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    gaming earphones

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by ronaldheld, May 4, 2010.

  1. ronaldheld

    ronaldheld Notebook Deity

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    While on vacation, I found the housing on my right earphone was cracked. What can you recommend for earphones used for gaming, and basic Internet work and some movies? Price should be no more than $50 -$100.
     
  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    For gaming, are you looking for a headset with a microphone, or just plain headphones?
     
  3. opositive

    opositive Notebook Guru

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    no mic, but i love my sennheiser hd280 headphones for games, music and movies.
     
  4. ziddy123

    ziddy123 Notebook Virtuoso

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    For Open Air in your price range - The Audio Technica AD700
    For Closed in your price range - Shure SRH240

    For overall cheap good ones - JVC HA-RX700

    For ear buds, you can get the Altec Lansing UHP336 which are the same as the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 3, just won't cost you $120, instead $36

    Good luck.
     
  5. ronaldheld

    ronaldheld Notebook Deity

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    I suppose that I meant earbuds and not phones that cover the ears. I do not need any with a mike.
     
  6. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Earbuds or IEMs, and/or do you need significant levels of isolation?
     
  7. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Check out the Razer Moray (and the Moray+, which has a mic too).
     
  8. Abula

    Abula Puro Chapin

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    Second the above, all but the Closed i would go with A700 instead of shure 240.
     
  9. ronaldheld

    ronaldheld Notebook Deity

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    What is the difference between Earbuds or IEMs?
    Some level of isolation is good, because the fans can get loud under gaming.
    The Razer Moray looks all right at a first glance.
     
  10. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    IEMs are basically earplugs that also play sound, and that's definitely what you want if you want isolation.
     
  11. Abula

    Abula Puro Chapin

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    If you want isolation then go for Sennheiser HD-280 $98, for what i tested the best isolation out of all my closed heaphones, but with some isolation (not as great as senns) get the Audio Technica ATH-A700 $109, those 2 are my primary heaphones for gaming, senns on the road and audiotechncia at home.

    Edit
    Just read this, so just disregard what i suggested, and have no experience in gaming with earphones, i cant stand them for extended periods of time, so i never bothered with them.
     
  12. ronaldheld

    ronaldheld Notebook Deity

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    Can you recommend an IEM, lackofcheese?
     
  13. MKang25

    MKang25 NBR Prisoner

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    Westone UM3X
    Ultimate Ears SuperFi 10
    Shure SE530
    Etymotic Er4i
    AT CK-10
    Panasonic HJE900

    Are a couple you can look at.
     
  14. Momiji1

    Momiji1 Notebook Geek

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    Also, Monster Turbine, Klipsch Custom Series/Image Series are good. My favorite right now is the Klipsch Custom 3.
     
  15. fzhfzh

    fzhfzh Notebook Deity

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    And all of them are going to far exceed his budget.

    I'm using an UM2, and it works well, but even an UM2 far exceeds his budget.
     
  16. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, if isolation is a big priority the Etymotic ER6i are the ones to get under $100. However, you'll find better options for sound quality, such as the Head-Direct RE0.

    Of course, it's all rather subjective, but you might want to look at these roundups for some idea of what a variety of products are like.
     
  17. ronaldheld

    ronaldheld Notebook Deity

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    I would prefer those on the upper list, but money is tight now.
    is durability as good for the IEMs as say the Razer Moray?
     
  18. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    IEMs do have a tendency to wear out somewhat quickly; a lot of the time they tend to wear out at the spot where the cable connects to the speaker because of repeated stress. You can still typically expect most IEMs to last 6 months, and probably significantly more if you take good care of them.

    By the way, the Razer Moray are also IEMs, so I'd expect them to last for around 6 months as well.
     
  19. fzhfzh

    fzhfzh Notebook Deity

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    My UM2 is already at it's 3rd year and counting, and it's still good as new. It simply depends on the quality of your IEM, and yes, how well you maintain it.
     
  20. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, under $100 I wouldn't expect too much with regards to quality. Still, maintenance is probably the biggest factor. Stuffing them in your pocket a lot, which I've done with previous pairs of IEMs, would probably make for most of the difference between 6 months and a couple of years.
     
  21. MKang25

    MKang25 NBR Prisoner

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    Oh I didnt see the $100 budge, my advice would be the RE0 from headdirect, and if you can squeeze out 10 more dollars the Panasonic HJE900 are very good. They are going for $110 but retail for $240. They also have removable cables so if one of your wires short out all you have to do is buy replacement cables which cost ~$20.

    The HJE900 were one of the first high end headphones i've owned and they are very good.
     
  22. unreal25

    unreal25 Capt. Obvious

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    I use Razer Moray (not plus) and am more than happy with those. Here's some pics and mini-review:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/478196-m11x-razer-kabuto-moray-mini-review.html

    it's exactly what I need. They are $40 before taxes and shipping. If you decide to get those I still have $10 off + free shipping coupons which should work, so in that case let me know and I'll PM them to you. Any other questions about those, feel free to ask. :)
     
  23. ronaldheld

    ronaldheld Notebook Deity

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    I will take a chance with the RE0. Amazon had them when I looked last.
     
  24. unreal25

    unreal25 Capt. Obvious

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    I took a quick look at those at Amazon.com, there's a review from 1 guy containing:

    "The cable itself is relatively heavy, fairly thick and very soft and pliable. It seems durable enough to withstand a fair amount of abuse. One issue I have with the cabling of the RE0s is that they transmit a lot of cable noise. Wearing them straight down while walking or performing any kind of activity that causes the IEMs to rub against your clothing, will result in microphonic noise being transmitted into your ears. It's annoying and distracting to be sure and using the included shirt clip and wearing them over-the-ear is practically required if you plan on walking with these. "

    LOL... what's the point of them being earphones then? :D
     
  25. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

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    cable noise is almost unavoidable in iems.
     
  26. fzhfzh

    fzhfzh Notebook Deity

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    Westone's twisted pair cable wires are cable noise free.
     
  27. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

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    how does that work? you will always feel some vibration from the cables, as everything is connected, and it sits in your ear canal.
     
  28. fzhfzh

    fzhfzh Notebook Deity

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    I'm not sure how it works, but any vibrations on the cable will not be heard.
     
  29. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

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    can you wear it, don't play any music, and tap the cord?
     
  30. fzhfzh

    fzhfzh Notebook Deity

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    No sound, I guess it's also because it's a loop on top of the ear design, such that any vibrations in the cord will be further eliminated by the top of your ear holding the cord.
     
  31. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

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    good point, i might start wearing mine over the ears.
     
  32. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I still hear it in some situations with my UM1s, but overall, they are very good wires.
     
  33. unreal25

    unreal25 Capt. Obvious

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    Hm I see what you mean - well I think I don't notice it because I'm wearing mine under the shirt so the only part of the cable that actually shakes is the lower, and that one doesn't cause any sound. :)