Best headphones for 5.1Gaming/Music/Movies

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a pair of earphones to go with my new m15x. There is a thread on the alienware about 5.1 headphones for gaming, and a few of the headphones I've read about sound great, but I've heard complaints about them sacrificing base levels/sound quality when listening to music/viewing movies in favor of gaming.

I enjoy gaming, but at the same time I'd like a pair which would be suitable for other activities, without sacrificing quality. I understand that studio grade headphones will not be the best for gaming and vice versa, however surely there is a pair out there which doesnt cost much more than 100$ which has good quality for both surround sound gaming and music (good quality and bass levels).

Would be nice if a microphone was with it (as on most gaming headphones), but the lack of a microphone is not a dealbreaker for me.

tl;dr - earphones which are good at both 5.1 gaming and music/vid (mic optional)

Also they need to be comfy!

 

So far ones I've found is:

Roccat Kave 5.1 Surround Sound Headset [ROC-14-500 ] Headsets 5.1 Gaming Headsets

SteelSeries – SteelSeries Siberia V2

 

Astro A40's

 

Turtle Beach X31's. Best headphones I've used that are compatible with anything and everything.

 

Logitech G930's or if you can't spring for the extra $30 go for the logitech G35's.

 

You should check out Astros A30, its a stereo headset, that with the mixer can be a 5.1 headset. you can use it on all gaming systems and use it with your Mp3 player.

 

Yup id say the logitech G930 is the best, its 7.1 though which is obviously better. I use the G35 and i have to say it has amazing sound quality for music as well as gaming.

 

Honestly? I would recommend a good headphone amp and a good set of headphones, beats the hell out of this 5.1 stuff,

I currently have Beyerdynamic DT880 and a Fubar IV Headphone Amp/DAC, safe to say I wont ever get 5.1 stuff again.

You wont regret it trust me

 

If you listen to music all the time, sure it's a better setup. If for games, NO. Most of the audiophile-types have never actually owned a set of gaming headsets.

The DT 770 Pro / Premium is a good all-rounder for music and gaming, although for me it's a tad uncouth for music. The Logitechs aren't a million miles away though in Stereo, and does far better in gaming activities (as well as being a heckuva lot cheaper). I guess it's about which you want better really.

 

Audio Technica ATH-AD700.

 

I know what you mean, but I always thought that gaming headsets were the way forward for games, with the setup I had and a lot of investigation over at headfi.org forums, I asked around and they recommended the Beyer DT 880, ok my AMP/DAC isnt the greatest (these things can get expensive!) but being an avid gamer, I love the sounds from music, video and games.

There are sounds that come to life, and you hear the most subtle of things.

All down to preference, but im loving my setup for all types of listening.

 

How about this headset Turtle Beach TBS-2114?
Newegg.com - Turtle Beach TBS-2114 Earforce HPA2 5.1 Surround Sound Headset with Amplifier and Removable Microphone

Any good I want to order a decent headset, I am no audiophile or w/e. Just want a decent headset that isn't going to cost over 100 bucks.

 

If your on a budget thats even more a reason to get regular 2 speaker headphones than to go for this 5.1 bologna. More quality for your money.

 

I agree. I seriously doubt the effectiveness of 5.1 headphones. They look fancy and sound fancy but it's almost the same effect as stereo.

In CoD4 I can determine exactly where the enemy is coming from, even on my cheap Sennheiser PC 151's.

I would invest in a pair of good stereo headphones rather than go for a cheap 5.1 that may not even sound as good as a good stereo one.

 

They always do. It's the 880 or 770 (Wonder what happened to the ATH-A900? For a time they were the gaming phones on HF). The problem with Head-Fi is that you get a whole bunch of people with experience of ONE thing and they pile it on everyone else, which results in a peer-based knowledge which is completely one sided. Most of them are broke students who get that ONE thing, and carry on down the same path, imparting that 'knowledge' to others. In terms of gaming headsets, the members on there with money aren't interested because they're too old for games or solely into music - although I see this changing in the future, so opinions might become more balanced.

Guess who buys everything he's interested in, and as such has a very different opinion to most on Head-Fi?

It takes a long time for n00bs to change that peer mind. When the 'knowledge' piles up to a certain mass, even old-timers can get shot down / ignored when they present a different opinion - or god forbid, change their minds several years down the line with more experience. It's all the same with a lot of online communities and Head-Fi is no exception.

It's also a brand thing. Any brand which doesn't fit the Head-Fi demographic is automatically disregarded - which means that the only set which gets anywhere near a look in is e.g. the Sennheiser PC 350. Which isn't IMO all that. You have to bear in mind that although you're dealing with hundreds of opinions, most of those opinions actually stem from a few original recommendations by people who have no experience of 'the other side' either, but they just wrote better than anyone else.

I would say from what I read that it's odds on as to whether 1% of the people who pile in to recommend a 770/880 on Head-Fi have owned a current set of fairly decent gaming headset. I am not, of course, suggesting that musicwise any gaming headset is better than many of the recommended phones on Head-Fi. That would be ridiculous, although some get pretty close. I am saying that a good compromise exists with gaming headsets. The good ones are pretty decent for music, and do better than regular stereo sets in movies and games.

 

Agree with you, its like that on any specialty forum. Many people recommend on nothing more than they saw something recommended by others they may not even have owned the product.

 

I looked up some reviews and the HPA2's are actually pretty decent they are rated better than the Astro A40's.

here is a review from Hothardware
http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Gaming-Headset-Roundup/?page=1

 

Well thanks for spoiling my not-so-ninja edits Vicious

 

I enjoy my Turtle Beach headset, although mine's the AK-R8 which is basically the same or a slightly older model of the HPA2. It's worth noting that I'm pretty sure the HPA2 you linked _requires_ a 5.1 setup, as the USB will only power the in-line amplifier, and the sound is passed through 4x 3.5 mm jacks (front, center/sub, surround, and microphone). If you want to use it in a 2.1 or stereo setup, you're going to have to buy a separate adapter cable (One of these on the HPX page) that will plug into the semi-proprietary connector that the HPA uses (skipping the USB amp) and into whichever sound source (amp, or PC jacks) that you need. It's worth noting that apparently when used in 2.1 or stereo mode, you'll only be using 2 of the 4 drivers in each ear, but I've been perfectly happy with mine that way.

 

Thanks for that link I have the 5.1 audio jacks on my M17x so that is not a problem but I would like to use them with my mp3 player as well so i will definitely be buying that cable.

 

I actually recommend Tritton AX 720 headset, it comes with an amp (if you want to use it) but to use the amp it has to go through a optical port.
I recommend them because they sound extremely crisp and if you also have a console like xbox or ps3 then it is just amazing quality and you can sound people across the MAP XD
You may be called a hacker if you use these tbh

 

Very good point, and totally agree you can end up getting this fanboyness for one particular type of good, but I did a serious amount of research before I purchased not just from headfi.org, the setup cost me around £550! so was not going to just listen to a few good reviews

 

Just got a new pair of headphones myself.

Finally got a sister for my ATH A700's now I have some ATH AD700's also

Got a nice headphone dac/amp on the way too.

I wanted the AD700 for a long time, cued of a powerful classical music score and let my wife listen too them, she was in tears at the end of the song and when I wanted them back she wouldn't hand them over she insisted I play more music.

 

I gotta say these HPA2's are pretty insane they really do pull off 5.1 well

 

Good for you, I promote the AD700s whenever I can. They're extraordinary for the price and better than the 555/595s. Best soundstage under $200-300. Been wanting a pair for myself for a long time now, I listen to a lot of classical music.

 

nvm 10char

 

What's the best headset for iPod? What you guys think? I'm living in Austria i don't think i can find Turtle Beach though