need new headphones for gaming!

[one winged ange]

hi guys

so i need a new pair of gaming headphones, because my friends stepped on my speedlink medusa 5.1 gaming headset. So i did some research and found a few interresting headphone, but i cant really decide which one to take!

Headphones:
astro a40+ mixamp
speedlink medusa 5.1 nx
turtle beach ear force hpx
razer barracude hp1+ac1
razer megalodon (not released yet)
beyerdynamic mmx 300
or http://shop.beyerdynamic.de/gaming-m...me.html?lang=1

price isnt really an issue.

so what do you pros think... The headphones are only really gonna be used for competive gaming (css), so pinpoint accuracy of surround sound is more important than quality of sound... though i still must hear footsteps and such clearly.

thx in advance

[LFC_SL]

For gaming you want sound stage, accuracy and detail. btw "5.1 surround sound" headphones are pretty much not worth it. You only have to notice that "5.1" channel sound is being delivered via a stereo plug and then out of two headphone drivers...

Most recommended are
Sennheiser HD595
Beyerdynamic DT770/880/990
Audio-Technica A500/700/90

Depends on the rest of your setup. I presume you would have a gaming card like the xi-fi so low impedance would be what you want. You would need a nicer dac/sound card with an amp to truly benefit from higher end headphones. I have had a surprising experience using my HD600 (just before uninstalling the game ).
So unless you have a setup which a higher end headphone would benefit from then you can buy more reasonably priced headphone. I think in-game sounds are not that well recorded anyway

Happy researching

[one winged ange]

well im not really looking for quality audio... I just want to hear footsteps clear and need to know where they are coming from...

[sapperjohn]

Have to agree that the 5.1 headphones just don't provide any additional benefit.
Have had the Medusa's and the Razer Baracuda (sat in the cupbord) both were uncomfortable for long sessions of gaming. Currently using a pair of Sennheiser PX100's for CSS and these give a good open soundstage for positioning footsteps etc. As I need a mic I have a pair of Sennheiser PC161's on order, reviews of the 161's have been pretty favourable.

[one winged ange]

thx for the tips!
What do u guys think of the astro a40 seems interesting as it simulates 5.1 with stereo and the mixamp could actually be pretty good

maybe i could use the mixamp+ another headphone, i know compatability isnt a problem since i read a lot of reviews on it where people state that the mixamp works just fine with any pieces of headphone

[sapperjohn]

Hmm. Looks like nice kit but can't help feeling you end up paying for lots of
gimmicks which may or may not be of benefit. Maybe your right buy the amp and use some other headset like the Sennheiser's or others. Just on another note I have been trying out my iGrado's on CSS this afternoon and for midrange clarity they are superb, but again no mic. The iGrados are so clear I think I can almost distinguish a difference in the footsteps of a T and CT

[one winged ange]

ok sry for second post...

ive done some research and it seems the beyerdynamic mmx300+ the astro mixamp are a really solid choice. what do u think?

[sapperjohn]

Some users on Head-fi seem to rate that combo. Go for it and give us some feedback on how they perform.

[Uriel]

If you're looking for a surround effect over headphones, look at getting an X-Fi (not USB or Xtreme Audio) or Xonar soundcard. They both simulate surround sound, giving a good impression of front and back as well as left and right.

Pair these cards with a good set of stereo headphones and you're on to a winner. I've owned the Medusa 5.1 home edition headphones and, while the directional effect is discernable, either soundcard's virtualised surround is better.

The trouble with gaming over headphones is that you're just having game sounds piped in to each ear. Soundstage (distinct from 'Headstage' on headphones) and direction must be simulated. Not many games do this well, but most have support for surround speakers. Both soundcards allow you to use the 5.1 or 7.1 mode in games and simulate the positioning, using a head related transfer function (HTRF - check out wikipedia or something). I honestly thought this was a gimmick until hearing it. CMSS-3D gives a good impression of direction but it was Dolby Headphone that really surprised me. The latter gives a more speaker-like, spacious presentation than the X-Fi's CMSS-3D headphone. I honestly had to take off my headphones to check my 5.1 speakers weren't running the first time I heard it.

I've used both an X-Fi and a Xonar with many different headphones. Dolby Heaphone needs a pretty decent headphone to work really well. HD580s HD600s and Goldring NS1000s did an excellent job. I've known it to sound a bit tinny or metallic on cheaper sets. I also found it worked pretty well on the Goldring DR50s but they lacked bass. From what I've read, the Sennheiser HD555s do a pretty good job too. CMSS-3D headphone seems to work OK, even on cheaper sets.

[willykatie]

Originally Posted by one winged ange

well im not really looking for quality audio... I just want to hear footsteps clear and need to know where they are coming from...

Coming from full surround speakers + dedicated amp for my PS3 i was in the same position as you about 2 months ago as was looking for 5.1 headset.

After a lot of reading, i mean a lot , i went for HD555 and XOnar D2X and i'm glad i made the right decision as i could hear footsteps when somebody sneaking behind me also bonus brillliant sound quality as well which 5.1 headset won't offer you at all.

I just had to try it myself as with my surround speakers i can hear when holding breath, walking around grass or when somebody walking near me

Hope that help you to decide