Which gaming headphones should I buy?

Basically put, I'm looking to buy a new pair of headphones for the purposes of gaming and listening to music. I'm looking for excellent sound in both gaming and audio playback, particularly with an immersive gaming experience.

I've narrowed my choices down to 3, and really I just want advice on which pair to go for.

For these, I will for the moment at least be playing the following games with them:
Modern Warfare 2
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Lord of the Rings Online
Counter-Strike Source
Left 4 Dead 2
And various other FPS games for the most part that I'll end up buying over the next few years.

The headphones I am considering are:

1. The Roccat Kave: Real 5.1 audio with 3 speakers in each earcup makes these a very tempting choice for me and currently are the headphones I'm considering going for. The downside is that I'll also have to buy an external 5.1 sound card to use them, so the total cost to me will come to about £135 for these. Still, as I love Roccat, and because these provide true 5.1 surround sound, this is currently what I'm looking at.

2. The Razer Megalodon: With 7.1 surround sound these also seem very tempting and appear as one of the highest end headphones on the market, supposedly excellent. I'll be able to get these for about £105 if I go for them, so it's also cheaper than the Kave, but as the Kave has real 5.1 surround sound rather than simulated 7.1, they seem more tempting.

3. The Logitech G35: Once again, 7.1 surround sound make these appear to be very good and from the reviews that I've read they supposedly beat out the Razer Megalodon. Similar to the Razer I'm not too sure however. I'll be able to get them for about £120.

So those are the choices I've got. Currently I am considering the Roccat Kave the most, as it's got very good reviews (then again, they all have) and I do like Roccat products, plus real surround sound seems a big benefit. However it's also the most expensive of my options and while cost isn't a huge factor, I don't want to be buying them if the Razer or the G35 will be just as good for less.

Remember that I'm looking for both excellent gaming performance as well as excellent quality when listening to music.

Feel free to vote in the poll above and post your opinions below, especially if you have another pair of headphones to throw into my consideration. I'd really be thankful if I get as many opinions as possible for this.

EDIT: Just checked the G35 price again, and it wasn't as cheap as I checked last. I've updated the price above.

 

i own the g35 and they are fantastic at surround sound especially with left 4 dead. i havent tried them with counter strike yet but it should be just as good since its a source game. unfortunately i dont have the other games you want them for so i dunno how they are in those games. Almost every game ive played with these on though have sounded great. ive even been called a hacker when i use them in left 4 dead since i can always hear the direction they are coming from them before they appear

They have the option of listening with the 7.1 or switching to 2.1 with a switch located right on the headset so although i like how music sounds with the 7.1 i know a few people that have liked the 2.1 setting more. movies also sound great. theses are also very comfortable once you figure out which of the swappable headset cushions to use.

 

From what I understand simulated surround is supposed to be superior than true surround sound headphones. Go for the Megalodon if it's the cheapest.

 

Gaming headphones? How about real headphones..no lightning bolts glued to the side. While multichannel sound is fine not all publishers make the effort.

My money goes to Grado or Sennheiser unless we are talking cheap? My point is these people make equipment for listening that can be used for games as well..

Here's one of many sites; Headphone Reviews & Recommendations

 

I vote for the Razer Megalodon. I have its stereo cousin, the Carcharias, and it is top-notch. It's lightweight and extremely comfortable for long periods of use, and sound quality is great both going in and coming out.

 

I'm going to say other and here is why.

I'm not a big fan of the number of connectors required by the Roccat's, I've never used them so I can't comment on their comfort or quality, but the number of connection's limits their usefulness in my opinion. I find the G35's sound awesome but don't fit well, they get tight. The Megalodon sound very good and have great comfort, they would be my choice if no other headsets existed.

I really like the Sennheiser PC350 and PC360's. They are super comfortable and have excellent microphones. I prefer open headphones because the sound better so I'd get the PC360 but if you don't want sound to leak in and out the closed design of the PC350 is still great.

I also like the Astro A30 if you like on-ear headphones, I didn't enjoy the Astro A40 so much in the sound department. Also it has a removable microphone which is awesome and still offers a inline microphone too, making it usable almost anywhere. Also if you buy the mixamp you can get good 5.1 reproduction in a stereo headset and can use it on video game consoles too. Easily the most flexible of the ones mentioned so far.

I also hear good things about the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 closed headset.

If you can live without a integrated microphone you can look at something like the Sennheiser HD555 or HD595, they are open designed headphones and sound amazing (Similar to the PC350's). I use these mostly and a separate microphone.

If you want closed headphones instead look at the Beyerdynamic DT 770 and a separate microphone. They are some of the best closed headphones I've used.

I personally find great stereo headphones beat these 5.1 and 7.1 headsets easily and still give great positional sound in gaming. The problem with 5.1 and 7.1 sets is that the number of speakers in each ear means smaller drivers have to be used, the larger the driver the more full and rich sound you'll get.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far. Right now I'm actually edging towards the G35, partly because I don't really want to go for an external sound card with the Kone, and partly after reading more reviews (particularly at hardwareheaven.com) where the G35 seemed to win out. And partly because I've already had a go of my friend's G35s (albeit not for long) and they did sound excellent.

Just as a note, the microphone really makes no difference at all to me. I could care less if it had one or not. I rarely use the mic and if I ever do, the mic(s) on my laptop already produce good quality.

I'd consider Sennheiser's PC350 however I really do feel that I'd need an external sound card to get the quality out of them. My Sennheiser CX300 in-ears sound better on my iPod than on my laptop and those are simple in-ears, not full on headphones.

And really, gaming headphones aren't just re-styled standard headphones. Hardcore gamers will go for the gaming headphones as they can recreate a more real environment where it's easier to pinpoint an opponent, as compared to a standard pair of headphones.

Plus, as a note, 'real' headphones are a no-no really because I'm already getting a pair (a Bose On-Ear pair, as my in-ears broke so they're letting me pay the extra £20 to upgrade) mostly for my iPod. I am still considering not getting a pair of gaming headphones at all and just getting a USB 'pen drive' sound card from Creative to run the Bose ones very well, but I'm not too sure if they'd perform as well as I'd like in games.

 

my wow headphones are pretty sweet...if your turn off the leds of course

they are THX certified so thats a plus... great sound overall

 

Scan.co.uk: 981-000117 - Logitech G35 Gaming USB Headset PC, 7.1Ch Surround Sound, with MIC

120 quid? Where are you going?!?!?

I agree with N1ghtra1n about the tightness of the G35 - but they do provide far more usable isolation than the PC350 drawing you into the game. And fit can be tuned using the headpads. I found e.g. B to be much better than the A fitted by default. I also find the 350's sound a little too polite for gaming - I mainly use them with Skype in a semi-mobile situation.

The Bose On-Ears feature tidal waves of bass, and not in a good way IMO. But ironically yes, they might work OK for gaming - but the G35 will be a lot better in terms of utility and usability as a gaming headset.

 

Out of those, definitely the Megalodon, though the difference between the Carcharias and Megalodon is hardly worth the extra 70$.

 

I'm still not sure about the Razer Megalodon though. On HardwareHeaven at least, the G35 is rated higher (got a gold award in fact) and not to mention thanks to the link Vogelbung posted I'll be able to get them significantly cheaper than the Megalodon.

I've tried out my friend's pair and they seem to work very well for me at least.

Looks like I'm going for the G35 then, unless someone gives me a reason that makes the Razer Megalodon worth the £15 extra.

 

Some comparisons between the two. I ordered a pair of G35s myself since they're on sale at Best Buy for $90 and qualify for 20% Bing Cashback. I only voted for the Razer because at the time it was cheaper than the G35 for you.

Logitech G35 vs. Razer Megalodon
5 Surround Sound Headsets : Intro and Testing Methods

 

Well then looking at those articles I think I'll be going for the G35s. The Megalodon only seems to be better at surround sound by a very slight margin and even that seems to be down to personal opinion, whereas the G35s seem to win out everywhere else, plus the G35s are quite a bit cheaper.

If anyone else has any input on my decision, then go ahead. I AM considering getting a pair of Sennheiser HD555s (seeming as I'm a bit of an audiophile) and using a USB pen drive sound card with it, but I'm not sure if they'd match up to the G35s in gaming and the G35s are still supposedly very good for audio quality. Anyone have any input on how good the HD555s are for gaming?

 

If you have an even semi large head you will regret the g35. Super hot, super tight, and super heavy.

I returned mine the day after arrival.

 

I did the exact same thing, for the exact same reason

 

Only problem I had with the G35 was that it was somewhat tight.

 

Hmm...That does actually worry me to an extent now. The odd thing is not many reviews actually refer to it as tight.

I guess the only way for me to find out is to try them out. My head's not particularly large but still...I'm not sure.

 

I have a size titanic head, and it's not too bad - at least, if you know what to expect from a closed, acoustically isolated phone. It's not as comfortable for long-term wearing as the MMX 300, but the G35 is not 300 quid.

The PC 350 definitely sits more comfortably on the head and clamps much less, but it then also has little isolation in comparison. Given the choice of the two, I'll take the Logitech - unless you travel a lot with'em, in which case the folding ability of the 350 may come in handy.

 

I've never used the PC 350, but any Sennheiser product is a good product.(I've used the HD280, PXC350, some earbuds that I can't remember the name, and the HD202)

If mic quality is important to you, corsair, you'll want to look into that as well. The Carcharias/Megaloodon is excellent quality.

 

Mic quality of the G35 is also pretty respectable.

 

Yeah it is pretty darn good. The included voice changing software is entertaining as well. I loved being an alien

 

Thanks for the mic advice but like I've said, mic quality makes no difference to me. I very rarely use a mic, and if I ever do then the mic on my M17 works very well already (for a built in laptop mic anyway).

 

I love my wow headphones as well. Why do you turn off the leds?

 

hmmm my g35 fits perfectly fine on my head so i dunno what these pinches your head is all about
i must have a tiny head?
i personally use the largest "headpad" and pull the cans out to the 9 setting and the fit perfectly fine. snug enough to stay on but loose enough if i move my head in a rapid motion they "slide" slightly

 

I just got my G35s last night and ran it through a day of Call of Duty and movies. Very satisfied with the sound quality, both stero and surround. It is also one of the most comfortable pair of headphones I've ever used. I have a fairly average sized head, although my mop of hair adds some size and haven't had a problem finding a comfortable fit.