Recommend me some headphones

[pilonv1]

I'm getting sick of using my logitech headset for PC gaming, mainly because it's not very comfortable. I'd like to grab something between $100-200 to replace it, doesn't necessarily need to have a mic but that would help.

Any recommendations?

[Madmya]

Everyone seems to like Turtle Beach X41.

[pilonv1]

I'm looking at these currently, which seem to get rave reviews everywhere.

http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=178" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Shaneus]

Everyone seems to like Turtle Beach X41.

I scored a pair of these second-hand for $150 (posted!) and can vouch for their quality. Movies (using AC3/DD) as well as games sound AWESOME. Forza 3 and Rez were the culprits, but now I have an Asus Xonar U1 I'll be able to PC game with them, too.

I belive Mightyape are selling them for just over $200 if you're keen, pilon. They have a mic, too.

[Ben]

Hose turtle l beach ones sound pretty good, I wonder how they go on batteries. What are the inputs on the unit like? I know it has optical but does it have RCA connectors for simple L/R plugs, or maybe coaxial?

[selfish]

I have been very pleasantly surprised with the quality of in-ear ones, specifically the apple ones and some tdk noise-reducing ones. Faaaaar better than I had ever imagined. Worth checking out. Sounds more like proper cans than you would guess.

[pilonv1]

I'm somewhat sceptical of the 5.1/7.1 headphones, mainly due to everyone claiming they have shit quality components and good stereo headsets are better.

[Talez]

Pilon your choice is perfect. Go with it. Order them right now.

[pilonv1]

That's what I was thinking. AD-700's and a Xonar DG for $40 from PC Case Gear.

[Talez]

Do it dawg!

[Shaneus]

I'm somewhat sceptical of the 5.1/7.1 headphones, mainly due to everyone claiming they have shit quality components and good stereo headsets are better.

The X41s *are* good stereo ones. They just have a wireless base with Dolby Digital decoder to convert 5.1/7.1 to "virtual" channels. Sound good, too.

[pilonv1]

I nearly came in my pants listening to some Beatles FLACs this afternoon with these headphones and sound card

I think I'm quickly becoming an audiophile

Also my front panel was producing some shocking hissing when I was using it for the headphones. Moved them to the back and it's crystal clear, total eargasm. They're also so comfortable it's like having a pillow on my head.

[Cletus]

They're also so comfortable it's like having a pillow on my head.

I don't mind the comfort of my head on a pillow. Tonight though, I will swap that around and try to sleep with a pillow on my head and rate the experience for you.

[pilonv1]

Thanks it would be great to have a reference point.

[mech]

I nearly came in my pants listening to some Beatles FLACs this afternoon with these headphones and sound card

I think I'm quickly becoming an audiophile

Also my front panel was producing some shocking hissing when I was using it for the headphones. Moved them to the back and it's crystal clear, total eargasm. They're also so comfortable it's like having a pillow on my head.

That will be because it's connected to the back via an unshielded analog wire through a VERY noisy (in terms of EM radiation) case.

[jizzlobber]

Just ordered the Turtle Beach PX5 from ozgameshop for $195... best price I can find, they retail for 3 hundy at EB/JB/etc.



Basically they are the x41's with a few extra features.
The best thing is 2 channel bluetooth linking on the headset... this means you can easily sync to PS3 for voice chat, plus you can recieve phone calls in game at the touch of a button, you'll talk with the game audio in the background!!
you can also use it to listen to your music collection on your smart phone, something you could only do on the x41 via the base unit, meaning no portability.
apparently the hissing noise is all but gone
there are audio presets which means you can actually tinker with the volume of sound effects in games, if you're into competitive FPSs you can make it so footsteps are amplified, a bit unfair if you ask me but cool nonetheless.
you also have voice masking which is pretty useless, just like it was on xbox1.
Dynamic chat boost will adjust chat volume depending on game audio, loud explosions will result in chat volume adjusting so it isn't drowned out.
also tells you when the battery needs changing before the envent unlike the x41.
plus it's black, looks better, matches all my gear.

plus the fact it's bluetooth compatible means it's more future proof.

cons?
going by reviews and impressions some people experience pops and crackles because it uses the 2.4ghz range, there's a chance other devices will cause interference... may need to rearrange stuff.
some people have said the headphones can pinch the head a bit.
DTS doesn't work, need to disable DTS or you won't hear anything... DD only.

it's a lot of money to spend but I know it'll be worth it, I can really crank the game volume without the missus cracking the shits.
I'll update with impressions in a week or so.

[David Carney]

I got some "expensive" Sennheiser ones a while ago (about $160 at the time) and while the sound quality was awesome, they were really uncomfortable...

So I've "downgraded" to these other Sennheiser ones (HD 218) and I find they're very comfortable and offer great sound. They're about $99 in jbhifi or $36-$38 on ebay...

[jizzlobber]

catchoftheday has deals on sennheiser, skull candy, sony and pioneer head/earphones tomorrow
will be interesting to see if anything decent is listed or just shitty earphones

[jizzlobber]

The Turtle Beach PX5s arrived yesterday.

Really awesome headphones, used them for about 4 hours and didn't notice any pops or crackles even when I went to the fridge for a drink, I have wireless stuff all over the place too, lappy and phone on my couch with me, another lappy in front of me on the coffee table etc... by biggest fear was experiencing interference but it isn't happening, also no "hissing", something people complain about with the x41.

super comfortable even after hours of use.

I don't have anything to compare to but they sound awesome, bass is beefy enough for my liking, some headphones struggle there.
you hear EVERYTHING, sounds silly but you'd be surprised what you miss without headphones.
surround sound effect is there but not near as obvious as my 5.1 speaker setup obviously.

pretty stoked really, i'll get a lot of use out of these things!

[t0mby]

cons?
DTS doesn't work, need to disable DTS or you won't hear anything... DD only.

I know it's a stupid qeustion, but I don't suppose it has optical input eh?

[jizzlobber]

yeh optical in/out

[t0mby]

Sorry, should've expanded on that, does that mean it has a digital decoder built in to the base unit? I only ask as very few do of that size. Like, can you plug the PS360 directly via optical and it works in surround?

[itch]

MDR-v700

Anywhere from a hundred to two hundred bucks.

Sound great. A little flimsy.

The swivel cracked in mine after 6 years. Duct tape. Apples.

Win.

[jizzlobber]

Sorry, should've expanded on that, does that mean it has a digital decoder built in to the base unit? I only ask as very few do of that size. Like, can you plug the PS360 directly via optical and it works in surround?

i'm not sure how it works, it is a decoder but it isn't true 5.1/7.1, it's "simulated"... I find it hard to understand but apparently the headphones are pretty much standard stereo headphones, but you still get a surround sound experience, I find it's way less obvious than true 5.1 with your normal setup but you do get a sense of direction... for example I had a jackal shoot at me in ODST today and I spun around because I heard it just behind me, turns out the prick WAS indeed behind me but up on a bridge thing.

the astro setup is the same, but you can plug ANY stereo headset you choose into the unit and they'll work.
I think you can get something like the Ear Force DSS ( http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/aud" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... e-dss.aspx ) which will also do the decoding.
I think it's dolby prologic 2x or something.

but yeah, optical into the decoder/transmitter unit.
it says 7.1 on the box but that's just BS

[Cletus]

For my laptop and iPod I use Sennheiser OMX 60 hook on earphones. They cost me around 60 bucks but got 2 pairs from CoD for 26 bucks each last week. Awesome little headphones for my small and delicate ears. Sound quality is excellent for cheap headphones.