What pair of headphones would you consider better than the Logitech G35 and why?

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

PLEASE NOTE - The selected best answer is NOT correct. My recommendation is the Beyerdynamic DT770.

I bought the Logitech G35. It's about 3 years and I believe they've had their run. They sound quiet, the bass doesn't punch like it used to and the audio cracks when the volume gets too loud.

I've never heard a pair of headphones as good as the G35's fresh out of the box. I'm in the market for a new pair of headphones, mainly for movies/games. Some music too.

I'm looking for,
- Loudness
- Bass
- Good equalizer software
- Over the ear design

I'm prepared to spend $200 USD

 

[ksham]

Just a FYI: Headsets are not the same as headphones.

Anyway, check out the Kingston HyperX Cloud headset. They're really good.

 

[ssddx]

agreed.

you say "headphones" but yet mention the g35 which is a "headset". there is definitely a difference. which is it that you want?

headsets
-have a mic
-can be usb or 3.5mm
-may or may not include software

headphones
-do not have a mic (would need to use an external)
-are 3.5mm
-do not include software
-are available with better sound than headsets

if you wanted headphones... the sennheiser hd598 is quite excellent for gaming due to its wide soundstage and it offers clear crisp highs/mids but it doesnt really have a lowend to it which you specified.

something with more lowend would be the dt770pro-80ohm which has quite a lowend kick to it however has less clarity in the uppers and a smaller soundstage due to being a closed design. the dt880 or dt990 are open designs which means they are cooler to wear and have a more airy sound but arent as bassy (but still have some).

the ath-m50s is fairly cheap with very good sound for the price ($100-130 on ebay) although it lacks a big soundstage.

a good way to think of soundstage is this:
open is like listening to a concert outside in a park. sound travels away and is more airy.
closed is like listening to a band inside a club. its closer and more direct but lacks a bit of the clarity since sound cannot escape.

if you needed a mic with those you could use an antlion modmic or just mod on any boom mic.

if you wanted a headset... then for that price or a bit above you might be able to find a sennheiser pc363 which is noted to have excellent quality sound and mic however it doesnt have a lowend to it which you wanted. the game one headset is available for the price but i'm not sure how it compares to the '363.

the razer tiamat 7.1 gets fair marks and has some bass but needs to be dialed in to sound great and has questionable build quality as well as a usb power issue.

the gamecom commander also seems to score some decent marks.

---

generally my recommendations are to typically use some good headphones paired up with a seperate mic... however that might not be your style.

i dont use headsets since generally they do not sound as good as using headphones.

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

My bad. I think I prefer headsets because they come with mics (I'm not familiar with adding aftermarket mics etc).

I've heard quite a bit about the ATH-M50. Like the V-Moda Crossfade LP I've read that an amp is recommended to unlock their full potential. Once again, I'm not familiar with amps and whether it would work with my set up. I bought a pair of Gamecom headsets a few years ago and it was the worst decision of my life lol.

I don't know how to explain it properly.. I just wanna be completely immersed in the movies I watch. I want to bass and I don't want tinny audio.

BTW you're signature is awesome. I tried to use one but nothing shows up.. Any ideas?

 

[ksham]

The ATH-M50 and Crossfade LP are headphones, not headsets. Did you take a look at my suggestion?

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

Anyway, check out the Kingston HyperX Cloud headset. They're really good.

The review I watched really put an emphasis on having dedicated external hardware to make them sound good. (High-end motherboard or amp). I guess for the quality I'm looking for, I'll need an amp.. I believe my G35's have an amp built into them. So if I was to buy the Cloud, it wouldn't sound as good as my G35's out of the box. I'd have to invest in an amp to bring them to at least the same level of the G35's..

 

[ksham]

If you want good sound quality, go with a pair of headphones and a modmic as @ssddx suggested.

The Kingston HyperX Cloud is only $74.99 currently on Amazon. For the price, it can't be beat. It has 53mm drivers installed with good bass, decent build quality, and are very comfortable. The mic also has decent noise cancelling. It's not $200, but from an audiophile perspective, I don't like most headsets (even the high-end ones) and the Kingston HyperX is probably one of the few that I really like. Most of them are expensive and not worth the price. A quality pair of headphones and the modmic will have better sound quality than a high-end headset for the same price.

 

[ssddx]

the ath-m50 does NOT require an amp and does NOT sound better with an amp.

is there a difference? yes, but it is very slight and not worth forking out money for an amp.

will it benefit from a better soundcard than motherboard onboard sound? yes, it likely would since onboard normally isnt great but its not going to be a huge leap. going with something like the dx would give you virtual surround though.

source: i own a pair of m50s.

now... there ARE headphones (dt770pro-80, hd598, etc) which do sound better on amps even though they might not need one

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the reason i suggested a modmic is that it literally has a sticky pad you adhere to your headphones (it is removeable if you wanted) and then the actual boom mic mounts to that pad with a magnet. its totally removeable for when you want headphones and not a headset which makes it incredible convenient.

if you click on the headphones guide in my signature and scroll down i have an article on how to use ANY boom mic and mount it to a pair of headphones although its not the prettiest solution which is also why i suggested the modmic.

--

ALL headphones require amps however the amp is built into the soundcard. in the case of normal headphones the amp is at the source (pc soundcard or external amp) and with usb headsets it is integrated into the internal soundcard on the headphones themselves. quite frankly i think you can get better sound out of a pc soundcard than a headset internal soundcard

--

now i have a question... if you can ignore amps and microphones for just a minute....

do you require surround sound in your headphones or is stereo sound fine?

if you do want surround, is virtual surround okay or do you need multiple driver headphones?

on this page http/www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-7-9-2014-ultrasone-hfi-15g-added i do believe there are a few linked videos which allow you to hear what virtual would sound like. the page does take forever to load even on highspeed though (lots of content)

--

as far as signatures go... all you need to do is have code like this..

[img]www.host.com/image.jpg[/img]

to include a signature photo. it should be on a fairly fast host (i suggest postimg but tinypic or other hosts work too)

if you want, i can create a signature for you if you let me know what anime you want. i did the same for RazerZ before. they are rather simple but this is what i made for him http/postimg.org/gallery/2t0dzes56/ from scenes cut from anime i own.

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

The Kingston HyperX Cloud is only $74.99 currently on Amazon. For the price, it can't be beat. It has 53mm drivers installed with good bass, decent build quality, and are very comfortable. I don't like most headsets (even the high-end ones) and the Kingston HyperX is probably one of the few that I really like.

I'm looking into them now. I'm a little wary as the price though.. I mean, I'm prepared to spend an extra $130 dollars. Are you saying that there is no product that produces better sound quality OR a substantial difference, justifying the extra cash?

the ath-m50 does NOT require an amp and does NOT sound better with an amp.

is there a difference? yes, but it is very slight and not worth forking out money for an amp.

do you require surround sound in your headphones or is stereo sound fine?

if you do want surround, is virtual surround okay or do you need multiple driver headphones?

on this page http/www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-7-9-2014-ultrasone-hfi-15g-added i do believe there are a few linked videos which allow you to hear what virtual would sound like. the page does take forever to load even on highspeed though (lots of content).

Stereo is fine, I think. Virtual surround sound on my G35 was fun, and I found myself switching to it every so often (mostly movies). So it would be nice, but not necessary I think.

So I want multiple drivers? Well if we're talking true 5.1/7.1 headphones/sets which have incredible audio and not just "look complicated and chunky", then of course. If the audio quality is like unto a pair of regular pair of phones..

How do you feel about the ATH-PRO700Mk2 in comparison to the ATH-M50? I ask because the driver size, frequency response and max power is substantially varied.

ATH-M50
http/audio-technica.com.au/products/ath-m50/

ATH-PRO700Mk2
http/audio-technica.com.au/products/ath-pro700mk2/

Thanks for the help so far 🙂

 

[ksham]

I'm looking into them now. I'm a little wary as the price though.. I mean, I'm prepared to spend an extra $130 dollars. Are you saying that there is no product that produces better sound quality OR a substantial difference, justifying the extra cash?

Nope. For headsets, I would stick with that one. Alternatively, go with a Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO with the ModMic. That should be within $200.

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

Nope. For headsets, I would stick with that one.

Ok then, definitely a contender.

From an audiophiles perspective, would I benefit from an aftermarket sound card such as the Asus Xonar Essence STX? If yes, would you have any idea as to whether it would be compatible with my MSI Z77 Mpower motherboard?

 

[ksham]

Yes; a sound card would be useful. That is a decent sound card as well. (I say decent because it's expensive for what you get out of it.)

And yes; the sound card is compatible with your motherboard.

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

(I say decent because it's expensive for what you get out of it.)

I seem to have a knack for picking expensive things -.- Do you suggest anything as a replacement? (Cheaper I guess)

 

[ksham]

What's the purpose of the headphones or headset? I am assuming some gaming? What kind of games? It makes a difference because the Xonar Essence STX would be decent for music, but for gaming, a Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD (long name) is a lot better due to the more pronounced bass and better depth in surrounding areas. I find the Essence STX a bit flat (or maybe one-dimensional is a better word) at times during gameplay.

Again, it depends what games you play. For gameplay, stick with a sound card. For overall music or sound quality, go with an external DAC.

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

It's for all 3. Music, gaming and movies. I watch action movies, play a variety of games (fps mostly I guess) and listen to R&B, rap and Hip-hop which are bass heavy genres.

You think a sound card or DAC for a mix?

 

[ksham]

Depends on your priority. FPS games, sound card definitely because most budget external DAC won't handle player locations very well in FPS games in terms of depth and how close the footprints are. Music and movies, external DAC is better.

You can definitely get a sound card. The one that I listed is a little bit more expensive but I think it's worth it if you are picky on quality and being able to hear players footprints more clearly.

 

[ssddx]

looks like you guys were at it when i wasnt trolling to forum... took me a bit to read through the responses...

yes, the m50s, pro700's, dt770 and the like are all headphones and not headsets. however, you can make it a headset for $50 by buying a modmic. truth be told audio quality is going to be quite a bit better than gaming headsets you buy.

virtual surround has distortion, multiple driver headphoens not so much. however sound quality on multiple smaller drivers is less than larger quality driver headphones. personally i think stereo sound is fine and is the best way to go and that surround for headphones is not needed (if you do want it off and on then i would just stick with virtual surround.)

afaik from reading around on headfi the xonar dx (only about $80) has the same dac as the much more expensive stx ($180). while it doublessly has other features built into it you likely do not need them. there is also a major decision to make... soundcard or external dacamp.

a soundcard will give you the ability to use 5.1 speakers and the like in the future, supports a mic and has virtual surround. a seperate dacamp will have somewhat better quality though does not support virtual surround at all and you would need to use the mic jack on your onboard soundcard for the mic input (which isnt a big deal). the audioengine d1 is a good budget amp for $120ish while the xonar dx is a decent soundcard for $80ish.

i would go xonar over creative if you wanted virtual surround. dolby headphone scores much better marks that cmss3d for virtual.

if you like bass heavy generes then you will want headphones capable of good bass i would say. however, your listening preferences (are you more into high end clarity or low end thump?) is the final determination. also, would you like closed or open designs (click on headphones in my signature and read the "over the ear" section guide for the difference)

the ath-m50 is capable of subbass so really does have a low end kick however the uppers are not terribly muddled. it has a warm pleasant overtone to it as well. the only negative is that it has a very narrow soundstage which can be compared to listening to a band inside a small room or club instead of listening to a band in a large outdoor park (which would be more like open). sound is more direct and in your face however is also very intimate sounding compared to open designs which are more airy. also since its a closed design your ears can get hot.

the dt770pro-80 is also a great bass headphone. it has a slightly wider soundstage then the m50 does and also costs a bit more.

if you wanted open designs... the dt880 and dt990 as well as hd598 are all good open headphones. the 598 is more upper focused though and has limited bass output but a huge soundstage (like listening to music in a park where its ambient and all around you) while the dt's have a bit more bass but not quite as much soundstage. the dt's also come in different ohm models which all act just a little bit differently with some being more clear and responsive and others having just a tad more bass.

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i wouldnt go jumping the gun just yet and make any solid decisions until you get a good idea about what would work best.

we can go over your options here as we are now.. but i think you need to make a few calls about what is most important to you before we continue.

 

[ksham]

If you have a good soundstage, that alone is good enough for music and FPS gaming. You don't actually need virtual surround. Of course, virtual surround would be terrible if the soundstage is terrible.

 

[ssddx]

truth be told you do not even need soundstage to enjoy games. its more of a personal preference whether this is an issue or not.

i personally own a pair of m50s which has one of the smallest soundstages out of all studio style headphones and i've played games perfectly fine on them. sure, they might not sound ambient/airy but i can pick out location just fine and sound quality is certainly good.

virtual surround is not necessarily bad if the soundstage is small. if anything it would work towards making the headphones seem like they have a larger soundstage than they do which would bridge the gap a bit between closed vs open designs.

he also lists that he is a bass lover.. most open-design headphones do not offer as significant bass response as closed designs do. so its a choice to make: good bass & smaller soundstage OR wide soundstage and lower bass response. we cannot make that call for him.. he needs to get back to us on preferences.

 

[TheTenaciousOtaku]

you can make it a headset for $50 by buying a modmic. truth be told audio quality is going to be quite a bit better than gaming headsets you buy.

A mic isn't at the top of my agenda atm. Having the choice to add a mic later on works well for me.

If you have a good soundstage, that alone is good enough for music and FPS gaming. You don't actually need virtual surround.

Soundstage... I don't think that matters too much to me. I'm alright with the sound being in my face. I'm pretty sure that's what my G35's are like in stereo mode, and I'm ok with it.

1) a soundcard will give you the ability to use 5.1 speakers and the like in the future
2) a seperate dacamp will have somewhat better quality.
3) the audioengine d1 is a good budget amp for $120ish
4) would you like closed or open designs?

1) I'm currently running a 5.1 home theater with a receiver via HDMI
2) Could you define what you mean by "somewhat" better audio?
3) I've heard good things about the Kilimanjaro-E11. I'd appreciate your option on them
http/fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000038781911
4) I defeinitely want a closed ear design. From my experience with head-cans and ear-cans, tighter has got more bass. I don't care about airflow to cool my ears or anything lol. Doesn't get more closed than the G35

I did a little research on the headcans I'm interested in and I came up with the following comparison table. Nothing complex. Just basic enough to put things into perspective. I'm pretty sure y'all can view this link,
https/www.flickr.com/photos/124178143@N02/14480790677/

On another note, could my home theater system benefit from a DAC unit?

That took a while to put together. Hopefully I got everything down