Please help me figure out what I need to get decent audio over headphones from my new laptop

My new notebook is shipping tomorrow (see signature for info.) I was hoping you all could help me put 2 and 2 together into a value priced recommendation while maximizing quality for the money. I'm totally new at this, so please help educate me. FYI - I also posted this request at head-fi.org in case you have comments on the advice I receive over there:
Please help me figure out what I need to get decent audio over headphones from my new laptop. Gaming, Music, and Video Chatting

The Clevo appears to be pretty standard with regards to audio processing and connections:
USB 2&3, Realtek ALC892 HD Audio, 5.1 audio jacks with S/PDIF (Optical), THX software, also audio over HDMI

I already have Edirol MA-10D digital monitors on my desk. I'm thinking that they could serve as a DAC at least while I'm at the desk? Can it serve as a head amp too?
Specs: EDIROL MA-10D Digital Stereo Micro Monitors :: Specifications & Roland U.S. - MA-10D: Amplified Digital Micro-Monitor

To give you an idea of my sound preferences, Someday I would love a pair of headphones like the Beyer Dynamic DT 990 Premium 32 OHM Headphones. Figuring that with the 32 OHM version I could also use them with my Android smartphone and digital piano. However, these are over $300 so hopefully someday down the road. For now, I'd like a really affordable solution (under $150 total) with a fairly neutral sound profile (It seems lots of gaming headphones are overly boomy).

I'll mainly listen to classical, rock, and some jazz. 2.0 is probably fine, however, if there is something decent with 5.1 or 7.1 for FPS gaming and movies that might be fun to have considering I have some decent 2.0 earbuds already. I'm thinking over the ear open design would offer the best quality and soundfield? Would closed be better for video chatting and gaming so that sound leakage wouldn't affect the microphone?

I know that some of these would stretch my budget. I have no opinion on any of these but FWIW here are some popular headphones I've seen recommended to others here:
Cyberhome CH-SRD 600R
Audio Technica ATH-AD700, AD900, A900
Beyerdynamic DT250,
Shure SRH440, SRH840
Razer Megladon, Razer Tiamat 7.1 or 2.2
Corsair HS1 usb headset
Sennheiser PC 161 PC Gaming Headset

Thanks for your help!

 

A DT 990 doesn't make any sense as a headphone for e.g. a handset.

The problem with sites like Head-Fi is that when you get into something in that hardcore a level, you actually lose touch with what is appropriate.

I'm lucky or unusual in that I have one of the Holy Grails of Head-Fi members (and have had pretty much all of the other Holy Grails in the last ten years) and yet I've somehow managed to retain a sense of usability and what actually provides some real benefit (which is clearly really hard, since complete BS gets bigged up in Head-Fi land as long as it's either a) pretty, b) expensive or c) conversely, affordable in a particular niche - the Nuforce POSs come to mind), while being practical in use.

If you want a 'do it all' headphone, then a closed, relatively compact phone is the best to have. It's practical for use outside due to the isolation offered, and if you choose the right balance of attributes, can be a true all-rounder.

Gaming-wise, I think there's a myth among gamers who don't actually know what they should be looking out for that a wide soundstage is the best for gaming. They just take it on trust since it seems like a plausible thing. In my experience, an excessively wide stereo soundfield actually impedes location assistance IMO. If I'm not using Dolby, I much prefer a headphone with a closer soundstage, such as the Ultrasone closed phones. However in music, that attribute can feel a tad claustrophobic.

Out of the phones you've listed, the SRH840 has a wide soundfield for a closed phone, more than decent sound quality, also decent around-ear comfort, it makes you look like a dork outside but it's not a bad balance of price, sound quality, comfort, all-purpose usability and reasonable durability.

The ATH-M50 is often recommended, but I can't say much about it.

The Sony MDR-ZX700 is priced right, comfortable, doesn't look stupid on the head despite being large and has decent sound quality for the money (you can easily find it for under $100). Soundstage is narrow, but it lends itself pretty well to Dolby Headphone processing (via e.g. the Xonar USB card). In terms of the overall sound quality, it doesn't actually do anything really wrong, which is pretty rare for a closed headphone in this price range. Doesn't fold though.

I'd also recommend taking a look at the Ultrasone range of closed phones as said above.

However, if you're looking to specialise - i.e. one for home, one for travelling, etc - then that recommendation changes.

It also depends on how important the mic is. No easily / practically usable add-on offers the quality possible from a headset.

 

Thanks! Putting the headphone quest aside for a minute, it appears that Dolby Headphone technology is better for games and movies than Creative's x-fi codecs? Also, does my laptop support DDL over it's optical port? Does it need to to support the Astro Mixamp?