Still on the hunt for a good gaming and multimedia headphone/headset

Submitted by Stickytape777 t3_10f9pkc in headphones

This feels like a never ending journey trying to find something that works for me.

So far I have used the following headphones/headsets:

- DT 770 Pro 250 ohm

- DT 900 Pro X

- Sennheiser HD 400 Pro

- EPOS H6Pro (closed)

- EPOS H3Pro Hybrid

- PC38X

- Razer Blackshark V2 Pro wireless

- Corsair HS80

- Steel Series Arctis 7+

- Steel Series Nova 7x

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I am not an audiophile. I can't really tell the audio difference between the DT 900 Pro X, PC38X, and HD 400 Pro except that the HD 400 pro seemed to have more detail. Higher end frequencies felt more crisp if that makes sense. For example, in BF2042, I could hear people crunching leaves and grass as they crouched through bushes and I could easily make out their position. I loved the audio but the headphones were too painful to wear due to the bump inside the earcup touching my ear.

I returned the DT 900 Pro X because the clamp force was ridiculous and gave me headaches and my ears touched the driver wall and caused pain.

I have used the PC38X for about 8 hours so far as they got here yesterday. The clamp force on those are also a bit much. I even swapped the pads to the full velour ones and that helped. I feel like those started to not clamp as tight the more I wore them. My ears have no issues with this headset. I am, however, left a bit underwhelmed after all of the praise I've read about them for their clarity, sound stage and imaging performance. I felt like the HD 400 Pro's were miles better in all regards compared to the PC38X.

I'm losing my mind over here because I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

I just want a comfortable headphone or headset with good sound stage and imaging. I want to use them for gaming, music, and movies. I do not care if they are open back as I am normally in a quiet room.

My problem is my ears stick out. Both the DT 770 Pro and DT 900 Pro X earpads are too shallow and my ears touch the driver wall and cause pain. The EPOS H6Pro are perfect in this regard because my ears touch nothing inside and just "float" inside the earcup. Super comfy. The H6Pro closed backs sound good but the sound stage is limited due to them being closed back. I just ordered the open back ones and they should arrive today. Hoping they are what I'm looking for.

I am willing to spend upwards of $400 for the perfect headphone. I can get a Mod Mic and attach that for voice.

Please help me end this insanity lol.

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EpicTwiglet t1_j4vg00w wrote

The H6 Pros are amazing. I have big ears that stick out and these cups are huge. You are not going to find much bigger.

I had the closed and open and they are not that different. The sound bleed was enough to keep the closed. I play a lot of FPS and also take my headphones to work for music so they had to be quiet.

The other issue is the pads are different. The closed pads are the comfiest pads I’ve ever used. The open are….fine. Not special.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4vjolj wrote

>I had the closed and open and they are not that different.

I would hope that's not true as the open backs should have better sound stage versus the closed backs.

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EpicTwiglet t1_j4vjyhc wrote

Objectively, sure. Subjectively, they are the same enough in my opinion. Either way both are great. Just choose what suits you

Again, I would have taken a worse headphone just because of the closed back ear cushions. They are next level.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4vlsga wrote

>closed back ear cushions. They are next level.

I totally agree with this. The headset clamping force is perfect for my big ol noggin and the depth of the earcups are amazing. How are the earpads for the open backs different from the closed backs?

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j50710v wrote

>I had the closed and open and they are not that different.

I'm noticing this as well. The opens barely have more sound stage than the closed. The closed has better overall sound quality imo. Force some reason the mids on the open sound muddy. I even lowered the bass 2 to 3 dB using an EQ and they just don't sound good. The Closed are definitely the better option.

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Electrical_Hour7017 t1_j5tbgdu wrote

I have both and prefer the sound on Open version, Closed sound more muddy (it's not as clear sound - lowering bass in EQ helps a bit).
Comfort wise, the Closed are way ahead, that's why I have ordered some mesh memory foam ear pads from Geekria on Amazon. Open have normal foam which is stiff and not as comfy and not breathable too! My ears get hotter in the Open version.

Be aware that Closed version is a bit heavier than Open, personally I notice it straight away.

My previous headphones were Sennheiser HD560s and I must say H6pro Open version comes close although HD560s are way better for listening to music, for gaming (any game) I prefer EPOS H6pro - comfier + microphone + okay sound too.

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Stig1990 t1_j4vuu87 wrote

Koss ksc75 are cheap and great! I own "many" headphones. Koss ksc75 are my go to gaming headphones. The sound is clear and the soundstage is wide. Before tuning them down read some reviews about them! :)

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Chew-Magna t1_j4vgctd wrote

> My problem is my ears stick out.

Put deeper pads on the headphones. Pad swapping, or "pad rolling" is part of the hobby. Any headphone worth a dang is going to have swappable pads, since they're considered a wear item and will need to be replaced eventually anyway. There are tons of aftermarket options out there for pads, for a huge range of headphones.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4vjka9 wrote

>Put deeper pads on the headphones.

I did that with the DT 770 Pro's and it helped but the headphones have almost no sound stage or directionality to the audio.

The Blackshark V2 Pro wireless have extremely shallow earpads and I bought aftermarket ones on Amazon and that headset is super duper comfy. I use them for work. I work 12 hour shifts working from home doing IT work and I can wear them all day.

Hopefully the H6 Pro open back headset is what I'm looking for.

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f3llyn t1_j4vlkt3 wrote

What's your budget here? You can probably find a used HD8XX for relatively cheap.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4vm2og wrote

I mentioned that in the post. At the bottom. $400 as I am not willing to go nuts with this purchase. Even paying over $300 feels ridiculous for headphones.

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f3llyn t1_j4wbvtg wrote

Also, have you considered trying IEMs? I'm sure you can find one that fits your needs perfectly in your budget.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4wcaii wrote

I've seen mention of IEM's but haven't looked into them yet. Do they perform as well as headphones? How would an IEM have any soundstage being inserted into the ear?

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f3llyn t1_j4wdtxi wrote

I don't know how they managed to do it, it's pretty much magic.

Unfortunately my experience with IEMs is limited to the two that I have and both are outside your budget so I can't give you any good suggestions.

But if you follow this sub you'll see there is a new IEM coming out basically every other week that is somehow the most budget friendly and also best IEM. So I think you have a lot of options to choose from, probably even more than headphones.

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Veil_Of_Mikasa t1_j4wsdh0 wrote

Soundstage is going to be smaller on an IEM. I will say sound stage doesn't matter nearly as much as imaging with gaming. If you want to try a good, cheap IEM with great imaging, they the truth ear hexa. Really good for music if you like hearing details. Bass is a little lacking but it helps with hearing everything so if works well for gaming

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speenbean t1_j4vuso3 wrote

AKG 712 Pro is supposed to be an amazing headphone for soundstage and imaging. I haven't owned them though.

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Jaytiss t1_j4vxw26 wrote

The Audeze Maxwell is coming out soon, something to think about. Of those, I really like the Sennheiser 38x.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4x9695 wrote

H6Pro open back headset just arrived. I have another 3 hours before I get to use them. Hopefully they are the ones I've been hunting for.

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ReekyRumpFedRatsbane t1_j4yefk3 wrote

After getting into this hobby, the first headphone I actually felt comfortable replacing my old "Gaming" headset daily driver with was the Mod House Audio T60RP Argon.

It is insanely comfortable (including pretty deep pads), has a soundstage that is fairly big, especially for a semi-closed back (but it's also conventionally wide, easily beating for example the Sundara), imaging that stretches a bit to the width of the soundstage but remains precise, and a sound signature that is a lot of fun, with a tastefully executed v-shape.

These make anything sound good, which is why I like them for things like YouTube where cheap productions and compression could otherwise be a problem. With that said, they do have a somewhat artificial timbre, and they lack a bit of clarity as well as bass "speed" compared to what I would hope for with a planar at this price point - they do come in at "upwards of $400" with a price of $479 once you add the pads and strap - which you absolutely want to.

While I personally really enjoy the Argon, you could also check out other less severe (and thus cheaper) T50RP/T60RP mods, or maybe just a T60RP with custom pads or something (you could even get the Argon's pads on their own).

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j4zzg8l wrote

Well I got the H6Pro opens yesterday and even swapped out the closed back pads to the open headset and the audio is bad. Just bad. The closed backs sound decent but the open back headset is just ugh. I don't know how to explain it but the mids are not clear and kind of muddy sounding. The bass and treble are ok. I can't tell the difference in sound stage between the closed and open backs and the directionality of audio cues in games are the same. The closed backs sound soooooo much better imo.

The PC38X headset is starting to feel more comfortable but it still has more clamping force than I'd like. Currently have it stretched out and sitting on my desk to hopefully alleviate some of that.

I'm starting to get irritated at how difficult it is for me to find a freaking headphone or headset that I like.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j5m42no wrote

I went on a buying rampage and tried quite a few headsets.

PC38X

HD 560S

H6Pro openback

DT Tygr 300r

and all the rest already listed in my OP.

I landed on the 560S. For some reason these are comfortable and I don't have the issue I had with the HD 400 Pro hurting my ears. They sound amazing and are great for detail for the foot steps and soundstage and imaging. Perfect for consuming media, movies and shows as well.

I have a Mod Mic Uni attached as well.

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thepartything t1_j6hzd9g wrote

I had Arctis Pro + GameDAC for two years. Now, I have H6Pro openback + GSX 300 DAC, which I bought a week ago. I'm really not sure how I feel about them, but going from Arctis Pro to this headset even sound like a downgrade? Do you think is that possible? I find the surround sound a bit muddy or muffled (I don't know these terms). The EPOS software is pretty much garbage, to be honest...

What was your experience with this headset?

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AnotherSpecificDuck t1_j5svp5g wrote

For gaming and multimedia I’d recommend the MMX 300 gen 2. yes it’s a headset BUT it sound phenomenal. Good build quality and it’s based on 770s. They have real impressive soundstage for a closed back headphone and the microphone is also really good.

If you’re just looking for headphones I’d take the 770s for closed back and the 900 pro x for open backs. But you’ll need a extra microphone for them if you want to communicate

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j5w3xy1 wrote

I have the 770s and they have next to zero soundstage. They sound extremely closed in and I can't tell how far away sounds are, at all. I had the 900 pro X for a week and returned them. They didn't have the detail I'm looking for and they were uncomfortable and hurt my ears. The clamp force was also ridiculously strong and gave me headaches. So far the 560S are perfect. Amazing soundstage, imaging, and detail. Also comfortable to my liking.

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[deleted] t1_j6d64b1 wrote

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6e7gdn wrote

The Steel Series headsets are garbage. I appreciate the suggestion but no thanks.

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thepartything t1_j6hzu98 wrote

Previously, I had Arctis Pro + GameDAC (it started to break, so I had to move to another headset). I bought H6Pro Open back + GSX 300 bundle a week ago. I'm not sure how I feel about them, but somehow it seems like a downgrade from the Arctis Pro, I don't know how. But the surround sound, using EPOS software sounds quite muffled/muddy/many sounds stuffed in one place?? I'm not sure how to describe it. And yeah, EPOS software is pretty much garbage. I really don't want to waste my time returning this product back but I want a good quality audio for gaming, music, movies.

What's your experience with it? Would you say that the 560s is superior to this one?

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6j2xat wrote

Don't use the surround sound. Open back headphones already have good soundstage, imaging, and diretionality. All you're doing is ruining the audio. With that being said, I didn't like the open back H6pro. I thought they sounded terrible. I still have the closed back version but I only use the 560S now as that sounds amazing for everything.

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thepartything t1_j6j6bnp wrote

But surround software helps with games. Any headphones that I head, surround off - means harder to pin-point the direction of the sound.

Do you suggest playing without software at all?

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6j7owg wrote

You don't need surround sound for pinpointing things in-game. That's what soundstage and imaging does natually with open backs. I have the 560S plugged into my motherboard without an amp or any software other than the EQ software for my motherboad's audio chipset. I easily hear people in BF 2042. I hear them running around and I can pinpoint their direction and distance from me clearly even when they're like 50 or 70 meters away. Ask anyone here and they'll tell you the same thing. Try different things and see what you like as audio is subjective. I've tried various headsets and headphones with and without surround sound virtualization.

Corsir HS80 with Dolby Atmos

Razer Blackshark V2 Pro wireless with their surround sound

Steel Series Nova 7x with theirs

And many others. I've been on the hunt for a good audio setup for years and I've landed on the 560S. I might buy a sound card later on or amp/DAC for better audio performance because I want to experience the difference.

I'm not just telling you my take on surround sound without some frame of reference. I have years of experiencing other solutions and the 560S wins hands down for me. Take it with a grain of salt though and you'll have to run through your own trials until you find what you want.

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thepartything t1_j6j9ks0 wrote

Is the difference between H6Pro and 560S big? I see a lot of people recommending 560s. And what about watching movies? How is it?

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6jc05u wrote

If you're talking about open backs then, for me anyways, there is a huge difference between the two. They have different sound signatures. The H6pro is made as a gaming headset with that in mind. The 560S is made to be a studio headphone. The 560S has good soundstage, accurate imaging, and really good detail. If I were to rate the 560S and the H6pro on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd put the 560S at an 8 and the H6pro at a 6. The H6pro open back sounds muddy and the audio feels all jumbled together especially when you're in the middle of a battle and audio is coming from all over the place. The 560S has no issues handling the same situation. There is clear frequency separation and detail for each sound.

Honestly, I suggest you try out a pair of the 560S and see how you feel about them. That's the only way you'll know.

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thepartything t1_j6jel64 wrote

People just have very different opinions, I don't know. All "audiophiles" say that using surround sound is shit, however, there are reviews like this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/v9rvx2/sennheiser_hd560s_for_gaming_music/

Pretty much saying, directional pin-point is not great. I have no idea, what to trust... And buying/returning the item takes a lot of time, since I'm buying from amazon.de.

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6jfvq0 wrote

Not sure why that person claims the 560S has a narrow soundstage when it doesn't. Youtubers that are very well known in the audiophile space say the 560S has good soundstage, imaging, and accuracy.

Freshreviews

DMS

Joshua Valour

Crinacle

Just to name the big names right off the bat. They all praise the 560S in all categories. I would take that person's reddit review with a grain of salt. As I've said, YMMV. Unfortunately you will have to go on own journey trying to find the headphone or headset that you're content with.

I'm still not fully content with the 560S and that's purely a comfort thing. I have a large head and big ears so I need headphones that can accommodate that. The H6pros are incredibly comfy for me but the audio leaves me wanting more.

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thepartything t1_j6jg4u6 wrote

I really appreciate your thoughts on this, thanks. How is that possible that I like Arctis Pro better than H6Pro? Everyone says that Steelseries is crap😄

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6jh05f wrote

I didn't like the H6pro open backs, at all. The pads were stiff and sucked. The audio was terrible. The closed backs were much better and had better audio imo.

The Steel Series headsets have wonky audio frequency response. Cheap plastic and QC issues. Check other subreddits especially the Steel Series one. People's headsets are breaking after minimal use. The wires inside the earcups break because of crappy soldering. The speakers blow or distort because of terrible QC. I had the Nova 7x for 2 weeks and returned them. Couldn't get them to sound right. Not comfy and hurt my ears constantly. To each their own. I will never insult someone for liking them but there is better out there. Audeze unveiled their new Maxwell wireless headset. Might look into that too.

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thepartything t1_j6jlmh6 wrote

So probably 560s is the best for it's price range, right? But the driver size is only 38mm, does that mean anything? Also, is it important to get everything as much in place in the box, as it was when arrived, when you return a headset?

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Stickytape777 OP t1_j6k3a1n wrote

When returning stuff just make sure everything is back in the original packaging. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just needs to be there.

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