Gaming Headphones?

[Heath Ledger]

What do you have?

I just bought the Tritton Axpros. Here is the link on Amazon. True Dolby 5.1 unlike the Astros. 8 speakers in these bad boys, they are arriving today.

I already bought the Tritton 720 and tried the Turtle Beach x51's, I took those back because of mad popping caused from rf interference, and teh 720's rock as is but I wanted to spend a little bit more for a much better set of headphones.

[balli]

Nothing special- I use these cheap ass Sennheisers: Not a gaming headset per se and no surround, but bah, they work fine for me. Good sound. No RF pop.

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-RS120-Wireless-Headphones-Charging/dp/B0001FTVEK

[Heath Ledger]

Oops heres the Amazon link.
http://www.amazon.com/TRITTON-Digital-Surround-Headset-Gaming/dp/B0017IUFAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1257524453&sr=8-1

[Cry Havoc]

In my experience, Gaming Headphones are a waste of money. I have never found a decent gaming headphone set that advertises itself as such. They always, always, always sacrifice quality over big boomy bass and nasty mid-range sounds.

Most of the hardcore gamers who also know audio that I'm aware of use either these:

Sennheiser HD 280 Pros
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000065BPB/ref=s9_simz_gw_s1_p23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=0W7R01V6G4XJR7ZQ6HQD&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846

Or these:

Etymotic ER-4p
http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-ER-4P-Portable-In-Ear-Earphones/dp/B0007WZLDC

The latter of which being HIGHLY recommended because of how incredibly sensitive they are. You can literally hear an enemy from across a map with the 4p's in. You can hear details about your environment you thought you weren't even supposed to be able to hear -- enemies walking and reloading from a distance, enemies running from ALL the way across the map. Once you get used to the level of detail, you can easily pick out how far someone is away from you.

To be honest, I've rarely been in a situation where surround sound would have saved my life. Even with stereo headphones, I know instantly which side and approximately where I'm being shot at, and as I turn, the accuracy in the headphones takes care of the rest. I can spin 145-180 degrees and pull off a relatively fast headshot from just about anywhere I know an enemy could be, so I would rather have the additional detail added from a pair of monitor-quality headphones than the supposed surround sound, which I am extremely skeptical of. How can they advertise a "center channel" in a headphone? Unless the headphones have an attached speaker that sits directly in front of your face, it's absolutely impossible to have a true center. channel. Where does the .1 go? Is there a single subwoofer that sits on one side of your head?

5.1 in a headphone has always been bizarre to advertise to me. Seems a lot more like snake oil and advertising... actually it seems damned impossible from the way I see it. Even if they "work" relatively well, they are certainly not going to offer anything near the accuracy/sensitivity of the 280s or the 4p's, and that's too big of a trade off, IMO.

[Heath Ledger]

Actually the Tritton axpros are the only ones ive seen offering True 5.1 others like the Astros are simulated via processing. I saw some video reviews on youtube and on tiger direct and the people were blown away by these when compared to any other headphones out there. You can adjust the levels for each channel, subwoofer, highs, lows mids etc.

Other headphones ive had you can tell which direction someone is coming from but not how far away they are necessarily, these headphones accorind to one reviewer change that.

[leemajors]

I got the Everglide S500's for $25 with shipping included off woot about 18 months ago. Can't complain with that price.

http://www.amazon.com/Everglide-S500-Gaming-Headphones-EG04-04E012-01/dp/B000RHZAF6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[Cry Havoc]

Actually the Tritton axpros are the only ones ive seen offering True 5.1 others like the Astros are simulated via processing. I saw some video reviews on youtube and on tiger direct and the people were blown away by these when compared to any other headphones out there. You can adjust the levels for each channel, subwoofer, highs, lows mids etc.

Other headphones ive had you can tell which direction someone is coming from but not how far away they are necessarily, these headphones accorind to one reviewer change that.

Ok, but again, how can a headphone be 5.1? There are only two places the speaker can be situated to your ear... right or left. That makes it a physical impossibility for these headphones to have a center channel. Also, where is the .1 subwoofer? Does it hang off the side of your ear? Or is it a "simulated" .2, with a bass coil in both ears?

[sabar]

Ok, but again, how can a headphone be 5.1? There are only two places the speaker can be situated to your ear... right or left. That makes it a physical impossibility for these headphones to have a center channel. Also, where is the .1 subwoofer? Does it hang off the side of your ear? Or is it a "simulated" .2, with a bass coil in both ears?

It is simulated through mathematics that I imagine few here can explain. It is obviously not physical surround sound though. I've never tried it so I can't comment on the quality.

I use $10 headphones. I find headphones really uncomfortable and usually just use speakers.

[xellos88330]

Earforce X1

[Cry Havoc]

It is simulated through mathematics that I imagine few here can explain. It is obviously not physical surround sound though. I've never tried it so I can't comment on the quality.

I use $10 headphones. I find headphones really uncomfortable and usually just use speakers.

The fact that you use $10 headphones is probably why you find them so uncomfortable. Go to a local audio store and see if they have any Denon headphones. Your head and ears will thank you.

[Heath Ledger]

Okay after gaming with these for several hours, the verdict is in. These things truly are badass. The directional sound is much more precise. You can hear things and tell if they are above you or below you and things on the side and behind you, you can truly tell if they are close or across the map. I played MW2 and Cod4 and could not believe the difference over the 720's I own.

Turtle Beach headphones are very much overpriced, I will never buy them again. I had the x1's they were okay, I bout the 51's (newest best version) and took them back for $200 they sounded nowhere near as good as these and they had horrendous popping from the new rf receiver they use. Wireless is the only upside but wahts the point if you feel like there are rice krispies going off in your head?

[EmptyMan]

When I was gaming I had Beyer Dynamic DT770 80ohm.

The bass was insane and sounded great in games. I could hear footsteps from other players ridiculously easy. They gave me a HUGE edge in FPS'ers. I never even got an amp for them to really bring out the full potential (without turning them into Darth Beyers :lol )

This is like 3 yr old shit though. Once I bought my gear, I quit keeping up with tech./audio fidelity.

[AussieFanKurt]

mine are standards, something in middle price range

[Cry Havoc]

When I was gaming I had Beyer Dynamic DT770 80ohm.

The bass was insane and sounded great in games. I could hear footsteps from other players ridiculously easy. They gave me a HUGE edge in FPS'ers. I never even got an amp for them to really bring out the full potential (without turning them into Darth Beyers :lol )

This is like 3 yr old shit though. Once I bought my gear, I quit keeping up with tech./audio fidelity.

Beyers are still pretty badass headphones, and Darth Beyers are still one of the most revered mods/designs of any cans out there.

Headphones don't age like other tech, as long as you take care of them. :hat

[ManuTP9]

I use the turtle beach headeset x1's.

[MiamiHeat]

i bought Turtle Beach Ear Force X1's about 2 days ago

they are worth every penny, but i still can't really tell WHICH direction the footsteps are coming from sometimes...

50/50 on the direction

but I can hear them, which was not possible on the tv

[TinTin]

i bought Turtle Beach Ear Force X1's about 2 days ago

they are worth every penny, but i still can't really tell WHICH direction the footsteps are coming from sometimes...

50/50 on the direction

but I can hear them, which was not possible on the tv

Don't want to offend you or anything but are you trying to concentrate on which direction?

When I started playing cs I would hear footsteps too but after I started concentrating (no not increasing the volume), I could tell directions

Have you tried rotating around the same spot? This sometimes help

[phyzik]

for PC I use a Plantronics 750 DSP headset. I love the sound on them and the mic seems to never pick up background noise in my house. $80 headset though. I wear glasses and this headset is very comfortable with my glasses on.

Some downsides though (besides the price). The cable feels really flimsy, like I could grip it in both hands and pull it apart if I really wanted to.

You cant use it with a console as it has a seperate plug for input and audio.

sometimes you get a bad model and the Mic is really loose causing it to drop all the way to its lowest limit so you cant position it and have it stay there, but Plantronics is pretty good about replacing the headset if its still under warranty.

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/computer/multi-use-headsets/audio-750-dsp

http://www.plantronics.com/images/catalog/product_large/audio750dsp.gif

[jacobdrj]

Wireless is the Key!

I just got a new wireless using RF (instead of Blue Tooth). I am excited to try it.

VOIP+Game headset.

Asus HS-1000W

[Heath Ledger]

The Turtle Beach x51's were RF previous versions were using Infra Red, and They were popping bad probably from interference from all of the electronic gadgets I have in my house. I took them back right away.

[jacobdrj]

Wireless is the Key!

I just got a new wireless using RF (instead of Blue Tooth). I am excited to try it.

VOIP+Game headset.

Asus HS-1000W

They just came. So far, I am very impressed. Sound quality for a wireless product is top notch and range is very good.

[NASpurs]

I just bought Audio-Technica ATH-M50S (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULAP4U/ref=oss_product) headphones. I'm super excited and from the positive reviews I've read throughout the 'net, I hope they live up to my expectations. I'm going to keep my eyes on the UPS guy like a hawk. Anybody else does that when they order stuff online? :lol I'm not an audiophile but I can tell a difference between cheap and better quality headphones, so I hope the price jump is worth it.

Anyone know anything about the M50s?

[Cry Havoc]

I just bought Audio-Technica ATH-M50S (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULAP4U/ref=oss_product) headphones. I'm super excited and from the positive reviews I've read throughout the 'net, I hope they live up to my expectations. I'm going to keep my eyes on the UPS guy like a hawk. Anybody else does that when they order stuff online? :lol I'm not an audiophile but I can tell a difference between cheap and better quality headphones, so I hope the price jump is worth it.

Anyone know anything about the M50s?

Nope, haven't even heard of them, but I've been out of the headphone game for a while. I got my 5th pair of headphones and called it quits for a while. :lol

[Sense]

I just use my Sennheiser 202's.... 25 bucks on newegg... very good for the price

[AlleyOopNazi]

earforce x4

[phxspurfan]

Grado SR-80 I believe. Also some Sennheisers but those are for my piano

[NASpurs]

Nope, haven't even heard of them, but I've been out of the headphone game for a while. I got my 5th pair of headphones and called it quits for a while. :lol

Well they're arrived today. I popped in Pink Floyd, put on some "Echoes" to test it out and OMG! It's like my ears are having sex to Pink Floyd. Fucking orgasmic. I have never spent so much money on headphones and I've read you have to burn these in but I'm truly speechless. I don't have any experience in comparing these to anything else besides cheap earbuds yet I feel like I've been missing out on headphones like these all these years!

[Cry Havoc]

Well they're arrived today. I popped in Pink Floyd, put on some "Echoes" to test it out and OMG! It's like my ears are having sex to Pink Floyd. Fucking orgasmic. I have never spent so much money on headphones and I've read you have to burn these in but I'm truly speechless. I don't have any experience in comparing these to anything else besides cheap earbuds yet I feel like I've been missing out on headphones like these all these years!

:lol

Everyone who tries out a pair of good headphones says this.

Everyone who hasn't scoffs at how much money headphones cost, thinking they couldn't justify the sonic difference.

It's an odd thing that advertising and hype has done to our musical tastes. $300 for an mp3 player is fine, but more than $20 for a pair of headphones is utterly ridiculous.

Just goes to show how stupid the average consumer is. I see those white iPod earbuds EVERYWHERE, and I just think to myself how many fools there are that never question what they're told about what to buy/own.

I've thought about letting people try out my headphones in public... maybe I should start doing that...

[NASpurs]

:lol

Everyone who tries out a pair of good headphones says this.

Everyone who hasn't scoffs at how much money headphones cost, thinking they couldn't justify the sonic difference.

It's an odd thing that advertising and hype has done to our musical tastes. $300 for an mp3 player is fine, but more than $20 for a pair of headphones is utterly ridiculous.

Just goes to show how stupid the average consumer is. I see those white iPod earbuds EVERYWHERE, and I just think to myself how many fools there are that never question what they're told about what to buy/own.

I've thought about letting people try out my headphones in public... maybe I should start doing that...

I've seen the light man. I've thought audiophiles were just fucking snobs and thought a cheap pair of earbuds would suffice but all I have to say is :wow

[phyzik]

I've seen the light man. I've thought audiophiles were just fucking snobs and thought a cheap pair of earbuds would suffice but all I have to say is :wow

Welcome to fold of high quality listening.

*update*

A roommates kid fucked up my Plantronics 750 DSP headset a few month ago. :depressed

Thinking about getting a set of Creative Sound Blaster Arena headphones.... I have seen great reviews for them.... $100 or so though....

[Cry Havoc]

Welcome to fold of high quality listening.

*update*

A roommates kid fucked up my Plantronics 750 DSP headset a few month ago. :depressed

Thinking about getting a set of Creative Sound Blaster Arena headphones.... I have seen great reviews for them.... $100 or so though....

Sigh, no offense, but very little (or nothing) branded "Creative" is even decent. The headphones NAS bought will blow anything made by Creative away. Anything. Period. People who review them are gamers who are looking for big heavy bloated bass and they've never experienced truly balanced sound from headphones.

In the $100 range you want to be looking at Grado or Sennheiser. High quality listening starts at $100 (with the exception of the Grado SR-60s for rock music). Anything under that is nearly unacceptable, as far as hi-fi standards go.

Hell, audiophile level sound doesn't really kick in until around $300. Yes, it's expensive, but if you take care of them, a pair of headphones will last 10 years, or even more. What's $300 for 10 years of bliss?

The IEMs in my sig will absolutely destroy anything made by Turtle Beach, Logitech (although they own UE now), or even Bose. Seriously, anything, full size or in-ear. There is NO substitute for quality drivers.

[phyzik]

Sigh, no offense, but very little (or nothing) branded "Creative" is even decent. The headphones NAS bought will blow anything made by Creative away. Anything. Period. People who review them are gamers who are looking for big heavy bloated bass and they've never experienced truly balanced sound from headphones.

In the $100 range you want to be looking at Grado or Sennheiser. High quality listening starts at $100 (with the exception of the Grado SR-60s for rock music). Anything under that is nearly unacceptable, as far as hi-fi standards go.

Hell, audiophile level sound doesn't really kick in until around $300. Yes, it's expensive, but if you take care of them, a pair of headphones will last 10 years, or even more. What's $300 for 10 years of bliss?

The IEMs in my sig will absolutely destroy anything made by Turtle Beach, Logitech (although they own UE now), or even Bose. Seriously, anything, full size or in-ear. There is NO substitute for quality drivers.

Thanks for the advice, I rarely use headphones as it is these days... Got a nice 7.1 surround sound kit that does the job well enough.... but sometimes I need to keep it quiet during those late night excursions. :lol

[Cry Havoc]

Thanks for the advice, I rarely use headphones as it is these days... Got a nice 7.1 surround sound kit that does the job well enough.... but sometimes I need to keep it quiet during those late night excursions. :lol

The advantage headphones can provide over speakers is conveying a feeling of closeness to the music or game. A sound system is nice, but it doesn't allow your ears to pick out the finest detail like a headphone can, as headphones are so close to the ears they can easily transmit more finite amounts of detail to your ears/brain.

Now, don't get me wrong, nothing approaches the breadth and depth of a great sound system, as far as sound open and awesome. However, if you want to feel like you're sitting in a private concert with a band, listening to them play in some backwater bar somewhere, then a good pair of headphones can really, honestly do that.

[Sense]

My 202's recently stopped working... well not really, but the left side disconnected or something.. so I decided I'm going to go for something a little more expensive..


So far no other reviews have impressed me more than the Sennheiser HD 448 headphones...

[Heath Ledger]

I have the Tritton AX Pros no complaints here.

[Sense]

I have the Tritton AX Pros no complaints here.

The reviews for those are all mixed up... for headphones that cost 163 dollars... 63 dollars more than the once I just mentioned... it has a lot of cons

[TDMVPDPOY]

the bezel of ur headphones, does it get oily from ur forehead?

[Heath Ledger]

No Im not Mexican.

[Slydragon]

Anyone try the PX5? I wanted a wireless headset that would work with both ps3 and Xbox and have wireless chat work for both.

http://www.amazon.com/Programmable-Wireless-Surround-Bluetooth-Playstation-3/dp/B003O6N64Y

I also got the Xbox Bluetooth dongle for the controller to be truly wireless.

http://www.amazon.com/Xba-Bluetooth-Adaptor-PX5-Xbox-360/dp/B005J37I4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332119695&sr=8-1

I even got some Sanyo's XX Eneloop rechargeable batteries to keep me going.

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-Battery-Powered-Capacity-Pre-Charged/dp/B004N042XO/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332120060&sr=1-6

Should get it by Tuesday.

[The Reckoning]

bought the X12 turtle beach headphones for the 360 today and holy shit....awesome.

i bought a hdmi cable with it to use it on my hdmi vizio...fucking amazing. i cant believe ive been gaming so long without decent headphones.

its like a movie theater glued to your ears. playing battlefield i can hear the water above me on the roof dripping down and people around a building corner.

skyrim...infuckingcredible.

[Slydragon]

I always play with my px5 on since i got them. Took me a month to tweak them to my liking. Not sure how yours are but the px5 have 7 saved setting slots I can tweak when I hook it to my laptop. I mean it has tweaks for EVERYTHING highs, mids, lows and everything in between. Plus tweaks for the mic's audio settings like how loud I have to talk so it picks up my voice but not the background noise or how I hear people voices.

One thing I didn't like at first was the lack up deep bass but after a bit of playing I can understand why its tone down. I would be missing all the small detailed sound if I had crazy bass. I found a good balance of both.