Ahh ahh ahh choo

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

>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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

>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?

>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.

>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.