Best Open Backed Headphones for Music and Gaming for around $200?

[RenegadeNC]

So up to this point i've been using the Astro A50s that I got back when I used to play on the Xbox 360. I just bought me an AT2035 and the Scarlett 2I2 for my microphone upgrade and now i'm trying to decide on a good pair of headphones. I've been trying to decide on a good pair for quite a while and since I know next to nothing about audio I'm really finding it hard to choose which I should buy. I definitely don't want to downgrade and I also want to get the very best for the money. This will be the first time buying a good pair of headphones since my astros were a year old when I got them used and i'm been using them for like 5 or so years. Any help or suggestions are appreciated. I mainly listen to Metalcore and games vary from CSGO, BF, Overwatch, etc...

Requirements:
-Large soft earcups
-No fatigue after hours of use
-Sounds great for both music and gaming
-Open backed? I've heard both that open backed headphones help with situational positioning and that they don't. If they do then I definitely want them since my Astros sometimes sound like an enemy is approaching from the wrong direction.

Headphones i'm currently looking at:
AKG K7XX (I hear they do need an amp but my motherboard has a good dac onboard)
ATH AD900X

 

[ssddx]

i've heard that the k7xx is easier to drive but akg cans can tend to be picky and hard to drive (speaking of the q701, k701, etc)

the ad900x is a nice bass light can. the lower in the series (500x, 700x) will have a bit more soundstage width but the higher you go the better quality and slightly more bass you have.

you might enjoy the dt880 or dt990. the 990 is v-shaped with more emphasis on treble and bass. its going to have more low end oomph than the ad900x. the dt880 is a bit more neutral without as much bass and without the harsher treble edge.

if you want something a bit more mellow and in between these two then the hd598 fills that nicely. its more laid back and while not as articulate certainly is good for long listening sessions. if you like the sennheiser sound the hd600 and 650 are a bit more bassy and very mellow and smooth.

for some of these you may want an amp like the schiit magni. please budget accordingly. the hd518/558/598 or ad500x/700x/900x do not really need an amp. the rest mentioned its suggested.

an onboard amp such as on a motherboard really is only as good as low end slot soundcards. sometimes they can power higher end headphones but really thats asking alot out of them and they really arent a substitute for a good amp. if it works i would say they can sound okay but you'll never get 100% out of your headphones

-large soft earcups
beyer dt series is known for this. great comfort. audiotechnica ad series does as well but not everyone likes the headband its a love or hate design.
-no fatigue
articulate/detailed cans can be mentally fatiguing for some. more mellow cans are less so but lack some detail.
-sounds good for...
bass light cans tend to be more advantageous for fps gaming but may lack the bass you would like for a thrilling experience. bass heavy cans are exciting but cover footsteps. v shaped cans are exciting sounding and while not as advantageous are great for fun factor. neutral cans can sound flat or boring to some but are good all rounders.
-open backed
while not always true, open cans generally have wider soundstage (more airy sound) and some models have good positional audio. they also tend to lack bass . closed cans isolate noise in/out but tend to have smaller soundstages. they tend to have more bassy models available.

 

[RenegadeNC]

i've heard that the k7xx is easier to drive but akg cans can tend to be picky and hard to drive (speaking of the q701, k701, etc)

the ad900x is a nice bass light can. the lower in the series (500x, 700x) will have a bit more soundstage width but the higher you go the better quality and slightly more bass you have.

you might enjoy the dt880 or dt990. the 990 is v-shaped with more emphasis on treble and bass. its going to have more low end oomph than the ad900x. the dt880 is a bit more neutral without as much bass and without the harsher treble edge.

if you want something a bit more mellow and in between these two then the hd598 fills that nicely. its more laid back and while not as articulate certainly is good for long listening sessions. if you like the sennheiser sound the hd600 and 650 are a bit more bassy and very mellow and smooth.

for some of these you may want an amp like the schiit magni. please budget accordingly. the hd518/558/598 or ad500x/700x/900x do not really need an amp. the rest mentioned its suggested.

an onboard amp such as on a motherboard really is only as good as low end slot soundcards. sometimes they can power higher end headphones but really thats asking alot out of them and they really arent a substitute for a good amp. if it works i would say they can sound okay but you'll never get 100% out of your headphones

-large soft earcups
beyer dt series is known for this. great comfort. audiotechnica ad series does as well but not everyone likes the headband its a love or hate design.
-no fatigue
articulate/detailed cans can be mentally fatiguing for some. more mellow cans are less so but lack some detail.
-sounds good for...
bass light cans tend to be more advantageous for fps gaming but may lack the bass you would like for a thrilling experience. bass heavy cans are exciting but cover footsteps. v shaped cans are exciting sounding and while not as advantageous are great for fun factor. neutral cans can sound flat or boring to some but are good all rounders.
-open backed
while not always true, open cans generally have wider soundstage (more airy sound) and some models have good positional audio. they also tend to lack bass . closed cans isolate noise in/out but tend to have smaller soundstages. they tend to have more bassy models available.

I know audio is a very personal kind of topic since people have different tastes but out of the ones you mentioned what would your choice be? As for my motherboards DAC it's the ESS® ES9023P and says it's suitable for headphones up to 600 ohms. It was a $300 motherboard and people say the built in DAC is good so I don't think i'll need an amp, but we'll see. The biggest factor for me is clarity and being able to easily distinguish footsteps and their positions, which from what you've said seems like an open backed bass light pair. Also thanks for all the information, it's helped but i'm still not clear which to buy haha. I just can't make my mind up.

 

[ssddx]

i dont use headphones as much as speakers but given my taste i'd say the dt990 or dt770 are up my ally.

bass light models generally will have more advantage over bass neutral and bassy models in terms of hearing footsteps but may be more boring as well. its up to you to decide which you prefer: advantage or exciting or to take the middle of the road at the expense of perhaps having a flat sound.

if you want advantage? perhaps the ad-series or akg cans
if you want fun factor? perhaps dt990 or similar
if you want middle of the road? look at sennheiser or maybe dt880