good headphones with m11x

Today iv been looking around a bit at headphones. I was wondering what type of headphones people are using with there m11x. Iv found a few I really like, and ill list them.

Nokia BH-905 seems like a clear winner for me. Its bluetooth, which means no wires. It also has the ability to connect with wires if need be. It has noise cancelation built into it which really makes me happy, although they are a bit on the expensive side. There at the bottom here, the last pair reviewed. Here is a video from the developers.

Logitech G35 Surround Sound Headset. Everyones probubly seen these as there up on the dell site as one that you can buy with all the machines. Theres not alot of 7.1 surround sound headphones at first glance, plus all the reviews seem in favor of these. Im sure a few people have them here, if you do could you tell us how they work with laptops.
I supose the type of headphones Id want most with the m11x are in-ear headphones cause they would fit nicely into an m11x small brief case and you could use them any where you go. Does any one have favorites with in-ear headphones. Iv seen a wide variety of in-ear phones, some are expensive, some not so. I wouldnt be able to resist buying a pair with the m11x. This setup looked pritty crazy and they all gave them good reviews. I know razer and roccat make in-ear buds also.

I'm no audiophile so my knowledge of amps, and sound cards are negligible. I really dont know if geting expensive pairs of headphones is worth it when using a laptop. MAybee some one more knowledgeable can give me some insight?

 

I think you'll need a some what decent sound card to be able to benefit from a good headphones.

It's really hard to provide advice as you did not specify what do you plan to use them for. Music? Movies? Gaming?

 

The G35 headphones are superb for gaming (I've tried my friend's pair out) but are pricey and for other things (media) there are better headphones.

As far as an in-ear set goes, I'd recommend the Sennheiser CX-300. They're not too expensive and offer superb quality for the money, and they aren't too bad for gaming. (Although any in-ear set isn't going to be superb for gaming use)

 

i've used a wide variety - my current music headphone, grado sr325i's are in my opinion the best by far. but you need some dedicated hardware to get the best, and quite deep pockets

the akg k420's are very nice and very compact. they are semi open, so they don't leak sound out as much as open headphones, they're supra aural (so they sit on your ears, rather than cup around them), so you don't get all sweaty in the summers. they also fold away, so if portability is key, they work. and they are relatively dirt cheap.

AKG Personal Audio - K 420

i'm currently using the noise cancelling versions, the k480's. they're good also, but a little more bulky than the k420's, and more expensive.

 

The G35s are nice. I use them in BC2 and I can hear people trying to sneak up on me lol. I'm sure if you look hard enough, you can find them cheaper. I think there was a deal a few days ago where they were 69.99

 

The alienware TACTX headphones are good... So are the Razer Carcharidon headphones too... both have heavy drivers that provide deep bass, and good sound quality to hear other gamers trying to sneak up behind you...

Best Wishes,

StevenX

 

I can also recommend the Senn CX300 also as they're great in-ears, I used them some for gaming. Great bass since they're in-ears and closed off.

I have and use my Senn HD 238's most, which are open-aire portable phones but sound awesome, they were on clearance at best buy. I use these a lot since the plug is a 3.5mm plug and don't get in the way of my mouse. I say this b/c I also have Senn HD555 which are even better are more comfortable, but I have to use a 1/4 to 3/8" converter and that thing sticks out from the laptop and gets in the way of my right hand/mouse. Lastly, the Senn PX-100 are another set of portable headphones for cheap that sound very good. (I'm a Sennheiser guy) lol

I'm a big fan of just getting nicer headphones, not a gaming headset, since the mic on the M11x is superb and if you're using headphones anyway, you won't get feedback from the laptop itself. Plus you can use the headphones on your MP3 player etc or use it for videos/movies etc on the laptop at better sound quality for price.

 

I was looking at this as a portable amp that would fit in nicely with the m11x cause its the right size. It would be easy to tote around. Any one using amps with there m11x?

 

me

i use the graham slee voyager - best amp out there at the time.

the ibasso d2 boa, however, is a better option for pc's because it has a usb pass through, so it bypasses the m11x's built in amplifier entirely.

 

Unless you have some really power headphones the amp isn't required and really won't help at all with anything less than 50Ω

 

I use the Astro A40's from my MLG days. They seems to work alright and they have a mic for gaming. The mix amp that comes with it is second to none as well. They're pretty expensive though.

EDIT: the build quality is unmatched as well. Been beating on mine for over a year and they're working like new. Not to mention they are very stylish and customizable. Definitely an awesome option that no one has mentioned.

The link is for the MLG edition, but you can search the site for the other options.

http://www.astrogaming.com/products/detail/12/A40-MLG-Edition/

 

If you don't mind the size and want a great headset, the G35 is awesome... I use them at home, and love it, but rarely take them with me.

 

Those ibasso are really nice, I wouldn't mind having one of them at all. What kinda difference does your amp make when using it? I also seen an add for the astros yesterday, It seems alot of people on youtube use them for xbox as I couldnt find one video pairing them with a pc. I still like the idea of having a bluetooth headset. I havent heared any one say anything about bluetooth headsets yet...

 

If you're willing to put out the cash, you can't go wrong with Sennheiser. I purchased these a while back, and they have paid for themselves over and over because I previously just went with 30ish dollars headsets and had to replace them every 6 months.

Newegg.com - SENNHEISER PC350 3.5mm Circumaural Headset

 

If looking for a external soundcard/external amp for laptop use only, you should look into the NuForce Udac. It's been getting some rave reviews online and it's powered through the USB.

For the M11x, I'd stick to something more portable such as the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II (if you can find one on sale), Beyerdynamic DT 770 (80 ohm version), or a good pair of inears headphones, especially if you do not get an external amp/usb DAC.

If you are only going to use the headphone out of the laptop, I would advise against spending big bucks on most headphones, especially high ohm headphones. Avoid all high ohm mid-tear and above headphones as they most likely won't be riven adequately at all and will sound crappy or bass deficient with games and movies.

 

those will start to push prices up really high - they're more expensive than the logitech ones

if you have a nearby audio store, go in and try the headphones yourself - take your m11x with you if you really need to, most audio store owners won't mind. every headphone is different - expand your possibilities: there are several gems out there that people would normally walk by and ignore, instead going for the "bigger" brands.

that's what i love most about headphones, there are always surprises around every corner

 

Not to get off topic but maybee some one could give laptop users a few tips when matching up an amp to a headphone they want? And what are the specifications to look for when buying a headphone for your laptop?

 

BT Headphones are not a good idea as there is a lag in the audio. I have the Sennheiser MM400's which sound great for music, but for movies and games they suck because of that lag. For gaming I should the Razer Moray+. They're IEM's and sound great for the cheap price ($50). I also have the G35's for my desktop but i think they are just a too big for the M11x.

 

I wish there was a good Bluetooth headset for gaming. I guess ill scrap the idea of having compleatly all wireless. Do you have a sound card you use with your G35s mrdisturbed. Do you mean they dont sound good with the m11x or they arnt portable enough for the m11x?

 

The G35's work great on the M11x, I think he's just saying they are too big to be practical for such a small machine.

They are connected through the USB port and use their own drivers. No need to worry about amps or sound cards. As I mentioned before, they really are great headsets if you aren't looking for something super small.

As a side note, I have had terrible luck with bluetooth headsets, so atleast at this point I wouldn't recommend one.

 

Yes I like the G35s, how does 7.1 surround sound with them? Those would probubly be my first choice, seems everyone likes them that buys them so you cant really go wrong with them. Theres a pair of crative labs wow headset to that I thought looked really neat but when I read the reviews on them people didnt like them as much.
How about wireless headsets, how do wireless headsets work with m11x or any other laptop. Is there a delay, and is it as bad as bluetooth? Hows gaming or watching movies with wireless headsets?

 

wireless (non bluetooth headsets) are even more pointless, since you need to plug in the supplied wireless adapter. it would only make sense if you're really far away from your m11x. which you won't be.

 

i'm using hd555, it's pretty good

 

The logitech G35s aren't REAL 7.1 surround sound, they just sound like it. They simulate the sound and while they are good at doing so, real surround sound is better.

I'd far sooner go for the Roccat Kave (which I AM going for); headphones with REAL surround sound, 3 speakers in each earcup. As a result though the headphones DO need a 5.1 output from whatever you plug them into and I don't think the M11x has the 3 outputs plus mic output needed for it. (I'm getting an external sound card for it, but I don't think that'd be very convienient for a laptop like the M11x) As a result however they are supposedly an absolutely excellent set of gaming headphones, many people have actually stated even better than the G35s.

I'd be hesitant to go for a set of in-ear headphones for gaming; I'm not saying they can't be used for it but I'd definetely go for a proper pair of headphones.

Something I'd consider (and ironically I'm getting as well) are the Bose On-Ear Headphones. (My in-ear headset broke, and I'm paying a little extra to get them replaced with the on-ear set instead) They are pricey but should provide excellent output in a very portable form factor, far more portable than most proper headphones without dropping any functionality. I WOULD recommend an external sound card, but for this you can get a very small, external USB 'pen drive' sound card from Creative.

Still, there ARE gaming in-ear headphones, if you need absolute portability and don't want to drop around $150-$200 for the Bose headphones (which are really designed for sound quality, but therefore they should be good for gaming). Roccat make a good pair of in-ear gaming headphones, but I'm not too sure if they're actually very good, I'd look at reviews first.

 

Down here on cheap-side, we have the Philips SHP1800.

They're not big and they're not smart, but when you're listen to 56KB internet radio via WINAMP or watching TV/DVDs they're ideal.
Not bad for CDs but not designed for that.

They have a 6m cable and so you can go places with them on and they're really light.

Of interest I tested AndrewLabs ATSurround for Winamp. Now most of these things are half baked, but this add-on really tickled my fancy, and at USD10 I thought what the hell and bought it.

It really works for my Philips SHP1800.

It makes both types of music sound good.

 

Can you explain to us what the difference is between the g35s outputs and the roccat kave's? Why do you need a external sound card for the kaves and not the g35s?

Also whats the difference between digital and audio and stereo when talking headphones? Also whats the difference in geting an amp compared to the external sound cards your describing corsair? Can you recommend a few?

 

The G35 uses its own built-in usb soundcard (ie it has no headphone or mic jacks, just a single USB connector) and does not require a soundcard on your pc because of this, and the Kave requires a soundcard that can support 5.1 surround with all the headphone and mic jacks it needs.

 

THIS is why, what he said, the G35's use only a usb, doesn't use the headphone jack at all. Didn't know how well it would work, but is actually really painless and works great.