting to allow voice chat, at least it saw I had a mic option, and it was on. But still no sound at all.

Looks like I'll be chatting with astro support on Thursday to see what they can do.

One other issue, I use an official microsoft wired contoller and the chat cable is really loose in the controller and easily slips out. I tried a wireless controller with the chat cable and it fit nicely.

I'll update when i hear from Astro.
 
#4,575 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by bd2003  /t/1285726/the-new-gaming-headset-headphone-topic-request-sticky-plz/4560#post_22231552


You shouldn't need to switch anything. Your HT will get audio via HDMI like it does now, and you'll use optical to connect the 360 directly to the A50 mixamp. All you'll have to do is mute the receiver and turn on the headset.

Thanks for the response! That's definitely easy enough. I was hoping it would be pretty simple, but I didn't want to take any chances after spending $300 for a headset!
 
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