Headphones for gaming that aren't garbage?

[jag272]

Well I was interested in this thread as I keep meaning to buy some head phones for years, but the problem is:- no one can agree for which ones for about £90 or under.

It's way under your estimated budget but I got some Superlux HD681 EVOs from Thomann.de (not easily available in the UK it seems) and I really like them. They're a steal at £20 on Thomann too, Head-fi also seems to like them in reviews.

That said, they don't have microphone so if its for games you'd have to splash the rest of the budget on a desktop mic/clipon mic. I'm looking forward to giving them a try with the Soundblaster Z I got from Jonj. They are very bulky however, don't expect them to be portable, but I find them quite comfy even for long hours.

Definitely buy the EVO though, not the other models like the standard 681 or the 668B which are similar, the EVO includes extra velour pads in addition to the pleather pads that most Superlux come with which I found to be absolutely horrid.

[GoNz0]

you do get what you pay for with sennheiser.

[GoNz0]

Well I was interested in this thread as I keep meaning to buy some head phones for years, but the problem is:- no one can agree for which ones for about £90 or under.

http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/gaming-h...-stereo-pc-330

[Kovoet]

QPAD QH-90s?

I'm very happy with my Vulcan ANC set (though ANC is something of a marmite issue). Regardless they are excellent quality and have very good passive isolation. They are also one of the few headset I've worn that don't annoy/irritate you when wearing them for extended periods.

Couldn't agree more and also to add to this list is the Hyper cloud ll which used the USB port. Comfort wise it is basically the qpad so I expected the comfort to be good.

[excalibur2]

The Corsair Vengeance 1500 headset looks interesting in that you just plug into a USB port.....when you go onto the Amazon website and in the review from buyers... a guy said to get the best out of it, you have to download 3rd party software as the Corsair software is rubbish...h'mmm any comments?

[Ttaskmaster]

The Corsair Vengeance 1500 headset looks interesting in that you just plug into a USB port.....when you go onto the Amazon website and in the review from buyers... a guy said to get the best out of it, you have to download 3rd party software as the Corsair software is rubbish...h'mmm any comments?

I wouldn't say the software is rubbish in the slightest. Just the opposite - It's PACKED with options, configs, alterations, graphic equalisers, sonic thingamajigs, bits, pieces, things and stuff!!!

The ONLY reason I'm still using the basic Windows config instead of the Corsair app for my Vengeance 1500s is that there are so many options and I'm really not enough of an audiophile for it to make the difference.
I'm personally more into the seriously good build quality (I could quite easily break most other headphone sets), the solid performance, the comfortable features and the fact that they just work exceptionally well!!

I'm sure Greybeard can tell you more detail about the app...

[shaithis]

I'd stay away from the Corsair headsets, I've had 2 sets break and have been messed around with RMAs.

Sennheiser or Steelseries is where my money would go now.

[Ttaskmaster]

Sennheiser or Steelseries is where my money would go now.

I've had a Steelseries set die... Good and bad in every make, usually.
In fact, the only ones I've known to consistently break seem to be the Plantronics 780s.

[shaithis]

Things breaking is one thing.....2 in a row breaking being messed around with RMAs? (one direct and another via scan which never got resolved and I was left out of pocket)...No thanks.

[Ttaskmaster]

Things breaking is one thing.....2 in a row breaking being messed around with RMAs? (one direct and another via scan which never got resolved and I was left out of pocket)...No thanks.

Guess I just got lucky with my kit, then...

[Biscuit]

IIRC, some of the QPAD and Kingston ones were made in collaboration with Beyerdynamic, so they will be very good.

[Quinnbeast]

I'm currently using AKG K550s, and I only go back to using my older Corsair HS1A headset if I need the mic. By comparison, the Corsairs sound really quite thin and don't offer the same immersion as the AKGs; specifically, the lower end just isn't there (regardless of how I tweak the EQ). I'm not a base-head by any means, and the AKGs provide a fairly flat response, but they do offer up a little bit of weight and warmth that the HS1As just don't have. They're not terribly difficult to drive, and will work just fine without amplification. They're a closed back design, but still manage a fairly big sound-stage... fully open sets will still be better in this department though.

I can't compare them to newer Corsair models (or any other headsets), but unless I end up needing to use a mic more often, I can see myself sticking to dedicated (hifi) cans over gaming headsets and perhaps using a separate mic if needed.

[DJX366]

I just use a pair of Allen and Heath xd2 53 headphones. They are primarily for djing but come in handy for gaming due to the sound isolation from the outside world.

[gupsterg]

Few months back bought the HyperX Cloud and been amazed by them, I do wear glasses and still comfortable.

Only last night when sitting at the Max Payne 3 menu I was amazed how clear the crying of the baby and barking of dog was over the other sound effects.

For a moment I really thought I was hearing it in the real world and thought must see whats going on. As I went to take the ear phones off I realised it was in-game sounds! LOL

Currently using the 290X audio output over DP, so earphones plug into monitor jack, do plan to install the HD audio FP but keep forgetting.