Best gaming and movie headphones

[l33t-krew]

As per the thread title, just wondering what I could get that would suit watching blu-rays (albeit anti socially :D, and playing games (hopefully multichannel).

For a normal pair I could spend £100+, for a FANTASTIC pair £800-£1000 (I am calling off my new AV and speaker set because of upcoming uni, but still have cash left over ).

What is the best stuff to get?

I don't wish to spend money just on the label, but would like something to help me take advantage of some decent sound

Whats your recommendation?

[Drubbing]

That's as open ended as you could consider. You'll have to narrow it down, it's not necessarily plug n play with phones, so spending more doesn't automatically = better.

Are you running off PC onboard sound or audio gear?

If running off PC/PStation etc then spending big just isn't worth it. Audio quality is only as good as your worst component, so mega expensive phones won't make things sound terrific all by themselves. In fact, the more expensive they are, the more they will reveal the limits of a poor source. And amping a poor source doesn't make it better.

Also, don't expect miracles with expensive phones with games - the soundtracks will sound better, but positional audio is limited by the highly compressed SFX files and their simplicity.

And a number of the higher end models will need a headphone amp to work as intended. With the open end of your budget you could afford both, but you'll still be limited by the source.

[l33t-krew]

I have an X-Fi Titanium soundcard to use.

[Drubbing]

I'm no soundcard expert, but that appears to be a fair step up from onboard, although with a high gaming bias.

I don't understand what you're trying to achieve by spending so much. You won't get multi channel with headphones unless you go gaming 5.1 headsets, and these aren't multi channel, just extra, poorer quality drivers than regular headphones, they don't do true 5.1. Good stereo phones will do a better job than these, for less money. They produce better soundstage, which goes beyond the ability to just provide well defined left and right.

Personally, I wouldn't spend anywhere near your upper limit if watching movies and gaming. High quality music phones would be a waste of money - they don't make everything magically better by themselves by virtue of their cost, and wouldn't add to your gaming experience any more than a 150 quid phone would. Buying bigger (and adding a better source + amp) can't add what wasn't put in at the beginning, so SFX files that create positional audio can't be made better, or clearer. Sure, movie soundtracks and background music would sound better, but laying out 800 for that seems excessive.

The most expensive doesn't automatically = the 'best'. At the top end with phones it's more about what you like, and suiting certain needs, rather than one being better than the other.

If you want good VFM to suit your needs, I'd be looking at 150max, and buying from headphone-only makers is a good choice, those like Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic, Grado etc

[EndlessWaves]

Originally Posted by l33t-krew

I have an X-Fi Titanium soundcard to use.

I upgraded to an X-fi Titanium and some Audio-Technica ATH-AD700s from my previous set of an Audigy 2 ZS and a pair of Steelseries Siberia headphones and didn't notice that much difference in sound quality, it seems to slightly have the edge and hopefully they won't fall apart after a year like the other 'gaming headphones' I've tried (which I why I can't compare them directly) but I think a pair of AD500s or AD300s would have been just as good.

[Showoff]

If these are just for gaming and movies, I wouldn't go anywhere near your upper budget or even much more than your lower budget.

I can't recommend the Sennheiser HD595's HERE high enough. Great sound and fantastic value.

They are opened back so others in the same room will hear what you are listening to and anything loud around you will be heard, but I prefer the sound from opened back to closed.

I bought mine for gaming and movies late at night and like you wanted a 5.1 effect so I also bought a JVC SU-DH1 which is a fantastic piece of kit and I'm selling mine so check it out HERE.

[ash]

Beats by Dre

[Drubbing]

Originally Posted by ash

Beats by Dre

Exceptionally poor value, particularly for music and gaming. Why pay for active noise cancelling (which is only really useful on an aircraft) complete with a battery unit to power it, when it isn't even needed?

The 595 is a good suggestion - open backed phones will give better sound and do positional audio better than closed - and way better than ANC.