Headphone Recommendations

I would like to get a new pair of headphones for gaming. I was wondering what you have and what you think of it? Also, what headphones are you eyeing for the future?

I should be getting a Soundblaster X-FI for my bday in April and I would like to get a good set of headphones, especially headphones that offer exceptional sound quality and comfort with a mic.

Good luck with that. I've used Logitechs, but they seem to fall apart/break easily(I like their mice & keyboards, so I'm disappointed). I've been using Plantronics audio 90's for awhile. They are comfortable, ppl say I sound OK over Teamspeak, and they have a volume/mute on the cord. . . but the microphone died in the middle of our gaming session a couple of days ago for no discernable reason. Also, they're NOT audiophile quality sound, I like 'em in-game, but you'll not want them for music.

Sennheiser makes gaming headsets now. I read a couple of reviews that said they are something of a disappointment - but those were from audiophiles, not gamers.

I wouldn't get any USB headphones - I understand they don't use your soundcard, and what's the use in getting a good soundcard if you don't use it?

I picked up another pair of Plantronics Audio 90's. I like them for gaming: The sound is fine for blowing shit up, they're comfortable enough to wear for hours, and best of all they're $22 on-line.
Let us know what you end up with, and how you like them.

I am using logitechs that I bought for like $20 on a fri night when my old ones died as I joined FNF. They give good sound but are very uncomfortable and way too small for my big freaking head. But I can hear people trying to sneak up on me.

I just got an X-FI a few weeks ago.
I can honestly say this sound card ROCKS!
BF2 directly supports this sound card and has an ultra high setting when you have one installed.
I got to tell you, when you hear the X-FI processing sound so that you have surround sound when just using normal headphones, it is simply amazing. The software has a demo that has a helicopter flying all around you and it is cool. How can it do that? I have no idea how the hell they do it but it does. I can hear people sneaking up on me. I was near the train wreck on Karkand and heard an APC going down the ramp to the right there in the water behind me. It was amazing. I was not that close but knew exactly where it was and what it was doing. The sound is that good.

I can not recommend this sound card any higher. I just got the basic gamer value one where it is just the card. There are 4 versions of it. The card itself is the same in all versions so you do not lose anything. The next version up gives you a front panel for sound in/outputs. The third model (the Fatal1ty version) simply adds memory on the card but I did not get one that has the memory and from what I read it is not worth the extra $125 for it. There is a 4th more top of the line model that has an external box and has inputs for guitars etc… Way above my pay grade at almost $400. 😉

I use a stand alone Microphone that is just a mic, nothing else. I just have it resting over my neck and it works well. So this freed me up with getting a good set of headphones that did not require having a mic on it. I find that most headphones with a mic kind of suck for really good sound quality. They are usually so so for games but music, forget it..

I did not want to spend a fortune so read a lot of sites and reviews. I decided on the Sony MDR-XD300 Stereo Headphones
Some reviews at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007N55O...glance&n=172282

They are around $50-60, and even cheaper online($38 at amazon). I think they are of really really good sound quality. Really good base. They cover a higher range than humans can hear so you won’t miss anything. If you want ones that you will use for Music as well as gaming these are very good! The only problem with them, they are large since they cover the ears. I find the comfortable though. They are the type that cover your ears totally. They also have a weird design that looks funny as hell so you won’t want to use them out of the house 😉

They sound incredible. I have to say they are one of the best sounding headphones I ever had or heard.

.

I've got the $40 Altec Lansings.. not sure what model off hand but they are really nice.. Just like studio headphones gotta pay a bit extra if you want something with quality..

I was considering getting these in black:

http://www.gamesurge.com/pc/hardware/revie...atsiberia.shtml

I just wanted to get other opinions. I want comfortable headphones. I have a $100 of Sony Pro's I used when I worked in Radio, but they are round and sit on top of your ears. They are fine for a few minutes here and there, but they completely suck for extended periods. Which is a shame because they do sound great.....

As you mentioned before in another thread about motion sickness. I can't handle headphones on my head for an extended time or I get a migrane. Funny thing, I have better luck with a full headphone over "over the ears" or earbuds.

Thought I'd just throw that in. :crazy2:

The Sony ones are like studio headphones. The weird design though with the open top instead of a band makes them very comfortable. The weird design and funny look is what gives you it. They seem to close in to your ears instead of clamping down on them from the top. Self adjusting. Just info 😉

Anyone ever heard of these?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0208227

5.1 with external bass booster....

I'm going to be deaf soon, I can feel it..... :-)

Those look like the cans we get with our dells at work.

Atomm wrote:Anyone ever heard of these?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0208227

5.1 with external bass booster....

I'm going to be deaf soon, I can feel it..... :-)

With the X-FI card you do NOT need special headphones to get surround.
Do not get a set for that as it is un-needed and you will have a wider selection to choose from. As I said before, I have no frekin idea how they do it, but they do. It is simply amazing. I really have to explore more to see how they can do that out of curiosity. I always thought you needed special ones but you do not.

Just get a good set <cough sony> and you will be fine.

Paladin wrote:

Atomm wrote:Anyone ever heard of these?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0208227

5.1 with external bass booster....

I'm going to be deaf soon, I can feel it..... :-)

With the X-FI card you do NOT need special headphones to get surround.
Do not get a set for that as it is un-needed and you will have a wider selection to choose from. As I said before, I have no frekin idea how they do it, but they do. It is simply amazing. I really have to explore more to see how they can do that out of curiosity. I always thought you needed special ones but you do not.

Just get a good set <cough sony> and you will be fine.

I agree with Paladin. Get good 'phones, but don't get fancy. Extra processing will just muck up your X-Fi's hard work. . .and again, avoid the USB ones.

Curiosity has bit, which set did you end up getting? and do they work well?